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- From the Principal's Desk
- What You Need to Know about the Musical!
- Fun Run Picnic Day: Cancellation
- Resignation of Pastoral Support Worker:
- From the Assistant Principal
- Our Catholic Life and Identity
- PB4L @ GSFM
- Parent and School Partnership
- Office News
- Canteen News
- COMING SOON ..........................
- Library News
- School News
- School Photos
- End of Year Dates:
- Noticeboard:
- Important Dates
Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
We often hear people talk about children and the modern world in comparison to ‘what it was like in the past’ or that ‘things have changed since I was a child’. To a certain extent it is true. Children in primary school do need to deal with issues that did not appear to be there in the past - or were not spoken about openly in the past.
As we continue to support children to understand their world, their relationships and themselves it is important that we support you as the first educators of your children. As the children grow and change in the world today, it is also important to acknowledge the information we now have on Child Safety education. This means that children come to understand, value and experience a life that is full and inclusive of respectful and caring relationships now and into the future.
To support this we are implementing the new PDHPE syllabus which mandates teachers to take into consideration the local context students are growing up in, the strengths students bring to the classroom and school playground and how students interact with one another in an informed age appropriate way.
A Zoom meeting, Respectful Relationships, Child Safety, Growth, Development & Human Sexuality Education, will be held on Tuesday 19 July from 7pm-8pm.
This meeting is for all parents - Kindergarten to Year 6.
This is a significant change in the culture of our school community. Changing culture is about schools, parents/carers and communities being on the same page and being counter-cultural to the narrative currently being displayed to our young people around relationships.
At the meeting we will address the myths around this topic and also be informed by the facts. You will have the opportunity to to hear about the cyclical nature of skill and knowledge development across the areas of respectful relationships, child safety, child growth, development and human sexuality.
This is an important meeting and one that I am sure you will appreciate tuning into with other parents.
You’re invited to join the Respectful Relationships, Child Safety, Growth, Development & Human Sexuality Education Zoom Meeting:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/65994942114?pwd=OTNFcGZFQmsvZ2MwdUE2cm9YZTV5QT09
Password: 455603
I look forward to working with you to support our students in this area.
Enjoy the week ahead, journeying together with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Infants’ Musical: The Litter Muncher
Student Arrival Time: 5pm
Start Time: 5:30pm sharp
Clothing: Black pants and top
6:15pm
Intermission
Snacks provided by P&F
Coffee available for purchase from Murphy’s Coffee Van
Primary Musical: The Giant Slayer
Student Arrival Time: 6:30pm
Start Time: 7pm sharp
Clothing: Black pants and top
Students are required to wear black pants and top to school tomorrow for rehearsals.
Please note that there will be limited seating in the hall.
A gold coin donation will be collected on the evening by GSFM Mini Vinnies for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal.
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the planned Fun Run Picnic Day for Friday 1 July due to council grounds remaining closed for whole school events.
We are disappointed as we were all looking forward to joining together to celebrate the term. However, we are currently planning an alternative day that we can hold on our school grounds. Further details will be forthcoming.
Mr Daniel Saliba has worked at Good Samaritan for a short period of time as the Pastoral Support Worker under the school’s chaplaincy program. Daniel has been successful in gaining another full time position which has resulted in his resignation from Good Samaritan.
Semester One Academic Reports will be sent home via compass this Friday, 24 June.
Before reading your child's reports we invite you to take a couple of minutes to watch the clip below from Michael Grose who is founder of Parenting Ideas and one of Australia’s leading parenting educators.
Michael says that the last report may be used as a benchmark. This is true not necessarily to compare the grades from previous reports (remember they are a point in time report) but rather the broad view of the report - specifically: socially, attitudes to learning and behaviour.
Be mindful that your child will operate differently to his/her siblings or friends. It is important to take a broad view of learning - not all learning is academic and your child’s commitment to their learning is extremely important to their success.
When giving feedback to your child try to ensure that they take on some of the responsibility of learning. You can’t learn for them and neither can their teacher/s.
So:
- Be mindful of their confidence levels
- Be honest with them and positive about what they have achieved
- Be constructive - make plans with them about their improvement. Ask them where they feel they need to improve. They will surprise you!
- Be inclusive: make sure they are involved in the conversation. Children need to be challenged in their learning but with high support.
Lastly, use the Parent Teacher interview next week as an opportunity to hear more about your child and their learning. If you wish your child to be involved in the interview, bring them along and involve them in the discussion.
Please Pray for:
Patricia Condon (maternal Grandmother of Bonnie Kennedy - Year 6) who passed away suddenly last week.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon her
May she rest in peace.
Volunteers needed for the Year of the Family Liturgy
If you are attending our liturgy on the 24 June to celebrate the Year of the Family and would like to be actively involved in the liturgy with your child/children/grandchildren, please contact Mrs Natalie Shelley via the school office email info@gsfmdow.catholic.edu.auCelebrations for Families Weekend
On the weekend of 25/26 June our parish will offer the Mass for families. A prayer card for families will be distributed at all Parish Masses and will be read during the prayer of the faithful.
