a word from our leaders

Book Week

Hmm ... who's in the photo (above)?  

Our Leadership Team joined in the fun with themed costumes for the Book Week parade. 

Thanks to parents who

helped students create some outstanding outfits to make the parade fun and bright!  

$455 raised will be sent to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

A photo gallery of students in their costumes will be in next week's Newsletter.

Absentees

Teachers have benefited from having healthy children in their classrooms.  Thanks to parents who have  kept unwell children at home until they recover.  We appreciate your ongoing vigilance in keeping students with colds, temperatures, sore throats, runny noses and coughs away from school.

Can't or Can - it's all about perspective

After a sensational Book Week celebration across our ELC and Primary school yesterday, I reflected again on the attitude with which our staff team continue to approach this strange year of interruption and disruption.  It would be easy to slip into a mindset and matching language that reflects everything we CAN'T do because of COVID-19.  Rather, we choose to reflect the positive impact of Love, Optimism and Creativity,  with an attitude that simply recognises challenges exist, and then shifts to a focus on what we CAN do and achieve.  It's empowering, fulfilling and uplifting.

Currently we are adding the final detail to events that will carry us through to the close of the school year - sports day, excursions, camps, graduation, end of year service, etc, etc.  It's understood by us all that restrictions limit our ability to make this year look like those in the past, but exercising our values, inspires us to  explore the many things that this year CAN be.  That's exciting.  Watch this space!!

David Wilksch

End of Term 3

Please note that the last day of Term 3 is 

Friday 25 September.  It had been advertised at the start of the year (in the Communicate) that this would be an optional attendance day, acknowledging that many children are exhausted after performing or attending 'Showcase'.  This purpose is no longer relevant.

Finishing time will be the usual 3.05pm.

Showcase

Due to COVID-19 regulations, this year's Showcase Musical is unable to be performed as a live event in front of an audience.  For benefit and enjoyment of our whole community, students and parents alike, the show will go on. A link to a recording of the event will transport it to a living room near you! These times are certainly challenging us, but we continue to be up for the challenge.

A case for change

Those who have been involved in our community for some time know that we have been on a rigorous journey to articulate what and how children learn in the Good Shepherd context. 

This includes the development, launch and embedding of our Vision, Values and Learning Principles a few years ago. The teacher, parent and student charters articulate clearly our responsibility and accountability to these principles. Our learning spaces reflect these principles and our approach to learning (clearly articulated on a wall in the Brainforest) show the value we place on dispositions and capabilities in our learning program.

One of the early global 'movers and shakers' in this space who has deeply influenced our thinking is Sir Ken Robinson. Sir Ken challenged assumptions about teaching and learning. More broadly, he encouraged us to think differently about the role of education within our society, and how schools can nurture the unique talents of every child.

The video linked below is one of the most watched Ted Talks of all time. He influenced generations of educators to create an environment for all learners to thrive and flourish. 

We are grateful for the continued challenges we grapple with to create a learning environment that grows a whole child and creates opportunities for success for all. This does not look like the school many of us attended in our childhood. It should look, feel, and be different.

A New Arrival

Congratulations 

to Chris and Anthea Shields (Stage 3) on the safe arrival of a daughter, Alexis.

We wish you God's richest blessings as you welcome this little one into your family.

Re-enrolment Survey

In recent days all school families were sent our 2021 re-enrolment survey.  This survey requires action from all families.

It is at this time of year, thorough planning and preparation commences in preparation for 2021.  The most critical piece of information that informs our planning and assists us to appropriately resource the school in support of student learning, is a clear understanding of our enrolment totals in each year level and stage of learning.

Parents are reminded of the school's 'term in advance' notification policy. Late withdrawal of enrolment requires the payment of tuition fees for the following term.  In the event that there is uncertainty about your child's future enrolment at Good Shepherd, indication now, enables our support and administrative processes. 

If you would like to discuss your child's enrolment at Good Shepherd, please contact Pauline in the office or email here to arrange a conversation with me.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

David Wilksch

Class Allocations 2021

In response to a few early questions this year, I share the following information / procedure relating to the Class Allocation process for the following year.  

Over the up and coming holiday break we will begin working towards the allocation of students to specific class groupings for 2021.  

As our methodology and flexible learning environments continue to develop , in many respects, children’s ‘home classes’ become just one of their day-to-day groupings.  Many of you would recognise in our current organisation, that to maximise learning opportunities, children may sometimes be organised in single sex groups, interest groups, even ability groups.  We strive to be creative rather than restrictive.

We are a school that reflects constantly on practice and approach all we do through a lens of ‘continuous improvement’.  We feel the trust of the parent community and I am confident that our class allocation process is thorough and respectful of student needs.  Thank you.  However,  I also know that for some parents, the allocation process creates high levels of anxiety. 

Again this year I ask for your respect and trust as we complete the process.  Please refrain from requesting a specific teacher for your child(ren) or specific friendship groupings. The reason for this is simply that the broad range of factors we consider for each child, makes for an already detailed and complex process and we are simply unable to broadly and equitably meet such individual requests.  

As always, if there is any information that you believe the school is not aware of or if there are any specific questions that you as parents have about our process, my door is open and I welcome a conversation.  New information that needs to be shared should be directed to me in writing, not to classroom teachers or other school leaders. 

Many thanks for your understanding and support of our process.

David Wilksch

Principal