Newsletter - 02 February 2023

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

Our year has begun very smoothly with lots of enthusiastic children and teachers making a very happy start to the year. Our newest group of students in Prep appear to be bright and happy to be here.  The students in Year One have already been a revelation to their teachers, demonstrating their reading, writing and counting skills in the first couple of weeks of term. After visiting classes this week, I have noticed that heads are down and there is much thinking and written activity taking place.  It is my hope that this enthusiasm will flow on throughout the year and that all students will embrace this new school year with enthusiasm, determination and a positive mind set.

The beginning of the school year is a good time to ask for your support for our important procedures that we have in place at Emmanuel:

• Communication is an important vehicle between the family and the school and I ask that you take the time to read the weekly newsletter and the correspondence sent home from your child’s teacher.  These forms of communication are our main means of keeping you informed with what is happening around the school.

• If you have an issue or a concern, please know that we will try and deal with this together.  If you need to discuss a concern with the teacher please take the time to make an appointment as the mornings and afternoons can be busy for teachers.  It is also important to know that the teacher is the first point of contact in dealing with your concerns.  You are always welcome to speak with a member of the leadership team after speaking with your child’s teacher.

• School begins at 8.30am with morning duty commencing at 8.10am.  Prep students are supervised in the area outside the Prep classrooms until the bell, while all other students are supervised in the areas in which they are playing, e.g., Fr Joe Carroll oval, playground and tuckshop area.  We ask that children place their bags in the port racks provided outside their classroom and wait until 8.10am before commencing play.  If you are late or need to pick up your child from school early you are required to call into the office to sign your child in or out.  All visitors to the school are required to sign in/out at the office whenever they are in the school grounds.  This can seem an onerous task, however this procedure allows us to be aware of who is on the school grounds at all times.

• Stop, Drop, Go Zone:  School concludes at 3.00pm and supervision is provided at our designated pick-up areas which include the Stop, Drop, Go Zone and the Bus Zone.  Teachers are on duty to ensure that your child is safe at all times.  Using the car pick-up area correctly is vital to the children’s safety.  Please turn left into the Stop, Drop, Go Zone, stay in your car at all times (unless parking in the angle car parks provided) and turn left only to exit onto Tolcher Street.  Patience is important at all times as we know children can be impulsive.  Please remember the car park off Baxter Drive within the school grounds is for staff only.  Parent/caregiver access into this car park endangers the lives of the children. Thank you to those families who faithfully follow our parking procedures and always do the right thing in and around the school.  It is such a busy place and your patience is always appreciated.

• School Uniform:  At the beginning of each school year students present themselves in correct school uniform.  This year is no different in that parents have gone to great lengths to ensure that children are outfitted appropriately.  I thank you for your efforts and support in this important school procedure.  Your assistance in ensuring that the school uniform is worn correctly each day is appreciated.  If for any reason your child is out of uniform, I ask that you send a note along to your child’s teacher to explain the reason for not being in correct school uniform.  Please clearly name all items of clothing and property with your child’s name – this enables us to return lost items to the owners.  Remember that long hair must be tied back each day, hair ties to be school colours only, one set of studs or sleepers, a wrist watch and a chain and crucifix/cross are the only jewellery to be worn.  Please ensure that sports shoes are predominantly white (as per our school guidelines).

I thank you for assisting us with our procedures above.

Over the next couple of weeks, teachers will be inviting parents to come along to Parent Information Evenings.  These evenings are absolutely critical in establishing communication between home and school and in beginning the all important parent teacher relationship. These evenings are a great opportunity to enrich the ‘partnership’ between school and home, all working together to achieve the best possible results for our children.  I encourage all parents to come along and support your child’s teacher in their journey with your children.

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla

Principal  

SCHOOL TV

Emmanuel Catholic Primary School is very excited to introduce a new initiative to help support the wellbeing of our students. After all, happy and well supported students are better equipped to learn and succeed.

We know that it can be difficult and time consuming for parents to source credible information when it comes to ongoing wellbeing support strategies for their children.   To aid with this we have partnered with SchoolTV, an online resource designed to empower parents to better deal with the challenges for raising happy, well and resilient young people.

Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, the SchoolTV resource has now been implemented at our school to assist parents and caregivers in navigating the challenges of modern-day parenting. This outstanding resource delivers credible information with practical strategies featuring video interviews with leading specialists, supported by a host of resources from key wellbeing organisations.

SchoolTV offers parents a fresh approach to the issues and pressures faced by children and young people in our communities throughout Australia.

Some topics featured include:

• Youth Anxiety
• Raising Girls
• School Refusal
• Positive Parenting
• Digital Reputation
• Managing Screen Time
• Cyberbullying

We encourage you to visit our SchoolTV site and view the content but more importantly use this resource if and when needed to support your child and family through particular needs as they may arise. At a time when the wellbeing of our youth has never been more challenged, we are pleased to be able to offer this accessible, credible and empowering resource to our families.

Many thanks again to the support provided by Catholic Education Rockhampton Northern Region to get this up and running across all schools in the region.

RE Matters

IT’S UP TO YOU – A Reflection

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. Our focus this term will be on one of MJR’s key messages/strategies: GREET, SPEAK, TREAT.  This asks us to welcome and include others, speak and act with kindness and respect, and treat others as we would like to be treated (Colossians 3:12-14). If we are able to do this, we will Make Jesus Real in our everyday lives and relationships.

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.

