Newsletter - 27 January 2023

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

Welcome back everyone!  I hope that your time spent together as a family over the Christmas holidays was a very relaxing and enjoyable one for you all.  It is wonderful to be back and to see lots of familiar faces among parents and students.  It has also been great to meet new parents and students who have joined our Emmanuel family for the first time.  There is always some anxiety and nerves when approaching a new school year, but I am sure that you will find our school community to be a welcoming and friendly place.  I hope that your association with Emmanuel Catholic Primary School is a long and fruitful one.

The first day of school went very smoothly and I thank all parents for the ‘behind the scenes’ work and the expense that went into ‘readying’ the students for school.  So too, I thank our staff for their own thorough preparations to ensure a smooth start for one and all.  We have begun the new school year with 580 students which includes 81 Prep students. 

In 2023 we see a number of new faces in the staff at Emmanuel:

• Mrs Nichole Nicholson joined us as a graduate teacher in July 2022 and is teaching in Year 1.

• Mrs Sarah Thomas has joined us from Emmanuel Kindy and is teaching in Year 1.

• Ms Tiana DeThomasis previously taught at St Joseph’s School, Blackall and is sharing a Year 3 class with Mrs Laurette Harmer.

• Miss Emily McCusker joins us from St John’s School Walkerston and is teaching in Year 4.

• Mrs Kara Shepherd joined us as a graduate teacher in July 2022 and is teaching in Year 5.

• Mrs Sherri Genninges is sharing a Year 6 class with Mr Dylan Steel.  She is no stranger to Emmanuel as she previously taught in Year 4.

• Samantha Strydom and Elysia McDonald will be working as teaching assistants in our Learning Support team.

• Mrs Sharon Martin has been appointed as the new Guidance Officer at Emmanuel.  She works each Monday – Friday.  Her office is located within the Library.

• Ms Jennifer Nicholas has been appointed to the position of OSHC Co-Ordinator and will commence in her new role in the near future.  Jenny has previously worked in the role of OSHC Co-Ordinator at MacKillop.

We also welcome back Mrs Amanda McDonald to the role of Assistant Principal, Administration after having spent the past 12 months at Holy Spirit College as Dean of Year 7.

We wish our new staff all the best for the year ahead and look forward to supporting them in their role as educators. 

I would like to congratulate and thank all parents for your co-operation with parking and traffic procedures.  Thank you also to those parents who are using the laminated name cards in their vehicles which assists us in enabling ease of communication allowing for the smooth flow of traffic.  Pick up time is always a challenging time and it is important that everyone is patient when in the queue at the Stop, Drop and Go.  Modelling patience sets a great example for your children to follow.  A reminder to parents whose children access the Outside School Hours Care service of an afternoon that parking in the Staff Carpark at the back of the Administration Building and within the designated Administration Carpark at the front of the school is NOT PERMITTED.  This also applies to parking during VACATION CARE.  Parking is provided within the Stop, Drop and Go area when collecting children in the afternoon or during Vacation Care. 

May 2023 be a year filled with many blessings and opportunities to realise the potential of our community – parents, staff and students.

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla

Principal  

RE Matters

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR – A Reflection
I dreamt I stood in a studio and watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child's mind and they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher; the tools she used were books and music and art;
The other a parent with a guiding hand and a gentle and loving heart.
Day after day the teacher toiled with a touch that was deft and sure
While the parent laboured by her side and polished and smoothed it o’er.
And when at last their task was done, they were proud of what they had wrought,
For the things they had moulded into the child, could neither be sold nor bought.
And each agreed they would have failed if each had worked alone,
For behind the parent stood the school and behind the teacher, the home.
(Author Unknown)

BISHOP’S IN-SERVICE
Our annual Bishop’s Inservice Day will be held on Friday 17 February. This is a pupil free day and all staff will
be attending. The school office will be closed.
This year’s theme will focus on Evangelisation and Faith Formation. The speakers will include Bishop Michael McCarthy and Diocesan Director of Catholic Education, Miss Leesa Jeffcoat. Staff will participate in a variety of workshops. It is always a great day for personal faith development and all staff appreciate this opportunity to focus their attention and learn something new.

