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Dear Parents and Carers,
What a great celebration we were able to have last Friday with the student leader Liturgy. It has been 2 years since we have been able to gather as a community and it was such a wonderful feeling to be back together again celebrating our students.
Our school staff are looking forward to returning to a greater level of parent engagement across our school. We recognise parents as key stakeholders in our school community and value the input that is offered about our work.
One way for parents to become engaged with our school is to attend the P&F meetings. These meetings are held regularly each term. The meetings include a Principal’s report where I outline the learning of the students, our continuous school improvement, our relationships with our Parish community and the broader community.
Also, it is an opportunity to make decisions about events and activities for the school. These include fundraising events which support the school enormously. In the past the P&F have contributed to raising funds for air conditioning the classrooms and they have also had plans to contribute to the upgrading of the playground spaces. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved or simply come along to find out what has been happening at the school and how you can engage with your child’s learning and school experience.
The P&F meeting runs for one hour. We are hoping that the meetings will be able to resume as face to face meetings, however we will continue to have a zoom alternative for those parents who would like to join in the conversation but are unable to attend in person.
Over the past couple of years, the P&F have been looking at ways to revitalise parent engagement in primary school. This is an important conversation to have in order to maintain the partnership principles of:
- Authentic Catholicity
- Respectful Relationships
- Supportive Environment
- Connected Community
- Active Engagement
These principles are further expanded in the Diocesan Parent - School Partnership Framework.
I extend an invitation to you for the next P&F meeting, which will be the Annual General Meeting, on Monday 28 February at 7pm. If the meeting goes ahead as face to face, it will be held in the Library however parents can also attend via zoom.
As we journey through the week together, with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Did you know that 9 foods cause 90% of food allergies?
These foods are:
- Egg
- Sesame
- Milk
- Soy
- Peanut
- Fish
- Tree nuts (cashew, almond, pistachio etc)
- Crustacea (prawns, lobster, crabs etc)
- Wheat
Peanuts are the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by tree nuts, shellfish, fish and milk.
At Good Samaritan we have several students who live with anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions. These reactions are life threatening and, therefore, taken very seriously.
As the only way to manage a food allergy is avoidance, the school has implemented several strategies to help prevent a severe allergic reaction. We can never totally eliminate the risk of an anaphylaxis but we can all do things that will help lessen the risk.
Parents are reminded of the risk to others when packing your child’s lunch or when sending in food for any occasion, including school excursions. When we become aware of products in lunch boxes that would pose a severe risk to Good Samaritan students, we will contact parents so that we all continue to be conscious of this risk
Together, we can work to keep everyone safe.
In line with recent announcements from the NSW Government, the rapid antigen test (RAT) program will end on Friday 25 February 2022. This means that the twice weekly testing using RAT kits is no longer in place. Thank you for your patience and cooperation over the last four weeks. While it has been a—sometimes unwelcome—addition to the already busy morning routine, proactive testing was a critical tool to keep our school community safe, especially while case numbers remained high in the broader community.
For the remainder of Term 1, families are asked to use RATs at your discretion when you consider it necessary (e.g. if a child develops symptoms or a family member is unwell). In the coming weeks, each student will be provided with a further eight RATs to be used for this purpose. We are currently awaiting the delivery of the additional RATs from the NSW Government and we will advise you of collection details as soon as we receive the delivery
If you wish to attend the P&F meeting via zoom follow these details:
Topic: P&F Meeting
Time: Feb 28, 2022 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
Zoom link for the P&F meeting Monday 28 February 2022
Password: 546782
You’re Invited!
The GSFM Zoom assembly will be held on Friday afternoon at 2:15pm. Year 4 will gather in the hall for a face to face assembly with our student leaders. You are invited to join our assembly via zoom. Log in by following the link below, put yourself on mute and enjoy some time with Good Samaritan students!
Password: 009854
Assessment
Over the last few weeks teachers have been assessing students in all Key Learning Areas. The data from these assessments along with classroom observations will be used to provide feedback to students, plan guided learning and teaching activities and work with students to set learning goals.