LUMEN CHRISTI PARISH RECONCILIATION & FIRST HOLY COMMUNION ENROLMENTS 2022
The Sacramental Programme for Reconciliation & First Holy Communion will begin with the Parent/Caregiver Meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday 29 June, and Thursday 30 June 2022, at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow.
Parents/caregivers must attend either one of these meetings to enrol their children for the First Holy Communion Programme. Please bring your child’s completed enrolment form and a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate.
You can download the enrolment form from our parish website. Go to: www.lumenchristi.org.au/sacramental2022
Enrolment forms will only be accepted at the Parent/Caregiver session held 6.30pm on 29 & 30 June at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral.
No late enrolments will be accepted.
The cost for administration and materials for the First Holy Communion Programme is $60. The sessions for each sacrament will be held in St John Vianney Co-Cathedral commencing at 6.30pm sharp.
If you require any further information or need to discuss any concerns, please contact Cathy on 4211 0506 or email: cathy.zamroz@dow.org.au
Love of Learning
How Can We Build & Maintain Empathy in Our Community?
- 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 agree
- Turn taking when listening and speaking
- Setting expectations for social interactions
- Recognise different opinions and viewpoints are ok
- Speak up when you know or hear something that is not right
Why have a School Newsletter?
The school newsletter/bulletin is the major form of consistent communication between the school and parents/carers. The newsletter is the means by which the school acknowledges all that is done within classrooms at the grade, class or individual level, on playgrounds and within the community.
It is also an opportunity for me, as Principal, to reflect on our community and how we can work toward further improving all that we do. As a Catholic school principal it is most important that this is done within the context of our faith, hence the references that are written to the Sunday Mass readings, theological reflections or information about spirituality. This is one aspect that works toward keeping the Catholicity of our school at the front of our minds.
The newsletter is the place from which the school is able to ensure that parents, and the community, have a good understanding of the processes and procedures of the school. This is done through reminders, excerpts from the School Handbook, publication of School Policies etc. Some may feel that this is unnecessary but in any school it is most important that we maintain as much consistency as possible. This helps to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all within the school.
For some parents the newsletter is the only contact that they have with the school. This may be due to work commitments or to family/personal circumstances so the newsletter has to cover a wide audience hence, some parents may feel that certain aspects of the newsletter may not be needed or be relevant. However, they may just be aspects that are of great relevance to another parent or family.
I continue to encourage parents to read the newsletter regularly to know what is happening within the school.
If you have a sibling that will be ready to begin school in 2023 contact the office for an enrolment pack.
The Canteen will be open
WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY and FRIDAY EACH WEEK
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
Year One is continuing to work very hard during Term 2.
In Week 10, everyone is looking forward to creating a diorama showing the environment where a chosen wild or endangered animal lives. Year 1 Blue will adopt an orangutan as they would like to help this endangered species. A graph has been created to show the choices the students have made, based upon the needs of the orangutans available for adoption.
In Personal Development and Health lessons, Year One have been learning about healthy eating. The students have learnt about the food groups and have identified foods that belong in each of the groups.
In History, we are writing a booklet called “All About Me”. They are recording their past, present and future plans. Due to the recent Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we have looked back at the life of the Queen in pictures and the changes that have occured over her life. We have compared the past to now.
In Mathematics, Year One have been busy working on a variety of topics in the second part of the term. They have added to their knowledge of addition and subtraction, especially friends of ten and working towards friends of 20. Some students have been using their knowledge to link these number facts to 100. Students have also been learning about chance and probability. They have had fun identifying things that are likely or unlikely, things that might happen or are certain to happen. One Gold wrote a book about events that would never happen. We are currently working on patterns and algebra including skip counting.
During Term 2, Year 1 students have been learning about endangered and wild animals. They have investigated the common features and life cycles of Bactrian camels, gorillas, cheetahs, orangutans, emus and saltwater crocodiles. This week they will be focusing on meerkats.
Year 1 students have created Fact Files for these animals in English learning episodes, and this information has then been used to create information texts. Everyone has enjoyed reading the True To Life Books by Jan Latta and they have created some art works relating to the animals focused on.
What a great learning term we have all participated in and enjoyed!
The students in 2Gold enjoyed creating images using a variety of 2D shapes in different orientations.
Good Samaritan school photos will be held on Wednesday 24 August.
Students are expected to wear full Winter uniform for the photos.
Students will finish the school year on Friday 16 December. Staff will complete compulsory training on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December. The school will then be closed for the Christmas holiday period.
The 2023 school year will resume on Tuesday 31 January for Years 1-6. Kindergarten will attend Best Start appointments and begin their first full school day on Tuesday 7 February 2023
2022
June
Thursday 23 June
School Musical
Monday 27-30 June
Parent /Teacher Interview Week
Wednesday 29 June
Parish Reconciliation & First Communion Enrolment Sessions
6:30pm: Parent/Cargiver meeting at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral
Thursday 30 June
Parish Reconciliation & First Communion Enrolment Sessions
6:30pm: Parent/Cargiver meeting at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral
July
Friday 1 July
Whole School Run & Picnic
Last Day of Term 2
Monday 18 July
First Day Term 3
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