From the Principal
Feeling Safe in the Community
You may be aware that a student from GNLC was injured in an assault last week. The incident occurred after school hours in the local area but was not related to the college and it did not occur on our grounds.
As a college our focus is on supporting the student, his family and friends who are shocked and bewildered by this incident. Our highest priority is to provide services and support needed to ensure the emotional stability of the students at the College who will, in no doubt, be asking questions about this event.
To help with the questions and concerns from our students we have provided counselling and pastoral support opportunities for Year 10 students and any others who have shown they have concerns. In this edition of The Good News the Counsellors Corner article also has some resources you might like to use at home.
Some of you may have heard Anthony Hurst (psychologist) speak previously and will know he has very good strategies for parents and teachers in recognising and managing the wellbeing of young people as they try to understand the actions of others and their own emotions of fear or sadness. He will be at school again in coming weeks (we will advise you when), and we warmly invite you to hear him speak and to ask your questions. For now, some advice from Anthony includes:
- It is OK for teens to have a reaction or a response after such a significant event that affects them or a friend.
- It can be helpful to talk to a professional about what has happened in making sense of everything.
- If you notice your teen is acting out of character or responding in ways not typical for them, try to have a conversation to understand how they are feeling and what they are experiencing.
We are committed to ensuring our students feel safe and supported in light of the incident, which has been the subject of a police investigation, and arrests have been made.
At GNLC our culture and focus on student well-being are grounded in our values of Grace, Respect, Integrity, and Courage … plus a genuine care for one another.
I ask parents to support our message to students to “call out” behaviours that hurt other people in any way. Our young people can have a much greater influence on each other and their own safety when they call out or report harmful comments and destructive behaviours.
‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’ – Isaiah 43.2 (NIV)
Annual Government Report
Victoria's education and training regulator requires all schools to produce and provide an annual report to be published on the State Register. The Department of Education and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria manage the process of submitting these reports to us for their respective schools.
A copy of the Good News Lutheran College Annual Report for 2022 can be viewed via the link below, or on the College website.
The report contains the following information:
- Description and analysis of student learning outcomes in state-wide tests and examinations for the current year
- Description and analysis of student attendance rates for the year
- information of the school's financial activities
Should you have any questions about information in the report, please contact frontoffice@goodnews.vic.edu.au
Fiona McAuliffe
College Principal