Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

As we come to the final week of the school year, I would like to thank you for your continued support of all that we do at Good Samaritan. This support has been shown by the trust that is placed in the school’s processes and procedures. Most recently, this has been evident in the formation of classes for 2021.

Following last week’s newsletter there were some parents who emailed or spoke to us about their child’s class placement. It is remarkable that both parents and teachers have had the same thinking about ensuring that children are best placed in classes. This indicates that the process we use, which is extremely rigorous, has been successful. I very much appreciate our parent community who place great trust in the process. Our teachers and school staff know your child best within the school environment and we approach this process ensuring the best possible outcome for all students.

This process is now complete. No changes will be made to classes. Changing students now creates a domino effect which may mean that the needs of other students are not met. I ask that you understand how complex this process is when we are working with the academic, social and wellbeing needs of over 400 students.

Christmas Carol Concert: Tuesday 15 December

Next Tuesday we will be able to celebrate Christmas with a Christmas Carol concert. This event must adhere to a COVID safety plan. Please note the following regarding the arrangements for the concert:

• The Carols Concert will begin promptly at 1.15pm, Parents must be seated by 1.10pm
• The Carols Concert will be held in St John Vianney’s Co-Cathedral
• Only one (1) adult from each family is permitted to attend- ticket will be sent home with the eldest child in each family tomorrow (Thursday 10 December

• Adults must not attend the event if:
• • they are displaying flu like symptoms such as unexplained elevated temperature, sore throat, sneezing, coughing
  • they or anyone in their family has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical professional
  • they or anyone in their family has had close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a medical professional
  • they or anyone in their family has been told by a healthcare provider or public health official that they should self-quarantine due to potential COVID-19 exposure or that they are suspected of having COVID-19
  • they or anyone in their in their household has returned from overseas

• Toddlers/preschoolers are unable to attend 
• Adults will be required to scan a QR code to enter the Church 
• If you are unable to scan the code you must provide your name and phone number to staff
• Adults will be required to hand sanitise upon entry to the Church
• Adults must be seated 1.5m apart
• It is strongly recommended that visiting adults wear a face mask
• Adults must not congregate inside or outside the Church
• At the conclusion of the event, adults will be asked to leave the Church section by section to avoid crowding
• Adults are asked not to be offended if  staff members remind them of the  protocols.

Dismissal on Tuesday will be from classrooms. There will be no car lines on Tuesday afternoon.

Parents and carers are asked to  leave the school grounds as soon as possible after collecting students.

As restrictions begin to ease it is important that we continue to be vigilant - making sure that we maintain social distancing and hygiene standards. Your cooperation in this regard is very much appreciated.

Semester 2 Reports:

On Friday, you will receive your child’s Semester 2 Report.  This Diocesan Report provides you with ‘a picture in time’ of your child’s overall achievement in all of the Key Learning Areas. The report is the teacher’s professional judgement and is based on evidence gathered through assessment activities, anecdotal information and observations of classroom tasks completed by your child throughout the semester. 

 

It is important to note that, due to Covid-19, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has permitted schools to select the content that will form the basis of educational programs for Kindergarten to Year 10 students during 2020. As a result, not all syllabus content will be reported upon in Semester 2.

 

I encourage you to talk to your child about their Effort and their Positive Behaviour for Learning. Some children try very hard and find learning difficult. They deserve praise and encouragement. Some children find learning easy and often don’t try as hard as they could. Your encouragement and high expectations here are critical as well.

 

I would like to thank the teachers for their commitment and hard work in producing professional and accurate reporting of student learning within their classroom.

 

Thank you for allowing us to be partners with you in your child’s learning. Below are some key features of the Semester 2 Reports.

 

Features of the Semester 2 Report:	Why
Omission of an overall grade for each Key Learning Area (KLA)	In line with the flexible curriculum requirements as outlined by NESA, schools addressed all Key Learning Areas, however, not all outcomes and content were taught, assessed and reported upon. Therefore, the overall grades in each KLA have been omitted from this Semester 2 Report for 2020.
5 Point scale for Effort Descriptors	Previous Academic Reports contained Commitment to Learning Descriptors, these have been replaced with a 5 point scale outlining the effort demonstrated by the student during learning activities.
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) Description	The format used to report on PB4L has been modified to reflect a more comprehensive range of students’ social skills and behaviours.
Inclusion of descriptions for each Key Learning Area (KLA) and Content Strands	Additional detail has been added to describe the knowledge and skills taught in each KLA. The purpose of this information is to provide parents with a clearer understanding of the teaching and learning taking place

The wearing of the school uniform is an outward sign of the respect that a student has for themselves and the Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School community. The Good Samaritan uniform serves as an outward sign of what the school stands for, and the correct wearing of uniform is an indication of students’ pride in being members of the school community. At Good Samaritan, we believe that the wearing of a school uniform reduces the social inequities that may be evident in a community that does not enforce a standard uniform. This assists in respecting the dignity of each individual by reducing social class barriers. 

Joggers that are predominantly white are to be worn for sport and fitness. They must be predominantly white and may be lace up or velcro. No slip on ‘Raben’ type shoes, indoor soccer boots or coloured joggers are to be worn. Pictorial examples of appropriate joggers are shown here.

The students have been reminded of this at our school assemblies. They have been encouraged to remind parents  of this when purchasing joggers and school shoes for 2021. Parents are asked to continually support the uniform policy of the school. 

HAIR

Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner. 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.

Screens Down!

As the school year starts to wind down, iPads are not needed as greatly for learning. Therefore, all student iPads are to remain at home from Wednesday 9 December until  the end of the school  year. The last week of school will have limited screen time allowing the students the opportunity to enjoy the end of the year with one another face to face.

As the school year starts to wind down, iPads are not needed as greatly for learning. Therefore, all student iPads are to remain at home from Wednesday 9 December until  the end of the school  year. The last week of school will have limited screen time allowing the students the opportunity to enjoy the end of the year with one another face to face.

Years 5 & 6 2021: iPad Management 

It’s not too late to let us know!

Parents of students in Years 5&6 next year are invited to have their child’s 1:1 iPad join the school managed fleet of devices. By joining the school’s managed fleet students, parents and families will:

• have more control of the screen time access of the device
• know the apps that students are using
• not have access to inappropriate social media or gaming  
• learn that the iPad is a tool for learning at school
• have access to special education 200GB iCloud accounts
• continue to learn about how to be a responsible digital citizen

If you have a child in Years 5 and/or Year 6 next year and you want your child’s device to be school managed,  follow this link to complete the form.

Yule Music will be taking a break from teaching band in 2021 at Good Samaritan. Whilst we are most grateful for the work of Andy and his team, it is  exciting to be able to advise that the Good Samaritan Band is able to continue under the tuition of The Academy - Music Dance Drama. Expressions of Interest are now open and you are able to follow this link for more details.

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 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 

Gratitude means when we are:

• Being thankful for the year that has passed - the joys, achievements, friendships and learning

• Showing gratitude for God’s Creation

Friday 11 December 

• Reports available to Parents via Compass 
• Students may bring Christmas cards to share with friends 

 Monday 14 December 

•  9.30am Year 6 Farewell Liturgy 
•  Year 6 Farewell (Fraternity Club 6.30pm)

Tuesday 15 December 

• 1.15pm Presence of Christmas Carols in the Church (NO CAR LINES TODAY DISMISSAL FROM CLASSROOMS AT THE CONCLUSION OF CAROLS) 

 Wednesday 16 December

• Last Day Term 4

Thursday 28 January

• Students return (Years 1-6)

• Thursday 28 To Wednesday 3 February Best Start Kindergarten Assesment appointments 

February

• Thursday 4 February Kindergarten begin school fulltime 

• Friday 12 February Years 1-6 Parent Information Evening

• Friday 12 February  Opening School Mass/Liturgy  

• Wednesday 17 February Ash Wednesday

March

• Monday 1 March- Friday 5 March Catholic Schools Week