Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the last week we welcomed our students back for their Focus Day joining those who have been attending more regularly throughout the week. It was so good to be able to see them again. The noise and the atmosphere of the school became vibrant and alive with laughter, movement and friendships.

I watched the children enter the school some with trepidation, some nonchalant and others with great excitement. A couple of Year 6 girls, who would usually run and hug each other, ran over to each other and started waving their arms about as indicating how excited they were to see each other!

I feel that the message from Premier Gladys Berejiklian about NSW citizens exercising caution and heeding the requirements of the restrictions reflects our own school community commitment. Together we are making sure that we minimise any risk to our students, staff and parents. This week I share with you a song released in New Zealand as students returned to school. It’s a great way to help the children understand what they need to do to keep social distancing and hygiene front of mind. The teachers will be sharing this with the children this week and it is also posted on the Learning Hub.

As we continue to work within the parameters of Phase 1, the regular timeline of the year continues. Over the last 2 weeks, Mrs Smithers and I have been conducting Kindergarten 2021 enrolment interviews. This is always an exciting time for families and for our school. It has been wonderful to welcome new families, along with siblings, to the school. This period is so important as it is the beginning of such an important relationship between home and school.

The staff of Good Samaritan are most grateful for the continued support of our parent community as we work our way through Phase 1 of the return to school.

As we journey together, with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal

Uniform:      

Generally,following Mother’s Day Winter uniforms may begin to be worn.As usual a ‘grace’ period is given as we adjust to the cooler weather.Therefore,depending upon the weather each day students may wear either Summer or Winter uniforms this week and next. 

From Monday 25 May all students must wear Winter uniforms.

Students attending one day (Focus Day)

• wear sports uniform

Students attending all week:

• wear sports uniforms on their nominated ‘Focus Day’ & Fridays. School uniform (Winter or Summer based on weather) to be worn for remainder of the week

Uniform Shop:                                                                                                                                   

In order to manage the physical distancing requirements, parents must make an appointment at the uniform shop to purchase uniforms. This can be done through the Compass.

Reminder about Haircuts:

FROM THE SCHOOL HANDBOOK

HAIR 

Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner. Haircuts should be of an even grade. Hair should be well brushed and combed and it is assumed that hair will not be in such a condition as to invite comment.

BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Extreme styles, bleaching, colouring or dyeing of hair are not permitted.
• Gel, mousse and hair spray or other substances should not be used. 
• There will be no undercuts, steps or shaved lines within the hair.
• Nothing shorter than a Number 3 comb is acceptable.
• Hair should not extend to cover the eyes.
• Students who do not abide by the haircut requirements will be asked to fix the identified problem.
• Long hair is to be tied back or plaited. 

Ribbons and bands of school colour are to be worn.

Reminder about school shoes & sports joggers:

FROM THE SCHOOL HANDBOOK

SHOES AND SOCKS

• Students are required to wear black leather school shoes.
• Shoes should be cleaned and polished.
• Sports shoes should be supportive, predominantly white sport shoes. Shoes such as indoor soccer boots, are not permitted.
• Sports socks must be white GSFM socks i.e. covering the ankle. ‘Sockettes’ are not appropriate for school wear.

Students will be reminded as we phase back into school of the correct uniform, including haircuts and hair colouring. Whilst the enforcement of the correct uniform and appropriate haircuts may appear trivial in times such as these - it is the little things that will help us to return to a sense of ‘normal’ school routines. Parent support of the uniform policy is appreciated.

Drop Off & Dismissal

Car lines remain the safest and most efficient way to drop off and pick up students. Afternoon car lines will begin at 2:40pm in order for us to be able to maintain physical distancing.

Parents are asked not to enter the school grounds. Drop off is at Cabbage Tree Lane gate, McGrath St gate or car lines. Staff will be at the gates to greet the students. 

Please do not gather and maintain physical distance at all times.

IMPORTANT PARENT PICK UP ACTION FROM McGRATH ST GATE:

In order to maintain safety and physical distancing parents are asked to:

• wait in Cram Park for students (i.e: park on corner of Cabbage Tree Lane and McGrath St)
• students will be supervised to cross the road safely with duty teachers
• students will be dismissed in Cram Park

Please see below our morning and afternoon procedures and expectations:

Correction: Apologies for the confusion created in last week’s newsletter which confused the street names and procedures. This week’s information is correct.

Cleaning & Hygiene:                                           

Good Samaritan, with the support of Catholic Education, has extended the cleaning contract to include regular cleaning of high touch (by multiple people) surfaces, toilets and handwashing sinks throughout the school day.

In addition, the class timetables include handwashing and regular hand sanitising.

All bubblers have been closed. Students must bring their own water bottle that is able to be refilled throughout the school day.

Week 4 Learning Plans:                 

Teachers will continue to provide learning plans for 4 days each week and a 5th day of ‘Must Do’/’Can Do’ options. The 5th day will also be an opportunity for ‘catch-up’. Please keep in mind that students will not complete all of the learning plan on their ‘Focus Day’. Teachers will nominate one (1) piece of work that will receive feedback (marking) each day. Other work that is submitted i.e: posted on Google classroom or SeeSaw, will be sighted by the teacher. Learning plans will continue to be uploaded the afternoon prior allowing for parents to organise the learning at home.

The ‘Focus Day’ for each class will give priority to student well being whilst also providing instruction for various parts of the remote learning plan. This will also be an opportunity for the teacher to clarify any misconceptions that students may have with the concepts of the remote learning plan.

Progression through the phases of return to school:

As we begin the phasing of full time return to school, face to face teaching will begin again when the majority of students are able to return to school. This is always dependent upon direction from the State Government and Catholic Schools NSW. 

It is important to note that when this occurs teachers will return to this mode of teaching. At no point will teachers be delivering two modes of learning i.e: remote and face to face.

Expression of Interest - Vacation Care July School Holidays

CatholicCare are committed to supporting children and families as the government and community moves to the recovery phase of the COVID-19 health crisis. We ask families to please complete the vacation care survey to assist in our planning to provide services to your family and school community for the July school holidays. We anticipate to operate a vacation care program at two locations in the Illawarra. Your feedback is crucial to ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of our valued children and families. 

Please note the survey will close by: Tuesday Evening 19th of May.

The Unexpected Benefits of Learning in Lockdown

This period of time in history has the potential to create a new and exciting way to view education from what we are understanding about enhancing the learning of our students. Professor Pasi Sahlberg is a leader in educational thinking and is a former teacher and leader from Finland. Finland leads the world in  their results of student learning. Click here to read his latest article for parents about learning in lockdown and the benefits that we may not be thinking about.

Canteen:

Beginning this week we welcome FRESH START CANTEENS to Good Samaritan. Fresh Start will operate every Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday until the school is in full operation again. The Fresh Start Canteen Menu is attached.

 

The Value for this week is: 

Respect

How can we be respectful when we are learning from home?

• Always aim to do our best work while working from home
• Start our lessons each day on time
• Listen to our parents/carers and follow the house rules and routines

How can we be respectful on the internet?

Students who are respectful on the internet: 

• act in a way that takes into consideration other people’s feelings and wellbeing
• are courteous, showing empathy and acting with dignity
• have self-respect and only engage in online behaviours that are helpful, useful and have a positive impact on their online reputation
• shows respect by accepting individual differences, presenting opinions calmly and agreeing to disagree