Today marks the celebration of the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274).

It is fitting that we begin the school year remembering St Thomas who based much of his philosophical work on that of Aristotle. St Thomas was a teacher, philosopher & lecturer  becoming the patron saint of universities and students. 

St Thomas reminds us that learning takes place when one teaches another. He highlights the importance of direct & explicit instruction in order for the learner to acquire knowledge. 

All parents received a Compass notification earlier this week outlining the COVID Smart Start to the school year. Our COVID Smart Start procedures are below to assist with the start of the school year.

Buses

The normal school buses to and from school will continue to operate. Teachers will supervise students travelling home by bus in the usual way. Students should wear a mask on bus lines and on the bus.

Morning drop-off

The morning drop off procedure at Good Samaritan facilitates a staggered approach to arriving at school.

• Students arrive at school between 8:20 am and 8:45 am. Parents are asked not to enter the school grounds.
• The McGrath St & Cabbage Tree Lane gates will be open each morning from 8:20am for student entry only. A staff member will be at the Library steps to welcome students as they arrive at school. Please use the Cabbage Tree Lane gate if your child needs support to return to school.
• The morning car lines will operate as usual from 8:20am. Car lines will conclude at 8:45am.
• Students should hand sanitise on arrival at school. Sanitiser is available for student use.
• On arrival at school, students will be directed to their class/cohort group to avoid mixing among student cohorts.

Afternoon Dismissal 

Car lines remain the safest and most efficient way to drop off and pick up students. 

Afternoon car lines will begin at 2:40pm. 

Students will sit in their cohort lines maintaining physical distancing.

Please observe all traffic regulations when entering the school grounds including no right turn into or out of the Parish carpark. Should the line extend beyond the carpark please drive around the block to avoid any traffic jams onto Cabbage Tree Lane and the Princes Highway.

Dismissal for bus lines, OOSH and walkers remains the same.

PARENT PICK UP:

• All parent pick up will continue to take place in Cram Park on the corner of McGrath St and Cabbage Tree Lane. Dismissal will be staggered in the following order:

• 2:40pm: Kindergarten & Year 3
• 2:45pm: Year 1 & Year 5
• 2:50pm: Year 2 & Year 4
• 2:55pm: Year 6

• Students will be supervised safely across the road by a teacher of their cohort
• Parents are asked to wait on the perimeter of the park until all students have crossed to the park. Please do not gather at the crossing area to allow all students to get into the park safely.
• Parents are asked to allow time for teachers to settle the students before collecting them
• Students will be asked to indicate to the supervising teacher who is picking them up
• Parents are asked to always be considering social distancing whilst in the park.

• All students and parents must follow the pick up and dismissal procedures above.
• Students will be separated by grade cohort on arrival at school.
• Throughout the day students will stay in grade cohort groupings. 
• Whole school assemblies will be conducted regularly via Zoom on a Friday.
• Recess and lunch breaks will follow the same timetable as 2021. All grade cohorts will play separately in different areas to avoid mixing.
• Student cohorts will line up separately after breaks to re-enter classrooms.

Where possible, students will distance themselves from each other in the classroom. Students will not be sitting on the floor as a whole group and where possible desks separated. Students will also physically distance from each other to eat and line up. Physical distancing can be very challenging with young children and teachers will provide ongoing reminders.

Enhanced daily COVID-19 cleaning arrangements (with a focus on high-touch surfaces and high traffic areas) will remain in place.

We will continue to follow NSW Health ventilation guidelines stating that natural ventilation is the most effective measure. Doors and windows will be open to maximise fresh air flow in learning spaces.

This approach is strongly supported by expert advice and we will continue to use outdoor settings where appropriate.

Whilst next week will be the first week back for students, the school year did resume today - hence this week is week one and next week will be week 2.

This year we welcome the following people to our Good Samaritan community:

• Assistant Principal: Mrs Catherine Hailstone

• Year 1 Blue (with Ms Hutton): Mrs Jamie Smede

• Year 3 Blue: Miss Ashley Rae

• Year 5 Red: Mr Damian Collins

(Mrs Lauren Mahar was unable to fulfil the position for 2022 as advised in term 4.)

• Physical Education (TPPT): Mrs Carla Olima
• Creative Arts (TPPT): Mrs Clarese McCabe

• EAL/D Teacher: Mrs Jane Stackhouse

• EAL/D School Support Officer: Ms Helen Markovic

• Classroom Support Teacher K-2: Mrs Jenny Jancetic

We welcome back to Good Samaritan:

Classroom Teacher Support 3-6: Mrs Shirley Jancetic

Our new uniform supplier, Poppets, has reported that the supply of our uniform went very well throughout the Christmas/New Year period. Whilst stock may not have been available in a limited number of sizes/items, we did expect some delays due to the worldwide shortage of goods with the pandemic. 

Please note that the School Uniform policy has been updated and reflects all current expectations to ensure that all students work to create a greater sense of equality among the student population despite the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of their families.

Of particular note are hairstyles. Current popular hairstyles include the ‘mullet’. This is not an acceptable hairstyle for school. Please note the updated section of the policy regarding hairstyles, jewellery and nail art.

(Extracted from Uniform Policy 2022)

HAIR

Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner. Haircuts should be of an even grade. Hair should be well brushed and combed and it is assumed that hair will not be in such a condition as to invite comment.

 BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

♦ Extreme styles, bleaching, colouring or dyeing of hair are not permitted.

♦ No mullet hairstyles are allowed i.e: where the hair is cut short at the front and sides, but is longer at the back.

♦ Gel, mousse and hair spray or other substances should not be used.

♦ There will be no undercuts, steps or shaved lines within the hair.

♦ Nothing shorter than a Number 3 comb is acceptable.

