The Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

 8 September

Did you know?

The Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary on its traditional fixed date of September 8, nine months after the December 8 celebration of her Immaculate Conception as the child of Saints Joachim and Anne.

The circumstances of the Virgin Mary's infancy and early life are not directly recorded in the Bible, but other documents and traditions describing the circumstances of her birth are cited by some of the earliest Christian writers from the first centuries of the Church.

Joachim and Anne (Mary’s parents) began to devote themselves extensively and rigorously to prayer and fasting, initially wondering whether their inability to conceive a child might signify God's displeasure with them.

As it turned out, however, the couple were to be blessed even more abundantly than Abraham and Sarah, as an angel revealed to Anne when he appeared to her and prophesied that all generations would honor their future child: “The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth, and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.”

After Mary's birth, according to the Protoevangelium  (compound of two Greek words, protos meaning "first" and evangelion meaning "good news" or "gospel") of James, Anne “made a sanctuary” in the infant girl's room, and “allowed nothing common or unclean” on account of the special holiness of the child. The same writing records that when she was one year old, her father “made a great feast, and invited the priests, and the scribes, and the elders, and all the people of Israel.”

“And Joachim brought the child to the priests,” the account continues, “and they blessed her, saying: 'O God of our fathers, bless this child, and give her an everlasting name to be named in all generations' . . . And he brought her to the chief priests, and they blessed her, saying: 'O God most high, look upon this child, and bless her with the utmost blessing, which shall be for ever.'”

The protoevangelium ( compound of two Greek words, protos meaning "first" and evangelion meaning "good news" or "gospel") goes on to describe how Mary's parents, along with the temple priests, subsequently decided that she would be offered to God as a consecrated Virgin for the rest of her life, and enter a chaste marriage with the carpenter Joseph.

Mini Vinnies

Earlier this term, the Mini Vinnies team held the annual St Vincent De Paul’s Winter Appeal where we raised over $400! Using that money and the generous donations of our school community we were able to make 34 care hampers and purchased 6 sleeping bags to support those people sleeping rough in our community. At our school assembly last week the Mini Vinnies team presented our donations on behalf of the school community to Kelly from St Vincent de Paul who was shocked at our generous donation and very grateful for GSFM’s continuous support. Thank you to our families for being so generous and helping those sleeping rough in our local community. 

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

 The Canteen will be open Wednesday,Thursday and Friday

CASH ONLY

GALA DAY POLICY REMINDER

Each year Good Samaritan participates in a range of sporting gala days.

As each gala day has a limited number of teams each school can send,we are unable to send all students. As per the GSFM gala day policy students in Year 4 and Year 6 have first priority across a Stage (e.g. Stage 3; Year 6 has priority then Year 5 fill in if numbers are needed, Stage 2; Year 4 has priority then Year 3 fill in if numbers are needed). 

We understand that for children in Year 5 and Year 3, this is disappointing that they may not to be able to participate in any gala days.When they are in Yr 4 and Yr 6 they will have the opportunity to participate as the top grade in a Stage.

Thanks to those students' donations, we have purchased a selection of Soccer Superstars books for our library.

Books will be available from Monday Week 9.

 Library Timetable 

 

A reminder that students need a library bag to protect any library borrowing.

 Week 9 will be the last week of borrowing for Term 3.

From the School Handbook

School Attendance and Absences

It is most important that students attend school unless there exists a genuine reason for absence. It is also most important that students attend school for the full school day. Whilst the first 10 minutes of school or the last 20 minutes of the school day may seem unimportant to parents, it is during these times that students are instructed of the essential routines and guides of the school day that help to create productive learning environments. As parents, you are urged to ensure your child/ren arrive at school on time and stay for the complete school day every day of the week. 

CEDoW ATTENDANCE POLICY AND GOOD SAMARITAN PROCEDURES

Good Samaritan aligns Attendance Policy and Procedures with the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Attendance Policy.

Under this policy it states that it is the parents' responsibility for regular attendance and that they are legally obligated under the Education Act 1990.

Unsatisfactory school attendance is when:

• Regular absences without explanation occurs, this includes partial absences
• Explanations not accepted by the Principal
• Extended periods of absence without an explanation

Lateness is a partial absence which must be explained. All absences must be explained to the school within 7 days of the absence.

Permission to leave the school early must have been authorised in advance by the Principal or Assistant Principal in the Principal's absence.

Parents/carers must provide an explanation by Compass, phone, email or in person to the school:

• if your child is late for school, explaining this partial absence;
• if your child is absent for a full day from school, explaining this full absence; or
• if you are planning for your child to be absent from school, explaining this partial or full absence.

Medical certificates are required for extended absences due to medical reasons. Respiratory symptoms reporting must be followed in accordance with COVID-19 procedures.

Acceptable reasons for a partial or full absence include:

• Medical illness
• Medical appointment
• Pre-approved travel. It is encouraged that travel is undertaken during school holiday periods
• Other explained absence i.e funeral, special event, religious ceremony or critical incident
• Domestic necessity i.e misadventure, unforeseen event, serious illness of an immediate family member
• Natural disaster
• Other school activity
• Elite Arts/Sport

If absent for 10 consecutive days parents/carers must request and complete the school Application for Extended Leave form.

In accordance with CEDoW guidelines, attendance letters will be sent out twice per term in Weeks 5 and 10 to parents/carer via COMPASS, in regards to unexplained absences. Strategies will be adopted in accordance with the CEDoW Attendance Policy where attendance is unsatisfactory.

Good Sam Factor

P & F News

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. 

Stage 3 students competed in the school public speaking final on Monday. It was a great competition with students speaking on a range of topics.

Lily (Year 6) and Evie (Year 5) will now go onto speak at the CDF Southern Region Public Speaking Finals to be held next Monday at Good Samaritan. 

Best of Luck Girls!