Easter Hat Parade

Our annual Easter Hat Parade will take place next Wednesday 27 March starting at 1pm. We invite you to get creative with a design. Parents and families are welcome to join us from 1pm.

Easter Raffles will be drawn at the parade and students are welcome to go home following the parade.

NAPLAN 

The Year 3 and 5 students have now completed all NAPLAN tests. 

5th week of Lent

As we journey through the 5th Week of Lent, please be mindful of the three things that are asked of us during Lent:

• prayer

• fasting

• almsgiving

Project Compassion numbers are rising and we thank you for your kind and generous donations. Don’t forget your Hot Cross Bun orders from Baker’s Delight.

Should you wish to contribute to Project Compassion this Lent Season, here is the QR code for our school. Donations above $2 will generate receipts and all donations will count in our school's fundraising tally.

Palm Sunday- 24 March

On Palm Sunday we remember the Lord’s joyful entry into Jerusalem. The Gospel tells of crowds laying branches on the road before Jesus and proclaiming him as King, yet before the week is out, he has been betrayed and crucified. Palm Sunday highlights the paradox of Christ’s kinship; our palms represent his victory that comes only through suffering and self-sacrifice.

All are welcome to join us at Mass on Sunday 24 March at 8.30am.

Feast of St Joseph

The Feast of St Joseph the husband of Mary is recognised on Tuesday 19 March. This is an important time to remember the huge act of love and respect that Joseph showed to Mary in accepting to marry Mary and become Jesus’ father.

Some facts about St Joseph:

• Although we know St Joseph as a working carpenter, he is descended from royal lineage, the line of David.
• St Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, families, fathers, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers and working people, among others.

Harmony Day, 2024-Everyone Belongs

Harmony Day was celebrated at GSFM on Tuesday. What a lovely event it was seeing our students wear traditional costumes and talk/pray in their native tongue. Harmony Day (week) is a time where we recognise our cultural diversity in Australia. If you would like to learn more about Harmony Day 2024, please visit the website

https://www.harmony.gov.au/stories/story?storyId=209

Year 6 Confirmation News For Parents

Please join us on Wednesday 20th March, 2024 @ 6.30pm in the Hall for our compulsory information session for all parents of Year 6 students who will be preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. If you are unable to attend, we ask that you contact the Lumen Christi Office on ​​02 4211 0504 to arrange an alternative meeting with Father Bernard.

DATES FOR SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS:

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

Cross Country Carnival - Thursday 21 March

Venue: Kembla Joggers, Darkes Rd, Kembla Grange NSW 

(If you need help finding the venue, type Kembla Joggers Clubhouse or Australian Motorlife Museum, Darkes Road, Kembla Grange into your maps).

Transport: Bus from school. Your child/children will need to be at school by 8:45am. 

Children going home with parents at the conclusion of the carnival must be signed out with class teachers. 

Children can wear their house colour t-shirt with their PE uniform. Students are not to be wearing short bike pants, if you are a competitive runner you may wear mid length bike shorts for your race then put your school shorts on. 

Please ensure your child has their hat, sunscreen, water bottles and bring recess and lunch. They may also like to bring a towel or picnic rug to sit on. 

Thank you to the parents who have volunteered. Please meet Mrs Olima at the venue on Thursday morning. Please bring a camp chair or picnic rug. 

Students are not permitted to be in the adjoining playground throughout the day. 

A coffee van will be available for parents on the day.

Please see the attached running order of the day. These times are subject to change and are an approximate time only.

• Easter Egg donations last day is Monday the 25th

• Easter Raffle ticket books are still available from the office and there will be tickets for sale on the 27th with eftpos available

From the School Handbook:

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:

   Week 8

NAPLAN continues

20 March – Feast of St Joseph’s liturgy

20 March – Parent Information evening – Sacrament of Confirmation 6:30pm – 7:30pm

21 March – Cross Country Carnival at Kembla Joggers

22 March -GSFM OPEN DAY 9:15am -11:00am

Week 9

24 March – Sunday 8:30am Confirmation Student Commitment Mass

25 March – Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord / Holy Week Liturgy 9:15am

27 March – Easter Hat Parade and Raffle

28 March – Staff Spirituality Day – Pupil Free Day

29 March – GOOD FRIDAY

Week 10

31 March – EASTER SUNDAY

1 April – EASTER MONDAY

2 April – Year 6 Mass 9:30am

5 April – Assembly

Week 11

9 April – Year 6 Mass 9:30am

12 April – GSFM Award Liturgy 9:15am (LAST DAY TERM 1)