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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
We are now in the season of Lent - a time for us to prepare for Easter and the rising of God to new life.
This period of Lent is also about acknowledging and working through the sufferings that may be present in our lives. I often think about the idea that there cannot be new life or changes cannot be made without some suffering along the way. With all that is happening in our local community, wider Australian community and the world community, we are certainly confronted with heart wrenching images of suffering.
Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest and writer from Albuquerque, New Mexico, writes about suffering allowing us to contemplate on how suffering may be seen in our own lives.
Something worth suffering for
Lent, the liturgical year shows us, is about the holiness that suffering can bring. It is about bringing good where evil has been, about bringing love where hate has been. It is about the transformation of the base to the beautiful.
But don’t be fooled: Lent is not about masochism. It is about being willing to suffer for something worth suffering for, as Jesus did, without allowing ourselves to be destroyed by it.
Suffering is a stepping-stone to maturity. It moves us beyond fantasy to facts. We know now that everything in life will not go our way. We will not simply get what we want or avoid what we do not. And we will know when the price is worth paying or not.
The point is that no one escapes suffering. It is part of the rhythm of life, part of the process of living. The question, then, is, for what are we willing to suffer?
Because suffering is part of our mortality, it is important to spend it well. Jesus, contending with the leaders of the synagogue at the cost of His life, in order to bring the synagogue to the truth of its own tradition, we can see, is worth suffering for indeed. And many others, we know, have done the same for sake of truth and justice. Martin Luther King, Jr. did. So did Francis of Assisi. So did Catherine of Siena and Joan of Arc. There are simply some things worth dying for as well as worth living for.
To live for the lesser things of life is to risk not really living at all. Real life is pungent with risk, with the willingness to spend all the intensity we have for one great, lasting moment of creation—like childbearing, like human liberation, like being a living witness to justice and truth and love and faith, the greater things of life.
Lent is the season that teaches us that darkness may overtake us but will not overcome good as long as we doggedly refuse to give in to our lesser selves, as long as we refuse to become the very things we say we hate.
In the end, the suffering of Jesus is the salvation of the world. It is salvation of all those who see what is needed in the world and, like Jesus, do not shrink from pursuing it.
The suffering of one person cannot be judged as any greater or any more real than the suffering of another. Your suffering is yours and mine is mine. They are two different things but nonetheless important for both of us. It is in acknowledging the suffering of another that I am able to bring new life to them and may they bring it to me.
As we journey through this Lenten period together, with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Our parents wishing to enrol their child/ren in Kindergarten 2023 or Year 1-6 (2022/2023).
Our P&F will be hosting a BBQ and some of our student leaders will be attending as school representatives.
On Friday, parents of students in Years 5&6 are invited to our school assembly in the hall. Students in K-2 & Years 3&4 will join the assembly via Zoom. Assembly will begin at 2:15pm. Years 5&6 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!
Topic: Weekly Assembly
Time: Mar 18, 2022 02:15pm
https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/65533211609?pwd=R0ZOUGxYMmRITzhpeXNQb25jd1FWdz09
Password: 009854
Easter Hat Parade:
On Friday 8 April, students will participate in an Easter Hat Parade. All students are invited to participate. The Easter Hat Parade has its historical roots as a fancy head covering that people wore in readiness for the Easter celebration. During the Great Depression the Easter Hat was a simple luxury. It represents the harmony associated with having something new and the new life that we, as a Catholic community, celebrate at Easter.
Mindful Minutes:
This week the students began the regular classroom practice of Mindful Minutes. This is a short period of time taken every Tuesday morning across the school where students have the opportunity to develop mindfulness strategies and teachers are able engage with students in a wellbeing check.
Mindful Minutes is a proactive and preventative approach to ensuring that our students are experiencing a healthy approach to personal wellbeing.
Calling for Library Help! Book Covering Assistance Required
We have purchased new readers for the classrooms which are now ready to be covered. If you can spare some time on Friday 1 April 9am-11am, Monday 4 April 9am-11am OR Tuesday 5 April 9am-11am you are welcome to join Mrs Medina in the Library. You can come along for the whole time, a short time or some time in between.
Don’t worry if you can’t make these times, as you can assist by taking some books home to cover as well.
Please complete this form if you can help out - we’d love to see you there!
We have had reports from field observations that mask wearing at some schools and school loading locations seeing high levels of non-compliance. We would like to address this with the school staff and community by issuing a friendly reminder that masks are still mandatory on all public transport buses including school buses.
