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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan
Today is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. A time when we concentrate on Prayer, Fasting and Good Deeds. We do all of this in preparation for the great feast of Easter. During Lent, we give special attention to prayer - attending to the quality of our prayer more than the quantity - we look at where we can fast - emptying ourselves so that we may be filled with the life and love of Christ - and good deeds - not to be noticed but to help others.
Often we can think about Lent as a time of Penance - a time where we deprive ourselves of those things that we enjoy. It is easy for Lent to become just about the fasting - the giving up of something - rather than focusing on the fact that in the giving up I am renewing myself. Renewal of actions, of thinking in order to let God into my life more fully. By remembering that to combine the fasting with prayer and good deeds takes the time of Lent to another level entirely.
Today, Matthew’s Gospel reminds us what Jesus said to his disciples:
Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice
Matthew reminds us of that because
Your Father, who sees all that is done in secret, will reward you
As I think about this, I reflect on the way that our children operate at Good Samaritan. Many of them, every day, give so much to their school and do not expect anything in return. Of course, like anyone, they like to be acknowledged but often they just do good for others because they know it is the right thing to do.
I’ve seen our Good Samaritan boys and girls help each other out on the playground, offering to assist teachers, following our school expectations, greeting fellow students and staff each morning and the list could go on.
These behaviours can also be identified as Mission Behaviours. As adults we can also look at our everyday actions as fulfilling the Mission of God here on earth. As we enter Lent, take some time to reflect on how your daily life is rewarded by God.
ESTEEM: build & maintain - paying a compliment to someone; thanking someone for what they have done for you; listening to the compliment that is paid to you...
EMPATHY: listen first then respond - taking the time to make the phone call to someone you haven’t heard from for a while; responding to what you hear with the ear of your heart; putting yourself in the shoes of others when you go to make a judgment or criticise…
INVOLVE: ask for help & encourage - encourage a friend or family member to take a step that may be difficult for them; ask for the opinion of another person before you make an important decision or action; take time to involve yourself in your child’s school work…
SHARE thoughts, feelings and reasons why - think about what you want to say to another person and let them know why you feel the way you do; take action to find out how a friend or family member is feeling and encourage them to share their thinking with you…
SUPPORT without removing responsibility - reflect on the structures you use to get your child/ren ready for school. Who does all the work? What responsibility do the children need to have? Stop to think Am I doing something here that may be removing the responsibility of my child/friend/partner? How do I support them but leave the responsibility with them?
Our students are working to come to know the Mission Behaviours and how they can identify these in their own daily lives. Together, being evermore conscious in Lent, we are building the Kingdom of God here on Earth - just as we are asked to do.
As we journey together, with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Drivers reminded to slow down with students around
Recently Transport NSW communicated the following media release now that schools are back after the holiday break.
Drivers are being urged to take extra care and slow down with school zones back in force.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said while most students were returning to the classroom later in the week school zones are enforced from the first day of term.
“The 40 kilometre an hour school zones have been switched on this morning with the official start of the school year. As we see students start returning to the classroom after a disruptive 12 months, we really need everyone to be extra vigilant.
“...Drivers need to remember school zones are now active. We all need to slow down and stick to that reduced speed limit.
“It’s also really important to remember the rules apply around school buses. When you see those flashing lights on the back of the bus remember to keep an eye out for children. By law it’s a requirement to drop down to the 40 kilometre an hour speed limit,” Mr Constance said.
Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary for Safety,Environment and Regulation,Tara McCarthy, said two children have died in school zones in the last two years. 32 have been seriously injured in active school zones between 2015 and 2019.
“Although school zones are one of the safest places on the NSW road network, we know children can be unpredictable around roads so we need everyone to be attentive and watch out for children,” Ms McCarthy said.
The NSW Government has implemented numerous safety initiatives to improve the visibility of school zones such as signage, road markings and flashing lights.
