From the Principal's Desk :
Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
Throughout the last couple of weeks we have been welcoming new families and siblings into Good Samaritan through the Kindergarten 2022 interviews. For me, this always presents as a time of great privilege as parents choose our school for their child’s education.
This is the beginning of the relationship that is formed between school and family - particularly when the eldest child is being enrolled. It is a time of further enrichment of the relationship for siblings.
Relationships exist all across our school. We have students who form relationships with one another, parents who lean on each other for support and teaching staff who develop strong collegial relationships with one another. In our Catholic school such relationships are sacred because they become friendships that are life giving and this is what we desire as people who are truly human.
People of ancient times viewed friendship as the crown of life, the fulfillment of all that is most distinctively human. Our modern times can all too often look at the value of friendship primarily in terms of its usefulness for achieving material ends (friends as business contacts) or minimizing boredom and loneliness (friends as people to kill time with). . . .
Most people also have colleagues with whom they work or associates with whom they spend regular time.Friendship is one of God’s special gifts to humans. Remarkably, friendship is one of the terms God uses to describe the relationship that He desires with us. Friendship is therefore no ordinary relationship.
The twelfth-century Cistercian monk Aelred of Rievaulx (1110–1167) viewed friendship with other people as a way to deepen our friendship with God in Christ. This is quite different to the relationships we often settle for today. Wise people might say, “a friend is medicine for life.” This is a powerful metaphor. It is saying that no remedy is more powerful, effective, and distinctive in everything that fills this life than to have someone to share your every loss with compassion and your every gain with congratulation. According to St Paul, friends carry each other’s burdens and John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus said: “I shall no longer call you servants but friends” [John 15:15]
In our friendships and relationships, we encounter God every single day. Perhaps that is how we live and practice our faith through our friends and the relationships we form in our community.
As we journey, together, with Jesus this week,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Save the Date:
On Friday 25 June we invite you to a belated Mother’s Day Liturgy along with a prayerful celebration for the end of the term. This will be followed by a picnic lunch to end the term.
The Liturgy will begin at 12noon. Students may go home following the picnic.
We look forward to celebrating with you.
Uniform Tender Process:
As part of auditing regulations, Good Samaritan and all Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools need to market test suppliers for uniform services to ensure families are paying reasonable market value for school uniforms.
This school is supported in the completion of this process by accountants within the CEDoW Building Finance and Facilities team. This process will begin in the coming weeks. It is important to note that the Good Samaritan school uniform will remain unchanged.
The Academy: Good Samaritan Performing Arts Program
The weekly timetable for student tutorials and Band program can be accessed here.
Kindergarten 2022 Enrolments:
On Saturday we will continue to interview new families and siblings for Kindergarten 2022. This is an exciting time for families and students. If you know anyone who is considering Kindergarten to Year 6 enrolments at Good Samaritan in 2022 enrolments are still open.
eSafety Commissioner Parent Webinars
Click here to access the eSafety Commissioner’s free webinars for this term. Dates are also listed for webinars that will take place in Terms 3&4.