Dear Parents and Caregivers of Good Samaritan,

We only have 6 school days to go before we enjoy the GSFM P&F Colour Explosion Fun Run. Last year the fun run was such a great day - even though I copped a really good ‘sliming’. The children (& the teachers) love the day getting dirty with colour. 

This is the major P&F fundraising event for the year with the proceeds going to support making our dream of a new playground a reality. Every child who raises $10 or more is eligible for a prize. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to register your child for the run. 

The terrific work of the P&F playground committee has allowed for the voices of all stakeholders to be heard. We are currently collecting quotes for a physical ‘ninja’ style course that will facilitate play for all students - Kindergarten to Year 6.

Can your business help build our playground?

Our Good Samaritan P&F is reaching out to your business in the hopes of securing financial support for this project. 

If your business contributes to the upcoming P&F Colour Explosion Fun Run, Good Samaritan will receive 95% of the donation! You can make your donation directly by following this link.

Your business will be recognised in upcoming school newsletters and on the school’s social media pages.

Thank you for considering donating to this terrific Good Samaritan fundraising event.

Israel Palestine Conflict

As always, the wellbeing of students in our Catholic school community is paramount. Recent events in Israel and Palestine are widely publicised across all media platforms, including Tik Tok and Instagram, and may cause distress and concern for our young people. 

It is normal to have feelings of distress in response to these events and awareness of the impact of this information and images on our young people is important. If at any time, you are concerned about the explicit nature of any information your child, or the young people in your care are exposed to on social media platforms, please contact the  e-safety commissioner website to report this. (Information regarding what constitutes inappropriate content, and ways to report this are available on the e-safety commissioner’s website.) 

If you feel your child may require additional support at school, please contact the school office to speak to Mrs Hailstone or myself. 

School Photo Shoot

Tomorrow photographers from the Catholic Education Office will be on the school site taking photos to update our school website and for promotional material. I make you aware of this as your child may be in a background shot or asked to be in a particular photo. 

Enjoy the week and thank you for all you do to support our wonderful school,

Toni Sillis

Principal

You’re Invited! to come and have a discussion about the Vision and Mission of our school on Thursday 26 October at 8:30am.

We’re Celebrating World Teachers Day on Thursday 26 October

World Teachers Day is scheduled to be celebrated on Friday 27 October. With our fun run being on Friday, we will celebrate World Teachers Day on Thursday 26 October. The New South Wales Education Standard Authority (NESA) invites you to take your child to go on a treasure hunt for teaching gems in NSW. A gem is a teacher you care about, past or present, who motivates and inspires you and others. 

Follow this link to find your gem!

AITSL is also shouting out to school communities to celebrate Australia’s teachers for their skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our students.

Students can wear a different hat on Thursday 26 October to show their appreciation. 

You can post a “hats off” selfie on social media, either on your own or with family or friends. Get your child to grab their hat – beret, beanie, bucket, bowler – and remember to tag #WorldTeachersDay @aitsl @goodsams.fairymeadow

Below are some cards that you can download for your child to write a special message to their teacher.

October is Mental Health Month

Mental Health Australia have created a Look After Your Mental Health Calendar (below) to guide you through October. This calendar offers daily tips and reminders on how to prioritise and nurture your mental health.

We would love for parents, grandparents or other family members to help re-establish the Good Samaritan vege garden. 

On Friday 11 November we plan to establish a garden within the concrete seating area in front of Kindergarten. We are also calling for parents to assist with this garden as well. 

Watch Compass as further information becomes available!

Children's Week serves as a reminder that every child, regardless of their background or abilities, can participate actively and make a valuable contribution to our society. Our Catholic faith emphasises the importance of love, compassion, and unity. As a Catholic community, we embrace diversity and strive to create an environment where every child feels welcomed, valued and supported. The Colour Run is an excellent opportunity for our students to learn about these values in a fun and interactive way. We encourage parents to discuss the significance of Children's Week with their children, teaching them the importance of their rights and responsibilities, and the value of embracing differences. Let's make this Children's Week a time of joy, reflection, and celebration of the incredible children we have the privilege of educating and nurturing. 

