Vision, Mission, Values
Vision
St. Emilie’s Catholic Primary School’s vision is to promote life-long learning, in a safe, nurturing and Christ-centred environment.
Mission
Our mission is to courageously inspire and support children to grow, as confident critical thinkers, and collaborative and creative learners who are well equipped to relate to an ever-changing world.
Values
We respect ourselves and each other
We strive for excellence
We build wellbeing
We create a safe environment
From The Principal
Dear Families,
On Wednesday morning, our parish community celebrated a beautiful occasion with the children from the school joining with staff, parents, carers and parishioners to celebrate our Welcome Back Mass.
Children from across the school joined with Father Jean Noel to lead Mass. Those who came to celebrate Mass were treated to some beautiful reading from our children across the school as well as being able to hear the children singing in full voice, led by Mr Dabbs.
Our Year One children were particularly impressive on Wednesday morning, attending Mass so maturely for the first time as Year Ones and in full school uniform. Our Year Six children also set the tone for a reverent and prayerful occasion.
Thank you to Mr Munro for preparing Mass on Wednesday and to all school staff who ensure that these occasions of liturgical celebration are used to teach and deepen our children’s faith. We also thank Adolf for giving so generously of his time to serve.
Sacramental Commitment Masses
Sacramental Commitment Masses for children celebrating the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Year Three), First Holy Communion (Year Four) and Confirmation (Year Six) will be held across the weekend of Saturday 22nd February and Sunday 23 February. During these Masses, children from St Emilies will join with parishioners from the parish to show their commitment to preparing for the Sacraments in 2025.
Sacramental Enrolment Forms are available from the Parish Church foyer.
As the year unfolds, children from St Emilie’s will prepare for the celebrations and we keep these children, their families and the staff involved in their preparations in our prayers.
Random Acts of Kindness Day
This Monday is Random Acts of Kindness Day. This is a perfect opportunity for you to live the ‘Year of Jubilee’ by doing something kind and generous for someone else. Remember, being kind to someone else doesn’t need to cost money. It can be a simple gesture that brightens someone else’s day.
St Emilie’s Family Picnic
A reminder that our Annual Family Picnic will be held on Friday 21st of February on the Senior Oval commencing at 5:00pm. Usually, the School P & F Group would assist with the setup and running of the evening, however, given that we are in a transition period with nominations being called on shortly to fill the P & F Committee positions, school staff will facilitate the evening. A huge thank you to Pam Lawrence who has been assisting with set up.
All are welcome to the picnic where families will have a chance to meet one another, children will have the chance to play with their friends and there will be some delicious food for sale including a sausage sizzle and ice cream van.
An email was sent on Thursday, detailing more information and a link to Pre-Order Sausage Sizzles for an easy and convenient dinner.
Through the Trybooking system, the community will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to go into the running for the VIP Parking Spot at the front of the school. Please see below for more information.
Kindy Parents Drop N Cuppa
On Wednesday 19th February, the 2025 Kindy cohort will come together as a full cohort for the first time. Parents and carers of children in this cohort are encouraged to stay behind and join with one another and the School Leadership Team for a cuppa. This will be a great opportunity for families to get to know one another before the Family Picnic. Please follow the signs on the morning, which will direct you to where to go for a cuppa.
The Kindy children (and parents and carers) have been amazing in the way they have settled into school life here at St Emilie’s and Wednesday morning promises to be a great chance to build the community in the cohort.
Parents & Friends Group Meeting – Wednesday 19th of February @ 2:00pm
The first St. Emilie’s Parents & Friends Group meeting will take place this Wednesday 19th February. Please note that the meeting time will be later in the day due to our Kindy event in the morning. The meeting will take place at 2:00pm. All are invited to come and join in the meeting to find out more about the plans for the P & F in 2025.
P & F Footy Tipping
The excitement is building around St Emilie’s as we draw ever closer to the AFL season. Can the Dockers win their first flag? Can the Eagles resurrect themselves after some disappointing seasons? Who knows!
The P & F Footy Tipping competition is a great way for the community to have some fun with the AFL season as well as raise some money for the school.
At our Family Picnic, next Friday we will have available to families the QR code so you can sign up to join in the fun and give yourself an opportunity to win some great prizes.
