Dear Parents and Carers,

Term 2 is already upon us and as we head into the term we keep in mind the Easter message of the Resurrection.  With the current COVID-19 situation we have had to learn to adapt in a whole new way.  Our family lives are being transformed and there seems to be so much that is beyond our control as individuals, families and community.

With this can come a level of suffering - the longing to be with family who may be vulnerable; missing the opportunities that would usually accompany the Easter holidays; not remembering the ANZACS with the usual parades and gatherings.  With all the suffering our faith holds us to the knowledge that there will be a Resurrection - through suffering is born new life.

Richard Rohr (an American theologian) writes:

Suffering, of course, can lead us in one of two directions. It can make us very bitter and close us down, or it can make us wise, compassionate, and utterly open. Our hearts open either because they have been softened, or perhaps because suffering makes us feel like we have nothing more to lose. It often takes us to the edge of our inner resources where we “fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Let us all pray for the grace of this second path of softening and opening.

As I reflect on what we are facing as a school community entering Term 2 - taking into account the many opinions, directives and conversations from government, social media and regular media channels - everyone seems to have something to say about what schools should or shouldn’t be doing.  I have come to further believe that schools play an incredibly powerful role in our society at large.  Schools are the bedrock of our society.  Without schools, society finds itself in a very difficult position when trying to operate effectively.

The staff of Good Samaritan have worked extremely hard in the movement to remote learning.  The needs of the students have been forefront in everyone’s minds. The concern that has been displayed for you, as parents and carers, who have to take on the role of supervising school work has been paramount in our planning and thinking.  I could not be more proud of the Good Samaritan staff and their work in this period.

I introduce to you today the Good Samaritan Learning Hub.  This hub will become the school environment in Term 2.  It will work to support you and the students navigate your way through remote learning or doing school at home.  The hub aims to be your ‘one stop shop’ for all that you’ll need.  It will be where students ‘check in’ each day so the roll can be marked.  It will direct you to the learning platforms of SeeSaw and Google classrooms.  It will house a series of short videos to help you find what you need. 

Below I introduce you to the Good Samaritan Learning Hub.

Although the term will be different, I am looking forward to all the learning that will be done by our students, staff and families. We’re all Ready to Learn!

As we journey together with the Resurrected Christ in this Easter season,

Toni Sillis

Principal

The Good Samaritan Learning Hub

By clicking here you will be able to access the Good Samaritan Learning Hub. This hub is our online community environment as we enter Term 2.

GSFM Online Assemblies:

Good Samaritan will continue to host online assemblies each fortnight.  These will aim to involve students and families as much as possible.  They will also act as one way to remain socially together as a faith and learning community.  Our first online assembly will be posted on the Learning Hub on Monday morning.  I invite you to watch the assembly with your child.

Remote Learning - Mode of Delivery:

This week you received information about the planning going forward for remote learning.  The following is an extract as a reminder of what the first two weeks of Term 2 will look like.

• Term 2 will begin on Monday 27 April 2020. There will be no staff development days in the first week of Term 2. Remote learning will commence from Monday 27 April 2020.
• There will be no change in the first two weeks of Term 2. Remote learning will continue as it did in the final weeks of Term 1.
• Students are still encouraged to access remote learning from home. Where students are able to stay home they are encouraged to do so. 
• The school remains open for students who need to attend. Supervision will continue to be provided for students unable to stay home. The education experience will be the same whether students are at home or at school

There is only one mode of delivery of learning throughout these first two weeks which is online.  Students who attend school will have face to face supervision of the same work that students who are accessing learning from home are completing. It is important to note that there is a difference between face to face supervision and face to face teaching.  The supervision at school is conducted by both School Support Officers and classroom teachers.

Attendance Daily Roll Marking

As remote learning continues in Term 2 we will be using a variety of strategies to track and monitor student attendance. 

 What you need to know:

• Students who are engaging in remote learning must check-in with their Class Teacher every school day before 3pm and will be marked as ‘Flexible’ with the notation that they are accessing remote learning. Students are to check-in via our school's Learning Hub. "Flexible" attendance does not count as an absence on your student's report.
• Students who are physically present at school will be marked ‘present’, this is indicated by a green dot under their photograph on the Compass app.
• Students who engage with remote learning will be marked ‘flexible’, this is indicated by a blue dot under their photograph on the Compass app.
• Students will be marked flexible when they have checked in on the GSFM Learning Hub. Instructions on how to do this can be viewed under the 'General' tab on the hub.
• If a student has not arrived on site OR engaged with remote learning they will be marked as ‘absent’. This is indicated with a red dot under their photograph in the Compass app.
• You will then receive a text message from the school to indicate your child was absent. You will need to contact the school to either confirm they were engaged with remote learning, unwell and unable to learn or absent for another valid reason.

If you have any questions or concerns, or require support accessing the Compass app please contact the school office.

How are the teachers working?

Not all teachers will be on site during the first two weeks of school. The teachers will be working on a rotational roster with some working on site and some working remotely.  Teachers will be maintaining physical distancing and essential hygiene throughout the day.  The health and safety of all our school staff is of paramount importance.

Professional Planning Time for Teachers:

Teachers work under the structure of an Enterprise Agreement that includes a number of entitlements.  One of these is the engagement in Profession Planning Time (PPT) where they are released from class to carry out other professional responsibilities.  Each full time teacher is entitled to the equivalent of 2 hours PPT each week, or a pro-rata there of for part time teachers. In this time of remote learning throughout weeks 1&2 all teaching staff will take their PPT from 1pm - 3pm each Wednesday.  Therefore teachers will not be available at this time.

Are parents allowed on the school site at drop off & pick up?

At this time we ask that parents do not enter the school site. Students physically attending school will be welcomed each morning, and farewelled each afternoon, at the gates by staff members.  Car line drop off and pick up is still available and is recommended as the safest physical distancing option.