Newsletter - 06 March 2025

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

The heart of Lent is making space for our God.

Yesterday we celebrated Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent. Each of our classes from Prep to Year 6 will have reflected on this significant event in our liturgical calendar. When I was a child the ashes were a reminder of our mortality – “Remember man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return….”  Today our children are reminded by the ashes that they are loved and that we all have the capacity for change and renewal – “Remember you are a child of God” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel!” are statements we say as the ashes are symbolically sprinkled.  Fortunately our children have a much clearer understanding of the symbolism of the ashes and the significance of the Lenten season that leads us to the Easter message.

As we enter the season of Lent we can sometimes pay too much attention to matters that are superficial and trivial and we can miss out on the important issues of life. The season of Lent is one of those times when the Church gives us an opportunity to address the important elements of our life in a practical way.  There is little point giving up chocolate or sugar in our tea if we continue to gossip about others, or blame and nag those who are close to us. Nor is there much value in giving up a glass of wine with our meal if we are going to be moody and grumpy with those who love us.  Lent is not simply a time to make sacrifices but it is a time when we are called to make choices and to make a positive effect on those we love and care about in our daily lives. 

As we begin our Lenten journey towards Easter, the importance of Easter can be summed up in three letters A, S, H which is quite appropriate for ASH Wednesday.

A is for Alms giving or making the needs of others, especially the needy, our own, and has always been a focus of Christian expression. The ‘needy’ encompass children, the old, the sick, the suffering no matter where they may live. To such people, or the organisations which assist them, we can give time, a share of our talents, material resources; whatever we give should be something of ourselves, something that costs us.

S is for Sacrifice. Sacrifice requires us to give up something or to fast. In today's materialistic society, sacrifice and fasting is somewhat regarded with ridicule. Besides the traditional notions of sacrifice through fasting, we can all look for opportunities for sacrifice. We can look to give up anger and hatred to be more patient and understanding; give up judging others to think kindly thoughts; we can give up complaining to focus on gratitude and we can give up resentment or bitterness and turn to forgiveness.

H is for Holiness. We strive for holiness through prayer. As we know, prayer is much more than simply saying words, it is the quiet engagement of our inner-self. We should endeavour to close out the noise, the trivialities, the distractions that crave our attention. In the quietness of ourselves we can draw closer to God.

Wishing you God’s blessing for the Lenten Season,

Geraldine Rostirolla

Principal  

RE Matters

PUT ON LOVE – A PRAYER

In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our choices, to pray more deeply, to experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, to become aware of the needs of others, to be generous in our support of those around us and to love one another as God loves us.

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness and patience.
Bear with one another and,
If anyone has a complaint against another,
Forgive each other;
Just as God has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
Which binds everything together in utmost harmony.

(Colossians 3:12-14)

God, You gave us your son, Jesus, the perfect model of a loving life.

Teach us to see the world through his eyes;

To reach out to one another with his hands;

And to walk the path of justice with his feet.

Amen

ASH WEDNESDAY

Yesterday we gathered for our Ash Wednesday prayer celebration. The children participated prayerfully and reflected on the meaning of Lent for them as individuals and as part of a school community. They committed themselves to prayer, fasting and giving, offered their Lenten promises and were marked with a cross of Ashes. These ashes had been blessed at a parish Mass earlier in the day.

Year 6D dramatised the Gospel and we listened to Michael Mangan’s beautiful hymn, “Out of Ashes.”

It was lovely that so many of our parents and members of the extended Emmanuel family were able to join us for this celebration.

After our prayer celebration Mrs Kliese visited the Kindy to talk about Lent and distribute the Ashes. 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of forty days in our journey to the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Find out about Lent and Ash Wednesday @ https://www.catholic.org/lent/   

Sacred spaces around the school have had a change of colour to reflect the new liturgical season.

ALL ABOUT OUR 2025 LENTEN CHALLEGE

We will be selling footprint tokens.  These footprint tokens will represent the kilometres that people, mainly women and children, must walk on a daily basis for water. 

This is how it works……

Students are encouraged to buy a:  

• one kilometre footprint for $1:00
• two kilometres footprint for $2.00
• five kilometres footprint for $5.00

Tokens bought will have the child’s name written on it and it will be added to the sacred space in their classroom. In doing this, we link the ‘gift’ to real world action and to the teachings of Jesus.

Students who buy footprint tokens will receive a ticket for each dollar spent in a special ‘THE BIG WALK’ themed YETI water bottle.

