Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

I find it difficult to describe the absolute delight that I feel about having the students back at school. Each morning I stop on my way to school for a coffee, a small daily indulgence! On Tuesday morning the coffee man said, ‘You are much happier now the kids are back!’ I got back into my car and started to think he is so right! It has been wonderful to be with them face to face, to see all their personalities and to hear their ‘learning from home’ experiences.

As we return to school we are experiencing what is being termed the ‘new normal’. There is much to take away from the school and education experiences we have had over the past months and what we will continue to have in our homes as restrictions start to ease and society begins to get used to a new way of being. 

On Monday, I spoke to all our children in their classes to gain some insight from the children as to what they considered as positive and what they found challenged them learning from home. One common theme that came out for many children was being at home and having more time with ‘mum and dad’ or ‘with my family’. This highlighted the importance that children place on the security of parental support and love. It also highlighted the need for us as adults to be fully present in the moment.

Being overwhelmed, as many of us have been, by what has gone on and what we continue to see and hear in the media, is common. We begin to worry about the future - about what has been lost or what we may lose. It’s so important to come back to the present moment. I can’t control tomorrow until it comes, so I need to be present to today.

Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher and author, says that when we experience adversity in our lives it becomes more important to be in the present moment. When we suffer we need to move our attention to what is happening now - to the present - and the situation is not unbearable. He goes on to say that it’s okay and we can accept this moment as it is. He guides us to go even deeper and look at all we are grateful for.

My gratitude goes to you, our parents. Your support over the course of learning from home has been extraordinary. The teachers certainly worked incredibly hard to get the learning to you but you carried it through. You coped with this whilst also running a household, working from home or working at work. You gave all that you could to your children throughout this time in a way that you haven’t had to before and for that I am truly grateful.

It is known in educational research that the one of the greatest impacts on student learning is the partnership between school and home. Neither of us could have worked without the other - our partnership was nourished and our trust in each other strengthened. Together, this demonstrated respect for our role as educators and yours as parents as well as a positive and hope-filled attitude that is evident in the children as they came back to school.

I read this poem and thought of you…

A Poem For Our Families

You stepped in when times were tough,

When things were uncertain and very rough. 

When we couldn’t have our classes with us, 

You connected them from home without a fuss. 

You supported your children to learn and grow,

Sometimes it was hard, this we know.

We loved working hand in hand,

To help your child understand.

Now it’s time to return to school,

We have missed seeing their smiling faces, 

And hearing learning happening in our classroom spaces.

Although, it is our turn again,

We don’t want the collaboration to end.

We know working with you is the best,

Now we are tagging in, it’s your time to rest.

Thank you, families, for all you’ve done.

You really are number one!

(Kylie Youkhana)

With thanks and gratitude as we journey, together, with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal

Afternoon Car Lines:

Yesterday afternoon a Police officer approached school staff and myself concerned about the congestion car lines are creating in Cabbage Tree Lane and the Princes Highway. Whilst it was acknowledged that the school was managing the dismissal process as best as possible given the current requirements, I do ask that parents follow the following directions:

• Car lines begin at 2:40pm
• Car lines will conclude at 3:15pm or when all students have been collected

• No right turn out of the Parish carpark

• No right turn into the Parish carpark

• Make your family name card clearly visible to supervising staff
• Do not block intersections - continue on around the block
• Reinforce to your children to sit together with their siblings as directed by the supervising teachers
• Reinforce to your children to listen for their name
• Remain alert - mobile phone use whilst driving is illegal

Students need to be able to get into the car, close the door and do their own seat belt up. If your child cannot do this independently please use Cram Park parent pick up.

Thank you to parents who are picking up children in Cram Park and remembering the importance of social distancing and allowing staff to get the students across the road safely.

Car Line Family Signs:

This week each family will receive a car line sign to keep in your car. This will assist supervising staff to be able to clearly see family names when calling students to the cars. We appreciate your support in having the sign ready for staff each afternoon.

McGrath St Carpark:

The McGrath St carpark (back carpark) has become increasingly busy over the course of time. This is now presenting as unsafe to staff, students and parents. 

Parents of students in Amaroo are eligible to park in this carpark in the morning and afternoon. A family name card has been issued and will be displayed on the dashboards of cars. School Support officers and OOSH supervisors are also eligible to park in this space.

All other families are asked to complete the appropriate paperwork, available through the school office, in order to obtain permission to park here. A family name card will be issued and will need to be displayed on the dashboard of the parked vehicle.

Thank you for helping keep our school safe for all students, staff and parents.

School Drop Off:

Thank you to all our parents for your co-operation with morning drop off and afternoon dismissal. Please remember that school supervision does not begin until 8:20am each morning.

Winter Uniforms:

It is great to see so many students wearing the correct Winter uniform - many thanks to parents for ensuring students are in the correct uniform. As the weather becomes colder, more layers may be required under the uniform. Singlets and navy blue long sleeved T-Shirts can be worn under the sports uniform T-Shirt with the sports jacket as the outer layer. Jackets, other than the Good Samaritan sports jacket, are not a part of the school uniform and are not to be worn. 

A reminder that students will be prompted about 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.

Semester One Reports:

Reporting in Semester One will be in the form of a written interim report. This report is designed to reflect the engagement in learning that has been undertaken during classroom and remote learning over the course of the semester.

It is important to note that the interim report is not a progress report or a report on achievement. Therefore, grades will not be allocated. The reason for this is that given the modes of learning that have had to occur valid assessment of student progress has been challenged.

Due to the nature of this type of reporting, grade distribution or placement of students’ level of achievement across the class/grade, will not be available.

Teachers will report on student effort and engagement in the three Key Learning Areas of Religious Education, English and Mathematics. The interim report will be distributed to parents on Friday 26 June and supported by a parent teacher interview in week 10 (29 June - 3 July). 

Further information regarding the organisation of parent teacher interviews will be distributed in the coming weeks. The approach to these reports (i.e: face to face or phone) will be dependent upon the level of social restrictions predicted for communities at that point in time.

Curriculum Delivery:

Remote Learning, or Learning from Home, has now ceased. All learning is face to face at school.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has allowed flexibility with the delivery of the curriculum (syllabus) throughout the remainder of Term 2. Therefore, Good Samaritan will concentrate on the delivery of Religious Education, English, Mathematics and PDHPE – particularly the strands of Health, Wellbeing & Relationships; Movement, Skill & Performance.

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.

If you need to cancel an appointment with the Uniform Shop please do so through Compass or phone the school office and the cancellation or rescheduling can be done for you.

Canteen:

FRESH START CANTEENS  have begun to operate at Good Samaritan. Fresh Start will now operate each day.

The Canteen will not be open before school.

Check out the new GSFM website!

After many months of input, drafting and re-drafting our new GSFM website went live this week. Head over to the link below check it out. It would be great to get some anecdotal feedback as well. We will continue to improve and update the site with all school information.

Congratulations!  

Congratulations to Mrs Tessa Robertson (Amaroo Gold) who welcomed her baby boy, Joel Lindsay Robertson, on Monday 18 May weighing 3.14kg (6.9pounds) and is 51cm. 

Such wonderful news to share!

Keeping Safe Around School Crossings:  

Safety on and around the streets is so important. Cabbage Tree Lane is manned by a crossing supervisor each morning and afternoon. Parents are asked to remind students to stay on the kerb until the crossing supervisor indicates that it is safe to cross.

Pentecost Sunday 31 May

PENTECOST REFLECTION 

This Sunday the Church throughout the world will celebrate Pentecost Sunday commemorating the day when the Holy Spirit first descended upon the disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem. The following prayer is a way of reflecting on the meaning of Pentecost and its relevance for us here today:

Come, Holy Spirit of Pentecost
Come, Holy Spirit of the Great South Land.
O God, bless and unite all your people in Australia and guide us on the pilgrim way.
Give us the grace to see your face in one another and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road. Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth.
Give us ears to listen humbly to each other and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying. Lead your Church into a hope-filled future, that we may live the joy of the Gospel.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey from age to age.
Amen.

The Value for this week is:

COLLABORATION:

I can demonstrate COLLABORATION by:

• Being a willing and consistent helper
• Working well with others
• Contributing one's talents to the welfare of the group

Tuesday 4 August

• School Photos -WINTER UNIFORM TO BE WORN 

Friday 4 September 

• Father's Day Breakfast 

Friday 6 November 

• Grandparent's & Great Friends Day Liturgy & Open Day