Newsletter - 05 October 2023

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

Welcome back everyone!  I hope your time together over the past two weeks has been both enjoyable and relaxing.  The start of a new term is always an exciting time for both students and staff, particularly the final term of the school year.  I just love seeing all the children come back to school and to hear the buzz of excitement as they happily share holiday stories with their friends and teachers.

With only nine weeks to go before another school year ends, there is much happening between now and 01 December.  The end of year is always a very hectic time filled with orientation days, farewells, graduations, report cards and so forth.  Our Year Six students are eagerly preparing for their School Camp which will take place in the fifth week of term.

In the next few weeks we will be sending home information for School Packs – next year’s booklist, stationery and text books, already prepacked and delivered to school.  Any orders you place will be delivered to school before the end of the year for you to collect, and our school will receive a percentage of the value of the orders.  This is a great service to parents sponsored by our Parents and Friends Association.  Thank you to those wonderful people who work so tirelessly for our school community.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

At this time of the year, plans are also being made for 2024 and the key factor upon which planning is based is enrolment facts and figures.  Whether it’s class composition, number of classes, number of staff members or budget planning, it is essential to be as accurate as possible in predicting the number of students at Emmanuel come January next year.  Can I ask then that you keep us informed about potential moves between now and the beginning of the year?  Thank you for helping us to be well-prepared for the year ahead.

This Saturday, 07 October, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.  October is the special month devoted to praying the Rosary.  Over the next few weeks let us ask Mary to pray for us through the prayer that we all know.  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON                                        

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla 

Principal

RE Matters

THE LUCKY ONES – A REFLECTION

If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep,

you are richer than 75 percent of the world.

If you have money in your bank, your wallet, and some spare change,

you are among 8 percent of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,

you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture or the horrible pangs of starvation,

you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you are free to attend any meeting or gathering you want (political, religious, social)

then you are luckier than 3 billion people in the world.

If you can read this message,

you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all. 

(Unknown)

Check out this great clip that puts our lives into perspective:

OCTOBER - WORLD MISSION MONTH

This month we will be celebrating SOCCERTOBER.

It is an opportunity for us to focus our attention on those less fortunate than ourselves and to be grateful for all that we have. Students in all classes will explore Catholic Social Teachings and participate in activities that promote justice, prayer and action. Together we can make a difference and help others.

With a focus on Timor-Leste, ‘Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move’ is the theme of Catholic Mission’s appeal this year. Their goal is to support vulnerable children facing health and wellness challenges.

All classes will be setting goals related to ACTION, ATTITUDE AND GIVING. Students will be encouraged to be generous with their time, patience, assistance, cooperation and consideration. ‘An Attitude of Gratitude’ will be our MJR focus.

We will be having a SOCCERTOBER raffle. Tickets are 50 cents each or 3 for $1.00. They will be on sale from Monday. The winner will win a soccer ball for themselves and a soccer ball for their class.

The staff are also participating in a special coffee challenge this month.

OCTOBER - MONTH OF THE ROSARY                                                                                   

During October we are encouraged to pray this beautiful prayer and to reflect on the mysteries of our faith which it memorialises. 

The Rosary is the story of the New Testament. Through the beads we recall the joyful, sorrowful and glorious times in the life of Mary and Jesus. We follow Mary from the Annunciation, when the archangel Gabriel came to ask her to become the Mother of Christ, to the day she was crowned Queen of Heaven. We follow Jesus from the moment the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, through his childhood, his cruel death on the cross, the joy of Easter when he rose from the dead, to the day he ascended to Heaven in glory. We reflect on the teachings and miracles of Jesus.

We celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 October each year. Tomorrow classes will visit the chapel to pray the Hail Mary, meditate on the Mysteries of The Rosary and listen to some beautiful ‘Mary’ songs.

Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday this month, students and staff are invited to gather in the chapel to say The Rosary at lunchtime. We will pray for peace in our families, our school and in our world.

To find out more about The Rosary and how to pray it, go to: http://www.catholic.org/prayers/rosary.php

“The Rosary has a peaceful effect on those who pray it, leading them to see the face of Christ in others, to recognise other’s grief and to yearn to make the world more beautiful, more just, more closely conformed to God’s plan.” (Pope John Paul II, 2002)

Our annual Mission Fair will be held on Friday 13 October.  The staff has been busy organising stalls and we are all looking forward to another fabulous fair.  There will be Lucky Dips, Trash and Treasure, Photo Booth, Ice-creams, Friendship Bracelets, Fairy Floss, Balloons, Badges Galore, Coinline, Lolly Stall, Home Baking, Pick of the Stall, Lucky Duckies and lots of games and activities at this year’s fair. The Student Council and our Mini Vinnies group will also be helping out and running stalls.

Please encourage your child to do some jobs at home to earn their spending money for this exciting event. 

Parents are reminded to send coins and not just notes. It is also a good idea to send along a shopping bag to put all their goodies in.

Tickets in the raffle will be on sale Monday. They are great value at a cost of 50 cents each or three for $1.00.  Our Year Six Leaders will be selling the tickets before school and at lunchtime each day. The raffle will be drawn at the end of the month.