Our first WOW Wednesday was held yesterday, and we are happy to report that lots of families took the opportunity to pack lunches in reusable containers.  We only put out two bins and they were not even half full.  Our goal of ‘Bin Free’ Wednesdays is closer to becoming a reality.  Thank you everyone.  We are really looking forward to seeing what we can do next Wednesday.

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.

CO-OPERATION

Co-operation divides the task and multiplies the success.  (Anonymous)

Co-operation is working together for the good of everyone.  It is a willingness to stand side by side and use the different gifts each of us have to offer. When we co-operate, we give and accept help freely and have the humility not to do everything ourselves.  Co-operation is about sharing the load. It is joining others in order to do something that cannot be done alone.

I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things for God.

(St Teresa of Calcutta)

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. 

Curriculum Corner

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT - SAVE THE DATE

APA News

MOBILE PHONES

It is preferred that mobile phones remain at home and not be brought to school. However, if your child needs a mobile phone for travel purposes, 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. Phones are not to be used at the Bus Stop or Car Pick Up.
• 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 (eg. iPads) 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 (eg. 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.

Please Note: These conditions also apply to smart watches which have the ability to communicate with other devices.

STUDENTS WITH ASTHMA

If your child identifies as having Asthma, we require you to complete the Asthma Student Information Sheet for 2023.  Please complete the forms sent home end of 2022 and return to the school office as soon as possible with the relevent Asthma medication.

It is important that we update this information each year to comply with Workplace Health and Safety Policies and provide your child with the care and attention they require.

Thank you to those who have already supplied their child’s forms and Asthma medication.

If your child, no longer suffers from Asthma, please contact our Administration Secretaries by emailing enm@rok.catholic.edu.au to update your child’s details.

HAIR / JEWELLERY

A big thankyou to those parents who followed up so promptly in regards to correcting uniform issues last week.  The vast majority of students are meeting the high standard of uniform expectations which we pride ourselves on at Emmanuel.

There are two main issues which are required to be addressed by a small number of students, and we ask parents to do so by Monday 6 February:

• 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.  Primarily these should be gold or silver:  NO COLOURED OR GLITTERY EARRINGS.
• Hairstyles:  Hair should be clean, brushed and generally neat – not unruly.  Extreme hairstyles are not acceptable – particularly MULLET CUTS.  Please ensure your child meets expectations by the beginning of Week 3, Monday 6 February.  If these requirements cannot be met by this time, please contact the school office.
• A reminder that hair past collar length should be tied up – this applies to ALL STUDENTS

UPDATING DETAILS

If there have been any changes to your contact details (e.g. address, phone number, email address) please update these in Parent Lounge.  This will ensure that you are up to date and receiving all correspondence from our school.

INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY FORM (ICT)

These forms were sent home with all students last week. Please read and discuss this document with your child/ren and ensure the BACK PAGE ONLY is signed and returned to the classroom teacher ASAP.  Students cannot access technology until this form has been returned.

UNIFORM SHOP

A big THANK YOU to Charlotte Doumergue and Samantha Percival who once again have kindly volunteered to open the Uniform Shop each week. Lots of second-hand uniforms for sale. Lots of sizes - CASH ONLY (small change preferred).

VOLUNTEERS AT EMMANUEL

We love our volunteers at Emmanuel and cannot operate without you. We have a large number of parents/grandparents who assist in various ways around the school including reading in classrooms, assisting in the tuckshop and helping in the Library. As part of our WHS obligations, each volunteer is required to read a brief Volunteer's Induction at the beginning of each year and to sign and acknowledge that they agree to abide by these procedures. It is also very important that volunteers sign in and out of the school grounds at the office whenever they are assisting around the school. The Volunteer's Induction document is located at the front office. Should you wish to volunteer in any capacity you will be required to read and acknowledge these guidelines on your first visit to Emmanuel this year – please see the front office staff when you arrive. Thank you for your continued support and assistance. The students and staff truly do value and appreciate it.

Amanda McDonald

Assistant Principal Administration

Traffic Information

URGENT NOTICE

STOP, DROP, GO  ACCESS – KEEP CLEAR

Please note that parents must not queue from the beginning of the Stop, Drop, Go driveway though to the Keep Clear area (pictured below), so as to allow Kindy parents access to the Kindy carpark.  Kindy pick-up occurs between 2.30 – 3.00pm, and it is imperative that the entrance to the Stop, Drop, Go remains clear so as to allow vehicles to enter this designated space.

Strategic Priorities 2023

COVID Update

Sporting News

Welcome back to another jam-packed year of HPE and School Sport. In 2023, there are a large number of sports students will be able to nominate for and compete in. Please discuss the following list of events with your child. It will be crucial students collect and return permission notes before closing dates to ensure they do not miss out on their opportunity. Students will be notified via the morning bulletin when notes become available for collection. These notes will be available from me each day during lunch eating periods.

Once again, this year, students are offered the opportunity to prepare and qualify for the Emmanuel Cross Country Team. Qualifying students will compete in the Northern Suburbs Cross Country competition on Tuesday 28 March. Upon completing our school trials, I will provide further information regarding Northern Suburbs to qualifying athletes. Emmanuel's trial will take place on Friday 24 March.

Term One also offers students the opportunity to participate in a Wednesday Afternoon Touch Football competition held at the Norris Road touch football fields. The competition is an opportunity for students to play against other schools in the region alongside their peers. Games commence Wednesday 15 February and conclude Wednesday 29 March. Notes were distributed this Friday, nominations close Monday 13 February.

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on my school email: luke_dodson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Luke Dodson

HPE Co-Ordinator

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.

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

MECC SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM 2023