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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
Week 3 has come upon us very quickly. Each day of remote learning brings a new success along with a new challenge. I began to think about the meaning of the word ‘remote’. As an adjective ‘remote’ can mean operating from a distance or having very little connection to or relationship with.
This got me thinking about our Good Samaritan community and how blessed we are to have teachers who have worked hard to ensure that the learning of our students stays as connected to their school learning experiences as possible. This has occurred through daily videos, zoom sessions and detailed daily learning plans.
Our students have also broken through the idea of being remote. They join into the zoom sessions with a sense of maturity and commitment to their learning. They ask questions to clarify their understanding about what they need to complete and the work they are submitting is of a very pleasing standard.
Last Friday, Mrs Shelley and I had a meeting with our student leadership team. The aim of the meeting was to come up with ways that they could keep the student community connected. As a result, we have seen videos created that have our school vice captains Evie, Cohen and Finley giving remote learning tips, the importance of Brain Breaks and an Olympic wrap up that will be included in daily learning plans. Vice captains, Mikayla and Emma have published Olympic learning tasks for each stage across the school. Vice Captain Noah is working with Cohen on an Olympic Trivia to be shared across the school.
Our school captains, Matisse and Christian created a ‘Breaking News’ Report that detailed the learning across our school during week 2.
Whilst we are engaging in remote learning, our community is striving to ensure that students and families remain accessible and as relevant to one another as possible during this lockdown period.
As principal, I am extremely proud of our student leaders as they are a wonderful example of young people who demonstrate commitment to their school, their peers and to learning.
As we journey together, with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Take the Oxygen First !
This period of remote learning has, no doubt, placed a lot of pressure on parents and families. Research has begun regarding the stressors that parents are feeling during this time…
‘... findings show that parents, as proxy educators, experience heightened levels of mental health distress when their child struggles to adapt to a distance learning pedagogy. Research shows that stressful learning environments tend to stifle students’ academic abilities, making it imperative to address both students’ and parents’ emotional needs throughout this period (Zhang and Sapp, 2008).’
Take some time for yourself this week. Plan something for yourself this weekend; something you can look forward to and pay yourself back for all that you have given this week. Your self care works to give you the energy to continue with the challenges that will continue to face us all as we work through the next few weeks. Remember: every flight attendant says to take the oxygen mask first before you help others.
Lockdown Extended:
This morning we heard the announcement that lockdown has been extended for another 4 weeks. This is certainly not what we wanted to hear, however we need to continue to follow the public health order to protect our school students, staff, parents and the wider community.
At the press conference, the NSW Premier made the following announcements:
LOCKDOWN AND REMOTE LEARNING EXTENDED UNTIL 28 AUGUST
- The lockdown for Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Shellharbour, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) will be extended for a further four weeks until 12.01am Saturday 28 August.
- Level 4 schools will continue remote learning during this time.
- There is no change for Level 2 schools
VACCINATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED
- The Government is encouraging teachers and school staff, along with all NSW citizens, to be vaccinated as soon as possible, with all adults now able to access the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
OTHER UPDATES
- No one is allowed to shop outside their LGA or more than 10kms from their home.
- People who live alone will be able to nominate one person who will be able to visit them in their home (certain conditions apply).
- Non-occupied construction will resume from next week, except in the eight high-risk LGAs.
Further information will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.
Feast of St Joachim & Ann:
Last Sunday 25 July was the first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly following Pope Francis’ announcement earlier this year as a reminder of the important role they play as a link between generations.
The Feast of St Joachim and Ann on July 26 coincides with this important day of recognition. Joachim and Ann were the parents of Mary, Mother of God. Joachim and Ann are therefore known as the grandparents of Jesus.
Pope Francis tweeted:
‘The significance of this Day is that every grandfather and every grandmother, every older person, especially those among us who are most alone, might be visited by an angel!’
‘Dear grandparents, what is our vocation today, at our age? To preserve our roots, to pass on the faith to the young and to care for the little ones. Let’s never forget this.’
This term we would have celebrated Grandparents Day but unfortunately have been unable to do this. We hope to celebrate later in the year however, this week, we remember all the Grandparents and Great People and what they bring to our lives.
Pope Francis Prays with Grandparents and the Elderly:
Reflections from our Parish:
Did you know that our Parish has reflection to read and listen to across the week? Fr Bernard and Fr Anthony prepare and publish reflections on the Sunday and weekly Gospels. You can read, or listen, to them by following this
Infants’ Playground Shade Sails:
Unfortunately, the high winds last weekend tore the sails over the infants’ playground. They have been removed to be repaired and reinforced in an effort to prevent this from happening again.
Teacher Professional Planning Time (PPT):
This week teachers will be offline on Friday 30 July from 1pm-3pm in order to take their Professional Planning Time.
Professional Planning Time (PPT) is the provision of time issued to teachers under the Enterprise Agreement 2017 NEW SOUTH WALES & AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SCHOOLS. This provision is to support teachers in achieving learning outcomes for students, for example by planning, programming and carrying out related administrative duties. Good Samaritan teachers take this time as one 2 hour block each week.
Since Jump Rope for Heart started in 1983, schools like ours have raised more than $104 million for the Heart Foundation’s lifesaving work.
It’s important you register your child online, so they can receive the full benefits of the program and participate in online fundraising, simply follow the link below to get started. www.jumprope.org.au/parents
Students will be skipping as part of remote learning and when they return to school, during this time you can share their online fundraising page with family and friends to help raise money for this great cause.
We will hold our school Jump Off Day on Friday 17 September, this will mark the end of the program and is a chance for everyone to come together to skip and show off their newly learned skills.
Thank you for supporting the Jump Rope for Heart program!
Canteen News:
Canteen is currently closed until further notice
The Uniform Shop will be Closed for Appointminents until further notice
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.
Tuesday mornings 8.30am to 9.30am
Thursday afternoons 2pm to 3.15pm
- Show kindness towards others through actions and/or words.
- Use active listening & showing this with your whole body
- Think through what you say before you say it
- Be aware and supportive of those less fortunate
- Value the perspective others even though you may not always
From the School Handbook:
What do I do if I have a concern regarding a student/s who is not my child?
At times parents may become concerned about the behaviour of other students and, in an effort to resolve the situation, approach the student concerned. However, under no circumstances are parents to approach other students when trying to resolve an issue. Always seek assistance from the school. Incidents such as this can very quickly lead to reportable Child Protection matters that have to be investigated and reported.
It is also good practice to seek assistance from the school when you have a concern rather than approaching other parents about school related matters.
Always think about what you would do, or how you would feel, if another parent approached your child or confronted you about a matter where you were not fully informed of the details.
TERM 3 DATES:
AUGUST:
- Tuesday 3 August Sth Coast Region Athletics TBA
- Thursday -Friday 5-6 August Year 6 Camp Postponed
- Monday 8 August Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
- Mon-Fri 23-27 August Book Week Postponed
- Thursday 26 August Book Week Parade Postponed
SEPTEMBER:
- Friday 3 september - Father’s Day Breakfast/Prayer & Stall TBC
- Monday 6 September Students return to wearing Summer Uniforms
- Tuesday 7 September Staff Spirituality Day - PUPIL FREE DAY
- Wednesday-Thursday 8-9 September Assistant Principal Overnight Retreat
- Thursday-Friday 9-10 September Basketball Gala Days (Junior & Senior) TBC
- Monday 13 September MacKillop Athletics Carnival TBC
- Friday 17 September Jump Rope for Heart Day
- Friday 17 September Term 3 Concludes
October:
- Friday 15 October Grandparents Day