Students displaying flu like symptoms:

• Students who have been sick with flu-like symptoms are only required to present a negative COVID test result when they have displayed the COMMON coronavirus symptoms. These symptoms are defined by NSW Health as:

• Fever 
• Coughing 
• Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing) 
• Sore throat 
• Loss of smell or taste

When the reason for a student's absence is illness with flu-like symptoms students are required to be free from symptoms AND present a negative COVID-19 test, which must be sighted by the school, before returing to school.

Staffing Update:

From Monday 7 September, Mrs Smithers will be taking leave to have surgery on her shoulder. This surgery will require a significant recovery period and as such her leave will extend until the end of the year.

An internal recruitment process has taken place to fulfil the role of Acting Assistant Principal for this period of time. I am very pleased to advise that Mrs Christine Nunes has been successful in her application for this position. 

I am sure that, with me, you extend your congratulations to Mrs Nunes and wish Mrs Smithers a very speedy recovery. 

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 week the school received updates on Diocesan directives following the release of revised guidelines for schools published by NSW Health earlier this week. The changes represent a tightening of restrictions across a range of areas, in response to the increased number of cases in NSW, including clusters occurring in schools.

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
• In the event of wet weather, routines for pick up will remain as previously communicated however gates will be open from 2:50pm-3:05pm allowing only 15minutes for parents to be on site collecting children.

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

Emailing Staff:

At Good Samaritan we believe that respectful and transparent communication between the school and home is valued by all. Thank you to all those parents and carers who follow our school procedures as it allows processes to work as seamlessly as possible.

Teachers within the school may always be contacted via email through info@gsfmdow.catholic.edu.au Emails received through this address are always forwarded to the appropriate staff members. It is important that parents understand that a response may not be immediate and certainly cannot be expected beyond the regular hours of the school day or week. 

School staff have been advised not to address sensitive issues within an email and that such issues should be dealt with by a phone call or, if required, a face to face meeting. 

It is also important that parents are conscious of the tone of emails written to staff and that emails are not written in anger with unfounded accusations or assumptions. Good Samaritan  staff work extremely hard to ensure the best outcomes for all students and receiving emails that are written in anger or frustration can be very offensive to the recipient. When sending an email, please re-read it and ensure that you would wish to read it if you were to open the same in your workplace.