Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Over the last week I have been working with our Year 6 students to evaluate and refine the student leadership structure for Good Samaritan. We are doing this in order to ensure that student leadership remains relevant and purposeful for the school community. 

 

As a school we aim to work towards students being active partners in their education. Year 6 have been very responsive and are demonstrating a positive attitude. It has been a terrific way to begin the year with them. 

 

The process is that I will work through a number of meetings with Year 6 volunteers who will give input and then report back to their peers. The first such meeting happened last week. 

 

The first step has been understanding why a school needs student leaders.  The students came up with the following:

• having role models within the school
• bringing a student perspective to teachers, staff & parents
• to keep the school organised
• keeping our student behaviour and wellbeing informed by positive teacher/student relationships
• keeping school relevant in class and on the playground
• to guide the future of students beyond this Year 6 group (K-5 students 2021)
• to gain other students’ perspectives on the life of the school
• to represent our school within the community
• participation and engagement with the community
• having trustworthy peer for all the students
• maintaining effective communication between school and home

 

The next meeting will be for students to look at the various models of student leadership that are possible. 

 

Thank you to Mikayla, Penny, Amalia, Logan, Ella and Cohen for their contribution to the first meeting and their presentation to their peers.

As we journey together with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal

Last Thursday we were all so excited to welcome Kindergarten to Good Samaritan. They have enjoyed a great week so far - settling into big school, making new friends and showing a love of learning!

 

The balloon arch helped to settle some nerves and added to the excitement.

Learning on day one included developing fine motor skills…

Learning is about construction and co-operation with each other….

Make believe games aim to develop speaking and listening skills...

How was your first day ?

.

         

 

Grade Newsletters:

This week you would have received a Grade Newsletter in the same electronic format as this newsletter. These comprehensive newsletters will be sent out at the beginning of each term with the aim to keep parents informed as to what students will be covering in Key Learning Areas across the term.

Our school newsletter will work to support the grade newsletter by publishing regular reports of learning from our classrooms.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to effectively hold Parent Information Evenings. However, should you wish to have a ‘Meet & Greet’ phone call with your child’s class teacher so follow the link in the grade newsletter in order for the teachers to arrange the phone calls. Phone calls are not compulsory.

Latest COVID-19 Cases:

Please read the latest case locations by following this link. It is very much appreciated that our parent community continues to follow the health advice and is so cooperative of our local school measures to keep all safe at Good Samaritan.

 

Safer Internet Week:

At Good Samaritan we have taken the whole week to recognise the importance of working within safe internet boundaries. The students have been involved in activities and tasks each day that promote a safer internet. 

 

The students have been introduced to, and revised, a variety of terms related to the internet. Below is an easy little story that uses these terms. You might take the time to read the story to your child and the ask a few questions like:

• Who is the eSafety Commissioner?
• What does it mean to be online?
• Tell me 3 ways to stay safe online
• Explain to me what download & install means
• What should you do with your personal information while you are online? How do you do that?
• How should you feel when you are online with a friend?

 

One of the greatest challenges parents encounter is around how much screen time is appropriate for their children. There are many factors to consider and the attached tip sheet may help you to enforce the right amount of time for your child.

You can find a tremendous amount of information for parents on the eSafety Commissioner’s website.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data: NCCD

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability (NCCD) takes place every year. Good Samaritan staff work consistently each year collecting and recording data about student goals and progress to be counted within the collection.

 

A small group of teachers in the school will participate in a training day at the end of this month to fully understand what information needs to be completed and how this needs to be completed throughout the year. 

What a wonderful two weeks it has been back at school and at the beginning of our third week the children are displaying a wonderful love of learning. The teachers are very excited about how their new classes have settled into routines so quickly and after completing some assessments are ready to begin to introduce new work to their students.

I have been working with the students from Amaroo on a Thursday and will continue to do this each week. I have been very impressed with the way the students are using their success criteria in their writing books to support them in achieving their learning intention. This is something that the students worked on last year and has been formalised into their writing books this year. 

Congratulations to Roman, Leo and Nicholas on their great use of Capital letters(C), fullstops (F), Spaces(S) and meaning (M) in their writing task.

 

I’m looking forward to also working with other students in the school over the remainder of the term.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME FOR RECONCILIATION 2021

Prior to enrolling your child into the Lumen Christi Sacramental Programme, parents/carers need to attend a prayer and formation meeting.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation meeting for parents/ caregivers, will take place at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow tonight at 6.30pm and tomorrow Thursday 11th February.

Attendance at the meeting on either of these days is an essential prerequisite for enrolling children into the Sacramental Programme for First Reconciliation/ First Holy Communion. For more information go to:

lumenchristi.org.au/Sacraments

ASH WEDNESDAY 17th February 2021

This year Ash Wednesday is celebrated on 17 February. It marks the beginning of the season of Lent. During Lent we prepare by prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the joys of Easter. On Ash Wednesday this year the ashes blessed by prayer and holy water will be sprinkled over our heads as a sign of our repentance. The ashes come from the palms blessed for the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.