Striving for a Work-Life Blend at St Emilie’s and a Right To Disconnect
The staff at St Emilie’s are a very dedicated and committed group of professionals. The staff at our school show the utmost diligence in providing for the children they care for each day. Recently, there have been some changes to the working conditions for teachers and their workloads outside of working hours.
Below is some information that is important for you to know in relation to these new legislated changes for our teachers as part of their updated employment conditions.
As has always been the case at St Emilie’s and as indicated in the Parent Handbook, unless a matter is urgent, it is reasonable to expect up to a 48-hour turnaround time in response to emails from school staff. In most cases, staff are unable to respond during the school day because they’re teaching for the majority of the time and have a legal duty of care over the children in their class.
Staff also have the right to disconnect from 4.00pm each day until 8:15am the following day as per the new changes. Along with this, staff have the right to disconnect on weekends and won’t respond to any emails on Saturday or Sunday. Part-time staff are not required to respond to any form of communication on their non-working days.
Underpinning this change is the acknowledgement that our staff at St Emilie’s have lives outside of school also. Many staff are parents, family members and friends to their loved ones and it is important that after work hours, they have the right to fulfil these roles without interruption in line with the expectations placed upon other professionals.
At St Emilie’s, we are blessed to have such a supportive parent body and I know that you will continue to support our staff by keeping these changes in mind when communicating with them.
School Fees 2025
School Fee Statements for 2025 have been sent to families. 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 the children 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.
Absentees on Website
A reminder that should your child be absent from school any given school day we encourage parents and carers to provide information about absentees for their child via the school website. When you fill out the absentee form on the website, notification comes to both the Administration Office, as well as your child’s class teacher. We ask that you do not send absentee notes through Seesaw as these can be missed.
Merit Awards
At the end of 2024, children across the school were consulted about the way that Merit Awards were celebrated at the school which, was that awards were handed out in class and the pictures from the celebration sent home via SeeSaw.
After looking at the feedback from the children, it was indicated that the children would be excited to trial a new system in 2025 where Merit Awards are handed out at Friday Morning Assemblies. As a result, this will be put into place in 2025.
As part of the new process, parents will receive notification that their children will be receiving an award in good time before the assembly. Details of the new process are being worked through with staff and further details will be shared with parents as soon as possible.
In 2025, children who display the Fruits of the Holy Spirit will also be acknowledged at the Friday Morning Assemblies.
These two tweaks are in alignment with our core beliefs stated in our Vision for Learning where as a staff we ‘see, know and connect with every child’.
Growth Hunting Video Reflection
In Term Four last year, the current Year Six children who were then in Year Five participated in the Growth Hunting @ St Emilie’s Program. This program aimed to allow children the opportunity to develop their best selves in the hope that they would bring the best version of themselves to their leadership across the school.
The children certainly got a lot out of this program which took place weekly across Term Four, culminating in a whole day retreat.
The team at Growth Hunting have put together a fantastic reflection video from their time at St Emilie’s. To have a look at the engagement that took place throughout the term, please use the link provided here.
The Parent Circle
The Parent Circle is back in 2025!
For those of you who may not be aware, The Parent Circle provides an opportunity for parents from the school to meet with one another on a fortnightly basis. While some of the dates are a morning tea where parents and carers can come together, some of the dates throughout the year will be used as information sessions to share information on a variety of topics.
In Term One, The Parent Circle will alternate days between Wednesdays and Thursdays. These alternate days will hopefully allow parents and carers the opportunity to drop children from Kindy to school and then attend or, on the Thursday dates, bring your child with you.
All are welcome at The Parent Circle. The dates can be found below:
Thursday 27th of February @ 8:45am (Morning Tea)
Wednesday 12th of March (Morning Tea)
Thursday 27th of March (Harmony Week Theme)
Wednesday 9th of April (Easter Egg Hunt)
Younger siblings are more than welcome to attend with parents and carers.
CEWA Interpreter Service and Website Translator
St Emilie’s is a diverse and alive community with over 35 nationalities represented here in this community through children and staff. If you or someone you know is not confident with the English language or needs additional assistance, our school has access to interpreters with costs covered by the school.
