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This week we enter the third week of Lent.
Over the coming weeks we celebrate the feast days of two great saints—St. Patrick (March 17) and St. Joseph (March 19).
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, although he was in fact born in Great Britain. He was kidnapped as a boy by pirates and brought to Ireland as a slave. During his enslavement Patrick grew closer to God and prayed constantly throughout the day. Patrick returned to Britain and became a priest. He returned to Ireland to bring the Gospel to the Irish People. Saint Patrick used the shamrock as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.
St. Joseph is known to all of us as the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus. Because of this, St. Joseph is the patron saint of fathers. Being a carpenter he is also the patron saint of workers. Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.
For all people, these two great saints that we honour this week are examples of simple ordinary men who followed the call of God for their lives. We all know these ordinary people in our workplace, schools, communities and homes. They act in service and without question or hesitation do what needs to be done for the sake of the other. As we honour them let us pray through their intercession that we, too, will listen to the call of God in our lives and follow Him as we are directed.
NAPLAN
Students in Years 3 & 5 sat the NAPLAN writing assessment today and they were excited to share their writing skills.
Students will continue the assessments over the coming week. They are reminded to come ready to do their best as NAPLAN is only one way to test their knowledge. Students are required to bring a charged iPad and set of headphones each day.
Assessments will occur on the following days:
Friday 17 March - Reading
Monday 20 March - Language Conventions
Tuesday 21 March - Numeracy
Students who are absent on these days will be provided an opportunity to complete catch up tests before the 25 March.
Welcome BBQ
A P&F tradition has been to hold a welcome BBQ for the community. This has involved Kindergarten students and their Year 6 buddies. The scheduled date for this is Monday 20 March. We look forward to welcoming you for this vibrant community event.
Easter Hat Parade
On 3 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.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
On Sunday 12 March our Year 6 students were blessed by Father James at the Parish Mass and had the opportunity to verbally commit to the preparation of the Sacrament of Confirmation by the Rite of Commitment. This enabled the students to willingly enter into the agreement with the Parish and be eager to learn and prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
This was followed by a lovely morning tea. It was so nice to see the children and their parents chatting, connecting, playing and enjoying each other’s company after attending Sunday mass together. Yes, it was a school based mass but it was a reminder that we are all welcome at our Parish Mass at the weekend and we don’t have to wait for an invite. You are always welcome.
Mindful Minutes
Mindful Minutes
All students engage in wellbeing activities throughout the school and these are embedded in our daily lessons and linked to PB4L (Positive Behaviours for Learning).
Students are engaged in the regular classroom practice of Mindful Minutes. This is a short period of time taken every Monday across the school where students have the opportunity to develop mindfulness strategies and teachers are able engage with students in a wellbeing check.
Mindful Minutes is a proactive and preventative approach to ensuring that our students are experiencing a healthy approach to personal wellbeing.
Third Week of Lent
Third Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 13th March)
We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Priscilla, who lives in the Hwange district in Zimbabwe with her husband, Charles, and two of their grandchildren. Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in the most vulnerable and remote communities in Zimbabwe.
During times of intense drought and food shortages, Priscilla had to commute to the town centre and wait in long queues to collect food.
With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops and started poultry farming to support her family during the current food crisis. Priscilla was able to produce a bumper harvest in her first year of practising in conservation farming. Priscilla also used the funds from her harvest to start poultry farming, which enabled her to sell eggs to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees, books and stationery. The poultry farming provides a safety net for Priscilla and her family during times of hardship, like the current drought.
While the situation in Zimbabwe and across eastern Africa remains dire, the work of Caritas Hwange means that Priscilla can learn the techniques, tools and resources she needs to build resilience and support her family during this current food crisis.
Watch a short film about Priscilla’s story here.
Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion
Saint Patrick's Feast Day - 17 March
Children are invited to wear something Green. School Uniform is not required on this day.
Interesting facts about Saint Patrick
- Saint Patrick's name at birth was Maewyn Succat.
- Patrick was born in Britain.
- He trained and studied for years before returning to Ireland as a missionary.
- Patrick means "nobleman."
- Patrick introduced the Celtic cross, which included the sun. This helped the Irish adopt it as a national symbol of Ireland.
- Saint Patrick's Day did not become a major celebration until the 1970s.
Harmony Day
Due to NAPLAN and other commitments we will reschedule our Harmony Day Liturgy to Wednesday 22 March.
Please join our liturgy in the school hall at 9.15am if your busy schedule permits.
