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Welcome Back to Good Shepherd!
Dear families,
Welcome back to Term 3! We hope the break provided you and your family with time to rest and recharge. It’s wonderful to hear the classrooms and playgrounds buzzing with energy again as students reconnect with friends and dive back into their learning.
We’re excited to welcome several new faces to our Good Shepherd community this term:
- Ms Faeza Samnakay joins us as our new Learning Support Teacher for Kindergarten to Year 2. Ms Samnakay comes to us with a strong background in both education and therapeutic settings, and we are confident her knowledge and insight will be a great asset to our students and staff;
- Mrs Geering and Mrs Horrigan have joined our Year 2 teaching team following the departure of Ms Mohasseb. Both teachers bring extensive classroom experience and a deep commitment to student learning and wellbeing;
- we are also pleased to welcome new Classroom Support Assistants who will be with us throughout Terms 3 and 4. We were fortunate to secure additional funding to further support students with additional needs. These new staff members will play an important role in our learning environments across the school; and
- we welcome back from parental leave, Mr Matthew Maher and Mrs Jessica Wilson.
Refurbishment updates
We are thrilled to report that the Year 2 toilet refurbishment was completed on schedule, and the new facilities are now open and in use. The Year 3 toilets are also on track to be completed and ready for use within the next fortnight. These upgrades were designed to resemble a home-style bathroom — clean, welcoming and odour-free — and this new approach is already proving effective in ensuring a welcoming space for all children.
In addition, work continues behind the scenes on playground refurbishments. While the current equipment is safe and compliant, some areas, including the higher monkey bars and climbing frames remain closed until we can replace the soft-fall flooring. We appreciate your ongoing patience and support as we work towards safe, modern outdoor spaces for all students.
Carpark etiquette – safety first
We would like to remind families to please follow all car park rules and drive safely during drop-off and pick-up. We have noticed an increase in cars swerving and overtaking dangerously during these peak times. This behaviour puts children and families at risk, and has required us to involve our Police Liaison Officers in supporting traffic management.
We urge all drivers to be patient and respectful. Dangerous or unsafe driving may be referred to the Police. Let’s work together to keep our school community safe.
Staff communication guidelines
We are currently developing updated communication guidelines to help streamline and improve communication between families and staff. These will be shared in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, we kindly remind families of our existing approach:
- please send short, courteous emails to your child’s teacher during business hours (8am–4pm). Teachers will respond within 48 working hours;
- our staff are actively teaching during the day and are not available to respond to emails immediately; and
- for urgent matters, please contact the office by phone to arrange a call or meeting with a teacher.
We ask families to avoid lengthy or late-night emails. Thank you for your understanding as we work to maintain respectful and effective communication.
Looking ahead
It’s already shaping up to be a vibrant and eventful term!
Grandparents and Special Friends Morning was a wonderful celebration last week – thank you to all who attended.
Our students and staff proudly represented our school at the recent NAIDOC Mass, honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history.
We are now looking forward to a range of upcoming events including:
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- STEM Fair
- Book Week Parade
- 100 Days of Kindergarten Celebration
- Dance Concert
Behind the scenes, teaching and learning is in full swing. On Day 1 of Term 3, our staff participated in a professional learning day focused on Guided Practice using the Gradual Release of Responsibility instructional framework. This model supports effective lesson design by shifting learning from teacher-led to student-led, through three key phases:
- I Do – the teacher models and explains;
- We Do – the teacher and students work together in guided practice; and
- You Do – students apply their learning independently.
We are excited to see this approach deepen student engagement and achievement across the school.
Thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to a fantastic term ahead filled with kindness, growth, connection and joyful learning.
Warm regards,
Trazel
Principal

As a school this term, we are focusing on how people, anchored by their trust and faith in God, can bravely cast their nets out with kindness. Our core Scripture for this term is John 21:1-14 - The miraculous catch of fish.
Many key themes and messages from this Scripture passage relate directly to our own school community:
Big Whole School Focus Ideas to Remember this Term
- Be brave like Peter—jump in and go to Jesus!
- Trust Jesus, even when things feel uncertain
- Cast your nets by being kind and loving to others
- Let Jesus feed your heart with mercy, peace and joy
- Share what you’ve received — love, hope, compassion, empathy, respect, and kindness — with the world
We invite you to join us and to be brave, trust God and cast your nets out with kindness.
Let us pray together
Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
You call us to follow You with courage, trust, and love. Like Peter, help us to be brave, jumping in with faith, even when we’re unsure. When our nets feel empty, remind us to listen for Your voice, and to try again with hope in our hearts.
Teach us to cast our nets wide with kindness — to be compassionate, responsible, and loving in all we do. Feed our hearts with Your mercy, peace, and joy, so we can share Your goodness with everyone we meet.
May our school be a place where no one is left out, where every person feels welcomed, valued, and part of Your family. Guide us, protect us, and strengthen us each day, as we walk together in Your light.
Amen.Calling for volunteers - canteen service
We are looking for volunteers to join our canteen roster. It isn't a weekly commitment, you advise your availability and we will roster you around that. If you have availability for either of the following, please email gscouncil1@gmail.com:
- Wednesdays from 1pm - 1:45pm. Serving students over the counter with cash
- Fridays from 1:15 - 1:45pm. Sorting pre-made lunch orders into class tubs
Upcoming Community Council meeting
The next Community Council meeting is scheduled for 5:30pm on Tuesday 5 August in the staff room. All members of the community are welcome and invited to attend. Please RSVP your attendance to gscouncil1@gmail.com.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Community Council
GRATITUDE
We’ve been exploring gratitude at school—what it means, why it matters, and how we can show it in everyday life. Gratitude helps children build empathy, strengthen relationships, and develop a positive mindset. It’s a simple but powerful way to boost wellbeing!
We’d love to know:
Has your child shared anything about gratitude with you at home? Please email terree.olive@cg.catholic.edu.au with your story.
Here are a few questions you might like to try together:
- What’s something that made you smile today?
- Who is someone you’re thankful for, and why?
- What’s something you’re lucky to have?
- How can we show appreciation to others?
Even small moments of gratitude can make a big difference. Thank you for supporting this journey at home!