12 OCTOBER 2017
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12 OCTOBER 2017 Dear Parents, Only another seven weeks to go before another school year ends and there is much happening between now and 01 December, especially in the remaining three weeks of October. As outlined in last week’s newsletter, plans are currently being made for 2018 and the key factor upon which this planning is based, is enrolment facts and figures, therefore it is essential to be as accurate as possible in predicting the number of students at Emmanuel come January next year. I ask you then, to keep us informed about potential moves between now and the beginning of the year. I understand that, occasionally, unforeseen developments require a last minute change of plan, but, we would be grateful for any information that you could give us in relation to any move. Thank you for helping us to be well- prepared for the year ahead. I would also like to take this opportunity to address the matter of class placement as this seems to be a concern for some parents at this time every year. Parents, please remember that there are 575 students at Emmanuel. Teachers, administrative and support staff and in particular, Mrs McDonald, put a lot of time and thought into class placement with many factors taken into account including friendships, spread of achievement levels, balance of girls and boys and student needs to name a few. Teachers do ask students to name a handful of friends and they try to ensure that each student is placed with at least one of those named, while also taking into account the many other variables. Once classes are set, to make one change can affect many others. As you can imagine it is not possible and not desirable either, for parents to get involved in the placement of their children into classes. Such an approach would pose numerous problems, so please trust that we do the best we can. Having said that, if you have significant information relevant to your child’s placement, please make this known, in writing, to me by Friday 27 October. This information will be taken into consideration as appropriate. Please do not request particular teachers unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so, keeping in mind that teachers may not remain on present year levels in any case. Thank you to the very many parents who share relevant information, let us get on with the job at hand and then support their children in the decisions made, whether things go the way they prefer or not. We appreciate your trust and your children will thank you one day as well.
Transcript of 12 OCTOBER 2017
12 OCTOBER 2017
Dear Parents, Only another seven weeks to go before another school year ends and there is much happening between now and 01 December, especially in the remaining three weeks of October. As outlined in last week’s newsletter, plans are currently being made for 2018 and the key factor upon which this planning is based, is enrolment facts and figures, therefore it is essential to be as accurate as possible in predicting the number of students at Emmanuel come January next year. I ask you then, to keep us informed about potential moves between now and the beginning of the year. I understand that, occasionally, unforeseen developments require a last minute change of plan, but, we would be grateful for any information that you could give us in relation to any move. Thank you for helping us to be well-prepared for the year ahead. I would also like to take this opportunity to address the matter of class placement as this seems to be a concern for some parents at this time every year. Parents, please remember that there are 575 students at Emmanuel. Teachers, administrative and support staff and in particular, Mrs McDonald, put a lot of time and thought into class placement with many factors taken into account including friendships, spread of achievement levels, balance of girls and boys and student needs to name a few. Teachers do ask students to name a handful of friends and they try to ensure that each student is placed with at least one of those named, while also taking into account the many other variables. Once classes are set, to make one change can affect many others. As you can imagine it is not possible and not desirable either, for parents to get involved in the placement of their children into classes. Such an approach would pose numerous problems, so please trust that we do the best we can. Having said that, if you have significant information relevant to your child’s placement, please make this known, in writing, to me by Friday 27 October. This information will be taken into consideration as appropriate. Please do not request particular teachers unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so, keeping in mind that teachers may not remain on present year levels in any case. Thank you to the very many parents who share relevant information, let us get on with the job at hand and then support their children in the decisions made, whether things go the way they prefer or not. We appreciate your trust and your children will thank you one day as well.
SOMETHING TO REFLECT ON As part of our Catholic tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates the month of October to the Holy Rosary. I encourage all our families to come together and pray the Rosary during October. This year is particularly important as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance to the children at Fatima. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu and commonly known as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-born Indian Roman Catholic nun. “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun.” Mother Teresa’s words resonate with me, simply because her wisdom, which was often reflected in her words, always provides me with great empowerment. I am in awe of how one so humble could work so tirelessly for those among us who most need our service and support.
“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”
Mother Teresa often spoke words like those above, the need for us all to be loved and to love. She called for all people to remove the great deficit of love found in our world. But she also clearly articulated that we should start first of all in our own homes and then to our own neighbours to remove the loneliness and to provide the love.
