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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
Last week the students engaged in our Term 2 PB4L Day. This is an opportunity for teaching how we engage with each other in the school environment and how we use the social norms of the playground.
The students respond very positively to these opportunities as they work as individuals, together in teams and as a whole class or grade group. It allows the students to develop skills that will stay with them as they begin to interact in society.
The activities that the students engage in allows for students to give their opinions and to raise concerns that they may have either in the classroom or on the playground. The information gathered from students on Friday will be analysed by teachers so as to further improve the delivery of the PDHPE curriculum.
The houses of Ingham, MacKillop, Xavier and Vianney play an important part in developing teamwork skills and for the social reinforcement of being a part of a larger group. The students are coming to know their house as more than a colour that they belong to and look towards the core values that are associated with their house patron.
Ingham House
This House is named after Bishop Emeritus Peter Ingham whose core values include:
- Service
- Compassion
- Love
- Mercy
MacKillop House
This House is named after St Mary of the Cross Mackillop whose core values include:
- Love
- Justice
- Compassion
- Dignity
MacKillop House is represented by the colour GREEN.
Vianney House
This House is named after St John Vianney whose core Faith values include:
- Friendship
- Care
- Love of God
Vianney House is represented by the colour RED.
Xavier House
This House is named after St Francis Xavier whose core values include:
- Serving others
- Being inclusive
- Being peacemakers
Xavier House is represented by the colour BLUE.
As we journey together with Jesus this week,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Playground Remodelling:
We are now looking forward to work beginning on the playground in the upcoming school holidays. Demolition work will begin on the area in front of the primary COLA. This will be an exciting time as we start to upgrade our Good Samaritan playground.
Year 6 Parents Mark Your Calendars!
An Evening with Paul Dillon
Holy Spirit College will be hosting a zoom parent information evening by Paul Dillon. “Teens alcohol and other drugs. What do parents in a post Covid-19 world need to know”
Holy Spirit College in collaboration with the College’s Parents & Friends would like to invite Year 6 parents (only) to attend this zoom parent information evening.
Details: Monday 19 July 7-8.30pm
Teens, alcohol and other drugs:
What do parents in a post-COVID-19 world need to know?
During adolescence, teens develop a biological need to be around friends and research strongly suggests that they should be provided opportunities to socialise with their peers whenever possible. Under the COVID-19 ‘social distancing’ restrictions parents have been asked to try to restrict these face-to-face interactions. This presentation will examine how teens have adapted to the current situation and discuss some of the risks, as well as potential benefits of teens living in ‘isolation’. Most importantly, as the restrictions are gradually ‘rolled back’ over the months ahead, how should parents respond? Socialising, in all its forms, is going to look different for some time to come but underage drinking will inevitably play a role in many teen parties and gatherings. To assist parents to navigate through a post COVID-19 world some simple tips will also be provided to help ensure teens are able to interact with friends on a Saturday night and, at the same time, reduce the risk of underage drinking and the potential dangers associated with such behaviour.
Staffing Update:
Mrs Sampson has made the difficult decision to resign her position at Good Samaritan. This comes after much deliberation particularly regarding the students in her care with the Amaroo classes.
I am pleased to be able to advise that Mrs Christie Gray will be teaching in Amaroo from the beginning of Term 3.
Christie is currently replacing Mr Condon in Year 6. Mr Condon will return to Year 6 at the beginning of Term 3 as he is recovering well from surgery.
Mrs Gray comes to Good Samaritan with experience across a number of schools and a variety of settings including Special Education. She comes with a good knowledge of the curriculum and has well developed skills of differentiating the curriculum to suit student learning needs. Mrs Gray develops good relationships with students allowing for a positive classroom climate.
I am sure that you, like all of us at Good Samaritan, thank Mrs Sampson for her commitment to the students and Amaroo and also welcome Christie into this role.
The Feast of Corpus Christi 6 June also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is a Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Western Orthodox liturgical solemnity celebrating the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the elements of the Eucharist.
When we break bread and share the one cup we recall the last supper before Jesus died on the Cross. Like the disciples, the Mass has bonded us in a love relationship. For this reason, the Eucharist is a call to unity and community.
Make your own unleavened bread:
Mix together: 1 cup of flour, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, ½ cup water. Knead and roll into a flat circle. Cook on a BBQ or fry pan. Share some photos if you can!
First Holy Communion Parent Meeting:
Wednesday 30 June and Thursday 1 July, 2021 at 6.30pm SJV Co-Cathedral.
Our Captains & Vice Captains invite you to:
GSFM Teddy Bear’s Picnic
The picnic will be held following the postponed Mother’s Day Liturgy as a celebration of the end of Term 2 on Friday 25 June.
Year 6 will be living the Benedictan value of HOSPITALITY with a selection of cakes and slices to share with you on the day.
Did You See Us on WIN News?
From our Year 3 Classes
Over the past few weeks I have been privileged to work closely with the Year 3 teachers in analysing student writing data. Professional discussions held around ways to best meet the needs of each student and current research has seen changes in the way Mrs Mewett and Mrs Sutton are implementing the high impact strategy of the Gradual Release of Responsibility model. This model is recognised as a successful approach for moving classroom instruction from teacher-centred, whole group delivery to student centred collaboration and independent practice. As the name suggests, responsibility for successful delivery of lesson content is gradually released to the student.
Here are some photos of students working in the teacher modelled component and students working in the independent practice:
Parents can support student writing by encouraging children to write, write, write! They can:
- Provide many opportunities such as writing the shopping list, sending letters and cards to friends and relatives, writing emails, keeping a diary, publishing personal stories and leaving notes. Writing should be relevant and meaningful rather than writing for the sake of writing.
- Draw children’s attention to how writing is presented, for example, on brochures, billboards, books, and electronic media — these are models of writing for real purposes.
- Create a community of writers. Provide a quiet place for writing with lots of writing materials. Leave notes for each other, write poems for your children, and send messages in lunch containers. Play writing games, for example, one person writes the beginning, another the middle and the other the end of a family story. Write together.
Mrs Nunes, Mrs Mewett, Mrs Sutton
From our Year 4 Classes
In line with our whole school focus, Year 4 teachers have over the past few weeks collaborated over student data and the new PD/H/PE syllabus, linking the PD/H/PE syllabus outcomes to our context: our classrooms.
Student voice has been a huge part of this process. Students have been given the opportunity to share ideas and give feedback to structures and situations that concern them. The focus being on RESPECT. Year 4 have explored the following questions: How do we show respect in challenging situations? Why are empathy, inclusion and respect important in our relationships?
The process began by developing a whole grade consistent definition of the term RESPECT.
Year 4 students then used real examples of when respect was or wasn’t shown. Students reflections on respectful situations:
One time on the playground I was playing OzTAG and someone accidentally bumped into me and I fell over and I was hurt. They said “sorry” and helped me up and took me up to the office to get a bandaid. They showed me respect. By Olivia
Sarah got hurt and Jade went and checked on her. She then helped her up. That is what kindness looks like. Kindness is respect. By Ruby
In silent reading my desk partner respects me by not talking while I am reading. By Amelia
How can parents help?
- Celebrate differences in the community, on the television, in books. Focus on what contributions our differences make to our community, country and globally.
- When talking about challenging situations ask and discuss the question: How would I feel? What were my choices? What is the impact of my choice here? Who have I affected or influenced?
- Talk about respect at home when you see it in action. Highlight respect in everyday situations and value this as much as the result.
Year 4 has also been learning about perspective in English and during reconciliation week considered the ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ that we say to pay our respect to those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ancestors. Year 4 wrote their own ‘Acknowledgement of Country’. Here are some examples:
Mrs Nunes, Mrs Vazey, Ms Malady, Mr Novak
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:
Canteen is only open Wednesday to Friday
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 the correct money to the school office.
These orders will be filled on uniform shop days.
Sports Assembly
Students will recieve their ribbons & medals from the Athletics Carnival
Friday 11 June
Parents Welcome
SOCIAL NORMS FOR OUR PLAYGROUND
Social norm #1: Meet and greet politely.
- Say greetings, introductions, and goodbyes.
- Politely offer and receive compliments.
- Be able to start and finish conversations.
Social norm #2: Take turns talking.
- Listen when others are speaking and look them in the eye.
- Wait if adults are talking.
- Respond appropriately and at the right time.
Social norm #3: Pay attention to others.
- Stop what you’re doing so you can listen.
- Read people’s emotions through their body language and facial expressions.
- Change your behaviour to match what other people are doing, such as quieting down with the rest of the room.
Social norm #4: Think about others before acting.
- Ask for consent.
- Don’t cut in line.
- Wait your turn.
- Stand a comfortable distance away when talking.
Social norm #5: Cooperate with others.
- Follow directions when you’re asked to.
- Ask for help when you need it.
- Apologise when necessary.
- Be flexible and open to new ideas.
From the School Handbook:
School Attendance and Absences
It is most important that students attend school unless there exists a genuine reason for absence. It is also most important that students attend school for the full school day. Whilst the first 10 minutes of school or the last 20 minutes of the school day may seem unimportant to parents, it is during these times that students are instructed of the essential routines and guides of the school day that help to create productive learning environments. As parents, you are urged to ensure your child/ren arrive at school on time and stay for the complete school day every day of the week.
Below is an outline of the processes Good Samaritan will use to follow up extended absences from school.
As a systemic primary school within the Wollongong Diocese, Good Samaritan adheres to the School Attendance Guidelines and Procedures of the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. As such, the following process will be used to support the regular attendance of students at school.
Step 1: 3 - 4 days absent
- Phone call to parents (if required ).
- Follow up letter to parents if absences continue - meeting with parents to discuss.
- Review situation for the following week.
Step 2: 7 - 14 days absent
- Regular phone calls to parents re attendance.
- Registered letter to parents re attendance.
- Referral to school counselor/Family Support.
- Meeting with the school Principal.
- Head of School Services to be informed.
Step 3: 14 - 21 days absent
- Inform Head of School Services.
- Regular contact with parents.
- School informs Catholic Education Office.
- Meeting with the school Principal and Head of School Service (Action Plan agreed on and review date set).
- Registered letter to parents.
Step 4: 22+ days absent
- Head of School Service with the Principal to determine an Action Plan.
Step 5: Above 30 days absent
- Report ‘education neglect’ (i.e., habitual absence or not enrolled) to Community Services (CS) Child Protection Helpline.
- Letter to parents from Head of School Services advising that the system has reported to Community Services (CS) or if not enrolled, also reported to Department of Education and Communities (DEC). If there are any concerns for the child’s wellbeing, normal child protection procedures apply - this can be made any time during the above procedure.
June
- Friday 11 June Sports Assembly 2pm (Parents Welcome)
- 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 Mother's Day Liturgy and Picnic
- Friday 25 June Last Day Term 2
- Wednesday 30 June First Holy Communion Parent Meeting 6.30pm SJV Co-Cathedral
TERM 3 DATES:
JULY:
- Thursday 1 July First Holy Communion Parent Meeting 6.30pm SJV Co-Cathedral
- 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