Students in Year 2-6 will complete online (Progressive Asssessment Tests) PATs in Maths and Reading. Students in K-2 will complete in class assessments to guide and support their learning.
Parent Engagement in Learning
I encourage you to talk to your child/ren about their learning goals. What do they see as their strengths and what are the areas they need to work on?
Having these conversations with your child/ren shows you are interested in their learning and builds up their confidence and engagement in school.
Thank you for your commitment to the ‘Meet and Greet’ phone conversations with your child/ren’s teacher and for those who completed the form to provide further information to support your child/ren in their learning and wellbeing. If you have missed either of these opportunities please make contact with the school office via email (info@gsfmdow.catholic.edu.au) and a message will be given to your child/ren’s teacher.
Ash Wednesday: 2 March
There will be no Ash Wednesday school mass, however students will receive the ashes in their classrooms.This year Ash Wednesday is celebrated on 2 March. It marks the beginning of the season of Lent. During Lent we prepare by prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the joys of Easter. On Ash Wednesday, the ashes, blessed by prayer and holy water will be sprinkled over our heads as a sign of our repentance. The ashes come from the palms blessed for the previous year's Palm Sunday Mass.
Please carefully note this year’s Ash Wednesday Mass timetable:
St Francis Xavier Cathedral
7am, 12.10pm & 6pm
St John Vianney Co-Cathedral
9.30am
St Brigid’s Church
11am
Stations of the Cross will be held during Lent on Fridays from 4 March 7pm at St Francis Xavier Cathedral — ALL WELCOME!
Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong (CYMW) is excited to announce that LIVE Local is coming to Wollongong for the first time! Starting on the 4 March LIVE Local will run every Friday night in the school term from 7 - 9pm, at St Therese West Wollongong school hall. This youth group is open to young people aged 13 -17 years who want to make new friends and grow in their faith. Come along for snacks, games, formation, prayer and music.
For more information please contact Luke Vail at luke.vail@dow.org.au
Eucharist Group from 2021
(These groups are for students who were enrolled for the Eucharist Programme in 2021)
The dates for the Eucharist Programme are as follows:
Sessions start Term 1 (March) 2022 for the 2021 students
Parent Meeting 23/24 Feb SJV 6:30 pm
- 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
The First Communion Masses will be held on Saturday April 2nd and Saturday April 9th. Further confirmation of times will be available during the Parent Meetings in late February 2022. If you require further information, please contact Catherine Zamroz on a Friday via Ph: 02 4211 0506 or email: Catherine.Zamroz@dow.org.au
Year 6 Leadership Liturgy:
Last Friday we were able to celebrate the Year 6 Leadership Liturgy together with parents who could attend. The students received their badges with great pride demonstrating their commitment to their school and the love that they have for one another.
Amaroo Gold children are also enjoying Music and PE lessons with their Kindergarten and Year 1 friends.
News from Amaroo Blue
Amaroo Blue has had a great start to the year, settling into their new classroom and reconnecting with their school friends. We started our year with a unit on the Good Samaritan, and learnt about being a kind, helpful person.
Students have been learning about Narrative writing in English, all about Australia in Geography and Animal Adaptations in Science.
Amaroo Blue students are thoroughly enjoying going out to attend Music & PE lessons with their Year 3 and 5 classmates.
News from the Learning Support Centre
Our group of students who access the Learning Support Centre this year is
made up of some familiar faces and some new faces. All students spent the first
week of the new school year in their general class to get to know their new
teacher and the other students.
In Weeks Three and Four we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and
getting used to the routines of the Learning Support Centre.
Now it is Week Five and we are rearing and ready to learn!
9 March:
2023 Enrolments Open School Twilight Evening
The Canteen will be open
WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY and FRIDAY EACH WEEK
Love of Learning
How Can We Share in Our Community?
- We are willing and consistent helpers.
