Newsletter - 28 July 2022

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

This week celebrations have occurred throughout Queensland to mark Catholic Education Week. The theme for Catholic Education Week this year is Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.  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.  As a child I was fortunate to attend a Catholic school for both my Primary and Secondary years of schooling.  Although my parents were not financially well off, it was important that their four children were educated in Catholic schools. 

Most teachers in Catholic Schools in the 1960’s were Religious Orders of Sisters who came from overseas countries. As a child, my peers and I enjoyed the order and discipline of our primary school of that era, and felt that it gave us all a feeling of belonging and self-worth.  We regarded our teachers not as friends, but as highly respected leaders and helpers, whom we were happy to obey, for we knew that they had our best interests at heart. I am forever grateful to these dedicated women who ensured that the values taught at home were lived out at school. These religious orders, supported by lay teachers, have made an enormous contribution to Australian learning and culture over the past 150 years. 

Since the 1960’s government funding has been provided and Catholic schools today are staffed by lay teachers committed to the goals of Catholic education.

Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of individuals 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.

Catholic Education

• Is a faith-based education which places the values of Jesus at its centre.
• Is a high quality, holistic education for 1 in 5 young Queenslanders, educating them to be well-informed, highly skilled and constructive members of the community.
• Values diversity and treats each student with dignity enabling them in turn to promote and respect the dignity of all.
• Nurtures in students a commitment to social justice and a critical social consciousness.
• Prepares students for global responsibilities through stewardship of the earth’s resources.
• Is an integral part of the local and universal Church.
• Occurs in welcoming, inclusive, and connected communities.

During Catholic Education Week 2022, Catholic education communities across Queensland are invited to celebrate and share all that has occurred within their school communities since Catholic schools were established in Australia over the past 200 years.

We at Emmanuel would like to invite all families to join in our Catholic Education Week celebrations by attending a community Morning Tea this Friday 29 July commencing 10.30am on the grassed area outside the Library (Mary Moore Resource Centre).  Mums, dads, grandparents and the wider ‘Emmanuel Family’ are encouraged to bring along a picnic morning tea which may be shared with your children during this time.  We look forward to you joining us in this special celebration.

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla 

Principal                   

RE Matters

TWO HORSES – A REFLECTION

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse, but if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting - one of the horses is blind.

His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in. This alone is pretty amazing, but if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a metal bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse listens for the bell and then slowly walks to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives……and at other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

(Author Unknown)

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

This week students in all classes have been praying for everyone associated with Catholic Education and making a special effort to be kind. Many have reported simple ‘Acts of Kindness’ that have helped to make them smile and to appreciate those in our community. Keep up the great effort everyone!

‘Kindness - It costs nothing but means everything’’

Congratulations to Miss Cordingley who was announced and acknowledged as our nominee for the Spirit of Catholic Education Award at Chapel Mass this morning.

Tomorrow we are having our annual Catholic Education Week Picnic and all members of our Emmanuel Family are invited to bring along morning tea to share with their children. It will take place in the playground between the library and Year Two/Prep building at 10:30am. It is always a lovely way to end the week and we look forward to sharing this celebration with lots of our families.

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 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

While the eyes of the world are turning to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, we are hosting our 13^th Emmanuel Games.  Students in all year levels are currently training for their class events. These are not the conventional sporting events of the Commonwealth Games, but rather virtues, qualities and behaviours which are within the potential of every student and which enhance everyday relationships. Competition will begin on Monday 1 August and special Medal Presentation Ceremonies will be held on Friday 12 August. Students will be applauded for their achievements and recognised with bouquets and medals.

Be sure to check out the clips, on our Emmanuel Facebook page, that introduce the game and events.

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 centers 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.

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.

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 – SERVICE

“Give your hands to serve and your heart to love.” (St Teresa of Calcutta)

Service is giving to others and wanting to make a difference in their lives. It is looking for ways to be helpful instead of waiting to be asked. The needs of others are as important to you as your own. When you work with the spirit of service, you give any job your best effort. You make a real contribution. People who want to be of service can change the world.

“For we are co-workers in God’s service.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

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.

BOOKWEEK

This year the theme of the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week is “Dreaming with eyes wide open…”  We are looking forward to celebrating Bookweek on Friday 26 August with a “Dress as your favourite book character day”. On this day all parents are invited into classrooms at the beginning of the day to read or listen to a student read their favourite books.  Each classroom will have a display linked to one of the CBCA Shortlisted Books for 2022 for you all to see when you visit your child/rens classroom.

Janine Refalo

Assistant Principal Curriculum

APA News

STUDENT PROTECTION SCHOOL CONTACTS

At Emmanuel, any concerns or reasonable suspicions about a student’s safety and wellbeing or the behaviour of a staff member or volunteer which a student considers to be inappropriate, will continue to be managed in accordance with Rockhampton Catholic Education Student Protection Processes.

