Dear Parents and Caregivers of Good Samaritan,

This evening we have our Open School Twilight where we will welcome prospective students and their families into our school community. This enrolment period seems to come around so quickly within the year as we commit ourselves to offering primary education to others at Good Samaritan.

Over the last two days, Mrs Hailstone and I attended a Diocesan Colloquium based on school improvement. Last week the Diocese launched Lighting the Way 2023+ which is the ongoing Strategic Plan of the Diocese. This plan takes into account the continued commitment of the schools of the Diocese to provide vibrant places where students can grow in faith and learning.

This reinforces the commitment that we have always held at Good Samaritan to continually reflect, review and evaluate our work so that we continue to improve as a school. A major element of our improvement journey is to review our Vision and Mission. This has included the examination of what is known as St Benedict’s Rule. It is our intent to improve the Catholic life of our school with the Benedictine values.

Why would we look to St Benedict?

Good Samaritan was formed ten years ago with the amalgamation of two schools, St Francis Xavier and St John Vianney. Both of these schools were imagined and built by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. 

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan follow the Benedictine tradition. Their spirituality is inspired by the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the wisdom of the Rule of St Benedict. Through John Bede Polding’s vision, and the faithful commitment of the Sisters, it has flourished in communities in urban, rural and remote areas of Australia and across the Asia Pacific region since 1857. 

St Mary’s Star of the Sea College is also a school formed by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and also follows the Benedictine tradition. Recently, Good Samaritan Primary School was invited to attend the 150th Year celebrations of the College. Ruby attended along with myself and we were witness to a beautiful mass in celebration of, not only the anniversary, but all that the Benedictine tradition has offered girls of Wollongong and surrounding regions for many years.

As the year progresses we will be sharing more about St Benedict and the values that he wrote about so many years ago that still resonate with modern life helping us to make sense of who we are in the world.

Until Next Time, as we journey together with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Mark your calendars for this year’s Pupil Free Days. Students do not attend school on the following dates.

Thursday 6 April: Staff Spirituality Day

Monday 24 April: Staff Professional Learning Day

Monday 17 July: Staff Professional Learning Day

The 2023 school year will conclude for students on Friday 15 December.

Tomorrow I begin my long service leave through to 10 May. My daughter will be married on 17 March and then I will be travelling with my husband to London where he will participate in the London Marathon. During this time Mrs Cath Hailstone will take on the role of Acting Principal and Mrs Natalie Shelley will take on the role of Acting Assistant Principal. Following a recruitment process and confirming with Catholic Education HR, I am pleased to advise that Mr Serge Ambrosi will take up the role of Acting Religious Education Coordinator during my absence.

I am most grateful that Cath, Natalie and Serge have taken these roles on. Our school is in very good hands.