Newsletter - 15 July 2022
From our Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to school and to the start of a new term. Isn’t it great to be back! The holidays have been enjoyed and appreciated by everyone and there are lots of refreshed teachers enthusiastically back at school. It was a pleasure to catch up with the students earlier in the week and hear just how many of them are pleased to be back at school.
A quick look at the Term 3 calendar would suggest that we will be busy once again and as usual there are numerous activities planned for what will be an exciting ten weeks ahead. We look forward to such highlights as Challenge Cup, Northern Suburbs Athletics Carnival, NAIDOC Mass and celebrations, Catholic Education Week, Feast Day Celebrations, Dance Fever, Maths Olympiad, Father’s Day Liturgy, to name just a few.
Joining us for the next ten weeks are several students from Central Queensland University who are completing their final Practicum and Internship before entering the workforce as registered teachers. We wish them all the very best in their chosen vocation and are sure that they will experience many enriching and wonderful moments over the coming weeks.
Last week the Mackay community celebrated NAIDOC Week. As a school community let us take the time to remember the history and culture of our beautiful country, Australia. NAIDOC Week does not mean that we only celebrate and recognize our past for one week in a year. This must be integrated and incorporated into all that we do as it does not stand in isolation. Through the sharing and passing down of stories, we gain an appreciation and knowledge, as we acknowledge and develop an understanding of the past.
I wish everyone in our school community a tremendous term ahead in which we can all live out our motto: “God With Us.”
SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON
From Meditations for Parents Who Do Too Much
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. Rachel Carson
Parents who do too much may try to do more for their children than there are hours in the day. As a result, we end up depleted and frustrated and may feel as if we have failed. The day begins with lists and wishes. It ends with more lists and unfulfilled wishes.
Our children need us as more than just “doers.” If all we do is drive them to lessons, prepare them the healthiest snacks, buy them the latest toys, we are missing the point. What our children need from us is our companionship. If we forget this we will lose more than just hours in a day.
Lord, I will try to take time out today to rediscover what it is to be a child. If I restore my sense of wonder, I may replenish my spirit and give my child a great gift.
Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,
Geraldine Rostirolla
Principal
RE Matters
THE ECHO – A REFLECTION
A son and his father were walking in the mountains. Suddenly, the son fell, hurting himself on a rock and screamed: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he heard a voice repeating, "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yelled: "Who are you?"
Back came the same answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, the boy screamed: "Coward!"
Back came the same reply: "Coward!"
He looked at his father and asked: "What's going on?"
The father smiled and said: "My son, pay attention."
And then he yelled to the mountain: "I respect you!" The voice answered: "I respect you!"
Again the man yelled: "You are a champion!" The voice answered: "You are a champion!"
The boy was amazed, but did not understand.
So his father explained: "People call this echo, but really this is life. It gives you back everything you say and do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want to be treated with kindness, treat others with kindness. If you want more co-operation in your team, become more co-operative. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give you back everything you have given to it.
“Smile, and the whole world smiles with you - Be the change you want to see in the world.”
(Author Unknown)
NAIDOC WEEK 2022
NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements. It is also an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.
This year the theme of NAIDOC Week is: ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’
At Emmanuel we will recognise NAIDOC Week next week with various activities. Our Year 1-6 indigenous students, school captains and student leaders will participate in the Mackay Catholic School’s NAIDOC Mass.
DANIEL MORCOMBE CHILD SAFETY CURRICULUM
Throughout this term, our school will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum with students in all year levels. The curriculum is based on principles of best practice in child safety education and centres around three key messages: Recognise, React and Report. Through a series of lessons, students will learn how to recognise, react and report when they are unsafe or find themselves in situations that can have a significant detrimental effect on their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.
Recognise
The focus of lessons in all classrooms next week will be recognise - the first key safety message of the curriculum. Recognise is about being aware of your environment. Children, young people and adults can all learn to take notice of what is happening around them to help keep themselves safe. Everyone can use clues, such as the things we see, hear, smell or feel to help protect us from harm and keep ourselves safe. Clues can be simple things that warn us about a danger, e.g. hearing a fire alarm or seeing smoke, that prompt us to react. We can also use clues to prepare for potentially unsafe situations.
When we recognise that there might be a safety problem we can take steps to move away or reduce the risk or develop strategies that can help keep us safe. For instance, if you are in a busy environment such as the shopping centre or a local event where there are big crowds, you might consider what you and your child could do if you became separated. Strategies could include: going to a highly visible pre-determined meeting spot; writing your phone number on a card and placing it in your child’s pocket; identifying who your child could approach if they become lost, e.g. police, staff at a shop/booth.
It is important that the key safety messages of the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum: Recognise, React and Report are reinforced, both at school and home. I encourage you, wherever possible, to talk with your child about safety to help them stay safe now and in the future.
Information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum can be found at:
https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculums/school-curriculum/Pages/danielMorcombe.aspx.
For resources and information about child safety go to:
https://danielmorcombe.com.au/fact-sheets/
https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/
SAVE THE DATES
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
Students participating in the Sacramental Program will receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time this weekend. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they complete their preparation and receive the sacrament.