The Government is also investing an extra $18.5 million to provide 300 new School Crossing Supervisors, offering more protection for children and improved visibility of crossings for motorists.
Higher fines and demerit points also apply to certain driving and parking offences committed within school zones.
Picking up your child in the park:
Parents are asked to ensure that the teacher dismissing your child is able to see you and acknowledge that you are collecting your child safely when being dismissed in Cram Park. Parents are asked not to call students to cars without parking first. If you are having difficulty finding a parking space to collect your child from the park then carlines may be a safer alternative for you.
Year 6 Leadership Program:
This week Year 6 began their Leadership Program Stepping Up to the Challenge. The students were engaged in high interest activities. Connected to the PDHPE curriculum, the students will:
- Explore the possibilities, discover their potential and act authentically
- Come to understand that our daily thoughts, words and actions matter
- Recognise that our journey will involve both successes and challenges
- Remember that, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts” – Winston Churchill.
- Show that we are all capable of making a difference in our own and others’ lives.
- Know that we are all in this together!
The program is facilitated by Cameron Brown from Explore Discover Act with the supervision and assistance of the Year 6 teachers.
ASH WEDNESDAY 17th February 2021
Ash Wednesday is celebrated today. 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 were sprinkled over the children's heads as a sign of our repentance. The ashes come from the palms blessed for the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.
The remasining Mass today is at
St Francis Xavier Cathedral 6pm (followed by the Holy Hour and confessions)
Parish Bulletin:
Academy of Music Dance and Drama: Vocal Ensemble
Join the Good Samaritan School Vocal Ensemble for ages 8-13-year-olds for the opportunity to sing with other talented upcoming musicians and vocalists. We aim to sing many arrangements that strive for working with other singers, awareness of harmony, basic music theory and ear training. Also, we learn the basics of vocal health, singing techniques and blending, and solo skills within a group.
The ensemble will feature various works from many genres, including Disney, Musical Theatre and Contemporary. These works will be developed and delivered back to our audience with a high Enthusiasm and Knowledge level. You will develop your voice as you rehearse and aim to perform on stage either solo, with a group or with a band.
We invite all young vocalists to join!! Click here to find out more.
Clean Up Australia Day 2021 @ GSFM:
Our GSFM school community wants to be part of the clean up solution.
We are planning a whole-school clean up event (weather permitting)
When: Week 6, Friday 5th March, 2021 @ 2.15pm
What to bring: Gardening Gloves (if you have some at home)
What to wear: Sport Uniform
Where: GSFM school grounds
“What was started thirty years ago, by an "average Australian bloke" who had a simple idea to make a difference in his own backyard has now become the nation's largest community-based environmental event...
Today our focus is as much on preventing rubbish entering our environment as it is removing what has already accumulated.
18.3 million +
Australians have donated their time as part of Clean Up Australia activities over the last 30 years.
36 million hours
of volunteer time has been donated to Clean Up activities to benefit our environment
380,000 +
Ute loads of rubbish have been removed as part of Clean Up Australia activities” https://www.cleanup.org.au/about-us
iPad Boot Camp!
This week all classes from Years 3-6 are participating in an iPad Boot Camp. The Boot Camp aims to set students up to use the iPads as a tool for learning.
This has been an exciting time especially for Years 3&4 who are using iPads in learning for the first time.
One of the most important messages for students during the Boot Camps has been that using an iPad at school requires different skills to when we use them at home.
What's Happening in Year 1 ?
This term in Year 1 the students have settled into their new class and are demonstrating a love of learning. Each morning Year 1 focuses on The Zones of Regulations. They have been reflecting on how they are feeling, why they are feeling this way and how they can ask for help when they need it.
Year 1 are also learning about the Five Mission Behaviours of Esteem, Empathy, Involve, Share and Support which is linked to the Year 1 Zones Of Regulation and PB4L programmes.
In Religious Education, Year 1 are learning about the story of the Good Samaritan and they have reflected on the ways that they can be a Good Samaritan too.
