Newsletter - 28 August 2025

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

Let the consequences do the teaching!

This is the title of an article that I have included in this week’s Newsletter by Michael Grose, one of Australia’s leading parenting experts. I hope you find it as thought provoking as I did.

Behavioural consequences are a parent’s best friends. When consistently applied, consequences will improve kids’ behaviour and increase personal responsibility.

Too often parents will over talk or repeat themselves to get cooperation from their kids. Too much talk and most modern kids tune out. Alternatively, parents who protect their kids from the consequences of poor or selfish behaviour aren’t doing them any favours as they are robbing them of terrific learning opportunities. I love the notion of behavioural consequences as they teach kids to take responsibility for their lives and to make smarter choices. Parents can use two types of consequences – logical and natural consequences.  A logical consequence is used more frequently in family situations. They require adult intervention and are used when their behaviour disturbs other people. A child who makes a noise in the family room is asked to leave; children who refuse to clean their toys lose them for a period of time; and teenagers who come home late from a party lose the right to go out next time.

The 3 R’s of Consequences

Consequences often involve the withdrawal of a privilege or a right. For example, a teenager who spends more time than agreed on Facebook, may lose access to technology for a day or two. Restitution, or making up to someone for unfair treatment or for loss of a possession is another form of consequence. A child who wilfully breaks his sister’s toy may make full or part payment for a replacement. In both these examples the consequences are related to children’s misdemeanours, and are reasonable and respectful of their dignity.

A natural consequence involves NO adult interference. For instance, a child who leaves an excursion note at home will miss the excursion; a child who spends all his pocket money on the first day will have nothing for the weekend and a child who oversleeps and misses the bus walks to school. In these examples, children learn from the direct consequences of their own decisions and thus they are not protected from negative outcomes from their parents.

“It’s your fault, Mum!”

Some kids are experts at manipulating their parents to rescue them from experiencing the consequences of their poor choice.They’ll blame their parents for not getting them out of bed on time, or for not reminding them about their responsibilities. It’s best to stand back and let the consequences work their magic! Note you shouldn’t use natural  consequences when safety is an issue. Act decisively to ensure your child is safe.

Here are four simple tips to help make sure your consequences are effective:

Tip 1: Set consequences like a neutral cop

Issue a consequence using sarcasm or anger and your kids will be angry at you. Issue it like a neutral cop free from emotion or without being heavy-handed and your kids are more likely to be mad at themselves.

Tip 2: When possible, negotiate consequences prior to engaging in new activities

If your young person is going out for the first time with friends at night, talk about their behaviour and home time. Also discuss the likely consequences if kids don’t stick to the agreement. As a rule, kids are more likely to abide by consequences when they’ve had a say in deciding them.

Tip 3: Avoid life sentences

Ban a child from going out for a few days rather than leaving the duration open-ended. Set a time-frame for the consequences and remember the second of the 3R’s – reasonable – means that parents shouldn’t go overboard with consequences.

Tip 4: Don’t acquiesce to terrorism….or guilt

If your child issues a threat saying something like, “There’s no way you can make me come home at six o’clock,” don’t rise to the bait. Deflect it by saying, “We’ll talk about this tomorrow.” Don’t give into the threats of running away or non-cooperation. “I hope you don’t run away. It's great having you at home. I want what is best for you.” Avoid stating what you would love to say, which may be something like, “Yeah, try running away. You wouldn’t last inside two days before you are back here begging for a good feed and comfortable bed!!”

Bite your tongue instead, and let the consequences do the teaching!

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla

Principal  

RE Matters

‘US’ NOT ‘ME’ – A REFLECTION

An anthropologist proposed a game to the children in an African tribe. He put a basket of fruit near a tree and told the children that the first one to reach the fruits would win them all.  When he told them to run, they all took each other’s hands and ran together. Then they sat together, sharing and enjoying the fruit.

