Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School

September 2011

First Days of School!

OUR MISSION

Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School provides our students with an exceptional educational program within a faith-centered environment. Our families and faculty are committed to the education of the total child so that our students are prepared to excel in high school and beyond. We instill a strong desire for learning and we challenge our students to develop self-discipline, integrity, and a commitment to community service. At Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School we strive to give our young students the foundation to live morally in our complex world. The educational experience at GSS is an invaluable instrument in proclaiming the Good News from one generation to the next. We challenge our students to develop spiritually, academically, and emotionally and to support the Catholic faith.

THEY WILL LEARN. GSS Students score high in standardized tests. An extraordinary number of our alumni have graduated at or near the top of their High School classes.

THEY WILL SERVE. Good Shepherd students collect canned goods for Sacred Heart Church in Camden. Sacred Heart uses the cans for their Thanksgiving & Christmas basket project. Our preschoolers help make sandwiches for the Cathedral Kitchen in Camden. Students at GSS know its important to remember "the reason for the season." Good Shepherd sponsors an annual Advent project. The students collect wrapped gifts to be placed under a family's Christmas tree!! During Catholic Schools Week our students participate in a service project dedicated to a particular non-profit organization. In the past our students raised $1,000 by selling lemonade from our "Alex's Lemonade" stand. A Lenten Tradition "Operation Rice Bowl" - This year the children of Good Shepherd raised over $900!!!

Our 8th graders coordinate several projects to allow ALL students at Good Shepherd to perform service for our community. Our "Service Dress Down Day" helps provide money for fruit, lunchmeat and bread for sandwiches the middle school will make and deliver to the Cathedral Kitchen in Camden. Essential items are collected for the homeless shelter, Life Center of Eastern Delaware County in PA. Our students will make cards and provide entertainment for our elderly at the Collingswood Manor. Our students are involved in a service project to help abused children. Our students have collected spare change to benefit the Philadelphia Children's Alliance, a non-profit organization that works to end child abuse and serve abused children. Finally, our students will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta parish food pantry.

THEY WILL LEAD AND SUCCEED. We insure that our young students have the foundation to live morally in our complex modern world. Our families and faculty are committed to preparing our children to fill a critical role in the future of our communities, our country, and our world.

Choose Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School and exercise your right to choose the best school for your children and know that when they are here, they are family.

JESUS makes a difference at GSS.

God bless you and your family.... Donald Garecht, Principal

Contact Diane Gallagher, Advancement Director, 869-4592 or goodshepherdgallagher@verizon.net for information or to tour our school.

THE LATEST NEWS AT GSS!

SPRING SHOW Good Shepherd School's Annual Spring Show will be held on Wednesday, May 16th at Paul VI High School. Students are to arrive at 6:45pm in costume.

RACE FOR EDUCATION!! Parents are invited to join their children in our first RACE FOR EDUCATION walk-a-thon on Tuesday, June 5th. Our preschool 3yr old Wednesday class is also invited to join us with their parents!! Address Labels are due April 30!!

SHADOW DAYS !!! "Shadow Days" GSS offers student visitation days for prospective students. Shadow Day enables your child to visit GSS on a typical day. RSVP to Diane Gallagher 869-4592 or goodshepherdgallagher@verizon.net. Please call to make an appointment for your child to shadow.

STUDENTS' HIGHLIGHTS

We have launched the new interactive online Math Program called “First in Math.” This program employs Deep Practice techniques to rapidly increase computation, problem solving, critical thinking and essential math basics. Our students are reviewing and practicing math skills online in school and at home and using Deep Practice provides immediate feedback.
A big thanks to Mrs. Lundholm for coordinating this program. Mrs. Lundholm is sharing her passion and enthusiasm for math and offers incentives to enhance the program!! Our students are excited about this new way of practicing Math!

Congratulations to Jillian Zupito, who will play the role of Ellen in Haddonfield Plays and Players "Number the Stars" on the following days ..Tuesday 3/20 at 10 am, Thursday 3/22 at 10am, and Wednesday 3/28 at 10 & 7pm

Congratulations to GSS graduates Selena Gallagher'09, Liz Hoover'10 and Abigail Camden'10 who will be performing in CCHS spring musical MAME 3/16,17,23 @7:30pm and 3/18,25 @2pm.

Congratulations to 4th Grader Alexis Fitzpatrick, the winner of this year’s Collingswood Town Spelling Bee! She has now been invited to the District Spelling Bee.

Congratulations to 6th Grader Emma Billings. This past weekend Emma qualified for the Middle Atlantic Junior Olympics Swim Meet in the 100m Butterfly and the 200m Backstroke. This meet takes place in March. She also qualified for the Middle Atlantic Elite Swim Meet in the 100m Butterfly and the 400m IM!

Congratulations to Kelly McHugh’11 who runs cross country for Camden Catholic HS and earned a spot on the First Team - Olympic Conference. She was also named to the Courier Post All Non-Public Team!

Congratulations to all our students who have participated in the Arts at Camden Catholic, Paul VI and The Collingswood Youth Theatre.

For more info check our Student Highlights link.

GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL FUTURE FUND

Now in its third year, this initiative will become our primary fund-raising focus.
This annual fund has been implemented by our Advancement Director, Diane Gallagher,
under the direction of Catholic Schools Development Program and volunteers from our Advancement Committee.
If you would like to invest in the future of Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School,
please return your pledge card and/or donation to the
Advancement Office, Good Shepherd School
100 Lees Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108.
If you would like more information on how to donate or information on our giving levels, please call Advancement at 869-4592.

BUY Retail & Grocery Gift Cards
Retailer List
Save money off your tuition and support GSS! YOU CAN NOW ORDER ONLINE!! Grocery and retail SCRIP gift card orders are due on Monday and will be filled by Friday. Cards will also be sold after all masses. For more information on ordering these cards, contact Lori C. 854-6763. For an up-to-date listing of all participating retailers click on the .pdf file link listed or check the website, http://www.glscrip.com and click on Retailer List - Thanks for your Support!

PACE Events Parents Participating in the Advancement of Christian Education. Please check our PACE EVENTS link for more info on the 2011-2012 school year. Parents interested in becoming Room Parents should call the school 858-1562 and leave a message for Kelly McConnell or Stacy Rutkowski.

Visit #: 148,604