What a wonderful start we have had to Term Two!!

We joined together as a school community last week to celebrate our Risen Lord in an Easter Liturgy under beautiful blue skies. 

The Easter Season of course does not conclude on Easter Sunday. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus for 50 days, from Easter Sunday through to Pentecost Sunday. The children were encouraged to remember this by wishing each other a Happy Easter after our celebration.

We gathered again as a school community last Friday for ANZAC Day. This celebration was led by our Year Three students. We listened to the following Gospel verse from St John’s Gospel.

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

 The gospel gives us the familiar image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This is an image of care and nurture, and it is consoling as we recall those Anzacs who suffered in war. It is also a story of recognition and relationship, ‘I know them and they follow me’. The relationship between Jesus and his followers endures inspite of loss, hardship and death. He promises, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.’ As we joyfully celebrate the Easter Season, we remember that Christ conquered death and by his resurrection embraces us all in his promise of eternal life. Love is stronger than death, stronger than anything. God’s love prevails. Our call is to respond to that love and to work for peace.

The whole community paused in silence to listen to the Ode and stood in silence for the Last Post. 

The Children were so respectful and reverent throughout and it was lovely to once again be able to hear children’s voices as they joined together to sing our school song.

Autism Awareness Day  

30 April - Mufti Day 

Light It Up Blue Because We Are Better Together

April is Autism Awareness Month and at Good Samaritan we will be having a special day to develop more of an awareness of the abilities and needs of students with autism so that we can continue to ensure that our students with autism, along with all of our students feel included, welcomed and respected within our school community.

Inclusion is one of the values we hold very dear at our school. When we talk about inclusion we talk about every child in our school being given what they need to develop their whole self. That does not mean that every child receives the same but that every child receives what they need. This may mean having work differentiated to ensure that we meet each child where they are. It may mean providing a quiet space when a child feels overwhelmed. It may mean having a sensory toy to assist with staying calm or visuals to provide routine and structure. It may mean accessing a program to extend and challenge such as SPLICED or to support Literacy such as MiniLit or MacqLit. It may mean accessing extra teaching time in small guided groups. It may mean accessing pastoral support programs. 

When a child enrols at Good Samaritan we don’t just accept them, for acceptance alone is not enough and doesn’t really define the aim for any student at our school including those students who have different learning needs. Embracing difference is the aim for all students, including those with Autism —it goes beyond acceptance to inclusive practices that provide for the needs of each individual child. 

During our Autism Awareness Day we are looking forward to celebrating the abilities of our students with autism and learning more about how we can ensure that they continue to have appropriate support from their peers and teachers as needed.

Our Awareness Day will involve:

• Mufti Day - all students are asked to wear blue clothes
• 9:50 - 10:50am What Is Autism?   (30 minute lessons which have been developed by Mrs Huska and Mrs Sampson for each grade)
• Morning Tea - Bring something blue (blueberries, an iced cake or muffin, whatever your imagination and cooking skills can come up with)
• 11:40 - Liturgy - We’re Better Together 

 Together we can make our school even better

Have a wonderful week everybody and give your children an extra hug this week.

They are amazing

Take Care

Mrs Sharon Smithers