- We are able to check in using the Zones of Regulation.
- We consistently try to work through and face challenges
- When we work in a small group
- When we show we are being a welcoming class member
- When we are including others in games
- When we can describe how to Work well with others
- Contributing one's talents to the welfare of the group
- Knowing that it’s ok to agree with the thinking of others “I was thinking that” hand movement.
- Being involved in student led discussion and learning experiences
- When we share thinking and mental strategies we use in our learning
Knowing what to say to show kindness like ‘I like the way you… because…’
From the School Handbook:
Car Park Safety
Safety within the Parish car park is everyone’s business. Students, parents and staff can only be kept safe if everyone is vigilant about their actions when using this space. It is every parent/carer’s responsibility to exercise safe actions within the carpark. This includes using the car park as indicated below:
- Parents are not to park on school or Parish grounds during drop off (8:20am-8:50am) or pick up (2:30pm-3:20pm) times
- When arriving prior to dismissal at Car Line Pick Up parents are asked to turn engines off once the car is stationary
- A safe speed of 10km/h when driving into the car park
- Do not exit your vehicle when dropping off or picking up students
- Ensure that children are well within the school gate when dropping off before moving off
- Children only exit vehicles when the vehicle is at the front of the queue
- Ensure students have safely entered the car and closed the door when picking up
- There is no pedestrian access to the carpark when car lines have begun in both the morning and afternoon
- Gates into the school are closed and locked from the Parish car park following the morning bell at 8:50am.
Thank you to those parents who continually exercise the utmost care when accessing the school via the Parish car park. Every child’s safety is everyone’s concern.
Dates for the calendar:
Friday 4 March:
11 & 12 years rugby league, Boys and girls football (soccer) and Netball selection trials
Wednesday 9 March:
Girls & boys hockey trials
TERM 1 2022 DATES:
February
Wednesday & Thursday 23 & 24 February
Year 6 'Camp'(2 Day Trips )
Monday 28 February -4 March
Catholic Schools Week
March
Tuesday 1 March
Primary South Coast Swimming Carnival (Corrimal Pool)
ERC Try Year 7 for a day 9.30am-3.30pm
All Families College tour 3.30pm-6.00pm
Wednesday 2 March
Ash Wednesday
Friday 4 March
Primary Football (soccer) Rugby League and Netball Trials
Friday 4 March
Clean up Australia Day
Wednesday 9 March
2023 Enrolments Open School Twilight Evening 5-6.30pm
Wednesday 9 March
Hockey Trials
Thursday 17 March
Cross Country (Dalton Park)
April
Friday 8 April
Holy Week Liturgy and Easter Hat Parade /Last Day of Term 1
May
Thursday 5 May
Mother's Day Liturgy & Morning Tea (COVID restrictions may apply)
Friday 6 May
Mother's Day Stall
June
June 29/30
2022 Sacramental Programme Parent Meeting & enrolment evening 6.30pm SJV
July
Friday 22 July
Grandparents & Great People Day
September
Friday 2 September
Father's Day BBQ Breakfast & Stall
Wednesday 14 September
Feast of the Holy Cross - Feast Day 10 Years of Good Samaritan
18-25 September
UCI 2022 Road World Championships- Wollongong
Important information for students that catch the bus
All students catching buses must carry a current Opal card. Travel can be refused if students do not have their Opal card with them each day. ACTION: Ensure your child has their Opal card when catching the bus to or from school.
School Travel 2022
School Road Safety Messages 2022
Welcome to 2022! Wollongong City Council supports safe travel for your school community.
40km school zones often experience an increase of vehicle and student movements during pick-up and drop-off times.
To help your school community maintain safety during these time, please find attached suggested content for your school newsletter, school app and/or social media pages, to support the promotion of road safety messages to your school community and specifically school zone parking protocol.
Attachments include:
- Keeping our kids safe around schools
- Look out before you step out, school flyer
- School zone pick-up and drop-off tips
- School road safety parking rules