The class that sells the most footprints/kilometres and the classes that raises the most money will lead us in a special dance at Assembly later in the term.

We are looking forward to finding out how far we can walk this Lent to help others.

CARITAS - PROJECT COMPASSION

‘Unite Against Poverty this Lent’ is the theme of Project Compassion 2025. 

This Lent all classrooms will have a Project Compassion collection box and poster. Students will learn about their brothers and sisters around the world who are less fortunate than themselves and be encouraged to offer their prayers and practical assistance.

Don’t be surprised if your child asks you for a job, so they can earn some money to put in the Project Compassion box in their classroom.

For more information about the work of CARITAS and projects that the 2025 Project Compassion Appeal will support, check out the Caritas Australia website @ https://www.caritas.org.au/

To make a donation or to find out more about this year’s Lenten Challenges (The Long Walk for Water, Give It Up for Lent, Host a Lent Event) go to  https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/

ONE FOR THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER – FRIDAY 7 MARCH

This Friday we will join with people around the world to pray for peace and justice.  The Chapel will be open, and classes will be visiting throughout the day.

Each year the WORLD DAY OF PRAYER prayer is prepared by a different country and has a theme that reflects what is happening in the world.  The 2025 country is The Cook Islands and the theme comes from the Book of Psalms.

"I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psalm 139:14)

This theme reminds that us that God made us out of love and that we are special in our uniqueness. 

More information on the Day of Prayer and this year’s theme @ https://www.worlddayofprayeraustralia.org/wdp/

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Please pray for our students who have enrolled in the parish Sacramental Program. They will participate in the Rite of Enrolment at parish Masses this weekend and a Reconciliation workshop on Tuesday evening.

They will be confirmed by Bishop Michael McCarthy and receive Eucharist for the first time in June.

Please also include in your prayers the students who are preparing to be Baptised at Easter. 

For weekly Gospel readings, reflections and meditations go to http://www.prayasyoucan.com.au/

Download this week’s parish bulletin @ https://rok.catholic.net.au/parish/mackay-st-josephs/#

For Parish News go to the Catholic Parish of North Mackay and Farleigh Facebook page.

VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT – KINDNESS

Jesus was kind – He welcomed, included and accepted everyone. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. He taught us to love one another, to act with justice and to forgive each other.

Kindness is showing you care, doing things to make life better for others. It is being thoughtful about people’s needs. Kindness is showing love and compassion to someone who is sad or needs your help.  Kindness is treating yourself and others gently.  It is caring about the earth and all living things.

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” (Mark Twain)

Noeleen Kliese

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Curriculum Corner

NAPLAN ONLINE DATES

Please see below the dates and times during which Year 3 and Year 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN Online:

DRAMA NEWS

This week, the very talented Ranger Ros from Wild Puppets paid our Year 1 students and Mrs Clark a special visit. We were taken back in time on an amazing dinosaur storytime adventure! We learned lots of interesting facts and got to meet some very cute (and scary) baby dinosaur puppets. We also got to see some real fossils that Ranger Ros found! 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 12

Next

PREP - SENSATIONAL SOCK DAY

Last week, our Prep students had a 'Sensational Silly Sock' day after learning all about the letter S. We had crazy, colourful and all kind of socks. Great fun was had by all.

Brooke Tomkinson

Acting Assistant Principal Curriculum

APA News

BULLYING BOX

The Bullying Box (pictured right) is located on the bench in the library and is available for students to report bullying issues if they are not comfortable speaking with their teacher.

Listed below is information about what bullying is and isn’t.

An episode of bullying has identifying characteristics:

1. An imbalance of power, an intent to hurt, embarrass, or humiliate,
2. Repeated behaviour.

Bullying behaviour has many forms.

Physical Bullying may include hitting, poking, tripping, pushing or damaging someone’s belongings.

Verbal Bullying may include name calling, insults, putting someone down and threatening to harm.

Social Bullying may include lying, spreading rumours, playing a nasty joke, embarrassing someone in public and deliberately excluding someone.

Cyber Bullying may include using technology (such as email, mobile phones, chat rooms, social networking sites, etc.) to send hurtful messages, pictures and comments.

It is also important to define what is NOT considered bullying behaviour. Bullying behaviour is not:

• Arguments and disagreements
• Disliking someone
• Single-episode acts of nastiness or spite

In such circumstances, the behaviour will be addressed within the School’s Behaviour Management Policy and Procedures.

Preventing bullying involves everyone talking together openly and respectfully.

