From Our Classrooms:

GSFM’s Masterchefs

 

Our Good Samaritan chefs had a fabulous time cooking “Potato Mice” in the Learning Support Centre kitchen last Friday.

The students baked this healthy and delicious dish as part of their fortnightly cooking program.  Amalia suggested making the potatoes after trying out the recipe at home. Mitch rated the recipe a “10 out of 10!”

Some of our favourite recipes this year include Katie’s Pasta Boscaiola, Rice Paper Rolls, Mini Pizzas, Amalia’s Weet-Bix balls and Miguel’s Rock Cakes.  Next on the menu is Hamburger Sliders and Gingerbread Men…yum!

Thank you to all the parents who were able to contribute to the recent annual survey about our school. This information is genuinely used for us to reflect upon the work we do at Good Samaritan.  Whilst much of the information gathered was positive, there are also some things that require further work and attention. Whilst the survey is anonymous, I am unable to respond directly to those who may have raised concerns or questions. However, I would like to assure parents that anything stated directly about staff or processes will be acted upon.

Each year the organisation of staff for the following year must adhere to the recruitment procedures and processes of the Enterprise Agreement for Teachers & General Employees as well as the Diocese. This includes advertising and interviewing for positions, mainly 12 month temporary positions, each year. This process is almost complete and I would anticipate being able to communicate the school staffing for the new school year within the next fortnight.

Relationships at any age are hard to navigate. Our children try so hard to get it right - and sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. At Good Samaritan we aim to approach relationships with compassion. But compassion isn’t about being soft and allowing what isn’t right to continue. Compassion can also be about challenging each other to get it right when things go wrong, owning their actions or behavior and learning from that.

 

Often when children get it wrong they may respond to staff who ask about what they’re doing with ‘It was just a joke’ or ‘It was a prank’. Recently, I have asked some students to take the ‘joke’ or ‘prank’ away and what do their actions become? In these particular instances it becomes one person hitting another on the back of the head, a hat being thrown through the fence into the carpark or taking someone’s popcorn and throwing it to the ground. This type of behaviour does not mean kids are being kids as it can quickly turn into aggressive behaviour with students lashing out and/or bullying if it continues over time.

 

Relationships can be particularly hard to navigate when children are trying to maintain them online and not face to face. Online behaviour is very quickly misinterpreted and becomes quite distressing for all involved. Primary school aged students do not have the capacity to manage relationships effectively online as they still need to work it all out face to face. Please keep this in mind the next time your child is playing an online game.

In order for the school to ensure that all staff and volunteers have the necessary WWCC, all parents who wish to volunteer are asked to ensure that they have the appropriate clearance in order to remain as a volunteer within the school. Once the WWCC is completed the school maintains a register of parents who are able to volunteer within the school. This includes classroom assistance, excursions, camps, canteen, Library assistance and general helping about the school.

Further information  about the Working With Children Check can be found on the CEDoW website. Follow this link to the website.

Congratulations to the boys who attended the Diocesan Cricket Trials last Tuesday. All played very well and Congratulations to Ben G. in Year 5 on his selection in the 2021 Diocese of Wollongong team.

Yesterday the 2021 Diocesan trials were held for Basketball and Tennis. Well done to all of the students who participated, all participants should be very proud of themselves.

Congratulations to Jett H. Ava G. and Sarah C. in Year 5 who have made the Diocese of Wollongong Basketball teams.

Congratulations to Evie N in Year 5 who has been selected for the 2021 Diocese of Wollongong Tennis Team and to Hannah L who is the teams reserve.  We wish all students well at the MacKillop trials next year.