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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
Last Friday the children began a Peer Support Program that is aimed to build upon the work previously done with the Bounce Back! program last term.The PDHPE aspects being developed are interpersonal and self-management skills.
The Peer Support program was led by our Year 6 students and saw the children organised into groups from across the school. The focus was on Bad feelings go away again. The children were led through a Guided Christian Meditation, they explored the Zones of Regulation together and listened to the focus story of Rosie & Roo. The groups also had the opportunity to talk about a time when they had a bad feeling that went away and they were able to Bounce Back! again.
The Zones of Regulation are used to teach children self-regulation and emotional control. Whilst the zones are regularly taught in schools they are also appropriate for parents to teach at home, too.
The feedback from the children was terrific.
Many enjoyed being with students other than those of their own cohort. Many more are looking forward to the next session this Friday that will focus on Other people can help if you let them.
Have a great week as we journey together, with Jesus.
Toni Sillis
Principal
SAVE THE DATE!
Staff Development Day:
Good Samaritan staff will be participating in a staff professional development day on
Friday 11 September.
This is a student free day that was previously postponed due to the COVID-19 remote learning period. Students will not attend school on this day.
Throughout this day teachers will engage with the new PDHPE syllabus with particular emphasis on the Social Emotional wellbeing of students.
The Gonski Institute for Education:
The Gonski Institute for Education operates out of the University of NSW faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The core mission of the institute is to address the inequity experienced in education across Australia. In doing this the institute is able to act as a key enabler and powerful voice of change.
One of the recent resources presented by the institute is for Parents and Caregivers. Throughout Term 3 our school newsletter will highlight some of these resources. This week focuses on:
How to Help Your Child Grow Up in a Digital World
We are raising our children in an age of a generational shift. Earlier this year the Royal Children’s Hospital Child Health Poll in Melbourne revealed that 94 percent of teenagers, 36 percent of primary children, and 36 percent pre-schoolers have their own screen-based device. According to our recent poll, 92 per cent of parents believe that access to smartphones has reduced the time children have for daily physical activity and free outdoor play. This has us very concerned, and working hard to be the catalyst for change in Australian homes and classrooms
The attached guide talks about the research and also what parents can do to support children growing up in today’s digital world.
Year 6 Parents - CLAIM THE DATE!
As an important part of their preparation for moving to high school, the Year 6 children will take part in the ‘Get Set For High School’ workshop on Wednesday 16 September. This will be facilitated by Jenny Atkinson. Jenny has 30 years’ teaching experience and is the author of the award winning book for parents, ‘High School Rocks: Make Starting High School An Awesome Experience.’
The activities focus on how high school works, coping with change, getting organised and developing essential skills for handling the high school workload. During this interactive program, Jenny Atkinson helps take the ‘unknown’ out of moving to high school so that the children are more prepared and confident to manage this important transition.
Following the student workshops, Jenny will make available a webinar for Year 6 parents, ‘How to Help Your Child Cope With High School’. (Pre-COVID Jenny conducted a parent workshop evening) In the webinar Jenny will explain the challenges children face in adjusting to high school and you will take home practical strategies for supporting your child. Some of the issues covered include: supporting your child through their transition, navigating technology and cybersafety, managing the increased homework load, getting organised and dealing with changing friendships.
Year 6 Parent Action: You will have access to the webinar for a fortnight following the student workshops on Wednesday 16 September.
Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection:
(Mark Twain)
Thank you to all those parents who were able to share their thoughts through the Google form. These responses will work to give us valuable insight into how we can improve our School-Parent partnership. It is only when the family and school develop an understanding for one another that we can work to do what is best for each of the children.
The staff will take some time to review the thoughts of parents and correlate with our own reflections on the experience of remote learning. I am sure we will see many similarities!
Bus Travel
Transport NSW has a complete set of Guidelines for managing school students behaviour on buses. These guidelines unpack the Code of Conduct responsibilities of students, parents and school principals in relation to bus behaviour. The guidelines also indicate the consequences for a breach of the Code of Conduct.
