Newsletter - 15 June 2023
From our Principal
Dear Parents,
It is a wonderful experience to see something that takes our breath away. It may be a beautiful night sky, the majesty of a mountain, the might of the ocean or the music of a dawn chorus. We call this emotion ‘awe’ and researchers have discovered that feelings of awe can actually make our bodies and minds healthier and stronger.
For our own well-being, we need moments when we are struck with wonder. For that moment, time seems to stop and we experience feelings of pleasure, amazement and excitement.
Often our deepest feelings of awe are found in simple moments of nature – the intricacy of a butterfly’s wing, a perfect rose, a thunderstorm, a waterfall, galloping horses in a paddock, a new-born baby.
We all need to find feelings of awe in the world around us. We can do this by exploring our natural world and learning more about it, getting a sense of something bigger than ourselves, opening our eyes to the wonders around us.
How can we find moments of awe? Spend time out of doors – there are marvels at every step. Visit a museum to learn about the vast world. Change your routines so you see different places and views. Watch people doing amazing things – in sports, in works of art, in dance and music. Many people do incredible things and they are around us every day.
A child gazes in wonder at the moon. Our world is full of such wonders as long as we keep our eyes open and our minds full of curiosity. Teachers and parents are fortunate, each and every day our children engage in experiences that provide us with the opportunity to witness them learning, watch them experience something for the first time, see them overcome something that may be difficult. Each one of these moments is a privilege that all of us should savour. Our children are only children once, enjoy the moments of awe that they create.
There are lots of good things in our world. There are lots of great things. There are also many things that are truly awesome. Before you use that word again, try to find something that has filled you with the inspiring feeling of awe.
Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,
Geraldine Rostirolla
Principal
RE Matters
ENOUGH – A REFLECTION
EMMANUEL SAYS THANK YOU
We will be farewelling Fr Stephen at a special prayer celebration tomorrow, Friday 16 June. It will take place in the Marist Centre at 10:00am. Please join us to thank Fr Stephen for the gift he has been to our school community and to wish him God’s blessings as he begins his next adventure. All welcome.
REPORTING ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
With report cards being available next week, it is timely to remind everyone about Religious Education and what it looks like in our school. Like all Catholic schools in the Rockhampton Diocese, Religious Education at Emmanuel includes the teaching, learning and assessment of the RE Curriculum and the Religious Life of the School.
Our RE Curriculum is organised into four strands – Sacred Texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian Life. It is taught and assessed like all other subjects. Ratings and comments on report cards will reflect what the student knows, understands and can do. Don’t be surprised to see comments about Scripture, the relationship between God and the Jewish people, life in First Century Palestine, the mission and ministry of Jesus, the Spirit of God and the prayer life of believers on Semester One report cards.
Remember we are not assessing or reporting on student’s faith or belief in God.
The Religious Life of the School includes our Catholic identity and culture, how we pray, worship and celebrate and the ways in which we promote and support social justice and action. Our Feast Day Mass and Beach Day, Mission Fair, Lenten Challenges, Soccertober and Stations of the Cross in Holy Week are just some of the highlights.
WATER BUCKET CHALLENGE – WALK FOR WATER
Did you know that more than 2.2 billion (1 in 3) people around the world, do not have water security – they don’t have access to clean drinking water, water is scarce and/or they need to make long, sometimes treacherous, journeys every day to collect water.
At our Athletics Carnival yesterday, a group of students and staff walked around the school carrying buckets of water. We did this in solidarity with the large number of women and children who walk for water every day. We started with about thirty students. As the walk continued, some dropped out and others joined. When we crossed the finish line some 110 minutes later, we had walked just over six kilometres. Some of the students, including Lexie, Demi, Danio, Lotti, Alice and Nylah walked from beginning to end. We are so proud of them. They gave up the chance to cheer their team mates on, to raise awareness for people they will never know.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who added a donation to our buckets. We hoped to raise awareness, but with your help we were also able to raise funds to support the work of CARITAS, who work in communities around the world, where water continues to be a life and death issue.
For more information visit:
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
Students participating in the Sacramental Program will receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time next month. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they complete their preparation and receive the sacrament.
