Principal's Message

Dear Parents/Carers,

It has certainly been a jam-packed fortnight, with a wonderful range of school events and sporting activities taking place across our school community.

As Mr P. shares further in this fortnight’s newsletter, a huge congratulations to our Year 6 Girls’ Soccer Team on their outstanding achievement of finishing second in the state!

We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you, not only for the skill, determination and commitment you demonstrated in the lead-up to the grand final and on the day, but also for the way you supported and encouraged one another throughout the journey.   You represented our school with great pride, and we could not be more proud of you.  

As this term nears its conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank all staff, students and families for their contribution to a very successful term of learning, growth and engagement.

We are incredibly proud of our students and the enthusiasm, effort and commitment they have demonstrated throughout the term. I would also like to thank our dedicated staff and families for their continued support and partnership.

I wish everyone a safe, restful and enjoyable break, and look forward to welcoming you back next term on Monday 5th October.  

School Review - Dialogue and Engagement

As part of our School Review process, our school reviewer, Donna Bryce, recently returned to the School of the Good Shepherd to present the School Review Report to our Leadership Team.  Our School Review Report is a wonderful reflection of the dedication, hard work and ongoing commitment of our staff to supporting and nurturing every student at the School of the Good Shepherd. It is also a strong reflection of the wonderful school community we have, where staff, students and families work together to provide our students with meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and thrive.  There are a number of strengths presented, along with areas for improvement and recommendations.  I look forward to presenting the report findings to the school community during next term. 

Learning and Teaching approach -Explicit Direct Instruction 

What is Explicit Direct Instruction?

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality learning experiences, our teachers have been exploring the teaching and learning pedagogy: Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) which supports students in developing strong knowledge, skills and understanding. EDI is aligned with the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Vision for Instruction, which provides a consistent approach to effective teaching and learning across MACS schools.

EDI is a structured approach where teachers clearly explain and model new concepts, provide opportunities for students to practise with guidance, and gradually support them to work independently. Lessons are broken into manageable steps, with teachers regularly checking students’ understanding and providing timely feedback.

This approach helps ensure that students know what they are learning, why they are learning it and what success looks like. It supports all students to build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, develop confidence and become increasingly independent learners.

As part of this approach, we have also introduced new furniture into our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 learning spaces. The new tables have been arranged so that students can face the front of the classroom during explicit teaching and instruction. This setup helps minimise distractions, supports students to maintain their attention and ensures that all students have a clear view of their teacher and any instructional materials being presented. The furniture has been carefully selected and arranged to support effective teaching and learning while still allowing opportunities for students to work collaboratively when appropriate.

School Fees

A reminder that all 2026 school fees and levies are due by Friday, 18 September.

If you have any concerns about your financial circumstances or are experiencing financial hardship, please contact me confidentially via principal@sogsgpark.catholic.edu.au so that we can discuss a suitable financial arrangement.

2027 organisation

As planning for 2027 continues, we kindly ask any families who will not be returning to the School of the Good Shepherd next year to please let the school know as soon as possible.

This information will assist us with our enrolment planning and provide families currently on our waiting list with the opportunity to join our school community in 2027.  Thank you for your assistance and support.

MACSSIS Survey

A reminder that our school is participating in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS).  These surveys provide a valuable opportunity for our students, families and staff to share their perspectives on our school’s strengths, as well as areas where we can continue to grow and improve.  We strongly encourage all families to take the time to participate. Your feedback is greatly valued and helps us identify key priorities and shape our ongoing efforts to improve the experience of every member of our school community.

Thank you for joining the Parents' Association!

A huge thank you to the many parents who have contacted me over the past couple of weeks to express their interest in joining the Parents’ Association. Your enthusiasm and willingness to get involved is a wonderful demonstration of your support and commitment to working together to enhance the experience of being part of the School of the Good Shepherd community.  We still have a few Parent Representative positions available, particularly in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the Parents’ Association, we would love to hear from you. Please email principal@sogsgpark.catholic.edu.au to express your interest.

Kind regards,

Laura Petrie