Term Three Week Seven – Commencing Monday 31st August 2026

Dear Families,

Last weekend, our Parish joined together for a weekend of celebration as children from the parish, including many of our Year Four children, celebrated making their First Holy Communion. 

The children from the parish represented their families and the parish with grace and reverence as they so respectfully celebrated this Sacrament. Once again, it was pleasing to see large numbers of attendees across all Masses, a sign of the strength and health of our parish. 

A huge thank you and congratulations must go to the children and their families, as well as the Catechist Team and Class Teachers for the time and energy in preparing the children. As always, Father Jean Noel Marie celebrated the Masses in his uniquely upbeat, vibrant and inspiring manner, and we are forever grateful for his leadership of our parish. 

Today, we welcome Reverend Mark Powell to our school, who is the Director of Religious Education at CEWA. It was great to welcome Mark to the school, with some of our Year Six children showing Mark around the school before joining staff for morning tea. 

As one school in a system of many Catholic schools across Western Australia, we are very blessed to draw on the expertise of others in ensuring that we continue to provide a quality Catholic education right here in Canning Vale. 

Literacy Week: Book Week Parade & Incursions 
This week is Literacy Week at St Emilie’s, where, as a community, we dedicate the week to ensuring that literacy is at the forefront. 

Undoubtedly, the Book Week Parade, which will be held on Tuesday the 1st of September, will be a very exciting moment for the children and for the community. As communicated on Thursday 27 August via email, all parents and carers are most welcome to stay for the Book Week Parade, which will take place at 8:45am on Tuesday morning in the school undercover area. 

Children are invited to dress up on the day as a character from a book. At St Emilie’s, in line with our School Vision for Learning, we pride ourselves on critical and creative thinking as well as collaborative learning. Children are encouraged to create their dress up on the day by upcycling materials at home and using household materials for their costumes. 

Please read the email sent on Thursday for further information. 

At the conclusion of the Book Week Parade, children will join together to take part in the Book Week Incursions which promise to be engaging for all involved. 

During Book Week, it is a timely reminder about the focus of reading that is present throughout Purposeful Practice (Homework) in all year levels. Children’s reading forms a large proportion of what we ask children to do at home, and this week, I would like to advocate for the importance of reading to your child and listening to your child read. 

Open Classrooms & Father’s Day Breakfast 
On Wednesday the 2nd of September, for the first time ever, we will combine our Father’s Day event with our Open Classrooms event as we celebrate Open Classrooms and Father’s Day BBQ. 

Open Classrooms and Father’s Day Breakfast will take place between 4:00pm and 6:00pm, with all families strongly encouraged to come to school to view all of your child’s learning throughout the year, as well as view some of the very cool learning opportunities that take place across St Emilie’s. 

After families visit the classrooms, families are invited to come to the undercover area and oval to enjoy some garden games and spend time with their family and other members of the community. Those families who have ordered a sausage sizzle on the evening will be able to collect their sausage sizzle from this area. Please note that pre-orders for sausage sizzles are now closed. 

Wednesday evening promises to be a terrific community event, and we look forward to seeing all of our families embracing this learning opportunity and chance to celebrate fathers together as a community. 

NAIDOC & Laudato Si Week 
NAIDOC & Laudato Si Week will now take place in Week Nine. 

In exciting news, children and staff from across the school will be engaging with a local First Nations artist to paint signs and symbols on stepping stones that will be laid in the bush area of the school. This project aims to connect the Year One and Year Two oval, through the orchard, underneath the Cockatoo Watering Station, into the Yarning Circle and finishing up at the Frog Pond. This path will acknowledge Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodja where our school is found. 

In the lead up to the day will require some assistance from parents to help prime the stepping stones for painting. Further details will be shared in the lead up to the day. 

House Field Events Day
It is that time of year again when athletics is the main focus of the Physical Education program here at the school. 

Our House Field Events Day takes place this Friday, the 4th of September, with children between Year Four and Year Six making their way to the school oval to participate in the field events. 

Further information will be shared by Mr Davis this week for children involved in the carnival. 

Please also see below in the P&F News, for information regarding purchasing novelty accessories, for that added bit of House cheer.

Call for Donations for School P & F 
On the day of the House Athletics Carnival on Friday the 18th of September, our P & F Committee will be hosting a raffle. I call on any members of the community who may be involved with businesses to consider donating to the P & F to offer as prizes. 

Businesses who are able to donate will be given a shout out in the Weekly Reminders in the coming weeks. 

We appreciate your support.