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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
Welcome to 2020!
As we enter a new decade and a new school year it is exciting to wonder what lies ahead for the community of Good Samaritan.
Last week, the year began very well with the children settling into their new classes and school routines. The continued commitment of the staff of Good Samaritan was evident in the way in which classrooms were prepared for students as warm and welcoming places of learning.
This year Australia Day fell on a Sunday and, you may be like me, inasmuch not realising that there is a whole National Calendar for Australia within the masses for the liturgical year of the Church. It was a most appropriate way to reflect upon all that had occurred in our country throughout the Christmas break and continues to carry on, even as I write this newsletter.
The devastation that we have witnessed is somewhat countered by the generosity of spirit, the sense of hope from those who now have nothing, the courage displayed by all who assist in times of disaster. This newsletter contains some information about the way in which teachers have been advised to discuss the events of the break with students. You will also read about the immediate, short and long term effects of such events and how they may impact over time.
I leave you with the Australia Day Prayer as our country sets itself on the road to recovery:
Set your hearts on God’s Kingdom!
The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit is richly blessed by God. May the Providence of God continue to be manifest among us through the way we live, preferring good to evil, having profound respect for one another, sharing our goods with those in need and making hospitality our special care.
As we journey together, with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
WELCOME:
This year we have the great pleasure of welcoming to our school community:
- Mrs Natalie Shelley - Natalie comes to Good Samaritan as our Religious Education Coordinator. Natalie has extensive teaching experience with her last appointment being at St Columbkille’s in Corrimal. Natalie will be teaching Year 5 in 2020.
- Mr Anthony Nash - Anthony comes to Good Samaritan from the Archdiocese of Sydney. Anthony also has extensive experience in a number of the Archdiocesan schools with his most recent appointment being at St Joseph’s in Moorebank. Anthony will be teaching Year 3 in 2020.
We also welcome a number of new students and their families to Good Samaritan.
We hope that the experience of Good Samaritan is a positive, faith-filled and enriching time for all.
Coronavirus:
The NSW Government has requested that children who have visited China in the past two weeks not attend school or childcare services until 14 days have lapsed from their date of departure from China.
Anyone who develops a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath within 14 days of travel to Hubei Province or contact with a person with confirmed coronavirus, should immediately isolate themselves from other people, contact their GP or local emergency department or call the healthdirect helpline
1800 022 222.
Bushfire Advice:
As we return to school we understand that students may want to talk about what they have seen, their experiences or what they may have heard through the media. To ensure a consistent response from the school, the points below are what staff have been briefed with. As parents, you may also wish to use these in conversations with your children.
Listen and acknowledge students’ concerns - Accept the child’s responses, reactions and feelings. Don’t tell them to ‘stop being silly’, or to ‘be brave’.
- Talk about how people have helped eg: raising funds, giving of material possessions, volunteering to assist etc How do you feel when you see this happen?
- Maintain a sense of hope, optimism and safety
- Talk about the men and women who are here to protect us RFS, emergency services, WIRES, volunteers and the ADF
- Talk about how special nature is and how it is our responsibility to protect it because humans need a healthy planet
- Talk about the moments of kindness and care that have been shown to the people and animals affected
- Where teachers are concerned about a student’s response they will always seek advice from the Leadership Team and inform parents of their concerns
- Remember that there may be immediate, short term and long term responses to the crisis
Immediate: Information about how to deal with and manage distress in the immediate days and weeks after the event.
Short-term: Information that may be useful in the first few months after the fires, which focuses on recovery and prevention of serious adverse mental health impacts that often occur as a result of bushfires.
Long-term: Information for how to manage the longer-term impacts of the bushfires, including when children and young people are experiencing post-traumatic mental health challenges (for example depression, post-traumatic stress disorder other anxiety disorders), as well as information for how to prepare your learning community for the disaster anniversary and a future disaster
Kindergarten 2020 Start Date:
Over the past week Kindergarten students have come to school for an appointment where they have completed the Best Start assessment. The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment developed by early learning experts in the NSW Department of Education. The Best Start Assessment is not a test. Its purpose is to help the teachers gather information to guide the teaching of the children. During the assessment the teachers look at the children’s early literacy and numeracy skills, knowledge and understandings.
Kindergarten will begin as a full cohort tomorrow, Thursday 6 February.
