19 March 2025

From the Desk of the Acting Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It was truly heartwarming to see the BBC Hall filled with joy last Friday as we celebrated our grandparents. The morning began with a delightful breakfast and games for those children whose grandparents could join us. We were also privileged to have Fr. Joe Jacob celebrate our liturgy, and it was such a pleasure to witness our grandparents spending quality time in their grandchildren's classrooms, exploring the wonderful work they have accomplished this year. The school buzzed with excitement, and it was a lovely sight.

As we continue through the school year, you may have observed some of the positive changes being implemented in our classrooms. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and talented team of teachers who work diligently to support both student learning and well-being. Their unwavering commitment ensures that every child is nurtured, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

During my visits to classrooms, I have been truly impressed by the engaging teaching and learning occurring each day. Our teachers utilise a variety of strategies to ignite curiosity and foster a love of learning. From hands-on mathematics activities to enriching literacy discussions and creative arts projects, our classrooms thrive as spaces where students grow and discover.

A significant change we have made is the refinement of our classroom rules, building on the strong foundation of The Good Shepherd Way, which guides our school’s values and expectations. Our new classroom rules are simple yet carry profound meaning:

Everyone has a right to learn
Everyone has a right to be included
Everyone has a right to feel safe

These principles resonate with our core values:
Give My Best – Encouraging students to engage in their learning with commitment, curiosity, and perseverance.
Show Respect – Cultivating a culture where kindness, active listening, and valuing others are central to our interactions.
Compassion and Care – Embracing Christ’s call to love one another, support our peers, and demonstrate empathy.
Safe, Responsible, and Fair – Ensuring that our school remains a welcoming place where every child feels secure, included, and valued.

By reinforcing these expectations, we are fostering a positive and respectful learning environment in which students can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. Our teachers guide students in reflecting on their choices, considering their impacts on others, and taking responsibility for cultivating a caring classroom community.

I warmly encourage families to discuss these classroom rules at home and explore how they embody our shared faith and values. Together, as a school and parish community, we can continue to foster a nurturing and supportive environment in which all children flourish.

Just a reminder, if you need to collect your child during the school day, please check in at the front counter of the office. The office staff will ring for your child to come to the office with their bag. To adhere to our duty of care we kindly request that parents and caregivers arriving at school between 8:30am and 2:50pm present at the office and wait there to collect their children.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support.

With Blessings, 
Annette
Acting Principal 

apoulsen2@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning

Literacy Matters

Literacy, the ability to use written language and other forms of communication to express and comprehend ideas, is fundamental to a student’s ability to engage and learn at school. In recognition of this, the teaching of literacy skills is a focus in every classroom every day at Good Shepherd.

Across the school, each class has a dedicated two-hour “literacy block” each day.  Activities during the two hours will vary depending on the ‘phase and age of learning’, but will include activities and direct instruction in areas such as:

• Phonological and phonemic awareness
• Systematic synthetic phonics
• Word knowledge including morphology and etymology
• Fluency
• Oral Language 
• Vocabulary in all learning areas
• Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing and responding in writing
• Composing texts through speaking, writing and creating.

As students become literate, they develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to interpret and use language confidently allowing for effective participation in society.  The Australian Curriculum V9.0 states that “the development of literacy gives young people the knowledge and skills needed for education, training and the workplace. It helps them become ethical, informed, perceptive, innovative and active members of society. The English curriculum plays an important part in developing the understanding, attitudes and capabilities of those who will take responsibility for Australia’s future.”

How can I help develop my child’s literacy?

Literacy skills impact every aspect of life and remain vital beyond the classroom. To help your child develop literacy skills (regardless of their age), there are lots of easy things you can do at home:

1. Read Aloud Regularly:

• Make it a daily habit: Even short periods of reading aloud (10 minutes a day) can make a big difference.
• Choose age-appropriate books: Select books that are engaging and at your child's reading level.
• Make it interactive: Ask questions, discuss the story, and encourage your child to participate.
• Use funny voices and gestures: Keep the reading sessions fun and engaging.
• Read even when your child can read independently: Reading with your child helps reinforce literacy skills and strengthens the bond between parent and child.

1. Talk and Communicate:

• Engage in meaningful conversations: Talk about everyday experiences, events, and ideas.
• Expand your child's vocabulary: Introduce new words and explain their meanings.
• Encourage your child to express themselves: Allow them to share their thoughts and ideas.
• Model good speech: Speak clearly and use correct grammar.

1. Sing Songs and Rhymes:

• Sing songs with your child: Nursery rhymes and songs help develop phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words).
• Play with rhymes and sounds: Engage in activities like rhyming games and sound games.

1. Encourage Writing:

• Provide writing materials: Make sure your child has access to crayons, pencils, paper, and other writing tools.
• Encourage them to write: Let them draw, scribble, and write their own stories or lists.
• Model writing: Show your child that you write too (e.g., writing a grocery list, sending a card).

1. Visit the Library:

• Make the library a regular destination: Libraries offer a wide variety of books and resources for children.
• Attend story times and other library events: These events can be a fun and engaging way to promote literacy.
• Ask librarians for recommendations: Librarians can suggest books that are appropriate for your child's age and interests.

