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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
After two weeks of school the children are settling back into their routines really well. Our classrooms reflect very happy places of learning and friendship. At Good Samaritan we consistently strive to ensure that good structures, procedures and routines are in place in order for students to learn and grow together.
Throughout the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that what draws us all together is a sense of human life that is relational. When we are in the right relationships with one another we flourish as human beings. Flourishing as a human being means - human beings who are respectful, faithful and considerate of others.
Our school rules and expectations act as a trellis of support for the children to grow. Just as a trellis supports the vine to grow and flower, so too do consistent expectations that are encouraged through positive reinforcement, proactive and preventative management and processes and systems that work to provide strong, stable structures to the students.
By encouraging our students to be Safe, Respectful and Responsible we are establishing lifelong skills of socialisation whilst also allowing our classroom environments to be conducive to learning.
As we continue throughout the year, we will be aligning the values of St Benedict with the work we do at Good Samaritan. St Benedict wrote a ‘Rule’ to live by. The Rule provides a basis for daily living and is exemplified through values.
I invite all interested parents to a gathering where you will be led through a discernment process of Benedictine Values that we will then embed in the daily life of our school. This gathering will be on Thursday 2 March at 9:15am in the School Library. All are welcome to come along.
Year 6 Reminder: Confirmation Sacramental Program
The compulsory Parent Meeting for the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place next Tuesday evening at 6:30pm. The meeting aims to inform parents of the theology behind the sacrament in order for them to support their child during the preparation process. In addition, organisational matters and practicalities will also be covered. The meeting is planned to take one hour and will be held in the school hall.
(Please note the adjustment of venue)
P&F Annual General Meeting:
On Monday evening the P&F Annual General Meeting was held. I sincerely thank our parents who so freely give of their time to attend the meetings but also those who take up executive positions. The P&F offer tremendous support to our school, not just financially but also in building community and offering suggestions and advice from a parent perspective.
At the meeting all positions were declared vacant and I am pleased to advice the following:
President: Elvira Gligoroski
Vice President: Emma Douglas
Secretary: Jennifer Peattie
Treasurer: Lyn Pantalone
Standing Committee Volunteers:
Courtney Barlow, Louise Richardson and Maddie Zavaros
Our thanks is extended to Louise Richardson and Rebecca Brennan who both held the position of secretary at various points throughout 2022. Their work and organisation was valued by all.
The next P&F meeting is scheduled for Monday 13 March 6pm.
Kindergarten and Year 6 Welcome BBQ:
One of the great traditions of Good Samaritan is the Kindergarten and Year 6 Welcome BBQ. This is an opportunity for all Kindergarten parents to come along and meet more friends whilst also meeting their child’s Year 6 buddy and parents.
The BBQ will be held on Monday 20 March from 5:30pm-7pm.
Staffing Update
I am pleased to be able to advise that Miss Mikaela Sunley has accepted the position of Creative Arts (Dance & Drama) teacher at Good Samaritan. Miss Sunley will work Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays each week. During this time the classroom teacher has *Professional Planning Time. Miss Sunley will begin at Good Samaritan next Tuesday.
*Teacher Professional Planning Time:
Teachers work under the structure of an Enterprise Agreement that includes a number of entitlements. One of these is the engagement in Professional Planning Time where they are released from class to carry out other professional responsibilities. Each full time teacher is entitled to the equivalent of 2 hours TPPT each week, or a pro-rata thereof for part time teachers.
As we journey through the week, together with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Grade Newsletter and Google Forms
Grade newsletters were sent out via compass last week and Kindergarten will receive them on Friday this week.
In each grade newsletter there is a link to complete a Google form to provide valuable information and insight about your child to assist class teachers. Included in this form is an opportunity for you to request a face to face meeting or phone call with your child’s teacher.
These forms will be closed on Friday, 17 February for Years 1-6 parents.
Kindergarten will hold an information session for all parents on Tuesday, 28 February at 5:30pm in the Kindergarten rooms.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Lent is “a sacred time” for our hearts to be renewed and purified (Preface II of Lent). Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence when the blessed ashes are
placed on our foreheads as a sign of repentance.
The Mass timetable for Ash Wednesday, 22 February is:
St Francis Xavier Cathedral
7am, 12.10pm & 6pm
St John Vianney Co-Cathedral
11am (includes Good Samaritan Parish School- parents and family warmly invited)
St Brigid’s Church
9.30am (includes St Brigid’s Parish School)
The Lenten Observances
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat for everyone over 14 years of age, as well as days of fast for those bound to fast (one full meal and two small meals).
- All who completed their 18th year and have not yet begun their 60th year are bound to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
- All who have completed their 14th year are bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
- Pastors, teachers, and parents are to ensure that even those who, by reason of their age, are not bound by the laws of fasting and abstinence from meat, are taught the true meaning of penance.
Volunteers Needed to Cook Pancakes
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday) is Tuesday 21 February. If you are free to volunteer and help cook some pancakes at school and serve at recess, please contact Natalie Shelley (Religious Education Coordinator).
