Annual Report 2025 About the school ood Shepherd Lutheran Primary School is a Prep to Year 6 school providing high-quality, G Christ-centred education that inspires a lifelong love of learning. We believe every child is a unique and valued individual and we are committed to helping each student reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. ur experienced and passionate teachers create engaging, child-centred learning experiences. O We focus on developing well-rounded individuals who are confident, curious and compassionate, encouraging critical, creative and collaborative thinking through diverse learning opportunities. t Good Shepherd, we prioritise student wellbeing by fostering a strong sense of belonging A where students feel safe, supported and inspired to thrive. e are proud of our strong sense of community and the close partnerships we build with W families as we work together to benefit every child.
Vision Discovering potential, striving for excellence, in a caring Christian community.
Mission ood Shepherd Lutheran Primary School provides high quality Christ-centred education and G pastoral care for children and their families. The school works in partnership with families to provide an environment in which children discover and develop their potential and utilise their unique talents to serve others in the world around them.
Values ood Shepherd Lutheran Primary School strives for excellence in all endeavours, demonstrating G God’s love through acts of service. We cultivate a compassionate community where students care for themselves, each other and the world around them. By fostering a sense of belonging, acceptance, respect and forgiveness, we empower students to approach the future with curiosity, confidence, determination and resilience.
Our aims Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School provides a Christ-centred education characterised by: •
high-quality teaching and learning
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partnerships with families
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compassionate pastoral care
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a heart for service
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a relationship founded in forgiveness.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School seeks to nurture students to become: •
self-directed and insightful
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discerning and resourceful
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adaptable and creative
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principled and compassionate
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confident and resilient.
The Learning That Matters t Good Shepherd, learning is a dynamic and transformative journey that equips students with A the tools to succeed in today’s world and tomorrow’s. e deliver learning experiences that are intentionally designed to build educational success and W preparing our students for life, focusing on the six key areas of learning: •
Academic learning – preparing students for lifelong learning
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Creative learning – adding to the richness of learning
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Technological learning – utilising technologies to enhance learning
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Wellbeing learning – living well and relating with others
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Global learning – engaging students with the world around them
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Spiritual learning – learning to live in God’s love
Essential skills for learning he development of future-focused learning skills is essential to teaching and learning at Good T Shepherd. The Learning that Matters at Good Shepherd describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life. ur students at Good Shepherd develop the following essential skills through our learning O program: •
critical thinking
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effective communication
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collaboration
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creativity
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commitment to Christian spirituality
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technology and media literacy
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innovation
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global and environmental awareness
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social, emotional and physical self awareness
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problem solving
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finance and economic literacy.
The Good Shepherd learning experience he teaching and learning at Good Shepherd align to the Australian Curriculum, with emphasis T placed on teaching core literacy and numeracy skills to give students the ability to succeed across the curriculum. eachers are actively involved in curriculum development, providing student-centred learning T opportunities that encourage students to think critically, work collaboratively, use initiative and grow in self-confidence. Technology is taught both explicitly and integrated into other areas of learning.
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Learning support and enhancement o ensure every student thrives, Good Shepherd provides differentiated learning opportunities T catering to a wide range of academic abilities. Our Learning Enhancement Teachers partner with classroom teachers to support and extend student learning in the classroom. The Learning Enhancement program also offers small group support and extension activities tailored to the specific needs of each student cohort.
Strategic Intent ur Strategic Intent (2023–2027) is founded on five key pillars, which inform a set of strategic O aims and objectives which will set the direction of the school over the coming years. As we engage with our Strategic Intent, we do so with a sense of purpose and optimism for the future. With the support of our dedicated staff, engaged parents and vibrant community, we work together to achieve our strategic goals and to create a school environment that is both challenging and nurturing.
Pillar 1: A future-focused learning community SLPS fosters innovation that extends beyond technology. Staff complete a robust induction G program with strong mentorship and support. Professional development is ongoing, with regular sessions promoting best practices such as the Culture of Learning and project-based strategies. Collaboration is central, with weekly planning and moderation tasks undertaken. Emphasis remains onThe Learning that Matters, nurturing future focused skills through thinking routines and varied assessments. Our learning environments provide flexible, modern spaces, further enriching the school’s student-centred, learning culture.
Pillar 2: A Christ-centred faith community aith is embedded in all aspects of school life with daily devotions and chapel central to our F school community. Parent involvement in spiritual formation continues to grow, alongside stronger ties with Luther College and local churches. Student-led worship and service initiatives are encouraged and supported. Ongoing partnerships with Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) and Maroondah Community Assist reflect the school’s commitment to lived Christian values.
Pillar 3: A caring community ellbeing remains a priority at Good Shepherd with our Lutheran values being central in all that W we do. Child Safety policies, Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum (PEEC) and the Student Representative Council (SRC) are actively supported for the wellbeing and emotional learning across all year levels. Additionally, strong family partnerships and open communication are sustained through regular updates, information sessions and dedicated wellbeing support.
