Dear families,

Welcome to Term 4
Welcome back to what promises to be another busy and joy-filled term at Good Shepherd! We hope everyone had a restful break and is ready for the exciting weeks ahead.

Over the coming days, I will send home information about 2026 class allocations. As always, parents are welcome to share any requests regarding their child’s placement. While we will carefully consider all input, please understand that specific requests cannot be guaranteed. Our process ensures that each class is balanced and that every child’s learning and wellbeing remain at the heart of our decisions.

Book Fair – Sunday 26 October 10am–4pm
Our much-anticiapted Book Fair is just around the corner! We’re calling for volunteers to help make the day a success — and we need BOOKS! All kinds of books are welcome. Donations can be dropped off at the Hall on Friday. Thank you in advance for helping us make this a great community event.

A visit from our Executive Director of Catholic Education
Last Friday, we were delighted to host Mr David De Carvalho, Executive Director of Catholic Education. Mr De Carvalho visited classrooms to see teaching and learning in action — and even joined in the fun of Crazy Sock Day! The Leadership Team also had the opportunity to share our plans for 2026 and beyond, exploring how we continue to grow as a flourishing school community.

Facilities update
Purple Playground equipment: We have had new softfall base installed underneath the purple playground equipment over the holidays, which means the playground is now compliant with Australian Safety Standards - phew! This year we have had several significant injuries with smaller children falling from the larger heights on this playground. The risk and compliance review has determined that this playground is too large for our Kindergarten children as they are too small to reach the high areas without adult intervention. Now that we are aware of compliance requirements, we must ask all Kindergarten children to refrain from using the purple playground equipment. We are working on installing a new playground for the little ones next year. If parents are supervising after hours, then it is OK for your children to be on the playground at other times. 

STEM and Italian rooms upgrade: We have had new flooring installed over the break in both STEM and Italian classrooms, as well as new painting throughout these buildings. These rooms are now refeshed and inviting.

Shade structure: Plans are underway to install a new shade installation over the main quad. This takes signifcant planning and appovals, so we hope this will be in place in the new year.

Toilet refurbishment: Stage 2 of the toilet refurbishment project will commence in December.

Good Shepherd Futures Project
At the end of last term, I invited families to take part in our Good Shepherd Futures Project — imagining our school’s bright future through “blue sky thinking.” If your child has created a poster or project with ideas for what we can keep doing, start doing, or stop doing, please drop it off at the front office as soon as possible. We can’t wait to see your creative visions for the Good Shepherd of the future!

Good wishes for the term.
Trazel Scott

In life’s ups and downs—through calm and storm—we find our anchor in God’s unfailing love. As a faith-filled community, we are called not only to receive God’s grace but to reflect it outward, becoming vessels of hope for others.

Being anchored in God doesn’t remove life’s challenges, but it transforms how we face them. Our faith becomes a lighthouse—shining light for ourselves and for others seeking direction. In a world longing for peace and purpose, we are invited to be quietly radiant and courageously kind.

Let’s live this out by letting our words and actions echo gratitude, empathy, and grace—shining hope for all to see.

^{October is known as the Month of the Rosary, with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated on 7th October. This is a special time in the Church year dedicated to honouring Mary, praying for her intercession, and reflecting on the lives of Jesus and Mary through prayer. The Rosary, which means "garland of roses" in Latin, is a Scripture-based devotion that invites us to meditate on key events—called Mysteries—from their lives. Throughout this month, Catholics around the world unite in prayer, seeking Mary’s guidance and support. Symbols such as roses and lilies are often associated with Mary, representing her purity and grace. Praying the Rosary is a meaningful way for families to grow in faith and connect more deeply with the stories at the heart of our Christian tradition.}

As a Good Shepherd School community, we extend our heartfelt thanks and farewell to Theivani Evers as she concludes her time as Holy Spirit Parish Manager. We are especially grateful for all she has done for our school and the wider parish community. Among her many years of contributions to parish life, we particularly acknowledge and appreciate the way Theivani has worked expertly, tirelessly, and generously over many years to support our school and the three other parish schools. Her efforts have been instrumental in strengthening the connection between parish and school life—especially in the areas of Sacraments and Liturgies.

Her dedication, expertise, and faith-filled leadership have helped our parish thrive and our schools flourish as vital parts of our shared faith community. It has been a blessing and a privilege to journey alongside Theivani, and we wish her every blessing as she begins her next chapter. We know we’ll still see her around as a Good Shepherd parent and Holy Spirit parishioner, continuing to share her gifts in new ways.

We offer Theivani our deepest thanks and every blessing for the journey ahead, trusting that her light will continue to shine in new and meaningful ways.

Google Translate is now a feature on the Compass app.  To activate:

....and there's something about Amaroo!  There has been a marked increase in the number of students presenting to the front office sick bay recently with sore, itchy and swollen eyes, a runny nose, dry cough and dry throat.  We completely understand because we are suffering as well!

If your child suffers from hayfever, please consider medicating them before school in the morning.  By the time students arrive at school, they are already displaying symptoms of hayfever, and this can distract from their learning.

Book Fair - this Sunday!
Our first Good Shepherd Book Fair is Sunday 26th October from 10:00am - 4:00pm in the school hall. We invite you to come and explore a range of books for readers of all ages, as well as games and puzzles.

There is still time to donate. Drop items off to the school hall at school pick-up time today, Thursday between 8:30am - 9:15am and Friday between 8:30am – 3pm.

We still need volunteers to help make the event a success! If you're able to donate some of your time on Friday or Sunday, please refer to the Compass post and complete the Google form.

Coming soon! Grounds Working Bee - Friday 7 November
To help prepare our school grounds for the upcoming 2026 Kinder Orientation, we will be coordinating a Working Bee.

Keep an eye out on Compass and social media in the coming days about how you can get involved.

Second Hand clothing pool
Did your children outgrow their summer uniform over winter? Our stock is limited and we are in need of summer uniform donations. Please drop donations to the baskets at the front office, or directly to the clothing pool next time you're purchasing second hand uniforms. 

It’s time for a spook-tacular celebration!
TeamKids is brewing up some fang-tastic fun next week for Halloween! ?️
There’ll be costumes, games, and treats so good it’s un-BOO-lievable!
Don’t miss out on all the frightful fun! ?