Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Last week Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 came together in a prayerful Liturgy in our school hall. It was wonderful to see the children settle so quickly in a prayerful and reverent way considering the length of time it has been since we have been able to gather like this.

Gathering like this as a Catholic school community says so much about who we are - our sense of belonging and connectedness is much bigger than just our Good Samaritan community. As a Catholic school we are a part of a wider faith community that involves not only the Lumen Christi Pastoral region but also the many other schools, Parishes and agencies across the Wollongong Diocese.

This year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. We have so much to give thanks for with our involvement in Catholic schools. I know that I am blessed to have been able to work in Catholic schools for the past 30 years. Catholic educators experience a very different sense of workplace. We are most fortunate to have occupations where we can continually nurture and nourish our own faith as individuals whilst also working to form the faith of those students we teach.

Catholic Education in Australia, marks the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820. 

The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony. 

Whilst education has certainly changed since the 1800s, Catholic education has remained as the preferential option for many families because of our point of difference - embedding the Gospel values into our daily lives and placing a Catholic lens over all of our work.

A part of this is recognising where and when we are using the Mission Behaviours in all our activities. The children are making some great connections between what they do and how they display the Mission Behaviours. These are at the centre of our faith.

Today your family will receive a prayer card marking 200 years of Catholic education. 

Faith in the Future is the theme for the year - how blessed we are that Fr John Therry and George Marley had the faith in their future. We owe them many thanks.

Have a great week, journeying with Jesus.

Toni Sillis

Principal

These students were the winners of our Safer Internet Poster and Colouring Competitions.

Hanah (Year 6) Chloe & Emmerson (Year 5) Lily (Year 4) Laila & Rose (Y3) Isaac (Year 1) Anna (Kindergarten)

The following are some reminders for morning and afternoon car lines. These actions help to keep the car lines running smoothly and ensure the safety of all our community.

 Morning Car Lines:

• Begin at 8:20am
• Supervision by duty teachers who hand sanitise students on arrival
• Students must be able to get out of vehicles on their own
• School bags are to be in the car with the student, not in the boot
• Students must get out of the car on the passenger side
• Parents are not to exit the vehicle
• Supervisors are not allowed to open &/or close car doors

 Afternoon Car Lines:

• Begin at 3pm (unless wet weather)
• Students must enter cars on the passenger side
• Students must be able to buckle their seatbelt independently 
• Supervisors are not allowed to open &/or close car doors
• Bags are to go into the car with the student/s, not in the boot
• Parents are not to exit the vehicle

Thank you to all our parents who consistently support the safety in the operation of car lines.

It has come to our attention through a concerned resident that many of our students are at the Evil Eye Cafe with parents before and after school. The concern raised is that children are playing dangerously close to the road and, in fact, one student was seen running out onto the road between 2 parked cars.

Please be mindful of what your children are doing should you be at the cafe. Mt Ousley Public School have also been contacted and are advising their parent community of the same.

Safety of our students is always our priority.

On occasions where it is raining at dismissal time a Compass notification will be sent to parents to advise that wet weather dismissal arrangements will be put into place.

Wet weather dismissal means that:

• Car Lines begins at 2:45pm unless the weather is such that it makes it unsafe for students and staff
• Parents and carers are asked to ensure that the car line does not extend out into Cabbage Tree Lane and that a loop of the block is completed until the driver can safely enter the school
• Parent pick up dismissal is from classrooms beginning at 2:50pm
• Year 4 parents will meet their child/ren under the COLA. Year 4 parents are asked not to access the stairs during wet weather.
• Bus lines operate as usual from 3pm