“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
This term let each and every one of us strive to remove the loneliness of someone around us, to reach out and provide love to someone in our own community who is longing to know that someone else cares. Wishing you every blessing for the coming week, Geraldine Rostirolla (Principal)
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION MONTH OF THE ROSARY “The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in
graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches
most the Heart of the Mother of God…and if you wish
peace to reign in your homes, recite the family
Rosary.” (Pope Saint Pius X)
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.
During October we are encouraged to pray this
beautiful prayer and to reflect on the mysteries of our
faith which it memorialises.
Tomorrow our school will take part in National Rosary
Day. All classes will visit the chapel to pray The
Rosary for Australia and the youth of our country.
To find out more about The Rosary and how to pray it,
go to Catholic Online:
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/rosary.php
CELEBRATING FATIMA
Between 13 May and 13 October 1917, Our Lady
appeared six times to three shepherd children near
the town of Fatima in Portugal. On each occasion
Mary emphasised the necessity of praying The
Rosary. Our Lady explained that this would bring
peace to the world.
Tomorrow it will be the 100th anniversary of the Sixth
Apparition and the Miracle of the Sun. On this day in
1917 more than 60 000 people were there when the
children saw ‘the lady’ and ‘the sun danced in the
sky’. When asked what she wanted, Mary told the
children “A chapel is to be built here in my honour. I
am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray
the Rosary every day.”
Each year around four million pilgrims visit the sacred
sites, including the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima and
the Chapel of Apparitions, in and around Fatima.
Two of the children, Francisco and Lucia Marto, were
canonised during Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to Fatima
in May.
For more information about the apparitions and
celebrations go to:
https://www.ewtn.com/fatima/index.asp
To hear the Our Lady of Fatima song go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUQ4jgbxtNQ
WORLD MISSION MONTH
“I have come so that you may have life and have it
to the full.” (John 10:10)
Socktober is an initiative of Catholic Mission. 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. The theme of Socktober this year is “Sock It
to Poverty in Uganda.”
Look in many classrooms around the school and you
will see socks hanging on lines. On each sock there is
a prayer. These “prayer lines” represent the prayerful
intentions of the students. They have been created in
response to Socktober activities and investigations.
Our annual Mission Fair will be held on Tuesday 24
October. Please encourage your child to do some
jobs at home to earn their spending money for this
exciting event. The staff has been busy organising
stalls and we are all looking forward to another
fabulous fair. A list of stalls and activities will be
included in next week’s newsletter.
Students are invited to wear CRAZY SOCKS with
their school uniform on Mission Fair day.
BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS!
The Year Six students will be running a book stall at
the Mission Fair and are looking for donations of pre-
loved books to sell. They can be sent to school from
tomorrow. The Year Six students will collect them
from classrooms daily. Thank you for your support.
CHILDREN’S MASS
A children’s mass, led by Emmanuel students, will be
held at 9am on Sunday 22 October at St Joseph’s
Church. Students wishing to participate in this ministry
should contact Mrs Kliese in the office.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
On the fourth Sunday of each month the Children’s
Choir joins the music ministry at the 9am Mass at St
Joseph’s Church. It is always wonderful to listen to
these talented singers.
If your child is interested in singing with this choir
please contact Chris at Parish Office on 49574855.
ST JOSEPH’S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
Please continue to pray for the students who are
preparing to receive the Sacraments.
The next Family Workshop (Penance) will take
place at St Joseph’s Church later this month. Choose
from Sunday 22 October at 10:00am or Wednesday
25 October at 7:00pm.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Children’s Liturgy is held at St Joseph’s Church on
the first and third weekends of each month during the
Saturday 6pm Mass and the Sunday 9am Mass. It is
also held at St Brendan’s Church on the first and third
Sundays of each month during the 7:30am Sunday
Mass. Children’s Liturgy is not held during the School
Holidays.
CHAPEL MASS
A reminder that Fr Stephen celebrates Mass in the
Emmanuel Chapel on Thursday mornings at 8:00 am.
It is a great way to start your day. All welcome.
VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT –
PURPOSEFULNESS
Being purposeful is having a clear focus, instead of
being unsure of what you are doing or why you are
doing it. You are acting purposefully when you have a
goal you are working toward. You concentrate your
mind and your efforts to achieve your goal. You have
a positive attitude and don’t let obstacles stop you
from doing what is important. Some people just let
things happen. A purposeful person makes things
happen.