Pillar 4: A connected community SLPS has continued to nurture and promote strong home-school relationships through G improved digital platforms, cultural celebrations and events. Parent involvement is regularly encouraged both in and out of the classroom. Our engagement in service learning and volunteering has been identified as ways to deepen connections and reinforce our school values.
Pillar 5: A sustainable and efficient community trategic leadership has continued to be supported through skilled Board recruitment and S development. Our financial planning remains robust and aligned with our growth goals. Campus upgrades and facilities planning ensure long-term sustainability. Staff culture is further strengthened through responsive best practice and improvement-focused feedback.
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Enrolment data tudent enrolments at the school have continued to grow steadily since 2021. This reflects the S community’s confidence and the successful expansion of our fourth stream in Prep in 2021. I n 2025, the continuation of the fourth stream through to Year 4 brought the total number of enrolments to 658 students. Looking ahead, the school will continue to enrol four classes at each year level, with total enrolments projected to reach 700 students by 2027. ur ongoing partnership with Luther College continues to be highly positive, with 68% of the O graduating class of 2025 choosing to continue their education within the Lutheran system at Luther College.
Attendance The average student attendance rate for the 2025 school year was 93.6%. bsences were primarily due to illness, medical appointments and family holidays taken outside A of the scheduled school breaks. All absences require an explanation from parents or guardians. tudent attendance remains strong overall and continues to reflect the high level of support S from our school community. This strong attendance contributes positively to student learning outcomes and engagement. Looking ahead, the school remains committed to maintaining high attendance levels.
NAPLAN outcomes ommencing 2023, achievement in NAPLAN is now reported against proficiency levels instead of C the previously described numerical NAPLAN bands. tudents’ results will show how they performed in each of the NAPLAN assessment areas against S the four new proficiency levels: •
Exceeding:Student’s result exceeds expectations atthe time of testing.
•
trong:The student’s result meets challenging butreasonable expectations at the time of S testing.
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eveloping:The student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at D the time of testing.
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eeds additional support:The student’s result indicatesthat they are not achieving the N learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactory.
I n 2025, NAPLAN results for both Year 3 and Year 5 demonstrated consistent excellence in student performance across all assessed areas. The large majority of students achieved strong or exceeding results in writing, reading, numeracy, spelling and grammar and punctuation, indicating strong alignment with expected standards and a narrowing range of performance. ll year levels work collaboratively to ensure progression across the years. Previous learning is A consolidated and extended rather than repeated, so that higher-achieving students are challenged and students who need additional support are lifted.
Year 3 NAPLAN results The table shows the percentage of students who met the proficiency standards. Year
Reading
Writing
Spelling
Grammar & unctuation P
Numeracy
2025
93%
96%
85%
89%
88%
2024
96%
100%
82%
87%
89%
2023
97%
97%
97%
88%
96%
Year 5 NAPLAN results The table shows the percentage of students who met the proficiency standards. Year
Reading
Writing
Spelling
rammar & G Punctuation
Numeracy
2025
95%
95%
85%
94%
97%
2024
87%
92%
84%
84%
87%
2023
93%
96%
85%
87%
88%
Beyond the classroom t Good Shepherd, we offer a comprehensive range of extracurricular activities for students A from Prep to Year 6. These programs expose students to diverse experiences, helping them discover and nurture their individual passions, talents and strengths while fostering commitment and personal growth. I n 2025, students have been actively engaged in a wide variety of opportunities designed to support their growth and development across all areas of school life. highlight of the year was our musical productions. Our Middle Primary production, Garage A Band: A Dukebox Musical, entertained us with classic songs and wonderful dance moves. While the Junior Primary production, Rhythms of the Earth, took us on a magical journey through forests, across oceans and over mountains. porting events continued to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate grit, teamwork S and sportsmanship. The House competition program has supported this with athletics, cross-country and swimming carnivals taking place. Of note were our Year 3 to Year 6 students
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ho came together for the 2025 Athletics Carnival, embracing the competition with enthusiasm, w determination and a commitment to doing their best – whether sprinting down the track, leaping into the sandpit, throwing for distance or cheering on their teammates. amps and overnight experiences provided valuable opportunities for students to grow in C confidence and independence throughout the year. In Term 2, our Year 4 students embarked on a three-day adventure to Camp Rumbug, located in the scenic hills of South Gippsland. The students returned from camp with stronger friendships, a deeper appreciation for the outdoors and memories that will last a lifetime. This was followed by our Year 3 camp at ADANAC CYC in Yarra Junction. This is their first experience of an overnight camp, designed to build independence and community among students. The three day trip pushed students out of their comfort zones with a variety of engaging activities. Our school camp program also included our yearly journeys for Year 5 trip to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, and our week long Year 6 Canberra trip. his year saw 11 Year 6 students experience Good Shepherd’s first ever trip to China. Students T visited our sister school, Nanjing Lasa Road Primary School, spending the day practising their Chinese language skills by attending classes and participating in activities like Tai Chi and tea ceremonies. The educational and cultural journey was unforgettable and we look forward to continuing to build our relationship with our sister school on future trips to China. Additionally, our Year 5 and 6 students were thrilled to finally experience their highly anticipated ski trip to Mt Buller. It was incredible to see how much their skills and confidence grew and we look forward to the ski trip becoming a regular part of Good Shepherd’s extra-curricular program. tudent leadership continues to be a valued aspect of Good Shepherd life. Students are S encouraged to take responsibility, serve others and contribute positively to the school community. Our Year 6 students embraced leadership through a variety of roles including School Captains, House Captains and specialist leadership positions across, Visual Arts, Music, Digital Technology, Drama, LOTE and Library.