We understand that even though in recent times mask wearing mandates and restrictions have been easing, we wish to remind you that it is still mandatory on buses, at bus stops, bus loading zones and interchanges such as train stations for students 12 and over.
Students under 12 are still encouraged to wear face masks but it is not mandatory.
These restrictions are still in place under the public health act and we ask for the school communities support and assistance in maintaining this practice during this time.
Premier Illawarra remains committed to the ongoing safety of the students and school community relying on our buses daily and we hope we can rely on your assistance in maintaining a safe environment while travelling on our buses.
Details relating to what is required can be found at the following links:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules/face-mask-rules
Wellbeing
Parents and carers have a significant role to play in supporting their child’s wellbeing. At Good Samaritan we are committed to developing safe and trusting relationships to create a positive learning environment where wellbeing can flourish. The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework supports you to work with the school to promote your child’s wellbeing and learning.
On Friday 18 March 2022, help us build a Kindness Culture to promote inclusiveness, respect and community belonging in our school.
Harmony week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. Diversity is promoted and celebrated at Good Samaritan and during this week we will host our Welcome BBQ for Kindergarten, Year One and Year Six students and families as well as any new families to our school community.
The message of Harmony Week is everyone belongs . It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
‘Everyone belongs at our school, because…’.
My Sisters and Brothers in Christ
My prayers and thoughts are with you all as this flood disaster continues.
In recent days we have had towns in our diocese cut off; a number of our schools closed,
non-operational or on alert; church buildings and agency offices affected
by flooding and heavy rain; and clergy, staff, families,
students and friends from our extended community experiencing another trauma.
And while the rain is set to ease,
authorities are warning it doesn’t mean the state’s flooding emergency is over.
In a heartfelt video message to his flock, Greg Homeming OCD,
Bishop of Lismore, said it had been “a very tragic few days”.
To those who had “lost everything” in these floods, Bishop Greg said that everyone
across the diocese was suffering with them. “This has all happened at a time when we were hoping that 2022
would be a year of hope, a good year,” he said.
As a diocese, I would like to provide practical support for the people of Lismore.
I also want to provide pastoral and practical support for the people in our own diocese
who have been, and will continue to be, impacted by these floods. I am inviting you to
donate to my Flood Relief Appeal 2022 below so that, with your support, we can meet this goal.
Yours in Christ
Most Rev Brian G Mascord DD
BISHOP OF WOLLONGONG
9 March 2022
https://www.dow.org.au/giving2/giving/
LOOK CLOSER:
Pride: Pride hurts our relationships. For one thing, it prevents us from seeking reconciliation with others when we think that we are always in the right.
This week try these humility building gestures:
Bite/hold your tongue. Avoid correcting another’s error.
Give in secret. Make a donation anonymously.
Say “sorry” to someone you have hurt.
Forgive someone who has hurt you.
Project Compassion: “You’ve got to be in it to win it”! 50c is all you need to guess how many lollies are in the jars. Our Ambassadors are working before school, at recess and lunch to support our goal of raising money for Project Compassion. Why not have a few guesses!
Celebrity Heads: Religious Education warm ups in year 6 are always a hit!
With Easter around the corner, please be mindful when purchasing chocolates that are not “Certified”. Chocolates that have a certification such as the one above, ensure that no child labour or unfair work has been involved in the cocoa process. Let’s support the human rights of our neighbours.
Lent is a time for prayer. Please pray for our brothers and sisters of Ukraine.
Clean up Australia Day
Friday 18 March will be Clean Up Australia Day at Good Samaritan. Please bring a pair of gloves and join in the fun.
Year 3
In Geography, Year 3 have been busy learning about Australia and what makes the country we live in, unique. We are learning to use our iPads to conduct research, about different types of environments and how to present this information in various ways. This week we learnt how to collect images and use picollage.
Year 4
In English, Year 4 have been exploring how to use authors tools to create amazing sentences that captivate and engage our audience. In Mathematics, we are learning to use a variety of strategies to solve multiplication and division problems. In Science and Technology, Year 4 has been busy learning about the life cycles of living things - in particular, the special relationship that bees and plants have with each other. We have been learning to compare and contrast the similarities and differences of living things and how the food chain is interconnected.
In week 6, Year 4 attended a liturgy that guided us into the season of Lent.
Cross Country: Change of Date
Due to the wet conditions we are experiencing we have made the decision to change the date of the School Cross Country. It will now be held on Wednesday 6 April.
Congratulations!
A big shout out to our Girls Relay Team who placed 2nd at the South Coast Swimming Trials on Monday. Macy, Sarah, Bonnie and Hope will now represent Good Samaritan and the Wollongong Diocesan swimming team at the MacKillop Swimming trials at Sydney Olympic Swimming Aquatic Centre, Homebush.
The senior boys relay made up of Nate, Bede, Callum and Madix put in a stellar effort coming in 4th.
Well done boys!
A Closer Look at Xavier:
The Good Samaritan Xavier House is named after St Francis Xavier.
St Francis Xavier was born in Javier, Kingdom of Navarre in present-day Spain. He was a companion of Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits who took vows of poverty and chastity at Montmartre, Paris in 1534. He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time and was influential in evangelisation work, most notably in India.
Although some sources claim that the Goa Inquisition was proposed by Francis Xavier, his letter to the king of Portugal, John III, asked for a special minister whose sole office would be to further Christianity in Goa. Xavier also was the first Christian missionary to venture into Japan, Borneo, the Maluku Islands, and other areas. In those areas, struggling to learn the local languages and in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India. Xavier was about to extend his missionary preaching to China when he died on Shangchuan Island.
He was beatified by Pope Paul V on 25 October 1619 and canonised by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622. In 1624, he was made co-patron of Navarre. Known as the Apostle of the Indies and Apostle of Japan, he is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle.
In 1927, Pope Pius XI published the decree Apostolicorum in Missionibus naming Francis Xavier, along with Thérèse of Lisieux, co-patron of all foreign missions. He is now co-patron saint of Navarre, with Fermin. The Day of Navarre in Navarre, Spain, marks the anniversary of Francis Xavier's death, on 3 December 1552.
At Good Samaritan, Xavier House is represented by the colour Blue.
The next P&F meeting will be Monday 28 March 7pm in the Library or via Zoom (link below).
Topic: P&F Meeting
Time: Mar 28, 2022 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/61428330846?pwd=OTUrUHZtNFc3ajU2RXUvL0o4UzR2dz09
Password: 183224
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.
CEDoW ATTENDANCE POLICY AND GOOD SAMARITAN PROCEDURES
Good Samaritan aligns Attendance Policy and Procedures with the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Attendance Policy.
Under this policy it states that it is the parents' responsibility for regular attendance and that they are legally obligated under the Education Act 1990.
Unsatisfactory school attendance is when:
- Regular absences without explanation occurs, this includes partial absences
- Explanations not accepted by the Principal
- Extended periods of absence without an explanation
Lateness is a partial absence which must be explained. All absences must be explained to the school within 7 days of the absence.
Permission to leave the school early must have been authorised in advance by the Principal or Assistant Principal in the Principal's absence.
Parents/carers must provide an explanation by Compass, phone, email or in person to the school:
- if your child is late for school, explaining this partial absence;
- if your child is absent for a full day from school, explaining this full absence; or
- if you are planning for your child to be absent from school, explaining this partial or full absence.
Medical certificates are required for extended absences due to medical reasons. Respiratory symptoms reporting must be followed in accordance with COVID-19 procedures.
Acceptable reasons for a partial or full absence include:
- Medical illness
- Medical appointment
- Pre-approved travel. It is encouraged that travel is undertaken during school holiday periods
- Other explained absence i.e funeral, special event, religious ceremony or critical incident
- Domestic necessity i.e misadventure, unforeseen event, serious illness of an immediate family member
- Natural disaster
- Other school activity
- Elite Arts/Sport
If absent for 10 consecutive days parents/carers must request and complete the school Application for Extended Leave form.
In accordance with CEDoW guidelines, attendance letters will be sent out twice per term in Weeks 5 and 10 to parents/carer via COMPASS, in regards to unexplained absences. Strategies will be adopted in accordance with the CEDoW Attendance Policy where attendance is unsatisfactory.
Good Samaritan P&F Welcome BBQ
The Good Samaritan P&F would like to invite all
Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 6 and new students and their Families to join us
in a relaxed afternoon BBQ where you can meet your child's Year 6 Buddy,
their families and get to know the GSFM School Community.
Date: Monday 21 March 2022
Time: 5-6:30pm
Venue: Good Samaritan School Grounds
RSVP: 17 March 2022 via Compass Event
P&F Meeting - March:
The next P&F meeting will be Monday 28 March 7pm in the Library or via Zoom (link below).
Topic: P&F Meeting
Time: Mar 28, 2022 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/61428330846?pwd=OTUrUHZtNFc3ajU2RXUvL0o4UzR2dz09
Password: 183224
