Term Four Week Eight – Commencing Monday 25th November 2024

Dear Families,    

On Sunday 24th November, we celebrate the Feast of Christ The King, a day that emphasises the true importance of Christ in our lives. The Feast of Christ The King generally marks the end of Ordinary Time in the Liturgical Calendar and paves the way for us as Catholic people to welcome the first day of Advent. This year, the commencement of Advent will be on Sunday 1st of December. 

During the week, our Year Five children participated in their Growth Hunting Retreat Day, which was a culmination of the work they have been participating in over the course of the term to develop their best selves. It was so heartening to see this group of future leaders invest so heavily in the program. The staff who visited the retreat day were blown away by the beautiful atmosphere and the culture that was created when children were encouraged to stand up and share their ‘Best Self Speech’. 

The moment of gratitude at the end where the children were given a chance to acknowledge and honour one another in a respectful manner was an emotional one and the staff were filled with optimism and pride for these children who are preparing and eager to step up and lead this community. 

Edu-Dance Concerts
This Friday, community members are invited to join together for the Edu-Dance Concert which will take place in the School Hall, in the absence of our biannual Christmas Concert which is usually held on the school oval. The Edu-Dance Concert will be split into a ‘Gold Class Concert’ and a ‘Blue Class Concert’ to ensure that there is enough room in the hall to fit all of our families. The first concert will commence at 1.25pm.

1.25pm Edu-Dance Gold Classes Concert
2.15pm Edu-Dance Blue Classes Concert

Students are to come to school in their normal Friday school uniform and will get changed into their costumes later in the day.  Class Teachers will communicate with families directly in regards to costumes.

2025 Year Reps
Last week, a nomination form that invites those in our community to nominate for the position of Year Rep for the various year levels across the school for 2025 was sent home. The Year Rep positions as part of the P & F structure are vital in continuing to build our community here at St Emilie’s. 

The role of the Year Reps are: 

• Lead by living by our school motto of Growing in Grace in word and action – inclusive, welcoming, kind. 

• Vital and essential conduit between the parents in a year level and the P & F Executive and school staff. 

• Assist in enhancing the connectedness of a year level cohort through organising social opportunities. 

• Assist with the sharing of information. 

• Positive advocate for the school and the staff in that year level. 

• Facilitate the year level Facebook group. 

• Organise end of year gifts of appreciation for teachers 

For each year level across the school, we aim for two Year Reps to work in tandem with one another. If you are interested but would like some further information, please feel free to reach out to the school or see Jain Chow and Pam Lawrence who are our current P & F Executive. 

Nominations are due by Friday 29th of November. 

Welcome to our Community – Perm-A-Pleat
Last week, Perm-A-Pleat Schoolwear in Forestdale officially opened its doors to welcome families from St Emilie’s to purchase uniforms. A reminder that Image Embroidery in Canning Vale has now ceased selling St Emilie’s school uniforms and all purchases are to be made at Perm-A-Pleat. 

For further information from our school website regarding uniforms, please visit here.

P & F Treat Day
This Thursday, the P & F Committee has organised a delicious and refreshing treat afternoon for the boys and girls at the school. On Thursday after lunch, the children will all be given a Calipo icy pole and provided with some additional playtime with their friends. This is a reward for all of the efforts the boys and girls have given over the course of the term 

Final P & F General Meeting for 2024
This week parents and carers gathered on Wednesday morning for the final P & F General Meeting of the year. This meeting was extra significant given that it was the final meeting for Jain Chow our P & F Chair and Pam Lawrence our P & F Treasurer as their current time in office comes to an end. 

While there will be an opportunity to celebrate Jain and Pam at the Thanksgiving Morning Tea and the Annual Community Meeting in 2025, I would like to say a huge thank you to both Jain and Pam for all of the time and dedication to the good of our community during their time in the P & F. Thank you! 

Nominations for the P & F Committee for 2025 will be called upon early next year. 

Christmas Cards and Sweet Treats
As we enter Week Eight, inevitably, some children will want to share a small Christmas token with their friends in their class. Can we please ask that if your child would like to do this no lollies, chocolates or small gifts are brought to school and that children instead simply share a heartfelt Christmas card message. This is largely due to allergies present at our school as well as trying to avoid any unnecessary small gifts making their way to landfill.

2025 Booklists 
This week, you will have noticed an email in your inbox that directs families on how to order booklists for 2025. Please be advised that booklist orders to ensure home delivery are due by Friday 29th November. The order forms can be accessed through the details provided in the email sent home on the 5th of November. 

Contact Form Details Sent Home
Families have received an email inviting them to update their parent contact details to be shared with other families in their cohort for 2025. This email is usually sent early in Term One with the Parent Contact Lists being distributed toward the back end of the first term. For 2025, we are going to trial sending the invite to update parent contact details in Term Four and aim to have this list ready for parents and carers before the end of the 2024 school year. I would like to reiterate that this list is invitational, however, does assist with parents and carers with being able to organise play dates and birthday parties. 

Thanksgiving Mass & Community Morning Tea – Important Date Change
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, the traditional end of year Thanksgiving Mass and Community Morning Tea will now take place on Wednesday 4th December at 9:00am instead of Friday 6th December as originally communicated. 

Do you or someone you know need help with providing uniforms?
In 2023, a very kind and generous offer was made by one of our community members who would like to remain anonymous to supply uniforms for a child in our community whose family may be doing it tough. In 2024, this very generous person has once again made contact with the school to share this offer with the community. 

If you or someone you know is having a difficult time at present and has concerns about providing uniforms for a child in 2025, please email me at chris.burns@cewa.edu.au and we will be able to assist. All emails sent to myself will be treated as strictly private and confidential. 

Is your child returning to St Emilie’s in 2025?
As we draw closer to the end of the year, planning has commenced at the school for the commencement of the 2025 school year. If your child is not returning to St Emilie’s for the 2025 school year, can you please email the school Administration at stemiliesadmin@cewa.edu.au to notify the school. 

Fee Balances
As we enter Term Four, it is timely for families who have remaining fee balances to work toward closing these balances for the year. The school fees that parents and carers pay at St Emilie’s are a vital source of income for our school and ensure that we can resource the school in the best way for the children in our care. 

We recognise from time to time that families may have difficulty in paying school fees. If this is the case, I would ask that you contact the Administration Office to arrange a confidential conversation with myself. 

Uniform Standards
As we enter Term Four, I would like to remind parents and carers of the School Uniform Procedures for the school which can be found on the school website using this link https://stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/St_Emilie_s_School_Uniform_Procedure_2021.pdf.  

A reminder to all families that as part of the School Uniform Procedures, there are clear guidelines for the wearing of accessories, as well as for haircuts, which all parents and carers agree to upon enrolment of their child here at St Emilie’s. Locally, our school enjoys a strong reputation and this is partly down to the standards that are expected for children around such things as uniforms. I encourage parents and carers to ensure that ‘holiday haircuts’ do not return with your child back to school this term and that you continue to support the school in upholding standards around uniforms. 

Parent Circle
Please see further details below about our final Parent Circle session this year which will take place on Thursday 28th November. This session will be very festive with a Christmas lunch and some present giving. Rumour has it that a visit from Santa has also been scheduled for the day. 

Staff Profiles
Over the course of the year, we have been sharing Staff Profiles of staff from our school. This week, please enjoy finding out all about Mr Stuart Munro one of our School Assistant Principals.