2024 - Term 3, Week 3

Dear parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to our Week 3 newsletter! It is still a little cold for my liking, but I can feel the seasons changing and I know the sunshine has already come out to play!

This term is full of community and sporting events such as Book week, School Disco, Music Ensemble Showcase, Touch Football, Cross Country and SAPSASA events. Details for all these events have either been emailed to families or are included in this week’s newsletter. We are so lucky to have dedicated teachers and parent volunteers who can support these events. We thank every one of you for your contributions in helping Emmaus thrive!

Because of the busyness of Term 3, we have moved Grandparents Day to Term 4. Watch this space for further information!

Book Week 2024: Reading is Magic!

This term in Week 5, we will be celebrating CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK!

With this year’s Children's Book Week theme, "Reading is Magic," we're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building.

Our school Dress Up Parade will be Friday 23rd August at 9am. Families are welcome to stay and watch the parade! Pop the date in your diary and start thinking about your costume!

Staff Announcements

This term, we are delighted to warmly welcome back Nicola Gill, returning from maternity leave. Nicola will be with us on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and we are excited to have her back. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Justine for her outstanding leadership in her acting role, ensuring a seamless transition and continued excellence.

We are also thrilled to welcome new staff members: Makailah Gort, Libby Colgan, and Jess Lynch, who will be joining us this week as co-educators. Their energy and fresh perspectives are eagerly anticipated. Please join us in making them feel at home and part of our ever-growing family.

In addition, we are excited to welcome Alicia McCully as our mid-year Reception teacher. Alicia brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to her new role. We wish her all the best as she embarks on this journey with our new Reception students, a role that is both demanding and incredibly rewarding

The Secret to Success

With the Olympics on at the moment, this is a perfect opportunity to speak to our young people about the nature of success, about setting goals, being determined and showing grit to achieve these goals. Many Olympians speak of the struggles and setbacks they have had to overcome in order to be the best they can be. Success doesn’t come easily and what isn’t always visible to us is the hard work that each and every athlete has put in to getting to the top of their game. Success comes as a result of sheer hard work! Practice, perseverance, mistakes, disappointment, and commitment are what it takes to succeed.

As we commence the second half of the academic year, I encourage all of you to share this with your children. You might ask them what it is they want to achieve this semester. Do they want to improve one of their grades? Their effort in a particular subject or maybe they want to improve a specific skill. Then you might ask them what they are prepared to do to achieve their goal. This would be a good time to refer to the Olympic athletes because this is what it will take to be successful. You might also like to share with your children what you are willing to do to ensure their success. Unquestionably, we are here too, to support all our students! And the staff at Emmaus are willing to do what it takes to help every single one of our students be successful.

Now is the time for learning from mistakes, for digging in, persevering and committing to goals and this will bring about desired results at the end of the year. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it. Good luck!

After School Sports: A Community Effort

We are fortunate at Emmaus to offer a variety of after school sports programs, providing our students with opportunities to develop their skills, stay active, and build teamwork. Please remember that parents are responsible for supervising their own children during these activities. Our dedicated coaches are there to focus on coaching, and we deeply appreciate their volunteer efforts, patience, and expertise in their respective sports.

It is also important that children adhere to the Emmaus Way, ensuring everyone can practice in a safe and supportive environment. As we continue to prioritise the safety and well-being of our school community, it is crucial that all parents understand and adhere to this supervision policy. Your cooperation is essential in maintaining a positive atmosphere for all our students. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Celebrating Catholic Schools Open Week

Week 5 marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Open Week—a perfect occasion for families to discover the unique advantages of a Catholic education. Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make, and this event provides an excellent opportunity to explore how Catholic schools can pave the way for your child's success.

We invite families to join our Principal Tour on Saturday, August 24, at 10am. During these tours, attendees have the chance to hear the inspiring story of Emmaus Catholic School and learn about our vision and values. If you know anyone who might be interested, please share this information with them.

Hats

A reminder that as of week 5, hats are back! Emmaus bucket hats can be purchased from Lowes at Colonnades or from the front office. The front office holds limited stock for your convenience in sizes Small or Medium only, and are priced at $21.

Thankyou!

I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the families, students, and staff who have navigated the challenges posed by our ongoing construction. Parents and caregivers have had to take longer routes to classrooms, students have had their play spaces reduced, and our dedicated staff have coped with limited meeting and lunch spaces, almost reaching the point of hot-desking. Despite these obstacles, each of you has continued to smile and show incredible resilience, for which I am sincerely grateful.

