Dear Parents/Carers,

I would like to begin by thanking all members of the School of the Good Shepherd community for the warm welcome that I have received. I am very grateful to everyone for the well wishes and kind words. It has made my transition into the school both smooth and genuinely enjoyable.

It is already clear that this is a community built on strong relationships and a shared commitment to one another. I feel very fortunate to be joining a school that so clearly reflects the values of growth, compassion, and belonging. I look forward to working alongside our staff to support each student’s growth, academically, socially and spiritually, while encouraging them to embrace challenges and opportunities with confidence. Equally important is fostering a culture of compassion, where kindness, empathy, and respect are evident in all that we do.

Above all, I am committed to ensuring that every student, staff member, and family feels a strong sense of belonging within our school. When people feel connected and valued, they are able to truly thrive.

Thank you once again for your warm welcome. I am excited about the journey ahead and proud to be part of this wonderful school community.

MOTHER'S DAY

On Monday we were thrilled to see the students taking such care when choosing a gift for their mothers, grandmothers, carers and special people in their lives at the Mother's Day stall. The Parish Hall was buzzing with excitement! This morning was very special, with the Mother's Day breakfast taking place. It was so wonderful to see so many people come together to share in this very special occasion. A huge thank you to the Parent's Association and staff at School of the Good Shepherd for their hard work and commitment to support the school with these very important events.

I would like to wish each and every mother, grandmother, carer and special person a very Happy Mother's Day for this Sunday.

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

On Sunday 3rd May, I had the privilege of attending the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was a wonderful celebration and the Year 6 students were very well prepared. I would like to thank the Year 6 teachers, Paige LaPenta, Jayde Santilla and Dianne Pettenon and our LSO, Marie Groves, our wonderful Religious Education Leader, Michelle Peel, along with Fr. Dishan and Fr. Samuel for the way that they all supported our students to understand the significance of this very important Sacrament.

WINTER UNIFORM

As the weather has now cooled down it is an expectation that all students are to wear full Winter uniform from Monday 11th May. Please see below for the Winter Uniform requirements.

MACS 2030 STRATEGY: FLOURISHING LEARNERS

As part of our ongoing commitment as a Catholic school to excellence and equity in learning and teaching, staff have been exploring and implementing explicit instruction practices. This work aligns with the MACS strategy, the Vision for Engagement, which focuses on creating the best conditions for learning. A key aspect of the Vision for Engagement is fostering calm classrooms and ensuring all students have an optimal environment in which to learn. Throughout the year, we will continue to share the processes and practices we are implementing to provide the best possible learning experiences for all students.

YEAR 5/6 CAMP

On Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th May our Year 5 and Year 6 students, along with their teachers, LSOs and other members of staff will be attending camp at Lake Dewar. Some of the activities that the children will be involved in may include, canoeing, bush cooking, capturing the flag activity, hut building, flying fox, Amazing Race and many other fun activities. Attending camp is such an important part of each child's development and independence. I would also like to thank all of the staff, who will be attending camp, for their planning, preparation and dedication to ensure that this is a very enjoyable experience. We are looking forward to hearing all about the wonderful time that they have whilst on camp.

Kind regards,

Laura Petrie

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