Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School Fairy Meadow acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal and Gweagal people past and present, the traditional custodians of the lands on which our school is built.

New Year! New Class!

Each year Good Samaritan runs a most successful transition program for all students that introduces them to the changes to expect in the new school year. This program will be run again this year as we work our way through Term 4 in readiness for the new school year. Mrs Louise Corby will work with the students during these sessions. 

The program consists of four sessions that will address common concerns experienced by students as they face the changes of a new school year and provide strategies to overcome these.

 The session topics are:

1. I Can Try New Things: Here we talk about things that will be the same and those that will be different moving into a new grade.
2. How Do I Feel?  Identifying feelings and what we can do to keep calm.
3. What Is It Like?  Current students speak to participants about their experiences in that grade.
4. I’ll be OK:  Students complete An ‘All About Me’ sheet to provide information about themselves to their 2025 teacher.

All students will meet their 2025 teacher and classmates on Monday 16 December when we hold a promotions day. 

PB4L

We are continuing our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) focus with weekly themes that help build a positive and respectful school environment.

• Week 4: Respecting our school environment
  Our students are learning the importance of caring for the school grounds, keeping spaces clean, and treating property with respect.
• Week 5: Using equipment appropriately
  We are encouraging students to use the sports equipment safely and responsibly, ensuring that everyone can enjoy it.
• Week 6 - Lining up quietly and safely

The importance of waiting patiently and following expectations to ensure everyone’s safety. 

There has been a positive improvement over the first few weeks of this term, students are responding well to the explicit teaching of these skills.

Feast Day Celebrations

Feast Day Mass 

Tuesday 12 November is our whole school mass to mark the Feast of All Benedictine Saints. Mass is at 9.30am and all are welcome to join us and celebrate. We will have open classrooms after mass and guests are welcome to join their child/ren for recess on the school grounds. The P&F will be holding a Bake Sale so you may like to purchase something for your picnic.

Student Feast Fun Day

Our feast Day celebrations will continue on Wednesday 13 November. The day is a student only event and we thank the parent volunteers from the P & F who will join us on the day to assist with planned activities.

A pizza order is optional. Please see your Compass messages for ordering details.

Getting To Know St Benedict

Saint Benedict lived in the beginning of the 6th century, but his teachings are still relevant to this very day.  Saint Benedict’s life was marked by education, prayer, penitence and miracles, even during his own lifetime. The Benedictine Rule, the rule Benedict wrote for his monks, is still referred to today. The most famous phrase from this rule is “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work), which together with the principle of hospitality (meaning that all are welcomed), were the basis of the monastic lifestyle in Monte Cassino.

SAVE THE DATE- CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT GSFM

Come along and get into the festive spirit.

DATE: Wednesday 11 December

TIME: 6.30pm- 7.30pm

VENUE: St Francis Xavier Co-Cathedral, Fairy Meadow

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

PARISH HOSPITALITY

On the first Sunday of every month, after the 8:30am Sunday Mass at St John Vianney, the parish puts on Hospitality (Morning Tea), for the parishioners and we would like to extend that invitation to families of the school. It is a beautiful opportunity to gather and catch-up with one another as family groups.

MASS AND PRAYER INTENTIONS

All parishioners and visitors are very welcome to ask one of our priests to offer Mass for them and their loved ones. Intentions can include thanksgiving for a blessing received from God, to help a relative or friend in need, to celebrate an anniversary, to ask God to strengthen and heal the sick, or to pray that someone who has died will rest in God’s peace. If you wish to offer a Mass & Prayer Intention go to our website: lumenchristi.org.au/intentions or fill in a Mass Intention envelope or contact the parish office.

This year, the focus of the Vinnies Christmas Appeal is on the devastating and unrelenting impacts of cost of living and the immediate, practical and emotional support that the St Vincent de Paul Society can offer the community. 

We can only imagine the stress that some families may be feeling as Christmas draws nearer. This is where, as a Catholic school community, we are called to embrace our core values of Love of Christ and Neighbour, Hospitality, and Community. By coming together, we can extend kindness and support to those who may be struggling during this time. Whether through acts of charity, offering a listening ear, or creating a welcoming environment, let us live out these values in a tangible way, ensuring that no family feels alone or overlooked during the holiday season. Together, we can make Christmas a time of hope, joy, and shared love for all.

This year, the Mini Vinnies team will be hosting a number of events to raise money and bring hope to those families who are impacted by the cost-of-living-crisis.

• Christmas Mufti- Wednesday 11th December

• On Wednesday 11th Dec we will be holding a Christmas Theme Mufti Day. Come dressed in your green, white and red Christmas clothes. You will be asked to contribute a gold coin donation. This money will be used to add to hampers or buy small gifts such as soft toys, books, or beach towels.

• GSFM Christmas Card Competition

All students are encouraged to join the 2024 GSFM Christmas Card Competition! The Mini Vinnies team will select one winning design from each stage. The chosen submissions will be transformed into a Digital Christmas card to be shared with students in their stage at the end of the year. Entries due Friday Week 8 (6th December). 

1. Christmas Hamper Donations 

As a school community, we will be collecting non-perishable food items from the list below. Donations are due by Friday Week 7 (29th November) Bill to collect 6th Dec.

There is lots to look forward to at this time of year so, let’s help those in our community who may be struggling to have a Merry Christmas this year.  

Congratulations to the Week 2 Awards Receipients 

Week 2 

Congratulations to the Week 3 Awards Receipients 

Week 3

Students receiving Principal Awards (10,20 Awards) will be presented on Friday 8 November and Friday 6 December. 

Parents will receive an email prior to the date.

Representative Sport 

CricketTrials - Jack P and Zara H participated in the first Representative Sports Trials for the 2025 school year. The Cricket trial was held with students from the 30 primary schools in the Diocese. Congratulations to Zara who was selected in the Wollongong Diocesan team to attend the MacKillop trial in Wagga later in November. Good Luck Zara! 

ATTENDANCE:

Tuesday 12 November

Feast Day Mass: 9:30am 

Open Classrooms

Picnic Morning Tea  

Wednesday 13 November

School Fun Day - students only