Governance and operations Governance he School Board plays an important role in school governance and in shaping the vision and T strategic direction of Good Shepherd. At the end of 2025, we farewelled the following dedicated members of the School Board: •
Damien Deckert (Chair)
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Nicole Williamson
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Andrew Leske (consultant)
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Dani Worlley (consultant)
s members of the school community who are passionate about the school and education A opportunities it provides, the Board works collaboratively with staff and the wider community to ensure Good Shepherd is the best possible learning environment for every child.
Child safety ood Shepherd Lutheran Primary School is a child safe organisation that welcomes all children G and their families. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive and child-friendly environment where every student feels safe, valued and heard. he school has a zero tolerance for child abuse. We proactively identify and manage risks, T promote positive relationships based on trust and respect and respond promptly and thoroughly to any child safety concerns.
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ur child safe policies are inclusive of all students, regardless of background, culture, identity or O additional needs. Every member of our school community shares responsibility for maintaining a strong child safe culture. We regularly review our practices and actively seek feedback from students, families and staff to continuously strengthen our approach.
Finance he information provided in the graphs below represents recurrent and capital income for the T year 2025:
Recurrent income 2025
Capital income 2025
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Our staff t the end of 2025, Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School had a total staff of 100. This figure A includes both full-time and part-time employees, covering teaching and non-teaching roles.
Employee type
Number
Employee type
Number
Principal
1
earning Enhancement L Teachers
10
ssistant Principal (Learning A and Teaching)
1
Administration staff
10
ssistant Principal (Operations A and Student Management)
1
Pastoral care/wellbeing staff
4
Classroom Teachers
32
Teacher Assistants
15
Specialist Teachers
12
Ancillary/service staff
7
Music/instrumental staff
7
Staff qualifications ll teachers hold the necessary formal qualifications required for teacher registration in Victoria. A All teachers have current registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. ll staff members have undertaken in-service training in child safety, mandatory reporting, first A aid, anaphylaxis policies and procedures and satisfy government requirements for criminal record checks and Working With Children Checks.
Workforce composition – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members o Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff members are currently employed at Good Shepherd N Lutheran Primary School.
Professional development ood Shepherd is committed to the ongoing professional growth of our staff. Staff members G benefit from the opportunity to participate in a range of professional learning opportunities that refine teaching practice, develop knowledge and skills, introduce educational initiatives and equip staff to meet the learning needs of students. Each teacher develops a personal
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rofessional Learning Plan (PLP). The PLP for the school is coordinated by our Assistant Principal P (Operations and Student Management). uring 2025 the school’s PLP spent approximately $71,000 on professional learning focused on D effective assessment, building identity and community (Specialist team) and neurodivergent-affirming education . The teaching team also had a strong focus on developing the school’s approach to Literacy through UFLI, Speld and PlayBerry Laser. ew staff members undertake a comprehensive induction program and are supported by N mentors during their first year at Good Shepherd. Graduate teachers receive support as they work towards full registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
Growing in faith and wellbeing ur commitment to enhancing and strengthening the social, emotional and spiritual O development of our students is integral to every aspect of school culture. We recognise that wellbeing is fundamental to learning and we seek to ensure students develop positive and respectful relationships and connections within the school and community. A Christ-centred approach underpins the foundational values that the wellbeing and worship program is based on. t Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School, we prioritise student wellbeing by ensuring that the A safety and wellbeing of every student is at the heart of our care and decision-making. We are committed to providing a child-safe environment where students feel protected and secure. Our wellbeing program offers tailored support for each year level, with specific programs designed to meet the unique needs of students at every stage of their development. This is alongside individual support for students as needed. ur Head of Counselling and Wellbeing, School Counsellors and School Pastor make up the O Wellbeing Team who support the social and emotional needs of our students. orship is a central part of life at Good Shepherd, shaping students for life and service both W within our local community and God’s worldwide community. Along with devotions held in classrooms and by staff, whole-school worship services are held on Wednesday and Friday each week, led by different year levels. Through worship we nurture and encourage everyone to strive with God’s help to reach their potential in Him.
Conclusion ood Shepherd Lutheran Primary School continues to be a valued educational provider, firmly G committed to quality Christian education and care. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong community foundations that offer students the highest quality academic, wellbeing, co-curricular and service-learning opportunities. he 2025 school year has been another positive and productive one, marked by many T achievements worth celebrating. I am grateful for the support of our parents, staff and students, all of whom have contributed to these successes. verything we do at our school is for the benefit of our students and is dedicated to the glory of E God. May He continue to bless our school, now and always. aniel Weller D Principal
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