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, updates and to book for weekend Masses go to the Catholic Parishes of North Mackay and Farleigh Facebook page.
VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT – FRIENDLINESS
“Be friendly and all of life will reflect friendliness.” (Rajneesh)
Friendliness is being a friend. It is taking an interest in those around you. It is going out of your way to greet others and to speak to them with courtesy and respect. When you are friendly you welcome and include others. You make people feel valued, appreciated and like they belong. You share your belongings, your time and yourself. Friendliness is the best cure for loneliness. No one is left out when you are friendly.
“Friendship is not a big thing; it is a million little things.” (Unknown)
Noeleen Kliese
Assistant Principal Religious Education
Curriculum Corner
ICAS ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENTS FOR YEAR 5 AND YEAR 6 STUDENTS
We are delighted to inform you that Emmanuel Catholic Primary School will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS AssessmentsTM this year.
ICAS is designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.
We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment, that has been running for 40 years. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision.
ICAS Assessments are now online, a move that reflects a sector-wide transition to online assessments. This allows greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results.
Learn more about ICAS here: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas
Parent payment system
Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments parent payment system (PPS) for Maths, Science and English for Year 5 and 6 students only. Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. Please use the following details to register your child no later than Friday 29 July.
Access details for parents
Your school access code is: | RKA839 |
Your parent page link is: |
These assessments will take place during the weeks of:
- ICAS English Monday 15 August to Friday 19 August (Term 3 Week 6)
- ICAS Science Monday 22 August to Friday 26 August (Term 3 Week 7)
- ICAS Maths Monday 29 August to Friday 2 September (Term 3 Week 8)
Specific dates and times will be confirmed after registration depending on number of students involved.
Please email Janine Refalo (janine_refalo@rok.catholic.edu.au) once you have registered and paid for your child’s participation, to confirm that I have received notification confirming your child’s registration.
NATIONALLY CONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY
All schools in Australia are required to participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability.
In 2015, the first full national collection of data on school students with disability occurred in all Australian schools. From then on, this data collection occurs in every school, every year, along with other school data collections.
What does disability mean?
This national data collection reinforces the actions required of schools under the National Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005. The significant change with this collection is the use of a broader definition of disability than the one currently used to identify and allocate resources in educational systems. As a result, of this shift in the definition we believe that more students in our community, may be considered eligible for identification in the data collection. These laws mean that schools and education systems are required to make, where needed, reasonable adjustments for students with disability.
For further information please follow the link below which will take you to the Parent and Carers factsheet page from the NCCD Portal:
Janine Refalo
Assistant Principal Curriculum
APA News
SCHOOL JUMPERS
With the cool weather we are currently experiencing it is important that all students have a school jumper available for use. Please note: Secondhand school jumpers can be purchased from our uniform shop.
DANCE FEVER – STARTING NEXT WEEK
The Dance Fever program will once again take place this term for all students from Prep to Year 6 as part of the school’s Arts / HPE curriculum. Dance Fever will be held each Monday from Weeks 2-9. Experienced dance teachers will conduct lessons with each year level.
The cost of the program is $37.00 per student for the eight-week term and will be included in the Term Three account.
We look forward to another year of Dance Fever here at Emmanuel.
STUDENT PROTECTION – USE OF TOILETS
At Emmanuel, we are committed to the safety of all students in our care. It is imperative that students understand the importance of using the toilet facilities at school in an appropriate manner. Classroom teachers regularly remind students of these behaviour expectations and use this poster (which are in all school toilets) to ensure all students understand these important messages. We ask that you discuss these expectations at home with your children, so that we are all doing our part to keep children safe at school.
DESIGNATED TOILETS FOR PARENTS
At Emmanuel we have a lot of volunteers, parents and contractors visiting our school each week. Therefore, it is important that we provide toilet facilities for their use. From a student protection perspective, we ask that parents do not use the student toilets. There are two toilets designated for the use of all parents, toddlers, and visitors. These are the disabled toilets which are located beside F Block (Year 6 Classrooms and OSHC room) and at the end of R Block (Year 1 Classrooms). There is a yellow sign on the doors of these toilets advising parents that they are welcome to use this facility.
STUDENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected by their peers as Student Representatives for Term Three. Badges will be presented at our Week 2 Assembly.
6K Jacob Deguara and Libby-Rose Griffiths
6S Isaac Scully and Piper Armstrong
6T Paolo Lo Presti and Millie Morris
Karla Falzon
Acting Assistant Principal Administration
Playground After School Rules
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 after school and remain on school grounds are reminded that their children 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 2022
COVID Update
Tuckshop News
Our very busy Tuckshop is ugently in need of more volunteers. At this point we have no one on our emergency list to cover volunteers who become unavailable. Please phone the office if you can help.
Please Note: It is imperative that volunteers DO NOT attend tuckshop if they are unwell, have anyone at home who is unwell or have been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19.
Angie & Carly
Tuckshop
Notices
Community News
