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GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL

GOOD NEWS GOOD NEWS

“A Year of Grace, Growth, and Gratitude”

Letter from the Principal

Dear Parents and Parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic School,

As we wrap up another incredible school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all we have accomplished together and extend my deepest gratitude for your continued support of our mission.

This year has been filled with so many proud moments I’ve had the true privilege of watching our students grow, not only in their academic abilities, but also in their faith and their confidence Their enthusiasm and effort have been inspiring. Seeing them change and develop throughout the year is one of the most rewarding parts of my role, and it reminds me daily of the importance of what we do here

I am truly blessed to work alongside such a dedicated and hardworking staff whose care for each child and commitment to excellence are the heartbeat of our school. They create a nurturing, faith-filled environment where every student is encouraged and challenged to grow I’m also grateful for Fr Kent’s leadership and faith-filled presence, which greatly enriches our community Together, their commitment to Catholic education and student success is truly inspiring

To our parish community and families, thank you! Your generosity and belief in Catholic education make our mission possible. Because of your support, Good Shepherd continues to grow and thrive, excelling at the highest levels We are especially excited to welcome a considerable increase in enrollment this coming year, a testament to the strength and reputation of our school community

In this newsletter, we’ve included just a few of the many accomplishments from this year that we are so proud of They are a reflection of the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the strength of our community

As we look ahead with excitement and hope, please know how grateful we are for your partnership. We ask for your continued prayers and support as we prepare for another year of faith, learning, and community Wishing you and your families a fun and safe remainder of the summer

With gratitude and blessings,

Ann McGuff Principal

Student Council’s Spring Fundraiser

Soars over $4,200!

great success, raising over $4,200! The money raised will go toward supporting Student Council initiatives and the Good Shepherd Guardian Angel Fund, which helps provide tuition assistance to students in need at our school

The fundraiser brought plenty of excitement with fun activities and chances to win great prizes. Students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of ways by purchasing a surprise suckers, where each sucker had a possibility of a surprise color on the bottom that revealed a prize. Students could also purchase raffle tickets. Raffle baskets were donated by members of Student Council, and included things like sports baskets, pampering baskets, summer fun, gift cards to B&B Theaters and Roblox, Lilo & Stitch basket, art basket, Squishmallows, and more 27 baskets ended up being raffled off! Finally, students could buy a rubber pig Each pig had a number on the bottom, and three lucky winners were drawn at the end of the week to receive an ice cream sundae party and dress down day for their entire homeroom

Congratulations to our big winners: Harper Remmert, Hudson Pottorf, and Mrs. Tyler, who enjoyed an ice cream sundae celebration and a comfy dress-down day before the end of the school year!

Student Council is proud to host events like these throughout the school year to create fun opportunities for students We are grateful to everyone who participated, donated, or helped make this fundraiser a success!

Good Shepherd’s Faith Families: A Beloved Tradition of Faith, Friendship, and Service

At Good Shepherd, one of our favorite traditions is our Faith Families program Each Faith Family is made up of one student from every grade, Kindergarten through 8th grade, led by an adult leader who is either a staff member or a volunteer parent This special tradition brings our students together in a unique way, building bonds that last throughout their entire Good Shepherd journey

Students look forward to every Faith Family gathering It’s common to see smiling faces light up in the hallways when students spot another member of their Faith Family Many even flash their special Faith Family signal, a sign known only to members of their group, making each student feel like part of something special

Throughout the year, Faith Families meet to learn about and live out our Catholic faith Past activities have included lessons on prayer, virtues, saints, and the Golden Rule This year, students also enjoyed a fun round of Junior Trivia, answering questions and playing games together in the gym, strengthening friendships in a fun and exciting way

Faith Families don’t just grow in faith, they also serve others. While learning about the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, students learned the importance of service to the community In the past, they have worked together to donate food items to those in need and to assemble Happy Kits for Children’s Mercy Hospital These kits helped make young patients feel more welcome and comforted during their hospital stay

Thank you, Good Shepherd students and leaders, for making Faith Families a tradition loved by all By praying, playing, learning, and serving together, you truly live out the spirit of our school.

Good Shepherd Alumni Honored as National Merit Commended Scholars

Good Shepherd is beaming with pride as it congratulates several former students who have been named National Merit Commended Scholars Saint Thomas Aquinas graduates Kobe Bui, Joseph Befort, Jacob Boyd, Delaney Davis, and Leo Scaletty, along with St. James Academy graduate Jonathan May, all 2021 alumni of Good Shepherd, received this high honor The National Merit Scholarship Program is a prestigious competition that begins with more than 1 3 million students taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Commended Scholars represent the top 34,000 scorers nationwide, reflecting exceptional academic promise and potential for success in rigorous college studies

KobeBui,LeoScaletty,JosephBefort, DelaneyDavis,JacobBoyd

Teachers and staff are thrilled to see the accomplishments of these students This commendation reflects the value of the academic and moral foundation fostered at Good Shepherd Teachers remember the students fondly and recall their determination, curiosity, and passion for learning Even at a young age, the entire Class of 2021 stood out for their curiosity, engagement, and advanced thinking.

Ellen Befort, parent to Joseph, shared her thoughts on how the early years at Good Shepherd shaped these students “Good Shepherd offers a solid curriculum in reading and math that not only builds core academic skills but also helps students develop discernment in test-taking, an important skill in the U S educational system Rather than "teaching to the test," Good Shepherd takes a whole-child, faith-based approach to education, seamlessly integrating test readiness into meaningful classroom learning The result is a natural and effective preparation that equips students for both academic assessments and lifelong success.”