In English, Year 1 are greatly enjoying reading The Very Cranky Bear and The Very Noisy Bear by Nick Bland. They are exploring the characters in these stories and thinking about the words they can use to describe them. In writing, Year 1 are writing simple sentences around topics that are connected. These sentences always start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
In Mathematics, Year 1 continues to count and learning about graphs and tally marks.
Year 1 students have enjoyed attending the Library with Mrs Cook and Creative Arts with Mrs Jackson.
All Year 1 students have had a great start to the 2021 school year and they convey that they love to come to school because they love to learn and they love to play with their friends.
What a wonderful way to start a new year at school!
What's Happening in Year 2 ?
Year 2 has had an awesome start to the year!
In Religion, they are exploring how they are like the image of God, and ways that they can make connections between their own experiences and the 5 Mission Behaviours.
Sports News:
Congratulations!
to our Good Samaritan boys who have now made the 2021 combined Wollongong & Canberra/Goulburn AFL team to play in Wagga after Tuesday’s trial at Thomas Dalton Park.
Well done to Hamish, Kobi, Ben & Oliver! Best of luck in Wagga!
MACKILLOP INDIVIDUAL NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
The following sports are now open for individual registration.
These sports will rely on parents/carers registering their child through the CSNSW Sport site (https://csnsw.sport/).
- Rugby 7s - Girls (*Note there is no School Sport Australia event for this sport)
- Golf - 9 hole & 18 Hole Selection
- Diving - EOI due mid March (no payment will be taken for Diving at this time)
School Fees:
A reminder that fees are due 30 days after receipt of invoice. However, should you wish to pay your fees throughout the school year in instalments you are required to complete a Request To Pay School Fees By Instalment form.
Canteen News:
Allergy Aware School:
As an Allergy Aware School we request no peanuts, peanut paste, peanut butter (including “dippers”), nuts, “Nutella” spread, nutty muesli bars or eggs within the school.
We believe an effective partnership between home and school will ensure the successful inclusion of students with life-threatening allergies.
We are committed to supporting our students with anaphylaxis within the school environment and request your support to ensure a safe environment for these students.
Thank you
The Uniform Shop is now open on
Tuesday mornings 8.30am to 9.30am
Thursday afternoons 2pm to 3.15pm
Appointments Only
In order to manage the physical distancing requirements, parents will continue to make appointments at the uniform shop to purchase uniforms.
This can be done through the Compass Portal.
If you would like to place an order with the uniform shop an order form has been added to the school website under parents/uniform.
Please complete the form and return with payment to the school office.
These orders will be filled on uniform shop days.
Love of Learning
How Can We Involve in our Community?
- Encourage others through turn taking.
- Encourage students to listen to each other.
- Raising your hand
- Not giving up - persist when things get tough
- Working through or facing a challenge
- Using good manners when asking for help
- being a willing and consistent helper
- including others in games and activities
- students are encouraged to ask for help - every question is relevant and valued
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.
Holy Spirit College Open Day Information:
The Holy Spirit College Open Day and Evening will take place on Thursday February 25 2021. There are two sessions scheduled for the day.
The morning session begins with an information session in the Casey Ryder Centre at 8.45am - 9.45am followed by a tour of the College from 9.45am - 11am.
The evening session will begin with a tour of the College from 5.30pm - 6.45pm followed by the information session in the Casey Ryder Center at 7pm.
Applications opened for Year 7 2023 on February 1 2021, and will close on Thursday April 1 2021. Please contact the College for an enrolment package.
FEBRUARY
- 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 2 March - ERC Try Year 7 for a Day
- Monday 1 March- Friday 5 March Catholic Schools Week
April
- Thursday 1 April - Last Day Term 1
- Friday 2 April - Good Friday
- Sunday 4 April - Easter Sunday
- Monday 5 April - Easter Monday
- Monday 19 April - First Day Term 2