PE News:

🏆AFL District Championships Success🏆

What a fantastic day of football for the School of the Good Shepherd, with both our Boys' and Girls' AFL teams crowned District Champions and progressing through to the Woodlands Division Finals.

The boys entered the day in outstanding form and quickly established themselves as one of the strongest teams in the competition. Displaying skill, teamwork, determination, and physicality, they dominated throughout the day and won all five of their matches. Their campaign culminated in a highly anticipated clash against Aitken College, with the winner earning the right to progress to the Woodlands Division competition. The boys rose to the challenge, producing another impressive performance to secure victory and complete an undefeated day.

The girls' journey to the championship was equally impressive, although it took a very different path. After drawing their opening game against Westmeadows, the girls knew they would need to win all of their remaining matches to give themselves a chance of claiming the title. They responded brilliantly, playing determined and disciplined football throughout the day. Defensively, they were outstanding, conceding only a handful of points across the entire tournament, while consistently finding ways to hit the scoreboard and kick multiple goals in each game.

With a bye in the final round, the girls were forced to watch and wait as Westmeadows took on Tullamarine. The result would determine whether School of the Good Shepherd could claim the championship. When Westmeadows defeated Tullamarine, the final standings came down to percentage and points difference. In a dramatic finish, our girls claimed the District Championship by just six points, securing the title and a place in the Woodlands Division Finals.

Both teams represented our school with pride, demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience, and determination throughout the day. Their efforts were a credit to themselves, their families, and our school community.

A special thank you must go to Nick and Mel Isgro for their support and assistance with the boys' team throughout the day. We would also like to thank Michael Rider for helping coach and support the girls' team.

Thank you also to all of the parents, grandparents, family members, and supporters who attended the day to cheer on our students. Your encouragement and support played a significant role in the success of both teams. We would also like to acknowledge those families who made last-minute trips for forgotten football boots, socks, and the occasional mouthguard left at home—your efforts certainly did not go unnoticed!

Congratulations to all players on an outstanding achievement. We wish both teams the very best as they now prepare to represent the district at the upcoming Woodlands Division Finals.

Yours In Sport

Mr P

Physical Education Coordinator

SoGS Winter Interschool Sport Season, 2026 Report

The 2026 Winter Interschool Sport Season has come to an end, and what a fantastic season it was for our School of the Good Shepherd students. With eight games scheduled throughout the season and, unfortunately, one forfeit against St Dominic's due to Senior Camp commitments, our students represented the school with tremendous pride, sportsmanship, and determination every week.

AFL

The AFL season presented some unique challenges, as several schools in our competition did not field AFL teams. As a result, both our Open and Girls teams received several wins without having to take the field. Despite this, the matches that were played showcased the skill, commitment, and enthusiasm of our students.

Both the Open and Girls teams finished the season in a very respectable second place. It was particularly special for the Girls team, as this was the first time School of the Good Shepherd had entered a girls AFL team into the Winter Interschool Sport competition. Congratulations to all involved and a special thank you to Mrs Symeoy for coaching the students through a challenging yet rewarding season.

Netball

Led by the brilliant and energetic coaching of Ms Lapenta, our Open and Girls Netball teams gave their absolute best every week. While the teams managed only one win throughout the season, their effort, determination, and resilience never wavered.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the season was hearing constant praise about the students' attitude. Regardless of the score, they never gave up, continued to encourage one another, and demonstrated outstanding perseverance and sportsmanship throughout every match.

European Handball

Our European Handball teams, coached by Ms Santilla, battled hard through a physical and demanding season. The students faced several challenges, including rule variations and different-sized goals at various venues. Despite these obstacles, they adapted admirably and continued to compete with great spirit.

At season's end, the Girls Handball team finished in 6th place, while the Open team secured a respectable 5th-place finish. Their willingness to embrace challenges and continue improving each week was a credit to the school.

Soccer

With the excitement of World Cup football in the air, our soccer teams produced two memorable but very different seasons.

