Newsletter - 21 July 2022

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

Would you like to hear some consoling words? “There is no such thing as the ‘Perfect Parent’!” Thank heavens for that! The reason for this bold statement is that being a parent is one of humankind’s most difficult tasks. Of course, there are many pleasures and rewards but parenting can be demanding, challenging, exhausting - and there’s no time off.

What makes it challenging and demanding is that every day we act as a model for our children. Every day they are watching and learning from us; they learn from our actions and conversations, they absorb our attitudes and copy our expressions. They are doing this mostly without us being aware that it is taking place.

Our family is the first school for our children and we parents are powerful models. What we say and do, is recorded by our children and possibly used as evidence against us, if we are seen to be inconsistent in our expectations of them, yet fail to have an equal expectation of ourselves. Because we are the main caregivers, we provide the major influence on our children’s lives. We constantly demand respect from our children but it is not something that we should take for granted. Like most things of real value, respect has to be earned. The best way for us to earn respect is to give respect.

Our children, want to see us express real feelings in a healthy way, they want to see us handle anger in an appropriate way, they like to see us making healthy choices about our lifestyle, they like to hear us speaking positively about other people, they like to observe us showing respect when it comes to alcohol, prescription drugs and gambling. They like to witness positive reinforcements as to how they would like their life to be.

The Chinese have a saying that, “A young branch takes all the bends you can give it”. There is no doubt that our children will, in their adult life, be most appreciative of our parenting, if they bear no mental scars or character distortions because of our good intentions as their nurturing parents.

It is not easy to be a model for another human being but it is a big part of every parent’s role. There is a saying that, “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been”. Hopefully that will be the explanation for our wrinkles as our turn of role model gives way to our children making their own grown-up choices and, perhaps, taking upon themselves the mantle of role model.

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla 

Principal                   

RE Matters

FRECKLES - A REFLECTION

A woman and her young grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger stripes and leopard spots.

"You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella.

Embarrassed, the boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful."

The boy looked up, "Really?"

"Of course," said the grandmother. "Why just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face and softly whispered, "Wrinkles.”

(Unknown Author)

‘GRANDPARENTS ARE A TREASURE!’ (Pope Francis)

On 26 July each year we celebrate the feast of St Joachim and St Anne. They were the parents of our Blessed Mother, Mary and the grandparents of Jesus.  Their feast reminds us of the love, support and wisdom of our grandparents and that we should appreciate and give thanks for the blessing they are to each of us.

We give God thanks for the gift of grandparents and ask God to bless them.            

May God bless you and strengthen you,
may God be your hope and your guide,
and may He lead you gently
all of your days.             

CELEBRATING GRANDPARENTS

On 24 July, the Church celebrates the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Established by Pope Francis in January 2021, the observance is celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July, coinciding with the feasts of Mary’s parents and Jesus’ grandparents, Sts Joachim and Anne.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Catholic Education Week will be celebrated across Queensland next week. This annual event is held to promote the special ethos of Catholic schools and to highlight the great things that take place in Catholic schools every day.

The theme this year is ‘Communities of faith, hope and love.’

Catholic Education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.

The Diocesan Catholic Education Week Mass, with Bishop Michael presiding, will be live streamed from Holy Family Church, North Rockhampton on Wednesday 27 July at 12 noon. To join the celebration, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvFACUxgkhM

At Emmanuel we will be celebrating Catholic Education Week with a number of activities.

Throughout the week, students in all year levels will participate in ‘Acts of Kindness’.  They will be encouraged to make an extra effort to Make Jesus Real in the way they Greet, Speak and Treat others.

At Chapel Mass on Thursday morning, our staff nominee for the Spirit of Catholic Education Award will be announced and congratulated.

Assembly Prayer on Friday will have a Catholic Education focus. It will be led by 4W.

On Friday 29 July we will be having our annual Catholic Education Week Family Picnic. It will take place in the playground between the library and Year Two/Prep building at 10:30am.  Please bring a chair or rug and lunch to share with your children. It is always a lovely way to end the week and we look forward to as many parents as possible joining in this celebration.