Bullying can have a lasting impact on everyone involved, including those who witness it, so it is important to work together to create safe school communities for everyone.

Download the https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/resources/fact-sheets/fact-sheets-for-families if you wish to read more about this important issue.

Amanda McDonald

Assistant Principal Administration

Playground Areas - After School

At the closure of the school day, all students are required to move immediately to the Pickup Zone. Students who are going to After School Care or walking /riding home are required to be on their way as soon as they are released from class. 

The Pickup Zone is supervised by teachers. Other areas of the school are not supervised after school. Our school’s Prep Adventure Playground is out of bounds before and after school. Any play areas within the school must be supervised by staff members.

We ask parents to ensure that their children are not on this equipment before and/or after school. Our school rules must be adhered to by all students at all times. Students should not be running around or playing after school whilst waiting for parents. Parents who collect their child/ren after school and remain on school grounds are reminded that their child/ren are under their supervision during this time. We ask all parents to please adhere to these rules and thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

Strategic Priorities 2025

SchoolTV

There are lots of amazing resources available on SCHOOLTV to support and empower parents to better deal with the challenges of raising happy, well and resilient young people. For short video clips, articles and fact sheets, from leading specialists and key wellbeing organisations, check out the ‘ALL TOPICS’ tab via the link below or on our school website.

Sporting News

VOLUNTEER NEEDED - EMMANUEL RUGBY LEAGUE COACH

Are you a passionate rugby league fan? Do you have coaching experience with sporting teams? If so, read on......

We are seeking an expression of interest from parents, friends and the wider school community for a Rugby League coach for our 2025 school team. The volunteer would need to be available for:

• After school training (one afternoon per week)
• Availability to attend Wednesday afternoon Rugby League competition (Term 2)
• Availability to attend Challenge Cup (played in Yeppoon -  early Term 3)

If you are interested please email the Principal via enm@rok.catholic.edu.au by FRIDAY 14 MARCH 2025 stating your coaching experience/qualifications and any other relevant details which you feel would be advantageous to coaching the team. (Non-parent volunteers must have a blue card). Thank you in advance for your interest and support.

MACKAY DISTRICT SCHOOL SPORTS - FORMS AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION

The following Mackay District Sport forms are available for collection from Mrs Bottcher. Nominations are due back to the SPORTS BOX in the LIBRARY by the due date with the levy payment.

• Capricornia 10 - 19 yrs Boys and Girls GOLF Trials (Due Monday 28 April)
  

Students who wish to nominate should be clearly competent and have played a reasonable amount of the sport.

Lisa Bottcher

HPE Teacher

School Choir

Awards

Congratulations to the students pictured below who received a Virtue Voucher in Week 5.

Finance

Term 1 Parent Accounts were emailed to all families on 4 February. Payments are now overdue.

If you are making fee payments by Internet Banking, please ensure you use the six-digit Parent Code that appears on the top right hand corner of your Statement as your reference. Please contact the Finance Office if you have not received your statement, or if you wish to discuss making payments via a regular Direct Debit Authority.

Do you hold a current ‘means tested’ Government Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card? Parents/Carers with an eligible means tested Australian Government Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card can receive a 40% discount on the All-inclusive Education fee of all eligible students from the family (after any family discount has been applied). Please see information in the link below:

Tuckshop News

Please Note: It is imperative that volunteers DO NOT attend tuckshop if they are unwell or have anyone at home who is unwell.

SWAP IT - Add a splash of rainbow

WOW your kids with colour! View more recipe ideas here: www.swapit.net.au/recipes

Parent Orbit

The Parent Orbit app, which is connected to Parent Lounge, will improve our communication with each other as it offers a quick and easy way to receive notifications, view academic reports, book Parent/Teacher interviews, add and acknowledge Student Absences, view and pay School Fees, accept or decline excursions via the Events and Payments tile, update student details, email class teachers and much more.

Notices

Prep enrolment applications for 2026 are NOW required from our existing families. If you have a child due to commence Prep next year - born between July 1 2020 and June 30 2021 - you are asked to complete an ONLINE enrolment available on the school website (link in button below) by Friday 14 March 2025.

It is essential that we have our current families accounted for to determine how many positions may be offered to new families seeking enrolment. Any sibling enrolment applications received after this date will not be guaranteed a position due to the large number of applications received.

If you have any queries or concerns in regards to this process, we ask that you contact the school office.

All completed enrolments in the system by Friday 14 March 2025 will receive correspondence from Administration to schedule an interview time mid year 2025.

Community News