The school website also has a translation button so that the information on the website can be translated into other languages. For further information, please feel free to contact the school.
Chris Burns
Principal
Staff in the Spotlight
Mrs Quick
- Name
Vera Natalia - Role @ St Emilie’s in 2024
Education Assistant - Favourite part about being a staff member @ St. Emilie’s so far?
The staff and school atmosphere are the winning factors. The staff are very welcoming and supportive. The atmosphere at school is vibrant and friendly. - Favourite pastime/hobby?
I love reading books, listening to music and sometimes experimenting with new recipes in my free time. - Favourite food?
Noodles anything with noodles such as fried noodles, dry noodles or soup noodles. - Favourite holiday spot?
Albany, Lake Toba - Favourite sport/team?
I like the Fremantle Dockers, but I’m not a hardcore fan. - What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead at St Emilie’s in 2024?
I am looking forward to helping students thrive by using their skills and abilities and building strong relationships with the teachers, colleagues and students.
URSTRONG
Random Acts of Kindness
Random Acts of Kindness and Creating a Culture of Kindess
Kindness is like a small spark that can light up someone’s day, just by showing that you care. It’s about being friendly, and considerate, and making the world a little bit better with each small action. The best part? It’s something we can all do, any day, at any time.
What Are Random Acts of Kindness?
These are spontaneous, selfless acts that brighten someone’s day. Whether it’s a simple smile, a kind word, or a thoughtful action, kindness strengthens friendships and fosters an inclusive and supportive school environment.
One of the best ways to nurture positive relationships is by encouraging random acts of kindness—small, thoughtful gestures that make a big difference in our school community.
Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day
This week, as we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, try incorporating a few kind gestures into your daily routine:
- Give someone a genuine compliment.
- Lend a hand if you see someone struggling.
- Say “hello” with a warm smile.
These small actions help people feel seen and appreciated.
Small Gestures, Big Impact
Kindness doesn’t need to be a grand gesture—it’s about small, everyday actions that make others feel valued. Think of kindness like adding a pinch of sugar to your tea; just a little can make a big difference.
Being Kind to Yourself
Kindness isn’t just for others; it’s important to be kind to yourself too. Give yourself a break when things don’t go perfectly and offer encouragement, just as you would to a friend. After all, when we’re kind to ourselves, it becomes easier to spread kindness to others—think of it as being your own BFF!
With each small act, we can create a school environment that feels warmer, friendlier, and more enjoyable for everyone.
P&F News
Family Picnic - Friday 19th February
A friendly reminder that we will be hosting our Annual Family Picnic on Friday, the 21st of February from 5.00pm to 7.00pm on our school oval.
This is a ‘low-key’ school community event aimed at providing an opportunity for families to simply be together and to catch up with one another in a relaxed, social setting.
Food
While you are very welcome to bring your own picnic dinner, a Sausage Sizzle is also being offered as a cheap and easy alternative for any interested families. For catering purposes, we strongly encourage families to PRE-ORDER, as there will be limited numbers to be purchased on the night.
Please place your order here. Pre-orders will close 10am on Wednesday 19th February.
We hope to secure an ice cream van for your enjoyment.
Drinks
While it is acceptable for parents to bring alcoholic drinks to the event, responsible alcohol consumption is of course expected. There will be a limited bar of wine, beer and soft drinks.
Key Calendar Dates
Term One 2025
Parents are encouraged to subscribe to our Calendar on our Website for the most up-to-date Calendar events.
