Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan

This week we celebrate Grandparent’s Day. This is always a wonderful opportunity for the children to share their school life with those very special people in their lives - their grandparents and the other great wisdom figures who influence them.

In welcoming our visitors on Friday I began to reflect on what St Benedict says about welcoming people. In Chapter 3 of his rule Benedict writes:

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say:

’I came as a guest and you received me’ RSB Ch 3

I was lucky enough to have a grandparent live well into my adulthood. He was an incredible influence on my life and I do attribute much of what I have achieved to him. His wisdom and experience counted. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan theologian, writes about welcoming wisdom figures into the community in order to give counsel or advice. He goes on to say that to ignore this counsel is then to proceed into life with risk.

Last Friday was International Teachers’ Day. At morning assembly I asked a few of the children what was something that they wanted to share about their teacher. One Year 6 student said that his teacher gave them work they didn’t like now but he knew it ‘would be good for us in the long run’.

This, I think, is an example of the way in which our children listen for those wisdom moments. St Benedict knows about the value of experience but, even more so, he knows about the presence and power of God. He knows that in all of us there is a spark of the divine. The purpose of the older people in our lives, our grandparents and other great people, is not so much to know the Truth of God but rather to recognise it when they hear it.

We can recognise this when they speak a truth, share their perspective on a situation, ask questions and open their hearts with honesty and trust. We need to listen carefully so that the decisions we make, and the actions we take, are informed. We can come to peace with them in our hearts.

I look forward to meeting with many grandparents and great people on Friday and I leave you with this reflection:

Bless our grandparents and the great people  in our lives.

Thank you for all they have done for us

For giving us our parents and for their wisdom and love

Keep them strong in mind and body

so that they will be with us for many years to come.

As we journey together with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal

How are classes formed each year?

Attached to the newsletter this week is the Formation of Classes Policy and Procedure. This policy is used to direct the process of class formation each year. This is a lengthy process that works towards ensuring that every child’s needs are considered. The process begins throughout Term 4. It is important that parents are aware that the teachers know the students within the school environment exceptionally well and always put the best interests of every child first.

Please take time to read the policy. This will give you some indication of the process. Whilst parental requests are considered, there is never a guarantee that they will be granted. If you plan to make a request, particularly about your child being placed within a friendship group, please be aware that there may be circumstances surrounding such requests that prevent it from being granted. 

Often there can be experiences where children are placed in classes with friends upon parental requests. The children have then encountered difficulties with the friendship causing awkward situations for all involved that could possibly have been avoided.

The value for this week is Inclusion

Students who are demonstrating inclusion are:

• Being a welcoming class and school member

• Including others in games and activities

• Being proactive, which means helping a lonely or sad person join in a game

•  Giving a friendly smile to others

•  Using inclusive words, like ‘you can play with us’

To ensure consistency of processes and practices across the school community, aspects of the Parent Handbook (currently under revision) will be published in each week’s newsletter.

What do I do if I have a concern regarding a student/s who is not my child?

At times parents may become concerned about the behaviour of other students and, in an effort to resolve the situation, approach the student concerned. However, under no circumstances are parents to approach other students when trying to resolve an issue. Always seek assistance from the school. Incidents such as this can very quickly lead to reportable Child Protection matters that have to be investigated and reported.

It is also good practice to seek assistance from the school when you have a concern rather than approaching other parents about school related matters.

Always think about what you would do, or how you would feel, if another parent approached your child or confronted you about a matter where you were not fully informed of the details.

Mental Health Awareness Month:

October 2019 is Mental Health Awareness Month which aims to promote awareness across all groups in our communities about mental health and wellbeing. The theme for this year is “Share the Journey”. Over the next couple of weeks, our school newsletters will include information specifically related to the mental health and wellbeing of our school community members.  

We all have mental health; just like we all have physical health. Our state of mental health changes constantly like our physical health. Our state of mental health can be different every day or even change constantly throughout the day. If we were to notice our own and others’ mental health like we do our physical health, we may be able to prevent and treat mental health illness early. For example, if we are tired for one day this may be due to a lack of sleep which is part of our physical health. If this continues over many days and we are finding it hard to go about our normal daily activities, we should go to the doctor/GP for a check-up. The same principles apply to our mental health. Our mood changes depending on many things we experience during a day, but if our mood and behaviour changes in ways that affect our normal day to day functioning (eg going to school or work) we need to seek help. Your doctor/GP is still the place to go for initial help for mental health concerns. 

Attached to the newsletter this month is a flyer from WayAhead – Mental Health Association NSW encouraging us to focus on our connection with others to promote all aspects of our wellbeing. Connecting with others can mean different things to different people, and is always about what we feel comfortable doing.  When we” Share the Journey” by connecting with others, we are improving our own health and wellbeing AND the health and wellbeing of others. 

There are many other places for information, resources and help. We will be providing these in our newsletters throughout the month. 

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has recently updated the

ir website. Parents are encouraged to become familiar with this site. Click here to access the site and all the great resources for parents

Grandparents Day - Friday 1 November

Just a reminder we would appreciate if the following grades could continue to contribute to the morning tea

Kindergarten:   a bag of lollies or small cakes

Year 2:            biscuits (sweet)

Year 5:            dips (5Blue) Crackers (5 Gold & 5 Red)

At school, your child learns about road safety as part of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE). Help them practise the road safety messages they learn at school by using and sharing them whenever you are out and about.

Year 6 students created a beach scene using textas and watercolour. Well done Daniel, Millie, Molly and Kayla.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be arriving this week and will be ready for purchases from Thursday morning before school.  This Book Fair has EFTPOS facilities available and the books are to take home.  It helps our school library out as we make a commission in books.

The times the Scholastic Book Fair is open are as follows:

Thursday, 31st October

Before School  8.20 - 8.50am

Lunch  1.30 - 2.00pm

After School  3.00 - 3.30 pm

Friday, 1st November

Before School  8.20 - 8.50am

Lunch  1.30 - 2.00pm

After School  3.00 - 3.30 pm

 

Monday, 4th November

Before School  8.20 - 8.50am

Lunch  1.30 - 2.00pm

After School  3.00 - 3.30 pm

Please ensure that when making a School Fee payment that the correct B-Pay details and reference numbers are selected.

Please do not deposit school fees into the P & F account.

The Zip up Calico bags are available in the uniform shop and are now $5.00.

There are currently a limited amount of size 6 & 8 sport track pants in the Uniform Shop.

Uniform Shop normal opening hours are:

Monday 8.30am - 9.30am

Thursday 2.15pm - 3.15pm