Ellen credits not only Good Shepherd’s strong academic foundation but also the lasting sense of community it fostered, one that has carried through to high school and beyond “The students continued to collaborate and encourage one another, often reviewing essays, studying together, and sharing their academic interests with genuine enthusiasm,” Ellen shared

We are proud to celebrate our students who have been recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars, an outstanding accomplishment that reflects years of dedication and hard work. Their success is a testament not only to their individual efforts but also to the supportive environment we hope they experienced at Good Shepherd Here, students are encouraged to grow in knowledge, character, and faith As our community celebrates these young scholars, the message to current students is clear: with hard work, perseverance, and a strong foundation, they too can reach incredible heights

The Commended Scholars have big dreams and bright futures ahead as they explore options to further their education in college:

Joseph Befort will be attending the University of Notre Dame, studying Biochemistry, and will be in the Glynn Family Honors Program with a minor in Finance

Delaney Davis will be attending Kansas State University, studying Architecture

Kobe Bui will be attending the University of Kansas, studying Chemistry with a Pre-Med focus

Leo Scaletty will be attending the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, studying Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering

Jonathan May will be attending Creighton University, studying Finance and Technology

Jacob Boyd will be attending Kansas State University, studying Engineering

Congratulations to these young scholars Your Good Shepherd family is cheering you on and can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

SaintThomasAquinasgraduatesfromlefttoright:

St JamesAcademy graduate, JohnathanMay

Habemus Papam!

Good

Shepherd

Students Witness Hist

ExcitementandreverencefilledthehallsofGoodShepherdasstudents gatheredtowitnessatrulyhistoricmomentinthelifeoftheChurch,the announcementofournewpope,PopeLeoXIV

Inthedaysleadinguptoit,studentslearnedabouttheprocessofelectinga newpope.Theydiscoveredhow,afterthedeathorresignationofapope, theCollegeofCardinalsgathersintheSistineChapelfortheconclave,a seriesofsecretvotes.Blacksmokesignalsnodecision;whitesmokemeansa newpopehasbeenchosen

Onthedayoftheannouncement,excitementfilledthebuildingas classroomsbuzzedwithanticipation.Whenitwasrevealedthatthenewly electedpopeisfromtheUnitedStates,cheersofjoyechoedthroughoutthe school.

Fr.Kentjoinedinthecelebration,sittingwiththe7thgradersasthey watchedandwaitedtogethertoseetheHolyFatherforthefirsttimeEven ouryoungeststudentswereengaged,asfirstgraderswrotedownwhatthey hadlearnedaboutPopeLeoXIV,andmanystudentschosetocontinue watchingthecoverageduringlunch,eagertobepartofthisextraordinary momentinChurchhistory

What a historic and faith-filled day!” one teacher remarked as students smiled, clapped, and reflected on the importance of witnessing such a sacred and unifying event As a school rooted in faith, we now turn our prayers to Pope Leo XIV We ask the Holy Spirit to guide him as he begins his mission to lead the Church with wisdom, courage, and compassion May his papacy be a beacon of faith, hope, and unity for Catholics around the world

Habemus Papam. Long live Pope Leo XIV!

Good Shepherd Catholic School Fosters Friendship with El Salvador Community

Good Shepherd School proudly honors its long-standing partnership with El Buen Pastor in El Salvador through meaningful activities and shared learning. This year, our own 4th-grade teacher, Allie Dierks, led a special schoolwide presentation, sharing insights about El Salvador’s geography, culture, and climate, along with personal stories from her past visit

For 37 years, Good Shepherd Parish has supported El Buen Pastor through fundraising, supply drives, and annual summer visits In May 2024, this partnership made a big difference by replacing a long-flooded bridge the community’s only access point, improving safety and daily life for residents

Each year, Good Shepherd students help by raising funds for essentials like hygiene and medical supplies and donating books and school materials, learning the importance of caring for those in need

Good Shepherd’s ongoing support reflects a decades-long commitment to the well-being and growth of its sister community, strengthening bonds of friendship across borders. This summer, two delegations, one including Miss Dierks, will visit El Buen Pastor once again. We pray their trip brings hope and continued support to our friends in El Salvador.

Good Shepherd Takes Firs Debate Tournament

Good Shepherd seventh and eighth graders took top honors at the first-ever Middle School Debate Tournament hosted by St. James Academy, earning a first-place team finish and multiple individual medals

The tournament, started this year by the St James debate program, invited students from Catholic schools in the area Good Shepherd proudly brought the largest group, with 19 students forming nine debate teams

Students met weekly at Good Shepherd for research or at St. James to learn debate skills with peers from other schools. This year’s topic was whether the U.S. government should ban single-use plastics. Teams prepared to argue both sides, covering issues from environmental impact to effects on small businesses

earned silver medals with strong 2 1 records. At the end of the day, Good Shepherd was awarded the overall first-place team trophy.

The tournament consisted of three rounds, with two students per team and judges from the St James High School debate team Each round, the teams earned speaking points based on the evidence gathered, the clarity of their argument, and their delivery The teams with the best speaking points won the round

The event was more than a competition; it was a valuable opportunity for students to sharpen their public speaking, critical thinking, and listening skills The success and excitement of this year’s tournament have already sparked interest for next year, with several students eager to return and build on their experience

Setting the Standard in Student Success

We’re proud to celebrate another year of outstanding achievement at Good Shepherd Catholic School Each spring, Kansas students in grades 3–8 take state assessments in English Language Arts and Math, and students in grades 5 & 8 in Science. These tests measure how students are meeting Kansas academic standards The results are reported using performance levels on a scale of 1-4 Listed are the scores for 2024, comparing Good Shepherd to all schools in the Archdiocese of KCK and in the state of Kansas.