Term One Week Nine – Commencing Monday 31st March 2025

Harmony Day
Harmony Day was certainly a highlight of our school year this far. It was a magic morning on Tuesday morning watching all shades of orange, as well as the beautiful cultural dress make its way through the school. The children were beaming with pride when speaking about their traditional dress, where they are from or the language that they speak. 

Thank you to our P & F who ensured that all of our children were treated to a Calipo to end the day. 

Two Way Interviews
All parents and carers have been given the opportunity to meet with your child’s class teacher to discuss how your child has commenced the year over the last two weeks. This is a timely opportunity for you to celebrate your child with their class teacher now that your child’s class teacher has had an opportunity to build a quality relationship, as well as gather data on your child’s learning progress. 

I ask that parents and carers be conscious of the 15 minute meeting time slot. Over the course of the next two weeks, our class teachers will be spending a significant amount of time meeting with parents and carers. This may slow the response time to any correspondence sent to class teachers so please be patient during this time. 

Please ensure that you are using this opportunity to play an active role in your child’s learning by booking an appointment with your child’s class teacher. 

Homework Club Review
Over the past few years, Homework Club has been available for children in Year Four to Year Six to nominate for in Term Two and Three. The purpose of Homework Club was for children to attend for an hour and make a start with their Purposeful Practice/homework and ask for assistance if need be. 

Earlier this year, staff had an initial conversation and reflection in to how Purposeful Practice should look at St Emilie’s. We will continue to review Purposeful Practice early next term to ensure that this model aligns with our School Vision for Learning and current educational best practice. At the same time, staff will review Homework Club and whether Homework Club actually complements our philosophy of Purposeful Practice. 

Further information will be shared about whether Homework Club will be offered in 2025 early next term after staff have had time to review Homework Club. 

For further information on Purposeful Practice in the Parent Handbook.

Children Wearing Watches to School
It has been noted that a number of children are wearing watches to school. The definition of watch in this case also includes Smart Watches, Fit Bits and other accessories that have the capability to tell the time. 

A reminder that children are able to wear watches to school. Watch straps must be neutral colours (white, grey, black or navy blue). The reason for this is that we do not want watch straps to become a distraction from learning or to become a competition between the children as to whose is the brightest or most trendy. To ensure the safety of children at all times, watches should not be able to connect to the internet or to a mobile network. If they are able to, this function must be switched off and locked. Watches should also not have video games or cameras on them as this is not only distracting, but is also unnecessary and presents the temptation for misuse. 

Waste Free Lunches
As you will be aware, at St Emilie’s we have a focus on sustainability practices in line with the Laudato Si Encyclical from Pope Francis about protecting ‘Our Common Home’. If you would like information on how to prepare a waste free lunch, please follow the link here.

Fuse Cup
Congratulations to our Year Six children who travelled with Ms Harris to Methodist Ladies College to participate in the FUSE Cup. The FUSE Cup is an eSports competition which promotes healthy video game habits in children. 

St Emilie’s placed in second place on the day with some terrific individual results. 

Interschool Swimming Carnival
We wish all of those children who will be travelling to the Interschool Swimming Carnival this Thursday all the very best as they go to represent our school against other schools from our region. The children have worked very hard over the course of the term for the carnival and we wish them every success for the day. 

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.

Parent Handbook
The 2025 Parent Handbook is now available on the school website. The Parent Handbook can be found at here.

CEWA Easter Colouring In Competition
This Easter, CEWA is once again encouraging children from Catholic schools across the state to submit an entry for the CEWA Easter Colouring In Competition. This is a great way to provide a creative opportunity for those children who are interested. 

Please find the link below for further details:
https://www.facebook.com/CatholicEducationWA/videos/548957884863273/?rdid=XBBjweLNxlI78GbD# 

P & F Hot Cross Buns
Once again, our School P & F Committee will be facilitating a fundraising initiative through the selling of hot cross buns. For further information on how to support the school through the purchasing of delicious hot cross buns, please scroll down.

P & F Committee
We are pleased to share that we now have a P & F Committee for 2025. This information was shared with the community last week at the P & F Meeting with our volunteers looking forward to taking on this role. 

The 2025 P & F Committee

Enzina Ierino
Michelle Murphy
Catrina Schryver
Gurpreet Rikhraj

Early next term we will aim to share some profiles of our newest committee members to ensure that our community is able to connect with them. We thank Enzina, Michelle, Gurpreet and Catrina for putting their hands up to take on this role. 

P & F Meetings Term Two to Term Four
For the next two terms, P & F Meetings will look slightly different. Going forward, one of the meetings per term will be a whole community meeting where all members of our community are encouraged and invited to attend. The other meeting will be for committee members only to ensure that they are given time to plan the various events that are coming at the school with the School Leadership team. 

P & F Endorsed Purchases
At Wednesday’s meeting, purchases that will be made using funds contributed by the P & F by the school were tabled and endorsed by those presents. 

Throughout the year, the money raised by the P & F will go toward: 

• Contributing to the Reading Eggs subscription for all children Pre-Primary to Year Six 
• Contributing to the Mathletics subscription for all children Pre-Primary to Year Six 
• Financial support for three classes to attend the CREEC Earth Day Summit 
• Purchasing of a class novel set for Year Six 
• The purchase of digital technology equipment for children between Kindy to Year Two by Ms Harris 
• Provision of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday 
• The purchase of fridges for the Library and Pre-Primary 
• Provision of Harmony Day icy poles 
• A new BBQ for the school 
• Outside mats for the Pre-Primary space 
• A Pre-Primary to Year Six Maths Incursion from Dr Maths 
• Kindy outdoor play equipment 
• Year One and Year Two outdoor play equipment 
• Year Two readers 
• Welcome signage in home languages for the school 

Parent Circle – Wednesday 9th of April
A reminder that the final Parent Circle will take place on Wednesday 9th of April in the Small Hall. Siblings are invited to attend to join in for an Easter Egg Hunt. 

Principal Leave – (Mrs Sara Tonkin Short Term Principal – Week Ten)
In Week Ten, I will be on leave from school. Mrs Tonkin will take up the position as Short Term Principal in Week Ten. Going forward, in my absence, Mr Munro and Mrs Tonkin will alternate in the role as Short Term Principal should I be on leave for an extended period of time. 

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 Melinda Curren. Melinda is the Deputy Chair for the School Advisory Council, and has been a part of our community for a number of years watching her sons go through the school. Thank you, Melinda, for your contribution to our school.