Congratulations!

• to Mrs Amy Runko who, with her family, welcomed her baby boy into the world on Sunday 14 July. Thomas and Mrs Runko are doing very well!
• to Tri Vu who recently became a grandma for the second time to a beautiful baby boy, Lachlan.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data: NCCD

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability (NCCD) takes place every year. Good Samaritan staff have worked consistently over the past semester collecting and recording data about student goals and progress to be counted within the collection.

Further information about this process is included below.

fact sheet for parents guardians and carers flyer.pdf https://gsfmdow.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/510/fact_sheet_for_parents_guardians_and_carers_flyer.pdf

Compass: Student Management System

This term Good Samaritan has switched over to Compass allowing the school to come into line with all Wollongong Diocesan Schools. This is a new system for communication between the school and parents. It will replace the Skoolbag app that has been previously used so it is very important that all parents and carers know and understand how to use Compass.

This newsletter has further information about Compass. Particularly, there will be a parent Compass information evening tonight at 6:30pm prior to the P&F meeting. This session will be repeated on Friday 9 August following morning assembly.

SPB4L:

      This week we are remembering to value:

              Respect

     We can do this by:

- Responding to bells/lining up quietly
- Always using good manners
- Respecting another person's point of view

This week we continue to focus on Playground Expectations

To ensure consistency of processes and practices across the school community, aspects of the Parent Handbook (currently under revision) will be published in each week’s newsletter.

STAGES OF HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION 

1. If you have any educational/behaviour concerns about your child always contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. Your child’s classroom teacher will always make contact with you if they have any concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. 
2. Grades and classes across the school are supported by Middle Leaders. You are asked to contact the Middle Leader/s responsible for your child’s class/grade if you have continued concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. The Middle Leaders will also contact you when and if necessary.
3. All academic and behaviour concerns made to the office will be directed to the classroom teacher in the first instance. This may be followed up by support from the Middle Leader responsible for the stage/grade. 

Middle Leaders 2019

Introduction of new student information management system

This term Good Samaritan has introduced a new student information system called Compass that will impact parent communication with the school. 

It is most important that all parents have a very good understanding of this system as it will replace the Skoolbag app and will be the primary method of communication with the school. This includes accessing student academic reports next semester and parent validation of student absences from school.

This management system has been rolled out across all Wollongong Diocesan Catholic primary schools 

Below is some further important information about Compass.

What is Compass? 

Compass is a Student Information System that allows you, as parents, access to your child(ren)’s records. 

The Parent Portal allows parents/carers to:

• monitor your child(ren)’s attendance, and enter explanations for late arrivals or absences
• update your family details - mobile and email address
• download and view your child(ren)’s semester reports
• view ‘My News’- a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates
• view the school calendar
• book parent-teacher meetings
• provide consent for events and excursions.

How can I get access?

Access can be gained following this link:

https://gsfmdow-nsw.compass.education/

• Every parent will have a separate account to log into the Compass Parent Portal

What can I get access to?

• The student's profile page 
• Attendance pages where notes/approvals can be entered
• Full record history of the student’s attendance
• Academic reports for the student
• School Calendar
• Parent/Student/Teacher Conference bookings

What is ‘My News’?

The ‘My News’ section displays any applicable reminders or notifications which may include:

• outstanding absences or late arrivals that require a note or approval
• parent/Student/Teacher Conferences that are available for booking
• semester Reports that are available to download
• excursions or Events that require consent and/or payment
• news Feed items that have been targeted to you as a  parent will display.

The next section deals with how you manage your child’s attendance at school.

Compass Parent Information: Attendance

Attendance

If your child has to be absent from school, arrive late or depart early, it is important to tell the school and provide a reason for your child’s absence. To explain an absence, parents and carers may:

• log into the Compass parent portal and enter an explanation
• send a note, email to the school
• telephone the school 
• visit the school

All absences must be explained to the school. Schools are legally required to keep an accurate record of attendance. The New South Wales Department of Education and Communities may take further action in cases where children of compulsory school age have recurring numbers of unjustified absences from school.

Adding a Note or Approval

You can enter notes and approvals in advance, if you know your child is going to be absent from school. To do this go to your Home page and click on the 'Add Attendance Note/Approval' link listed underneath the name of the relevant student. This will take you to the Attendance screen, with a pop-up window to enter details of the note or approval. You can then select the applicable date range.  If the leave is greater than 5 days you will still require Principal approval.

You can also approve your child's unapproved absences or late arrivals. You will receive an alert on your Compass home page letting you know that your child/ren was marked late or absent and there is no note/approval on the system for it. Clicking on this notification will allow you to add a Note or Approval for one or more absences.

On this screen you will see a list of unexplained absences for your child. Check the box next to the absences that are to be explained and choose to explain with note approval. 

Choose the absent reason type from the dropdown list and a comment or further details. Please note that you cannot edit the notes or approvals once they've been saved, and you will need to contact the school if changes need to be made.

Parent Action: A hands on introduction to Compass will be conducted this evening at 6:30pm prior to the P&F meeting. Please join us in the Library to learn how to use Compass. There will be an additional meeting on Friday 9 August following assembly.

Parent access for Compass will open on Monday 12 August.

Congratulations to:

• Annie P (2G), who competed in the 7km Mountain to Mountain Challenge last Sunday. Annie came first in the under 12 Girls Division

• Congratulations to Ava H who represented the MacKillop team at the PSSA Cross Country Champtionships last Friday at Easter Creek. In a very fast race, Ava came 42. We are very proud of her perfomance and sportsmanship. Well done Ava!

Good Sam Art Week 2 term 3

Our wonderful Kinder children have been practicing their drawing and watercolour skills. Congratulations to this week’s artists Sophie, Jayden, Matilda , Cassandra Phiya and Aaliah.

Year 5 students have been using oil pastels to investigating perspective. Great work from Evie, Logan, Samantha, Curtis, Tyler and Emma.

Mrs Susan McAlister

Art Teacher

Uniform Shop normal opening hours are:

Monday 8.30am - 9.30am

Thursday 2.15pm - 3.15pm

Please regularly check your child's hair for headlice.

Please click on the following link for information on headlice

Head lice fact sheet