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Dear Parents & Carers of Good Samaritan,
Over the last week we have entered the significant season of our Church’s year - Lent. This is a time of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.
Lent is also a time to hear the Word of God, to be reconciled with one’s self and with one’s neighbour. It is a time to do good works, to fast and to prepare for Easter. Interestingly, this time is marked by the symbol of the ashes received last week. This is an ancient practice which converted sinners. The act of putting ashes on the forehead is a symbol of fragility and mortality and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. This act is the first step in preparation of renewing the Easter commitment and promise of new life.
Throughout Lent we are prompted to ask questions of ourselves and our own spirituality similarly to the great prophets, such as Isaiah and Saul, who had significant religious experiences that were the turning point in their lives.
Such experiences are often not mystical or even filled with great joy. These experiences are quite often those that turn your life upside down, that create confusion and angst and that seem insurmountable at the time. Perhaps it is not until we work our way through these times that, in hindsight, we are able to recognise them as a truly religious moment. Moments such as these bring us closer to God, allow us to forgive and recognise that mercy within the chaos.
Sometimes, this confusion in life is created by the mistakes we make. But mistakes must be acknowledged in order to learn and to move forward with a renewed heart. In Lent we need to ‘outgrow the past and enter the present.’ Often we don’t know how to do this because we are so caught in the moment and cannot help but think about what could have been if this or that didn’t happen. So this is where we come to know the importance of reconciliation because through reconciliation comes God’s mercy. Remember, mercy is found within the chaos of life.
Mercy is also God’s way of telling us we are loved. So, how can we hear and listen to what God is saying? Prayer! Prayer leads us into conversation with God. And true conversation leads to conversion. Conversion of heart and mind. St Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that God is the ‘Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort.’ (2 Corinthians)
As we begin our Lenten journey for 2020, how will prayer become more integral to your life? How will you welcome the mercy of God in the confusion of life? How will you recognise that reconciliation may be needed for you to ‘outgrow the past and enter the present’?
Embrace these first weeks of Lent with open arms and allow God into your life as you have never done before.
As we journey together, with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
Enrolling Now for Kindergarten 2021!
Enrolment applications are currently being accepted for Kindergarten 2021 at Good Samaritan.
An open day is being held on Saturday 7 March 10:00am - 12noon.
Come along to look at the Kindergarten and Year 5 classrooms.
Before and after school care will be open as will the Library.
If you or a family member or friend would like to enrol your child in one
of our schools, please download an enrolment package here.
Construction of Shade Sails on Infants Playground
You may be wondering what the construction fencing is for on the Infants playground. At the end of 2019 Good Samaritan applied for a Local Schools Community Fund grant. We have been successful in gaining $20 000 in funds that will go towards the construction of some much needed shade sails on the Infants playground. The gap in the cost of the shade sails is provided through funding from Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong.
Work is scheduled to continue throughout this week so there will be some disruption to accessing the Year 1&2 building including Reading Recovery. This is a short term disruption for a long term gain.
Diocesan Education Mass:
Tomorrow evening from 6pm Good Samaritan will host the 2020 Diocesan Education Mass for the Diocese of Wollongong. Staff from across the Diocese will give thanks for all that we have in Wollongong with mass in St John Vianney Co Catherdral. Following this will be a supper on school grounds.
The Value for this week is:
Responsibility
Being responsible is:
- Caring for our school environment by keeping our ‘Emu Bob’ areas clean
- Caring for our personal belongings
- Taking responsibility for our words and actions
- Making good choices
- Accepting a job or task and completing it
Working With Children Check:
In order for the school to ensure that all staff and volunteers have the necessary WWCC, all parents who wish to volunteer are asked to visit the school website and follow the links to complete the necessary paperwork in order to remain as a volunteer within the school. Once completed the school will maintain a register of parents who are able to volunteer within the school. This includes classroom assistance, excursions, camps, canteen, Library assistance and helping at the fete.
The declaration will also be available in hard copy at the school office but parents are encouraged to visit the school website and follow the correct ‘tree’ after answering some simple questions.
When is the next P&F meeting?
The P&F Annual General Meeting will be held on
Wednesday 11 March at 7pm
in the School Library. Entry is via the St John Vianney Parish carpark.
All are welcome.
Kindergarten winter uniforms are now available to purchase from the Uniform Shop.
Hours:
Mondays: 8.30am
Thursdays: 2.15pm
Thursday 5 March:
- South Coast Swimming Trials
Saturday 7 March:
- Good Samaritan Enrolment School Open Day 10am-12noon
Tuesday 10 March:
- Year 3 attending Parish Mass 9.30am
Wednesday 11 March:
- Parents and Freinds Meeting 7pm in the School Library
Tuesday 17 March:
- Year 2 attending Parish Mass 9.30am
Tuesday 24 March:
- Year 1 attending Parish Mass 9.30am
Tuesday 31 March:
- Year 6 & Kindergarten attending Parish Mass 9.30am
Thursday 2 April:
- Cross Country Carnival
Friday 3 April:
- Pupil Free Day ( Staff Spirituality Day)
Thursday 9 April:
- School Photos
Monday 27 April:
- Pupil Free Day (Staff Development Day)
Thursday 7 May:
- Mother's Day Liturgy and Morning Tea
Friday 4 September:
- Father's Day Breakfast BBQ and Prayer
Friday 6 November:
- Grandparent's & Great Friends Day Liturgy & Open Day