From the Principal
New staff joining the team
Following on from sharing a number of new teachers to join Good Shepherd in 2025, here is one more.
Keyta Millard
I am excited to join the Year 1/2 teaching team at Good Shepherd Lutheran School in 2025. Originally from South Africa, I moved to Australia at age 8 and have cherished calling this beautiful country home. In 2022, I relocated to Adelaide from the coastal town of Hervey Bay in Queensland.
Family holds a special place in my heart. As an identical twin, I share a unique and close bond with my sibling. From an early age, I aspired to become a teacher, and my journey in teaching primary students has been both rewarding and transformative, helping me grow personally and professionally. These experiences have greatly shaped the teacher and individual I am today.
In my free time, I enjoy staying active at the gym, walking along the beach, shopping, and spending meaningful moments with family and friends. I am eagerly looking forward to starting this new chapter at Good Shepherd Lutheran School and can’t wait to connect with the amazing staff, students, and families in this vibrant community.
Move Up Morning
On Monday the 9th December, students across the school will be moving into their 2025 learning space to meet their classmates and teacher. Some students have been supported through a longer transition process, to attend to the needs of each individual. Additionally, as parents you can support your child in the following ways through this change:
- Celebrate the year that they have had.
- Acknowledge that you may have feelings about this change that your child may not have. Try to present a calm, confident and optimistic outlook.
- Remember that your child’s emotional connection to and respect for their teacher is deeply connected to your connection and respect for their teacher and school.
- Remember that to build confidence for later on in life, children need to experience a broad range of peers and situations, and discover that through talking about feelings, asking for help, establishing boundaries, and building social and emotional skills, they can handle what life has in store. As parents, be there to hear their thoughts and feelings, but above all show you have confidence in your child to experience success.
- Discuss the opportunities to learn new things the next year.
- Talk about building new friendships.
At the end of move up morning, parents will receive a hard copy letter with an introduction about their child’s teacher and a list of students in their class for 2025. Please remember to respect confidentiality and not share these lists beyond the school community.
We celebrate that Good Shepherd is a safe and familiar place for students. Our structure supports and challenges children to be stretched, grow and learn.
We commend and thank our teaching and leadership teams for the investment in building our classes for 2025. You may also notice on your child’s class list that we welcome some new students into the school in 2025. This is exciting and we’re confident our classes will promote inclusion and belonging.
Closing Worship
On the final day of school for students (Tuesday 10th December) we will be holding the Good Shepherd School Closing Worship. We begin at 9:00am in the Church - worshipping together, celebrating the year, and acknowledging departing & long serving staff. All parents are invited to join us.
Endings, Christmas and Beginnings
Thank you to our Year 6 students for leading worship this week as they formally began their count down to the end of their time at Good Shepherd.
We shared a laugh with the BAA Brothers, and marvelled at the creative talents of the students in acting, dance and song. What a blessing this group of students have been to our school community through their leadership.
"May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favour and give you his peace."
As many of these students end their time at Good Shepherd they take with them families, some of whom have been connected to us for more than 10 years. Thank you for entrusting us to partner with you in caring for your child/ern.
It is a privilege and honour to walk with people who become part of our Good Shepherd family.
I want to thank and acknowledge you for the sport coaching, the hours that you have put into homework and reading, your attendance at school events and functions, your relationships with teachers, and the many other ways that you have contributed to this Good Shepherd family.
"Every time I think of you I thank God for you."
Philippians 1:3-5
At Christmas we celebrate God with us, Immanuel!
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
As you take time away from the routines of school and life over this time, my prayer is that you are able to focus on Jesus and what he means to you personally and as a family.
I pray that it is this love that is lived out through our school values of Love, Optimism and Creativity.
I pray that the transitions and new beginnings we have are blessed beyond measure as we lean into Gods protection and care.
I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalm 18: 1 – 3
Blessings for all that is coming for the remainder of this year and beyond.
Evie Stevens
Principal