Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

Over the coming weeks the students will engage in a program called Bounce Back! This program particularly focuses on wellbeing and resilience. Below is a short introduction to the program. Each week I will highlight an aspect of the program and how you can reinforce these important wellbeing concepts at home.

What is Resilience?                                                     

If you are resilient you are able to cope reasonably well with difficult situations and things that go wrong and then ‘bounce back’. Throughout life children will need skills and attitudes to help them to bounce back. They will encounter everyday challenges such as making mistakes, falling out with a friend, moving house or school and losing in a sports competition. Many will also face challenges such as adapting to family breakdowns, a step-family, the illness or death of a family member, or being bullied. The BOUNCE BACK! Wellbeing and Resilience program teaches children the skills and attitudes to help them become more resilient. It uses literature as a starting point for discussions and follow-up activities. These ten coping statements are a core part of the program. 

BOUNCE BACK! stands for:

The program can help your child to get better at:

• Using helpful thinking when faced with a problem or a difficult situation

• Thinking more optimistically, i.e. expecting bad times to get better

• Understanding that everyone has setbacks and difficulties, not just them

• Talking to people they trust so they get a reality check on their thinking

• Being brave and facing their fears

• Managing strong emotions and turning a bad mood into a good mood

• Getting along with others and cooperating

• Setting goals, being resourceful and not easily giving up

• Being kind, fair, honest, friendly, responsible, and accepting of differences

• Respecting other people and not bullying others.

As a parent you can help your child get the best out of their involvement with Bounce Back! by reinforcing the key messages they are learning.

Until next week, as we journey together with Jesus,

Toni Sillis 

Principal

Semester One - Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher interviews will take place throughout week 10. With the current restrictions of numbers of people on site it has been decided that teachers will be released from class for one day to conduct telephone interviews with parents. Interviews will be for 10 minutes and will take a future focus on learning for each child. Teachers will reference the remote learning period and also make comments on observations and learning engagement since returning to school for face to face learning.

Parents will receive a Compass invitation to select a time to receive the telephone call from their child’s teacher. Good Samaritan Amaroo parents will be contacted by Mrs Huska and Learning Support Centre parents will be contacted by Mrs Hennessy to organise an interview time.

From the eSafety Commissioner

Now that restrictions are being slowly lifted, it is time to also think about how children are using technology by recognising habits that may have developed in remote learning or by not socialising face to face.

This article outlines 6 Online Safety tips for parents and carers to be aware of as we start to come into the ‘new normal’. These tips include:

• Stay connected with friends
• Manage your mental health in and out of COVID lockdown
• Know how to deal with cyberbullying
• Don’t fall for fake news
• Balance your time online
• Be cautious about online relationship

Celebrating birthdays at school              

Birthdays are an important part of a child’s life and having an opportunity to recognise their birthday with their school friends is exciting. Treats to share are allowed however they must be wrapped so a ‘Freddo’ frog or similar is encouraged. The sharing of food such as cupcakes and lolly bags is not allowed, particularly in this period of COVID-19.

Parents are also reminded that some students have life threatening food allergies and it is always good practice to contact the class teacher before providing such treats for the class.

Dear Good Samaritans,     

This Sunday 14 June marks the beginning of Refugee Week.

Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. 

Originally celebrated in 1986, Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day (20 June).

Refugee Week is a unique opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich diversity of refugee communities through theatre, music, dance, film and other events which take place all over Australia and highlight the aims of the Week which are:

• to educate the Australian public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia

• to help people understand the many challenges refugees face coming to Australia

• to celebrate the contribution Refugees make to our community

• to focus on how the community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees

• for community groups and individuals to do something positive for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people, within Australia but also around the world 

• for service providers to reflect on whether they are providing the best possible services to refugees

For more information, prayers and resources please check out the following websites:

The Value for this week is:                                                                     

RESPONSIBILITY:

I can demonstrate RESPONSIBILITY by:

• Caring for the school environment
• Caring for personal belongings
• Being accountable for my own actions 
• Regularly washing hands and being mindful of keeping my social distance

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