Surprised, the anthropologist asked them why they had run like that, when one of them could have had all the fruit.

They replied, “UBUNTU! How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?”

* Ubuntu (oo-boon-too) is a Zulu or Xhosa word.

   It means, "I am because we are."

(Author Unknown)

THE COMMON GOOD

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

The Common Good is one of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. It means working together to make sure everyone has what they need to live a happy and healthy life. This includes things like food, a safe place to live, education, and being treated fairly. By practising the Common Good, we can make the world a better place.

When Jesus was on earth, He taught us to love one another, just like He loves us. The Common Good is about showing this love by:

• Caring for others, especially those who are struggling.
• Sharing what we have, so everyone has enough.
• Working together, because we are stronger when we help each other

VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT – UNITY

“So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole world.” (Unknown)

Unity is inclusiveness. It helps people work and live together peacefully. When you practice unity, you feel connected to everyone and everything. It is achieved when we value each other. The joy of one is the joy of all. The hurt of one is the hurt of all. The honour of one is the honour of all.

“Where there is unity, there is strength.” (Unknown)

CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY

We will be celebrating and thanking God for the gift of fathers at a special prayer celebration on Thursday 4 September.  It will be held in the Marist Centre at 9:45am.

This time of prayer will be followed by a picnic and all dads are invited to join us in the playground between the library and Year Two/Prep building at 10:30am. Please bring a chair or rug and morning tea to share with your child/ren.

We look forward to welcoming lots of fathers and father figures to our prayer celebration and picnic. Hope to see you there.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION

Pope Francis designated 1 September as the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. On this day our prayers should focus on the environment, our stewardship of the world’s resources, people and places affected by natural disaster and those who are devastated by famine and exploitation. We also offer praise and thanksgiving to God for all His gifts of life and the blessings bestowed upon us.

In 2025 we celebrate the tenth World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and the theme, chosen by Pope Francis for this Jubilee Year, is ‘Seeds of Peace and Hope.’

It is an invitation to reflect on how our actions, both big and small, can plant seeds for a better future - nurturing creation, fostering peace, and bringing hope to our world. The image of seeds reminds us of Jesus’ parables, such as the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–23), where small seeds of faith and goodness grow into something abundant and life-giving when nurtured.  We all have a part to play.

Loving Creator,
You have blessed us with the gift of creation,
a world full of beauty and life.
Help us to plant seeds of peace and hope,
to care for the Earth with love and respect.
May our actions bring healing to the planet,
and inspire others to join us in this mission.
Let us walk together in faith,
spreading Your light and hope to all generations.
Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

SEASON OF CREATION

Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude.  (Pope Francis 2014)

The Season of Creation is an ecumenical season dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles. It is also a call to action, a call to work together for the planet and those we share it with. The Season begins on 1 September and concludes on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October. ‘Peace and Creation’ is this year’s theme.

Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home. We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert for our children.”

(Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, 2021).

How will you protect the environment for future generations and stand in solidarity with those affected by ecological harm?

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.

It is important that these key safety messages 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.

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.

Noeleen Kliese

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Curriculum Corner

BOOK WEEK 2025 -  FRIDAY 29 AUGUST

Book Week Celebration – Tomorrow!

Tomorrow promises to be a wonderful day as we celebrate Book Week across the school! Students are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite book characters, ready to bring stories to life in a colourful and imaginative way. Families are warmly invited to join their children in the classroom for a special shared reading time from 8:30am - 8:50am. 

Throughout the day, students will enjoy a range of exciting activities - from guessing the number of book worms in the jar, to a Readers Theatre performance of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and a fun-filled Book Trivia challenge to test their knowledge. It’s set to be a joyful celebration of storytelling, creativity, and the magic of books!

Cultivating a Love of Reading at Home: A Message to Our School Families

In a world filled with distractions, one of the most powerful gifts we can offer our children is the habit of reading. Not just for academic success—but for joy, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer, reminds us: 'This isn’t just poetic - it’s practical. Children who read regularly develop stronger language skills, deeper empathy, and greater confidence. But more than that, they begin to see reading not as a school task, but as a personal pleasure.'

Why Reading Every Night Matters?

Establishing a nightly reading routine is one of the simplest ways to build strong reading habits. Whether it’s a picture book, a chapter from a novel, or even a comic, the act of reading together or side by side - sends a powerful message: READING IS VALUED HERE.

Miller writes: 'That encouragement starts at home. When children see their parents reading, talking about books, or making time for stories, they begin to internalize reading as part of their identity.'

Here are a few simple ways to foster reading behaviors at home:

•     Create a cozy reading space - a corner with cushions and a basket of books.
•     Let children choose their own books - even if it’s not what you’d pick. Choice builds ownership.
•     Talk about books - ask what they liked, what surprised them, or what they’d change.
•     Model reading - read your own book while they read theirs. It’s powerful to be a reading role model.

As Miller beautifully puts it: 'Let’s help our children discover those love letters. Let’s make reading a nightly ritual, a shared joy, and a lifelong habit.'

OPTIMINDS

Opti-MINDS is a creative problem-solving competition that encourages students to think, create, and communicate.  Participants work in teams to solve a long-term open-ended challenge from one of the following categories: Language Literature, Media Communication, Science Engineering, Social Sciences. They also participate in a spontaneous challenge on the competition day.

This Sunday we have two teams joining the fun. They have been thinking creatively and working together for six weeks to solve their long-term challenges. One team will participate in the Language Literature category and the other in the Media Communication category.

We wish both teams all the best for the Challenge Day on Sunday and thank Ms Jeffcoat, Mrs Shepherd and Mrs Clark who have facilitated these teams.

AUTHOR VISIT RECAP - NIKKI TOWNLEY

As part of our Book Week celebrations, our Year 1, 2, 3, and 4 students were excited  to welcome guest author Nikki Townley, who shared her vibrant picture book 'No Drama Cane Farmer'. The story follows Nikki’s own family on their sugar cane farm, offering a charming and educational glimpse into the journey from cane to sugar.

Told in playful rhyme and brought to life with colourful illustrations, the book showcases local products, iconic cane trains (locos), harvesters, and the sugar mill—giving students a real taste of life in the cane fields. 

Students enjoyed asking questions, learning about the writing process, and discovering how a real-life farm became the heart of a published book. 

A huge thank you to Nikki for inspiring our young readers and writers today! If you would like to purchase Nikki's book, please access the link below!

Brooke Tomkinson

Assistant Principal Curriculum (Acting)

APA News

JEWELLERY AT SCHOOL

As per the Uniform List:

- Girls are permitted to wear only small sleepers or studs in the lobe of the ear – one pair only. NO drop earrings are to be worn, in accordance with Workplace, Health & Safety. 

- Boys are not permitted to wear earrings.

- A small cross and chain around the neck is permitted, preferably long enough to be worn inside the uniform for safety purposes. 

- Rings are not permitted under any circumstances.

- Fitbit / smart watches may be worn, however, communication / messaging functions MUST be disabled.

YEAR FIVE CAMP

Our recent camp to Kinchant Dam was a great success! The Year Fives had an opportunity to dive into valuable lessons in teamwork and leadership. There was a range of activities that allowed students to feel challenged, communicate with each other and build their confidence.

They participated in the Giant Swing, Climbing Wall, Team Challenge, Low Ropes and Archery. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and growth throughout this camp, and are so happy to hear the positive comments and stories from the memories that were made.

A huge thank you to our staff - Year 5 teachers, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Abercromby together with Mr Charles, Mr Battaia, Mr Dempsey, Mrs Carter and Mrs Byrd - for supporting our students throughout the camp. Congratulations to all of our Year Five students for the exemplary behaviour exhibited on camp - we are all very proud of you!

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SCHOOL DISCO - THURSDAY 04 SEPTEMBER

DISCO SAUSAGE SIZZLE

The P&F will be cooking and selling sausages on bread for $2 each. Please pre-order your sausages for catering purposes only by midnight on Wednesday 03 September via the TryBooking link below. 

CASH payment is to be made on the night

Amanda McDonald

Assistant Principal Administration

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

MDSS INTERSCHOOL CRICKET COMPETITION

The Emmanuel Cricket team continue to impress with another win in Round 3 of the MDSS Interschool Cricket season. They defeated Mackay West State School 249 - 173. Congratulations to our boys! I am so proud of your commitment, enthusiasm, effort and sportsmanship. Keep it up for the final two rounds of the season. 

HARRUP PARK COLOURING IN COMPETITION

For the month of August, Harrup Park is running a fun Colouring-In Competition for all young cricket fans from Prep to Year 6. Entries to this competition via school have now closed. You are welcome to take your child's entry to Harrup Park and drop it into reception before the end of August.

EMMANUEL OZTAG TEAMS

The visit from Oztag development officers Courtney and Gordon earlier this term has generated a lot of interest in Oztag throughout the school. Emmanuel will be working with Mackay Oztag to potentially put together some school teams. If your child/ren are interested in playing Oztag in a team with other Emmanuel students please fill out the note and return it to the sports box in the library no later then Friday 29 August so we can work with Mackay Oztag to finalise teams. 
Season Details:

• $95 per player + $20 yearly membership fee
• 10-week season (10 games) starting Wednesday 8 October
• Wednesday afternoons from 4:00pm
• No training required
• Runs for the duration of term four. There will be one game played in the first week of the school holidays when State Schools are still at school.
• This competition is open to all students 5 years and over
• Teams can be boys, girls or mixed
• Teams must have a minimum of 11 players, 8 on the field

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that this competition needs parents to volunteer in order to be successful. Teams will not be able to register without a parent delegate. The parent delegate's job is to manage the team and sub students on and off during games. Emmanuel school staff will not be present to supervise this competition. 
Thank you to those who have already returned their Oztag forms. Emmanuel and Oztag staff will now work together to finalise teams. We will be in touch soon with details on how to register your child.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL 
Our Year 2-6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival will be held at the Pioneer Pool on Thursday 23 October. 

Permission/Nomination Forms will be emailed to the parents of students in Year 2 and in Years 3-6 on Monday 1 September. Please complete the form/s giving permission for your child/ren to participate in the carnival. 

A form needs to be completed for each child, even if they are not participating in events.

Year 2 students will participate in NOVELTY EVENTS in the wading pool and on the grass. Students who can competently swim are also invited to nominate in a WIDTH EVENT. 

Year 3-6 students may compete in either width OR length events, not both. 

Please Note: Points towards Age Champion are only awarded for length events, and only 50m swimmers are eligible to compete in the relays. 

Students swim in the age group that they turn in 2025.

Only students who are nominated by parents via the emailed form/s will be swimming on the day.

Forms must be submitted by 2:00pm on Wednesday 17 September. 

We are looking forward to another wonderful carnival. Parents and friends are encouraged to attend and cheer on the students as they vie for house points and a day offriendly competition.

PREP AND YEAR ONE - BLUE WATER LAGOON VISIT - THURSDAY 23 OCTOBER
While the rest of the school are at the pool, our Prep and Year One students will enjoy a visit to the Blue Water Lagoon. Information and permission forms will be sent home to the parents of these students in the coming weeks.

Lisa Bottcher

HPE Teacher

School Choir

P & F News

Outside of School Hours Care

VACATION CARE PROGRAM

Alex Martin

OSHC Co-Ordinator

Finance

2026 SCHEDULE OF FEES

The 2026 Fee schedule is now available 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!

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

CASH ONLY - Please remember to bring small change when purchasing from the Uniform Shop.

Community News