GSFM Community Events - Calendar Update:

As we continue to live through the experience of the pandemic we are remaining COVID-19 vigilant at Good Samaritan. This means that we are aiming to ensure the welfare and safety of all within our community. Unfortunately, this comes with a cost particularly in terms of the community functions that we would usually enjoy together. Therefore, I have had to make the reluctant decision to cancel the following:

• Year 6 Camp
• Father’s Day BBQ Breakfast & Prayer
• Kindergarten 2021 Orientation to School & Transition to School Playgroup (further details to come)
• Our peer support program which has run so successfully for the last two weeks
• Staff Development Day planned for 11 September Students will now attend school on this day 

 I have put a pause on planning for:

• Year 6 Farewell Celebrations
• Grandparents & Great Friends Liturgy and Open Day
• Book Week Celebration which include gatherings of students, staff and parents

Restrictions Update:

The following will also now take effect for the remainder of term 3 in response to the tightening of restrictions in schools:

Parent/Teacher meetings will be done by phone or Zoom meeting; no face to face meetings will take place

• Students will stay within their stage groups for all learning tasks
• Whole school assemblies will be conducted via Zoom
• Stage meetings will continue as planned for no longer than 15 minutes duration
• Singing/chanting/choir and use of wind musical instruments is not allowed
• Band and Music Bus has been cancelled until further notice

I can only hope that our planning for 2021 will include our wonderful community being able to come together again.

Students displaying flu like symptoms:

• When the reason for a student’s absence is illness with flu-like symptoms (as outlined by NSW Health) students are required to be free of symptoms AND present a negative COVID-19 test, which must be sighted by the school, before returning to school.
• The school continues to encourage parents to have their child tested as soon as possible if they display flu-like symptoms.

Growing Up Digital Australia: Invitation for parents and grandparents to have your say!

Are you a parent, carer or grandparent of children aged 5 to 17?

Do you wonder how digital media and technologies that they live with might affect their wellbeing, health and learning?

If your answer to these questions is ‘yes’, we would invite you to share your views with us here!

The Gonski Institute of Education at the University of NSW are working on a ground-breaking research project called Growing Up Digital Australia. This international research project partners with Harvard Medical School, the University of Alberta and Alberta Teachers Association seeks to understand the health, wellbeing and learning impacts of growing up in a digital world on our young people. A number of Australian organisations are supporting this project, including Departments of Education, parent organisations and teacher associations. This longitudinal study will reframe issues surrounding children’s consumption of media and digital technologies moving into an evidence-based solutions to parents, educators and young people to live healthier, safer and happier lives here in Australia. 

The Growing Up Digital project Phase 1 worked with almost 2,000 educators from around the country and found out what is happening in classrooms through the eyes of teachers and principals. Now with this Phase 2 survey, it is your turn as parents and grandparents to have your say.

This project has Ethics approval, and poses no risk to you. Participation is voluntary and you will never be identified at any stage. By completing the survey, you have the chance to be entered into the draw for one of four $100 Coles Myer gift cards.

This Phase 2 survey will be open until 11 October, 2020. If you are a parent, carer or grandparent of any child aged 5-17, please complete the survey here. You may also share this invitation to take part in this research with others by sharing the link to the questionnaire. If you are a parent, we would be delighted if you would invite one of your child’s grandparents to take part in this survey.

To find out more about our project, and the results from Phase 1, visit The Gonski Institute of Education here.