Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Term 3 certainly hasn’t begun the way we would have all hoped with the strict lockdown of the greater Sydney region affecting how we go to work, school and, indeed, our daily lives.

As we work through this week of remote learning, we can look back on what we learnt of the same experience in 2020. You may recall responding to some questions last year about your experience. This helped us to better understand how you were affected and it has certainly supported us in the planning of remote learning this time. Some of the responses were:

‘Repetition is key when it comes to kindergarten kids and play is still so important. How quickly they take in and absorb what they've been targeted to learn continually surprised me’

‘She is a confident, curious learner, but can also be a perfectionist.

Although it took time to form a good routine, she thrived under structure.’

‘There's a time & place to push, a time and place for patience and how much they need to know mistakes are key to learning and not to be seen as a failure’

‘I've always believed in the importance of the parent/teacher partnership, after this experience I feel I'm better equipped/informed as to what I can bring to help strengthen my son's learning in collaboration with his teacher’

‘It has clarified that our involvement and general interest makes a difference to her attitude and willingness to share things about her school day. Also not to hesitate to ask questions/raise concerns with the teacher. We feel very supported in that respect.’

This newsletter is written to support you with remote learning this week. A regular newsletter will be sent on Wednesday.

As we journey together, through this week of remote learning, we are continually conscious that Jesus is with us,

Toni Sillis 

Principal

The GSFM Learning Hub is designed to be the one place that houses all the information you will need during the course of remote learning. 

Student Attendance & Class Rolls:

The Learning Hub is where your child is required to sign in each day. This will enable the class roll to be marked. If your child has not signed in throughout the day they will be marked as absent.

Daily Learning plans will be uploaded to the Learning Hub ready for learning each day. Teachers have been particularly conscious of planning learning that does not require parents or students to leave the home. This is to assist in supporting the strict ‘don’t leave home’ directive.

Establishing a learning environment at home:

The aim of this work is to ensure that students maintain their school habits of learning. This means that over the next week you are encouraged to support your child in developing a mindset of doing school work from home. This will include:

• Taking it slowly, allow your child time to adjust.
• Ensuring that your child has set a ‘normal and achievable’ routine, perhaps make a timetable.
• Speaking with them about your expectations to complete all of the work set.
• Making sure they have a study area that is quiet, clean and fosters their need to concentrate. Turn off TVs and any distractions.
• Speak with them about their concerns and seek assistance if they are overly anxious.
• Doing what is reasonable and practical each day given that you may be working from home as well.

We understand that some students will take quite easily to this change whilst for others it may take a little longer.

Remember not all learning is formal. Reading to your child a book that they are interested in or watching a documentary together is also learning. Conversations about topics of interest build a student’s knowledge and supports their engagement in more formal learning tasks.

Establishing routines and expectations:

Start and end each day with a check-in to help your child:

• Clarify and understand the daily learning plan they will get from their teachers
• Help them organise themselves 
• A healthy daily routine is great for mental and physical health, as well as concentration and learning.
• Regular exercise breaks and brain breaks will be included in the daily learning plan. This might mean going for a walk, dancing, floor exercises, going outside in the yard. Encourage your child to take these breaks
• Encourage healthy eating habits and make sure they drink enough water.

The remote learning day will not be the same as a full day of classroom learning. So, your child may finish the daily learning plan earlier than what the end of the school day may be. This is to be expected so do not be concerned that he or she is not engaged in ‘school work’ all day. You may also find your child becomes fatigued after lunch, this could be a good opportunity to do some play based activities.

The Learning Hub Link with the daily learning plans will be made available at 5.30pm this afternoon.

Screentime

Too much screen time is a genuine concern and teachers have been directed to use other modes of learning where possible e.g writing activities

Parents will be the best judges of the appropriate amount of screen time for learning.

Collection of work materials from school: Some students may have left belongings such as pencil cases, iPads at school over the holiday break. If this is the case, and students have no other alternative, these may be collected from the classrooms. 

Parents cannot come onto the site to collect items however we can allow students to go to their rooms and gather their materials.

Please note that the school does not want to encourage anyone to unnecessarily leave their home during this strict lockdown period.

Throughout the period of remote learning teachers will be conducting Zoom meeting sessions. These will range in frequency and organisation across the school depending upon the needs of classes and students. Zoom meetings may include whole class sessions and small group sessions.

Teachers will take time within these Zoom sessions to go through the norms i.e: the expectations of behaviour and interaction. These will be similar to what is expected in a face to face learning environment.

Below is a Quick Guide for parents about Zoom.

Good Samaritan staff must follow the strict COVID safe practices whilst on the school site during this critical lockdown period. This includes the wearing of masks and physical distancing. There is an exemption of mask wearing where it may affect the ability of a student or students to hear or engage with them, such as where clear enunciation and communication is essential. Other than this all staff will be wearing masks.

In addition, teaching staff will be operating on an A/B team roster. This means that not all teachers will be on-site each day however the school will operate with adequate staff for on-site supervision.  Teachers will also be working remotely throughout the week.

School staff who display any ‘flu like symptoms must also follow the COVID safe practice of not coming to work.