Harmony Day is a day to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, based on the successful integration of migrants into our community. Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Held every year on 21 March. The Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since 1999, more than 70,000 Harmony Day events have been held in childcare centres, schools, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies across.
Harmony Day Poster Competition
A competition has been offered to all students. Should you wish for your child to show their creative side, visit:
https://movingforwardtogether.org.au/poster-competition/
Entries close on 16 April 2023.
Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation
We Pray for Year 6 as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation:
God of Love, thank you for all the gifts you give to us,especially the gift of learning about you and growing in faith here at Good Samaritan.
We pray for the Year 6 students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Help them to know and love you more and more, and to reflect your love in the way they treat others.
Amen.
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 3 Blue
This week 3 Blue have been gathering and interpreting data in Mathematics. We have made tables, a column graph, a picture graph and by the end of this week we will represent data using dot plots. We have used the numbers app to create a column graph on our iPads as well as drawing one in our maths grid book. We have also been busy preparing for the Cross Country and NAPLAN.
Update from Year 3 Gold
We have had a big focus on book work in 3 Gold. Here are some examples of outstanding book work from two English lessons (on Phase 5 Sounds and Powerful Adjectives).
Update from Year 4 Blue
News from Year 4 Gold
Cross Country Carnival - NEW DATE
Representative Sport Trials
Representative Sport Trials
What an amazing fortnight we have had in sport in the diocese!!
Netball and Rugby League
On Friday 3rd of March, both the Rugby League (11’s and Opens) and the Netball trials were held. With both sports being so popular there were large numbers of students from across the diocese travelling to Berkely for the netball trials and Gregory Hills to trial for rugby league. We are extremely proud of all of the students from Good Samaritan who trialled, they displayed not only a high level of skill but also conducted themselves with respect towards all and with a spirit of fair play.
Congratulations and best wishes to Darcie and Annie in Year 6 who were selected in the Wollongong diocesan netball team who will participate in the Mackillop trials that will be held on the 5th May in Canberra.
Girls and Boys Football (Soccer)
Last Wednesday, the 8th of March the diocesian boys and girls football trials were held in extremely hot conditions in Unanderra. The level of talent, skill and the energy of the students was very impressive and we are proud of all of the Good Samaritan students who trialled.
Congratulations and best wishes go to Nash (Year 5), Callum and Edward (Year 6) who will participate in the MacKillop trials in Goulburn on May the 26th.
Well done to all our talented sports stars!
Diocesan Swimming Trials
Congratulations to the GSFM Swimming team who attended the Diocesan Swimming Trials on Tuesday.
Our children performed exceptionally well considering the wet weather conditions.
Congratulations to:
Maddix B - 2nd place 50m freestyle
Angus B - 1st 50m freestyle
They will join Chase W in the Wollongong Diocesan team to swim at the MacKillop trials in Homebush at the end of the month.
Whole School Expectation - Weekly Focus for Students
Reading Workshop - Year 1 & 2 Parents and Carers
You are invited to join us for a Reading Information Session on:
Date: Monday March 27
Time: 5-6pm
Location: Library
Please complete the following form to indicate any questions you may have and to RSVP to the event.
Kind Regards
Year 1 and Year 2 Teachers
Free webinar: Dr Justin Coulson PhD on Anxiety and Resilence
Run by the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT, Anxiety and Resilience with Dr Justin Coulson PhD is a free, 60 minute webinar for parents, carers and staff in CEDoW schools to assist them in supporting the children in their care.
Dr Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance and holds a PhD in positive psychology.
Date: Wednesday 29 March 2023 at 7:00 pm
Register at https://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/event/52
Diary Dates and Reminders for the week ahead
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DATE: |
REMINDER: |
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Wednesday 15 March |
NAPLAN - Writing |
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Thursday 16 March |
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Friday 17 March |
NAPLAN - Reading St Patrick’s Feast Day - Wear GREEN Assembly - Principal’s Awards 2:10pm |
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Saturday 18 March |
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Sunday 19 March |
St Joseph’s Feast Day |
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Monday 20 March |
NAPLAN - Language Conventions Kindergarten and Year Six Welcome BBQ |
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Tuesday 21 March |
Naplan - Numeracy |
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Wednesday 22 March |
HARMONY DAY All Students encouraged to wear something Orange (mufti) |
Upcoming P&F Events
Easter Raffle and Easter Eggs
Book Club
School Photos
Premiers Reading Challenge 2023
Canteen News
Canteen will now be open Thursday 16 March due to cancellation of Cross Country.