Newsletter - 9 May 2024

From our Principal

Dear Parents,

As MOTHER’S DAY approaches, I am once again amazed and awed by the courage and fortitude of mothers. Being a mother is all about love and to love and to be loved is to know something about being a mother – even if we haven’t personally experienced motherhood, this doesn’t mean that we haven’t spent much of our lives mothering others: friends, family members, other people’s children, students, co-workers.  Over the past few years, I have come, more and more, to appreciate my mother’s presence on this earth and mostly her presence in my life. 

My mother gifted me with the most precious gift of all – the gift of life.  She nourished me physically, emotionally and spiritually.  As I grew older I came to understand that although both my mother and father were responsible for the wonder that is me, my mother had a very special function.  She not only had a part to play in creating me, but she also bore me and then put up with me for the rest of her life.  She was always there to advocate for me and to protect me from harm, just “as a hen gathers her young under her wings.” 

My mother’s life was one of selfless devotion and her greatest priority was always my father and my sisters and brother which extended into six grandchildren and six great - grandchildren.  Mum loved every member of her family in a very unique way. 

Her life in Australia as the child of an immigrant family was not always easy and her early upbringing often meant that mum was not overly demonstrative with a lot of hugs and kisses.  She did, however express her warmth to her family in a physical way that was matched with deeds – never-ending deeds.  She always placed the needs of her family before her own and worked tirelessly to provide for them.  Mum encountered life’s challenges with strength and determination.  Her love for her family was unconditional.  She raised four children into adulthood; that is no small accomplishment.  She lived a life that endured much and accepted all.  She never gave herself airs and graces; she was a woman whose needs in life were simple and her family was the centre of her world.

Although Mum’s departure from this life on 6 December 2014 left a great void in our family, we will always cherish the precious moments and memories that are forever woven into the fabric of our lives.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her, for her support, her humour, her knowledge and wisdom, but most of all her unconditional love.  For those of you whose mothers and grandmothers are still alive - cherish them today. Hug and kiss them. Honour them. Thank them. For those whose mothers have gone home to the Lord, remember them always.

Happy Mother’s Day to you – beloved of God, one who is blessed and who blesses others.

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.”
--Abraham Lincoln

Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,

Geraldine Rostirolla

Principal  

REFLECTION OF MOTHER

Today, I looked in the mirror;
Curious as to what I would see.
I expected to see my reflection
Staring back at me.
But as I looked, I saw something more
In the face that was there.
I saw the reflection of my mother;
A woman filled with care.
Each year is another year closer
To looking like my Mother.
I see her in my reflection,
In one way or another.
May I not only look like her
But, reflect her heart as well.
For, it's full of love and kindness;
God's goodness in a nutshell.
Another year closer to looking like mum,
That only makes me glad.
For, I love my beautiful Mother.
She's the best reflection I've ever had.

SCHOOL REVIEW PROCESS

Next Tuesday, we will welcome the following members of the External Team of our School Review Process :

• Michael McCusker (Assistant Director Schools – Northern Region)
• Di Pekin (Lead Reviewer - ACER)
• Debbie Hails (Assistant Regional Director – Education Qld)
• Michael Roach (Principal – St Anthony’s School – Rockhampton)

From Tuesday May 14 – Thursday May 16, the team will conduct interviews with staff, parents and student leaders, as well as visit all classrooms.  This process which takes place every five years supports the future growth and development of our school.   It is an opportunity for us to reflect on current practices and progress made towards improving the quality of teaching and learning whilst supporting student learning and wellbeing outcomes.

We look forward to working closely with the team to identify existing strengths and providing recommendations to inform our school’s next improvement cycle.

RE Matters

CELEBRATING MOTHER’S DAY

TOMORROW we will gather to celebrate, pray for and thank God for the gift of our mothers.  This special prayer celebration will take place in the Marist Centre at 9:30am. We look forward to welcoming as many mums as possible.

After our time of prayer, all mums are invited to share a picnic morning tea with their child/ren.  This will take place in the playground between the library and Year Two/Prep building at 10:30am. Please bring a chair or rug and morning tea to share with your child/ren. We hope to see you there.

MONTH OF MARY - PRAY THE ROSARY - PRAY FOR PEACE

On 13 May 1917, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal. It was an apparition that was repeated on the 13th day of every month, for six consecutive months. Our Lady told the children,

"Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war." 

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

To find out more about The Rosary and how to pray it, go to:

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/rosary.php

For more information about the apparitions go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeMq0SpGKrw

To hear the Our Lady of Fatima song go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d-vZj5Fecg

This May, all classes will be learning about Mary and praying various Marian prayers, including The Rosary. I encourage you to do the same.

“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)

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Students enrolled in the parish Sacramental Program will be confirmed by Bishop Michael McCarthy and receive Eucharist for the first time in June. Please continue to pray for all of these students and their families as they complete their preparation and receive the sacraments.

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 – POSITIVITY

“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible!".  (Audrey Hepburn)  

Positivity means thinking in an optimistic way, looking for solutions and expecting good results and success. It is a happy and worry-free state of mind, which looks at the bright side of life. A positive attitude is one of joy, love and inspiration. It is choosing constructive feelings and emotions and acting with purpose and determination. If you have a positive attitude you avoid negative and unhappy feelings and thoughts.

“Cultivate an optimistic mind, use your imagination, always consider alternatives, and dare to believe that you can make possible what others think is impossible.”.  (Rodolfo Costa)  

Noeleen Kliese

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Thank you to our P & F for sponsoring this event.

APA News

SAVE THE DATE

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 5 June

More information on how to order School Photos will be advised

Amanda McDonald

Assistant Princiapl Administration

Strategic Priorities 2024

Strategic Planning and Improvement

Pastoral Support and Wellbeing is part of continual planning and reflection each day.  However, to ensure targeted and purposeful improvement is achieved, it is important to identify an area of focus in this domain.  Currently the Strategic Priority is “Students to be self-directed learners”.  The annual goal that assists us to achieve our ongoing strategic priority is “To develop and refine whole school practices to support student engagement, wellbeing and learning.”

To ensure student outcomes improve because of this planned strategic focus the following student target has been developed “By the end of 2024, students will develop a collective understanding of “Ready to Learn” scales and plans”. 

Strategies implemented in Semester One to work toward achieving our Pastoral Support and Wellbeing Strategic Priority, Goal and Target are:

• Trauma Informed Education professional development for teachers and teacher assistants
• Development of whole school expectations developed for Ready to Learn scales and plans
• Wellbeing Teaching and Learning focus group
• Ready to Learn Scales routines embedded in classrooms and explicit teaching to support new routine

From our Counsellor

MAY IS DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

What domestic violence means to you will depend on your life experiences.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of domestic violence means you are likely to know someone who has or is experiencing domestic violence.

Domestic violence is often misunderstood as a physical act of assault perpetrated by one partner towards another. This is not the case. Domestic violence can also include coercive control, stalking and harassment, and other forms of abuse.

For more information, click on the link below:

The Domestic Violence Resource Service (DVRS) is Mackay’s specialist service in this area. The women who work there can provide support with safety planning and advice, security upgrades, counselling for women and children, and support to safely exit a domestic violence relationship.

Uniting Care (ph: 1300 096 203) provide a program, to help males using abuse to change their pattern of behaviour and become the partner/ father they want to be.

If you, or someone you know needs help because of Domestic Violence, you can call DV Connect on        1800 811 811 (24/7), 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (24/7) or our local DVRS on 4953 1788 (8:30am- 4:30pm, weekdays).

If you’d like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the schools' details.

Hayley Francis

School 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

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL - SAVE THE DATE

JOHN PAAP COMPETITION - WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

The Emmanuel Rugby League Season has kicked off with our Year Six students participating in the Wednesday afternoon John Paap competition. Our group of students have demonstrated wonderful leadership, excellent skills and determination which has led them to winning both games played. 

We have been fortunate enough to have the Percival family @ Woollam Consturctions donate our brand-new rugby league jerseys for this season. Our team is so appreciative of their kind sponsorship and will continue to wear their new jerseys with pride! We would also like to thank our P&F committee who have been generous in purchasing two brand new tents. These tents will be taken with us when our boys and girls represent Emmanuel at Yeppoon in our Challenge Cup Carnival.  What an amazing community we have here at Emmanuel! Thank you Percival family - Woollam Construction and our P&F committee.

