Thank You to all our parents and carers who have committed and supported the remote learning environment as we begin Term 2. This has been a huge shift in strategy and thinking for our school staff.

This type of learning has increased  the workload of our teaching staff. The level of organisation and time that goes into producing the learning plans for students to complete and parents to supervise is far greater than what is done in a face-to-face learning environment.

We very much appreciate the patience and understanding of our parent community as we work to provide learning continuity to our students. #teachersrock

Moving towards a Phased Transition Back to School

As we begin to move towards the organisation of the phased return to school for students, it is important to communicate with you that the workflow of the teachers will change as we progress through the phases. In the movement to face to face teaching there will be a decrease in the availability of a teacher's time in the online environment. We are currently considering how we can best manage the delivery of learning during this time.

It is very important for all to understand that Good Samaritan operates based on the needs presented in our community. This may look different to other schools as they respond to the needs of their community. We are bound by a common set of principles of operation based on Federal, State and Catholic Education mandates so our response may look different across schools. Therefore, comparing schools and their actions is not productive nor supportive for schools in achieving the best for the students we all serve.

Remote Learning - Mode of Delivery:

Throughout the first two weeks of Term 2 there is only one mode of delivery of learning 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. The teachers supervising your child/ren may not necessarily be your child’s regular classroom teacher.

Increased Cleaning Measures & Closure of Bubblers

At Good Samaritan we are increasing cleaning measures with all hard high touch surfaces being cleaned daily. In addition, bubblers are now closed so students attending school onsite need to bring a water bottle to be refilled throughout the day.

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 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 from each other and students and practising 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.

The Value for Weeks 1&2 are:  

Kindness & Compassion     

How do we know if we have been kind & compassionate?

We can:

• name our own personal strengths and qualities
• use kind words and actions - like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. 
• do a job or a task that helps someone out in your family