Dear Parents

We’re at the end of another term! If time flies when you’re having fun, it flies twice as fast when it’s fun and jam-packed!! What a great, busy term we’ve had. Here’s some of what happened!

Ten solid weeks of work and engagement explains why we’re looking forward to a break from the school routine at the end of this week.

Work intensification is a reality for all members of our community, and when it’s coupled with ‘life intensification’; travel, extracurricular groups, sport, music, tutoring, social catch ups, family commitments etc. Everyone is tired! 

What does tiredness look like in a family of over 400 people who have been in close proximity for 10 weeks? It can get prickly. We become easily frustrated, irritated, less resilient, experience meltdowns, have trouble concentrating and bouncing back and are more likely to blurt or react emotively. An increase in Friendship Fires is common. It is easier for adults, whose brains are more developed, to recognise these signs and signals and regulate accordingly. It is VERY difficult for young people who can be overwhelmed and confused by big feelings, feelings that are normal.

In times of overwhelm, our children are provided with space and support to work through their feelings and reregulate. Sometimes it is just sharing the space with them, as talking adds to their sensory overload. It could be taking a ‘walk and talk’ where words are shared without the need for eye contact. At times, a conversation is facilitated to work through a Friendship Fire or brainstorming strategies to restore a relationship. Our little people do not have the cognitive, mental or emotional capacity to deal with these things alone. And one approach does not suit everyone!

So as the term winds up, I wish you and your family a safe and fantastic break. I hope it’s filled with a balance of work, adventure, relaxation and pyjama days so you can recharge and be ready for Term 4! 

I am adding a few extra days to these holidays. You will see me back at school from Week 2.

We thank you Lord, for this term. 
For our challenges, our successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. 
Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends. 
Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.

Amen

Student Leadership at MoGC

At this time each year, we begin processes with our Year 5 cohort to prepare them for leading the school in the following year. Throughout this term, I have engaged with Year 5 and 6 students, staff and the MoGC School Board to reflect on Student Leadership processes currently in place at MoGC with the purpose of making leadership a more equitable and shared experience of service for students.

Students and staff were asked to reflect on our current leadership processes and brainstorm elements to STOP, START, KEEP and additional CONSIDERATIONS & IMPROVEMENTS. This has been a valuable process and based on the feedback and insight, a new approach to student leadership is being developed and will be shared with families in the first newsletter of Term 4. Stay tuned! 

Week 10

Monday, September 15

• Year 2-4 students attending The Grumpiest Boy in the World theatre production
  

Tuesday, September 16

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
  

Wednesday, September 17

• Swimming carnival briefing and war cries for Years 3-6

Thursday, September 18

• Loughton 40 Hoops Session #6 for registered participants (final session)
• MoGC Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival 
• Normal school day for Prep - Year 2 students

Friday, September 19

• Last Day of Term 3
• MoGC Netball Teams at Mary Mills Cup
• 8:30 Assembly 

Saturday, September 20

• 5:30 Parish Mass 

Term 4

Week 1

Monday, October 06

• KINGS BIRTHDAY - PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday, October 07

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• 5:15 Prep 2026 Transition BBQ

Wednesday, October 08

• Student Sustainability Group 

Friday, October 10

• 8:30 Assembly 

Week  2

Tuesday, October 14

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck

Wednesday, October 15

• Newsletter day
• 2026 Prep Transition Session #1

Friday, October 17

• 8:30 Assembly 3B leading Prayer
• P-2 Swimming Lesson #1

Week  3

Tuesday, October 21

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• 9:30 Student Voice Forum (8 selected students in Year 5-6) 
• 2:15 Year 4 Liturgy 

Wednesday, October 22

• 2026 Prep Transition Session #2
• St Monica’s Aspire to Teach student with 2A

Friday, October 24

• Year 5 excursion to Green Island
• P-2 Swimming Lesson #2
• 8:30 Assembly 

Week  4

Tuesday, October 28

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck

Wednesday, October 29

• Newsletter day
• 2026 Prep Transition Session #3
• St Monica’s Aspire to Teach student with 2A

Friday, October 31

• Walk for Daniel and Socktober (Silly socks)
• Wear a red shirt
• Gold coin donation. Money going to Catholic Mission
• World Educator’s Day
• P-2 Swimming Lesson #3
• 8:30 Assembly 2B leading Prayer

Week  5

Tuesday, November 04

• Melbourne Cup 
• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck

Wednesday, November 05

• 2026 Prep Transition Session #4
• St Monica’s Aspire to Teach student with 2B

Friday, November 07

• 8:30 Assembly 
• P-2 Swimming Lesson #4
• Final lesson
  

Week  6

Monday, November 10

• Year 5 Leadership Day at Holloways Beach Environmental Centre
  

Tuesday, November 11

• NO Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• 8:45 Remembrance Day Liturgy

Wednesday, November 12

• Newsletter day
• 2026 Prep Transition Session #5
• St Monica’s Aspire to Teach student with 2B

Thursday, November 13

• Kids Helpline, Transition to High School - Year 6 students (at MoGC)

Friday, November 14

• Year 5 Leadership Day at MoGC
• 8:30 Assembly 1B leading Prayer 

Week 7

Tuesday, November 18

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck

Wednesday, November 19

• 2026 Prep Transition Session #6
• Final session
• 5:30 MoGC Connect AGM

Friday, November 21

• 8:30 Assembly 

Week  8

Monday, November 24

• 2026 School Leaders speeches
• End of Year Concert Run Through

Tuesday, November 25

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• 6:00 End of Year Concert on the Basketball Court

Wednesday, November 26

• Newsletter day

Friday, November 28

• 8:30 Assembly Prep B leading Prayer

Week  9

Tuesday, December 02

• 8:30 Parent Engagement - Coffee on the Deck
• Bump Up Day

Wednesday, December 03

• 6:00 Year 6 Farewell Mass

Thursday, December 04

• Reports available to parents on MyCE
• P-2 Excursion to Sugarworld
• 2:00 Year 6 v Staff Basketball 

Friday, December 05

• 8:30 Assembly 
• 10:45 End of Year Mass & Guard of Honour
• Parents of Year 6 students and students leaving MoGC are invited to attend.

On Friday, September 5, fathers, grandfathers and special male role models were invited to celebrate Father’s Day at school. The day started at 8:00 with a sausage sizzle, play with the kids and at 8:30 we finished with a slideshow of photos and prayer led by 4B. 

Thank you to everyone who sent in a photo of their child and the special man in their life. 

Thank you to the MoGC Connect volunteers, with special thanks to Joelene Bettini for leading the team at the father’s day Stall. 

Thank you to Year 1 for a beautiful Creation Liturgy and the family members who joined us, it was lovely to see so many of you there. The students did such a lovely job with the singing, reading and jobs. 

During Week 8, our Year 6 cohort attended their three-day camp experience. School camp provides many opportunities for students to learn and grow, to stretch their thinking and their skills, and to become a little bit more independent. These opportunities take a great deal of planning and time, and cannot occur without the sacrifice of our staff and parent volunteers. THANK YOU Gerry, Leigh, Lucy, Darlene, Paul, Craig and Katherine!

Camp Paterson was an enormous success, with many tales shared and embellished upon return.

Farewell Mrs Holden

Last week we said goodbye to Mrs Emma Holden, our wonderful Prep A school officer. Emma has been part of the MoGC Family for 13 years, working across the school and supporting many staff and students. Emma is moving on to new adventures working in disability support.

We wish Emma every happiness as she begins a new chapter and thank you for her contributions to MoGC and our students.

From the commencement of Term 4, our current Year 1 School Support Officer, Ms Chelsea Schmidt will join the Prep team in Prep A.

Welcome Emily Edward

Next term we welcome a new School Officer, Miss Edward, to MoGC. Emily will be working with our Year 1 cohort.

Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival

We are looking forward to our Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival at Tobruk Pool on Thursday, September 18. Students are expected to arrive at school before 8:20am. Once classes have assembled on the basketball court after the bell, groups will begin their walk across to Tobruk Pool with their teachers. Races will commence as soon as we are ready, at approximately 9:00.

While the Tobruk canteen will be operating for snacks, students should pack healthy food options and plenty of water. Times to purchase from the canteen will be scheduled, so this should not be the only food available. 

What to wear: house sports uniform (with swimmers underneath), hat and shoes / thongs

What to bring: towel, sun shirt, sunblock, lunch, water bottle, team coloured swim cap (for those students who purchased one).

Name all items. 

While we celebrate the achievements of place-getters and award an overall points trophy, the carnival itself is very much about raising aquatic skills and awareness in an engaging and positive environment. The wellbeing of our children and lifelong lessons we model to them should therefore be those of support, encouragement, respect, fair play and resilience. Each student who attends the carnival will receive a point for their house.

Students are required to sit with their team throughout the day and parents are welcome to sit in the house team areas. Marquees will be set up as a viewing area for parents, opposite the grandstands. Remember to pack a chair. Children are not permitted in this space. 

Early exit from the carnival closes when the presentations begin. Students cannot be signed out after this time and are required to stay until the conclusion of the carnival.

Prep, Year 1 and 2 students will remain at school on Thursday, September 18.

P-2 Swimming Program

Our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 swimming program commences on Friday, October 17 and runs for four consecutive Fridays. This program focuses on water safety and confidence. This program culminates with an excursion to Sugarworld at the end of Term 4.

It’s time for an attendance data check in! Improving student attendance is a 2025 priority and part of the MoGC School Annual Improvement Plan. The Diocesan student attendance goal is 90% -  90% of students attending school for 90% of the time. When students attend for 90% of the time, they are attending for the equivalent of four days each week!

Our SAIP goal is: By the end of 2025 the number of students with a minimum attendance rate of 90% will improve from 71% to 80%.

How are we tracking? We are currently sitting at 81.4% of our students attending school for 90% of the time. This is slightly up from 81.1% in Term 2. We have a lot to celebrate with this data: we are on track to meeting our school-wide goal and our 2025 attendance is consistently higher than it was in 2024.

Families with students currently below 90% for Term 3 will receive communication next week. The purpose of this email is to raise family awareness of student attendance level.

Our Term 3 target was to decrease our Unexplained Absence data. This requires families to notify the school via MyCE app, email or phone call of their child’s absence. Notifying the school will also remove the automated text message received when a student absence is unexplained.

Unfortunately, we have moved from 9.1% of absences being unexplained to 15.2%. The MyCE app makes reporting student absences very easy and convenient for families. Hopefully we’ll see this data decrease in Term 4.

On Friday, September 12 we celebrated Book Week and invited students, staff and families to dress up as their favourite book character or embrace this year’s theme Book an Adventure! 

Our Year 3 students had a fantastic day at Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda! The excursion gave everyone the chance to experience the rainforest and learn in fun, hands-on ways.

Some highlights of the day included:

• Army Duck Tour – travelling through the rainforest and across the water on an amphibious vehicle.
• Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience – enjoying a dance show, listening to Dreamtime stories, and trying boomerang and spear throwing.
• Wildlife Park – seeing kangaroos, wallabies, dingoes, wombats, and snakes up close.

The students showed curiosity, respect, and teamwork throughout the day, making it a very successful excursion.

To share the experience further, we have attached some of the students’ own recounts of the day. We hope you enjoy reading about the excursion in their own words!

Skye 3A

My favourite thing about our excursion is seeing all the animals like dingoes, wombats and much more. I liked all the animals because they were cute and we could pat the wallabies.

Logan 3A

Yesterday we went to the rainforest nature park. One of my favourite things was the army ducks. The army duck was fun because we got to see all the plants and animals and go in the water, and we also saw lots of birds. A cool plant I learnt about was the stinging leaf. It is very, very dangerous because if you touch the leaf, it has needles in it and it also has this neurotoxin that can make you really sick. Another thing was the animal centre where I got to pat a wallaby and touch a snake, which was very smooth. Next, we went to an Aboriginal dance where I got to join in with it. Then I got to throw a boomerang, and it nearly came back to me. Luck last we got to watch how to throw a spear and how to work the digeridoo.

Karen 3B

On Wednesday my class and 3A went to Reforestation and it was amazing. First we got on the army duck and then we were introduced to many different plant species including a heart shaped plant that could spread toxins into our bodies, but our instructor told us that some animals had adapted to the toxins and were able to eat the plant as to them it was a delicious snack. I was also able to pat wallabies and snakes. I liked the soft fur on the wallabies but, I enjoyed patting the snake more because it had an incredibly smooth, scaly skin that was hard for me to stop touching. I learned how to throw a boomerang, and we also watch the Aboriginal people dance, play the digeridoo and even throw a spear. Overall, I really enjoyed the trip.

Gabriel 3B

My class and I went to Rainforestation on the 10th September 2025. We learnt a lot of stuff, like how stinging trees sting you with sharp pointy spines coming out of the leaf. It processes neurotoxin up the spines of the leaf. My favourite part was when we were on the army duck and it was so much fun learning about all those plants in a gigantic vehicle. We got to see and touch snakes and wallabies. We also got to throw a boomerang each and watch spear throwing, digeridoo playing and watch a cultural performance. I had an awesome time watching and seeing different animals and plants. I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

Throughout Term 4, we welcome our 2026 Prep families through a transition program each Wednesday morning, for six weeks. This is an exciting opportunity for our upcoming Preps, and for their families to experience our school. 

The program commences with a welcome Sausage Sizzle, 5:15pm Tuesday, October 7, and is followed by six one-hour sessions where students experience time in the classroom and become familiar with the school. Parents interact with each other and staff while hearing information about a range of topics.

Enrolments at Mother of Good Counsel are in demand, and we have waiting lists across a number of year levels. Families have been sent an electronic parent slip requesting enrolment intentions for 2026. Please respond to this slip as soon as possible to enable us to begin 2026 preparations, and if you are not returning, a place can be offered to another family.

As families prepare for Term 4, so all students return wearing the correct uniform, please assess your child’s current uniform and make the necessary changes. The expected uniform is clearly outlined in the Parent Handbook.

Please pay particular attention to your child’s hat - do they have one?

Our goal for Day 1 of Term 4 is for each student to have their own hat!

JGFA Schools Competition - Soccer

On Thursday, September 4 our Gala Day soccer teams competed in the Jamie Gosling Football Academy Competition at Holloways Beach. The day was filled with team spirit, resilience, positive sportsmanship, skill and fun! 

Thank You to Mr Jennings and Mr Baynes for training and preparing students at their lunchtime training sessions, as well supporting our students on the day. 

All Abilities Day 2025

On Wednesday, September 3, Anna (3A) attended the All Abilities Day held at Barlow Park, a day that celebrates inclusivity and promotes sporting opportunities for students with disabilities.

Anna was lucky enough to participate in a round robin of sport activities, from ball games to obstacle courses, with the day focused on teamwork and “having a go”.

Activities such as Bowling, Shot put, AFL, Cricket and Long jump were some of the sports Anna participated in, with Hockey being her favourite.

Building Your Child’s Resilience 

Is FAFO the End of Gentle Parenting or Just the Start of Bigger Problems?

If you’ve spent time on TikTok or read the Wall Street Journal lately, you might have come across a new parenting buzzword: FAFO parenting. It stands for “Fuss Around and Find Out” (a cleaner version of the original phrase, where the first “F” is a somewhat stronger word).

The idea is simple: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Don’t step in when your child makes a mistake — let life teach them. Forget their raincoat? Let them get drenched. Refuse to eat dinner? Let them go hungry until breakfast. Spray Mum with a water gun after being told not to? Into the pool you go.

Supporters claim this “tough love” approach prepares kids for the real world, sets firm boundaries, and builds resilience. But as tempting as it sounds (especially when we’re tired of endless negotiating), there’s a darker side parents should understand.

Why FAFO Parenting Backfires

1. It damages the relationship. When kids know you’ll let them suffer to “teach a lesson,” they stop seeing you as a safe place to turn. They may go elsewhere for comfort — sometimes to people you wouldn’t choose.
2. It confuses punishment with learning. Being left hungry doesn’t teach meal planning. Walking home in a thunderstorm doesn’t build weather awareness. Kids learn that parents let bad things happen and they feel unworthy of their parents’ help. What they don’t learn is how to solve problems.
3. It creates compliance, not character. Children may obey out of fear, but that doesn’t build integrity, empathy, or good judgment. True resilience comes from feeling supported, not punished.

A Better Way Forward

Discipline isn’t about dishing out pain to prove a point. It’s about problem-solving together. 

That statement needs to be on repeat. Too many of us feel like it’s our job to make our kids pay a price when they are challenging. That’s the opposite of what good discipline looks like. The best discipline recognises that children aren’t the problem. They’re having a problem. And if we can support them in solving that problem, the challenging behaviour goes away. 

So, if FAFO isn’t the answer, what is?

Here are three approaches that truly help kids learn and grow:

1. Connection First

Children behave best when they feel seen, heard, and valued. Before stepping in with correction, start with connection. That might mean kneeling to their level, making eye contact, and saying, “I can see you’re really frustrated right now.” Or, “It’s a pretty tricky situation huh?” When kids know you’re on their side, their defences come down. They feel safe enough to listen and safe enough to learn.

Connection doesn’t excuse the behaviour — it creates the conditions where change becomes possible. Think of it like building a bridge: without connection, there’s no path across. With it, you can walk your child to better choices.

2. Collaborate on Solutions

Rather than letting “life” teach hard lessons, we can teach problem-solving. Instead of, “You didn’t bring your raincoat, now you’re soaked — bet you won’t forget next time,” try, “Looks like you’re wet and cold. What can we do differently tomorrow so this doesn’t happen again?”

These small conversations build responsibility without shame. Children learn that mistakes aren’t fatal; they’re stepping stones. And they learn that you’re willing to help them think through better strategies — which is exactly the skill they’ll need when you’re not around to rescue them.

3. Coach, Don’t Control

Our role isn’t to coerce compliance but to coach competence. Coaching means guiding with patience, encouragement, and high expectations. It’s sitting beside your child at the homework table and asking, “What’s your plan to get started?” rather than standing over them with threats.

Force creates resistance. Coaching opens up the possibility of growth. It allows kids to build the inner compass they’ll need long after childhood.

This isn’t about bubble-wrapping our children. We aren’t trying to protect them from hard things. Life will bring plenty of natural challenges. But home should be their safe base — the place where they know someone always has their back.

Trends like FAFO parenting may grab attention online, but they miss the heart of what our children need most: connection before correction. When kids know they’re loved, supported, and guided through challenges, they don’t just become obedient — they become resilient, kind, and capable human beings.

MoGC Connect Meeting

The next MoGC Connect meeting is scheduled for 5:30, Wednesday, October 15, in the Multipurpose Room, above the library. You are warmly invited. 

Agenda items can be emailed to mogc.connect@cnsstu.catholic.edu.au 

Save the date: Wednesday, November 19 MoGC Connect AGM

Coffee on the Deck

Parents and carers are invited to join us for Coffee on the Deck each Tuesday between 8:30 and 9:00. This is a great opportunity to chat with staff and meet other families. 

2025 Parent Contacts 

If you have a question about your child’s year level, are looking for information or need some guidance on where to direct an enquiry, these parents contacts are happy for you to reach out to them:

Prep: Stacey Watt staceylwatt@outlook.com	Year 1: Louise Bernstein: louise.bernstein@blueoceanic.com
Yr 1: Emma Smith: emmajb21@hotmail.com Yr 3: Paula Kelly: paulajkelly81@gmail.com	Yr 2: James Rickman jamesrickman@yahoo.com.au
Yr 4: Jenny Gangell jenny.gangell@gmail.com	Yr 5: Joeleen Bettini joeleenb1@bigpond.com  Bindi Cooper coopernb@outlook.com