SAVE THE DATES

BEACH DAY – WALKATHON

Our annual beach day and walkathon will held on Friday 5 August at Bucasia Beach. Each year this walkathon is held in conjunction with our Feast Day Celebrations. All students are asked to bring a gold coin donation which will be added to our ‘Walk for Water Challenge’ total collected at the Athletics Carnival.

The children will travel to and from Bucasia Beach Park by bus. They will participate in the walkathon and beach activities before enjoying a sausage-sizzle lunch, kindly donated and cooked by the Emmanuel P&F Association.

Students are to wear their SPORTS UNIFORM and bring their morning tea and a bottle of water. Every child must wear their school hat and is encouraged to apply sunscreen.

If your child carries medication (such as an asthma puffer) this must accompany them to the beach.

FEAST DAY MASS

On the 6 August each year the Church celebrates the Feast of The Transfiguration of the Lord. It is the Fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, and tells the story of Jesus being transformed and of God proclaiming from heaven that "This is my beloved Son." The Transfiguration is our school feast day and each year we gather at a special Mass to remember that ‘God is with us.’

Please join us in the Marist Centre on Tuesday 9 August to celebrate. Mass will begin at 9:00am.  All welcome.

A reminder to parents that the school office will be closed from 9.00am - 10.00am as ALL STAFF will be attending the Mass.

THE EMMANUEL GAMES ARE BACK!

Students are currently ‘training’ for their class events. More details about ‘The Games’, events and medal presentation ceremonies will be shared in next week’s newsletter. Can’t wait?  Ask your child/ren.

FIRST COMMUNION

Last weekend some of our Emmanuel students, surrounded by family, friends and members of the parish, received the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. Fr Stephen and Fr James blessed the communicants and encouraged them to invite Jesus into their hearts and lives. Certificates were presented at the conclusion of the Masses.

Congratulations to all students and families involved.  A big THANK YOU to the priests and the Sacramental Team for guiding and supporting them throughout the program.

A reminder to all students that Mass is celebrated in the Emmanuel Chapel at 8:00am each Thursday morning.  It is a great way to start your day. 

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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.

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. When we recognise that there might be a safety problem we can take steps to move away, reduce the risk or implement strategies that can help keep us safe.

It is important that the key safety messages of the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum 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/

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

Friendliness is being a friend, through good times and bad.  You take an interest in other people and make them feel welcome.  You share your belongings, your time and yourself.  Friendliness is the best cure for loneliness.  No one is left out when you are friendly.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  (Maya Angelou)

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 Assessments^TM 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

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:

https://www.nccd.edu.au/sites/default/files/fact%20sheet%20for%20parents%20guardians%20and%20carers.pdf

Janine Refalo

Assistant Principal Curriculum

APA News

FLASHING SCHOOL ZONE SIGNS

Great news! The Minister for Transport and Main Roads has notified our school that we have been chosen to have flashing school zone signs installed in the Tolcher Street school zone.  This will improve visibility of the school zone and serve as an active reminder for motorists to slow down when children are out and about.  A start date for this project is yet to be announced. 

CYBER SAFETY PARENT MESSAGES

With children using technology, it is important to be informed on what to do should there be a cyber safety concern.  Social media platforms have a reporting link; however, please find additional links below, which can be used when wishing to report a cyber security incident:

Australian Cyber Security Centre https://www.cyber.gov.au/

eSafety https://www.esafety.gov.au/report This site has some great resources for parents and students.

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

If a child is absent from school, it is imperative the school is notified.  There are two options for notification.  Firstly, in the case of a planned absence (e.g.: holidays, eisteddfod), a note to the teacher outlining the date/s of absence would suffice.  In the event of a sudden absence (e.g.: sickness) a phone call to the school is required.  It is very important that parents notify the school BEFORE 9.30am each day if their child is absent.  If notification is not received, a text message alerting parents that their child has been marked absent will be sent. The school absentee number is 49948256.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

It is sometimes essential to contact parents urgently for a variety of reasons, but particularly in case of illness or accident.  It is distressing to staff and the student concerned when we are unable to access anyone.  It is most important that the information we have on record as home and current work numbers is accurate.  It is also very important to have a back-up emergency contact who knows where to find you or who can take some responsibility for the situation.  If your work or home phone numbers change, please update these details via Parent Lounge, or alternatively email the Administration staff on ENM@rok.catholic.edu.au as we need the changes to be made in writing. 

