2025 - Term 1, Week 3

Dear Emmaus Families,

Welcome Back to 2025!

We are delighted to welcome you all to another exciting year at Emmaus Catholic School. We hope your holidays were filled with rest, joy, and special moments with family and friends. As we begin this new chapter, we look forward to nurturing strong connections, fostering growth, and creating lasting memories together. 2025 promises to be a year of learning, laughter, and new opportunities for our students, staff, and families.

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who braved the heat to attend our AGM and Welcome Night. It was wonderful to see parents engaging with our teachers and learning more about key aspects of education at Emmaus. The evening also provided an opportunity to introduce our new Board members and express our gratitude to those who have completed their service. We welcome Leon Paczynski and Nicole Thompson who are both new to the Board. We welcome back Dale Sutton, returning to continue his membership on the Board. Continuing members for 2025 are Thomas Gallasch, Joanne McKeown and Anthony Nogaj. We bid farewell to Kate Ringvall and Trina Brotherton. I sincerely thank them both for their invaluable time, dedication and input throughout the duration of their membership.

I hope that for those who attended the AGM and Welcome Night, it was a valuable chance to put faces to names, connect with their child's teachers, and gain further insight into the supportive and dedicated community we have here at Emmaus.

School Values

At Emmaus Catholic School, our values are deeply connected to our pedagogical principles and vision, guiding everything we do.

Pedagogical Principles

Our principles are embraced by staff, students, and families, supporting our mission to nurture thriving people, capable learners, and leaders for the world God desires.

Relationships

We believe that strong, positive relationships are the foundation of a vibrant school community. At Emmaus, we prioritise building and maintaining connections that support both learning and wellbeing, involving staff, students, parents, and carers.

Active, Skilled Teachers and Learners

We empower educators and students to be active, engaged participants in the learning journey. Recognising parents and carers as the first educators of their children, we value our partnership with families as essential to student success.

High Expectations

At Emmaus, we set high expectations for ourselves, each other, and our students. This commitment fosters a culture of excellence, growth, and achievement.

The Emmaus Way

Our children have embraced "The Emmaus Way," which encourages them to Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Ready to Learn. This approach is not just for our students—our dedicated staff are guided by these principles daily in their interactions with children and families. We kindly ask that parents and community members also embody these values in their engagements with our school community. We understand that conversations about our children can sometimes stir strong emotions, but maintaining a respectful dialogue helps us work together effectively for the benefit of every child.

The Power of Partnership

We believe that when schools and families work in partnership, amazing things happen. A strong, respectful collaboration between home and school fosters a supportive environment where children feel secure, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. Together, we create a community where learning flourishes and everyone feels a sense of belonging.

2025: The Year of New Possibilities!

As I visit classrooms and chat with children at play, I have discovered some of the things they are excited about this year:

Playing in our beautiful Nature Play space

Sports lessons and out of school sports such as basketball netball and soccer

Music and engaging in our new specialist subject  -  the Arts

Learning Italian for the very first time,

Learning a new instrument and then playing together in bands and ensembles

Setting and achieving new learning goals

Playing with friends and making new ones

Exploring the new library spaces

And of course, the big one… SPORTS DAY!

Thank you for a wonderful start to 2025. Your enthusiasm, positivity, and contributions to our beautiful school culture are deeply appreciated. Together, we will continue to create an environment where every child can thrive.

With best wishes and kindness,

Suzanne Budd

A FRESH NEW YEAR…A FRESH NEW START…A NEW BEGINNING

Welcome back to this special place of learning, of community and of faith. As each new year begins, we all start thinking about the new possibilities of a fresh start. Many set ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ and plan to do things differently. With a new diary, comes new potential. But the ultimate goal of all these changes is to make our lives happier.

In making these resolutions, many of us can forget one aspect of our lives that is the source of ETERNAL HAPPINESS.. our faith- it connects us to all things!

What do we believe in? What is important to us? What is our relationship with God? How are we connected to the world? What is our role? How does all this impact on how we live? These questions are central to finding the happiness that we all seek.

With our new goals for the year, it is important to consider how our FAITH can strengthen and support us on life’s journey.

Faith is a gift and an invitation from God to know God more.  This gift of faith grows only with regular and purposeful time given by the believer to nurturing this gift. It doesn’t grow alone. Nourishing faith calls for...

• Living a life of faith- living and acting through our morals and beliefs and doing good works. What does my lifestyle say about what I believe?
• Community involvement- connecting with the body of the Church. One believer is but one cell in the body of Christ, the Church. The gifts of others complement our own; their strengths support us in our weaknesses.  How is my faith and life strengthened by my connection with community?
• Acting out of love- accepting our human weaknesses and attempting to make every decision motivated by love.  Are my decisions ever motivated by greed, hate, revenge or power?
• Prayer and contemplation- taking time for regular personal prayer, reflection and contemplation. Do I find my own time for prayer or silence?
• Engaging with God’s Word- taking time to read and listen to scripture. And also to the thoughts of others who have travelled the path of faith. Do I listen for God’s message when I hear or read the bible?

What will you do this year to strengthen your faith? The important thing to do is- do something! If we consciously do nothing to contribute to our spiritual growth, we are missing out on fully understanding ourselves and our relationship with God and with Creation.

Those who are too busy and too stressed to do this- are in the greatest need for peace and happiness! Let this year be the year for change!

THE SEASON OF LENT

God loves us unconditionally and wants us to be ‘whole.’ Being ‘whole’ means to live fully, connected to all things. This is where we find our true happiness. 

 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness…He fasted for forty days and forty nights…” (Matthew 4: 1-2) 

The season of Lent is upon us. This is the most important season on our Catholic Liturgical Calendar. It is a time for us to fully accept our brokenness and our weaknesses and ask God to guide and strengthen us for the journey God has planned for each one of us. It is a solemn time of reflection, renewal and change. 

Above is a short passage from a Gospel reading which is read during Lent. It reminds us of Jesus’ time ‘in the wilderness’- the origins of the forty days of Lent before Easter. Jesus often went away alone because it is only through prayer and contemplation that we can build our relationship with God. But notice who led Jesus into the wilderness…. ‘the Spirit.’ Yes, it was God’s Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. God knows how important this ‘time-out’ is for our soul. And even more, God knows, the importance of the difficult times that we must endure, in strengthening us for things to come. 

“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” (Archbishop Romero- El Salvador) 

So how will you reflect, be renewed and be restored this Lent? 

Make a commitment for positive change in your life which will bring you and your family closer to God. The 3 aspects of Lent, Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving, can be a good guide to change. Some ideas include: 

• Prayer: Prayer is the only way to communicate with the God that loves us as we are. Spend time in silence for individual prayer or mediation, take turns to say a prayer before the family meal or make a commitment to go to Mass each Sunday during Lent and experience the build-up to the Easter season. Someone once said, “God gives us 168 hours of life in a week, can we use just 1 to say thanks?” 
• Fasting: Fasting is ‘giving-up’ something. Take some time to examine your own life, are there habits that get in the way of strengthening your relationships with others and with God? Fasting is all about sacrifice- for the good of others. It is about becoming more aware of the needs of others rather than our own wants. 
• Almsgiving: Almsgiving is about sharing the earth’s resources more equally with others. Consider how you can give something of yourself- time, money, talent, to others. Giving to, and assisting in events for Caritas’ Project Compassion is one way of making this commitment. There may also be ways we can live more sustainably to care for the environment and others. 

PROJECT COMPASSION

 The Project Compassion theme reminds us that what we do today can have an impact for all future generations. This message invites us to step up for those who do not have the essential resources they need for their survival and those whose needs at this time are far beyond ours. By putting compassion into action, we can make a difference today, for all future generations.

Your child will be bringing home a Project Compassion donation box. Funds collected go to long-term integral human development programs and emergency relief programs.

