Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Well, we’re nearly there! Our return to face-to-face learning is just around the corner. Our staff are gearing up for the return of students to our school site beginning with Kindergarten and Year 1 next week. It will be great to get them back into the routines of school life, learning in their classrooms and most importantly, together with their peers and their teachers.

It sounds a bit glib to say that ‘we couldn’t have done it without you - our parents’ as this doesn’t seem adequate enough for the partnership that has strengthened with you and the school community. Parental engagement throughout remote learning has been extraordinary as you navigated the daily learning of your child over the last term. I feel in awe of what you have had to do as you became used to new ways of working in your own employment, managed restrictions and ran households (just to name a few things) whilst also being the conduit between your child and their teacher.  I have wondered whether or not I could have done the same had my daughter been of primary school age during the pandemic. So, it’s time to pat yourself on the back and give yourself, and your friends and family, a high five!

As we begin to take this ‘Road to Recovery’ we remain optimistic about the future. Last week, the road to recovery was described to me as a ‘collective recovery’ for our school community. Everyone will be recovering - students, staff, parents and Parish. Our focus over the last week has been on preparing a reorientation to school for our students. This will be in the form of activities within the learning plans through the week. Your discussions with your child are really important for them to feel a sense of connection and belonging. It will also be important for them to feel that they have time and space as they adjust back into school life. It will also be important for you, as parents, and us, as school staff, to keep our anxieties and stressors in check - our wellbeing needs to support the wellbeing of our children.

The Catholic Education Office Specialist Support team and CatholicCare have provided us with great support as we aim to bring our students back to an environment that is calm and predictable. Below is a resource for you about the return to school. Many children will feel fine about returning but there will be some who have a lot of questions, who may be reluctant, who seem unmotivated and who may have lost some skills in socially managing friendships or relationships. This resource will help you to prepare them for a successful return to school with conversation and activities.

Our school focus will be about re-introducing the PB4L routines and procedures with celebration and rewards forming a part of their days. Our school playground tokens will be re-introduced as will the House Cup and our merit and Principal Awards.

I encourage you to continue to communicate with your child’s teacher about the return to school. Please ask any questions that you have so that our collective recovery as a school community is as successful as possible.

Enjoy the week ahead, as we journey together, with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal