Dear Parents and Carers,

As we begin the second half of the term, I become conscious of how quickly the time is going. No sooner does it seem that we have started the year and the year begins to pass without us even noticing.

As I watch and interact with our Good Samaritan students each day I wonder how time will be for them as they grow older. There is an old understanding that as you grow older time seems to go faster. The pace of our modern world certainly seems to keep getting faster and faster. When we feel like we want the days to slow down so we can appreciate the lives of our children for a little longer we can look to the people of ancient times and what they did to live their lives to the full.

One such person is St Benedict. St Benedict was an Italian monk who founded the Benedictan monastry and became the father of Western monasticism. Benedict had a sister whose name was Scholastica. Bendict lived part of his life as a hermit but came to understand the need for living in community and it was from this point that his ‘rule’ was written.

The Rule of St Benedict, as it is known today is ancient having been written in the sixth century. Yet it is amazing how authentic and necessary the rule is today - more than fifteen hundred years later. The rule itself is very simple, direct and clear. It is an uncomplicated text that concerns itself with the ideas and attitudes of what it means to live in community with one another. The Rule of St Benedict is concerned with life: what it’s about, what it demands and how to live it.

One of Benedict’s well known phrases is Listen with the ear of your heart. When Benedict says ‘Listen’ he is telling us to pay attention and to attend to the important things in life. He guides us  to let nothing go by without being open to how we might be nourished by the event and the inner meaning that it may have for us.

As I sit and write this newsletter I am struck by the thought of what led me to Good Samaritan. I take up this role as my third principalship but I am certain that God led me to this community. In this first part of Benedict’s Rule, he sets out the importance of not allowing ourselves to become our own guides but rather have a willingness to listen for the voice of God in our life. By doing this we can come out of what the limitations that we, and others, can place on ourselves.

As we work through the year together, we will start to unpack the Rule of St Benedict as a charism for the life of the Good Samaritan school community. So as the time this week passes by  take a moment to ask yourself:

Have I listened with the ear of my heart? Have I listened to what God is telling me through this event that I am experiencing? Have I listened to what God is telling me through my own child?

Have a great week.

Toni Sillis

Principal

Catholic Schools Week:

This week we celebrate all that is good as a Catholic school. The children have been asked to think about what they hope for their school. We will gather together as a school community to pray for all we do together at Good Samaritan.

Ash Wednesday:

This week we celebrate Ash Wednesday as it marks the beginning of the Lenten period for 2019. Lent is a time when we reflect on what we can do to become better people. A two page message from Bishop Brian about Lenten penance and obligations is attached for your information.

Parent Teacher Information Evening Feedback:

Parental Feedback is important to ensure the smooth running of the school particularly events where you have also been required to make a commitment. Feedback also gives us indications of where we can improve our systems, processes and supports as a school community. Last week we held the Parent Information Evening. We are now seeking your feedback about the evening.

Parent Action: Please respond by clicking here which will take you to a Google form. Thank you for providing this feedback and it should only take up to 5 minutes.

Attendance Policy & Guidelines:

The following information will be included in the revision of Good Samaritan’s Attendance Policy & Guidelines.

REASON FOR ABSENCE

For any whole day absence the school must receive notification of the reason for the absence within 7 days of the return to school. Please supply the reason on a short note to the classroom teacher. In the event that a note is not supplied the absence will be recorded as Unjustified/Unexplained. Prents/Carers will be sent regularly sent reminders to explain absences where no explanation has been provided.

Partial absences are recorded when the child enters school after 8:50am or leaves school before 3:00pm via the school office.

Parent Action: Sign your child/ren in or out of school if they are late or leaving early. Return an absence note as soon as possible following the absence.

ABSENCES AND PART ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL

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.

Below is an outline of the processes Good Samaritan will use to follow up extended absences from school.

As a systemic primary school within the Wollongong Diocese, Good Samaritan adheres to the School Attendance Guidelines and Procedures of the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. As such, the following process will be used to support the regular attendance of students at school.