YEAR SIX LEADERSHIP INDUCTION PRAYER CELEBRATION
Each year we come together to acknowledge, commission and congratulate our School Captains, House Captains, Student Representatives and Year Six students. This prayer celebration will take place in the Marist
Centre on Friday 10 February at 8:50am. All families and friends of our school community are invited to
attend.

MAKING JESUS REAL
MJR emphasises the spirituality of the everyday. Every day is an MJR Day at Emmanuel!
This poster, which is displayed in all classrooms, reminds students of the simple things they can do every day to Make Jesus Real in our school and in their life at home

WOW WEDNESDAY - WIPE OUT WASTE

Help us answer God’s call to love others and to care for His beautiful world by supporting WOW Wednesdays. Each Wednesday we have a ‘nude food’ day – NO disposable packaging please.

By packing lunch in containers that can be REUSED or RECYCLED we will REDUCE waste and help to save the planet. Plastics and other disposable packaging will be sent home in lunchboxes.

All families are encouraged to take up this challenge and help us to achieve our goal of ‘Bin Free’ Wednesdays. Our first WOW Wednesday will be next week on Wednesday 1 February.

MINI VINNIES RECYCLING CHALLENGE
Our Mini Vinnies group challenges everyone to once again make a difference by recycling containers brought to school in lunchboxes and purchased at the tuckshop. By putting plastic bottles, Glee cans and popper boxes into the recycling bins near the tuckshop and in the P-2 eating area we can help others and the environment.
A big THANK YOU to the many students who have already started recycling these containers.

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.

WHAT IS CO-OPERATION?
Co-operation is working together for the good of everyone. It is a willingness to respect others and to follow rules which keep everyone safe and happy. Co-operation is being helpful to one another, sharing the load. It is
joining others in order to do something that cannot be done alone.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. (Helen Keller)

Noeleen Kliese

Assistant Principal Religious Education

CELEBRATING EMMANUEL
In 2023 we will be celebrating 40 years of Emmanuel.

We have lots of parents who were Emmanuel students, and we invite them and all members of our school
community, past and present, to remember and celebrate with us this year.

Our anniversary has inspired a new Emmanuel themed newsletter item, which will allow us to share our story
and describe our identity. Be sure to look for it each week. It will be a great way for us to recall our history and
celebrate belonging to this wonderful school community. This week we start at the very beginning ……

Curriculum Corner

Welcome to the 2023 School Year! Many of you would have read several helpful hints to support your child’s successful transition into the new school year and I would like to thank you for preparing your children so as they are feeling ready and keen for the school year ahead.
Although stationary; new uniforms and lunchboxes are very important tools to instil a preparedness for school within our children, I would like to share with you one of the most important tools you can provide for a successful school year…READ

The proven benefits of Reading with your child are:
- Relationship Building: Reading is a relationship, and it is the bond between children and
parents that is enhanced through reading together. It only takes 20 mins a day to build
this relationship.
- Children’s reading improves: Research is conclusive – when parents support teachers
with their child’s reading habits learning outcomes improve.
- Children read more: Students who read with their parents are better prepared for school.
They begin school with knowledge of book language and familiarity with concepts of
print.
- Children’s self-esteem improves: Knowing someone cares enough to take time out of a
busy day to provide undivided attention around a book makes a significant difference to
how students perceive themselves as learners and readers
- Reading unites families through shared stories: When a family reads together, stories
form a common ground for communicating. Stories bind families and help students
make sense of where they fit in the world.

Not only does parent involvement have a specific and profound impact on children’s reading, but also on children’s language and literacy learning in general. It is through interactions with parents and carers that children learn new vocabulary, seek clarification of new understandings, and learn to comprehend their expanding worlds. Talk is the key to reading and writing success. Talking with children (walking to school; at the table; in the car; bedtime) has a significant effect on literacy learning in general.

At Emmanuel, all classrooms begin the day with reading, this time is known as the “Read to Self” component of our Daily 5 practice. During this time, children are encouraged to read a book for enjoyment to encourage all children to foster a love for reading. We have feedback from many parents since introducing this routine that many students have developed or rekindled their love of reading. Research shows that regular reading routines such as this at home and school turn children from being able to read into “avid readers”.
If you would like further information about supporting your child’s reading at home please contact me via the front office.

Janine Refalo

Assistant Principal Curriclum

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)
Amanda McDonald (Deputy Principal)
Noeleen Kliese (APRE)
Sharon Martin (School Counsellor)
Jennifer Nicholas (OSHC Co-ordinator)

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

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 the poster below (located 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 lots 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 at the back of the Library and 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.  Hope this helps you to not be ‘caught short’!

STOP DROP GO ZONE

ANAPHYLAXIS AWARENESS

Parents should be aware that there are a number of students at the school who are anaphylactic. Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction. It occurs when a person is exposed to an allergen to which they are sensitive.

There are many potential allergens that can result in an anaphylactic attack, however the most common (and most publicised) are nuts and eggs.

Schools have a duty of care to take reasonable steps to keep students safe at school. With regard to anaphylaxis procedures, our school ensures we meet our duty of care by:

·        Training staff in the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to respond in the event of an anaphylactic attack.

·        Ensuring a general use Epipen is available for use by first time anaphylactic sufferers.

·        Ensuring Individual Action Plans and individual Epipens are available in an emergency, when they have been provided by parents.

·        Communicating known allergens to camp staff if anaphylactic students are attending camp.

·        Encouraging parents of relevant year levels not to bring known allergens if a severe anaphylactic is present in that year level.

·        Encouraging all parents not to send food containing the most common allergens.

The school cannot and does not claim to be nut or egg free. It is not advised schools do this, because a school has no day to day control over what food is placed in lunch boxes in the home and is not in a position to be checking lunch boxes during the school day and determining what the ingredients of all items in the lunch box are. 

However, we do request that parents avoid sending products that contain nuts or eggs to school.

Exposure to allergens is impossible to manage in public places (such as a school); the most effective risk management procedures with regard to anaphylaxis are:

·        Parents of anaphylactic children educating their child so that, as they become more independent they are more likely to identify their own signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic emergency and raise the alarm.

·        Parents of anaphylactic children educating their child about their allergies and how to minimize the risk of exposure (such as not sharing food or utensils if allergic to food, or precautions outdoors if allergic to insects).

PARENTS OF ANAPHYLACTIC STUDENTS

 It is also requested that parents of anaphylactic children:

·        Notify the school of the student’s allergies and risk of anaphylaxis and provide appropriate medical information.

·        Ensure that the school is notified of changes to the student’s medical condition or medication order.

·        Ensure the student has an anaphylaxis emergency kit which includes their Action Plan completed by the student’s doctor and the student’s personal adrenaline auto-injector.

·        Monitor the expiry date of the student’s adrenaline auto-injector and replace if used and before it reaches its expiry date.

Your support with such procedures is truly appreciated and will greatly enhance the creation of a safe learning environment for the increasing number of children who are enrolled with life threatening allergies. 

BIRTHDAYS AND TREATS AT SCHOOL

Here at Emmanuel, we like to acknowledge children’s birthdays at school.  Teachers do this by providing a birthday sticker for students and the class sings “Happy Birthday.”  Birthdays are also acknowledged every second Friday at our whole-school Assembly.  When it comes to providing birthday treats from home, we need to be mindful of the amount of sugar children are consuming, as well as food allergies and intolerances.  If parents wish to acknowledge a birthday at school, they are asked to provide only healthy food options such as fruit platters (eg: pieces of watermelon).  Cakes laden with icing/lollies, bags of lollies and ice-blocks are discouraged at school and should be reserved for birthday parties. Unfortunately we do not have the freezer space to store ice-blocks. 

Parents are also asked to NOT send whole class treats (such as chocolates/marshmallows/candy canes) for events such as Easter, Christmas, End of Year. This practise puts teachers in a difficult position when students are unable to partake of treats due to food allergies.  You can also appreciate that some parents are not happy for their child to consume unknown food-stuffs, and for this reason parents are asked to be mindful and respect the decision which has been made by the school for the safety and well-being of all students.

THANK YOU – HAIR, JEWELLERY AND UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS

A big thank you to the vast majority of parents who have ensured that students have returned to school in the correct uniform. Please find below the school’s expectations in regards to hairstyles and jewellery. Since returning from holidays there are some students who are in breach of these guidelines.  We ask that you read carefully and ensure that students meet expectations by FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY.

HAIR GUIDELINES

HAIRSTYLES ARE TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENT

Students attending Emmanuel are expected to wear their uniform in a way which reflects pride in their school and in their own personal appearance.  Accordingly,

• Hairstyles should be appropriate to this expectation – extreme hairstyles are not acceptable.

• Hair should be clean, brushed and generally neat – not unruly.

NOT PERMITTED:

• Variations to hair colour
• Cut less than gauge three
• Boys’ hair longer than collar length and fringe past the forehead
• Spiked cuts
• Wedge cuts
• Track cuts
• Multiple braiding
• Rat’s Tail
• Mullet Cuts

• If hair bands or scrunchies are to be worn, they are to be gold or blue of the school colours.  No decorative hair bands are to be worn.

IF PARENTS ARE UNSURE OF SCHOOL UNIFORM OR HAIR STYLE REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL OFFICE FOR CLARIFICATION OR REFER TO OUR WEBSITE FOR UNIFORM GUIDELINES.

JEWELLERY GUIDELINES

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.

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

If a child is absent from school, it is imperative that the school is notified. There are two options for notification. Firstly, in the case of a planned absence (eg: holidays, eisteddfod) an email or note to the teacher outlining the date/s of absence would suffice. In the event of a sudden absence (eg: sickness) a phone call to the school is required. PLEASE NOTE THE ABSENTEE NUMBER IS 4994 8256.  This is a direct line and is available 24 hours a day.  It is very important that parents notify the school BEFORE 9.00am 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.  All students arriving late, or leaving early, are required to be signed in/out of the office by a parent or guardian.

PARENT HANDBOOKS/PARENT LOUNGE

New families to the school will receive a copy of the Parent Handbook towards the end of next week. A copy of the handbook will also be available on Parent Lounge. New families will also receive their Parent Lounge login details at the end of next week.

STUDENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected by their peers as Student Representatives for Term One.

6K: Dorothy Pearce and Jack O'Brien      

6SG: Jada Scott and George Carless  

6T: Elliana Ness and Harrison Scriha        

FORMS TO BE COMPLETED

INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY FORM (ICT)

Information and Communication Technologies Code of Practice (Prep - Year 2 and Years 3-6) forms have been distributed today to all students.  Parents are asked to please read and discuss these with your child/children.  The BACK PAGE ONLY OF THE ICT form then needs to be signed and returned to your child’s teacher at your earliest convenience. If it is not returned, students will not be able to access the computers until you have done so.  Thank you in advance for the prompt return of this document.

Amanda McDonald

Assistant Principal Administration

Strategic Priorities 2023

COVID Update

Awards

Welcome to all new students Prep - Year 6 at Emmanuel.

Notices

SCHOOL APP

School zone safety – advice for motorists

With school back, it's a timely reminder to drivers to slow down in school zones and pay attention at children’s crossings.
Coming back after holidays it can be easy to forget what to look out for. School zone signs are displayed as you approach the school and shows both the speed limit and the times you need to reduce your speed around the school. Childrens crossing are identified by children crossing flags, which are displayed near crossings before and after school hours.
When the crossing is supervised, you as a motorist must:
* wait until all pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing
supervisor has returned to the footpath
* abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.
If the crossing is unsupervised, you as a motorist must:
* give way to pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders on or entering a children’s, pedestrian or
marked foot crossings
* give way to pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders on or entering a road you’re turning into
* give way to pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders on a slip lane
* give way to pedestrians in a share zone
* travel at a speed allowing you to stop safely at a crossing if needed
As a driver, it's important to make sure you give way to all pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders such as skateboards, e-scooters. You must also give way to pedestrians using a motorised mobility device such as a motorised wheelchair or a mobility scooter.

Some of our most vulnerable road users are children getting to and from school, so it’s important to slow down and abide by the crossing rules, as it won’t make much difference to the trip time, but it could very well save lives.
Visit the Street Smarts website to find more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

Community News