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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
This week I returned to work following a period of Long Service Leave. It is great to be back at work with the staff and students of our terrific school. Sometimes it’s only when you are absent from a place that you come to really be able to reflect on the effect that it has on you.
Last weekend was the fifth Sunday of Easter and we heard the insightful Gospel of the vine and the branches. The message that we can take from this is how we influence each other’s lives. With Mother’s day approaching this weekend many of us will be able to reflect on the influence of our mothers as an influential person in our lives - someone who gave us life, who made sacrifices for us, and who showed us unconditional love. Our mothers live in us. I know I now often hear my mother’s voice in comments or remarks that I might make. I know that I can be aware of this but I am not sure that I can avoid it, as this is what marks the connection between mother and child.
Similarly, Jesus tells the disciples that their ‘home’ is made in Him. Jesus lives in them and as such they are fulfilled and they are connected to Him. Just as we stay connected to the important people in our lives Jesus asks us to stay connected to Him. This may be through simple prayers, short reflections, playing with your children and giving thanks that you can. It is about us recognising that Jesus is within our lives every day - we just need to be aware to recognise Him in those others who are, in fact, fruit of the same vine as each one of us.
As we journey together, with Jesus this week, let us recognise the fruit of the vine that surrounds us.
Toni Sillis
Principal
Thank You:
- My thanks is extended to Mrs Sharon Smithers for her commitment to the role of Acting Principal during my absence. Sharon, along with the support of the Leadership Team and the Office Administration staff are invaluable to the success of our school.
- Many thanks also to our P&F for the organisation of our upcoming Mother’s Day Stall on Friday. A great deal of work goes into the stall and is well worth the effort when we see the delight on students’ faces after the careful selection of their gift for Mum.
- Thank you to all our staff and students for their active participation in raising the awareness of Autism last Friday and people who share their abilities whilst living with Autism. If you were unable to see the WIN News story last week you can watch it below.
Growing Up Digital Australia
Growing Up Digital Australia is a ground-breaking research project by the Gonski Institute for Education (UNSW) designed to change the status quo and understand how the widespread use of technology is impacting Australian children.
As a school community it is important that we remain up to date with the latest research regarding digital technologies and the impact on the lives of students. At Good Samaritan we have school wide computer/iPad expectations which describe our school expectations and how the technology is used and managed within our daily classroom routines. Further to this we will implement a ‘Screens Down’ week every term to highlight to students that learning can take many forms and devices are not always needed to learn.
Below is a snapshot of the Phase 2 results of the Gonski research. It makes for interesting reading from a parent’s perspective.
Phase 2 Results:
A new research report by the Gonski Institute for Education reveals digital media and technologies as a great distraction in Australian family life.
More than 9 out of 10 parents think digital devices negatively distract their own lives, and 83% think their children are also negatively distracted by digital gadgets.
While parents find digital technologies useful in staying connected with their children and keeping them safe, three-quarters of parents think it is difficult to control their child’s digital habits. As many as 65% of parents also admit that negotiating the use of digital media and technologies at home causes conflicts with their children.
About a third of families allow their children to use their digital devices after bedtime every single day. Furthermore, three of five children who struggle in school regularly sleep with their digital gadgets.
Growing up digital is also becoming an equity issue. According to the study, lower-income parents and lower-achieving students, in particular, are most at risk of distraction from interactive media use.
The study is also one of the first efforts to include grandparents’ views of their own and their grandchildrens’ digital media habits. Almost four in five grandparents feel they are in control of their own digital technology use, and most would rather see their grandchildren play sports than video games.
Key Facts
- More than 4 in 5 children own at least one screen-based device that belongs to them, and children own, on average, three digital devices at home. Personal ownership of gadgets starts as young as four years old.
- Only 46% of parents felt that their child spends a day without digital technology.
- 73% of parents and grandparents think it is harder to control their child’s digital habits since getting their own screen-based device.
