Wellbeing

The wellbeing of our students is central to all that we do at Good Shepherd and we aim to ensure all students feel a sense of belonging to our College community.

To facilitate this sense of belonging, Good Shepherd has adopted the evidence-based approach of Positive Education; which aligns with our focus on educating the whole child. Positive Education brings together the science of Positive Psychology to encourage and support individuals, schools and communities to flourish. We refer to flourishing as a combination of ‘feeling good and doing good’. Positive Education focuses on specific skills that assist students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness, and encourage a healthy lifestyle. At Good Shepherd, Positive Education is integrated into our curricular, co-curricular and Pastoral Care programs.

"We believe that our approach should primarily be an educative and forgiving one" Wellbeing at Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd also adopts a restorative practices framework to enhance relationships among students, teachers and parents, and to further nurture our sense of community. The Restorative Practices philosophy, which is in keeping with the Lutheran approach to education, provides students with the opportunity to develop self-discipline and positive behaviours in a caring, supportive environment. A positive school climate in which young people feel connected is the best environment for learning.

We believe that our approach should primarily be an educative and forgiving one. That is, the fundamental aim of our philosophy and practice should be that students learn to become responsible for themselves and their actions and to make genuine, positive contributions to their community. A restorative approach sees conflict or wrong doing as an opportunity for students to learn about the consequences of their actions, to develop empathy with others, and to seek to make amends.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is concerned with the total wellbeing of students. It focuses on personal, social and spiritual education, emotional support of students, and building of relationships as they progress through College life. The Pastoral Care program covers a broad range of activities and events that encourage student cohesiveness, engage students in discussion and understanding of the core values of our College, and also shape the way we work together in the community, and support one another in the Pastoral Care group.

Pastoral Care at Good Shepherd is delivered in different ways depending on the year level the student is currently in.

  1. Junior Years

    For students in Junior Years, that is Prep to Year 5, Pastoral Care is delivered in their classroom by their classroom teacher.
  2. Middle Years

    When students reach Years 6 to 9, that is the Middle Years, they are in a period of transition in their schooling. For Years 6 and 7 they continue with class based Pastoral Care Program and then in Years 8 and 9 they are organised into house groups.
  3. Senior Years

    Students in Years 10 to 12 are organised into house groupings for their Pastoral Care program.

House Groups

Good Shepherd has a proud and long tradition of house spirit. We have four houses named after the local bodies of water around the Noosa area.

Students compete in house groups in competitive sports activities throughout the year, as well as fun social activities and sports through the Pastoral Care program. The houses are as follows:

OriginLakeBayPointCreek
ColourYellowBlueGreenRed
MascotOspreyDolphinWombatLizard
ElementAirWaterEarthFire