The Open Soccer team, featuring a blend of experienced and developing players, fought hard throughout the competition. They suffered several narrow defeats but also recorded some impressive victories. One result that particularly stood out came against the previously unbeaten Gladstone Views Primary School. In a remarkable performance on their home ground, our team in red and white defeated the competition favourites by four goals. It was a fantastic achievement and highlighted the team's growth throughout the season. The Open team ultimately finished in a competitive 5th place.

The Girls Soccer team enjoyed the most successful season of all, claiming back-to-back District Championships. The girls accumulated just one loss for the entire season, which came via the forfeit against St Dominic's during Senior Camp.

Throughout the season, the girls found themselves locked in a close battle with Aitken College for top position on the ladder. However, in the decisive match between the two schools, our girls comfortably accounted for Aitken College, propelling themselves to the top of the standings and securing promotion to the next stage of competition.

The team's consistency, teamwork, and determination were outstanding, and they have now qualified for the Woodlands Finals later this year. Congratulations to all players and coaches on an exceptional achievement.

Thank You

A sincere thank you to all of the parents, family members, and supporters who attended games throughout the season. Your encouragement and support from the sidelines helped make the experience even more special for our students.

We would also like to acknowledge and thank Ms Marie, Mr Marc, Ms Megan, Ms Agius, and Ms Vellucci for their assistance and support throughout the season.

Most importantly, congratulations to every student who represented School of the Good Shepherd this winter. Whether winning, losing, or drawing, you consistently displayed outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and school pride. We are incredibly proud of your efforts and look forward to another exciting season of sport ahead.

Yours in Sport

Frank Piccione

Physical Education Coordinator

SoGS Cross Country Report 2026

What began in April with a dedicated team of more than 40 students representing the School of the Good Shepherd at the Broadmeadows District Cross Country Carnival concluded with a number of outstanding achievements at the highest levels of competition.

Students from Years 4, 5, and 6 proudly represented our school across a range of age groups and distances. Their commitment to training, determination, and willingness to challenge themselves was evident from the very beginning.

From the Broadmeadows District Carnival, an impressive 16 students qualified for the Woodlands Division Finals. This was a remarkable achievement in itself and a testament to the hard work and perseverance shown by our students throughout the season.

Unfortunately, two students were unable to attend the Woodlands Division Finals due to family commitments. However, the remaining 14 students represented themselves, their families, and our school community with pride and determination. Battling cold, wet, and windy conditions at the Kilmore Racing Club, our students demonstrated resilience and courage as they competed against some of the strongest runners in the division.

From those 14 competitors, five students progressed to the Northern Metro Regional Finals held at Bundoora Park. Reaching this stage of competition is an incredible accomplishment and reflects the dedication and effort these students have put into their running.

Once again, our students represented the School of the Good Shepherd with outstanding spirit and sportsmanship. Competing against athletes who specialise in long-distance running, they gave their absolute best and should be extremely proud of their achievements.

A special congratulations must go to Ava V (Gr 6) and Maia P (Gr 5), who both performed exceptionally well in their respective 3km events. Ava finished in 43rd place out of 61 competitors with a time of 14 minutes and 19 seconds, while Maia finished in an impressive 38th place out of 61 competitors, recording a time of 14 minutes and 5 seconds.

These results are a fantastic achievement and highlight the dedication, perseverance, and determination shown by both students throughout the cross-country season.

A huge thank you must also go to all the parents and families who supported our students throughout the various stages of competition. Your willingness to transport students to events, cheer from the sidelines, and encourage them along the way played an important role in their success.

Congratulations to all students who participated in this year's Cross Country program. We are incredibly proud of your efforts and the way you represented our school community. We look forward to seeing what our students can achieve in the 2027 Cross Country competitions.

Well done to all involved!

Library News: Save the dates for Term 3

The Book Fair is coming to SoGS in August!

Save the dates for Monday 24 August - Monday 31 August for our annual Book Fair!

Parish News

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