- 65% of parents agreed that ‘negotiating digital technologies use causes conflicts in our home’.
- 83% of parents, carers and grandparents felt that their child was negatively distracted by digital technologies.
- Half of parents said that they would welcome more support from their child’s school to help them and their child to manage digital media and technologies use at home.
If you are interested in reading the report in more detail, you can find the full report of the Phase 2 Results below.
Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)
This term Good Samaritan, along with all other Australian schools, will take part in the AEDC. This will involve Kindergarten students only. Kindergarten parents will receive further information regarding the collection of this data on Friday.
Welcome Back Mrs Sillis
It has been an honour and a privilege to be the Acting Principal while Mrs Sillis took some well deserved leave after a very busy last two years. I would like to thank the school community for their acceptance and support of me in the role of Acting Principal during this time and especially thank the Leadership Team and staff for their support. I welcome Mrs Sillis back and look forward to continuing my work as the Assistant Principal.
Getting Home In The Afternoon
Bike Riders: We have a number of students who ride home from school each afternoon riding west along Cabbage Tree Lane. A number of students have been riding very quickly and attempting to do wheelies while riding past the park. While this can be fun, it is happening near other students who are walking west along Cabbage Tree Lane and parents have contacted the school worried that there will be an accident.
All students who ride a bike have been spoken to on dismissal lines last week. We ask that you speak to your child if they ride home to emphasise the need for caution.
Opal Cards: Some students who catch the school buses do not have an Opal Card. It is compulsory to have an Opal Card when using this service, which is provided by the government for students who are eligible.
The Bus inspectors were on the bus this week and spoke to students who did not have an Opal Card. Students were asked to do the following
- Find their Opal Card and have it with them every day - a card holder attached to bags is a very good way of ensuring they have their pass and don’t lose it
- Have parents order a new Opal Card and have the paper work to show that it has been ordered. This should be carried in the students bag until their Opal Card arrives
- Have an Opal Card with Money on it so that the trip can be paid for if a student is not eligible for a school Opal Card
- The bus drivers do not accept money any longer on buses.
Could I ask all parents of students who catch a bus to ensure their child has a working Opal Card that is in or on their school bags. It is very stressful for little people in the afternoon when they do not have an Opal Card with them.
Uniform Shop: Please ensure that you make an appointment on the Compass App Portal under Conferences If needing to come into the Uniform Shop to make a purchase. Alternatively, you can download a Uniform Shop order form on the GSFM website and send it via the office with the correct money included, and the order will be filled for you and sent home with your child.
Thank you and Take Care
Sharon Smithers
Assistant Principal
O Loving Lord,
You have created mothers in love and blessed them with children.
As they work tirelessly to support their families may they be showered with your blessings.
Give mothers strength to exercise compassion as they live each day under your care.
May those who are joined in your love, support mothers by their fervour of spirit and devotion to prayer.
Amen
As Mary was the model of prayer, of love, and of obedience to the will of God, by your grace make mothers holy and rich with your gifts.
Bind families together in the bonds of peace and safety so that mothers will feel nurtured by love.
May all mothers enjoy good health and spiritual well being to enable them to care for their families.
(Source: Written by Bishop Kevin Manning, Parramatta Diocese).
A very happy mothers day to all our Mums, Grandmothers and those who take on the loving role of a mother.
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.
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT 2020
From our Lumen Christi Parish
Dear parishioners of Lumen Christi,
The purpose of this message is to give you an overview of our parish’s financial position for last year.
On behalf of Bishop Brian, Fr Bernard, and the Finance Council, thank you for all your support for the works of the parish in 2020. We recognise that last year was a very difficult year due to COVID-19, which has impacted the financial situation of many people.
Looking forward to the year ahead, we need to consider how we can further consolidate our financial situation as a parish community. As parishioners of St Francis Xavier Cathedral, we need to support our parish in the day to day running of our buildings and operational expenses. Your generous support is needed to help us keep up with the costs of administering our parishes. These costs include staff salaries, utilities, insurance, and property maintenance.