Your generous support can help change lives today – and For All Future Generations

Justine Raponi

Acting APRIM

jraponi@emmaus.catholic.edu.au

Emmaus Reconciliation Action Plan

I would like to introduce myself to the families of Emmaus in my role as the First Nations Education co-ordinator. As a proud Arrernte woman, I am very passionate about ensuring that First Nations peoples and Education have a voice within our school community. For the last year, a team made up of staff and parents have been working towards completing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). A RAP is a formal commitment to reconciliation. It documents how our school, through Indigenous Education, will strengthen relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school and within the community. As this commitment effects every part of the Emmaus community, we are seeking passionate Emmaus community members to join our project and work with us while we take the next steps in our RAP journey. If you are interested in volunteering and would like more information about joining our RAP Team, please contact myself (Sylvia Sirdoc) at ssirdoc@emmaus.catholic.edu.au.

Anniversary of National Apology Day – Thursday February 13th

Next week marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations (13 February), a significant moment in Australia’s history. On this day in 2008, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations, for the injustices they suffered under past government policies.

This anniversary provides an opportunity for us to reflect as a school community and engage our students in meaningful discussions about respect, reconciliation, and truth-telling. Throughout the week, our school community will be focusing on understanding sorry, kindness & respect, storytelling & reflection and working towards a hopeful future. You are invited to continue these conversations at home so that together, we can walk towards a more hopeful future. 

Sylvia Sirdoc

Year 4 Teacher & First Nations Education Co-ordinator

Financial Statements have now been posted to all families which include the 2025 school fees.

Payments can be made in full or by an approved payment plan. 

There are two options which you can choose to pay your school fees.  You can make your payments by direct debit either weekly, fortnightly, monthly if full payment cannot be made at the beginning of the year.  All families will be required to set up a direct debit to pay all fees in full before the end of the calendar year.

If the entire annual fees are paid in full by 28th February 2025 there will be a 5% discount available on the total school fees.  This is in recognition of the assistance advance payment gives to the school’s cash flow.  This discount is unavailable for fees which are already receiving discounts other than Sibling Discount.

To be eligible for the lower income fee, you need to qualify as a low income family. This is determined by your family’s gross income and is a $ value set by the State Government.

Proof of income is required and applicants will need to apply via the State Government’s School Card scheme.

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme

If you have any questions about applying for the lower income fee please contact Vickie Richardson.

Families not eligible for school card but are experiencing financial difficulty or may just fall outside of these income limits, are asked to contact Vickie Richardson to discuss their situation.

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 066-782 A/C 100002617.

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

We're Going Cashless!

To streamline payments and improve security, our school is now completely cashless. From now on, all payments must be made using one of the following methods:

✅ Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
✅ Credit Card
✅ QKR! App

✅ Loop App (for Lucky Book Club orders)

This change ensures a safer and more efficient payment process for families and staff. If you have any questions or need assistance setting up a payment method, please contact the school office.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Please note: Cash will only be accepted for second-hand-uniform sales from the uniform shop, where a family is selling an item, as this money will go directly to that family.

QKR is a convenient app that simplifies and speeds up the process of paying for school-related items.

Emmaus Catholic School utilises QKR to make it easier for parents to pay for various expenses, including School Fees, OSHC Fees, Enrolment Fees, Instrumental Hire, P&F Events, Special Lunches, Excursions and Camps, and more.

To help you get started with the app, we've provided the QKR Guide, which you can download here!

Download QKR for Apple here

Download QKR for Android here

As we approach the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing period, we want to provide you with essential information to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience for both students and parents.

What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN is a nationwide assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, designed to evaluate their literacy and numeracy skills. The test provides valuable insights into a student's academic progress and helps identify areas that may require additional support.

Key Dates: Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March 2025.