♦ Hair should not extend to cover the eyes.

♦ Long hair is to be tied back or plaited.

♦ Ribbons and bands of school colour are to be worn.

Students who do not abide by the haircut requirements will be asked to fix the identified problem.

JEWELLERY

Jewellery should be kept to a minimum – watches, chains with religious symbols are to be worn under the uniform, for girls one pair small earrings (studs or sleepers) in the ear lobe – no multiple earrings to be worn.

NAILS

Students’ fingernails are to be of a natural colour therefore no nail polish, acrylic, gel or shellac nails are to be worn to school.

SHOES AND SOCKS

♦   Students are required to wear black leather school shoes.

♦ Shoes should be cleaned and polished.

♦  Sports shoes should be supportive, predominately white sport shoes/joggers. 

♦ Sports socks must be white socks i.e. covering the ankle. ‘Sockettes’ are not appropriate for school wear.

ALL ITEMS OF UNIFORM MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH THE CHILD’S NAME

All parents are asked to support their child/ren in adhering to the uniform policy. This will avoid the uncomfortable situation of receiving a uniform note or a phone call requesting the situation be rectified.

Poppets Direct Schoolwear is now Good Samaritan’s official uniform supplier. Poppets are working hard to ensure that uniforms supply is ready for the new school year. It is important that parents understand that the supply of uniforms from overseas manufacturers has been slowed by the pandemic. We may experience some delay in some items of our uniform for this reason. Please be patient as Poppets work to provide the uniform for our students.

All items of the school uniform are compulsory. This includes the jumper, ribbons and socks - all of which make the uniform distinctive to Good Samaritan. 

Please remember that when buying shoes for school that they are what is required within our uniform policy. Joggers that are predominantly white are to be worn for sport and fitness. They must be predominantly white and may be lace up or velcro. No slip on ‘Raben’ type shoes, indoor soccer boots or coloured joggers are to be worn. Pictorial examples of appropriate joggers are shown here.

Below is information from the eSafety Commissioner regarding the Online Safety Act.

On 23 January 2022, we welcomed the commencement of the Online Safety Act, which provides additional protections for Australians in the fight against online harms.

The Online Safety Act 2021 brings some big changes, including a world-first Adult Cyber Abuse Scheme to protect Australians aged over 18, and a broader Cyberbullying Scheme for Australian children to capture harms that occur on online services other than social media. 

The eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) now also has the authority to order service providers to remove illegal and restricted content – including child sexual exploitation material and terrorist content – no matter where it is hosted.

The Online Safety Act 2021 has significant implications for online service providers because it makes them more accountable for the online safety of people who use their service.

eSafety is here to help and we offer a wealth of resources.

For advice and support, I encourage you to visit esafety.gov.au. You’ll find details about what the Online Safety Act 2021 is and what it means for Australians who use online platforms and services.

Yours faithfully,  

Julie Inman Grant

eSafety Commissioner

Fresh Start Canteens anticipate that they will operate Wednesday - Friday from Week 2. As with all businesses, Fresh Start employees may be impacted by having to isolate due to COVID-19. The school will endeavour to contact parents as soon as is practicable if to advise of the canteen being closed.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY! 

SEEKING CANTEEN ASSISTANTS

Fresh Start Canteens is looking for honest, reliable, and hardworking Staff in the Wollongong and surrounding areas. If you think you would like an opportunity to work in a canteen environment, please send your details to freshstartcanteens@gmail.com. Training will be provided. WWC is essential to working in this environment as well as vaccination. All applications are due by 01/02/2022.

Come join a team of wonderful ladies providing lunches to our community. This is a part time position in school hours.

Looking forward to hearing from you! 

Jenny (Fresh Start Canteens)

Central to the teaching of St Benedict was a Love of Learning. Our children already know what it means to be Ready to Learn and we continue to instil in each of them a Love of Learning by recognising that learning happens all the time. We can learn in our classrooms, on the playground, when we make mistakes, when we interact with other people and the list goes on.

The Mission Behaviours help us to recognise the actions of others, and ourselves, when we are together in community. The students are also coming to know these behaviours and what are being taught the actions that can identify the behaviours. 

Understanding the Mission Behaviours also provides an opportunity for us to love learning. Our PB4L values are aligned with the Mission Behaviours.

TERM 1 2022 DATES:

January

• Friday 28 January - PUPIL FREE DAY/ Staff Return 

• Monday 31 January -  PUPIL FREE DAY /Staff Development Day 

February

• Tuesday 1 February - Students Return 

• Friday 4 February - Touch Football Trials 

• Monday 7 February -  School Swimming Trials 

• Tuesday 8 February - Basketball & Tennis Trials 

• February 18 February -Opening School Mass /Liturgy (COVID restrictions may apply )

March

• Eucharist Group 2021

•  February 23/24 - Parent Meeting  2022 SJV 6:30 pm 

• Eucharist Group from 2021
• Session     1    9/10 March SJV 6:30 pm
• Session     2    16/17 March SJV 6:30 pm 
• Session     3    23/24 March SJV 6:30 pm 
• Session     4    30/31 March SJV 6:30 pm

• March 28 -April 4 - Catholic Schools Week 

May

•  Thursday May 5 - Mother's Day Liturgy & Morning Tea (COVID restrictions may apply)

•  Friday May 6 - Mother's Day Stall 

June

• June 29/30-2022 Sacramental Programme Parent Meeting & enrolment evening 6.30pm SJV 

July

•  Friday July 22 - Grandparents & Great People Day 

September 

• Friday 2 September Father's Day BBQ Breakfast & Stall

•  Wednesday September 14 - Feast of the Holy Cross - Feast Day 10 Years of Good Samaritan 

• September 18-25  - UCI 2022 Road World Championships- Wollongong