Term Four Week Three – Commencing Monday 21st October 2024

Dear Families,   

The first Mass for Confirmation is only a few days away as the children from the parish prepare to celebrate with their families and the community this Sunday, the 20th of October at 11:00 am. 

As with all Masses and celebrations of the Sacraments, it would be fantastic to see as many community members from the school in attendance for the Masses to support the children, families, catechists and staff during this wonderful time. This is a time when the Confirmation candidates renew the promises made for them by their parents and Godparents at Baptism. Over the next two Sundays, the children will renew these promises themselves. 

If you would like to learn more about Confirmation, please click on the link to view a video prepared by the Archdiocese of Brisbane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFo-9H-lZlk 

Confirmation has been broken up into two Masses in our parish this year such are the number of children wishing to be confirmed. If you are unable to attend the Confirmation Mass this Sunday, please come on down to support the children next Sunday 27th of October at 11:00 am. 

All are welcome. 

Hats off to Teachers – “World Teacher’s Day”
At St Emilie’s, every single person on our staff is a teacher. No matter the various roles that our staff hold at school, each one of us explicitly and incidentally teaches the children in our care. Staff in Catholic schools are special people with the passion, faith and skill to weave the teachings of the Gospel into everything we do.  

At St Emilie’s this is no different. 

Next Friday, 25th of October is World Teacher’s Day and the theme for World Teachers Day is ‘Hats off to Teachers’. This day is an opportunity for teachers to receive the recognition they deserve for all they do. While the staff here at St Emilie’s do not do their work for the recognition, I call on all members of our school community to take time out of their day in the next week or so to explicitly reach out to the staff at St Emilie’s and thank them. 

Working in a school is not as simple as showing up and slapping a few worksheets on the desk for children to complete. Our staff strive to engage, courageously inspire and support children in line with our vision and mission statements which can be found on our website. 

Staff in schools in 2024 are called to not only teach but to counsel, heal bumps and bruises, dry tears when they are shed, authentically walk with families, ensure everyone is safe all of the time, bring their best selves to school each day so they can be a role model, as well as being beacons of our Catholic faith. This is all in a day’s work for our staff and I would like to personally thank this group of wonderfully caring, empathetic, talented and dedicated people for ensuring that our children continue to ‘grow in grace’. The staff at St Emlie’s are ‘second to none’. 

Interschool Sports
This coming week we have a large number of children representing the school on Monday 21st of October as well as Tuesday 22nd October at the Interschool Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to all of the children who gained selection into the team. We wish you all of the very best in the carnivals. We look forward to you representing your name, your family’s name and our school’s name with grace. The link for the order of events for Tuesday is HERE.

P & F Meeting
There is only two P & F Meetings left before the conclusion of the year. All in our community are invited to come and join in the P & F Meeting this Wednesday 23rd October at 8:45 am in the Staff Room. For those of you in the community who be interested in joining the P & F Committee in 2025, it would be great to see you at the upcoming meetings so you can see how they are facilitated. 

Parliament House Visit & Lunch with Terry Healy MLA
This Thursday, eight children from Year Five will travel to Parliament House to share lunch with Tery Healy MLA. The children who had to submit a written application as to why they would like to attend will get to discuss a whole range of matters with Mr Healy. I would like to thank Mr Healy for hosting the children and staff for lunch. They are very excited. 

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. 

Friday Lunch Orders – Menu Changes
We once again have Jamaica Blue on board at the school to provide lunches to children on Friday over the course of Term Four. There have been some new and exciting menu items that have been added to the menu and I would encourage all families to have a look at what is on offer to support this local business. 

A link to how to organise lunches can be found on our school website at https://stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/parents/school-lunch-orders/ 

2025 Class Requests
The period for parents and carers to lodge official class requests for 2025 has now opened. If you have any class requests for your child for 2025, these need to be sent in writing to the school admin account at stemiliesadmin@cewa.edu.au. While we will certainly take your requests into account when we are organising classes for 2025, requests are not guaranteed. The period for official class requests to be sent to school will close on Monday 28th October. 

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 on 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
Parent Circle will return again in Term Four. The dates for the upcoming term are as indicated below: 

Thursday 31st October – General Morning Tea (depending on numbers due to Colour Run) 

Thursday 14th November – Mindfulness 

Thursday 28th November – Christmas Lunch and visit from Santa 

Staff Profiles
Over the course of the year, we have been sharing Staff Profiles of staff from our school. This week, we share with you the Staff Profile of Mrs Juliana Tay. Mrs Tay who has been a member of our community for a number of years can be found working in the role of Education assistant across the school. Please enjoy finding out more about Mrs Tay.