TOYS AT SCHOOL

We are noticing that students are bringing toys to school, in particular Beyblades.  Please note, that toys are not to be brought to school unless being used for a Show and Tell session in the classroom.  Toys at school for a classroom presentation, are to be handed in to the teacher and will remain in the classroom for the day, where they will then be sent home with students at the end of the school day.  We ask parents to support the school in ensuring this practice is followed.  

SCHOOL PHOTOS

We have been notified that Emmanuel’s school photos are in the final proofing stage.  We will keep you informed via newsletters as we receive information for delivery.

STOP, DROP AND GO REMINDERS

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY

Assemblies take place in the Marist Centre at 8:50am every Friday.  Parents and members of the Emmanuel community are welcome to attend.  

Karla Falzon

Acting Assistant Principal Administration

Strategic Priorities 2022

COVID Update

Sporting News

CHALLENGE CUP 2022

The skies were clear, the wind was cold and everyone was excited for the Challenge Cup in Yeppoon last week. Two netball teams and a rugby league team made the trip south this year.

The Emmanuel Gold team played extremely well, displaying amazing teamwork and sportsmanship. Going down in our semi final but coming home with a lifetime of memories.

The Emmanuel Blue team had a wonderful competition. A big thank you to Ms Tracey Byron and Mrs Kelly Downes who coached the team during the carnival. Well done to all the girls for their amazing sportsmanship and enthusiasm. You all made the school proud!

The Emmanuel rugby league team were undefeated until the semi-final where they went down to St Benedict's Yeppoon in a close game. The teamwork displayed whilst away was amazing to see, they have walked away with a bunch of lifelong friends.

Thank you to all the parents who helped make this carnival a fun experience for all and thank you also to Zoe, Ava and Molly for umpiring the netball games. It was very much appreciated.

Miss Kirwan, Mr Steel and Mr Dodson had as much fun as the students and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of taking away our Year 5/6 students. 

The Arts

ROCK POP MIME

This year, Emmanuel has entered a team into the Lions' Rock Pop Mime competition.  The team has been coordinated by Mrs Larissa Simonsen and Mrs Linda Miller with help from other staff and parents.  The Rock Pop Mime is an event for primary and secondary schools in and around Mackay which is held Friday the 22 July at the New Life Church.  It is a dancing, acting and lip syncing competition. Our students in Years 5 and 6 have been so committed and are excited about their upcoming performance. Unfortunately, the venue does not allow a large number of spectators to come so there is a link to live stream the event. See below. We hope to showcase our performers at an upcoming assembly so that our whole school community can celebrate the efforts and commitments of our Rock Pop Mime Team.

Larissa Simonsen

Rock Pop Mime Co-Coordinator

Around the School

MACKAY MATHEMATICS CHALLENGE 2022

This exciting challenge, which will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School tomorrow, aims to foster an interest in creative problem solving, stimulate an interest in Maths and provide a day of intellectual fun in a scholarly atmosphere. Our Year Five and Year Six students have been training hard and are ready to represent themselves and Emmanuel with pride. We wish them and all teams participating good luck and clear thinking for the challenge. A big thank you to Mr Steel for preparing and supporting our students participation.

BOOKFAIR

Our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair on 8 – 12^ August at Emmanuel Library.

Times: Monday to Thursday 8am – 3:30pm and Friday 8am – 1:30pm.

You and your child will have the opportunity to explore a huge range of affordable books featuring characters and subject’s children love and want to read about. From newly released books and bestsellers to award-winning titles and perennial favourites.

This is also a great way for you to learn about and discuss your child's interests and every book sold benefits our school, adding resources to our library and classrooms.

Scholastic Book Fairs help us show students the wonder of reading. After all, when children choose their own books, they will be more excited to read, and they will naturally read more!

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

Community News