a word from our leaders

What a team!

My sincere thanks to each and every member of the staff team of Good Shepherd for a wonderful commitment over the last two weeks of professional development activities in preparation for the commencement of the school year.  Your desire to work and laugh together for the benefit of our community was inspirational.  Parents, be confident that your children are in the very best of hands.  

New staff

Staffing our school is my greatest responsibility and reward.  I feel that God's provision has again blessed us in 2021 as we welcome six new staff to our team. 

Curiosity:  Marion Chan and Lauren Botheras

Stage 4:  Nathaniel Nilsen

Learning Support:  Kate Burton and Sarah Smith

Director Junior Primary:  Evie Stevens

Welcome to new families

The beginning of each school year brings with it opportunity for us to welcome new families into our community.  For Early Learning and Foundation children and their families who are experiencing 'school' for the first time, and for students and families transferring from other locations, the beginning of the new school year is a time of exciting change and challenge.  We trust that our home visit program, the Buddy program for students and our friendly staff and administration team, make your transition into our community comfortable, informative and enjoyable. Our doors are open ... we are here to serve and support.

Back to Community Service

Students will be welcomed and blessed at the ‘Back to Community’ service this Sunday at 10.30am in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  New staff together with existing staff members will also be dedicated at this service.  We'd love to see you there.  All are welcome.  

Parent Partnership Night

Our Parent Partnership Night (Stage 2-4) will be held on Tuesday 9 February, from 6:45pm. It is a critical evening in our school's growing community. We commend the evening to all parents as an essential step in developing the all-important school-home relationship and partnership in support of your child's learning.

Teachers will be:

• identifying and acknowledging the learning needs of students in the Stage
• painting a picture of the Stage culture they are desiring
• outlining their dreams and expectations for the home-school partnership
• clearly articulating communication protocols
• helping you get to know them personally

Please join us in the courtyard to begin the evening, share in some refreshments, laugh and connect, before touching base with our teachers.

Tuesday 9 February

6.45   Arrive to drinks and nibbles adjacent Mengkiwodli (gym)

7.10   Welcome by David Wilksch

7.20   Move to classrooms

7.25   Session 1 – Stage presentation (15 minutes)

7.40  Individual teacher presentation (5 minutes)

7.45  Parents move to Session 2 (if required)

7.55  Session 2 – Stage presentation (repeated presentation for multiple child families)

8.10  Individual teacher presentation (5 minutes)

8.15   Drinks and nibbles continue - mix and mingle with staff and community

8.45  Close

Respect for all

There's something special about the energy and excitement of the first days of a new school year - our community comes alive!  We should also note that the early days of every school year are rather 'busy'.  Large numbers of parents choose to park and enter the school as children settle into new classrooms.  Car parks and local streets naturally and predictably overflow.  Then, quite quickly, we return to a more normal rhythm - families again start to use 'Kiss and Drop' and efficiencies return.

During these days of congestion please respect one another and local residents too, by exercising an extra level of patience and keeping residents' driveways clear at all times.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Welcome Party

Yes... it's back! COVID safe and guaranteed to to provide opportunity for our community to reconnect. 

See the advertisement on the next page and lock the date away!

Thank you

A huge thank you to the majority of parents / caregivers for attending to numerous end-of-year tasks and returning forms in preparation for the 2021 school year.  All available family and student information has been processed ensuring we begin the year efficiently and well informed.  Thanks again for your cooperation.  A small number of families are yet to return vital data and medical health information.  Please attend to this task promptly to ensure the highest level of care can be offered to your children.

Bus service

Good Shepherd in partnership with Endeavour College, continues to offer a bus service catering for students from suburbs covering an area from Tea Tree Gully to Mawson Lakes.  Families can enjoy the convenience of safe, direct and affordable transportation to and from school. If you would like to utilise the service or receive further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Garry Schwartz (Director of Business and Finance).

Fruit Fly

With Good Shepherd families almost all located in the 'suspension area', fruit and vegetables listed in the attachment must not be packed into lunchboxes or moved outside of the home while restrictions are in place.

Attached here is also the full PIRSA advice for your information.

Please note that our OSHC and Curiosity fruit is delivered directly to our centre (or 'Home' as defined in the advice) and held in sealed containers to comply with the advice.

Junior Primary Playground

It has been shared that COVID safe use of the JP playground is permitted after school dismissal.  The playground remains closed before the commencement of the school day.