From the Principal's Desk:
Dear Parents and Caregivers of Good Samaritan,
Recently I came across this reflection of Katharine Hepburn. It made me think about the Benedictine values that we have focused on for our Good Samaritan School. With each of the values there is an element of giving and thinking of the other. As you read the reflection take into consideration how the values of:
Love of Christ and Neighbour
Stewardship
Hospitality
Community
are exemplified in this story.
Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus.
Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me.
There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean. The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, animals, and all the acts they would be seeing that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. It would be a highlight of their lives.
The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband's hand, looking up at him as if to say, "You're my knight in shining armour." He was smiling and enjoying seeing his family happy.
The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted. He proudly responded, "I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus." The ticket lady stated the price.
The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?" The ticket lady again stated the price.
The man didn't have enough money. How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus?
Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket."
The man understood what was going on. He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation.
He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied; "Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family."
My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with.
Although we didn't get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.
That day I learnt the value of giving.
The Giver is bigger than the Receiver. If you want to be large, larger than life, learn to Give. Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.
The importance of giving, blessing others can never be over emphasised because there's always joy in giving. Learn to make someone happy by acts of giving.
~ Katharine Hepburn ~
Take this reflection into the week with you,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Staffing - 2024:
The staffing process is currently continuing and we are hoping to have this complete by early next week. Following this I will be able to communicate staff and class allocations with parents.
Organising School Uniforms for 2024:
The wearing of the school uniform is an outward sign of the respect that a student has for themselves and the Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School community. The Good Samaritan uniform serves as an outward sign of what the school stands for, and the correct wearing of uniform is an indication of students’ pride in being members of the school community. At Good Samaritan, we believe that the wearing of a school uniform reduces the social inequities that may be evident in a community that does not enforce a standard uniform. This assists in respecting the dignity of each individual by reducing social class barriers.
Joggers that are predominantly white are to be worn for sport and fitness. They must be predominantly white and may be lace up or velcro. No slip on ‘Raben’ type shoes, indoor soccer boots or coloured joggers are to be worn. Pictorial examples of appropriate joggers are shown here.
What is an appropriate haircut for school?
School holidays can be a time where rules and expectations may relax in relation to haircuts and colours etc. However, parents are required to support these expectations as we head into the new school year.
HAIR
Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner. Hair should be well brushed and combed and it is assumed that hair will not be in such a condition as to invite comment.
BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Extreme styles, bleaching, colouring or dyeing of hair are not permitted.
- Gel, mousse and hair spray or other substances should not be used.
- There will be no undercuts, steps or shaved lines within the hair.
- Nothing shorter than a Number 3 comb is acceptable.
- Hair should not extend to cover the eyes.
- Students who do not abide by the haircut requirements will be asked to fix the identified problem.
- Long hair is to be tied back or plaited.
- Ribbons and bands of school colour are to be worn.
How are classes formed each year?
Attached to the newsletter this week is the Formation of Classes Policy and Procedure. This policy is used to direct the process of class formation each year. This is a lengthy process that works towards ensuring that every child’s needs are considered. The process begins throughout Term 4. It is important that parents are aware that the teachers know the students within the school - classroom and playground - environment exceptionally well and always put the best interests of every child first.
Please take time to read the policy. This will give you some indication of the process. Whilst parental requests are considered, there is never a guarantee that they will be granted. If you plan to make a request, particularly about your child being placed within a friendship group, please be aware that there may be circumstances surrounding such requests that prevent it from being granted.
Often there can be experiences where children are placed in classes with friends upon parental requests. The children have then encountered difficulties with the friendship causing awkward situations for all involved that could possibly have been avoided. In addition, parents have requested that their child not be with a particular child/ren and the concern rests more with the adults than the child/ren involved.
Please remember that, first and foremost, Good Samaritan is a place of learning. Learning involves academic achievement as well as learning how to work effectively with a range of people including peers, teachers and school support officers.
Classes will be finalised on Monday 27 November.
No further changes to classes will be made beyond this date.