Newsletter - 30 November 2023
From our Principal
CHRISTMAS IS FOR LOVE
Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly covered packages. But, mostly Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elfin like pupil with wide innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas.
Matthew was a 10 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter, middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister's son. She never failed to remind young Matthew, if it hadn't been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child.
I had not noticed Matthew particularly until he began staying after class each day [at the risk of arousing his aunt's anger so I learned later] to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Matthew spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite young when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman who always spent time with him.
As Christmas drew near however, Matthew failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked him why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large brown eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, 'Did you really miss me?'
I explained how he had been my best helper, 'I was making you a surprise,' he whispered confidentially. 'It's for Christmas.' With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn't stay after school any more after that.
Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Matthew crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. 'I have your present,' he said timidly when I looked up. 'I hope you like it.' He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box.
'It's beautiful, Matthew, Is there something in it?' I asked opening the top to look inside. 'Oh you can't see what's in it,' he replied, 'and you can't touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights and safe when you're all alone.'
I gazed into the empty box. 'What is it, Matthew' I asked gently, 'that will make me feel so good?'
'It's love,' he whispered softly, 'and mother always said it's best when you give it away.' He turned and quietly left the room.
So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile when inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them there is love in it.
Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth, song, and for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.
-- Author Unknown --
STAFF LIST 2024
The following is a list of Staff for the 2024 school year. I know that there will be some who cannot resist the unfortunate temptation to compare one teacher to another in a school where there are two or three teachers in a year level. The teachers at Emmanuel all teach with love – love for their class and love for their work. I become quite worried that each year some are tempted to compare and disparage one teacher against another. I find this to be anti to the values of our community. Our teachers teach with love and integrity; please switch off anyone who would say otherwise. Having said this, no one is perfect, and primary teaching relies on a variety – a variety that’s much like life. Some are better Maths teachers, others better at literacy. Some are strict, others less so. Some are sporty, others love to sing and bring a love of music. Some extend, others cater for those with needs. The brilliant thing about all our teachers is that they have a variety of skills, but they teach with love. Across seven years our children experience this necessary variety, it helps bring out the best in everyone.
STAFF LIST – EMMANUEL 2024
As the 2023 School year draws to a close, I would like to express sincere thanks to all families for their support and assistance throughout the school this year. The students of Emmanuel have flourished under the guidance of our dedicated and hardworking staff. I wish all families a blessed Christmas and pray that all who will be travelling over the holiday break will return safely. As we farewell some familiar faces of staff, students and their families from Emmanuel, we will also warmly welcome some fresh faces for the start of the 2024 School year.
Leaving Emmanuel at the end of 2023 with our very best wishes for their contribution to our school are:
Sarah Thomas
Sharon Donnelly
Sherri Genninges
Dylan Steel
Pam White
Patrice Baird
Fran Borg
Sandali DeSoysa
Natasha Mallise
Suzanne Brewster
Jana Schweitzer
In 2024 we welcome the following teaching staff to Emmanuel:
- Mrs Shea Clelland
- Mrs Sue Henri
- Mrs Sharmaine Brewer
We look forward to supporting our new staff in their role throughout the year ahead.
I pray that the Peace and Blessings of Christ rest with you and your family over the Christmas Season and look forward to seeing you all again in January.
THANK YOU
As the year comes to a close we would like to take this opportunity to thank our PARENTS & FRIENDS executive members and the members of our SCHOOL BOARD for your generosity and commitment to our school over the past twelve months. Thank you also for your wisdom and advice on so many occasions – your guidance has been a blessing.
To the Emmanuel parent body, I thank you for your tremendous support and assistance which has allowed us to undertake a variety of worthwhile and enjoyable events throughout the school year. Once again your energy and enthusiasm has contributed to the community spirit that we experience here in our wonderful school. Thank you one and all, for all that you have been to Emmanuel.
Geraldine Rostirolla
(Principal)
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected to student leadership positions for the 2023 school year:
School Captains: Franske Hovinga and Koby Buckeridge
McBride House Captains: Bella Murphy and Jimmy Morris
Wallace House Captains: Lola LeGarde and Fraser Shepherson
Castles House Captains: Pyper Donnelly and Beau Woods
Carroll House Captains: Charlotte Phillips and Archer Bryan
All Year Five students can be proud of their efforts in nominating for leadership positions this term. We look forward to a wonderful year in 2024, with our Year Six students leading by their example.
RE Matters
With the school year coming to an end and Christmas fast approaching, I thought I would share the ‘gift’ of the story below. Enjoy!
THE GIFT OF GIVING
There was a family, just an ordinary family, preparing for Christmas. They had put up and decorated their tree, bought and wrapped some presents and started preparing for the celebrations.
One evening, as they were sitting down to dinner, they heard a knock at their door. When the door was opened there was no one to be seen, just a box wrapped in brown paper sitting on the mat. Inside was a small ceramic lamb.
The next evening about the same time, there was another knock on their door and another box wrapped in brown paper. The family was surprised to see a ceramic shepherd, until they realised that it matched the lamb they had received the previous day.
Each evening another brown paper wrapped gift was left at their door, and by Christmas Eve they had all, but one piece of a beautiful Nativity set. Even though they had been trying to catch the ‘gift giver’ they still had no idea who was leaving the boxes. It was all very exciting!
As they went to bed that night, they prayed that the final gift, the gift of baby Jesus, would appear on their doorstep. Next morning each family member checked in the hope of finding the ‘Reason for the Season’ …….. but no box, no brown paper, no Baby Jesus was left on their mat.
Somewhat disappointed, the family opened their presents, shared a delicious breakfast and got ready for Mass. As they walked up to the door of the church an elderly woman, whom they often visited and ran errands for, approached and greeted them. She was a nice person, but she was sickly, poor and very lonely. She had no family of her own and few friends to help her or spend time with her. With a hug and a teary ‘Thank You’ she placed a small box wrapped in brown paper in the mother’s hand.
Inside was Baby Jesus. He had come - a long awaited and hoped for gift, wrapped simply and given for all.
Jesus comes into our lives in ways we do not always expect. He comes when we serve and love others as he did. He comes in kindness and forgiveness, friendship and gratitude. Let us open our hearts and welcome God into our lives though the people we meet and the love we share.
Wishing you abundant blessings and all the joy of the Christmas season.
ADVENT
Advent begins this Sunday 3 December. It is the liturgical season of anticipation and hope that begins the Liturgical Year and prepares us for the celebration of Christmas. Sadly, Advent is often forgotten in all the excitement of Christmas. Please find below some fabulous resources that explain the season and support its celebration.
Find out more about Advent
http://www.catholic.org/advent/advent.php?id=5
Advent Videos, Prayers and Reflections
https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/advent/
Watch the short animation “What is Advent Again?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y4NCCH40PA
CELEBRATING AND GIVING THANKS
Our Thanksgiving Mass was a wonderful celebration. We reflected on and gave thanks for the year we have shared and farewelled students and staff who are leaving our school. The students participated prayerfully and sang beautifully. A big thank you to Fr Andrew who continues to encourage and support us, Mrs Sheedy and Miss McDonald who provided and led the wonderful music and singing and to all member of the Emmanuel Family who joined the celebration. We have lots to be grateful for at Emmanuel.
Thanks also to Holy Spirit College for sharing the Fr Bucas Centre with us and to all their staff who assisted with the setting up, sound and lighting.
SHARING THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Yesterday we presented our Christmas hampers to representatives from the St Joseph’s St Vincent de Paul Conference. They advised that our contributions will allow them to provide support to families in our region this Christmas. A very big THANK YOU to all families who donated items for these hampers.
MONSTER CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Last chance to get tickets in this 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.
Tickets are available online, before and after weekend Masses and from St Joseph's Parish Office
(Monday - Friday 9am to 12:00pm - phone 49574855).
Noeleen Kliese
Assistant Principal Religious Education
Curriculum Corner
CHANGES TO REPORT CARDS
A Reporting Taskforce was formed by the Curriculum Team at Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton. As a result of their consultation, some changes have been made to ensure consistency for the core features of reporting across the Diocese. These changes will be in effect for our Semester Two, 2023 Report Cards.
