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On Sunday we celebrated the beginning of Advent as well as the Feast of St Francis Xavier.
St Francis Xavier was a great friend of the very famous Jesuit St Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatian spirituality challenges us to encounter God in all things, witnessing to the joy of the Gospel. We go forth into the world as contemplatives in action, discerning God’s desire for our lives here, now, and acting on God’s invitation. We are women and men for and with others, hearing both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor—and responding. And we do all for the greater glory of God.
I wonder if we are drawn to remembering St Francis Xavier at this time of Advent because of the good work that he did for others. It is at this time that we, too, are called to reach out for others as we approach the Christmas season. Our Mini Vinnies group led the school in the collection of items so that others enjoy a Christmas just as we do. We are led to consider giving at the Wishing Tree of stores like K-Mart and Target. We are also invited to contribute to St Vincent de Paul and other organisations that reach out to those less fortunate.
In our own modern way, we are doing what Christ asks us to do. We are seeing Jesus in the eyes of those we speak to, work with, play with. We understand the need to give and we don’t hesitate to do so - willingly and without question. That is what makes us a community.
I leave you with this short video clip about Xavier and Ignatius - reflect and contemplate on this as you move through this first week of Advent.
Together, we are moved to compassion,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Good Samaritan Donations arrive in Samoa!
After a few delays, the container for St Peter’s, Falefa arrived in Samoa on Friday, 24 November. Father Feleki flew to Samoa to organise clearance of the container, transportation and distribution of the donations. Thanks to the generosity of MSC: Mission, local schools, St John’s Parish Campbelltown, companies and individuals donating funds, furniture, teaching resources, computers and sporting equipment, Father Feleki was able to deliver donations to St Peter’s and also the Samusu Primary School.
Father Feleki and the community extend their thanks for your support and generosity to help the communities in Falefa and Samusu.
Good Samaritan was able to donate the older desks that were recently replaced in Year 3.
2024 Classes and Transition to the New School Year:
The last couple of weeks have certainly been filled with much end of year ‘busyness’. Amongst all of the work that goes on to have a successful end of year for the students is the important task of recruitment and employment of teachers and support staff for the new school year. This task is becoming increasingly complex with the lower number of applications being received by schools and schools competing for teachers across the Diocese. In addition, staff changes have been happening right up until today.
Whilst we have not yet finalised all classes and confirmed all teaching positions, I am pleased to be able to share the following with you for 2024.
Please note that this is subject to change as the full process for recruitment is not yet complete.
Next Wednesday the students will meet their new class and their teacher for 2024. This is a part of the transition process that we conduct at Good Samaritan.
Nearing the End of Year:
As we approach the final week of school for the year, it is important to recognise that the children are becoming tired and do start to ‘get on each others’ nerves’. Just like all human beings, children do not always agree with each other and this can look like a conflict. It is really important to allow your child to process what may not have gone their way or what may have occurred where they feel they have been treated unfairly by their peers. Some questions to work through these times with your child might be:
- Tell me what happened
- I can see that has made you feel (sad/angry/frustrated/nervous). What else can you tell me about it?
- What did you do at the time?
- What can you do to help this situation?
- Let’s give it some time and see how you feel about this (tomorrow/in a couple of days/next week).
Sometimes our children can just feel overwhelmed when they are preparing for the end of the year and many unknown factors are coming into play for them. It is really important that we allow them time to process, look at ways they can solve their problem and not jump to an immediate solution for them.
Parents of Year 6 Students
A reminder to our families of students in year 6 who are not attending a diocesian high school will be required to download their reports from Compass prior to 19 December 2023. Reports for these students will no longer be available after this date.
2024 Photo Permissions/IT Permission
Permission for your child to be photographed as well as responsible use of the internet will now come out to parents via Compass. Please keep an eye out for these notifications which are expected some time in January, we ask that they be actioned at your earliest convenience.
What do you need to do?
During the Christmas vacation period, you will receive a new image consent Insight in the Compass app. Please click on the link provided and read the details of the Insight carefully, discuss it with your child, and once you have made your decision, answer the question to either provide or decline consent.
To ensure that no child misses out on having their photo taken as part of school life, we will occasionally send reminders to parents and carers who have yet to complete the Insight.
If you have any questions about this change or the image consent form in general, please contact the school, and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
ADVENT WEEK 1: THE CANDLE OF HOPE
Christmas is coming! There are loved ones to see, gifts to give, baking to share. We prepare our homes for the celebration. Yet even more important than this outward preparation is the preparation of our heart.
The Advent season is a beautiful reminder to prepare our hearts as we prepare our homes — to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus! At the start of this week, we light the first of the four candles in the Advent wreath: the candle of Hope.
Is your heart filled with hope? Do you have a confident expectation of tomorrow? What happens when the road ahead is filled with loss and stress weighs your shoulders down? When confident expectations for tomorrow dwindle, what can you do? How can you walk in hope when you feel hopeless inside?
In one word, the answer to confident expectation is “JESUS" — the Jesus of Christmas.
Hope in Jesus comes from more than just a belief that he was once a baby in a manger. This hope in him has been called “an anchor for the soul.” It is something deep within that secures you through the storms of life.
Mater Dolorosa Church
Sunday 10th December after the 10am Mass
St John Vianney Co-Cathedral
Tuesday 12th December after the 9.30am Mass
St Brigid’s Church
Thursday 14th December after the 9.30am Mass
St Francis Xavier Cathedral
Friday 15th December 11am –12pm (2nd Rite)
Friday 15th December 6pm – 7pm
Every Saturday 11am – 12pm
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)
PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2024 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2024 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
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Primary School Fees Diocese of Wollongong |
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Tuition Fees K-6 (Family Fee Type) |
$1843.00 |
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SEDSO Levy K-6 (Family Fee Type) |
1245.00 |
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GSFM School Resource Fee K-6 (Individual Student Fee Type) |
$215.00 |
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GSFM Carnivals (Individual Student Fee Type) |
$26.00 |
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At Good Samaritan, excursions are billed at the time of the event.
Year 6 2 single day School Camp and annual activities are also included within the school fee structure.
The Canteen will be open Wednesday,Thursday and Friday
CASH ONLY
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.
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.
Diary Dates & Reminders for the week ahead:
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DATE: |
REMINDER: |
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Wednesday 6 December |
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Thursday 7 December |
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Friday 8 December |
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Saturday 9 December |
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B Prepare a way for the Lord. Engulfed by many chores in the lead-up to Christmas, we can fail to hear the voice that cries in the wilderness: prepare a way for the Lord. Let us resolve to include some time to pray, to reflect on the Gospel stories of Jesus’ birth, and to seek reconciliation with God and others, in our Christmas preparations. |
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Sunday 10 December |
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Wednesday 13 December |
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