Term Three Week Four – Commencing Monday 10th August 2026

Dear Families,  

‘Never see a need without doing something about it’ Saint Mary MacKillop 

Week Four promises to be another very exciting week here at St Emilie’s, especially for those children and staff who are in MacKillop House. On Tuesday this week, children in MacKillop House are invited to wear their green MacKillop House Shirts to school, to highlight the Feast of Mary MacKillop. 

Saint Mary MacKillop is a very special Saint for Australians, especially those of us who are involved in Catholic education around the country. Saint Mary MacKillop pioneered Catholic education in Australia and really set the tone and direction for the ethos that we see in Catholic schools today as inclusive, affordable and accessible education communities, providing a quality education for children. 

Saint Mary MacKillop was a true Catholic educator in every sense of the word, who opened schools in the early days for children in rural communities to get a fair go at education. In the early days, she battled logistical challenges to get her schools up and running, often running on scarce resources, but continued to show up each and every day, gradually attracting more children to the schools. 

The quote which reads, ‘never see a need without doing something about it’ highlights Mary’s drive to serve the people she came in contact with, such was her vocation. This week, we pay our respects to Saint Mary MacKillop and the profound impact she has had on catholic education around our country. 

This week, children from the parish, including children from Year Four, will take part in First Holy Communion Workshops to continue their preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. These workshops will be a terrific opportunity for children and parents to join together with school staff and catechists to deepen their knowledge of receiving the Body of Christ in the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.  

As the children prepare to make this sacrament, I would ask that you keep the children, their families and our community in your thoughts and prayers. 

Catholic Performing Arts Festival
Last week, three dance items from our school were on full display as part of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. 

The children who performed across Wednesday and Thursday did an amazing job showcasing their God-given gifts. We say a very sincere thank you to the siblings, parents and staff who consistently show up to support the children on occasions such as these. 

In the coming weeks, we still have our School Choir to perform and show the culmination of their hard work and practice. 

A reminder that on Tuesday the 22nd of September, all of our Catholic Performing Arts entries will be showcased to our community at our special Performing Arts Assembly. All members of the community are more than welcome to attend. 

Year One Assembly – Friday the 14th of August
Please come and join in the fun this Friday the 14th of August as our Year One children lead our community at assembly. All are welcome, and those in attendance are encouraged to stay for a cup of tea and biscuit at the conclusion of assembly.

Early Years Learning T-shirts
Today we officially launched our Early Years Learning T-shirts.

In keeping with our Early Years philosophy and belief in fostering a strong sense of identity, we wanted to create a special t-shirt that our youngest learners could wear to enhance their sense of pride, connection, and belonging within our school community.

These coloured t-shirts are optional for our students in Three Year old Kindy, Kindy and Pre-Primary. The optional nature of the t-shirt will not detract from the educational philosophy in our early years where we promote autonomy and choice for our children through play based experiences.

Designed by two of our very own students, we are delighted to let you know that they are now available at the Uniform Shop at the cost of $23. Details about the Uniform Shop Hours/Location can be found on our school website here.

The Early Years Learning T-shirts are available in each of our House Colours

de Vialar – Purple
Mazenod – Blue
MacKillop – Green
Gannon – Orange

2027 Return to School Dates
Earlier in the year, information was shared that in 2027, CEWA schools, including St Emilie’s, would be introducing a three week mid term break, with anticipated benefits around teaching and learning outcomes, as well as community wellbeing. 

I can now share some important dates that I would ask parents and carers to make note of for 2027. 

Please see below 

First Day for Children in 2027 – Thursday the 28th of January
Last Day for Children in Term One – Friday the 9th of April 

First Day of Term Two – Monday the 26th of April
Final Day of Term Two – Friday the 25th of June 

First Day of Term Three – Monday the 19th of July
Final Day of Term Three – Friday the 24th of September 

First Day of Term Four – Monday the 11th of October
Final day of Term Four – Friday the 10th of December 

Please note that these dates are different from the term dates in Department of Education schools.

Duty of Care Hours @ St Emilie’s – No Supervision Onsite Before 8:20am
Duty of care for children to be onsite and supervised at St Emilie’s commences at 8:20am. Children should not be dropped off at school before this time, and if they are, an adult must accompany them. A reminder for all children and carers who arrive before the 8:30am bell that once they have placed their school bags down at their classrooms, they should be waiting in the undercover area. A teacher is rostered on at this time to ensure the children are safe and preparing themselves so they are ‘ready to learn’ when the bell sounds to commence the day. 

Staffing Update: Mr Stuart Munro (Short Term Principal)
I am pleased to share that in Week Five (Monday 17th of August to Friday 21st of August), Mr Stuart Munro will take on the role as Short Term Principal here at the school. 

During Week Five, I will be travelling to Thailand to present at The 55th Annual Academic Conference of the Catholic Education Council of Thailand. This will be a terrific opportunity to showcase all of the amazing work that happens within our community here at St Emilie’s, as well as gain some valuable insights about the Catholic schooling system in Thailand. 

I look forward to seeing you all again in Week Six. 

Staff Spotlight
This week we are very pleased to share that the Staff Spotlight is on Ms Jessica Mucciacciaro, who is joining us for Term Three from the University of Notre Dame Australia and will be working with Mrs Bull and Mrs Green in Year Four Blue. 

Please scroll down to see Ms M’s profile below. 

Can you help? In need of a Bobcat, Dingo and Trailer
As part of an exciting project to improve the accessibility and usability of our precious native bush area at St Emilie’s (details for the community coming soon), we are seeking assistance with sourcing large rocks to place in the area. We have sourced some rocks at a property in the Perth Hills, about 20 minutes away, however, we need assistance in collecting the rocks and transporting them to St Emilie’s. If you are able to assist, or know someone who can, please contact the Administration Office.

CEWA Parent Code of Conduct 
At St Emilie’s, all members of our community are expected to conduct themselves in line with the School Code of Conduct, which essentially sets out a minimum standard of conduct for all here at the school. To commence Term Three, a Parent Code of Conduct will be introduced here at St Emilie’s, which has been developed for all schools in the CEWA system. This Parent Code of Conduct will provide specific information for parents about how they can continue to support their child and the community here at St Emilie’s. 

In the coming weeks, the Parent Code of Conduct will be introduced in further detail. 

Family Movie Night – Saturday 15 August
All families with children are warmly invited to join the parish community for a Family Movie Night! 

Please see the details below. The flyer has been included further below in the Weekly Reminders. 

📅 Date: Saturday 15 August
🕖 Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
🎬 Movie: DAVID
💵 Entry: $5 (Free under 5 yrs)
🍿 Refreshments: Popcorn, hot chocolate and ice cream will be provided. 

The parish invites all families to come along for a fun evening of fellowship and entertainment with family and friends.

WA Student Assistance Payment 
The WA Student Assistance Payment helps parents and carers with cost-of-living pressures associated with sending their children to school. All Western Australian school students in Kindergarten to Year 12, with a valid WA student number, are eligible for this cost-of-living payment. 

You can claim $250 for each secondary student and $150 for students attending primary school or Kindergarten. The payment will be available through the ServiceWA app, with parents and carers encouraged to set up or update their ServiceWA account and have an active Digital ID. Claims open on Monday 20 July 2026. 

All claims must be received by Friday 25 September 2026. For further information, please visit https://www.education.wa.edu.au/wasap/ 

Australian Government Census – 11th of August 
On the 11th of August, the Australian Government will be hosting its five-year census. The census aims to provide a snapshot of the demographics of the country. 

As a Catholic community, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have asked schools to urge all Catholics within the community to identify themselves as Catholic people. This will provide the most accurate picture of the population of those people within Australia who are Catholic.