Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

What a terrific couple of weeks we have had as a school community! Last week’s Welcome BBQ and Open Twilight were great events that demonstrated the community spirit that we have all missed so much at Good Samaritan.

I thought it was just wonderful to see our older students so willingly give back to  their community by joining in with both these events. Our Captains and Vice Captains  along  with the Year  5 hosts did a terrific  job of demonstrating what it means to be a Good Samaritan boy or  girl.

I think our students highlighted the importance of putting your hand up and volunteering in order to contribute to the community. This is such an important life lesson for children and shows them how easy it can be to give a little and receive a lot in return. This is a selfless act as  they received nothing back other than extended time with their friends and their teachers.

My sincere thanks and gratitude is extended to all our parents who supported their child in coming to these events - without you the children are not able to fully participate in their community.

The hospitality that our students extended to the visitors to our school reflects the thoughts of St Benedict known as the ‘Rule’ of St Benedict. Benedict’s ancient rule about hospitality  might be the most famous and influential part of his writing which shall inspire us all. It reads: 

‘All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.’

Pope Francis has  also spoken about hospitality in one of his many homilies saying that hospitality is about learning to live differently that it is about turning from a path of only being focused on ourselves to taking a path of life, generosity and love. Pope Francis tells us that hospitality is about adopting a mentality that welcomes, accepts and cares - I think we have seen this in our community this term.

As we journey, together, with Jesus this week,

Toni Sillis

Principal

Thanks and gratitude is extended to our P&F and the staff of Good Samaritan for their support of the GSFM Open School Twilight. Below are photos of the evening.

This week’s assembly will be a full school assembly on Friday beginning at 2:15pm under the Primary shade sail. This will be weather permitting. Parents will be advised on Friday morning should we need to move the assembly to a zoom. In this event, Years 3&4 will join together in the hall whilst each other grade will join on zoom. Parents are most welcome to come along.

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.

The parade will begin at 1pm and all parents are invited to come along. The Easter Raffle will be drawn following the parade.

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!

The NSW Education Act (1990) and Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) require Parents/Carers to ensure that children of compulsory school age attend school on each day that the school is open for instruction. If children are absent from school, Parents/Carers are required to provide the school with an acceptable explanation, within seven days of the absence. 

During the next school holiday vacation period the settings in compass will be adjusted to reflect the requirements of the Education Act (1990). After seven days, absences will automatically be recorded as Absent - unexplained / unjustified if the school is not provided with an acceptable explanation from Parents/Carers. Parents wishing to provide the school with an acceptable explanation after the seven day period, will need to contact the school and the school will adjust the attendance register. Parents will no longer be able to enter the absence through the parental portal in Compass after the seven day period. 

The school will continue to support Parents/Carers and frequently send home letters giving Parents/Carers the opportunity to provide the school with an  explanation for absences.

Please do not hesitate to contact the school should you require further information regarding the change.

Following a recruitment process, CatholicCare have appointed a new Pastoral Support Worker for Good Samaritan. Mr Daniel Saliba will begin working with staff and students on Tuesday 5 April. Daniel replaces Ms Deb Tibbs who left the role at the end of 2021. Daniel’s role is to support the social emotional learning of students within the classrooms and on the playground. I welcome Daniel to our school community.

From our Vice Captains:

Last week we went around to our classes and invited students to go to the Library during break times. The students were quite excited to return to the Library. Our Library is packed with books and fun activities to choose from. Below are some photos of students who were looking forward to going to the Library.  - Hope Hill

How Can We Involve in Our Community?

• Encourage others through turn taking.

• Encourage students to listen to each other.

• Raising your hand

• Not giving up - persist when things get tough

• Working through or facing a challenge 

• Using good manners when asking for help

• being a willing and consistent helper

• including others in games and activities

• students are encouraged to ask for help - every question is relevant and valued

Our Kindergarten Classrooms

Kindergarten have had a very busy few weeks with Saint Patrick’s Day, Harmony Day and their Buddy BBQ. In Mathematics, we have been learning about 2D shapes and creating and recognising patterns. In English, we are learning to retell and sequence stories using a story map, so we can then innovate on classic fairy tales such as the 3 Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. We have been connecting our letters and sounds so well, that many of us can read early decodable texts independently, as well as sound talk and write lots of little words all on our own! 

We have created self portraits and borrowed books for the first time in the Library, examining Lent and Holy week in Religion and are practising our long distance running for the cross country carnival. We cannot wait for our Easter craft day with parents in week 11! 

Term One has been filled with lots of laughs, learning and new friendships, a wonderful start to 2022 kindergarten! 

If you have a sibling that will be ready to begin school in 2023 contact the office for an enrolment pack.

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE (PRC) 2022

PRC is back again.  From Monday 21 March, students will be able to borrow any books from their respective challenge group (3-4 or 5-6).

Those students doing the PRC can check in SORA and find one of the Premier's Reading Challenge categories matching the right challenge level.  If students are having trouble, they can download the reading log from the PRC website (https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html) to keep a track of what has been read.  We will assist them to enter their data.

Students from Yrs 3-4 need to log 20 titles in which 5 of them are free choices.  Yrs 5-6 need to log 20 titles of which 5 are free choices. Students from K-2 will do the Challenge (K-2) as a classroom.

The last day to log PRC titles is 19 August 2022 for students.

Mrs Medina

PRC Co-ordinator

Library Borrowing has started!

This week students have been heading to the Library with their class teacher in order to reorientate themselves to the Library space and borrowing. Below is the Library borrowing timetable so your child will need to bring along a Library bag on their rostered day.

Band:

Parents who would like their child/ren to be involved in the band or singing with the Academy Music Dance Drama in Term 2 are invited to an online information session. Details are below.

2022 

April

Friday 1 April

Whole School Mufti Day Gold Coin for Project Compassion 

Wednesday 6 April 

Confirmation Parent Meeting 6.30pm SJV Co- Cathedral Fairy Meadow 

Thursday 7 April

Confirmation Parent Meeting 6.30pm SJV Co- Cathedral Fairy Meadow 

Friday 8 April 

Holy Week Liturgy and Easter Hat Parade /Last Day of Term 1

Thursday 14 April 

Holy Thursday 

Friday 15 April 

Good Friday 

Saturday 16 April 

Easter Saturday 

Sunday 17 April 

Easter Sunday 

Monday 18 April 

Easter Monday 

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