If you wish to be part of our plan giving programme, please contact the parish office.
On behalf of the Lumen Christi Finance Committee, I again thank you for your support for our parish community.
Kevin Galea
Business and Operations Manager
Year 6 Sports Shirts
Year 6 are very proudly wearing their School Sports Shirts and looking very smart indeed. They have been patiently awaiting the arrival of the shirts and they are finally here.
Stage 2 News!!!
Year 3
Year 4
Year 4 have had a very busy start to the term! We have been looking closely at point of view and what it means to see one event from multiple perspectives. We believe this helps us to see things with empathy, compassion and an understanding that people’s ideas are shaped by different experiences. This week we looked at the book “One Minute’s Silence” By David Metzenthen to examine the Gallipoli campaign from an ANZAC, as well as a Turkish soldier’s perspective. We then wrote a heartfelt response, stepping into the shoes of our assigned soldier. It was an eye opening experience for many of us to consider both sides of war. The teachers are very proud of our writing!
LIBRARY NEWSLETTER
This term promises to be a very busy term in our library with lots of learning and memories to be made.
NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME - 19th May
On the 19th May, Kinder - Year 3 will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime. This event is held annually and each year a different piece of literature is chosen. This year the story that will be read is “Give Me Some Space” by Phillip Bunting. The exciting part about this year’s event is that the story will be read by Dr Shannon Walker, an astronaut on the International Space Station. We will also have some other space activities on the day as well.
An activity associated with this day is a colouring competition from a group called Learn from Play. There are lots of prizes up for grabs and you will find the link for each of the categories below. Each of the students from K - 3 will be given a copy of this colouring sheet. Once they have coloured them in, you then need to upload to the Learn from Play website. If you need assistance, I am happy for the children to bring their entries to me and I will upload.
Junior Colouring Competition (2-6 year olds)
Senior Colouring Competition (7-13 year olds)
1 MINUTE FILM COMPETITION
Years 4 & 6 are learning about the film-making process this term. Students are then going to be creating a 1-minute film about the theme - Connection. This learning will meet outcomes in English, Creative Arts and Science and Technology. It will encourage the students to become more creative in their thinking. These films will be submitted by midday, Friday, 16th July. At this point in time, students are learning about writing a screenplay and that filmmakers don’t go from idea to filming. There is a whole lot of behind the scenes preparation and planning that happens.
Please feel free to learn more about this term’s challenge here.
Also, ask your child/ren to look at their Google Classroom as this is where some between lesson time work and information may be posted to assist them in being successful with this task.
We are also looking to present the inaugural Good Samaritan Film Awards (official name to be announced at a later date) so that students can share their learning with parents and other students from the school. Stay tuned for further details.
ROBOTICS
After Years 3 & 5 have completed their NAPLAN testing week, they will be completing some work in coding and robotics during library time. They will learn about algorithm, abstraction and computational thinking. They will continue to learn that the output of the machine is only as effective as the person who completes the input.
This learning will meet the Science & Technology outcomes.
VEX ROBOTICS - EXTRA CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITY
Some students have nominated to participate in VEX IQ Robotics activities on Fridays at lunchtime. It is hoped that as we all become more familiar with this robot we can then begin taking teams to participate in scrimmages. Some of these scrimmages do happen out of school and we will communicate who and where as these opportunities arise. I am really grateful that Mrs DeAndrade has become very excited in helping me get this opportunity up and running and am sure we may persuade some other teachers as the term progresses.
PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is well underway and Good Samaritan has some more students who have been successful in completing the challenge at the end of April.
Congratulations to Claudia (Y3), Jessica (Y3), Ayla (Y3), Serene(Y3),
Holly (Y4), Avrielle (Y4), Bonnie (Y5), Finley (Y6) and Penny (Y6).
