From the Principal

Pablo Grana
Jun 1
10 min read

Updated: Jun 4

The Liturgical Season of Easter

Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is celebrated on Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year.

As we know from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion, which would be Sunday. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. It is the singular event which proves that those who trust in God and accept Christ will be raised from the dead.

Since Easter represents the fulfilment of God's promises to all humankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.

As a College community we celebrated Eastertide through a whole College Mass led by Father Tu and ministered by our students and staff. In attendance we also had parents/carers from our community celebrating the risen Christ.

As we are currently still in the liturgical season of Easter, we are reminded of our belief in the risen Jesus, the one who takes away the sins of the world. As Catholics we are Pilgrims of Hope a hope in the life that Jesus promises to us, one where our faith and belief in him will give us.

"Habemus Papam" - We Have a Pope

It is with great excitement that the Vatican announced "Habemus Papam" - We Have a Pope.

The Conclave of Cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States and formerly of Peru to be the next successor of St Peter. Pope Leo XIV has begun his pastoral leadership of our Church with a very strong message that continues his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Let us all pray for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his ministry as the head of our Church.

Outstanding Good Samaritan People and Students

Below are great examples of outstanding Good Samaritan People and Students thus far at the beginning of Term 2.

On ANZAC Day, we honour and remember Thank you to our student leaders and families who represented Good Samaritan Catholic College at the 5:00am Dawn Service, laying a wreath in tribute to all who have served our nation. This year, our Special Events and Media Team also had the honour of capturing the ANZAC Commemoration at Hyde Park, Sydney, attended by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of NSW. It was a privilege to witness and preserve this moving tribute.

Good Samaritan Catholic College secured a remarkable victory over East Hills Girls Technology High School in the Girls’ Bill Turner Trophy, showcasing great teamwork and skill. Unfortunately they recently bowed out to Holsworthy High School in a hard fought match. Congratulations to all of the girls for representing our College with distinction throughout the tournament.

Congratulations to our U16 Boys Futsal team! They emerged victorious at the Liverpool Region Gala Day, defeating Freeman Catholic College in a competitive final match. The team now progresses to the State Finals later this year – we wish them all the best as they prepare for the next stage! We also extend our thanks to Freeman Catholic College for being strong opponents and contributing to a fantastic day of sport.

A number of our St Joseph Trades Skills students showcased their talents in event management, hospitality and beauty as they hosted a special Mother’s Day High Tea for their mums and carers. The event was a wonderful celebration and a great success, enjoyed by all who attended!

Our special Mother’s Day Mass was a truly memorable occasion, attended by many mums, carers and families. Guests were pampered with relaxing hand massages by our talented students from the St Joseph Trades Skills Centre and treated to a beautifully prepared afternoon tea.

Good Samaritan Catholic College and Thomas Hassall Anglican College faced off in a tightly contested Bill Turner Cup match, finishing 1–1 after extra time. The game was decided by a tense penalty shootout, with Good Samaritan securing a 6–5 win! Well done to both teams on a hard-fought contest, and thank you to Thomas Hassall Anglican College for a great game.

The 2025 Senior School Leaders Forum was certainly a day of inspiration, collaboration and vision. Student leaders from Good Samaritan Catholic College, Clancy Catholic College and St Anthony of Padua Catholic College came together to share ideas, build connections, and help shape the future of their school communities.

On Friday eight of our senior leaders attended a special Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians. Celebrated by Bishop Umbers in honour of Australia's patron saint. Joined by students from across Sydney Catholic Schools, they represented our community with pride and faith on this very important occasion.

A number of our students have worked together to help create an inspiring crucifix artwork, designed by Mr Gatto. This meaningful piece will be proudly displayed at the College as a symbol of our shared values and community spirit.

This is Good Samaritan Catholic College

We are excited to share with you our Publication titled "This is Good Samaritan Catholic College" that provides clear information of how we deliver our dual moral purpose as a Catholic school in a mission of developing the Outstanding Good Samaritan Person and Student. We take this opportunity to share this with our community so you are kept informed of our faith and learning direction. We also encourage you to discuss our expectations of all students with your sons/daughters.

The document outlines the following:

Our Mission Statement
House Patrons and Catholic Values
SCS Parent Charter
College Strategic Improvement Plan 2024 - 2026
College Annual Improvement Plan
Our Focus on Being The Good Samaritan
Teaching and Learning and Assessment Frameworks
Learning Structures
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Student Learning Expectations
Student Homework and Study Expectations
Student Wellbeing
St Joseph Trade Skills Centre
Resolution of Parent/Carer Concerns Processes

Below is link to the document that was also shared via the Compass Newsfeed:

SCS Parent Factsheets

Please find below a new series of Parent Factsheets that have been created by Sydney Catholic Schools on very important topics, these include both versions in English and Arabic (translated by the GSCC Community Liaison Officer)

I encourage all parents/carers to read these very important factsheets to support the partnership between home and school and ensure both school and family values are constantly reminded to our students and your sons/daughters.

Staff Professional Learning Day - Friday 6th June 2025

There will be no classes on Friday 6th June as Good Samaritan Catholic College staff will participate in a Staff Professional Day, this also includes staff of the Specialist Support Classes. Please contact the College office If your child/ren require supervision on the day.

Future Calendar Planning - Staff Professional Learning Days for the Remainder of 2025

For future planning for all families, Staff Professional Learning Days for the remainder of 2025 are on the following days and dates:

Monday 21st July
Monday 4th August
Friday 26th September
Monday 13th October
Friday 21st November

Please contact the College if you require supervision for your child/ren on any of these dates.

Important Reminder: Traffic and Parking Safety

We remind all members of our community regarding the importance of maintaining road safety in and around our College at all times.