PEER SUPPORT
Last Friday our Peer Support groups met to investigate what is important to us at Emmanuel. Activities focused on three of our Core Values – Respect, Dignity and Honesty.
Tomorrow students will explore the other three – Love, Justice and Faith.
Please support this valuable program by discussing the content of weekly activities with your children. Be sure to ask them about what they learnt about our school and how they enjoyed working in their group.
FAREWELL FR STEPHEN
A Celebration Mass to farewell Fr Stephen will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church on Wednesday 28 June at 6:00pm. It is in the first week of the school holidays. It would be great to see lots of Emmanuel families there to give thanks for the gift that Fr Stephen has been to our parish and school community. He has often talked of his dream for a 100 strong children’s choir and this is our opportunity to help make it happen. All welcome!
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 – EXCELLENCE
The road to EXCELLENCE is always under construction. (Unknown)
Excellence is doing your best. It is giving your very best to any task you do or any relationship you have. Excellence is effort guided by a noble purpose. It is a desire for perfection. It is giving careful attention to every job, and to the people you care for.
Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. (Pat Riley)
Noeleen Kliese
Assistant Principal Religious Education
One of the many wonderful things that we celebrate as a school, is the large number of Emmanuel students who have become Emmanuel parents. Here are some of them. Be on the look out for more next week.
Curriculum Corner
SEMESTER ONE REPORT CARDS
A reminder to parents to please check that you can sign into Parent Lounge prior to reports being released next week. If you have any queries, please contact our school office.
Report cards will once again be available through Parent Lounge from 4:00pm on Friday, 23 June.
- To access Parent Lounge, open your internet browser and type in the URL for Emmanuel Catholic Primary School website: ecps.qld.edu.au
- Click on Parent Lounge under Quick Links.
- Click on the Parent Lounge icon.
- Login with your unique ID number and the password remains the same as previously used.
The goal of the reporting process is to support student learning progress by providing parents and carers with clear, individualised information about:
- the learning expectations for the student
- the student’s achievement against expected standards
- how well the student is engaging with expected learning
- progress that has been made since the last reporting period
- strengths that the student has demonstrated and areas of challenge that may require more attention
- ‘next steps’ that will help the student improve.
The semester report is one part of a feedback loop, along with regular and consistent written and verbal communication such as on-going feedback on tasks, parent-teacher interviews, and daily opportunities for parents to discuss questions and concerns with teachers. The report reflects an on-balance judgement about the quality of student learning, based on evidence collected during the reporting period.
We are delighted to inform you that Emmanuel Catholic Primary School will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS competition this year.
What is ICAS?
ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies. This year, students in years 5 and 6 have the opportunity, to participate in English (14 – 18 August) and Mathematics (28 August – 1 September).
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.
We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. All students must be registered by Friday 28 July, 2023.
Learn more about ICAS here. (https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas)
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:
- Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (com/products-icas)
- Read the terms and conditions here:(icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Parents-PPS-TsCs_final.pdf)
- Go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)
- Enter our school’s access code – TFE076
- Enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
Please note that the ICAS tests shown for selection are at the school’s discretion.
After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.
ICAS Results and Certificates
We will notify you of the date(s) that we run ICAS at the school and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. Once we have received your child’s ICAS certificate, we will send it home with your child. The back of the certificate shows ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”, that you and your child need to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent
Janine Refalo
Assistant Principal Curriculum
APA News
RUGBY LEAGUE DAY – WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE – WEAR YOUR FAVOURITE FOOTY COLOURS!
Next Wednesday, 21 June, our Prep – Year 2 students will be involved in an NRL League Tag Gala Day here at school.
As this coincides with the second State of Origin Match, ALL STUDENTS from PREP - Year 6 are invited to wear their favourite footy colours on Wednesday 21 June.
GO THE MAROONS!
Amanda McDonald
Assistant Principal Administration
Strategic Priorities 2023
COVID Update
Sporting News
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Our Athletics Carnival, held on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, was a wonderful celebration of sport, competition, co-operation and team spirit. It was great to have so many parents and members of our Emmanuel family there to join the fun. Students participated in field events, ball games and running races, encouraging each other, and enjoying the day together. Our House Captains and Year Six students displayed fantastic leadership in the way they organised the cheering, assisted younger students and worked with staff. A big thank you to Mr Dodson, his team of helpers and all who contributed to making the day such a fabulous success.
