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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, the PDHPE syllabus 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 Wednesday 19 July from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
This meeting is for all parents - Kindergarten to Year 6.
We ran the same information session last year and received positive feedback from parents and caregivers. I would encourage you to attend once again as your child will be covering different topics and concepts this year. We recognise that we are changing the culture of our school community’s understanding of Respectful Relationships, Child Safety, Growth, Development & Human Sexuality Education. 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/67391518928?pwd=M2RPUkhmbDlUWHo1Z3lUNEZJREpOdz09
Password: 882778
I look forward to working with you to support our students in this area.
Enjoy the week ahead, journeying together with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Assemblies Weeks 9&10:
Friday 23 June will be the final whole school assembly for Term 2. Principal Awards will be given at this assembly.
In week 10 we will celebrate the term with a Liturgy recognising the Mini Vinnies team for 2023 and congratulating those students receiving a Good Samaritan award.
Therefore, there will be no assembly in week 10.
Emergency drills are a part of all organisations including schools. On Monday each grade will be taken through an evacuation drill outlining at an age and stage appropriate level the importance of the drill. This will include explaining to students what to do in an emergency situation.
Following this we will conduct a whole school evacuation drill on Thursday 29 June. You may take some time next week to reinforce with your child the importance of practising for emergencies to keep everyone safe.
School Photos:
Advanced Life Photography have advised that school photos are due for delivery at the beginning of Term 3.
Just a Reminder!
The school gates do not open until 8:20am. Some students are being dropped at the gates well before this time.
Please consider using carlines as the line moves very quickly. Carlines is a safe way for students to enter the playground each day. OOSH is also available for those who need to drop children off earlier than 8:20am.
Bell Times:
A reminder of bell times at Good Samaritan.
Morning:
8:40am: First bell sounds
This bell lets the children know that games finish and it is time to get ready for class.
8:45am: Second bell sounds
This bell lets children know that it is time to be in their line ready for their teacher to direct them to class. The school day begins at 8:45am
Afternoon:
2:55pm: First bell sounds
This bell warns classes that it is nearly time for dismissal
3pm: Second bell sounds
This bell indicates that it is time for dismissal. Students on carlines and buses are dismissed first from classrooms.
Reports
Semester One Academic Reports will be sent home via compass this Friday, 23 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQcsjQTyhs8
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.
Mrs Cath Hailstone
Assistant Principal
REFUGEE WEEK 18-24 June
Finding Freedom
To all those who’ve come from far and wide,
We’re happy you’re safe, We’re happy you’re free,
We’re happy you’re here
Wear your PJ’s to school on Friday 21 July and bring along a gold coin donation. We hope to help our friends at St Vincent de Paul, Coniston help buy special sleeping bags for our friends who are rough sleeping out in the cold this winter.
We are also making special car packs and some lunch box fillers. Please bring the following items to school.
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Kindergarten |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Year 6 |
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Juice or milk popper |
2 minute noodles |
Packet chips/ pretzels |
Muesli bar |
Soaps Toothpaste |
Toothbrush |
Deodorant (non gender) |
Prayers are asked for:
- Mrs Grace McKay who will undergo surgery on 4 July as part of her ongoing treatment.
- Valentino Quintero (Year 6) who is extremely unwell and currently in Royal Randwick Children’s Hospital.
PARISH CONTACT DETAILS:
General enquiries
Lumen Christi Catholic Parish, Wollongong
Diocese of Wollongong
PO Box 874 (36 Harbour Street)
Wollongong NSW 2500 Australia
Ph: (02) 42 110500
Email: wollongong@dow.org.au
Office hours: Monday to Friday (9:00am–1:00pm)
Click here to view the Parish Mass Times
Reconciliation & First Eucharist Preparation:
The program for the preparation of Reconciliation and First Eucharist will begin in Term 3. Parents are asked to attend a Parent Session on Tuesday 18 July 6:30pm-7:30pm in the school hall. Please contact the school should you be unable to attend this date so alternative arrangements can be made.