The following are important reminders for both parents/carers and students:

All drivers are to adhere to the sign posted speed limits within the school grounds
When picking up or dropping off students in the College Bus Bay, please move the car to the furthest spot to allow as many cars access the area for pick-up or drop off as possible and avoid any traffic queues at the front gate of the school and subsequently affecting traffic on Hoxton Park Road.
No student is to be dropped off on the median strip or middle of any road or street. This is very dangerous and places at risk the lives of students and other drivers.
Respecting all road and parking laws both on the roads near the school, local streets and the parking areas in local shopping centres around the vicinity of the College.
Respecting the local neighbouring homes and not parking in front of driveways, on the grass areas in front of homes, leaving any litter and ensuring noise is kept to a minimum.
Students are to respect and follow all pedestrian road rules when using all forms of crossings in and outside the College site.

The local NSW Police Force has been briefed to carry out regular checks during morning and/or afternoon peak times to ensure drivers and pedestrians are following all road and parking laws and rules.

We encourage parents/carers to speak to their children about maintaining safe behaviour when making their way to and from the College. To assist you, please find the link below, that provides a suite of educational resources.

On the Move Road Safety for Parents/Carers

Morning Attendance Reminders

We remind all parents/carers that once their sons/daughters are dropped off in the morning inside the College grounds, they are to remain on the College grounds and are not permitted to leave to visit the local shops.

Our Duty of Care Obligations require that all students, once on College grounds, remain on College grounds until the end of the day.

If students are found to be leaving the College grounds once dropped off before school, this will be followed up with in accordance with consequences for truancy.

If students wish to access the shops before school, we advise parents/carers to drop them off safely outside of the College grounds.

We thank all parents/carers and students in advance for ensuring that students remain on College grounds once dropped off before school.

Important Reminders Regarding Attendance and Applications for Leave Reminders

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) make very clear that “school attendance plays a critical role in enhancing the lives of students in schools. Every day of attendance adds to a student’s academic achievement and success at school, and conversely every absence, can impact their learning and progress.”. Studies are clear about the importance of attending school to ensure your sons and daughters progress and grow in their learning.

In NSW, all children from six years of age are legally required to attend school. After students complete Year 10, and until they turn 17 years of age, they must remain enrolled in school, be engaged full time in approved education, training, employment, or a combination of the two. This is a legal responsibility of all parents/carers.

Responsibilities of Parents/Carers

As per the SCS Attendance Policy, parents/carers of students enrolled at an SCS school are required to:

Ensure their child attends school each day unless exempt or absent for an approved reason.
Explain the absence of a student as soon as possible and within seven (7) school days from the first day of absence, otherwise the school will record the absence as an unexplained absence.
Provide a medical certificate where a student’s frequent, recurring or long term absence is explained as being due to illness.
Apply in advance for planned student leave
Work in partnership with the school and SCS to address any issues impacting on a student’s attendance.

At Good Samaritan Catholic College, we work in partnership with parents/carers to ensure your sons and daughters attend school each day. When attendance becomes an issue, this partnership is critical to ensure that the student’s learning and wellbeing are at the forefront of the response.

We ask that parents/carers work with our College in ensuring that you support the importance of daily school attendance, especially when you may be challenged by your sons and daughters who may ask for a “day off” or a “break from school”. Allowing this will affect their learning as you can see below:

1 day absent = 5 hours of learning missed

5 days absent = 25 hours of learning missed

10 days absent = 50 hours of learning missed

20 days absent = 100 hours of learning missed

30 days absent = 150 hours of learning missed

40 days absent = 200 hours of learning missed or the equivalent of a whole two (2) years of a HSC course.

Application for Extended Leave Procedures (Five (5) Days or More)

I have noticed a high rate of applications for extended leave recently, mostly for overseas or domestic family holidays. As you would be aware, the College does not encourage student breaks during school time, but I understand that at times, this cannot be avoided in situations where there may be a legitimate family emergency or an international learning or sporting experience. As stated earlier, I must stress however, that any absence can have a negative impact on students’ performance and, in turn, can affect their academic results.

I encourage parents/carers to avoid requesting extended leave during school terms (except in cases of extreme emergencies) and instead plan/arrange these trips during school vacation periods to avoid your son/daughter missing learning time and in some cases assessment tasks/exams and risk receiving zero marks.

Parents/carers must complete and submit the Application for Extended Leave (A1) form together with the school based (yellow) Application for Extended Leave of 5 days or more prior to commencing leave.
Both forms must be submitted with a minimum of four (4) weeks in advance of the first date of the requested extended leave. If the form is submitted late, this will result in the leave request being declined.
Travel documentation, such as travel itinerary or e-tickets, must be attached to the application.
We will not accept a reason for travel during the school term if it is not in the best interest of the student, academic or otherwise.
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they are accessing work missed and complete any work/assessment that has been required by teachers by the time they return to school or in some cases during their leave.
If the application is accepted, the code Leave (‘L’) is used. A copy of the certificate (C1) is attached to the application form (A1) and a letter is sent to parents/carers confirming the acceptance of the application.
If the application is declined, the code ‘A’ for unjustified absence is used. A copy of the certificate (D1) is attached to the application form (A1) and a letter is sent to parents/carers confirming the application being declined.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the College Office or your son/daughter’s Year Coordinator.

Online Safety At Home

We ask parents/carers to keep a close eye on their sons/daughters to ensure they are safely using the internet. We also encourage all students to communicate any unsafe or threatening online behaviour to their parents/carers immediately. Parents/Carers are then advised to contact Police and/or the eSafety Commissioner if there are any serious concerns regarding online behaviour.

For more information, please visit the eSafety Commissioners Website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Inspirational Quote from Pope Leo XIV