From the Principal

Creating Success Together!

At Good News, our commitment to providing the highest quality education remains steadfast. In the pursuit of excellence, our dedicated staff members have engaged in thorough reflection of our practices, aiming to identify areas where we can further elevate our educational delivery. Through this process we have identified key actions that will shape our approach in the future, all with the aim of better serving students.

One significant change involves the restructuring of our sub-schools. Beginning in the next academic year, we will transition from three sub-schools of Junior, Middle and Senior, to two streamlined sub-schools of Primary and Secondary. 

Please be assured, this shift in structure will not impact the core curriculum delivery. Rather, it will bring about important benefits for the overall well-being of students. By uniting under two sub-schools, we create a more seamless transition for students and a harmonized framework for uniform and policies.

To further enhance the personalised care we provide, our assistant heads the sub-schools will be specialising in specific year levels, focusing on 2 or 3 year groups each. This targeted approach will ensure that students receive age-appropriate pastoral care that caters to their unique needs.

In 2024, Ms Joanne Wegener will take on the role of Head of Secondary, while Mrs Maria Denholm will assume the responsibilities of Head of Primary. Additionally, Mr Steven Tkaczuk will serve as the Head of Mambourin Campus on the Tarneit site until its anticipated relocation in 2025.

For Year 6 students, 2024 will mark a special year of transition as they step into leadership roles within the Primary school. We recognise that this shift requires careful attention and support, and parents of current Year 5 students can expect to receive more detailed information on this in the weeks to come.

In our ongoing efforts to optimise learning outcomes, we are excited to introduce a new one-week timetable structure. This adjustment minimises disruptions over a two-week cycle and enables us to offer enhanced options for vertical movement and accelerated class offerings. Additionally, research underscores the importance of starting the day with academic subjects when students are most receptive. Therefore, in 2024, we will prioritise academic subjects at the beginning of the day and schedule pastoral and spiritual check-ins closer to recess time.

As we embrace these changes and innovations, we remain committed to our core values and the unwavering pursuit of excellence. The Good News Lutheran College community has always thrived on collaboration and adaptability, and I have no doubt that these developments will elevate our students' learning journey to new heights.

Thank you for your ongoing support, trust, and partnership. We look forward to ‘Creating Success Together’ and shaping a bright future for our students.

Fiona McAuliffe - College Principal