Students attending school this week may wear their sports uniform each day. They will work as grades across the school and be supervised by classroom teachers who are rosterd as ‘on site’ as well as school support officers.

Arrival and Dismissal:

Arrival at school will be by carlines from 8:20am and entry through Cabbage Tree Lane and McGrath St pedestrian gates. Parents are not permitted to come on school grounds. 

Dismissal will be: 

• car lines from 2:50pm
• Parent pick up in Cram Park at 3pm
• OOSH, bus lines and walkers as usual from 3pm

Parents are asked not to gather for any reason around the school grounds.

Parents will be required to collect their child who attends school and if he/she presents as unwell.

As parents, we often put our needs aside as we focus on caring for, raising and supporting our children. For many, parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a completely new set of challenges. 

Self Care for Parents During COVID-19 As parents, we often put our needs aside as we focus on caring for, raising and supporting our children. For many, parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a completely new set of challenges. We are helping our children cope with many big changes and all the different feelings and reactions that come with adjusting to a new sense of normal. These are stressful times for parents too! It is important now, more than ever, to take the time to care for ourselves so we can continue to parent effectively and maintain our mental health and wellbeing. 

Connect With Your Faith 

For many Catholics this is a time where we want to connect with God and with our faith community. Try to connect with your church in different ways –participate in live streaming of Mass, engage with your parish’s social media, or access prayer resources online. Create a sacred space at home where you can pray alone or as a family. Keep God present as you spend time reflecting and reassessing priorities. 

Make Time For Yourself 

Many of us are spending much more time at home parenting our children while also continuing to have ongoing responsibilities. Much of the personal time that was part of our daily lives – going to the gym, social time with friends, even driving to work – is not available for parents with children learning at home. Find ways to still transition from the different tasks and roles in your life. Purposefully create a space to recharge and de-stress. What this looks like is different for every person. Maybe it is making a space for prayer and reflection, going for a walk alone, listening to music, or taking time to read or zone out after the kids are in bed. 

Look After Your Physical Health

 In a time of added stress and lack of structure, it can be easy to do things that feel good in the moment but are not helpful or healthy in the longer term. Try to eat properly, make time to be physically active, get a good night’s sleep, and follow official guidelines around the specific hygiene and health practices that are needed right now to keep yourself and others well. Be intentional about your health and do what you can to keep yourself physically well. 

Connect with others 

Maintain social connections and a sense of community. You may not be able to visit in person so find another way to connect to others – email, social media, telephone, videocalls. Continue conversations with family and close friends. Even if they are not physically near, try to speak with or connect with someone each day. Also, consider those friends, neighbours and family who might not be tech savvy and help them to set up apps, video-calls, and other ways of linking in with others. 

Connect With Your Children 

Scheduling just 10 minutes of quality ‘play’ or ‘conversation’ time with your child each day can lead to a healthier parent-child relationship. Give your child your undivided attention and let them choose and lead the activity. This can boost self-esteem, helps children to know they are important and loved and helps you both to feel calmer and safe. 

Monitor Your Media Exposure 

With so many people feeling anxious, stressed and uncertain, it can be easy to absorb the concerns and fears of others without realising. Be mindful of the material you are consuming through the media, as well as through, social media. If you are feeling stressed or worried, exposing yourself to a constant stream of distressing media stories is unlikely to be helpful. Try limiting the frequency of checking the news about the pandemic. 

Practice Self-compassion 

Be realistic about what you can do at this time – both at work, and as a parent. Be kind and forgiving to yourself if you cannot meet the usual expectations. This is not the usual situation. You are doing the best you can. 

Create Structure 

Children thrive with a sense of structure and routine and it is helpful for adults too. Some people like to map out their day in a schedule, and others may follow a loose pattern of the day. Even setting a designated space in your home for work, study, or prayer can convey a sense of purpose and normality. Remember that many parts of your day do remain the same. Continue your usual family routines for prayer, meals, bath times and bed times as this consistency can be comforting and reassuring. 

Seek professional help if needed Sometimes we might need help from a mental health professional to get through a tough situation. Further information is available at 

• CatholicCare  (02) 4227 1122
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Your doctor

Catholic Education Western australia

https://covid19.cewa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/PARENT-SELF-CARE-COVID-19-APRIL-2020.pdf  

The Feast of St Benedict- 11th July

St Benedict was born in Italy. When he grew up he decided to spend three years living in a cave. He found God through prayer and a life of simplicity within a community. Benedict’s gift was to understand that people live best when they are side by side with other human beings. St Benedict taught that growth comes from accepting people as they are, not as we would like them to be.

The Good Samaritan Sisters are a religious group of the Order of St Benedict.

They were the first religious Congregation founded in Australia, and as the name suggests, their work and prayer are both enlivened by the Parable of the Good Samaritan and nourished by the ancient wisdom of the Rule of St Benedict. We are fortunate to have our school named Good Samaritan and strive to live and work by the teachings of St Benedict.

In reflection, we are most fortunate to live, work and learn within the community of Good Samaritan, Fairy Meadow and live our best lives by walking side by side with each other.