Our Parish
PARISH CONTACT DETAILS:
General enquires
Lumen Christi Catholic Parish, Wollongong
Diocese of Wollonong - PO Box 874 Wollongong - 36 Harbour St Wollongong NSW 2500
Phone - 02 42211 0500
Email - wollongong@dow.org.au
Office Hours : Monday to Friday (9:00am - 1:00 pm)
Update from Year One
Year 1 students have had a wonderful start to the 2023 academic year! They have settled well into their learning routines and they have enjoyed connecting with old friends and making new friends.
Year 1 students have focused on the story of The Good Samaritan. They have drawn the part of the story they like best and they have drawn the most important part of the story. They also have enjoyed acting out this story in front of their peers.
In Mathematics, Year 1 students have been focusing on number formation in handwriting, counting forwards and backwards, numbers before and after a given number, identifying how many items in a group and investigating numbers that add to 10.
In Mathematics we have also been learning about polygons and non-polygons. We created a book cover based on Henri Matisse’s cut-out installation ‘The Swimming Pool’. We learnt that Matisse got sick when he was older and couldn’t paint with a paintbrush anymore and so used coloured paper and scissors to create artworks. We used this technique and developed our fine motor and coordination skills by using scissors just as Matisse did, cutting blue paper into various sized polygons and non polygons and then arranging them into a lively composition. We had a fun time creating our masterpieces - engaging in enthusiastic table conversations using the new mathematical language that we were learning - we think they look fantastic!
We have an exciting year ahead and we look forward to working with you and your child.
Update from Year Two
Year 2 has had an amazing start to the new school year. We have been working hard to learn and establish our new classroom routines, with a focus on being ready to learn.
The students have been learning to work collaboratively in small groups and as a team in all class activities.
The Year 2 students have been learning to play with classroom equipment and games in a safe, responsible and respectful way. The students have been learning where equipment is placed in the classroom and how to transition around the classroom.
The students have also been learning how to organise their book work neatly by practising their handwriting, setting out their work and developing colouring in skills.
We would like to thank all Year 2 parents for promptly covering your child’s workbooks. We look forward to a happy and productive term.
School Photos
Library - HELP NEEDED
Once again, our school is asking for help in covering small new books (Decodables) to be used by our Infants students.
If you are able to spare a few minutes covering some books at home (they come in bundles of 6 plus 6 pieces of contact), please let our office or library staff know and we’ll organise a couple of bags ready for you to take home.
Books will be available from this Friday in the library.
We will appreciate your help.
Book Club
News From Holy Spirit College, Bellambi
News from Premier Illawarra Bus's
Canteen News
Reminder Canteen is only open Wednesday - Friday.
Please see attached Welcome Letter from Fresh Start, School Online Ordering System, 2023 Menu.
Swimming Trials: Presentation change of date
The swimming trials were a great success with an enormous display of school spirit from our Good Samaritan swimmers. Results are currently being collated with ribbons, medals and trophies being organised. In order to ensure all this is completed, the recognition and awarding of our swimmers will occur at the school assembly in Week 6 - Friday 3 March at 2:10pm. Please note the change of date!
Sports Days Reminder
PB4L - Positive Behaviours for Learning
During the first few weeks of school teachers have been setting up routines and expectations in both the classroom and playground. These behaviour expectations have been taught explicitly and discussed with students.
One exciting change in 2023 has been the revamp of the Classroom Correction Sequence. This has been updated and is now referred to as “Actions and Attitudes for Learning’. Each classroom have these posters as reminders for students about the behaviour expectations and the importance of being ‘Ready to Learn’.
These posters provide a school wide approach to supporting students to focus on their learning. No names are used, it is a visual support to allow students the chance to achieve success in both areas of learning and wellbeing. The teachers provide support to correct behaviour. When behaviours are of a serious nature or repeated teachers or stage leaders may contact you to discuss ways the school can support the student.
Bus Travel
Transport NSW has a complete set of Guidelines for managing school students behaviour on buses. These guidelines unpack the Code of Conduct responsibilities of students, parents and school principals in relation to bus behaviour. The guidelines also indicate the consequences for a breach of the Code of Conduct.
For your information, the following is taken from section 2 of the Guidelines - Student Code of Conduct.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ON BUSES
It is every student's responsibility to behave in a manner that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers. This includes:
Behaviour on buses:
- Use appropriate language not offensive or racist language
- Fighting, spitting, feet on seats, throwing things in or from the bus is not permitted
- No eating or drinking (other than water) — unless for medical reasons or the bus operator gives written permission
- Offer seats to adults including people with a disability, elderly or expectant mothers
- Do not touch, push or shove other people
- Do not bully or harass other passengers or the driver. This includes photographing, making lewd or suggestive comments, acting in a manner or participating in activities that may be deemed inappropriate or of a sexual nature.
- Avoid attracting the attention of the driver except in the case of emergency
- Do not play music at such volume that it may distract the bus driver or other passengers.
Parent Action: If your child/ren catches a bus to or from school please familiarise yourself with these guidelines and speak to your child/ren about their responsibilities on the buses.
Diary Dates and Reminders for the week ahead