Step 1: 3 - 4 days absent

• Phone call to parents (if required ).
• Follow up with letter to parents if absences continue - arrange meeting with parents to discuss.
• Review situation for the following week.

Step 2: 7 - 14 days absent

• Regular phone call to parents re attendance.
• Registered letter to parents re attendance.
• Referral to school counselor/Family Support.
• Meeting with school Principal.
• Head of School Services to be informed.

Step 3: 14 - 21 days absent

• Inform Head of School Services.
• Regular contact to parents.
• School informs Catholic Education Office.
• Meeting with school Principal and Head of School Service (Action Plan agreed on and review date set).
• Registered letter to parents.

Step 4: 22+ days absent

• Head of School Service with Principal to determine Action Plan.

Step 5: Above 30 days absent

• Report ‘education neglect’ (i.e., habitual absence or not enrolled) to Community Services (CS) Child Protection Helpline.
• Letter to parents from Head of School Services advising that the system has reported to Community Services (CS) or if not enrolled, also reported to Department of Education and Communities (DEC). If there are any concerns for the child’s wellbeing, normal child protection procedures apply - this can be made any time during the above procedure.

Behaviour on School Buses

Transport NSW has a complete set of Guidelines for managing school students behaviour on buses. These guidelines unpack the Code of Conduct responsibilities of students, parents and school principals in relation to bus behaviour. The guidelines also indicate the consequences for a breach of the Code of Conduct. Last week I needed to speak to one of our buses and remind them of the appropriate behaviour when travelling to and from school.

For your information, the following is taken from section 2 of the Guidelines - Student Code of Conduct.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ON BUSES

It is every student's responsibility to behave in a manner that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers. This includes:

Behaviour on buses:

• Use appropriate language not offensive or racist language
• Fighting, spitting, feet on seats, throwing things in or from the bus is not permitted
• No eating or drinking (other than water) — unless for medical reasons or the bus operator gives written permission
• Offer seats to adults including people with a disability, elderly or expectant mothers
• Do not touch, push or shove other people
• Do not bully or harass other passengers or the driver. This includes photographing, making lewd or suggestive comments, acting in a manner or participating in activities that may be deemed inappropriate or of a sexual nature.
• Avoid attracting the attention of the driver except in the case of emergency
• Do not play music at such volume that it may distract the bus driver or other passengers.

Parent Action: If your child/ren  catches a bus to or from school please familiarise yourself with these guidelines and speak to your child/ren about their responsibilities on the buses.

Need to know more about safeguarding your child online?

Whilst the internet provides many enriching and engaging experiences for children it can also be a place where they are exposed to illegal, offensive and highly inappropriate material. The office of the eSafety Commissioner has an enormous amount of resources for parents in an easy to navigate webite.

Parent Action: Click here to read about online safeguards for your children.

Enrolling Now for Kindergarten 2020!

Enrolment applications are currently being accepted for Kindergarten 2020 at Good Samaritan. An open afternoon is being held on Friday 15 March 3:30pm-5:00pm and on Saturday 16 March 10:00am - 12noon.

Parent Action: If you have a child ready to start Kindergarten next year ask the school office for an enrolment package or download an enrolment form here

Let your relatives, friends and colleagues know that the enrolment period is now open.

School Newsletter:

Starting next week, the school newsletter will be published and distributed every Wednesday.

Thank You!

to all our parents who chose to shop at Athlete’s Foot Wollongong this year for joggers and school shoes. This week Brett and Cameron from Athlete’s Foot presented our school with a $565 cheque. This will go towards the purchase of a new shade structure for sporting and gala days.

Principal's Awards to be handed out to the following students at assembly on 

Friday morning weather permitting. 

5 Merit Awards:

Jye M (1G), Georgia L (1G), Alexander B (3B), Samuel U (4B),

Keita S (5G)

Congraulations

Due to unforseen circumstances we have had to move our school photo day.  This will now take place on Monday 20 May.  

SOUTH COAST SWIMMING

On Thursday March 7, the GSFM Swimming team will participate in the South Coast Swimming Carnival at Corrimal Pool.

