Principal's Welcome
Carmela D'Amato (Principal)
Dear Families, ,
We hope you have all had a great week!
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.
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 Parent Workshop: ‘Belonging’
A very big thank you to our SRC students on their first ever student led parent workshop. Over the last few weeks our SRC students have been working closely with some of our school leaders in unpacking the value of BELONGING. They showed courage and strength when sharing their learning with their families. Well done to our SRC students for collaborating so wonderfully with each other and with their teachers! Thank you to our staff who supported our students through this journey, exercising our school core values of belonging, compassion and growth. We look forward to a similar process next year when we unpack and operationalise the value of COMPASSION.
Student Led Peer workshop: Year 6 Leadership positions
The current year 6 leaders have also 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 2024. 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!
Well done Staff and Students on an amazing collaboration!
Staff Changes for 2024
This year, much like last year, has seen a lot of movement of teaching staff in schools with many teachers taking on opportunities for growth and self development. Due to no movement for the better part of three years many opportunities are being taken up by teachers across the State. In regards to filling positions, we have finalised all staffing for 2024, however we are also saying goodbye to some of our valued members. We wish them all the very best in their travels!
We wish Natasha Ravenello all the very best for 2024 as she takes on a very exciting opportunity! Natasha will commence 12 months leave without pay so that she can go and work in LONDON! So many colleagues and friends have also taken on this experience and have just loved it so we know that Natasha is going to bring all of her expertise with her as well as openly engage in experiencing ‘school life’ on the other side of the world. We thank her for all she has done for our students and families in her roles as Classroom Teacher and Middle Leader, always taking the time out each morning to greet her students individually and getting to know who they are and how they learn. We look forward to hearing all about her experiences while she is abroad and on her return. Wishing you all the very very best in this next exciting stage of your career.
One of our Year 4 teachers, Lillie Macri is also embarking on new learning and challenges next year. Lillie has spent the better part of this year completing a TESOL course (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.) and is now wanting to expand herself in this educational field and broaden her knowledge with other teaching opportunities. In her time at School of The Good Shepherd, Lillie has been a Year 4 classroom teacher and an active member of the Mathematics Team. We wish her all the very best as she takes on these challenges and you never know, we may see her around as a CRT next year!
We also have Miss Taylor Dicello leaving as she takes up a new position at St Peter’s in Keilor East. Taylor also started at School of The Good Shepherd as a graduate after working as a Co Educator in one of our year 2 classrooms. She is looking forward to continuing her growth journey and developing her craft as a teacher. We thank her for all the work she has done with the Year 2 students last year and Year 3 students this year as well as being an active member of our staff. Wishing you all the very best at your new school.
One of our valued intervention teachers and P-2 Literacy Leader this year, Mrs Chris Catterall will also be leaving us in 2023 as she has taken up an exciting position at St Peter Chanel Deer Park as the Intervention Teacher/Coordinator. Chris joined us early last year and has made an impact in our Literacy growth in the junior school this year, in collaboration with our Junior teachers. We thank Chris for her expertise and passion for learning and growth and know you will be an amazing asset to your new staff.
Last week we also farewelled Year 5 teacher Mrs Madeline McNamara who commenced her maternity leave. The students in Year 5 B were able to farewell her together and welcomed Mrs Rosemary Anderson to the classroom. Mrs Anderson will be teaching in Year 5 until the end of the year. We can't wait to hear all about the baby news in the next few weeks!
WELCOME 2024 Preps
Last Tuesday evening we held our Prep 2024 Information night and it was so lovely to see our new prep parents participating in the evening. We welcomed them by telling them a little bit about us, our names, where our names originated and what we hoped for the students at School of The Good Shepherd. We can't wait to welcome them back with their prep child for their first transition session.
This year we have changed our format up a little and have introduced another prep transition session where our prep students attend with their parents. They will get to participate in some activities together while they get to know other students and parents. We can’t wait for them to be a part of our everyday school life! The prep students then have another transition session in week 10 and will then join the rest of the school for STEP UP day in week 11.
WAITLISTS
We currently have many families on a waitlist, wanting to attend School of The Good Shepherd, therefore if you are not intending for your child to return next year (students in years P-5), please let us know as soon as you can by letting us know in writing. Please email principal@sogsgpark.catholic.edu.au
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 2023, 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.
NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK
We are getting some great feedback coming in around our newsletter and have already lots to think about moving in 2024. This is your final chance to have your say!
Wishing everyone an absolutely amazing week ahead!