EMMANUEL SPORT SELECTION PROCESS

Lisa Bottcher

HPE Teacher

Around the School

YEAR 6K / PREP C BUDDIES

This week 6K and Prep C started their first buddy session of the year. Each week both classes meet to help foster and build positive relationships between the younger and older students. This session is a perfect opportunity for the Year 6 students to display leadership skills, act as role models and help the Preps consolidate their love of learning and topics covered in class. In our session yesterday, the Year 6’s read books, practised counting, worked on jigsaws and practised place value. We cannot wait to see these relationships blossom throughout the year!

Miss Larissa Kirwan and Miss Thea Crathorne

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BOOKFAIR 2024

Our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair 13 - 17 May in the Emmanuel Library.

Times: Monday to Thursday 8am - 3:30pm and Friday 8am - 1:30pm.

You and your child will have the opportunity to explore a huge range of afforable books featuring characters and subject's children love and want to read about. From newly released books and bestsellers to award-winning titles and perennial favourites.

This is also a great way for you to learn about and discuss your child's interests, and every book sold benefits our school, adding resources to our library and classrooms.

Scholastic Book  Fairs help us show students the wonder of reading. After all, when children choose their own books, they will be more excited to read, and they will naturally read more.

Awards

Congratulations to the students pictured below who received a Principal's Award in Week 3.

School Choir

Finance

TERM 2 SCHOOL FEES - OVERDUE

Term 2 School Fee Statements were emailed out on Monday 22 April and fees are now OVERDUE. You can also view your statements by logging into your Parent Lounge account. If you have not received your account, please contact the Finance Office immediately.

2025-2029 SCHOOL FEES COMMUNICATION PLAN

Dear Parents and Carers

Please find attached the first of a series of Advice pieces (included in last week’s Newsletter), developed to inform our Catholic Education families of the new Federal Government Funding model (Gonski model) and the impact on funding for Catholic Schools.  Over the coming months, further Advice pieces will be shared, with each piece building on the detail of the previous.  Please take the time to read each of the Advice pieces, to understand the impact of the changes on the funding for our school and School fees.

Kind Regards,

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

SAFETY ISSUE – MACKAY BUCASIA ROAD

Parents who park in the parkland along Baxter Drive (ie: the grassed area opposite the Emmanuel Bus Stop) are asked to ensure they DO NOT enter or exit this area via Mackay Bucasia Road. We have been advised by Queensland Department of Transport that this is a significant safety issue and we ask that this practice does not continue. Mackay City Council have advised us that this area should not be utilised for parking in the morning or afternoon and that all vehicles need to park within the designated areas assigned for parking purposes outside Emmanuel Catholic Primary School and Holy Spirit College.

We appreciate and understand that there are considerable parking issues across both campuses, but would like to take this opportunity to remind parents that the preferred drop-off / pick-up site for Emmanuel students is the STOP, DROP, GO area, and parents are strongly encouraged to use this facility. Students are supervised until 3.30pm allowing for parents to delay pick-up of students so as to ensure a smooth flow of traffic within a timely manner. We thankyou for your assistance and cooperation in ensuring all members of our school community experience a safe and stress-free arrival to and departure from school.

SCHOOL APP

Hi parents/guardians!

I am Chelsea Jansen, Instrumental Strings Tutor, teaching Violin and also teach the Cello. I would love for you to consider your child learning strings at Emmanuel with me and help us grow a string community at the school. I have 10 years teaching experience at local Catholic Education schools, conducting school string ensembles, am a performer with extensive performance experience and studying at the Conservatorium of Music. I provide my students with a tailored-approach learning experience and expose students to a wide variety of music with a passion for developing their music skills whether for specific goals or purely fun and enjoyment. I offer both private and group lesson options (groups only subject to availability). For enquiries and further information, please contact me on 040 223 1740 or email chelsea.jansen@outlook.com. As soon as an instrument is organised (I will help you with this), students can have an immediate start!

Community News