Term One Week Four – Commencing Monday 23rd February 2026

Dear Families, 

As we commence Week Four, I would like to start by sharing a very genuine thank you to the parents and carers in our community for their support over the start of the term, and for the support with many of the community events that took place this week. 

Tuesday morning was a very busy morning at our school with Interschool Swimming Training, our Kindy Coffee Catch Up and cooking pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Across all three events, there was strong and positive engagement from the community in turning up to support the children and to support the staff. As the year rolls on, we encourage you to take these opportunities to join with the children and staff here at school to ensure we continue to walk the journey together. 

I would also like to thank those parents and carers who attended Ash Wednesday Mass this week to commence their Lenten journey. There was a phenomenal turnout at the Parish Church for Mass, with our children representing our school very reverently. 

As we journey with our children as they deepen their faith, we all have a part to play. The shaping of young people in our Catholic faith cannot be done in isolation, with each interaction and moment of grace pivotal in modelling to our children what it looks like to authentically live out the Gospel values. 

To those in our parish who are so patient and welcoming to our children and staff as we join for Mass, please know that this is not lost on us. We value your support and partnership in providing our children a safe place to know Jesus through participation in Mass. 

Project Compassion 2026
As is the case across all Catholic schools at this time of year, on Wednesday, we commenced 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 week, collection boxes and further information were sent home with the children for Project Compassion. 

To learn more about how you can ‘unite against poverty’ during Lent in 2026, please visit Project Compassion.

House Swimming Trials
On Monday, various children from Year Four to Year Six will travel to Riverton Leisureplex for House Swimming Trials. Many of these children have been training for the trials before school on Tuesdays. Mr Davis has been delighted with the interest that has been shown in swimming this year, and we wish all the boys and girls competing on Monday, in the hope that they will represent our school at the Interschool Swimming Carnival, all the very best. 

2025 School Annual Community Meeting – Call for Nominations for the School Advisory Council
This Wednesday at 5:00pm, school staff, School Advisory Council members and the School Parents & Friends Group Committee will gather in the Learning Hub for the Annual Community Meeting. During this meeting, a review of the 2025 school year will be provided, as will information about the School Advisory Council and Parents & Friends Group. The meeting will conclude with some light finger foods. 

This year, we call for nominations for suitable people to join the School Advisory Council. On Wednesday 18th of February, a nomination form was shared with families via email, which contained further information on how to nomrnate foe the council. If you would like further information on any of the positions vacant, please feel free to contact the school. 

It would be great to welcome as many parents and carers to our Annual Community Meeting on Wednesday evening as possible. 

Uniform Class Visits – Please ensure your child is in the correct school uniform
At St Emilie’s, one of our School Values is that ‘we strive for excellence’. Over our history at St Emilie’s, the school uniform that has been put in place for the children has always had the children in mind, providing our children with the chance to feel comfortable so they can play and not be restricted. 

Upon interviewing new families to join our community, when asked why they would like to enrol at St Emilie’s, quite often, parents and carers cite that they value the school’s emphasis on uniform. The wearing of a school uniform ensures that we remain connected as a community, gathered around our school crest and motto, ‘growing in grace’. This week, members of the School Leadership Team will be visiting classes to remind the children about wearing the appropriate uniform. In particular, we will be speaking with the children about: 

• Ensuring they are wearing formal school shorts/skorts on the days when they wear their Navy School Polo shirt. School Sport shorts are not to be worn every day. 
• The wearing of appropriate socks, not socks that are knee length or that cannot be seen, and 
• Wearing appropriate accessories. 

P & F Footy Tipping
This year, our school will once again be hosting a P & F Footy Tipping competition. The first round of the AFL season is on Thursday 5th of March. Further details will be shared with the community before this date so that all members of the community are ready for the first bounce of the season. 

Mrs White is keen to have back to back silverware in the AFL Community Footy Tipping Competition. Who will stop her in 2026? 

Year Six Assembly – Friday 27th of February
All are invited to join the Year Six Assembly on Friday, the 27th of March. Assembly commences directly after school drop off. 

Accessing Support Through the St Emilie’s School Social Worker & School Psychologist
We are delighted that Kylie Goodes, our School Social Worker, continues to serve our community this year at St Emilie’s in the role of School Social Worker.  

In 2026, we are pleased to share that Jenny Mair-Wieman has joined our team in the role of School Psychologist as well, which adds to our suite of support for the children here at St Emilie’s. 

While we fully understand that the time and skill sets that both Kylie and Jenny are able to provide is sought after, it is important that parents and carers continue to make their child’s Class Teacher the first port of call in relation to your child. Your child’s Class Teacher will then be able to direct parents and carers in the right direction in regard to additional support.  

School Fees 2026
School Fee Statements for 2026 have been sent to families early this term. At St Emilie’s, we provide many options for families to pay off school fees, which are essential in ensuring our children can operate and offer them the learning opportunities that we do. 

 Throughout the year, if you are finding payments difficult to make, please contact the school to make a confidential appointment to meet with myself.  

A reminder that if you have a Health Care or Pension Card with your child’s name on it, please ensure that the school has an up to date copy of the card to ensure we can pass on the relevant discount.   

No Family Picnic in 2026. All Families invited to attend Parish’s 25th Year Celebration: Families Must Register
At the commencement of each year, the community at St Emilie’s gathers to celebrate the new year, catch up with old friends and meet those new members of our community during the Family Picnic. 

This year, our parish celebrates a very special milestone as we turn 25 years old! On Sunday, the 15th of March, the parish will be celebrating this wonderful milestone with a celebration to be held on the school grounds. All school families are invited to attend! 

In order to support our parish in the best way we can and get as much school representation to the celebration as possible, the decision has been made not to host our usual Family Picnic at the start of the year, in the hope that school families will use the parish celebration as a chance to come together to commence the year. While we know that school families very much look forward to the Family Picnic, it is important that we support our parish, and by attending the upcoming celebration, this is a perfect way we can support. 

Please note that families intending to attend the celebration are required to register their attendance using the link below. 

Further information can be found on the parish website here. 

Do you require an interpreter?
Do you speak a language other than English or know someone who does? If so, we are pleased to share that once again, St Emilie’s is offering interpreter services which are free of charge to families. Interpreter services can be made available in a face to face capacity, over the phone or online. 

If you would like an interpreter for any meetings here at school, please ensure that you let the staff member know who you are meeting with, and this can be organised. 

St Norbert’s College Open Day
St Norbert College warmly invites prospective students and their parents to tour the beautiful College, its contemporary facilities and extensive grounds on our Open Day on Friday 27 February 2026.  Tours will be conducted at 9.00am and 1.00pm.  

Application forms may also be obtained by visiting the College website www.norbert.wa.edu to apply online.  Families who currently have a child/sibling in Year Four (or below) are encouraged to submit an Enrolment Application as soon as possible.  Students do not have automatic enrolment even though they are a sibling and/or attend a Catholic School.  Enrolment Interviews for Year Seven entry are completed in Semester One when the student is in Year Five. 

Currently, St Emilie’s and St Norbert’s College enjoy a relationship where the sibling discount applies across both schools. Please contact the school Administration Office for further details. 

Staff Spotlight
By popular demand, the Staff Spotlight profiles returned to Saint Emilie’s this term. 

This week, we are delighted to share the profile of Mrs Jessica Cullen, who is the Classroom teacher in Kindy Blue. We hope you enjoy meeting Mrs Cullen in this week’s Staff Spotlight. Mrs Cullen’s profile can be found below.