Dear Parents and Caregivers of Good Samaritan,

Last weekend students from Good Samaritan joined together for the beautiful sacrament of First Holy Communion. This is such a special occasion and the children demonstrated a genuine excitement for the sacrament. 

An occasion such as this requires a great deal of preparation and organisation. The children were extremely well prepared for the sacrament and I very much thank Mrs Jenny Jancetic and Mrs Louise Testa for the work they did in their classrooms. I would also like to thank Mrs Natalie Shelley for her work in overseeing the classroom preparation as well as the organisation of the Retreat Day and the mass at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral on Sunday morning.

Thank you also to our administration staff who assisted in many ways to ensure the day was well organised. 

Our work with the Parish during this period was great. Thank you to Fr Bernard, Kevin Galea and Lisa De Paiva for their support and collaboration. 

Good Samaritan has a ‘sister school’ in St Brigid’s Gwynneville. Both schools worked closely together in the preparation, communication and organisation of the sacrament. Thank you to Kathy Uroda and the staff of St Brigid’s.

If you had the pleasure of being at the mass on Sunday you would have enjoyed the wonderful sacred music that brought a very special element to the mass. We very much appreciated the talent of the musicians and singers who gave so generously of their time and talent. A special thank you to Mr & Mrs McCarthy who supported the singing practices leading up to the celebration.

Enjoy the week ahead,

Toni Sillis

Principal

Summer Uniform

The seasons are starting to change and, as is custom at GSFM, following Father’s Day (Monday 4 September) students are able to begin to wear their Summer uniform. This is always done at parents’ discretion based on the weather each day. 

Thank you for supporting our Good Samaritan Uniform policy and expectations.

Father’s Day Stall

Father’s Day Stall is this Friday 1 September 2023.  

This year the prices of the gifts will range from $2 to $10 per item.

No EFTPOS will be available.

PLEASE PROVIDE A BAG FOR YOUR CHILD TO CARRY THEIR GIFT HOME IN 

Our inaugural school disco is next week on Thursday 7 September. We are still looking for a few volunteers to help set up and supervise the junior disco, as well as with serving our sausage sizzle. Please add your name to the sign up sheet if you’re available to help: https://signup.zone/school-disco. Please make sure you send your children with some cash if they would like face jewels or temporary tattoos on the night. We will also have a sausage sizzle and lollies on sale.  

Prices for Disco Night:

- Sausage Sizzle $3

- Face Jewels $5

- Temporary Tattoos ranging from $2 to $5

- Lollies ranging from $1 to $4

Dont forget to RSVP your child in Compass and send $5 to the School Office before Wednesday 6 September.

A huge thank you to Miss Majesty for supplying the face jewels!

P&F Treasurer

I sincerely thank those who put themselves forward to take up the role of the Good Samaritan P&F Treasurer. Following a ballot on Monday evening, Corinne Cortese will hold the position until the next Annual General Meeting.

Screen Aware Week

Each term Good Samaritan holds a Screen Aware week throughout Week 7. We know that managing your child’s online environment can be challenging. This term we have put a 5 Day Online Safety Challenge out to our families. Across the week the children will be revisiting some online safety messages in their classrooms.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION REFLECTION

On Sunday, I had my First Holy Communion. I was super excited. In the morning, I got dressed up and I was super organised. Once we got there I was nervous but excited for my First Holy Communion.....After sitting for a while Year Three including me went to go and get the body of Christ, it dissolved in my mouth pretty fast.  Alessia

On Sunday I was very excited to receive the sacrament of the Eucarist. I wore a beautiful long sleeve white dress that went down to my knees, with a V at the back and a big bow on the back.... I felt like it went really fast and the next thing you know it was time to receive the body of Christ!! I was so, so nervous and excited at the same time. I bowed with my hands together, put my left hand on top of my right and said a strong "Amen"- Audrey 

I was feeling nervous when I entered the church. When I was sitting down I saw that there were three priests..... (When it was time for communion) I stood up and I walked to Father. Then Father said " The body of Christ". I said "Amen". Father then handed me the holy bread and I started to do the sign of the cross. Then I ate the holy bread. After that I walked back to my family and they were really proud of me. - Leon

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION RETREAT REFLECTION

On Friday 25 August we had a fun day at school as we had our First Holy Communion Retreat Day.  We all met in the hall and we had some friends from different schools with us. We prayed and got to know each other with some games which was really fun. We did some work in our workbooks and talked about how we are special people of God. 

We had singing and church practise and we had pizza for lunch. In the afternoon we did a fun craft activity and a guided meditation. I would give the day a 10/10.

Emily 3B

Mrs Natalie Shelley 

Religious Education Coordinator

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

Web: www.lumenchristi.org.au

Office hours: Monday to Friday (9:00am–1:00pm)

Click here to view the Parish Mass Times

Dear Parents and caregivers, 

SAVE OUR KNEES |  PADDING FOR CHURCH KNEELERS

The kneelers in our churches at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral and St Brigid’s need renewal with padding that will provide comfort and support to all, students, parents, and teachers who kneel during liturgical worship. Improving this practical aspect of our community life will foster an environment of welcome and prayer.

Please contribute to the purchase of padding materials for the kneelers in our churches. No matter how large or small your donation is, your generous donation will help ensure a far more agreeable experience for all members of our congregation, young and old.

HOW TO DONATE?

To be part of this important renewal for our liturgical  worship, please complete a pledge form online at: www.lumenchristi.org.au/kneelers

Direct Deposit

BSB: 066 711 Account #: 008056 Ref: Your Name-SOK

Cheques Payable to: Lumen Christi Parish

Or collect an envelope from the church door (mark it “Kneelers Donation”) and place it inside the collection bag, collection boxes, or hand it in at the parish office.

Thank you for helping to save the knees of our students, parents/caregivers, and teachers who come to the House of God to pray in thanksgiving and for the needs of their loved ones. 

Fr Bernard Gordon

Vicar General & Administrator

News from Year 5B

Year 5 Blue has been busy with lots of interesting and exciting learning.

In Maths, we have been learning about measuring and finding the Volume of a prism using material objects and a formula? Do you know the formula to find the Volume of prism?

 

Christmas Story Art

In English and Religion, we have been deconstructing and making personal connections to various bible passages. We then created an artwork that represents our interpretation and connection to the passage. Some students have been working with Mrs Jancetic to perfect their artwork ready to enter the Christmas Story Art Competition. Goodluck to those students.

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal and Book Week

In 5 Blue we loved getting into the spirit of Book Week by dressing up as their favourite book characters. We also enjoyed wearing our pyjamas for the St Vincent DePaul Winter Appeal and raising money for those people sleeping rough in our community. 

Grandparents and Great Peoples Day

Thank you to our grandparents and great people who came to celebrate with us. 

News from Year 5G

Year 5 Gold have been busy this week writing their speeches with a few entering the Public Speaking completion happening in a few weeks’ time.

 5 Gold have enjoyed making penguins with a red hat 

News from Year 6 Science Fair

Term 3 is a busy term for Year 6! They have been concentrating on organising our Science Fair Day, which was in Week 5 on 15th August, 2023. Year 6 has been highly engaged and excited in preparing interesting and interactive experiments, to share with the students at GSFM. 

In their research and investigations, the students have used the process of scientific inquiry learning to identify and pose questions about their experiments. They have planned and investigated an experiment of their choice, using their new knowledge about dependent and independent variables, recognising problems in the experiments and responding by testing and analysing possible solutions. 

There were many entertaining experiments, such as erupting volcanoes, oceans in a bottle, flying tea bags and levitating match sticks, just to name a few.

It was a fun day for all involved, whereby the Year 6 students enjoyed showcasing their scientific language and knowledge, and the GSFM students enjoyed watching and learning.

 The Canteen will be open Wednesday,Thursday and Friday

CASH ONLY

Book Week donations 2023

From the School Handbook:

Diary Dates & Reminders for the week ahead:

Coming Up:

• Tuesday 12 September: PB4L Day

   Students can wear house colour mufti.

Our Positive Behaviours 4 Learning Day will be incorporated with RUOK? Day this year. This will take place on Tuesday 12 September instead of 14 September as earlier communicated due to the Basketball Gala Day.