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

I wanted to take a moment to share my reflections on my recent journey to Israel and Jordan, where I embarked on a pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Jesus. This experience has left a profound impact on me. As I walked in the very places where Jesus lived and ministered, I was struck by the deep connection between history, faith, and the landscapes of this remarkable country. 

One of the most moving aspects of this pilgrimage was the opportunity to visit the sacred sites that are so central to our faith. To walk the road to Jericho where the Good Samaritan helped the injured man and to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus agonized before his crucifixion, was a humbling experience. It was a reminder of the sacrifice and love that continue to inspire millions around the world.

The people I met along the way also left a lasting impression. The warm hospitality and kindness of the local communities were heartwarming. Their stories, resilience, and faith in the face of adversity were truly inspiring. It emphasised the importance of unity and compassion in our lives and the global community. 

This pilgrimage was a powerful reminder that history, faith, and culture are intricately woven together. It reinforced my belief in the value of intercultural dialogue, understanding, and respect. It is a lesson I hope to share with the school community, as it underscores the importance of diversity and open-mindedness.

This journey was not only a spiritual one but also a reminder of the shared humanity that connects us all.

Recognition of our Good Samaritan Altar Servers

Years 5 and 6 will attend mass on Tuesday 24 October at 9.30am with the parish community. Father James will recognise students who have volunteered their time as altar servers in the Lumen Christi Parish. Congratulations to:

Max W 

Avrielle M 

Jessica B 

Jasmine I 

Lalia S 

Parents and carers are most welcome to join us.

Getting to know St Benedict

​​As St Benedict’s Rule says: “What can be sweeter to us… than this voice of the Lord inviting us? Behold, in His loving kindness the Lord shows us the way of life.” We must become what St Benedict called in his Rule, “a school for the service of the Lord.” We are called to love God, love learning and love neighbour. 

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

Congratulations!

Macy and Ivy traveled to Coffs Harbour over the weekend for the Australian Oztag Nationals tournament, competing against Australian state teams. Their team, the Illlawarra Steelers  made it all the way to the grand final with only one loss in the 3 days and went down in the grand final in extra time by 1. Congratulations on your silver medal girls! 

Last Thursday over thirty Year 6 boys and girls participated in the annual Cricket Gala Day.  The weather was hot so it was certainly a great start to the Summer of cricket! Competition was fierce but it was all for fun with no scores being kept and an opportunity to learn new skills. It was a very full day with most teams playing 6 games of approximately 40 minutes each. Some of our Year 6 students took this opportunity to speak to the students from other schools in the diocese and find out which high schools they were attending next year and to meet future friends and classmates.

From the School Handbook

STAGES OF HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION 

1. If you have any educational/behaviour concerns about your child always contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. Your child’s classroom teacher will always make contact with you if they have any concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. 
2. Grades and classes across the school are supported by Middle Leaders. You are asked to contact the Middle Leader/s responsible for your child’s class/grade if you have continued concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. The Middle Leaders will also contact you when and if necessary.
3. All academic and behaviour concerns made to the office will be directed to the classroom teacher in the first instance. This may be followed up by support from the Middle Leader responsible for the stage/grade. 

Middle Leaders 2023

The Middle Leader represented in bold will be your first port of call beyond the classroom teacher.

News from P&F

Our school colour run is fast approaching!  Please see the below flyer which explains how to register your child for donations.  Any child who raises $10 or more will receive a prize!  There is the opportunity to slime a teacher to the student who raises the most money!  Mrs Sillis,Mrs Hailstone and special guests have generously agreed to being slimed for the students who raise the most money!  The class that has the highest donations will also be provided with a pizza party.  

Make sure you get your donations in!

The P&F are requesting parent volunteers to help set up, spray the runners with coloured chalk and pack up on the day.  Please see the attached sign up sheet to volunteer https://signup.zone/colour-run.

It is also bandana day on the same day, we will be selling bandannas throughout the week raising money for Canteen.

Diary Dates & Reminders for the week ahead:

Mark you Calenders!

Kindergarten 2024 Transition to School Dates: