Term 2 Week 4 May 20, 2021

COMING EVENTSTHURSDAY MAY 20

• Saint John's Campus Enrolment Info Evening, 7pm

MAY 22 & 23

• Enrolment for First Eucharist at any Mass

TUESDAY MAY 25

• Saint John's Campus Tours, 2 or 4 pm

THURSDAY MAY 27

• Saint John's Campus Tours, 2 or 4 pm

TUESDAY JUNE 1

• Cybersafety presentation, 7pm, classrooms above the hall, p2

WEDNESDAY JUNE 9

• First Eucharist Parent and child evening, Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 7:00-7:30pm

continued p2

DAMIEN JUDD PRINCIPAL

Key Points• Study Leave &

Acting Principal

• Cyber Safety presentation

• Fees & Funding Myths

• Sacrament of First Eucharist

• Thank You Parents and Friends

• Open Night

• Little Stars

• Winter Illness

• Uniform update

• Book Fair

• Elective Letters

• Examinations

• Year 11 Retreat

This week is “Laudato Si’ Week”

“Our efforts at education [must] strive to promote a new way of thinking about human beings, life, society and our

relationship with nature.” Pope Francis

Laudato Si' (Praise Be to You) is a ‘document’ written by Pope Francis in 2015 where he makes it quite clear the need for serious and deliberate action in the area of climate change and Pope Francis calls all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action”.

Pope Francis was inspired by a 13th century poem/prayer written by St Francis of Assisi – who, not by coincidence, is the name of the new Catholic secondary college in the Riverland – based in Renmark. So this week we remind ourselves of the need to make a significant difference in our world and our environment.

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole of creation.'

Mark 16:15

Study Leave & Acting Principal Principals and Deputy Principals in the Catholic system can access what is called Study Leave. This is special leave where a school leader can seek to undertake further study in a range of approved areas. My leave was initially approved for 2020 and involved studying overseas. Naturally this was cancelled but I will now undertake an adapted range of study, in Australia, in the first seven weeks of Term 3. During that time, Mr John Lyons will be the acting Principal.

continued from p1

Variety It never ceases to amaze me the variety of opportunities, information and events that are available to our students. From the passion of Scott Darlow to the entertainment of the visiting musician Andrew Chinn, to the online sessions for our Year 9/10 boys about changing the stereotype of what it means to be male to the vast array of information and options for our senior students regarding careers post school to the mentored programs run by GFG Foundation. This is on top of the range of sports, STEM events, camps, bands, musical, retreats and all the other ‘stuff’ that simply happens inside the college.

Happy Birthday to Caritas College In 2012 we celebrated 70 years of Catholic Education in Whyalla. On the weekend, Port Augusta celebrated nearly double that with 150 years of Catholic Education in their town, as on May 17, 1871, the Sisters of St Joseph conducted the first school lessons for 56 children in a tin shed in Port Augusta. Congratulations!

Cyber Safety presentation I recommend to all our parents/caregivers, but especially those of children from Years 5-9, a session run by SAPOL about cyber safety and all the potential issues that come with our children being ‘online’. June 1 at 7pm in the classrooms above our hall at Saint John’s Campus.

Fees & Funding Myths Whilst we appreciate that any fee required to be paid for your child’s education is significant, we do point out that Samaritan is one of SA’s lower fee-charging schools. We also remind families that your fees are crucial to ensure we can operate the College at a level equal to other schools. Government funding + your fees simply brings us level, or just below in most cases, to the other schools in Whyalla. It is not bonus money and Catholic school staff get paid on par with their state school colleagues. All that information is available on https://myschool.edu.au/ At any time if the paying of fees is a concern, please contact the college to discuss financial assistance.

College News

Samaritan College will be hosting

a ThinkUKnow presentation on

TUESDAY, June 1 at 7pm

in the classrooms above Samaritan Hall.

All parents, carers and teachers are encouraged to attend.

ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners

New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.

The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated online child sexual exploitation material, online grooming, image-based abuse, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking

behaviour.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology.

For more information, you can visit www.thinkuknow.org.au

3 of 9 May 20, 2021

The Samaritan Way‘Take courage, I have conquered the world’ John 16:33

This week our Year 11 students attended their Retreat at the stunningly beautiful Pichie Richie park outside of Quorn. They participated in activities designed and planned by them. Each activity was based around our theme of ‘Come and Stay’ and of the desire to be more connected to each other.

The students were called to offer hospitality to others, to themselves, to creation and to be connected to one another. The retreat was an opportunity to 'Come and Stay' in the spirit of hospitality, to invite strangers to become friends, to create a friendly empty space where they could reach out to their peers and invite them to a new relationship.

It was a joy to see the Year 11 students engage fully in the activities prepared by their peers, showing respect and thoughtfulness during our time at Retreat. Special thanks go to Mr Lyons, Mrs Free and Miss Hopkins who attended as well.

Sacrament of First EucharistPreparation for the Sacrament of first Eucharist is underway. Letters to families went home last week.

This weekend May 22 and 23 is enrolment weekend. Please remember to attend one of the weekend Mass times to enrol your Year 4 student in the Sacramental program.

Attending Mass is an important part of our Samaritan Identity and shows a strong connection between our school and parish community. We strongly encourage your family to attend a weekend Mass as a commitment to the sacramental program.

Mass times are:

Saturday 6pm at St Teresa’s Church

Sunday 9am at St Teresa’s Church

Sunday 10:30am or 5:00pm at Our Lady Help of Christians Church

Some further dates for your information are:

Wednesday June 9 (Week 7) – Parent and child evening, Our Lady Help of Christians Church 7:00 - 7:30pm

Friday, June 11 (Week 7) – Workshop 1 at St Teresa’s Campus

Friday June 18 (Week 8) – Workshop 2 at St Teresa’s Campus

Wednesday June 23 (Week 9) – Reconciliation evening St Teresa’s Church 7:00pm

Saturday June 26 and Sunday June 27 – Sacrament of First Eucharist

This is a special and privileged time for our Year 4 children and their families. We hope that the celebration of First Eucharist is beautiful and memorable, remembering that the true focus of that holy and special day is the Sacrament itself as our Year 4 children are welcomed to the table of the Lord.

Please feel free to contact me through your campus office if you have any questions or concerns.

Rebecca SinclairAPRIM

May 20, 20214 of 9

Primary Campus NewsOLHCC: Our Lady Help of Christians Campus

STC: St Teresa's Campus

Thank You Parents and Friends Last week primary students had the opportunity to purchase gifts at the Mother’s Day stall coordinated by the Parents and Friends. With nothing over $8 children were very excited to buy a gift for their Mum. Thank you to committee members for coordinating this event. We also thank the numerous volunteers who helped on the stall at both campuses. If you would like to join the P&F or are willing to help out at particular events please contact the front office at each campus for more information.

Open Night Our Primary Open Night was a fabulous opportunity for all to see first-hand the successes of students across their campus. The sausage sizzle was very popular, with our Year 12 leaders supporting at these stalls.

Little Stars Little Stars play sessions at Our Lady Help of Christians Campus on Thursday mornings. These play sessions are for 3-5 year olds from 9am – 10am. For further information, please see the college website or Facebook page. There is also a flyer in this newsletter.

Winter Illness As the season of winter arrives student illness is on the increase. Please ensure children are fully recovered from illness before returning to school. This will ensure a speedy recovery and reduce the possibility of others becoming unwell.

Uniform updateParents have been emailed to notify them of uniform availability. There is limited winter stock at the moment, but the new uniform polo shirts and shorts are readily available. In accordance with our Sun Smart policy, hats are not required to be worn in Term 2. We recommend hats are kept in bags, therefore available for unseasonably warm weather or particular class/school events.

SAPSASA Football and Netball Congratulations to the Year 6 students who made the SAPSASA football and netball teams: Keeley Molyneux, Dexy Wilson, Maddison Reese, Libby Smith and Quanelle Saunders.

Jenna EdwardsHEAD OF PRIMARY

Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair will be held again this year, following such a successful 2020 Book Fair across both campuses.

STC Book Fair will commence Monday, May 31, Week 6, and conclude after lunch on Friday, June 4.

OLHCC Book Fair will commence Tuesday, June 8, Week 7, and conclude after school Friday, June 11.

The Fairs will be open each day from 8:30am – 4pm (including lunch times each day for students) so parents and friends are welcome to pop in before or after school with their children to browse and make purchases.

The theme for this year’s Fair is “To the Book Fair and Beyond! Reading is out of this world!” there will be some activities and fun times ahead!

All sales made at the Book fair earn the campuses Reward Points to purchase new resources.

Due to the Book Fair, catalogues for Issue #4 of Scholastic Book Clubs won’t be distributed. However, if you wish to purchase from Issue #4, you may do online LOOP orders, and these will be processed after the Book Fairs have concluded.

Thank you for your support of 2020 Book Fairs, and I’m looking forward to seeing lots of students and families over Week 6 and 7 at both campuses!

National Simultaneous StorytimeSamaritan College primary campuses have participated in this National event for the past few years, reading the same story across the Nation at the same time, with over 1 million other children.

5 of 9 May 20, 2021

This year's story was “Give me some space”, by Philip Bunting.

The story was read and broadcast on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:30am (ACST) by NASA astronaut Shannon Walker – literally from Outer Space!

Most of our Primary classes joined with their Buddy Class to listen to the story and did some activities together.

It is so great to be part of such a large – and out of this world – initiative!

Tania TaylorLIBRARY OFFICER

Open NightOpen Night

May 20, 20216 of 9

little St rs

The child-centred play program allows us

to form relationships with your child, while

linking with their strengths and interests.

The program encourages new friendships

and share positive experiences within the

Samaritan Community.

We invite you into a safe and welcoming

environment that nurtures “Life Long

Learning".

We strive to support your child to feel

confident and have a strong sense of

belonging as they look to begin their

educational journey at Samaritan College.

Samaritan CollegeOur Lady Help of Christians Campus

Thursday 9am to 10am

Creates an atmosphere where

children feel respected and loved.

Nurtures each child’s self-worth.

Guides each child’s experimental play

to promote understanding.

Develops effective communication

skills.

Encourages each child to explore,

invent, discover, question and

experiment.

Helps children to learn through

touching, moving, listening, seeing

and hearing.

Little Stars:

"The Little Stars Transition program is staffed by a qualified

early Childhood Teacher. The program is uniquely designed to

enhance the learning environment for our youngest learners."

Parish News

A memorial Mass for Fr Hackett on the 1st anniversary of his deathMonday, May 24, 11:00am

The Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians Church will be followed by lunch at the Sundowner Hotel.

Please notify the Parish Office on 8645 8023 if you wish to attend the luncheon.

(Please notify the waitress when ordering if you need to have your meal before the other meals are brought out).

In loving memory

7 of 9 May 20, 2021

Secondary Campus NewsSecondary attendance hotline: 0473 989 587 - TEXT messages only, otherwise please phone 8645 8568.

Please follow up phone calls with a note to the caregroup teacher.

SJC: Saint John's Campus

Year 11 RetreatThis week I had the pleasure of attending Retreat with the year 11 students. During their years at the secondary campus students are provided with two opportunities to engage in a Retreat experience. At Year 11 this is in the form of a two day / one night camp. The second Retreat occurs in Year 12.

Conducted in the busyness of their final years of schooling these retreat experiences are an integral part of each student’s journey at Samaritan College. They provide an opportunity to engage in activities and reflect more deeply in their understanding of themselves.

As a teacher on the Year 11 Retreat, it is real pleasure for me to see how the students engage and interacted with one another. Showing respect and consideration in the way they engaged in the different activities and their encounters with others.

Student Thoughts

Being a part of the Year 11 cohort, it is significantly obvious that our grade is quite separated and disconnected, therefore the theme for our retreat was to ‘come and stay’. From my personal experience, all the students who attended retreat, connected with individuals they typically wouldn’t associate with. Retreat made me realise that going away to bond with others was a positive experience, and engaging with a diverse variety of students helped me to notice that our grade should become more connected. My most fond memory that will always stay in my heart, was when we all came together in one big a circle, arms around each other, singing our “anthem” we have stuck with since Year 7. When our grade came up to Year 7, we were introduced to the song ‘Home, by Phillip Phillips’, and we have all connected to the lyrics ever since. I

was able to find Jesus within myself from the kindness, thoughtfulness and love of my heart, and my peers. After reflecting on my retreat experience, all the students came together as one, which was our ideal goal, and we succeeded.

Eliza Hogan

On behalf of the Year 11 cohort, I can confidently say that our recent retreat held at Pitchi Richie park was an enjoyable and memorable experience. The environment allowed us to bond and form new relationships through interacting and inclusive activities, which were created by members of our year level. It provided us with opportunities to gain new perspectives on one another and proved that with just a short time out of our busy lives, and school commitments, just how much we can come together, show support for each other and cohesively unite. The self-determining input the college allowed us to have over the activities, supported us to make the retreat unique to our cohort. We were able to spend our time doing things that were both entertaining and beneficial to building on and strengthening the relationships we share with each other. Upon return from retreat, our year level has been left feeling refreshed, fulfilled and grateful that we were given the opportunity to spend time in a beautiful and relaxing environment with one another. This has resulted in fond memories, lasting friendships, and a renewed optimistic attitude within our cohort that we carry into the final years of our secondary schooling and beyond.

Maddy Boundy

SAPSASA TeamsThis year is the last time that Year 7 students across the state will have a chance to be part of the primary school sports. As such it has been decided that teams

of students in Year 6 and Year 7 will compete separately in the carnivals, providing the opportunity for all students in their final year of primary school.

Congratulations to Jett Taylor, Lucas Westervoorde, and Jack Leditschke for your selection as part of the Year 7 SAPSASA Football team.

Likewise, congratulations to Matilda Travers, Dana Free, Marlee Payne, Sarah Cox and Ava Rowlands who have been selected as part of the Year 7 Netball squad.

Elective LettersStudents in Year 9 and 10 should have now received notification as to their electives for Semester 2. It is important that those students who have not been allocated two electives speak with me as soon as possible to see what is available. While students will need to select a subject, they will be placed on a waiting list if their preferred choice is currently full.

Those students who are hoping to swap electives are asked to wait until Week 6, to allow the other few to select options.

ExaminationsThe end of Semester brings with it examinations for the students in Year 11 and 10. These are scheduled for Week 8, beginning on 15 June after the long weekend.

Students in Year 11 are required to attend school for either an examination or a work completion. Outside of these times they are allowed to attend school or remain at home to continue their study.

Those in Year 10 will attend school as normal and undertake their exams as part of their regular day.

John LyonsHEAD OF SECONDARY

Year 11 RetreatYear 11 Retreat

Community News"The services and events contained in this section are in no way connected with the school and are included in this newsletter for your information only. Parents and caregivers need to make their own enquiries and assessments about the suitability of these events and services for their needs and those of their children.”

Booking your COVID 19 vaccination appointment

To keep our state safe, we are ensuring all South Australians have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. As the rollout progresses, we have made some changes to our plan including opening dedicated vaccination clinics across metro and regional SA.

• All people 50 and over can now book an appointment to be vaccinated, and can access the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

• People under 50 will be given the

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

To check your eligibility or make a booking Scan the QR code Or phone the Whyalla COVID clinic on 8647 8660.

Or access the link below

https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility