Term One Week Five – Commencing Tuesday 4th March 2025

Dear Families,   

This week, we enter a very important time of our liturgical calendar as we commence Lent.  

The liturgical season of Lent, a time of prayer, fasting and charity asks us to journey with Jesus through his most difficult time. How can we do this? The answer is that we do this by looking out for others and ensuring that we treat those in our community who are doing it tough with compassion, dignity and grace, just as Jesus would have wanted. 

This week, all in our community are invited to join the staff and children at the school for Mass at 9:00am in the Parish Church on Wednesday morning. During Ash Wednesday Mass, the ashes which are made from the burned branches from the leaves on Palm Sunday in 2024, remind us that during this solemn time of Lent, we should ask forgiveness for any wrongdoing that has occurred. 

As is the case across all Catholic schools at this time of year, on Wednesday we commence our efforts with Project Compassion. Project Compassion is an opportunity for us to stand in solidarity with those around the world who need our prayers, and assistance financially. When opportunities arise throughout Lent to support Project Compassion, I ask that you do your best to support. 

This Tuesday is also Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent where historically, people used up all of their supplies and stored food for one final feast before the fasting in Lent. I was delighted during the week that the call for assistance to cook pancakes for the children on Ash Wednesday was answered with such enthusiasm from our community. We had well over 30 people reply to say they could assist on Tuesday morning and I thank everyone who was so giving of their time. The children will receive a delicious pancake on Tuesday morning and learn about the origins of Shrove Tuesday and the importance of Lent. 

Pupil Free Day (Vision for Learning and Fruits of the Holy Spirit)
While the children enjoyed a day away from school, staff were on site today continuing to work through the roll out of our School Vision for Learning, as well as deepening our knowledge on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, which help guide our pastoral care for the children here at school. 

The staff engaged really well in taking on a strengths based approach about all of the engaging and intentional learning experiences here at school, which are provided in line with the Vision for Learning. There is so much to celebrate and to build upon in to the year. 

Sacramental Commitment Masses
Sacramental Commitment Masses for children celebrating the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Year Three), First Holy Communion (Year Four) and Confirmation (Year Six) will be held across this weekend. During these Masses, children from St Emilies will join with parishioners from the parish to show their commitment to preparing for the Sacraments in 2025. 

Sacramental Enrolment Forms are available from the Parish Church foyer. 

As the year unfolds, children from St Emilies will prepare for the celebrations and we keep these children, their families and the staff involved in their preparations in our prayers.  

Welcome to Mrs Leah Klatt
Earlier this term, a process was undertaken to employ an additional Education Assistant who will work with the children in the Kindy space. I am delighted to share that Mrs Leah Klatt has been appointed to this role and will be commencing at St Emilie’s next week. 

Mrs Klatt is very excited to commence here at the school and I know that in true St Emilie’s fashion, our community will ensure that Mrs Klatt feels right at home.  

Kindy Enrolments 2026
We are now calling for Kindy enrolments for our 2026 Kindy cohort. If you know of anyone with a child due to commence Kindy in 2026 who would like to join our vibrant and diverse community, please encourage them to submit an enrolment application or contact the school for further details.

Year Six Assembly & Awards
This Friday, we celebrate our first assembly for the year. On Friday, the Year Six cohort will present some of their learning from the start of the year. This group of children have been exceptional in how they have started the year as a group, and I ask as many people as possible to please come and support the Year Sixes on Friday. 

This will also be the first time that we have presented Merit Awards at Friday Assembly since the Covid pandemic, which is exciting news for all involved. On Friday we will also present our first Fruits of the Holy Spirit Award too. 

Please remember, that Friday Morning Assemblies are open to all members of the community, not just the parents and carers of the children presenting their learning. Please come down and support the children in our school when assemblies are on. 

Playground Out of Bounds Before and After of School
A reminder to parents and carers that children are not permitted on the playground before or after school even if under the supervision of an adult. We ask that all children between Year One to Year Six sit with their school bags in the undercover area while they wait for the 8:30am bell to move the class. While this will ensure the safety of the children at all times, this time is also necessary to ensure that the children start to ready themselves for learning by calming their bodies and minds and remaining in an orderly environment. This has been explained to the children at assembly and they are all aware of how the morning routine should look. We thank you for your assistance in this regard.

Evacuation Drill
On Thursday 6th of March, our children will participate in an Evacuation Drill after lunch. Between now and Thursday, please speak with your children about the drill to remind them that this is a practise only and that there is nothing to worry about. Class Teachers will also speak with the children to ensure that they understand that this drill is not real. 

Front Gate
Those parents and carers who park and walk their children into school or who park and collect their children, would have seen that a new gate has been installed at the school between the Administration and the Kindy/Pre-Primary area. Like all gates at the school, this gate will be locked at 8:45am. 

The gate has been installed to ensure that access to the school between the hours of 8:45am and 2:45pm is through the Administration Office only. Any visitor to the school is required to sign in at the office and then they will be permitted to enter the school if required. 

This also means that we have an extra barrier to ensure that none of the children make their way past the Administration Office and into the busy car park. 

Parent Handbook
The 2025 Parent Handbook is now available on the school website. The Parent Handbook can be found https://stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/parents/parent-handbook/

P & F Committee
Congratulations to Mrs Catrina Schryver who was the sole nominee for the P & F Committee for 2025 at our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday evening. Given that there were six positions vacant and only one nomination, we did not need to vote on the evening of the Annual Community Meeting. 

This obviously means that we are still without a full P & F Committee for 2025. The good news is that it is quite obvious that the parents and carers at the school have a desire to assist and be involved, hence the terrific number of volunteers for Shrove Tuesday. This is a credit to the previous P & F Committees who have developed this culture in the school.  

Next week, information will be shared with the community about how the school plans to go about gaining additional numbers to support Catrina on the P & F Committee. 

In the interim, there will be opportunities for parents to put their hands up to assist. Please keep a look out for calls for volunteers. 

P & F Footy Tipping
The excitement is building around St Emilie’s as we draw ever closer to the AFL season. Can the Dockers win their first flag? Can the Eagles resurrect themselves after some disappointing seasons? Who knows! 

The P & F Footy Tipping competition is a great way for the community to have some fun with the AFL season as well as raise some money for the school. 

Please see below the flyer for the QR code so you can sign up to join in the fun and give yourself an opportunity to win some great prizes. 

School Advisory Council Spotlight
Over the next few weeks in the Weekly Reminders, we will be sharing with you a profile from the members of our School Advisory Council. The School Advisory Council is formed by very dedicated volunteers who bring their own God given gifts to the role. These parents and carers sit on the council and act as an advisory body for school staff concerning the direction and governance of the school.  

This week, we share with you all the profile of Mrs Nicole Grima. Nicole is a St Emilie’s person through and through, consistently putting her hand up to assist wherever she can. Thank you, Nicole for all of your time!