1 December 2021

From the Desk of the Principal

It is hard to believe that I am writing our last newsletter for 2021. As the saying goes, time really does fly when you are having fun!

Our last week has been crammed with fun end of year items. Last Thursday we held the finals of Good Shepherd's Got Talent. Thank you to the Student Wellbeing Committee for organising this wonderful event for our community and to our staff who assisted in coaching and mentoring our students. Congratulations to all students who performed on the day. The level of talent was high! Big congrats to Scarlett Egan who took out the competition this year with her special dedication to her sister Summah which also enlightened us all on some of the traits of ADHD. If you haven't seen it, Scarlett's performance is on our Facebook page (but it may come with a tissue warning!)

On Monday we held our Christmas Concert. Thank you to our staff for preparing our students for this. I am confident it was enjoyed by all.

Yesterday we held our Transition Day and welcomed many of our new students and staff. Although it was an extremely wet day and we were unable to enjoy play time outside, the rain definitely did not dampen the excitement of the students in meeting their new teacher and classmates.

Tonight we celebrate our Year 6 students and their end of Primary schooling with a Rite of Passage in the Community Centre from 6:30pm. We congratulate these students and wish them all the best in their future education.

This week as well as farewelling our Year 6 students, we are also farewelling a number of other students who are transferring out of Townsville. We also say goodbye to our staff members - Judy Bell (APRE), Julia Shaw (Year 1), Rae Hamilton (Year 2), Sherry Evans (Year 4), Jean Nott (Year 5), Peta Borg (Auslan) and Alicia Willmott (School Officer). Thank you to each and everyone of you for your contributions to our Good Shepherd Family in your time here.

Thank you for a wonderful 2021. I wish you and your families a happy, safe and holy Christmas break and a prosperous 2022. See you when school resumes on Monday 24 January 2022.

Glenda Scrase

Principal

gscrase1@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

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From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Religious Education

What is Advent?

Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in the church and consists of the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas day.  The word Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming." Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation of His arrival.  While Advent is typically regarded as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent.  Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.

Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation.  The purple colour associated with Avent is also the colour of penance.  The colour of the Third Sunday of Advent is rose.  This colour symbolizes joy and represents the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again.  The Third Sunday is a day of anticipatory celebration.  It is formerly called "Gaudete" Sunday; gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin.

Finally, Sundays during Advent, just as during Lent, should not be given to fasting, but instead to celebration because we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord every Sunday.  It is important to remember, however, there are no particular rules for how the laity should observe Advent.

Judy Bell

APRE
jbell17@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Administration

Can you believe that we are in the last week of the 2021 school year? 
This term seems to have flown by, with so many highlights – the wonderful performances at Good Shepherd’s Got Talent, seeing everyone in red on Day for Daniel, our Missions liturgy and mini fete, Academic Awards ceremony, Christmas concert and Book Fair to name just a few. 
Tonight will mark another highlight, with the Year 6 Rite of Passage. It has been a joy and a pleasure watching our Year 6 students grow and mature this year. Moving on to high school is a big transition, but one which they are all ready for. High school offers a range of new opportunities and experiences, and I urge all our Year 6 students to step out of their comfort zones, challenge themselves, and make the most of every opportunity. Regardless of what high school you attend, you will get out of it what you put in, so make sure you put in your best.
Finally, I wish you all a happy, Holy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Enjoy any time you get to spend with family, take time to relax and recharge, and I look forward to seeing you all again in 2022.

Maxine Nolan

APA

mnolan@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

What's Happening In Our Year 6 Classes

What an amazing journey we have had over the past 7 years. Arriving here today represents a significant achievement for our Year 6 students - the end of their primary school education. This week is a time of celebration, a chance to reflect on the past 7  years and a chance to look towards their future. Graduation is a wonderful achievement that in time our Year 6’s will look back on with pride regarding the friends they have made, the battles they have both won and lost, the experiences they have enjoyed and the success they have achieved.

2021 has been a year of growth and development for all our students. We enjoyed our camp at Magnetic Island, our sport gala days and our excursions. Hold the memories you have made together close and enjoy going forward into your high school careers. We are beyond proud of our Year 6 , 2021 graduates and each one of them have made us all so much better from living and learning with you.

Take care, God bless and live your best lives!

