Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

It was great to be able to welcome parents back on site this week with the further easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The students, and their teachers, once again demonstrated the ability to adjust to new organisation procedures particularly for afternoon dismissal.

There has been much to celebrate across our school community over the last couple of weeks including student participation in many sporting events. Students have also had the opportunity to participate in liturgies, SPLICED not to mention the thinking, idea creation and learning that occurs in each classroom every day.

As I watch the students arrive every day, I love to see them walk into school with smiles on their faces ready to greet each other and to begin their day. Many children run through the gate, and whilst I know many are running to begin a handball game or to find their friends, it brings a genuine sense of belonging. This is what can be referred to as the implicit wellbeing curriculum. Whole school wellbeing can be taught but it is more often caught.

Whole school wellbeing will not only be achieved through teaching an explicit curriculum to students - it is something beyond this. It is vital to consider the multitude of moments, places and interaction where wellbeing is built in our school. This ‘caught’ curriculum appears in the way we are with each other, the language that is used - essentially it is ‘the way things are done around here.’

As part of developing a culture of wellbeing, we are planning to have a PB4L Day each term. The aim is to have a consistent opportunity to focus on the Benedictan values and mission behaviours so that students will have a consistent opportunity to practise social skills and strengthen relationships. This term we will celebrate the PB4L Day on Friday 19 March. This is also the Feast of St Joseph. Our PB4L Day will begin with a Liturgy followed by a day of activities that take into account Harmony Week, World Happiness Day and National Day Against Bullying which all fall throughout that week. The students are able to wear mufti for the PB4L Day using the theme of Wear What Makes You (& Others) Happy! eg: football jersey, butterfly wings, funny hat. Students need to wear enclosed shoes and remember to wear something that makes another person smile.

Have a great week ahead, as we journey together with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal

Catholic Education has advised that Wollongong systemic Catholic schools will come into line with the Gazetted Staff Development days of NSW Department of Education from January 2022.

Specifically, for 2022 the CEDoW gazetted dates are:

• 26 January - Australia Day holiday (Wednesday)
• 27 January - Student vacation (Thursday)
• 28 January - Staff return Pupil Free Day (Friday)
• 31 January - Staff at schools Pupil Free Day (Monday)
• 1 February - Year 1-6 students return to school (Tuesday)

Mark the dates in your calender !

Kindergarten 2022 Best Start will be conducted 1 February through to 7 February and the official first day of school for the 2022 cohort is 8 February (Tuesday).

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.

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