1. Make Reading a Fun Activity:

• Create a cozy reading space: Make reading a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
• Avoid making reading a chore: Don't force your child to read if they are not interested.
• Celebrate reading milestones: Acknowledge your child's progress and achievements.
• Encourage your child to choose their own books: Let them have some autonomy in their reading choices.

Adults with low literacy

Many adults also have difficulties with literacy and should be commended for seeking help to develop those skills.  If someone you know struggles with reading and writing, there are several organisations who provide support. These include:

• Reading Writing Hotline (A free national telephone referral service for adults with literacy and numeracy needs, connecting individuals with local resources and classes. Phone: 1300 655 506; Email: enquiries@readingwritinghotline.edu.au; Website: readingwritinghotline.edu.au),
• TAFE Queensland English Language and Literacy Services (TELLS): (Programs like the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program. Website: https://tafeqld.edu.au/courses/course-types/tells) and 
• SPELD Queensland (A not-for-profit organization that supports people with learning difficulties, offering assessments and resources. Website:https://speld.org.au/ Phone: 07 3391 7900)

Maxine Nolan

APPL

mnolan@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal Religious Education

PROJECT COMPASSION – Toefuata'iga’s Story

Toefuata'iga

Toefuata'iga experienced water scarcity at her school in Samoa.

Toefuata'iga and her classmates faced frequent early school dismissals and missed lessons due to a lack of clean water. Teachers often had to leave the school to fetch water from nearby homes, adding strain to the staff and local community. The absence of a reliable water source also led to compromised hygiene, increasing the risk of dehydration and waterborne diseases, which affected students' health.

Despite being surrounded by water, many Samoans struggle with consistent access to clean drinking water, and resort to relying on rainwater or neighbours who have access to a water pipeline.

Climate change is leading to longer, drier periods. The Samoan Water Authority pipeline frequently needs to be shut down due to natural disasters and maintenance.Watch a short film about Toefuata'iga’s story here.

PROJECT COMPASSION at GSCS

Don’t forget to continue to use your Project Compassion box for your donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM FOR 2025

RECONCILIATION – CONFIRMATION – HOLY COMMUNION

The lesson this week was the second lesson on Reconciliation, with the children receiving their Sacrament of Penance next week. You would have been informed already whether your child will be attending on Wednesday 26^th March or Thursday 27^th March at 7pm.

Thank you to the teachers who have volunteered to lead the groups. 

Congratulations to our GSCS participants who will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation next week at Ryan Community Centre. 

Rebecca Kershaw

APRE

rkershaw@gstsv.catholic.edu.au

What's Happening in Year 3

Our students have been busy exploring 3D shapes and discovering how they appear in the world around us. From identifying cylinders in soft drink cans to spotting spheres in playground balls, we’ve been making real-world connections. Check out this photo of our young mathematicians constructing their own colorful 3D shapes.

Library

Story Dogs

Breakfast Club and Running Club

Both Clubs will run every morning. Breakfast Club will run from the Tuckshop from 8:10am and Running Club will be held on the Junior Oval from 8:10am as well.

The Good Shepherd Way

Term 1, Week 7

This week our Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action value is Love where I share my good heart with others.

Our Love prayer is below:

Term 1, Week 8

The Good Shepherd Way Gospel in Action for Week 8 will be Reconciliation where I am fair, forgiving and respectful.

Our Reconciliation prayer is 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: At the tuckshop. 

In Term 1, Week 7 we are focusing on: In the toilets. 

Enrol for 2026

Tuckshop

Wednesday - Thursday - Friday

Please contact the school office or Ann-Maree at Tuckshop with any enquiries.

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.

Flexischool How To Guides for Parents and Caregivers
• Online help is available any time at Flexischools via the link below.
• Phone between 8am - 12pm (AEDST) on weekdays or on the parent phone line (1300 361 769). 

How-To Guides for Parents
Flexischool has spent some time over the holidays developing some quick how-to guides for  parents. If you'd like to see these, please click the link below.
They include: 
•    Introduction to Flexischools;
•    How to Register; 
•    How to Top-Up;
•    How to Place an Order. 

Lost and Found

Teacher Contacts

Parent Portal

If you have any problems accessing please send an email to the school office at rsmssn@tsv.catholic.edu.au. 

The Parent Portal allows you to:

View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
View up to date attendance information for your child
Enter details of upcoming absences or explain past absences or late arrivals for your son or daughter
Access your child’s Semester reports
Make bookings for Parent Teacher Interviews
View a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates
Provide consent for school events/excursions
Communicate by email with your child’s teachers
Update your contact details (email and mobile phone number).

The parent portal is a web-based system that can be accessed by clicking this link:

An app called Compass School Manager is also available for both iPhones/iPads (via the App Store) and Android phones/tablets (via the Google Play Store). When you have installed the app, search for “Good Shepherd Catholic School – Rasmussen”.
The browser version of the Parent Portal contains more features than the app.  Please click the link below to access the Compass website which has an online guide and video for the Parent Portal.

Community News