For your information, the following is taken from section 2 of the Guidelines - Student Code of Conduct.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS ON BUSES
It is every student's responsibility to behave in a manner that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers. This includes:
Behaviour on buses:
- Use appropriate language not offensive or racist language
- Fighting, spitting, feet on seats, throwing things in or from the bus is not permitted
- No eating or drinking (other than water) — unless for medical reasons or the bus operator gives written permission
- Offer seats to adults including people with a disability, elderly or expectant mothers
- Do not touch, push or shove other people
- Do not bully or harass other passengers or the driver. This includes photographing, making lewd or suggestive comments, acting in a manner or participating in activities that may be deemed inappropriate or of a sexual nature.
- Avoid attracting the attention of the driver except in the case of emergency
- Do not play music at such volume that it may distract the bus driver or other passengers.
Parent Action: If your child/ren catches a bus to or from school please familiarise yourself with these guidelines and speak to your child/ren about their responsibilities on the buses.
Confirmation 2020
Confirmations will take place during the first week of November, 2020 at SJV Fairy Meadow. (Dates to be confirmed ASAP)
Enrolments: Saturday August 22nd, 2020- 9am-1pm- ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL - 36 Harbour Street, Wollongong.
Enrolment forms will be sent via Compass. A copy of your child’s birth certificate must be supplied with the enrolment form and $30 (cash or EFTPOS). Enrolments close on Wednesday 26th at 1pm. Please call the Cathedral Office (Phone: (02) 4228 6511) if you can’t make the enrolment day. No enrolments/payments will be taken via school.
Confirmation Sessions:
Session 1: Wed 2/9/20 or Thurs 3/9 6pm (45mins)
Session 2: Wed 9/9/20 or Thurs 10/9 6pm (45mins)
Session 3 Wed 16/9/20 or Thurs 17/9 6pm (45mins)
Session 4: Wed 23/9/20 or Thurs 24/9 6pm (45mins)
Sessions will be strictly one student and one parent (no siblings etc). Sessions will be at SJV, Fairy Meadow.
The Value for this week is:
INCLUSION:
I can demonstrate INCLUSION by:
- Being a welcoming class/school member
- Including others in games and activities
- Accepting others’ differences and cultures
Book Club
Scholastic Book Club orders will close Friday, 21st August. The books will then arrive a week or two after. Thank you to those who use this service as it helps boost our library collection and keep it fresh with up-to-date titles.
Mrs Cook’s pick from this month’s Book Club is The Glimme by Emily Rodda and Three by Stephen Michael King.
Canteen will only be open on Wednesdays Thursdays & Fridays until further notice
Canteen will be open for breakfast from 8.20am Wednesdays,Thurdays & Fridays Term 3
In order to manage the physical distancing requirements, parents will continue to make appointments at the uniform shop to purchase uniforms.
This can be done through the Compass.
If you would like to place an order with the uniform shop an order form has been added to the school website under parents/uniform.
Please complete the form and return with payment to the school office.
These orders will be filled on uniform shop days.
TUESDAY 18 August will be the make up day for School Photos.
All students who were absent Tuesday 4 August are able to have their photo taken on this day.
(FULL WINTER UNIFORM TO BE WORN)
Tuesday 18 August
- Make up day for School Photos (Full winter school uniform to be worn)
Monday 24 August
- Premier Reading Challenge Due
Friday 4 September
- Father's Day Stall & PrayerTBC
Friday 11 September
- Pupil Free Day(Staff Developement)
Friday 11 September
- Walk Safely to School Day 2020
Friday 25 September
- Last Day Term 3
Monday 12 October
- First Day-Term 4
Monday 19-23 October
- Book Week Celebrations
Friday 6 November
- Grandparent's & Great Friends Day Liturgy & Open Day