Awards For The Week

Birthdays For This Week and December

~Khloe (PrepA)      ~Charlotte (PrepA)    ~Madeleine (PrepA)    ~Riley (PrepA)    ~Ayden (PrepB)

~Calai (PrepC)        ~Arianah (PrepC)       ~Alex (1B)                         ~Orin (1B)            ~Mackenzie (1B)    

 ~Zavier (1B)            ~Jax (1C)                        ~Braxton (1C)                ~Blossom (2A)     ~Maverick (2C)        

~Chanel (2C)          ~Scott (2C)                   ~Hudson (3A)                 ~Zachary (3A)      ~Charlee (3C)   

 ~Lachlan (3C)       ~Leanne (3C)               ~Theo (4A)                      ~Adam (4A)          ~Ferisita (4B)    

  ~Hunter (4B)       ~Jack (4B)                     ~Gracey (5A)                  ~Gemika (5A)       ~Piper (5A)

  ~Ayden (5B)         ~Roary (5B)                  ~Wynta (5B)               ~Aman (6B)              ~Esiah (6B)   

 ~Tristin (6B)

Assembly

Our final Assembly this week is our End of Year Liturgy in the Community Centre. We hope you can join us.

Our lucky Praise Note winners for last week were: Indee (PrepA), Willow (PrepB), Faith (PrepC), Sienna (1A), Deizel (2A), Vivian (3A), Ferisita (4B), Riley (5A) .

The Good Shepherd Way

This week our Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action value is Service where we are encouraged to help and respond to the needs of others.

Our Service prayer is also below:

The GSCS Way

The GSCS Way is our positive behaviour support program here at Good Shepherd Catholic School.

All in our community are encouraged to:

• Give My Best
• Show Respect
• Compassion and Care
• Safe Responsible and Fair

Each week we focus on a different area of our matrix.

This week we are focusing on Give My Best: Assembly, Community Centre, Moving Around School, Pick Up Zone. 

Congratulations to Abbie, Charlee and Lucas who were our GSCS Way VIPs last week.

Library News

Please ensure that all library books are returned to the library before the end of the school year, Friday 3 December 2021.  If an item has been lost or damaged please notify the classroom teacher or Mrs Cameron Library Officer.

FACE (Family And Community Engagement) Network News

Thank you to everyone who supported our Christmas Mega Raffle. Thank you also to Elements and Riverstone for their kind donation of the major prize of a Samsung Tablet. Special thank you to Amanda and Cel for organising another wonderful raffle for us.

The lucky winner of the Samsung Tablet was Rahne Rogers. Other major prize winners were Justine Dalrymple, Imogen Banks (x 2), Naomi Dollison, Ally Sengstock, Dianne Huxley, Michael Thomson, Amber Ellis, Mia Beavis, David Carter, Shelly Larson, Lawrence Knight, Zelda Sengstock, James McDowell, Summah Egan, Kailey Wise, Scarlett Egan, Tony McDowell and Archer Sperring.

On Friday we acknowledged Nat Amiott with the Mappas Medallion for her volunteering contribution to our school community. Nat was unable to attend so her husband John and children Zac and Corbin accepted the award on her behalf. We thank Nat and John for all they have contributed and continue to contribute to our Good Shepherd Family.

Running Club

Running Club is held each Tuesday and Thursday on the oval and is open to all year levels and age groups. Can you help us get to Tokyo for the Olympics?

Have You Enrolled For Prep 2022 Yet?

Students turning 5 by 30 June 2022 are invited to enroll for Prep 2022. Applications are available from our School Office. Alternatively they can also downloaded from our website on the link below.

Tuckshop

Wednesday - Thursday - Friday

Please place your order with Flexischool no later than 8:30am on the day you wish to order. You will find a menu on our webpage. If you wish to place an order of cupcakes for your child's birthday please place your order the week before.

CUTOFF time to order TUCKSHOP
from FLEXISCHOOLS
is 8:30am.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ORDERS ARE TO BE PLACED ONLINE AT THE LINK BELOW. Please visit the website to set up your account if you are new to Flexischools.

Environmental Tips

Coastcare -  Protection of the Reef is a common cause for the good of all. Remember, whatever flows down our drains flows into our rivers and ultimately out on the Reef.

Upcoming Events

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