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Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,
Tomorrow is the Feast of Hildegard of Bingen, a Benedictine abbess of the twelfth century who was a scholar, a counselor, a mystic, and a preacher. She was deeply involved in the social issues of her culture and all the major figures of her time. Popes and kings alike corresponded with her, seeking her ideas and her advice. She published the only medical encyclopedias of her day and her ‘Illuminations,’ or theological insights, have become as popular in this decade as in her own. She was a woman of her time and a woman for her time. She poured herself out all her life. She was a truly humble woman who knew her gifts and developed them to the benefit of all of us.
Hildegard was a doctor of the Church, a patron of music and medicine. Within the walls of the cloister where she lived, she cared for the spiritual and material well-being of her sisters, fostering in a special way community life, culture and the liturgy. In the outside world she devoted herself actively to strengthening the Christian faith and reinforcing religious practice.
As our Year 6 students continue to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation, it is saints such as Hildegard who reinforce to us in our modern context how deep devotion to God can sustain us in times of difficulty. As we continue to work together as a school community through this strange period of time, let’s always take a moment for prayer. Hildegard’s prayer to the Spirit may be just what we need at this time:
Holy Spirit,
Comforting fire,
Life of all creation.
Anointing the sick, cleansing body and soul,
Fill this body!
Holy Spirit,
Sacred breath, Fire of love,
Sweetest taste, Beautiful aroma,
Fill this heart!
Holy Spirit,
Filling the world,
from the heights to the deep,
Raining from clouds, filling rivers and sea,
Fill this mind!
Holy Spirit,
Forgiving and giving,
uniting strangers, reconciling enemies,
Seeking the lost, and enfolding us together,
Fill these gathered here!
Holy Spirit,
Bringing light into dark places, igniting praise,
Greatest gift, our Hope and Encourager,
Holy Spirit of Christ,
I praise you!
Amen
Enjoy the week ahead, as we journey together with Jesus,
Toni Sillis
Principal
OOSHIES:
The current OOSHIE craze has come to the school yard! Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions and the fact that many students are becoming upset when trading their OOSHIES and not realising that trading means they don’t get it back, we ask that all OOSHIES stay home.
Year 6 Parents - Get Set for High School!
This workshop has been postponed due to the current restrictions of presenters coming onto the school site. We have rescheduled for Wednesday 25 November. A webinar link will be distributed to parents. This will be available for a period of time for you to participate in.
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 has been highlighting some of these resources. This week focuses on:
Moving from Primary to High School: How you can help your child make the transition
Supporting Student Learning: Replenishing Equipment for the New School Term
As we approach the upcoming holidays parents are asked to ensure that their child’s pencil case and school supplies are replenished. Having everything at their fingertips each day aids in the learning process allowing children to focus on the task at hand rather than worrying about not having the equipment to complete the task.
Also, as we approach Term 4 it is important that the students continue to wear full school uniform until the end of the year. It may be a good idea to check your child’s uniform, including school hat, school shoes and joggers, to make sure that they will all ‘last the distance’. This is particularly important for Year 6 students.
Parent Action: Check that your child’s school equipment is replenished. Make sure that students’ equipment and uniform are clearly labelled.
CatholicCare School Pastoral Support Worker:
Good Samaritan has enjoyed the support of Pastoral Support Workers for several years. This term Mr Greg Daniels worked with staff and students of our school. It is bittersweet to advise that Mr Daniels has decided to undertake another line of employment and will not be continuing at Good Samaritan. I thank Mr Daniels very much for the work he did whilst at our school.
Why have a school newsletter?
The school newsletter/bulletin is the major form of consistent communication between the school and parents/carers. The newsletter is the means by which the school acknowledges all that is done within classrooms at the grade, class or individual level, on playgrounds and within the community.
It is also an opportunity for me, as Principal, to reflect on our community and how we can work toward further improving all that we do. As a Catholic school principal it is most important that this is done within the context of our faith, hence the references that are written to the Sunday Mass readings, theological reflections or information about spirituality. This is one aspect that works toward to keeping our charism as a Catholic school alive.
The newsletter is the place from which the school is able to ensure that parents, and the community, have a good understanding of the processes and procedures of the school. This is done through reminders, excerpts from the School Handbook, publication of School Policies etc. Some may feel that this is unnecessary but in any school it is most important that we maintain as much consistency as possible. This helps to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all within the school.
For some parents the newsletter is the only contact that they have with the school. This may be due to work commitments or to family/personal circumstances so the newsletter has to cover a wide audience hence, some parents may feel that certain aspects of the newsletter may not be needed or be relevant. However, they may just be aspects that are of great relevance to another parent or family.
I continue to encourage parents to read the newsletter regularly to know what is happening within the school.
The Value for this week is:
Gratitude
We can do this by:
- Being thankful for the little things in life
- Showing gratitude for God’s creation
- Being thankful for the things that we have
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.
Friday 25 September
- Last Day Term 3
Monday 12 October
- First Day-Term 4
Monday 19-23 October
- Book Week CelebrationsTBC