Dear Parents and carers,

Exciting Start to the Year at Good Shepherd!
As we settle into the new school year, the energy and enthusiasm across our school community are truly inspiring. Teaching and learning are now in full swing, with students engaging in dynamic educational experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

Year 6 Camp – A time for adventure and growth
Our Year 6 students recently returned from their much-anticipated camp, filled with adventure, teamwork, and personal growth. Over the course of their stay, they tackled a variety of challenges, from high ropes courses to team-building activities, all designed to build resilience and leadership skills. The students demonstrated incredible courage and camaraderie, making this an unforgettable experience for all involved. A huge thank you to our dedicated staff who made this camp possible!

Swimming Carnival – A splashing success!
Last week’s Swimming Carnival was a fantastic celebration of skill, sportsmanship, and school spirit! Students put in their best effort in races and novelty events, cheering each other on with enthusiasm. Congratulations to all participants, and special recognition to those who achieved outstanding results on the day. A big thank you to our staff and parent volunteers who helped make the event such a success.

A Focus on Learning – Our Key Educational Programs
At Good Shepherd, we are committed to delivering high-quality education through evidence-based programs. This year, we continue to implement:

• InitiaLit (K-2): A structured literacy program building strong reading and writing foundations.
• Spelling Mastery (2-6): A research-driven approach to spelling, ensuring students develop accuracy and confidence.
• Rocket Maths (2-6): A program designed to enhance mathematical fluency through consistent practice.
• Knowledge-Rich Curriculum: Providing students with deep and meaningful learning experiences across all subjects.

In the coming weeks, we will provide further details about these programs and how they support learning at our school.

Supporting learning at home
To reinforce classroom learning, we encourage all students to engage in daily reading, either independently or with a family member. Additionally, those who are able should practice their times tables and fundamental mathematical processes. Regular and consistent practice is key to mastering these essential skills.

A reminder to parents that we also have a Home Learning Hub available via the Parents Tab on our school website, where you can find additional activities and resources to support learning at home.

Supporting students as they settle in
We acknowledge that settling into school each year is not always easy for every student. Not every child is "match fit" at the start of the year to commence learning straight away. We work closely with staff and families to support children who may struggle to settle. Each child develops emotional and social skills at their own pace, and some may need additional guidance as they navigate school routines and relationships. Sometimes, this can manifest as impaired decision-making, anger outbursts, anxiety, withdrawal from friendships, or difficulty playing in groups—especially on the oval and particularly with soccer. These challenges can arise for any child at any time. We ask parents to be patient and understanding if there are children in their child’s class who might be experiencing these difficulties. Your support and empathy help create a nurturing and inclusive environment for all our students.

Thank you for your ongoing support in making this a fantastic year of learning and growth for all our students!

Best wishes for the coming fortnight.

Kind regards
Trazel Scott

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast. (Hebrews 6:19)

We can think of God as an anchor for our soul. God will firmly keep us safe and secure in place, no matter the conditions that surround us. Whenever life seems tumultuous, we need to hold firmly onto our anchor.

Next Wednesday it is Ash Wednesday, the significant day in the Church year that marks the start of Lent. During Lent Catholics take on something extra as well as go without something. They fast or perform acts of charity (love) so they can more intentionally focus on and devote their life to God.

In the gospel of Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18, Jesus points to hypocrites or those who like to be seen doing something good, more than they like doing the good deed itself. Hypocrites are people who, through their attitudes, thoughts, words and actions, harden their hearts and move away from God.  Jesus says if we are going to take on something extra, or conversely, give up something, let it be so you can focus on what is important:

• God
• Jesus
• Prayer
• Healthy and happy relationships with others
• Being loving, kind, genuine, compassionate, forgiving and thoughtful people.

During the Lenten Season we need to give up something or take on something extra for the right reasons, not because it will look good to others and create a good impression, but because it will actually make you a better person – which in turn makes you genuinely highly regarded, appreciated and valued. Having a soft heart means we are open to hear God’s voice, becoming better people and in doing so sharing our faith and God’s love with others.

Netball Community Meeting
Thank you to our netball families who were able to attend our meeting on Tuesday 25 February, to discuss the options about netball club transition. More communication will be disseminated to families and students as we continue to work through the arrangements.

Community Council Survey
We want to hear from you about how best we can serve our school community. The survey will close on Monday 3 March. Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback. Take the survey here.

Community Council Meeting
All members of our school community are invited to attend our Community Council Meeting being held in the school's staff room at 6pm Tuesday 4 March. Please register your attendance by emailing gscouncil1@gmail.com.

Friday 28th February morning assembly (tomorrow, week 4)
8 year old and 9 year old boys and girls will be presented with their ribbons.

Friday 7th March morning assembly (week 5)
10 year old and 11 year old boys and girls will be presented with their ribbons.

Friday 14th March morning assembly (week 6)
12 year old boys and girls will be presented with their ribbons.