News from Year 3 

In Year 3, the students have been busy for the last couple of weeks working on their Christmas speeches in English. They are looking forward to presenting them this week and in week 9 in front of parents and classmates. 

In Maths, Year 3 have been working on money in addition and subtraction with one of the activities being to organise a Christmas party and to plan and budget for all of the necessary items. Last week they were exploring chance and working on the expected results of a variety of experiments. 

News from Year 4 

In Year 4, the students have been busy revising their learnt knowledge in preparation for our transition into year 5. We had a maths competition that involved a lot of teamwork! 

We split into two teams, then we had to run and grab an equation from the middle of the playground and run it back to our team to solve. Once we solved the equation together we began to make our paper chains. The team with the longest chain at the end of the game was the winner! There were some impressive chains made and Mrs Smede, Mr Cervonaro and Miss Blunden have never seen such motivation for mathematics before!

We are looking forward to celebrating Advent and ending our year 4 journey together in the next few weeks.

Over the next two weeks our focus will be on caring for our school environment. This aligns with the Benedictine vale of Stewardship. 

What does this mean?

Stewardship: We will instill a sense of responsibility for the gifts and resources entrusted to us by God. Students will learn about caring for the environment, practising sustainability, and using their talents and abilities to serve others and make a positive impact in the world.

 What can students do?

• Place rubbish in correct bins. 
• Pick up any rubbish you see on the playground or in your classroom.
• Pack waste free lunches by putting food in containers instead of plastic wraps and packaging.
• Be kind and compassionate to others.
• Help others in your classroom and on the playground. 

What can teachers do?

• Hand out tokens to students who have a waste free lunch box at recess and lunch times.
• Teach students to use the correct bins in the classroom and playground to reduce our waste.
• Emu Bob every week to keep our school environment clean.
• Encourage students to use their talents to support others in the school community. 
• Model sustainable practices when cleaning up rooms at the end of the year.

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.

Diary Dates & Reminders for the week ahead: