Newsletter - 25 January 2024
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. 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 our new Prep students.
In 2024 we see a number of new faces in the staff at Emmanuel:
- Mrs Shae Clelland who joins us as a Graduate teacher. Shae brings with her a wealth of experience in the lower school area, having worked as a Kindy Assistant at St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School whilst she was completing her teaching degree. Shae is teaching in Year 2.
- Mrs Lisa Bottcher joins us from Mercy College having had prior experience in both Primary and Secondary Schools. Lisa is also a past pupil of Emmanuel and will be teaching HPE this year.
- Mrs Sue Henri joins us as a Teacher Assistant in our Learning Support Team. Sue has a wealth of experience in this role having worked for many years as an assistant in Victoria prior to moving to Mackay.
- Mrs Sharmaine Brewer will also be working in our Learning Support Team as a Teacher Assistant. Sharmaine worked for many years as an assistant in New South Wales prior to her appointment at Emmanuel.
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. Parking is provided within the Stop, Drop and Go area when collecting children in the afternoon or in the short term carpark outside Holy Spirit College.
May 2024 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
WHOSE CHILD IS THIS? – A Reflection
"Whose child is this?" I asked one day, seeing a little one out at play.
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile, "Mine to keep a little while,
To bathe his hands and comb his hair, to tell him what he is to wear,
To prepare him that he may always be good and each day do the things he should."
"Whose child is this?" I asked again, as the door opened and someone came in.
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile, "Mine, to keep for just a little while,
To teach him how to be gentle and kind, to inspire and direct his amazing mind,
To help him live by every rule, and get the best he can from school."
"Whose child is this?" I ask once more, just as the little one entered the door.
"Ours" said the parent and teacher as they smiled, and each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and nurture together, ours this blessed task forever."
(Author Unknown)
We acknowledge parents as the primary educators of their children and look forward to working in partnership with all of our families in 2024. Thank you for being part of our village and sharing with us the privilege of being part of yours.
“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things for God.” (St Teresa of Calcutta - Mother Teresa)
OUR MISSION
This is our recontextualised Mission Statement. This simple child-friendly visual version is accessible and easy to understand by all members of our community. Teachers regularly unpack this statement and discuss what it looks like, sounds like and feels like at Emmanuel with their students.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
A meeting for the parents of Year Four students wanting to prepare for the Sacraments of Penance, Confirmation and Eucharist will be held at St Joseph’s Church at 5:30pm on Thursday 8 February. A letter detailing the parish program and registration requirements was sent home today.
Students who have been Baptised will prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Penance in March and will be Confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion in June.
If you have an older child wishing to receive the Sacraments as part of the 2024 Program, please collect a copy of this letter from the school office.
Please Note: There is also a program for students who would like to be part of the Sacramental Program, but have not been Baptised. The parents of these students are invited to attend the same Parent Information session at St Joseph’s Church on Thursday 8 February. Please collect an alternate registration form from the school office.
Please contact Mrs Kliese if you would like further information about either of these programs.
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 31 January.
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.
Tuesday 6 February Year Six Leadership Induction Prayer Celebration
Thursday 8 February Sacramental Program - Parent Information Evening
Wednesday 14 February Ash Wednesday
Friday 16 February Bishop’s Inservice Day - This is a Pupil Free Day
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 Tuesday 6 February at 9:00am. All families and friends of our school community are invited to attend.
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 - 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
Curriculum Corner
Welcome to the 2024 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 to 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)
Hayley Francis (School Counsellor)
Further information about Rockhampton Catholic Education's commitment to Student Protection is available here: website: https://www.rok.
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
CAR TAGS
Car tags are to be placed on your FRONT LEFT SUNVISOR when moving through the STOP DROP GO. This assists us in enabling ease of communication allowing for the smooth flow of traffic.
If you have misplaced your family car tag, please contact the office on 4994 8255 for a replacement.
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 2 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
- Hair longer than collar length and fringe past the forehead is to be tied back
- 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.
Report absentee via school app: Select ABSENTEE from the home screen and follow the prompts to provide required details. Press SUBMIT.
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 were emailed their Parent Lounge login details on 16 January 2024. Please contact the office on 4994 8255 if you did not receive your Parent Lounge details.
STUDENT LEADERS 2024
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected to student leadership positions for the 2024 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
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected by their peers as Student Representatives for Term One.
6K: Evie Trott and Kayden Rodgers
6D: Mila Wales and Randall Overall
6T: Archie Brady and Leah Daw
Amanda McDonald
Assistant Principal Administration
Playground Areas - After School
At the closure of the school day, all students are required to move immediately to the Pickup Zone. Students who are going to After School Care or walking /riding home are required to be on their way as soon as they are released from class.
The Pickup Zone is supervised by teachers. Other areas of the school are not supervised after school. Our school’s Prep Adventure Playground is out of bounds before and after school. Any play areas within the school must be supervised by staff members.
We ask parents to ensure that their children are not on this equipment before and/or after school. Our school rules must be adhered to by all students at all times. Students should not be running around or playing after school whilst waiting for parents. Parents who collect their child after school and remain on school grounds are reminded that their children are under their supervision during this time. We ask all parents to please adhere to these rules and thank you for your understanding and co-operation.
Strategic Priorities 2024
From our Counsellor
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.
Sporting News
MACKAY DISTRICT SCHOOL SPORTS - FORMS AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION
The following Mackay District Sport forms are available for collection from Mrs Bottcher who will be in the Tuckshop area at Morning Tea today. Nominations are due back to the SPORTS BOX in the LIBRARY by the due date with the levy payment.
- MDSS 10-19 yrs Boys and Girls SWIMMING TRIALS / SWIMMING NOMINATIONS (DUE Monday 5th February)
Students who wish to nominate should be clearly competent and have played a reasonable amount of the sport.
Lisa Bottcher
HPE Teacher
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
UNIFORM SOLUTIONS CLOSURE
Uniform Solutions have advised they will be closed from 12pm Thursday 25 January, and will remain closed Friday 26 / Saturday 27 January.
School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers
With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.
School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.
Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.
Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours.
When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:
- Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, 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.
Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.
You can also help children become more road safety aware by:
- Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school.
- Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths.
- Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so.
- Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older).
- Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road.
- Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used.
Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.
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