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What a wonderful start we have had to Term Two!!
We joined together as a school community last week to celebrate our Risen Lord in an Easter Liturgy under beautiful blue skies.
The Easter Season of course does not conclude on Easter Sunday. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus for 50 days, from Easter Sunday through to Pentecost Sunday. The children were encouraged to remember this by wishing each other a Happy Easter after our celebration.
We gathered again as a school community last Friday for ANZAC Day. This celebration was led by our Year Three students. We listened to the following Gospel verse from St John’s Gospel.
“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
The gospel gives us the familiar image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This is an image of care and nurture, and it is consoling as we recall those Anzacs who suffered in war. It is also a story of recognition and relationship, ‘I know them and they follow me’. The relationship between Jesus and his followers endures inspite of loss, hardship and death. He promises, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.’ As we joyfully celebrate the Easter Season, we remember that Christ conquered death and by his resurrection embraces us all in his promise of eternal life. Love is stronger than death, stronger than anything. God’s love prevails. Our call is to respond to that love and to work for peace.
The whole community paused in silence to listen to the Ode and stood in silence for the Last Post.
The Children were so respectful and reverent throughout and it was lovely to once again be able to hear children’s voices as they joined together to sing our school song.
Autism Awareness Day
30 April - Mufti Day
Light It Up Blue Because We Are Better Together
April is Autism Awareness Month and at Good Samaritan we will be having a special day to develop more of an awareness of the abilities and needs of students with autism so that we can continue to ensure that our students with autism, along with all of our students feel included, welcomed and respected within our school community.
Inclusion is one of the values we hold very dear at our school. When we talk about inclusion we talk about every child in our school being given what they need to develop their whole self. That does not mean that every child receives the same but that every child receives what they need. This may mean having work differentiated to ensure that we meet each child where they are. It may mean providing a quiet space when a child feels overwhelmed. It may mean having a sensory toy to assist with staying calm or visuals to provide routine and structure. It may mean accessing a program to extend and challenge such as SPLICED or to support Literacy such as MiniLit or MacqLit. It may mean accessing extra teaching time in small guided groups. It may mean accessing pastoral support programs.
When a child enrols at Good Samaritan we don’t just accept them, for acceptance alone is not enough and doesn’t really define the aim for any student at our school including those students who have different learning needs. Embracing difference is the aim for all students, including those with Autism —it goes beyond acceptance to inclusive practices that provide for the needs of each individual child.
During our Autism Awareness Day we are looking forward to celebrating the abilities of our students with autism and learning more about how we can ensure that they continue to have appropriate support from their peers and teachers as needed.
Our Awareness Day will involve:
- Mufti Day - all students are asked to wear blue clothes
- 9:50 - 10:50am What Is Autism? (30 minute lessons which have been developed by Mrs Huska and Mrs Sampson for each grade)
- Morning Tea - Bring something blue (blueberries, an iced cake or muffin, whatever your imagination and cooking skills can come up with)
- 11:40 - Liturgy - We’re Better Together
Together we can make our school even better
Have a wonderful week everybody and give your children an extra hug this week.
They are amazing
Take Care
Mrs Sharon Smithers
There will be a notification sent home tomorrow via Compass with all the details. Please respond via Compass to let us know if you are attending. Unfortunately, if it rains we will have to cancel this important occasion, again to COVID Restrictions.
PLEASE PRAY WITH OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION
Heavenly Father, through the Gift of your Holy Spirit pour your love and your truth into our hearts. Fill our family and our home with the riches of your blessings and wisdom. May the Holy Spirit make us more deeply aware that we are your beloved children and help us to be patient, kind, faithful, and gentle so that we may be true witnesses of the Good News of salvation.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.
FEAST OF ST JOSEPH THE WORKER
DAY OF PRAYER FOR FAMILIES
10am—1:00pm: SATURDAY, 1 MAY 2021 ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL
Join us for a day of prayer and reflection on how St Joseph accepted Mary and Jesus into his life, protecting and caring for them through the gift of his own work. We will pray for our families through the intercession of St Joseph.
PROGRAMME-- 10am: Opening Prayer and Meditation 10:30am: Talk on St Joseph: Sr Monica Barlow 11am: Quiet Prayer and Reconciliation 12:10pm: Mass of St Joseph the Worker 1pm: Afternoon Tea
YEAR OF THE FAMILY: THE JOY OF LOVE
The Year ‘Amoris Laetitia Family’, has been proclaimed by Pope Francis. It will conclude on 26 June 2022, on the occasion of the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome.
Amoris Laetitia is Latin for the Joy of Love. It is the title of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family (19 March 2016).
Families are encouraged to break open the resources and stories of family life at http://www.laityfamilylife.va/content/ laityfamilylife/en/amoris-laetitia.html
Pope Francis has instituted the celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will be held on Sunday July 25th, the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.
If you are a married couple with a passion for the beauty of Church teaching on marriage and family life, come and participate in marriage enrichment. Join a team to promote and deliver online formation in our Diocese. Contact jude.hennessy@dow.org.au to be included in communications and training.
Follow this link for the short video message from Rome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AERy96AETEA.
Go Gently,
Natalie Shelley
Religious Education Coordinator
NAPLAN ONLINE 2021:
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 11 and 21 May 2021.
In preparation for NAPLAN Online, our school will also be participating in practice tests on Thursday 25 March 2021. The practice test is a trial-run and key preparation activity for NAPLAN Online in May. It is not an assessment of student ability and the tests will not be marked.
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students can use the https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in the NAPLAN Online tests.
CLAIM THE DATE!
Good Samaritan staff will be participating in a Staff Development Day on Friday 21 May. This will be a Pupil Free Day so students do not attend school on this day. Teachers will be working with the newly released Personal Development Health & Physical Education (PDHPE) Syllabus.
Canteen News:
The Uniform Shop is now open on
Tuesday mornings 8.30am to 9.30am
Thursday afternoons 2pm to 3.15pm
Appointments Only
Winter Uniforms are now available
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.
Yesterday the GSFM Cross Country team went to ‘Willandra’ in Nowra to compete in the Wollongong Cross Country Championships. On a beautiful day the children ran the challenging 2km race displaying talent and determination.
The team included:
Milla E, Evie W, Aaliah G, Annastasia P, Lucia I, Ivy T, Sarah C, Calli F, Hope H, Hana B, Ava H, Gemma H, Talia F
Harlan J, Max B, Nash T, Callum C, Edward P, Jonny A, Max S, Joshua T, Atlas P, Luke G, Finley C, Ben G
Congratulations to all runners who represented GSFM exceptionally well. With some outstanding performances the following children have gained selection in the Wollongong Cross Country team, who will compete in the MacKillop Trials at Eastern Creek in June.
Callum C 1st 10 years boys
Edward P 7th 10 years boys
Luke G 4th 12/13 years boys
Finley C 7th 12/13 years boys
Ava 3rd 12/13 years girls
Hana 4th 12/13 years girls
Talia 6th 12/13 years girls
A big thank you to all the parents who supported the students, especially to Mr Steve Franklin and Mrs Casey Joshua who also assisted as course marshals throughout the day.
Token Boxes
This term we are introducing token boxes in our classrooms. Each class will be able to be aware of how many tokens they have received and which house is winning. A team of Year 6 students will count the tokens each Thursday and add it to the house tally.
We will continue to have mini mufti in weeks 3, 6 & 9 and a whole school house reward at the end of the term.
Register for the free webinar, eSafety's guide to parental controls, for parents and carers from the eSafety Commissioner.
The webinar will look at how parents and carers can set up devices and apps to help kids and young people stay safe online.
It will cover:
- the benefits and limitations of parental controls
- how to set up iOS and Android devices for safety
- how to set up popular games and apps like YouTube and Roblox for safety
- using family tech agreements and other parenting strategies to manage online risks
- how eSafety can help when things go wrong.
This webinar will include practical tips, demonstrations and advice.
To register, visit: esafety.gov.au/parents.
When does my child start to wear Winter School Uniform?
Students are expected to wear their full Winter school uniform from Monday 10 May. Prior to this date in Term 2, if we experience cold weather, it is parents’ discretion as to which uniform is worn.
Please check your child’s uniform is clearly labelled with their name. Also, if your child needs new school shoes or joggers they must be within the uniform requirements i.e: black school shoes and predominately white joggers similar to the images below.
April
- Friday 30 April - Autism Awareness Day
May
- Monday-Tuesday 3-4 May Principals’ Overnight Retreat
- Thursday 6 May Mother’s Day Liturgy
- Friday 7 May Mother’s Day Stall
- Monday 10 May P&F Meeting 7pm School Hall
- Monday 17 May Athletics Carnival
- Tuesday- 1-20 May NAPLAN testing
- Friday 21 May PUPIL FREE DAY Students do not attend school on this day
- Saturday 22-Sunday 23 May Confirmation Weekend
- Sunday 23 May Pentecost
- Monday-Friday 24- 28May Screens Down Week
- Wednesday 26 May -National Sorry Day
CEDoW School Director Peter Hill visit to GSFM
- Monday 31 May Reconciliation Week
June
- Thurday 3 June MABO Day
- Tuesday 11 June Term 2 PB4L Day (Mufti Day)
- Monday 14 June Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend
- Tuesday 15 June Sth Coast Netball Gala Day
- Friday 18 June Semester One Reports distributed to Parents
- Monday-Friday 21-25 June Parent Teacher Interview Week
- Friday 25 June Term 2 concludes
TERM 3 DATES:
JULY:
- Wednesday 12 July Feast of St Benedict
- Friday 16 July Grandparent’s Day
AUGUST:
- Tuesday 3 August Sth Coast Region Athletics
- Thursday -Friday 5-6 August Year 6 Camp
- Monday 8 August Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
SEPTEMBER:
- Friday 3 september - Father’s Day Breakfast & Prayer/Fathers Day Stall
- Monday 6 September Students return to wearing Summer Uniforms
- Wednesday-Thursday 8-9 September Assistant Principal Overnight Retreat
- Thursday-Friday 9-10 September Basketball Gala Days (Junior & Senior)
- Monday 13 September MacKillop Athletics Carnival
- Friday 17 September Term 3 Concludes