Dear Parents and Guardians

As I reflect on the first half of this term, it was been so wonderful our students developing friendships with their new classmates and our staff building relationships. Our 2025 school theme - Together We Can inspires all we, which includes being inclusive, supportive and creative. This morning Ferial Davis and I attended an International Woman's Day Breakfast at Avila College. It was lovely to see some of our past students shine as we continue to build this partnership with one of our feeder secondary schools.

Since our last school newsletter we have engaged with parents at the Tell Us About Your Child sessions, held two meetings to support the Classroom helpers program, celebrated our Year 1's learning at assembly and began the season of lent with Ash Wednesday with mass and liturgies. Our families gathered for a Movie Night hosted by our wonderful Parents and Friends and some of our students represented our school at the Division Swimming with special congratulations going to Liam Z (5SZ) for coming first and now moving on Regional level.

Staffing news

After being on leave all of last year, I recently received Danielle Rodgers resignation from her position at Good Shepherd. Danielle had been a member of staff at Good Shepherd for over 20 years, recently holding the position of Deputy Principal. I would like to thank Danielle for her dedication to our school and the impact she had on many in our community. We wish her all the best for the journey ahead.

We congratulate Carmen Habuda (Year 2 teacher) on her recent marriage to Harry. We wish them a life of love and happiness.

We wish Hua Yao (Mandarin teacher) good health as happiness as she awaits the birth of her first child in the middle of the year.

New Flags

We would like to thank the Federal minister for Hotham, Hon Clare O'Neil for providing the school with three new flags (Australian, Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander Flag). The flags will be displayed on the flag poles in the quadrangle from Monday morning til Friday afternoon. In the coming weeks the school will organise senior student leaders to support this process.

School fees

On behalf of Teresa and our Business Manager I would like to thank you all for setting up payment plans for your 2025 school fees. I know there has been an increase in fees this year and we have explained the reasons why such as; school operations, compliance, risk management and resources for students. If for any reasons parents are finding it difficult to manage school fees please know I am here to support you and you are welcome to arrange a meeting with me.

Enrolments

On Wednesday night commencing at 6pm, we begin our 2026 enrolment process with a Twilight Information and school tours event. Many of our senior students will be part of this night either as part of the Band, Choir or supporting with tours. Permission notes have been sent home and returned and we thank you for supporting this event. If you have any family or friends interested in enrolling their child at Good Shepherd please let them know of our school tour dates that are included in this newsletter and are also on our school website. A reminder to our current families, if you have a child starting Prep in 2026 can you please complete an enrolment form by the end of this term. Thank you to those families who have already sent in their forms.

Coming up

Over the coming weeks we have the following important events taking place

NAPLAN (12 - 21 March)

Catholic Education Week (16 - 21 March)

Year 2 Assembly (17 March)

School Photo Day (18 March)

School Advisory Council Meeting (18 March)

Parents and Friends Meeting (18 March)

Harmony Day (20 March)

Year 6 Camp (24 - 26 March) Year 6 Rest Day (27 March)

Year 4 and 5 students day at Avila and Mazenod (27 March) more information to come home next week

School Closure Day (Friday 4 April) Staff Professional Learning

Today's newsletter is action packed with a lot to celebrate and also important information.

We congratulate our newly appointed SRC members and look forward to seeing all they achieve this year. Unfortunately traffic management remains a concern around the school as some parents are not following the processes and procedures that have been in place over a number of years. Please take the time to read the attached information.

We are looking forward to celebrating Harmony Day soon with a focus on celebrating our diverse cultures at Good Shepherd. Please read all about what the day will involve further in the newsletter.

I hope everyone has a lovely long weekend and we look forward to seeing our students back at school on Tuesday.

Take care,

Jacqui Marshall

Principal

Jacqui Marshall

Principal

Traffic Management