The Student Protection Contacts at Emmanuel are

Geraldine Rostirolla (Principal)
Noeleen Kliese (APRE)
Kristy Flor (School Counsellor)
Monica Salter (OSHC Co-ordinator)

Further information about Rockhampton Catholic Education's commitment to Student Protection is available here:  https://www.rok.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/student-protection/

MOBILE PHONES

Students require written permission to have a mobile phone at school. Once permission is given, the following conditions apply:

• All mobile phones are to be handed to the classroom teacher at the beginning of the day. Children may collect their phone at the conclusion of the school day.
• Mobile phones are to be turned off before being handed to the teacher.
• Phones will not be accessed during school hours.
• Ownership of mobile phones is to be clearly indicated.
• The school accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to mobile phones which are not handed in.
• All personal devices (e.g. iPods, iPads and Nintendo DS) are strongly discouraged from being brought to school. Children are sometimes tempted to photograph classmates which breaches our school media and privacy rules. If students are required to bring devices to school for educational purposes (e.g. as part of an assignment), the same conditions apply as per mobile phones.

If your child brings a mobile to school, please discuss the above-mentioned conditions with them so they are fully aware of the school’s expectations.

These conditions also apply to smart watches which can communicate with other devices.

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.  Please note there will be no assembly next Friday 5 August as it is our Beach Day.

Karla Falzon

Acting Assistant Principal Administration

Strategic Priorities 2022

COVID Update

The Arts

ROCK POP MIME

Last Friday 23 July, Emmanuel Catholic Primary School entered a team into the Lions Rock Pop Mime competition.  The team of Years 5 and 6 students performed their hearts out at the New Life Church against six other Primary schools in our performance entitled “Mary Poppins”. 

The results are below:

• Emmanuel – First Place
• St Mary’s – Second Place
• St Francis – Third Place

What an exciting night it was! Mrs Miller and I are so very proud of our Rock Pop Mime Team. Each student performed with energy and enthusiasm, and their enjoyment on stage brought us both to tears. Their conduct and sportsmanship was second to none and strongly reflected our Emmanuel values.

We would like to sincerely thank all parents who helped with costumes, making of props, hair and make-up. A special thanks goes to Cindy Grant for Bert's chimney sweep, Jodie Connelly for the amazing fireplace, Amanda K for her coordination of hair and make up, and Mrs Byron, Cindy Grant and Mrs Logan for your assistance with costumes during rehearsals.  Another big thank-you to our support staff, Brooke Tomkinson, Jancey Jensen and Chloe Mullen who were there every step of the way to assist us.

We would like to perform our entry at school in the next few weeks but if you missed our performance on the night it can be watched here:

https://youtu.be/nv_JbX15qdQ

Finally, a huge thank you to our wonderful students who owned the stage on Friday night.  We hope you were as proud of them as we all were.

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Larissa Simonsen

Rock Pop Mime Co-Coordinator

Around the School

MACKAY MATHEMATICS CHALLENGE 2022

Last Friday, ten students from Years 5 and 6 participated in the annual Primary Schools Mathematics Competition. More than thirty schools from across the region came together to compete in a challenging half day of high-level mathematical problem solving. The teams were required to work together in two separate challenges that demonstrated skill and understanding of mathematical concepts, as well as a high level of teamwork, in order to solve the problems. The students that represented Emmanuel did extremely well and while they did not win the challenge, they represented both themselves and the school with pride and had fun in the process. Mr. Steel was very proud of both the teams and the fantastic teamwork that they demonstrated at the event. A very big thank you to the parents for arranging the transportation of the students and also to Mrs. Mallise who assisted with the facilitation of the day.

BOOKFAIR

Our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair 8 – 12 August in the 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!

Term 3 School Fees

Term 3 School Fee Statement were emailed out last Friday, 22 July, with payment for those paying the account in full each term due by the 5 August.  Statements can also be viewed via your Parent Lounge Portal.

The Year 6 Seaforth Pines Camp, and the Year 5 Leadership Camp were also charged on this fee statement.  Please refer to correspondence from the Year Level Camp Co-ordinator in relation to payment of the camp charge.  We remind parents that school fees are required to be up to date, including the camp payment prior to students attending.

CONCESSION CARD DISCOUNT

Parents/Carers with an eligible means tested Australian Government Health Card or Pensioner Concession Card will automatically receive a 70% discount against the Tuition portion of their fees.  Please follow the link for further information regarding eligible cards.  If you require any further information, please contact the Finance Office.

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

ST ANNE'S GARDEN PARTY

More tickets have been released for the St Anne’s Garden Party.  This is a great day out and is a LADIES 18+ event only.  Get your tickets for a day of great food, music and fun.

Garden Party Ticket Link - www.trybooking.com/CAKAT or scan the QR CODE

Raffle Link - www.rafflelink.com.au/stagp22 or scan the QR code