TRASH AND TREASURE

The Year Six students will be running a Trash and Treasure stall at the Mission Fair and are looking for donations of pre-loved books, puzzles, toys, games, collectables and knickknacks to sell. It is not too late to send items into school.  All items will be gratefully received. The Year Six students will collect them from classrooms daily. Thank you for your support.

FIRST COMMUNION

Congratulations to Sophie who received Eucharist for the first time at Mass last Saturday evening.  Sophie was unable to receive First Communion with her peers in July but was excited to celebrate with her family and the parish community last weekend.

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.

MONSTER CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

There may not be NORFAIR this year, but our parish is selling tickets in an amazing raffle. With a First Prize of $10 000, tickets are great value at $5.00 each. The raffle will be drawn on Saturday 16 December, just in time for Christmas. You’ve got to be in it to win it!

Tickets are available online, before and after weekend Masses and from St Joseph's Parish Office

(Monday - Friday 9am to 12:00pm - phone 49574855).

VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT – GENEROSITY

 “Generosity isn’t an act. It’s a way of life.” (Chip Ingram)

Generosity is one of the best ways to show love and friendship. You share freely, not with the idea of receiving something in return.  Someone showing generosity is happy to give time, money, food, or kindness to people in need. When you are generous, you put others before yourself. When you're forgiving, kind and gentle to people, you show generosity of spirit.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Winston Churchill)

Noeleen Kliese

Assistant Principal Religious Education

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)

School Counsellor (TBA)

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 this poster (located in all school toilets) to ensure all students understand these important messages.  We ask that you discuss these expectations at home with your child/ren, 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’!

CLASSES 2024

Term Four will see staff arrange classes for the 2024 school year. This process is very deliberate and time consuming, but also very important to creating balanced classes throughout the school. I would like to provide parents with some of the underlying principles that drive our decision making:

1. We always aim to create classes that are balanced in need.  We consider the academic, social, emotional, and behavioural needs of the children when placing them in a class.  This is never straight forward and often needs considerable thought. A past practice has been that students nominate a friend, but as you can appreciate this is very difficult to accommodate in a school with 588 students.  This practice will no longer be a deciding factor in class placements.

2. We consider the gender balance within the group, the body of knowledge that we have gathered on each child and any parent input that may assist.

3. We always endeavour to be just, fair, and compassionate to the needs of each child.

I invite parents to write to me if you have information about your child that may assist the staff in placing your child.  While I always stipulate that parents are not able to request certain teachers and groups of friends, there is often information that, as a school, we are unaware of and would benefit from knowing.  Please put your consideration in writing and send to the office addressed to Miss Rostirolla by the end of Week Three, Friday 20 October. 

I would also like to stress that our staff know their students very well and will do their very best throughout this process.  I urge parents to trust us in making informed decisions that we consider will be the best for each child.

Geraldine Rostirolla 

Principal

STUDENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES 

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

6K - Madi Miller and Chevy Thomson

6SG - Eva Chow and Thor Hutton

6T - Scarlett Turner and Connor Woodwell

Badges will be handed out at tomorrow's Assembly.    

Amanda McDonald

Assistant Principal Administration

Strategic Priorities 2023

Sporting News

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Our Year 2-6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival will be held at the Pioneer Pool on Thursday 26 October.

Permission/Nomination Forms were emailed to the parents of students in Year 2 and in Years 3-6 yesterday.

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. Students swim in the age group that they turn in 2023.

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 11 October.

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 of friendly competition.

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 have been sent home to the parents of these students.

SchoolTV

Be sure to check out School TVs via our school website or the tab below.

Around the School

FUTSAL WHITSUNDAYS TEAM CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Harrison.R, Elias.B and Nate.S (U8 team) and Cooper.B (U9 team) and who have been selected in the futsal nationals Whitsunday team.  Great effort boys – Emmanuel is very proud of your efforts! 

School Choir

YEAR 3 STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE CHOIR.

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

NON STATE SCHOOLS TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE

The Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance for families transporting students to non-state schools in Queensland. To find out more about eligibility requirements click here: 

Intersection upgrades at Holts Road, Pioneer Street

There will be one-way traffic only on Pioneer Street as council undertakes upgrade works to the intersection with Holts Road.

The work is scheduled to begin on October 16, weather permitting, with expected completion in mid-December.

While work is under way, there will be one-way traffic from the Pioneer Street and Holts Road intersection to the roundabout on Pioneer Street.

In the first stage of works traffic will flow from the south to the north in this section of road and detours will be in place. It will then alternate in the second stage to a north to south direction.

Work will take place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Some weekend work may also be required.

Traffic control may be in place at Holts Road and there will be some noise and dust disturbances with various plant and equipment on-site.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Black Spot program.

For more information go to www.connectingmackay.com.au/pioneer-st-and-holts-rd-intersection

Council apologises for any inconvenience. If you have any concerns, please contact council on 1300 MACKAY (622529)

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