As we move forward, let's continue to spread kindness. Remember, a simple smile or a welcoming gesture can make a significant difference to someone facing a tough day. Thank you for your unwavering support and positivity

Suzanne Budd

SAINT MARY OF THE CROSS –AUSTRALIA’S SAINT  

Today we celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with individual class/team liturgies.  

Mary gave her life completely to God. Every decision, every action, every word spoken was guided by her faith. She saw in Jesus the example of how we are to live our human life- quite simply, with love for all.  

Is it that simple?  

Jesus said… “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13: 34)  

Yep- that simple!  

But the challenge comes when we are faced with conflict and difference in our world. The challenge comes when others hurt us or bully us. The challenge comes when others show hate towards us. But in these times, Jesus says: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13: 34)  

That is just what Mary MacKillop did. She looked beyond difference and division. She showed forgiveness without holding grudges. She saw the injustice and disadvantaged and gave her life to bringing love to all.  

“Happiness is very much an inside job, but we depend so much on each other for happiness, especially in marriage, both as givers and receivers. I can forget the indisputable fact that no one, no institution, no marriage, is perfect. Remember on this earth that no one is perfect (M. MacKillop 1889). We are never the finished product. That included you and me and even our Saint Mary MacKillop.  

Mary found her happiness in making others happy. This was the approach she learnt from Jesus. It does mean living with imperfection in ourselves and others.  

Reject no one (M. MacKillop 1867). Judge not (M. MacKillop 1869)  

It also means not giving in to self-pity when life seems hard. At these times Mary would say that the cross may press very heavily but you can be happy for all this (M. MacKillop 1890) by trying to forget yourself and making others happy.” Taken from “The Little Brown Book” -S & L Kane 2009.  

So, as we celebrate this special feast day on our calendar, let us consider ways we too can continue this work… started by Jesus. How can we bring God’s love into our world? And how can be experience the deep, unshakeable happiness that comes when we live like this?  

Click here to visit the Sisters of Saint Joseph Website  

WHOLE SCHOOL MASS- FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION  

Next week we will be celebrating another feast day on our liturgical calendar. Next Thursday 15th August is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and we will be holding a Whole School Mass at 2:00pm.  

This day is held as a holy day of obligation in the Church, so there is an open invitation for anyone who would like to join us!  

Nicola Gill 

Assistant Principal 
Religious Identity and Mission 

ngill@emmaus.catholic.edu.au 

"With our 2024 Children's Book Week theme; Reading is Magic, we're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building." - from the CBCA website

2024 THEME AND DATES

Book Week is from Saturday, 17 August to Friday, 23 August 2024

The theme is 'Reading is Magic!'

Our school Dress Up Parade is on the calendar for Friday 23rd August at 9am!

Bucket Hats can be purchased from Lowes at Colonnades or there is a small supply available in the front office that can be purchased for $21.

Hats are to be worn from Week 5 in Term 3.

The Kiss and Drop zone is the yellow marked area as you enter the carpark from Todd Street, that enables you to drop off and pick up your children safely and quickly.

The intention is that drivers do not wait in these zones and that you stay in the vehicle to ensure traffic is streamlined and traffic queues are minimized.

In reality, it only takes one or two inconsiderate drivers to overstay in the zone and the system breaks down, leading to frustration and delays.

Please familiarise yourself with our Kiss and Drop guidelines:

• Kiss and Drop zone is a NO PARKING zone. If your child is not ready and waiting for you, please continue to lap the carpark. Alternatively, park your vehicle in a carpark and wait. Please do not park in the kiss and drop zone to wait for your child as this builds up traffic on Todd Street where accidents have occurred. The aim of Kiss and Drop is for free flowing traffic.
• It is an expectation that drivers continue to the end of the kiss and drop zone, to allow room for others.
• For safety, it is recommended that students exit and enter the vehicle kerbside only. Children should have their schoolbags on their lap to ensure the driver does not need to exit the vehicle.
• Do not get out of your car.
• If you are required to get out of your vehicle to assist your child with their bag or seatbelt, please do not use Kiss and Drop. Park your vehicle so you can assist your child safely. 
• Staff will be on Kiss and Drop duty to assist with free flow of traffic and child safety from 8.30am - 8.45am and 3.05pm - 3.25pm. Please ensure your child is collected by 3.25pm.
• Please use the pedestrian crossing when walking between the carpark and the Kiss and drop area.
• Please ensure you remain under the speed limit of 10km/h at all times.