If students from Years 3 - 6 are having difficulties logging in to their reading logs. Please have them make contact with Mrs Cook or Mrs Medina.
BOOK WEEK POSTER COMPETITION 2021
Each year during Term 2, we hold a Good Samaritan Book Week Poster Competition. Entries are now open for Years 2 - 6.
The poster needs to be no bigger than A4. It needs to have the words Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds / Book Week 2021 written on the poster. It needs to have original picture / images that match the theme - Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.
Prizes will be given: 1 winner and 2 Highly Commended.
The winning entry will be used to promote activities that will take place during Book Week.
The last day for submission is Thursday, 10 June.
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.
MacKillop Girls & Boys Football Trials
On Friday the 23rd of April the Mackillop Girls and Boys soccer trials were held in Goulburn. All participants represented themselves and their school well.
Congratulations to Finley C , Declan P and Hamish G for making the Boys Football (soccer) Mackillop Team. They will now represent Mackillop at the PSSA football championships 27-29 July 2021 in Griffith
Congratulations to Talia Franklin for making the Girls Football (soccer) Mackillop Team. She will now represent Mackillop at the PSSA football championships 16-18 July 2021 in Rooty Hill.
Well Done on this great achievement and best wishes for the PSSA tournaments!
Congratulations also to Gemma H. For making the MacKillop netball team competing in the PSSA tournament. Gemma will now compete in Menai 19th-21st July.
Congratulations Good Samaritan, there were 540 tokens given out on the playground for being safe, respectful and responsible last week!
When is the next P&F Meeting?
The next P&F Meeting is Monday 10 May at 7pm in the School Library. If you are unable to attend the face to face meeting you can ‘Zoom’ into the meeting by following this link:
Join Zoom Meeting ID: 91663565837 Passcode: 942209
NAPLAN ONLINE 2021:
Next week our Year 3 and Year 5 students will participate in The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). 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 students will be participating in NAPLAN Online on the following dates:
|
Test |
Year 3 |
Year 5 |
|
NAPLAN Writing Test |
Tuesday 11 May |
Tuesday 11 May |
|
NAPLAN Reading Test |
Wednesday 12 May |
Wednesday 12 May |
|
NAPLAN Conventions of Language Test |
Wednesday 12 May |
Wednesday 12 May |
|
NAPLAN Numeracy Test |
Thursday 13 May |
Thursday 13 May |
NAPLAN - IMPORTANT DEVICE INFORMATION FOR PARENT MANAGED iPADS.
Our NAPLAN testing week is next week and there have been a number of updates sent out by Apple. It is really important that parents managing iPads ensure that their child's iPad has the latest update in readiness for testing next week.
All students in Years 3 & 5 will need their fully charged iPad and headphones at school each day next week. It is important that students know how to connect and disconnect their headphones when required.
Thank you for your continued support in these matters,
Mrs Christine Nunes, Mrs Sharon Smithers and Mrs Michelle Cook.
Dear NAPLAN students and parents,
Next week you will sit the NAPLAN tests. Before you take these tests there is something you need to know.
This test does not test all of who you are and all that makes you both unique and exceptional. In fact the people who are scoring this test don’t know that some of you love to sing, play soccer, dance, and learn.
They can not see how you help your friends who may be sad in class or on the playground or brighten a teacher’s day with a friendly smile and hello. They do not show how you are thoughtful and caring towards your family or how you look out for your little brother, sister or cousin. These are the things that make a difference and can not be tested.
The scores that you get from this test will tell you how you did in that moment, on that day. They are a snapshot in time but can not tell you everything. They can’t tell you how hard you worked to learn something new or how much you have grown and improved. They can’t tell you how amazingly special you are and how much you mean to our school community.
So come to school ready to do your best for the NAPLAN test and remember you make us proud every single day!
BEST WISHES FROM ALL THE GSFM TEACHERS
May
- 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 & 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