The following informs you of changes made to this Semester's Report Cards:
- Prep achievement wording revised
- Year 1 - 6 achievement uses an A - E scale
- EFFORT AND ATTITUDE now replaces the previously used term 'Application'. A three-point scale is now used, Commendable, Satisfactory and Needs Improvement. This scale applies to student diligence, behaviour and engagement.
- SOCIAL AND PERSONAL LEARNING now replaces the previously used term 'Social Development and Work Habits'. A three-point scale is now used, Commendable, Satisfactory and Needs Improvement.
Janine Refalo
Assistant Principal Curriculum
APA News
FINAL ASSEMBLY-FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER - EARLY PICK-UP PROCEDURES
At the conclusion of our final assembly, all classes will move with their teacher, back to their individual classrooms. Parents of students in all year levels are welcome to collect their child on conclusion of the final assembly (approximately 12.30pm).
Students leaving at this time must be signed out at their classroom. Should any parent be collecting a child or children from another family we ask that this information is communicated to classroom teachers via email.
If you are collecting your child during the lunch hour or the afternoon session, please sign out at the office as per normal procedures.
Supervision will be provided for those children whose parents are unable to collect them prior to 3:00pm due to work commitments.
MEDICATIONS KEPT AT SCHOOL
As per Workplace Health and Safety protocols, all medication stored at school must go home at the completion of your child’s last day of school this year. Medication cannot be sent home with students, so it is necessary for parents/caregivers to collect the medication from the front office. An important letter and necessary documents has been sent home to help families prepare for the return of medication and documentation at the start of the 2024 school year.
CLASS PLACEMENT LETTERS - CHANGES MADE
Class placement letters will be sent home via email on Monday 04 December 2023. Please allow time to receive your class placement letter if you have multiple children here at school as they will be sent individually, over the course of the day, and this may take some time.
Please note: we ask that you ensure your email details are up to date.
Amanda McDonald
Assistant Principal Administration
Strategic Priorities 2023
SchoolTV
There are lots of amazing resources available on SCHOOLTV to support and empower parents to better deal with the challenges of raising happy, well and resilient young people. For short video clips, articles and fact sheets, from leading specialists and key wellbeing organisations, check out the ‘ALL TOPICS’ tab via the link below or on our school website.
Christmas Carols
The time and date may have changed but our Christmas Carols were lots of fun! Students enjoyed dressing up and singing together.
Around the School
YEAR 6SG VISIT TO GLENELLA CARE - PEN PAL EXCURSION
Yesterday, students in Year 6SG had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Glenella Care home to spend some time with their pen pals. Students and residents enjoyed a chat and meeting in person.
Awards
Congratulations to the students pictured below who received a Principal's Award in Week 8.
Tuckshop News
We would like to thank our amazing volunteers that have assisted in the tuckshop this year. Without your help we would not be able to operate, so we really appreciate all that you do. Wishing you all a very safe, happy and blessed Christmas and New Year.
Angie & Mary-Anne
Tuckshop Conveeners
Notices
VACATION CARE - MESSAGE FROM ST FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
We have been advised from St Francis vacation care is now full and cannot accomodate anymore applications for the December / January holidays.
MACKAY TRANSIT COACHES REBRAND - KINETIC
Mackay Transit Coaches are now being progressively replaced with Kinetic branding. This will not impact current bus services and bus route numbers will be displayed in the vehicle windscreens. Please see below photos of new bus branding.
Holts Road, Pioneer Street returns to two-way traffic
Two-way traffic will return to Pioneer Street from Sunday (November 12) as upgrade works continue at the intersection of Holts Road and Pioneer Street. The works are being undertaken to improve safety and traffic flow, and are expected to be completed in mid-December, weather permitting.In the second stage of works at the intersection, traffic will again flow in both directions, however traffic control will be in place at Holts Road and there will be a reduction to the speed limit.
Work will take place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Some weekend work may also be required. 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.
Council apologises for any inconvenience. If you have any concerns, please contact council on 1300 MACKAY (622529)
For more information go to www.connectingmackay.com.au/pioneer-st-and-holts-rd-intersection
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