Term Three Week One – Commencing Monday 15th July 2024

Dear Families, 

On behalf of the staff here at St. Emilie’s Catholic Primary School, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all back to school. Hopefully, the school holiday break has been a time for rest and relaxation, as well as spending time with those you love the most. 

As we continue our journey through the Nyoongar season of Makuru (June and July), we are well and truly in the coldest and wettest part of the year. Hang in there though, the warmer months of Djilba (Spring) are just around the corner with the smell of freshly cut grass and of course, AFL footy finals on the TV! 

Term Three promises to be another exciting and engaging term of teaching and learning at our school with the Term Planner already filling up with lots to look forward to. This term, we look forward to school and interschool sports events, as well as Catholic Performing Arts and a number of exciting focus weeks such as NAIDOC Week, Book Week and Science Week find their way into the calendar. 

This term, we celebrate our nation’s only saint, Saint Mary Mackillop and we will join with Father Jean Noel for the Feast of the Assumption Mass which for us as Catholics is a Holy Day of Obligation. We also prepare with the children in Year Four as they prepare to make the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. As the term goes on, we continue to keep these children, their families and those preparing the children for the Sacrament in our thoughts and prayers. 

At the end of last term, we farewelled several children and families from across the school. While these children and families will no longer attend St Emilie’s, they will always be part of our story here at the school. I know you will join me in wishing these families all the very best.

Commencing the next chapter in their own school journey are several new children and families joining our school this term. To our new families, we wish you all the very best on your journey at St Emilie’s. You are in a good place.

NAIDOC Week 2024 
National NAIDOC Week will take place this week at St Emilie’s despite the official week taking place during the school holidays. The theme of NAIDOC Week in 2024 is ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud’. 

NAIDOC Week is a week where across Australia, the achievements, history and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are celebrated. This is a fantastic opportunity for us at St Emilie’s to learn about the culture of First Nations people and in particular, about the Whadjuk Nyoongar people on which their traditional lands are where our school is located. Throughout the week, NAIDOC Week will have a special focus in the teaching and learning that takes place. 

For further information about NAIDOC Week please visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/ 

Cross Country – Year One and Year Two to Join! 
The School Cross Country Carnival will take place this Thursday 18 July. This year, children in Year One and Year Two will be provided with the opportunity to run first thing in the morning before the usual Year Three to Year Six races. We invite all parents and carers, especially those in Year One and Year Two, to stay to watch your child’s race while enjoying a coffee from the coffee van that will be onsite on the day. 

The Year One and Year Two races will be purely for fun and a chance for our children with these talents to have an opportunity to showcase their God given gifts of running across a longer distance. We wish all of the boys and girls all the very best.

Term Three Parent Information 
Going home this week in every year level will be parent information which will inform parents and carers about the teaching and learning focus across the term. It will also detail other information that parents and carers require to ensure that the term runs smoothly. 

Two Way Parent Interviews 
At the end of last term, Mid Year Reports were sent home to all families. In Week Three on Friday 2 August, parents and carers will be invited to come to school and meet with your child’s teachers to discuss your child’s progress, ask questions about the Mid Year Report as well as discuss goals for your child to strive toward between now and the end of the year. 

Spirit of The Arts
The Spirit of the Arts festival is once again back in 2024. The Spirit of the Arts Festival brings together children from Catholic schools across the state to participate in an uplifting and inclusive celebration of the arts. 

St Emilie’s will once again be represented by our Choir, Christian Dance Troupe, Dance Troupe and Rock Band. 

Venues, dates and times for the items mentioned above can be found below: 

Christian Dance: Monday 29th July 10.30am to 11.30am at Chapel of St Brigid, Mercy College, Koondoola 

School Band: Thursday the 1st of August 9.30am to 10.45am Orana Catholic Primary School, Willetton 

School Choir: Monday the 19th of August 10.45am to 11.45am Vasto Club, Balcatta 

Ticketing is via Try Booking. There will be no door sales. Tickets can be purchased from the 5th of July –
https://www.spiritofthearts.com.au/

Dance Troupe: Thursday 29th August 6.30pm to 9.30pm at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre 

Tickets can be purchased from the 31st July. Ticketek on 132 849 or  https://premier.ticketek.com.au

Staff Profiles
Over the course of the year, we have been sharing Staff Profiles of staff from our school. Late last term, Mrs Lisa Brooks commenced teaching in Year One Gold in partnership with Mrs Kristy Bull. Although Mrs Brooks is new to the role this year, Mrs Brooks worked at St Emilie’s 12 years ago across a number of different roles. This week, please enjoy reading all about Mrs Lisa Brooks. 

Focus on the St. Emilie’s Catholic Primary School Code of Conduct
At St. Emilie’s Catholic Primary School, we pride ourselves on ensuring that children, staff, families and the wider community are safe when onsite here at school. To allow us to create and maintain a safe environment at all times, St. Emilie’s Catholic Primary School is bound by a code of conduct. The St. Emilie’s Catholic Primary School Code of Conduct outlines a minimum standard of conduct in all behaviour and decision-making to ensure that our children are safe at all times. The code of conduct applies to every single person in our community and those who come onsite at school inherently agree to abide by the code of conduct. Visitors to the school during the day formally agree to follow the code of conduct when they sign in for their visit. 

This week we unpack ‘Standard Eleven – You act reflectively and ethically’

Staff at St Emilie’s act reflectively and ethically in all we do. We always put the needs of the children front and centre in our decision making and in our behaviour. The staff are aware of the Conduct Statements of the School Code of Conduct. 

All visitors to the school are also expected to act ethically in their interactions with all in the community. 

The St Emilie’s Catholic Primary School Code of Conduct can be accessed on the school website by clicking on this link.