The team includes:

Sophie B, Callum C, Hannah C, Sarah C, Cruz D, William E, Ben G, Olivia G, Ava H, Gemma H, Hayden H, Nate J, Millie L, Noah L, Olivia L, Lucas M, Tom M, Laila N, Lola N, Amelia P, Edward P, Matilda P, Cooper P, Logan P, Nicholas P, Matisse S

We wish the team all the best for a fantastic day. Good luck!

DIOCESAN PRIMARY SPORT TRIALS

Wollongong Diocesan AFL

On Wednesday February 20, Zane T, Hayden H, Xanthe B and Ella S joined 50 other talented AFL players to trial for a position in the combined Wollongong/Canberra/Goulburn AFL Squad.

Zane T was successful in being selected in the Wollongong/Canberra/Goulburn AFL Squad. He will travel with the team to Wagga for the MacKillop Trials on Friday April 5.

Congratulations to all the trialists and we wish Zane all the best in Wagga.

Wollongong Diocesan BASKETBALL

On Friday March 1, Hannah C and Alina P played in the Wollongong Diocesan Basketball Team at the MacKillop Basketball Trials at Beaton Park. The girls played very well and represented the Wollongong Team with great sportsmanship.

Congratulations to both girls.

Wollongong Diocesan SOCCER

Mr Terry Jansen has been selected again to manage and coach the Wollongong Girls Soccer Team. We wish him all the best in his role.

Wollongong Diocesan RUGBY LEAGUE

Mr Stephen Zamros has been selected to manage and coach the Wollongong 11 years Rugby League Team. We wish him all the best in his role.

GSFM Sport Committee

This week’s artist

Year 4

Gemma, Jett and Ava who created underwater seascapes using wax resist with watercolour.

Year 2

Emma, Madix and Sophia in were inspired by Paul Klee to create these crazy faces using oil Pastels.

Art Quote of the week is from Albert Einstein “Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.”

Great work

Mrs Susan McAlister

Art Teacher

Re: Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) 

Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school.

Kind regards

Mrs Toni Sillis

Principal

Good Samaritan School

Fairy Meadow

CATHOLICCARE 

Do you have a brother or a sister with a disability?

Disability impacts everyone in the family – most of the time this is an intensely positive and rewarding experience but sometimes it can also be really challenging! We understand caring for someone in your family can be hard at times; having a friend that knows what its like can make all the difference.

SIBS is a social respite initiative designed to give the siblings of children with additional needs some time-out to relax, have fun, and just be kids. Fun days out, workshops, and an annual camp are just some of the things we do that builds a network of support and friendship for young people aged 5-12 years (Saturday SIBSClub) and 12-16 years (TeenSIBS).

To find out more contact:

Kath Walsh on Mondays and Fridays

Phone: 4254 9332 or kathw@catholiccare.dow.org.au

Book Club orders – Due Thursday 13 March

The students took home brochures for Scholastic Book Club last week.

Please be reminded that Good Samaritan accepts online Book Club order ONLY through Scholastic’s LOOP site. We do not accept any orders and cash payments through the school office. Simply go to scholastic.com.au/LOOP to register, or to update your child’s class details for 2019.

The deadline for all LOOP orders is Thursday 14 March. There is no need to return any paper forms to the school. Your child’s books will be sent to their classroom when the orders arrive.

P&F NEWS

The next P&F Meeting will be held at 7pm in the School Library on Monday 11 March 2019. The 2019 fundraising events will be finalised. Please feel free to come along. If you have any suggestions prior to the meeting feel free to talk to one of the committee members prior to this date. 

Easter Raffle

The infamous Easter Raffle will be running again. This year we are asking all GSFM Families to donate 1 Easter item (chocolate, soft toy, basket, etc) for the raffle. The raffle will be drawn on the last day of term, Friday 12 April 2019. Raffle tickets are $1.00 each, with a book of 10 being sent home for each family to sell.

A note and raffle tickets will be coming home this week.

Please click on link to view the Holy Spirit Open Day Flyer.

Holy Spirit Open Day.pdf