Staff have been advised to remind all families to use the crossing correctly. If you choose not to use the crossing, you will be redirected by staff on duty. Please do not take this personally; it is their job to keep everyone safe.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is a top priority here at Emmaus. As such, we would like to remind all parents and guardians of the multiple avenues available to report student absences or late arrivals.

To report your child's absence or late arrival, please use one of the following methods:

Reply Text to 0417 038 063. Please note that direct messages to this number will not be received.

Phone (08) 83227211: Speak to our friendly staff or leave a message on our answering machine if calling before 8:30am.

Email: Send an email to absent@emmaus.catholic.edu.au or information@emmaus.catholic.edu.au.

We kindly ask that you contact the front office for any absenteeism notifications. Due to the morning activities in classrooms, it may not always be possible for teachers to relay messages to the office before 9 am.

For extended leave requests of 5 days or more, please complete the absenteeism form at the front office.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures:

If your child arrives late to school or needs to leave early, they must be signed in/out via the iPad at the front office by a parent or guardian.

It's important to note that if a student is late to class and the arrival hasn't been reported to the front office, they will be marked as absent, and a text will be sent to parents from 0417 038 063.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students.

At Emmaus, we believe that all students have the right to learn and develop socially and emotionally in a safe environment. We offer a variety of ways to ensure this happens for our students.

The Resilience Project

The Resilience Project is a dedicated program that focusses on positive health strategies aimed at preventing mental health issues and enhancing children’s ability to manage challenges. Rooted in the principles of gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness, this evidence-based program includes content tailored for students, staff, and parents/carers. Through the school partnership program, we aim to promote mental health awareness and support in classrooms, staff environments, and in family settings.

Good Beginnings

The Good Beginnings program offers an engaging program to begin the school year, nurturing positive relationships and laying the framework for a successful year.  Through a range of lessons and activities, students engage not only with their classmates but also with peers across different grade levels, their assigned buddy class, and their house team, fostering connections and collaboration.

Wellbeing Officer

At Emmaus we have a dedicated Wellbeing Officer available two days a week to support children in developing their social-emotional skills, building confidence, and fostering resilience. Our officer runs programs such as "Cool, Calm, and Confident Kids" and "What's Buzz," which are designed to enhance students' abilities to manage emotions, build self-assurance, and develop resilience.

Miss Molly

At Emmaus, we have Miss Molly, our Groodle, who plays a special role in supporting the wellbeing of our students, staff, and families. Miss Molly helps to create a positive and comforting atmosphere, offering companionship and emotional support to everyone in our school community.

Oasis

In the bustling environment of a school, filled with activity and noise, it can sometimes become overwhelming for certain learners. The Emmaus Oasis is a tranquil place to support the wellbeing of our children and can be accessed when they need time to gain control of their emotions. The Oasis has calm music and activities to promote regulation so they can reset and return to their learning.

Lunch Time Clubs

At Emmaus we have lunchtime clubs running in terms 2, 3 and 4 as part of our ongoing commitment in supporting our students and fostering a positive school environment. Offering a structured play option during lunch breaks can greatly benefit students, particularly those who may find play challenging or need a quiet space to relax and recharge. These include:

• Dance Club
• Book Club
• Lego Club
• Gardening Club
• Minecraft Club
• Making Club
• Let’s Be Active

A reminder to OSHC families that fees are due to be paid in full at the end of each fortnight. 

OSHC statements are generated fortnightly and notifications are emailed to families with a link to your Fullybooked accounts where you can view your latest statement. If you do not receive a notification, it is still your responsibility to check your account to view your latest statement.

Please ensure you stay on top of your OSHC payments as accounts not paid in full may be suspended and OSHC bookings may be cancelled.

Payment can be made via QKR! or via direct deposit BSB 085005 A/C 456083799.

We thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our OSHC service running.

Please visit the link to the Emmaus Catholic School Uniform Policy - about-us/uniform

In line with our SunSmart policy, students are required to wear the Emmaus bucket hat during Terms 1, 3 and 4. 

Students without a hat will be required to play under the shelter only at recess and lunch times. 

Emmaus hats are available for purchase at Lowes, Colonnades. A small number of hats are available for sale in the Front Office for $21. Sizes small or medium.