Good Shepherd School

Principal's Message

Dear Families

 

Term 3 has certainly started as a busy and productive one, as we work together to support student engagement, achievement and learning.

 

Staff began the term with Professional Learning centred around Student Wellbeing.  We explored the recently published MACS Vision for Engagement - Flourishing Learners position statement.  

 

The document is centred around the following six engagement practices:

  • Teaching respectful behaviour
  • Fostering belonging
  • Focusing on attendance
  • Promoting mental health and wellbeing
  • Enabling motivation
  • Targeting individual learning needs

Our next newsletter will include more about The MACS Vision For Engagement and what it will look like at Good Shepherd to support our students to become resilient and confident learners. 

 

Confirmation

We keep our Year 6 students in our Prayers as they celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation next Thursday 14 August at St Patrick’s Cathedral.  The celebrants will be Archbishop Peter Comensoli, Fr Andrzej (Andrew) Madry and Fr Jean-Sebastien Gery. 

 

Prep 2026 

Over the past few weeks Ferial Davis and I have been meeting with new families who have enrolled their children for Prep next year.  One of the questions I ask them is 'why they have chosen Good Shepherd?'.  It has been so nice to hear that so many of our current families have recommended the school to them.  Thank you for being our biggest supporters. 

 

Staffing

We congratulate Mrs Christina Calache on becoming a grandmother in the school holidays to adorable Matilda.  She is currently spending some precious time with her family and is absolutely loving being a grandmother.

 

Year 3SM teacher (2 days) Ashlyn McNeill begins her parental leave soon.  Her last day with her students will be on Friday 15 August.  We wish Ashlyn, Gordy and big brother Max all the best as they arrive the arrival on baby McNeill towards end of September.

 

We welcome Mrs Celeste Spiccia to 3SM (Thursday and Friday) as she works alongside Mrs Megan Skoda as the teachers of Year 3SM.  Mrs Spiccia has worked at Good Shepherd in previous years.

 

Beginning and End of day procedures at Good Shepherd

Over the past few weeks we have been reviewing and making some changes to the beginning and end of day procedures to ensure student safety at all times.  

 

After many reminders it is disappointing that some parents are still not adhering to the expectation that all students should be collected from school by 3:25pm.  

 

I thank our parents who do always pick up their children on time or have made the arrangement to use Camp Australia if you know you can not pick up your child at the end of the school day.

 

With this new strategy is place we have already noticed the end of the day routine is running smoother, so thank you for your ongoing support.

 

These are the changes we have made to improve efficiency and support student safety:

  • The kiss and drop drive through in the morning will now remain open to 8:45am. 
  • We ask that parents do not get out of their car as this slows down the flow of traffic.
  • Please adhere to the “KEEP CLEAR” and “NO STANDING” signs in the carpark.
  • If students arrive after 9am, parents must walk in with their child and sign them in.
  • At the end of the day parents are asked to remain in their car when using the drive through pick up area.
  • Please ensure cars drive all the way up to the rubbish skip before stopping to allow the maximum number of cars to stop and collect students.
  • All students must be collected by 3:25pm.  After this time students will be taken to the hub.  Students will no longer wait in the office area as there are often meetings taking place so it is not appropriate for students to be in this area.  
  • Our admin team are keeping records of parents who consistently arrive late to collect their child and discussions may need to be scheduled with members of the leadership team to discuss other options. It becomes a Child safety matter when children are left at school once school finishes with no communication from parents.
  • We encourage all families to enrol in our before and after school program as it is a valuable option for the times when you can not pick up your child on time.

We understand that there may be a time when a situation arises and you may not be able to collect your child in time.  In this instance we ask that you call the office and we can make arrangements for their safety until you arrive.

 

Puberty, Relationships and Growing Up Family sessions - 27 August

After discussions at our School Advisory Council, we are pleased to offer Interrelate’s Tricky Talks, an engaging and informative program designed to support families in navigating important conversations around puberty, relationships, and growing up. These sessions provide age-appropriate, respectful, and inclusive information to help children and their parents/carers feel confident and prepared for life’s changes. Delivered by experienced facilitators, Tricky Talks aim to strengthen communication within families and empower young people with the knowledge they need.'

 

This is an optional activity and the cost is $25.00 per family. Families can choose to attend either session or both, with their child/children. Payment required by Monday 25th August. 

 

Further information is provided further in the newsletter and has been sent out to families in Years 3 - 6 via nForma.

 

Parent involvement 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many parents who support our school as either part of the School Advisory Council, Parents and Friends Association, classroom helpers or excursions.  You are supporting our shared vision of developing a deep sense of belonging, creating an environment that fosters a love of learning and encouraging every child to achieve their full potential.  

 

Recent activities

Over the past few weeks we have been celebrating and experiencing many wonderful events at Good Shepherd.  They have included our Preps achieving 100 days at school, welcoming our Grandparents and Special friends at mass and in the classrooms and our rehearsals for our school production Aladdin, early next term.

 

Coming up

I will be out of the school a bit over the next few weeks and during this time Ferial Davis will be Acting Principal.  

 

I will be travelling to Hobart early next week to attend the installation of Bishop Tony Ireland as the next Archbishop of Hobart along with Fr Andrew and other principal colleagues.

 

From Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May I will be in Cairns with many other Principals to attend the Australian Catholic Education Conference with the theme of “Hope, anchored in Faith”.  I look forward to sharing my learnings with you all on my return.  I am disappointed that I will be missing book week (as I love a dress up) but look forward to seeing all the photos on my return.  

 

Thank you for your ongoing support

Jacqui Marshall

Principal