School Start Times:
Thank you to all who have made the adjustment in arrangements to ensure that the children are not at school before 8:20am. Supervision begins from 8:20am. CatholicCare OOSH provides care before school supervision begins and after school supervision concludes.
CatholicCare have vacancies available.
Parent Information Evening
The 2020 Parent Information evening will be held next:
Wednesday 12 February from 7pm.
The format for the evening will remain the same, following the favourable feedback that was received in 2019. However an extended time will be given for each session.
Therefore, 3x30minute sessions will run throughout the evening. You may attend any one of the sessions that suits your schedule and, if you have more than one child, you are able to attend each child’s class within the one evening. All sessions contain the same content.
Session times are:
- Session 1 begins at: 7pm
- Session 2 begins at: 7:35pm
- Session 3 begins at: 8:10pm
The evening will conclude at 8:40pm.
Thank You:
The children have arrived at school looking refreshed and ready for the new school year. Many thanks to all our parents and carers for the way in which the children wore their school uniform with pride. They are the living example of what it means to be a Good Samaritan boy or girl when they take care of their appearance and their uniform. Your guidance in this is very much appreciated.
Uniform, Equipment and Belongings:
The beginning of the school year is a great opportunity to ensure that all school uniform, equipment (pencils, pens, etc), belongings (bags, lunch containers) are labelled with your child’s name. We aim to have minimal lost property this year but we can only return those items lost when names are clearly marked on all uniforms, equipment and belongings.
This week we are remembering to value:
Kindness & Compassion
We can do this by:
- Showing care for self
- Showing kindness towards others through actions and/or words
- Random acts of kindness
Thank you to all the Staff, Students and the Good Samaritan Community for making me feel so welcome. I look forward to working with you. Natalie Shelley
Whole School Opening Mass
Tuesday 18 February at 9.30 am in the Co-Cathedral. Year 6 Leadership badges will ne presented at this Mass. All welcome!
Parish/Grade Mass
Our next Parish/Grade Mass will be held on Tuesday 11 February at 9.30am. Year 6 will be attending. All welcome!
Prayers are asked for Valentino Fera’s (Y4) paternal grandfather, Jim Fera who entered eternal life throughout the Christmas break.
Eternal rest
Grant unto him O Lord
And may perpetual light shine upon him
May he rest in peace
The next newsletter will contain the fully revised GSFM School Handbook. Each newsletter will continue to promote elements of the handbook. This aims to promote consistency of processes and procedures across the school.
STAGES OF HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
- If you have any educational/behaviour concerns about your child always contact your child’s classroom teacher in the first instance. Your child’s classroom teacher will always make contact with you if they have any concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour.
- Grades and classes across the school are supported by Middle Leaders. You are asked to contact the Middle Leader/s responsible for your child’s class/grade if you have continued concerns regarding your child’s education or behaviour. The Middle Leaders will also contact you when and if necessary.
- All academic and behaviour concerns made to the office will be directed to the classroom teacher in the first instance. This may be followed up by support from the Middle Leader responsible for the stage/grade.
This is a new aspect of the GSFM Parent newsletter intended to highlight articles that may be of
interest to parents. We will regularly include links to short articles
associated with raising children in today’s world. 
This week the ‘Nook’ highlights the importance of a School Sleep
Routine. Click here to read the Sydney Morning Herald article on sleep during the
Mark your calendar!
Friday 3 April: Student free day
Students will not attend school on this day. Staff will be on a Spiritual Formation Retreat & off site on this day
Thursday 7 May: Mother's Day Liturgy and Morning Tea
Friday 4 September: Father's Day Breakfast BBQ and Prayer
Friday 6 November: Grandparents & Great Friends Day Liturgy & Open Day
Parent Action: Mark your calendar with these important dates.
Good Samaritan Band Program
The Good Samaritan Band program is provided by Mr Andy Yule of Yule Music.
Click here to find out more about Yule Music.
The programme is going to be available for years 3 -6 inclusive. Each child who registers with the programme will receive weekly instrumental tutoring AND band tutoring. Our band will be given regular termly performing opportunities.
Vacancies still exist to be a member of the Good Samaritan Band!
SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB
Please click on the following link
THE FLAMETREE PROJECT
Please click on the following link