“To live a happy, fulfilled and purposeful life every
day is not just a dream; it is a daily
responsibility.” (Unknown)
Mrs Noeleen Kliese
(Assistant Principal – Religious Education)
CLASSES 2018 This term will see staff arrange classes for the 2018
school year. This process is very deliberate and time
consuming but also very important to creating
balanced classes throughout the school. I’d 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.
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 four of term, Friday
27 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.
POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM
A stress-free end of 2017 is possible with
positive parenting
Get on the front-foot and set up your family for a
successful end to 2017! Triple P has the positive
parenting strategies to help you and your kids cope
with the end of year rush and exams. It can also help
your family have its best school holidays yet – think
days filled with well-behaved and happy kids and
teens.
Triple P has already helped more than 95,000
Queensland parents, carers and grandparents, and
it’s still FREE. You can do it online, with other parents
or one-on-one – just visit www.triplep-parenting.net to
find out more.
With thanks,
The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program team
CURRICULUM CORNER
BOOKLISTS/BOOKPACKS Today, Booklists were emailed to parents as well as
being attached to this week’s Newsletter. Bookpacks
may also be ordered online through Newsxpress from
Monday 16 October.
If you wish to utilise this year’s bookpack service, you
may either order online or open and print the word
document for the relevant year level. All orders must
be placed by FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER, either online or
handed into the school office. PLEASE NOTE: CASH
CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AT THE OFFICE. Paper
copies will not be sent home, however, copies are
available from the office.
ALL bookpack orders placed by Friday 3 November,
will be available for collection from the school
Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 November.
Collection times will be advised closer to pick up
days.
Today (unless notified otherwise by your child’s
teacher) all unused and reusable stationary items will
be sent home so as they can be recycled for next
year if you choose to do so.
Thank you for your support.
OPTIMINDS
We wish our OptiMINDS State Finalists and their
facilitators (Miss Jeffcoat and Mrs Falzon) all the best
for this weekend as they travel to Brisbane to
compete with many teams across Queensland in the
OptiMINDS State Finals held at the University of
Queensland. Goodluck to the “Fantastic 5” team, may
you enter the competition in the true Spirit of
Optiminds, learning from and enjoying this wonderful
opportunity
Janine Refalo
(Acting Assistant Principal: Curriculum)
PREP VISION SCREENING - REMINDER A Registered Nurse will be visiting the school in 2017
to commence vision screening for all Prep Year
children. If you wish to have your child participate in
this vision screening program, please complete and
sign the consent form which was sent home with your
child last week. All consent forms MUST BE
RETURNED BY TOMORROW. You will be advised in
writing of the outcome of your child’s screening.
TERM 4 SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS
Term 4 School Fee Statements were emailed to all
families on Tuesday, 10 October, with payment due
25 October. Statements can also be viewed via
parent lounge using the ‘make a payment’ tab from
the menu bar and clicking on the paperclip. If you did
not receive your statement, please advise the office.
POSITIONS VACANT – SCHOOL
CROSSING SUPERVISOR We are wanting to fill a casual and relief position for a
School Crossing Supervisor at Emmanuel Catholic
Primary School.
The Casual School Crossing Supervisor will be
required to work five days per week and the relief
Supervisor will be called for shifts as needed, both
Supervisors are required to work in all weather
conditions. The hours of work for School Crossing
Supervisors are 1 hour and 30 minutes a day and
usually comprise of 1 hour in the morning and 30
minutes in the afternoon on alternant weeks,
Commencement date (to be advised) with a Pay Rate
of $28.89 per hour.
The successful applicants will be dependent on:
The suitable outcome of a health assessment
carried out by a GP of your choice according
to the guidelines in the “Notes for Medical
Practitioner” on the School Crossing
Supervisor Scheme – Health Assessment
Form; (this is paid by the Department)
A Positive Blue Card Notice (This is also paid
by the Department and means you do not
need to have a blue card to apply for the
position)
If you are interested in the position please collect an
application form from our school office or contact
Karen Cantoni (Road Safety officer) on 49 518331.
The School Crossing Supervisors Application is to be
returned to the School for the school Principal’s
recommendation.
OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE – PUPIL FREE DAY A reminder to parents and caregivers – Monday 16
October is a pupil free day. Emmanuel Outside
School Hours Care will be operating from 7.00am to
6.00pm. If you would like to enrol your child, or have
any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on
0429 311 579.
GYMNASTICS STAR Congratulations to Sophie Gall who competed
recently at the State Gymnastics competition which
was held in Brisbane. Sophie achieved 5th on floor
and 18th overall out of 80 competitors. Well done
Sophie!
TUCKSHOP ROSTER – TERM 4 WEEK 3 COMMENCING – MONDAY 16 OCTOBER
Monday 16 October
PUPIL FREE DAY
Tuesday 17 October Tracey Camilleri
Wednesday 18 October
Renae Borg
Thursday 19 October
Brooke Desbois
Friday 20 October
Maria Axiak Cynthia Hegarty
DATE CLAIMER EMMANUEL SCHOOL DISCO
FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER
P & F will be providing a sausage sizzle - $2.00 each
WEEK 2 Fri 13 Oct Fatima 100 – Day of Prayer Sat 14 Oct Opti-Minds State Final
WEEK 3 Mon 16 Oct Pupil Free Day Show Choir Tue 17 Oct Year 5 Verse Speaking Year 1 Choir Wed 18 Oct Year 1 Verse Speaking Year 4 Verse Speaking Thur 19 Oct Year 3 Verse Speaking Hymn & Folk Year 4 Choir Fri 20 Oct Assembly Year 3 Choir Folk Group Year 2 Choir Year 6 Choir
WEEK 4 Tue 24 Oct Mission Fair Thur 26 Oct Year 6 Mass Fri 27 Oct Day For Daniel World Teachers Day School Disco
WEEK 5 Wed 01 Nov Prep Information Evening – 6:30pm Prep Liturgy Fri 03 Nov Assembly
TERM FOUR Weeks 2 - 5
P & F MEETING
TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER
AT 5:30PM IN THE MEETING ROOM.
ALL WELCOME!
UNIFORM SHOP HOURS
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
2:30PM – 3:00PM
Emmanuel Catholic Primary School
Mackay Eisteddfod 2017
DAY/TIME SECTION DESCRIPTION TRANSPORT TO MECC TRANSPORT BACK FROM MECC
MONDAY
16 Oct at 6:30pm
Primary Schools Show Choir (School Choir)
Parents drop students off to
MECC 6:00pm
Parents collect students from
MECC 7:45pm
TUESDAY
17 Oct at 8:30am
Grade 5 Choral Speaking Group
Bus to MECC 9:30am Bus back to school 10:30am
TUESDAY
17 Oct at 1:00pm
Grade 1 Choral Singing Choir
Bus to MECC 12:15pm Bus back to school 1:45pm
WEDNESDAY
18 Oct at 8:30am
Grade 1 Choral Speaking Group
Parents drop students off to
MECC 8:00am
Bus back to school 9:30am
WEDNESDAY
18 Oct at 8.30am
Grade 4 Choral Speaking Group
Bus to MECC 9:30am Bus back to school 10:30am
THURSDAY
19 Oct at 8:30am
Grade 3 Choral Speaking Group
Bus to MECC 9:30am Bus back to school 10:30am
THURSDAY
19 Oct at 1:00pm
Primary Schools Hymn & Folk
(School Choir)
Bus to MECC 12:15pm Bus back to school 1:45pm
THURSDAY
19 Oct at 6:30pm
Grade 4 Choral Singing Choir
Parents drop students off to
MECC 6:00pm
Parents collect students from
MECC 7:30pm
FRIDAY
20 Oct at 8:30am
Grade 3 Choral Singing Choir
Bus to MECC 10:00am
Bus back to school 11:00am FRIDAY
20 Oct at 8:30am
Primary Schools
Folk Singing Group ((Small group of
year 5s & 6s)
FRIDAY
20 Oct at 1:00pm
Grade 2 Choral Singing Choir
Bus to MECC 12:15pm Bus back to school 1:45pm
FRIDAY
20 Oct at 6:00pm
Grade 6 & Under Choral Singing Choir
Parents drop students off to
MECC 5:30pm
Parents collect students from
MECC 7:15pm
