Dear Families,

I don’t know about you, but this is usually the time where we start to feel a certain energy pick up and the ‘silly season’ well and truly starts. Rather than get caught up in that energy, let’s embrace the excitement and remember that on the 1st December we enter into this beautiful time of waiting! The season of Advent calls for us to be mindful of those around us who may not have what we have, understanding how peace plays such an important part in our lives. We pray for peace in our classrooms, school environment, family life, social groups and in the world around us. It is also a wonderful time for us to reflect on how we can be a Good Shepherd in our world today.

On Monday morning, all of our students will begin to take part in the Advent prayer with their year levels. Each week a new candle is lit, representing Jesus coming as the light in darkness.

The First Week of Advent: December 1, 2024

Candle Name: The Prophecy Candle

The First Week of Advent Represents: Hope

Candle Color: Purple

The Second Week of Advent: December 8, 2023

Candle Name: The Bethlehem Candle

The First Week of Advent Represents: Peace and Preparation

Candle Color: Purple

This year we are truly celebrating the Christmas story by presenting our first ever Christmas Living Scripture.

Each classroom will come alive with one aspect of the Christmas Biblical Narratives. The children and educators have been planning and working together to come up with a creative and individual way to retell the wondrous story of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.

What to expect!

You will be gathered into groups from the Parish hall to enter, “The Journey to Bethlehem,” by following a pathway through our classrooms. Each group will have a “tour guide” to lead you through the school. This will be a prayerful experience, as you slowly visit each room to observe the way the children have brought parts of the scripture alive! It will be a little bit like Myer’s Windows with a religious, prayerful ambience. If you have any questions about Christmas Living Scripture: A Journey to Bethlehem please feel free to contact Caithleen Malone (REL): cmalone@sogsgpark.catholic.edu.au

Student Agency

One of our school priorities in this review cycle is: To empower the students to be active learners, being able to co-construct their learning in partnership with their teacher.

We have been creating exciting opportunities for students to be active in their learning and growth journey. This term, our school leaders have had the following opportunities:

Student Led Peer workshop: Year 6 Leadership positions

The current year 6 leaders have been working hard to gain a true understanding of what their roles entail and how they have made an impact as school leaders this year. They discussed what it means to be a student leader at School of the Good Shepherd, how they can have a ‘voice’ in decisions made and what further opportunities we could be providing for them so that they can grow as leaders. They spent an afternoon with our Year 5 students, sharing how they have made an impact by being a school leader at School of The Good Shepherd and sharing tips and strategies for when they begin writing their own speeches when applying for leadership positions for 2025. There were lots of opportunities for our Year 5 students to ask questions, clarify their thinking and work in small groups. What a great way for peer support, peer encouragement, peer voice and peer belonging!

Our Year 5 students had the opportunity to present their leadership speeches to their peers, classroom teachers, Mrs Sarpa and I. We were so impressed by all of the speeches and were truly amazed at how well prepared they were. Each student had their speech ready, spoke clearly and maintained eye contact with their audience. We are hoping to announce our new student leaders on Friday.

Well done Staff and Students on an amazing collaboration!

Staff Changes for 2025

We have finalised all staffing for 2025, (which we will share on Tuesday 10th December) however we are also saying goodbye to some of our valued members. We wish them all the very best in their travels!

We wish David Pietsch all the very best for 2025. Due to a change in specialist structure, we will not be offering music as a specialist class in 2025. We sincerely thank Mr Pietsch for entertaining us with song, teaching our students various musical skills and starting up the Choir. I am pleased to say that Ms Malone will continue with Choir in 2025! We wish Mr Pietsch all the very best for 2025 and thank him for being part of our school community.

We thank Mr Montesano for teaching our Year 2 students in Term 4, after Mrs Belanti went on maternity leave at the end of Term 3. Mr Montesano has been a valued member of our community, even if for a short time. Thank you for getting to know the students in your class, building relationships with staff and welcoming parents. We wish you all the very best for 2025 and beyond.

We wish Ms Cassie, one of our part time Co Educators who will be leaving for some new adventures, all the very best. Ms Cassie has been an important part of our prep classes this year, getting to know each student, assisting them with their learning and getting to know all of their names. We will miss your gentle nature and welcoming smile. May 2025 be as exciting as it possibly can be!

Finally, we farewell a staff member that has added so much value to our SoGS family in her time here. We wish Mrs Melanie Sanderson all the very best as she takes up a new position at St Brendan's Flemington as the Mental Health in Schools, Family Engagement and Wellbeing Leader. We are so grateful for all that you have contributed over the years to the wellbeing of our own students and families. It has been wonderful having you take on the role of year prep teacher whilst Ms Santilla is on maternity leave. We wish you all the very very best at St Brendan's.

We wish all of our staff that are leaving us all the best and we will miss you!

CONGRATULATIONS

At the end of Term 3, three of our teachers left to begin maternity leave. We congratulate Mrs Dianne Pettenon and her family on the birth of their little baby boy and to Mrs Oriana Belanti and family on the birth of their little girl. Such exciting times ahead! Now we wait for one more little bundle of joy… Ms Jayde Santilla’s little one. Good luck Ms Santilla!

We also wish Ms Jemma McVeigh, our former Deputy Principal, all the very best on her upcoming wedding. Have a most wonderful day and we wish her a lifetime of happiness, love and joy.

MELBOURNE ARCHDIOCESE CATHOLIC SCHOOL: 2025 TUITION FEES

Please read the following information regarding school fees for 2025.

OVERDUE SCHOOL FEES

There are still a number of families with outstanding fees and families who have their last child leaving at the end of 2024, who have NOT finalised their school fees. Can you please finalise all payments as soon as you can (unless prior arrangement has been made with myself).

Please call the office and speak to Kylie Lanza to make an appointment to come and see me, or to finalise payments. Thank you to all the families who have paid their fees in full. Our school does rely on School Fees for many recurrent costs so prompt payment is appreciated.

NFORMA PARENT APP NOW AVAILABLE

As you know, last semester we moved to a new platform, nForma, for reports. nForma now has a parent app, which will make accessing your child/ren’s reports easy and convenient. You can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play. Semester 1 reports are accessible on the app now, and Semester 2 reports will be available at the end of this term. Ensure that you enable notifications when you install the app. Please refer to the guide below for more detailed information and feel free to contact us if you have any questions:

Please note: You will need to use the login information you used when first logging in to the parent portal last semester, otherwise use the ‘forgot password’ option to reset your password.

SACRAMENT DATES 2025

Wishing everyone an absolutely amazing week ahead!

Take care,

Carmela D'Amato

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Caith Malone