Good News
WINTER WOOLIES
On Friday 20th June 2025 (Week 8) we held our annual Winter Woolies Day. This included our annual winter clothing donation drive and gold coin collection. This year we raised $932 in gold coin donations and filled a large Vinnies Night Patrol Van to the brim with our clothing donations. Members from the Vinnies School Team visited our school on Monday 23rd June on behalf of St Vincent de Paul to collect our donations, and they were most impressed with, and grateful for, our generosity and donations. As a school community we were able to generously and compassionately support the most vulnerable individuals and families across the ACT and surrounding regions during this Winter season. Thank you to each of you for your contributions!! Together, we were the ‘heart of God in Amaroo.’
MINI VINNIES SLEEPOUT
On the evening of Friday 20th June 2025 until Saturday morning at 7:30am (Week 8), we held our annual Mini Vinnies School Sleepout. It was so heartening and inspiring to see so many students and staff giving so generously of their time and comfort to sleep out overnight in our school hall to raise awareness and money to support those in our community who are doing it tough or have found themselves living in poverty or homelessness. Our students are true beacons of hope for others, spreading God’s message and love in our community through their compassionate, empathetic and kind attitudes and actions.
We had 105 students participate in this event, and together they were able to raise a most impressive amount of money. To date they have raised $7,888! We are blown away by, and so grateful for, the generosity of all who have supported and contributed to this worthy cause!
Both of these successful, life-changing events supported the St Vincent de Paul Canberra/Goulburn Vinnies Winter Appeal to help people break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Thank you so very much to all involved and for the blessing you are to our school community and those in our community and beyond.
On Tuesday 1st July some of our Year 6 students had an opportunity to run a Mini Spirituality Retreat for our Year 2 students. They used the skills they have learned over this semester during Ministry classes as well as during their own grade spirituality retreat and the inter-school Illuminate Conference last week to lead this Retreat.
The retreat consisted of games, small group reflections and activities, all led by the Year 6 students. Some of the key messages to come out of the retreat were:
- God promises to look after and care for people and all of creation;
- God asks people to be responsible, caring and empathetic by helping him care for all creation; and
- God invites people to listen, learn and to making loving choices.
This past Sunday the Catholic Church celebrated The Feast Day of two significant saints - Sts Peter and Paul. Christians celebrating this feast day focus on diversity, unity and greatness.
As members of Good Shepherd School and Holy Spirit Parish, we are members of a diverse and unique community. As individuals we may find ourselves relating to both of these important men within the Christian community. Peter can be described as the everyday person who was called into greatness. In contrast, Paul can be described as the passionate advocate for truth and grace. Both men, despite their differences, are remembered together in one shared feast. Their lives remind us that God often works through unexpected reversals: Peter, the impulsive one, becomes the rock; Paul, the persecutor, becomes a teacher to the nations.
As families, parents, teachers, parishioners and members of the Church, we may sometimes feel pulled in different directions—like Peter and Paul once were. And yet, this Feast Day reminds us that unity doesn’t mean sameness. It means valuing each other's unique journeys and learning from them.
Loving God,
As we step into this season of rest, we thank You for the many ways You’ve walked with our school community—guiding our learning, nurturing our friendships, and blessing our days.
Watch over each student, family, and staff member during this holiday break. Grant us peace, refreshment, and moments of joy shared with loved ones. May we return renewed, ready to continue growing in faith, wisdom, and kindness.
Good Shepherd, lead us always in Your care. Amen.