Year 3
Writing - 40 min - Wednesday 12th of March (Paper format)
Reading - 45 min - Thursday 13th of March (Online)
Conventions of language - 45 min - Friday 14th of March (Online)
Numeracy - 45 min - Monday 17th of March (Online)

Year 5
Writing - 42 min - Wednesday 12th of March (Online)
Reading - 50 min - Thursday 13th of March (Online)
Conventions of language - 45 min - Friday 14th of March (Online)
Numeracy - 50 min - Monday 17th of March (Online)

How Can Families Prepare?

Maintain a Positive Attitude: Emphasise that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing but is an opportunity to showcase skills. Encourage a positive mindset to alleviate stress.

Regular Attendance: Ensure your child attends school regularly, especially during the testing period. Consistent attendance helps build routine and familiarity.

Adequate Rest and Nutrition: A well-rested and well-nourished student is better equipped to face challenges. Ensure your child gets enough sleep and eats a balanced breakfast on test days.

Encourage Reading and Numeracy Practice: Regular reading and numeracy exercises at home can boost confidence and reinforce key skills. Make learning enjoyable through games and activities.

Open Communication: Keep an open line of communication with your child's teacher. If you have any concerns or questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
 

How will Emmaus support your child?

We are committed to creating a supportive environment for our students during the NAPLAN testing period. Our teachers will be preparing students with relevant materials and strategies to help them feel confident and capable.

Should you have any specific concerns or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or Kate Thompson via the school office.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to ensure a positive and successful NAPLAN experience for every student.

Please visit the link to the Emmaus Catholic School Uniform Policy

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.

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 $23.

Hats are now to be worn during recess and lunch breaks when outside.

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.

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.

All Lucky Book Club Orders are to be ordered via the LOOP app or the LOOP  website https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/parent/login.aspx

Orders for Bookclub Issue 1 are due by Friday 14th February 2025.

Calling all book lovers! Parent Book Clubs Launch at Emmaus.

Emmaus is excited to announce the launch of new book clubs designed specifically for parents. Whether you’re an avid reader, used to read before kids, haven’t picked up a book since high school English, or are just looking to connect with other parents, these clubs offer a fantastic opportunity to explore engaging reads, share perspectives and chat about something other than kids. Emmaus parent, Francesca, will be leading this new project and is looking forward to connecting with fellow book lovers.

Between making lunches, driving to and from after school sports, and general life, it can be hard to find time for yourself. We understand everyone has busy schedules so we will be offering a variety of meeting times to try and accommodate everyone. Once the new library work is completed, we will have sessions during school hours, as well as some local weekend gatherings for a fun, relaxed setting.

What to expect:

• Diverse book selection: We’ll explore a wide range of genres, from thought-provoking, to light and easy. Books will be available from Big W, Kmart to purchase or you can use the local library, Audible or Kindle.
• Engaging Discussions: Book clubs provide a platform for insightful interpretations and different perspectives. However, you’ll find the sessions are casual and filled with talk about many things, not just books.
• Monthly meet ups: Once a month each book club will meet to discuss the set book. However, reading the book is not required! Maybe you’re just looking to get out of the house for a couple hours, or you want to check out what it’s all about before committing, or you want to step out of your comfort zone, either way, you’re welcome to come along to any book club session.
• Community Building: Book Clubs are a great way to meet fellow parents, build friendships, and become more involved in the school community. They are also a great way to reduce screen time as they give you the motivation to pick up a book instead of your phone.

Keep an eye out on the Emmaus Families Facebook page for information regarding an introductory information session, or contact Francesca Piggott on mrs.fpiggott@gmail.com.

As always, we remind families to speak to their children about safety and keeping themselves safe.

SAPOL would like to remind students and families to be wary of approaches from strangers, especially when students are unaccompanied or travelling to and from school. If they are approached students should not respond and should not accept offers of rides or gifts.

Students should seek the assistance of other nearby adults if they feel unsafe and should report the event to a trusted adult (parent or school staff member) as soon as possible.

SA Police advises that taking out a mobile phone and calling police can deter the offender and they recommend the student making a formal report to their closest police station.

For guidance on what to teach your child about strategies for saying safe, please see the image below.