Preparation for the sacraments will be done throughout Religious Education lessons in Year 3.
First Eucharist celebration will be held on Sunday 27 August at 9am in the St John Vianney Co-Cathedral.
News from Year 1 Classrooms:
In Science and Technology Year 1 are learning to identify that living things live in different places that suit their needs.
We have been discussing the question, how we can improve our own local environment to encourage living things to grow and thrive?
1 Gold specifically researched the needs of birds and discussed how sometimes they may find it hard to get food and that we could help by designing and making a bird feeder for our own gardens. We had lots of fun in the making phase of this project as the photos show. We also spotted a cockatoo approaching one of our bird feeders only minutes after putting it on our classroom veranda!
In Year 1 Blue, the children have been learning about the features of living things and their habitat. They have created collages of gorillas, cheetahs and orangutans in their habitat. The children will continue to create more artworks showing meerkats, crocodiles and kookaburras.
The children have also labelled diagrams and photos of the living things focused on, of their physical features. Their labelling consists of nouns and adjectives and nouns.
Year 1 have also focused on 2D shapes. The children have used skipping ropes to make 2D shapes and they have then traces around these. They then shared with a partner, the features of their 2D shapes.
Year 1 Blue has used shapes to create an AB pattern and observed these patterns using a mirror. They then extended their pattern by making the pattern they observed in the mirror.
News from Year 2 Classrooms:
In Science and Technology, the year 2 children have been learning about how things grow and change. The students have been observing and gathering information about the life stages of living things. Over the last few weeks, the students have been observing how mealworms grow and change. The students have worked collaboratively with a partner to care for mealworms by providing food/water and cleaning/removing waste from their shelter. The students have enjoyed drawing diagrams and writing diary entries about the changes they have observed with the mealworms.
will be open on Wednesdays,Thursdays and Fridays only.
Netball NSW Schools Cup
The Year 6 girls who were selected to represent GSFM at the Netball NSW Schools Cup had a wonderful day, playing 6 games against various teams from the region, including some boys and mixed teams! They won all their pool games, but were knocked out in the final. They displayed wonderful sportsmanship, and even helped to pack up at the end of the day
Netball Gala Day:
What a proud day it was to see our students join in and show us their netball skills. The gala day was a great opportunity for experienced and non experienced students. All students were inclusive and respectful of their friend’s abilities and all showed great sportsmanship against the other schools. Teachers and parents were very proud of you all.
Thank you to the parents who volunteered as managers for the teams also, it was a great help.
This week we will be focusing on
Managing my Emotions in the Classroom
Managing emotions is an essential skill that helps children make good decisions in the long run, as feelings do not cloud their judgment. Additionally, emotional regulation helps equip children with the tools they need to tackle difficult situations and develop a growth mindset to foster positive thinking.
From the School Handbook:
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.
Pie drive orders are now available through compass. Orders need to be in by 24 July and will be delivered to the school on 1 August. The pies will be supplied by Berkely Cakes and Pies and are always a big hit. It’s the perfect meal to put in the freezer for those cold winter nights when you don’t have time to cook. A tip from the P&F – the apple pies are a winner!
More details on school disco in term 3 to come!
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DATE: |
REMINDER: |
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Thursday 22 June |
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Friday 23 June |
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Saturday 24 June Feast of St John the Baptist |
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Lord is the strength of his people, a saving refuge for the one he has anointed. Save your people, Lord, and bless your heritage, and govern them forever. |
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Sunday 25 June |
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Monday 26 June |
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Tuesday 27 June |
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Mark Your Calendars!
- Monday 17 July Staff Development Day Students do not attend school on this day. Term 3 will begin for students on Tuesday 18 July.
- Wednesday 26 July: Grandparents & Great People Day
- Sunday 27 August 9am: First Eucharist Celebration St John Vianney Co-Cathedral
CLAIM THE DATE:
Wednesday 6 December: GSFM Christmas Celebration starting 5:30pm