a word from our leaders

Online behaviour - keeping your child safe

You may be aware of distressing reports about a video of a suicide circulating on social media platforms.

The clip has been reported in mainstream media and we felt it extremely important that all parents are informed.

Whilst children under 13 years of age should not be accessing social media platforms, we acknowledge that many parents readily allow this. If this is your practice as a parent, please monitor your child. For your child's safety, we very strongly advise a period free from social media at this time. If your child is presenting with signs of distress, staying connected and engaged with them is one of the best ways to support them. Reactions and feelings can vary in response to such events. Please let your child know that you will listen to their concerns at any time.

Some helpful ways to limit your child’s exposure to harmful content online include:

First and foremost, supervise your child’s online activities
Use parental controls on devices to help limit what your child is exposed to
Help them report and block upsetting content they see on social media sites or apps
Let them know they can come to you about anything upsetting they see online

The eSafety commissioner is encouraging people who encounter this content to report it to the social media platform they’ve seen it on, or to eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au/report/illegal-harmful-content.

If you or your child have been impacted you can contact:

Kids Helpline. 1800 55 1800. Phone support is there all day, every day. Online support is open from 8am-midnight every day (AEST).
Suicide Callback Service. 1300 659 467. Phone support all day, every day, and follow-up calls.
eHeadspace. 1800 650 890. Open 9am-1am daily (AEST).
Lifeline. 13 11 14. Phone support all day, every day. Online support 7pm-4am daily (AEST).
Beyondblue. 1300 22 4636. Phone support all day, every day. Online support 3pm-midnight every day.

Please also feel free to contact us if you have any concerns about your child to discuss additional support measures that can be put in place.

David Wilksch

Principal

School Events update - Term 4

As we strive to maintain COVIDSafe practice across all school events, our recent focus has been around re-imagining the Term 4 calendar inclusions that have traditionally been public events - that is, they involve parents / carers in some way.

Today we release a publication which provides an outline of the creative ways in which we are planning to manage the numerous public events that round out the 2020 school year.

Please take time to browse our event guide, to identify your areas of involvement and interest.

We trust our 'Can Do' approach shines through our planning for these important events.

End of Year Events 2020.pdf

Thank you for your encouragement and cooperation.

David Wilksch

Principal

Report grades - what do they mean?

Each semester academic reports are sent home to parents/carers, this includes an outline at the beginning of the report about what the grades and effort continua means.

We receive questions and comments regarding the "C".

The "C" means your child is achieving at year level.

They are achieving the standard outlined for that year level.

It's important to note that an English or Mathematics grade includes all sub-strands of that learning area.

English includes: Language, Literature, Literacy. A child may have a strength in reading but is challenged with spelling and writing.

Mathematics includes: Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry; Statistics & Probability. Your child for example may be sound in number but be challenged in measurement.

Teachers make on-balance judgments about the quality of learning demonstrated by students – that is, whether the students have achieved below, at or above the standard of all sub-strands covered in the semester. To make judgments, teachers draw on assessment data they have collected as evidence during the course of the teaching period.

At Good Shepherd we appreciate that each child grows at their own pace. Each child will have their own journey of growth which will not fit neatly into a 'year level grade.' That is why your child's learning portfolio on Seesaw is so important. It shares with you regularly the growth, success and goals your child is experiencing/working towards.

Staff learning last Friday

Last Friday our whole staff team (including some teachers on leave and some OSHC 'Imagination' staff) were part of our large group of 59 who undertook a First Aid refresher training for the day. It was a full and fast paced day!

Karen Schoff

Director Leaning Innovation