Please carefully note this year’s Ash Wednesday timetable for Parish and Community:

St Francis Xavier Cathedral

7am, 12.10pm & 6pm (followed by the Holy Hour and confessions)

St John Vianney Co-Cathedral 9.30am

St Brigid’s Church 11am

Students and Teachers will celebrate Ash Wednesday Liturgies on the school grounds. As per Vatican instructions, ashes will be sprinkled over the heads of students and staff.

Opening School Liturgy:

Due to the  COVID-19 advice received this week,  we have postponed the Opening School Liturgy that was to take place on Friday. We hope to reschedule the Liturgy in the near future.

Parish Bulletin:

Learning Intentions

Lessons at Good Samaritan will often begin with what is known as a Learning Intention. A Learning Intention for a lesson is a statement presented to the students at the beginning of the lesson that clearly describes the purpose for learning. When students know what they are learning, they are able to take responsibility for their own learning more easily. Learning Intentions help to focus students on what they are learning rather than simply on the task being completed.

Some of the Learning Intentions from classes around the school are:

Stage 2 Learning

 

Stage 2 has really settled into developing a “Love of Learning” since starting school this year.  

Both Year 3 and Year 4 have been revisiting the Good Samaritan story focusing on our history and the values we can learn from the Good Samaritan.

Year Three has had an amazing start to the new school year! We have been busy setting up our classroom and learning our new class routines. 

 

Our focus has been learning about what it means to belong to our school community and how we can live the message of the Good Samaritan.

 

In Personal Development we have been talking about respect for self and respect for others. 

 

During these lessons we read 'Only One You' by Linda Kranz, about all of us being unique and different and how that's okay. This led us to complete our favourite activity so far, the creation of our unique fish for our door displays. 

 

Good Samaritan

 Parents & Friends

We are back and hopeful that 2021 will be an improvement to 2020. The Good Samaritan P & F Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Monday 22 February and, as always, all are welcome to attend.

This year we are in quite an unusual position as many of the current Executive Committee members have reached the limit of 5 years holding a position. So now is an amazing chance to be part of the Good Samaritan P & F and help re-engage our school community after a year of forced COVID absence. 

All positions will be declared vacant and will be open for nominations. Listed below is a brief description of the roles:

PRESIDENT

It is the role of the President to:

*provide leadership and direction for the P&F

*work collaboratively and cooperatively with the Principal

*support all members of the Executive Committee

*schedule, plan and prepare meetings with consultation with Principal and secretary

*oversee and support social and fundraising events organised by the P&F

*ensure an open and welcoming environment

VICE-PRESIDENT

It is the role of the Vice-President to:

*chair meetings in President's absence

*sharing duties and responsibilities 

*being a supportive and active member of the committee

SECRETARY

It is the role of the Secretary to:

*prepare meeting agenda with communication with Principal and President

*attend to inward and outward correspondence

*management of minutes  i.e. taking minutes, checking minutes from previous meetings, distribution of minutes from previous meeting

TREASURER

It is the role of the Treasurer to:

*keep accurate records of receipts and expenditure

*banking money promptly and maintaining proper financial records

*paying accounts authorised by the meeting as soon as possible

*present financial reports at each general meeting 

*provide separate profit and loss accounts for each major function or fund raising project.

 

Please do not feel overwhelmed by the idea of taking an active role in the P&F, the current executive committee will help in any way possible and I can assure you, you will find the experience incredibly rewarding. 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact myself, Erin Bradley 0413 452 838

P&F Annual General Meeting

Monday 22 February 7pm

The P&F AGM is scheduled for Monday 22 February at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the school hall. COVID-19 restrictions will apply hence numbers are limited to below 30 people.

All parents attending the meeting will be asked to check in using a QR code and to sanitise upon entry.

School Zone Parking:

It’s always important to remind ourselves about parking around the school at the beginning of each year. 

The Council has also provided the flyer below. Have a read and help to keep everyone safe around the school.

• Wednesday 10 February -Sacramental Programme for Reconciliation SJV Co Cathedral 6.30 pm

• Thursday 11 February - Sacramental Programme for Reconciliation SJV Co Cathedral 6.30 pm

• Wednesday 17 February -  Ash Wednesday

• Friday 19 February -  Swimming Selection Trials 

• Monday 22 February - P&F AGM School Hall 7pm

• Thursday 25 February - HSC Open Day/Evening 

March

• Tuesday 2nd March - ERC Try Year 7 for a Day 

• Monday 1 March- Friday 5 March Catholic Schools Week