Dear Parents and Caregivers of Good Samaritan,

With the year coming to an end, I remain incredibly thankful to our parent community who continue to support us in proactive and constructive ways. Many people help out around the school each day. They do it selflessly and without any effort or expectation of accolades but I feel it is very important to mention just a few at this time of the year.

• To our P&F executive and those who voluntarily support the P&F, your continued support and encouragement for all that is done at Good Samaritan is very much appreciated.
• To the parents who help out in the classrooms, Library, on the sporting fields without your continued commitment we wouldn’t be able to offer the children what we do each day at the school.
• To Bonnie Kennedy and Bede O’Donnell, our 2022 School Captains. Their commitment to the role, their willingness to entertain us at assembly, and their attendance and contribution to events throughout the year has shown that they certainly have the qualities that our leaders of tomorrow will need.
• Thank you to our Year 6 students who are now ready to continue their educational journey into High School. I believe that each one of these students is leaving as a testament to Good Samaritan. They have been outstanding as our Year 6 leaders throughout 2022. A terrific group of Good Samaritan boys and girls.
• To our school support staff, both in the office and the classrooms - their commitment to their work and their diligence in ensuring that the school runs smoothly is quite extraordinary. 
• To Bishop Brian, Fr Bernard and now Fr James - our appreciation of their support of the school is immeasurable. We are indeed blessed to have these men as the clergy of Good Samaritan
• To Kevin Galea from the Lumen Christi Parish, and the volunteers of the Parish - our work with them to ensure that the children are offered regular and well planned opportunities to assist their spiritual development has been crucial throughout the year.
• To our Good Samaritan teaching staff. These men and women come to work every day to offer every child in every lesson the opportunity to grow and succeed. They are a passionate group of individuals who have, throughout the year, strived towards the aim of assisting our Good Samaritan boys and girls to be the best that they can be. I believe they have brought to our students to a position where we are able to move confidently forward into 2023.
• To our Good Samaritan students.Your commitment to being the best you can be and being ready to learn is appreciated.
• And lastly, but certainly not least, to you - the person reading this newsletter. Your interest in, and support of, the school and the Good Samaritan community is very much appreciated. We cannot effectively operate without strong community support.

My Christmas Wish to you:

May Christmas be filled with many blessings and may you find peace and renewed energy for the New Year during the holiday break. I look forward to continuing our work at Good Samaritan in 2023.

As I close this last newsletter for the year, I leave you with this prayer:

Thank you, dear God, for adding another year to my life. I give thanks for my family, friends and community. I give thanks for the riches that you have bestowed upon me through the Good Samaritan community. Give me the grace to begin the New Year again with more hope, with more love and the ability to give more. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

Toni Sillis

Principal

School Captains and Vice Captains - 2023:

The selection of School Captains and Vice Captains for 2023 is now complete. This process becomes more and more difficult each year as the students who put themselves forward for the positions are students who demonstrate commitment to our school. 

The Captains and Vice Captains were introduced to the school community last Friday. A more formal recognition of these students will take place at the Opening School Liturgy on Friday 17 February 2023.

Congratulations to Edward Page and Holly Lawson who will undertake the role of School Captain in 2023.

We also congratulate Madix Burcher, Darcy Wise, Callum Cajar, Joseph Wells, Ruby Galea and Aston Di Pietro who will be the 2023 Good Samaritan Vice Captains.

Class Placements 2023:

Thank you to those parents who have made contact in writing regarding any information that may affect the placement of their child into a class for 2023. Wherever possible we have tried to accommodate your concerns. However, it is important to keep in mind that when requests are made it could be at the cost of something else that you may not have considered. For example, your request may mean that your child is not placed in a class within a friendship group or another parent may have countered your request with a request for their child. It will be important for you to prepare your child for such a scenario. The process of forming new class groups is now complete.

No further changes will be made.

This may appear to be harsh but movement creates a domino effect and with the class sizes as they are, there is no room for movement without affecting other children. I very much appreciate parents’ understanding of the enormity of this task.

It is important that parents trust the judgement of teachers when they are forming classes for the new year. They work with the children, your children, in the classroom context everyday and know your children just as well as you, if not even better, when it comes to school.

The children will have the opportunity to meet with their new classmates and teacher in their 2023 classroom tomorrow morning.

Year 6 Ringing of the Old School Bell:

As is tradition at Good Samaritan, the students will gather from 2pm on Friday afternoon for the year 6 Ringing of the Old School Bell. All parents are warmly welcomed to come along from 2pm to watch and farewell our Year 6 students for the final time. Following the ringing of the bell, students may leave for the year.

With thanks we say farewell to:

Mr Michael Gore and Miss Lauren Ah Tong who have both held positions at Good Samaritan this year, we thank them for their commitment to our school and all that they have brought to the community. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.

We Welcome:

• Mr Nicholas Cervonaro who will join Good Samaritan for the 2023 school year teaching Year 4 Blue. Mr Cervonaro comes to Good Samaritan from St Brigid’s primary school. 
• Mr Jason Harrison who will join Good Samaritan for the 2023 school year teaching Year 6 Red. Mr Harrison comes to Good Samaritan from St Thomas More Catholic Primary School Ruse.
• Mrs Diane Malby will join Good Samaritan teaching Amaroo Blue. Mrs Malby comes to Good Samaritan with extensive experience in special education.

Advent: The third candle, which is pink, symbolizes Joy.  This is a sign that we will put our words into actions, to bring hope, peace, joy and love to others. 

We wish you , hope, joy, happiness, love and peace for the remainder of 2022 and look forward to meeting up again in 2023.