Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Last week Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 came together in a prayerful Liturgy in our school hall. It was wonderful to see the children settle so quickly in a prayerful and reverent way considering the length of time it has been since we have been able to gather like this.

Gathering like this as a Catholic school community says so much about who we are - our sense of belonging and connectedness is much bigger than just our Good Samaritan community. As a Catholic school we are a part of a wider faith community that involves not only the Lumen Christi Pastoral region but also the many other schools, Parishes and agencies across the Wollongong Diocese.

This year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. We have so much to give thanks for with our involvement in Catholic schools. I know that I am blessed to have been able to work in Catholic schools for the past 30 years. Catholic educators experience a very different sense of workplace. We are most fortunate to have occupations where we can continually nurture and nourish our own faith as individuals whilst also working to form the faith of those students we teach.

Catholic Education in Australia, marks the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820. 

The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony. 

Whilst education has certainly changed since the 1800s, Catholic education has remained as the preferential option for many families because of our point of difference - embedding the Gospel values into our daily lives and placing a Catholic lens over all of our work.

A part of this is recognising where and when we are using the Mission Behaviours in all our activities. The children are making some great connections between what they do and how they display the Mission Behaviours. These are at the centre of our faith.

Today your family will receive a prayer card marking 200 years of Catholic education. 

Faith in the Future is the theme for the year - how blessed we are that Fr John Therry and George Marley had the faith in their future. We owe them many thanks.

Have a great week, journeying with Jesus.

Toni Sillis

Principal

These students were the winners of our Safer Internet Poster and Colouring Competitions.

Hanah (Year 6) Chloe & Emmerson (Year 5) Lily (Year 4) Laila & Rose (Y3) Isaac (Year 1) Anna (Kindergarten)

The following are some reminders for morning and afternoon car lines. These actions help to keep the car lines running smoothly and ensure the safety of all our community.

 Morning Car Lines:

• Begin at 8:20am
• Supervision by duty teachers who hand sanitise students on arrival
• Students must be able to get out of vehicles on their own
• School bags are to be in the car with the student, not in the boot
• Students must get out of the car on the passenger side
• Parents are not to exit the vehicle
• Supervisors are not allowed to open &/or close car doors

 Afternoon Car Lines:

• Begin at 3pm (unless wet weather)
• Students must enter cars on the passenger side
• Students must be able to buckle their seatbelt independently 
• Supervisors are not allowed to open &/or close car doors
• Bags are to go into the car with the student/s, not in the boot
• Parents are not to exit the vehicle

Thank you to all our parents who consistently support the safety in the operation of car lines.

It has come to our attention through a concerned resident that many of our students are at the Evil Eye Cafe with parents before and after school. The concern raised is that children are playing dangerously close to the road and, in fact, one student was seen running out onto the road between 2 parked cars.

Please be mindful of what your children are doing should you be at the cafe. Mt Ousley Public School have also been contacted and are advising their parent community of the same.

Safety of our students is always our priority.

On occasions where it is raining at dismissal time a Compass notification will be sent to parents to advise that wet weather dismissal arrangements will be put into place.

Wet weather dismissal means that:

• Car Lines begins at 2:45pm unless the weather is such that it makes it unsafe for students and staff
• Parents and carers are asked to ensure that the car line does not extend out into Cabbage Tree Lane and that a loop of the block is completed until the driver can safely enter the school
• Parent pick up dismissal is from classrooms beginning at 2:50pm
• Year 4 parents will meet their child/ren under the COLA. Year 4 parents are asked not to access the stairs during wet weather.
• Bus lines operate as usual from 3pm

Transport NSW has a complete set of Guidelines for managing school students behaviour on buses. These guidelines unpack the Code of Conduct responsibilities of students, parents and school principals in relation to bus behaviour. The guidelines also indicate the consequences for a breach of the Code of Conduct. 

For your information, the following is taken from section 2 of the Guidelines - Student Code of Conduct.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ON BUSES 

It is every student's responsibility to behave in a manner that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers. This includes: 

Behaviour on buses: 

• Use appropriate language not offensive or racist language 
• Fighting, spitting, feet on seats, throwing things in or from the bus is not permitted 
• No eating or drinking (other than water) — unless for medical reasons or the bus operator gives written permission 
• Offer seats to adults including people with a disability, elderly or expectant mothers 
• Do not touch, push or shove other people 
• Do not bully or harass other passengers or the driver. This includes photographing, making lewd or suggestive comments, acting in a manner or participating in activities that may be deemed inappropriate or of a sexual nature. 
• Avoid attracting the attention of the driver except in the case of emergency 
• Do not play music at such volume that it may distract the bus driver or other passengers. 

Parent Action: If your child/ren  catches a bus to or from school please familiarise yourself with these guidelines and speak to your child/ren about their responsibilities on the buses.

Safety within the Parish car park is everyone’s business. Students, parents and staff can only be kept safe if everyone is vigilant about their actions when using this space. It is every parent/carer’s responsibility to exercise safe actions within the carpark. This includes using the car park as indicated below:

• Parents are not to park on school or Parish grounds during drop off (8:20am-8:50am) or pick up (2:30pm-3:20pm) times
• When arriving prior to dismissal at Car Line Pick Up parents are asked to turn engines off once the car is stationary
• A safe speed of 10km/h when driving into the car park
• Do not exit your vehicle when dropping off or picking up students
• Ensure that children are well within the school gate when dropping off before moving off
• Children only exit vehicles when the vehicle is at the front of the queue
• Ensure students have safely entered the car and closed the door when picking up
• There is no pedestrian access to the carpark when car lines have begun in both the morning and afternoon
• Gates into the school are closed and locked from the Parish car park following morning assembly.

Thank you to those parents who continually exercise the utmost care when accessing the school via the Parish car park. Every child’s safety is everyone’s concern.

March

• Monday 1 March- Friday 5 March - Catholic Schools Week

• Friday 12 March - GSFM Cross Country 

• Saturday March 13- GSFM OPEN DAY 9am -12pm

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