Dear Community,

Welcome back after what I hope has been some enjoyable time spent with your children.  This second term has started noticeably cooler than last, and the soon to arrive winter weather and darker mornings throw added challenges to all of us.  Easter fell in the middle of our school holidays, and as a school community we reflected on the events of Holy Week before we broke for our term break. It is only at the end of Holy Week when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus that the focus turns to joy and hope.

God’s love for each one of us was perfected in the suffering and death of his son, Jesus Christ.  The death of Jesus was one of violence and cruelty – betrayed by a friend, deserted by followers, and rejected by those he had tried to help.  Yet we realise that God sent Jesus into the world to be the saviour of all, and by sharing in the human condition in its most distressing form, God’s love is manifest in a way which leads us to eternal life.

COVID update

ACT Health COVID-19 guidelines have changed for schools beggining Term 2. Good Shepherd’s priority will be to deliver on-campus learning with COVID smart measures in place to minimise transmission of COVID-19 onsite. Good Shepherd will regularly review, and update where required, our approach to managing COVID-19 as appropriate. Our approach is informed by the National Framework for Managing COVID-19 in Schools and Early Childhood Education and Care Settings, and the latest advice on winter season preparedness from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

The following is a brief outline of changes for Term 2, 2022.

Check-in requirements

Digital check-in will with the Check-In CBR app is no longer required for staff and students. However, QR codes will continue to be available for voluntary use, including for community hirers holding events on school sites.

Masks

The use of face masks will be eased from Term 2. Staff, students and visitors are not required to wear masks on school or ELC sites. Masks will need to be worn if a person is a close household contact of a positive COVID case – see below.

Cohorting

Cohorting will no longer be required. However, schools are advised where possible, to minimise the length of time or number of students involved in organised activities that bring mixed groups together.

Physical distancing

Physical distancing should be maintained on school sites where possible. Density quotients no longer apply.

Close Household Contacts

Household contacts will not have to quarantine if they have no COVID-19 symptoms but will need to comply with the following requirements for seven days from the time the first person in their household tests positive for COVID‑19:

• advise ACT Health that they are a household contact by completing a COVID-19 online declaration form;
• wear a face mask in all indoor spaces when outside of the home, if aged 12 years and over;
• students study from home, where it is practical to do so;
• parents/carers notify the school of their child being a household contact; and
• if it is not practical to study from home, students must undertake COVID-19 testing and return a negative result in the 24 hours prior to returning to school and then every 48 hours if ongoing attendance is required.

Daily reporting of COVID cases

Schools will notify parents only if there are a significant number of cases within the community and/or a cohort.

The health and safety of students and staff remain as always our priority. If there are high numbers of COVID-19 exposures at our school, consideration will be given to whether any of the following additional COVID-19 Safety Measures should be reintroduced, with authorisation by Catholic Education Office. These measures aim to limit the potential for further transmission and will generally be limited to a short period of time (e.g. 1 to 2 weeks):

• additional testing recommendations such as test before returning to school/ELC and again within 48 hours;
• masks - staff, students in Years 7-12, and visitors may be asked to wear a mask when indoors and when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained; 
• limiting parents and carers on-site - parents and carers may be asked not to attend a school/ELC site without an appointment;
• cancelling permitted activities - any of the planned permitted activities may be cancelled or rescheduled to another date;
• cohorting - it may be necessary to cohort a particular class or year level so that they don’t mix with other students or staff across the school; and
• remote learning - some or all students may need to return to remote learning. This measure will be limited as much as possible, however, may also be enacted in response to workforce shortages arising from COVID-19.

Rapid Antigen Tests
Our school will have access to Rapid Antigen Tests for distribution as needed and requested by parents. Parents or students who are symptomatic should not attend the school to collect a Rapid Antigen Test. Those families are encouraged to access testing through an ACT Health testing facility.

I look forward to working with you as we continue to manage COVID-19 and acknowledge that educating your children is, as always, our priority.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Enrolment period for 2023

Our Good Shepherd Open Days will be held on Monday 2 May and Monday 16 May from 9:30am-11am and 4pm to 6pm and is one opportunity to show others that our school is different. We have advertised for these days and really hope for a great turn-out. We have already received over a class full of Kindergarten enrolments for 2023, and the official enrolment period hasn’t even commenced!  Please let interested people know about our day on Monday and encourage them to get their enrolment forms in quick!

Enrolment time for all Catholic schools occurs from Monday 2 May until Friday 20 May. This includes St John Paul College, Merici College and St Francis Xavier College for our Year 6 families, and the Holy Spirit and Mother Teresa Early Learning Centres (ELCs) for our pre-schoolers.

Please spread the word!

ANZAC Day

We commemorated ANZAC Day this week. On ANZAC Day we remember all Australian and New Zealand men and women who served their country and continue to serve their country so that we can live in peace and security today. Many have suffered severe injuries or trauma from war, or paid the ultimate sacrifice and given their life for their country.

As today’s generation, we remember them.

Lest we forget.

We also continue to pray for peace in our world.

Pupil Free days

Good Shepherd School will be having two Pupil Free Days this term - Tuesday 31 May and Friday 24 June. Below is a letter to all parents from the Director of Catholic Education, Mr Ross Fox regarding these days.

Dear Parents,

I have authorised two extra pupil free days in Term 2 for all schools in the Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn to support teachers who have been carrying extra teaching loads due to the COVID-related staff absences.

Like many other school systems, in Term 1 our schools had significant staff absences. Casual teachers were in short supply so teachers and principals covered classes of absent teachers. They went without their usual allocated release from day-to-day teaching and planning, professional learning and administration.

Despite these challenges, our staff sought to maintain the highest quality of teaching, learning and pastoral care of students.

I have asked each school to engage with their parent and carer communities to give you timely notice of these pupil free days.

Best wishes,

Ross Fox

Director, Catholic Education

Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn

Winter uniforms

You are reminded that all students are required to wear winter uniforms in Terms 2 and 3. Thanks for your support in this matter.

Wishing God’s blessing on you and your families,

David Austin

Principal

Caritas' Project Compassion

Thank you to those families who donated to Project Compassion this year through the donation boxes. If you still have some at home, send them to school by Friday 6th May.

Palm Sunday drama

A huge thank you to the Year 6 students who participated in the Palm Sunday Passion drama at Holy Spirit Church. Fr Mark and the parishioners were very impressed with your dramatic skills, and some were even moved to tears by your presentation of Jesus' Passion. A huge thank you to Ms Manenica who did an amazing job preparing the students for the drama.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Important dates for Confirmation

Thursday 28th April - Spirit Day 

All Year 6 students come to school in free uniform. They spend the day in prayer, learning about the Sacrament of Confirmation. Students are also given the opportunity to go to confession during the day.

Tuesday 3rd May - Sacrament of Confirmation at 6pm (Good Shepherd)

Please arrive 15 mins prior for last minute preparations to start on time at 6pm.

Thanks to the Community Council who have purchased and will provide gift packs for each child for Mother's Day.

Each gift pack will have a selection of beautiful items for mums to enjoy. Packs will be randomly selected; children do not need to order them.  

Packs will be delivered to children in their classes on Friday 6th May. 

Payment is $5 via QKR!

Click on Community Council events for payment.