CONGRATULATIONS to the following houses and students on their successes and trophies.
Marist Sisters Champion House – Castles
This is awarded to the house that accumulates the most points from track and field events and ball games.
Sue Stock Memorial Trophy – McBride
This is awarded to the house that displayed the best Spirit during the march past, war cry and in participation.
Faix Family Trophy – Castles
This is awarded to the house that accumulated the most points in relays.
Weissman Family Trophy – Castles
This is awarded to the house that had the most students participating in events - heats and finals.
Age Champions
These medals are awarded to the students who have accumulated the most points in their age group in track and field events.
Girls 9 years – Charlotte Clugston (Castles)
Boys 9 years – Luke Phegan (Carroll)
Girls 10 years - Lila Thomas (Wallace)
Boys 10 years – Xolani Chinula (Castles)
Girls 11 years - Joey White (Wallace)
Boys 11 years – Brodie Martin (Wallace)
Girls 12 years - Elliana Ness (Castles)
Boys 12 years – Griffin Simpson (Castles)
A big THANK YOU to our tuckshop ladies and all volunteers who assisted with the Sausage Sizzle and The Bean Bus Coffee Van.
GRANT ROVELLI RUGBY LEAGUE
Please note: Training for the Rugby League Gala Day will take place on the oval on Monday afternoon from 3pm-4pm, students are asked to bring their training gear to school on Monday.
Visual Arts
Many of the projects in Visual Arts require materials for us to complete. I would like to put out the call to families that if you have unwanted magazines you would be willing to donate, it would be greatly appreciated. Magazines can be dropped at the office.
Patrice Baird
Visual Arts Teacher
From our Counsellor
UNDERSTANDING GRIEF AND LOSS
Losing a loved one or a family pet is a difficult time for children. Children go through the stages of grief, but don’t yet have the emotional maturity to rationalise what is happening. Fortunately, there are practical strategies that you can guide your child through when they experience grief or loss. The leading specialists on School TV have compiled a selection of videos and fact sheets to help parents and kids in times like these.
Here are a couple of links to try
When Someone You Love Dies - A Booklet for Children
Beyond Blue Grief and Loss Factsheet
Stuck for Words. All About Grief Factsheet
Kindly,
Sharon Martin
School Counsellor
Around the School
CAPRICORNIA AFL REPRESENTATIVE
Congratulations to Elliana Ness, on representing Mackay in the Capricornia AFL team at the Sunshine Coast last week. Elliana was the only girl in the Capricornia Region to be chosen to represent the Queensland Team 10-12 years girls football to be played in Hamilton at the Nationals in August. Well done Elliana – we are so very proud of you!
WONDER - RECYCLING REWARDS
Help us collect bread bags so we can earn points to redeem on new RHSports equipment. Keep your empty bread bags and send them to school with your child/ren to place them in the Wonder's pink collection box located outside the Front Office, Prep area and Library.
Please ensure all crumbs have been removed from the packet prior to placing in the collection box.
School Choir
Outside of School Hours Care
FRIDAY 23 JUNE - CLOSURE
Please be advised that our OSHC Service will not be operating on the last day of this term (Friday 23 June) due to the unavailability of staff to support the operation of the Service. Should you require care for your child/ren on this day, you may wish to contact any of the other services within our region – St Joseph’s OSHC - 0417 710 251 (07) 4957 3355 (School Office), St Brendan’s OSHC - 0447 819 235 (07) 4969 5022 (School Office), MacKillop OSHC - (07) 4955 3600 (School Office) or St Francis Xavier OSHC - 0407 173 822. Thank you for your understanding. Please note that Emmanuel Catholic Primary School Vacation Care (June/July holidays) will be operating as per normal.
Awards
Congratulations to the students pictured below who received a Virtue Voucher in Week 8.
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
Mackay Show Public Holiday
Thursday 22 June
Please Note: Friday 23 June is NOT a Pupil Free Day at Emmanuel
SCHOOL APP
Community News