Week Three
Wednesday 19th February – 8.45am Kindy Parents Drop N Cuppa
Wednesday 19th February – 2pm P & F Meeting
Friday 21st February – 5pm to 7.00pm Family Picnic
Saturday 22nd February – 6pm Sacramental Commitment Mass
Sunday 23rd February – 7.30am, 9.30am & 5pm Sacramental Commitment Masses
Week Four
Monday 24th February – House Swimming Trials (Year Four to Six selected students)
Tuesday 25th February – School Photo Day One
Wednesday 26th February – School Photo Day Two
Wednesday 26th February – 5pm Annual Community Meeting
Friday 28th February – Pupil Free Day
Saturday 1st March – 6pm Sacramental Commitment Mass
Sunday 2nd March – 7.30am, 9.30am & 5pm Sacramental Commitment Masses
Week Five
Monday 3rd March – Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 4th March – Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday 5th March – 9am Ash Wednesday Mass
Friday 7th March – Year Six Assembly & Merit Awards
Week Six – YAY WEEK
Wednesday 12th March – Year Three and Five NAPLAN
Thursday 13th March – Year Three and Five NAPLAN
Friday 14th March – Year Three and Five NAPLAN
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Kindness
True kindness is taught to us in Ephesians 4:31-32, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each another, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
But, what is kindness? It begins with caring, being tenderhearted and compassionate. The Greek word for ‘kind’ is chrestos—meaning ‘useful.’ This means that kindness involves action. Truly kind people will actively look for opportunities to show kindness.
Whether it’s paying for someone’s coffee at the drive-through behind them or writing a note of encouragement to a friend, kindness requires action. Of course, action can also include words—words of encouragement, comfort, courtesy and compliments can be heartwarming acts of kindness.
Jesus Christ practised kindness that was considered radical for that time and culture. His kindness often extended to the people who were not treated well, including the sick, poor and social outcasts. He healed them, prayed with them and fed them.
Just like Jesus, we should practise kindness, even something as small as a smile at a passing stranger. We should continue to ripen our fruit of kindness in the footsteps of Jesus, who personified the greatest example of kindness.
Term One
Kindness
Make everyone feel welcome through your words and actions and understand the feelings of others.
Week Three: ‘We’ not ‘Me”
Week Four: We All Rise By Lifting Others
Week Five: Empathy Is Understanding the Feelings of Others
Self Control
Reflecting on my words and actions and how they affect myself and others.
Week Six: Stop and Think – How Do My Words and Actions Affect Me & Others
Week Seven: Act Don’t React
Week Eight: Trust Is Something You Earn
Week Nine: I Can Wait
Week Ten: Finish The Things You Start
Parish News
Attendance
Attendance Procedures
When your child/ren are absent from school please either email the teacher firstname.surname@cewa.edu.au and stemiliesadmin@cewa.edu.au
or
Use the Absentee Form on our Website.
It is a legal requirement for parents to contact the School regarding any student absences. Parents should email the teacher and include admin by 9.00am on the day of the absence with the following information:
- Full name of student
- Year group
- Reason for absence and expected length of absence
- Your name and relationship to the student
- Parents are required to inform the school if the absence is expected to be extended.
Absentee Long Term
It is a requirement for parents to complete the Leave of Absence – Notification Form when taking planned extended holidays during the term.
Parents are required to return the below form to Administration prior to the absence.
Leaving Early
1. While we understand it is difficult to make specialist appointments outside of school hours, we strongly encourage you to do so where possible.
2. Please ensure you are emailing the class teacher along with admin, if your child is going to be taken out of school early for an appointment.
Keyed Up Music
St Emilie’s partners with Key Up Music to offer after school Music lessons.
Keyed Up Music will be teaching guitar, keyboard, voice, violin, and drum lessons after school. Please head to the Keyed Up Music Tab on our Website for more information.
Parent Reading
This week under the Parent Reading heading, we have included an article titled, ‘Play is Declining So is Mental Health’ by Dr Justin Coulson.
Play satisfies all of our basic psychological needs. By definition, play is self-directed. Play is the vehicle through which kids build skills. Play is how children make friends. Giving our kids an idyllic childhood with freedom to play and explore isn’t just good for them now. It helps them build the resilience they need for healthy adulthood too.
OSH Newsletter
Wider Community
Ngala Parenting Line – funded by the WA state Government
The Parenting Line offers free telephone advice and support to parents and carers of children up to 18 years of age throughout Western Australia
Our team of qualified and friendly staff are on hand to offer information, strategies, reassurance and encouragement. They help parents and other professionals find the appropriate organisation or service to meet their need.
Hours of operation are 8am to 8pm, every day. The Parenting Line operates as a Call-back service.
Ways to Contact the Parenting Line:
By Telephone: 08 9368 9368 or 1800 111 546 leave a message with Switchboard or on the Answer machine.
By Website www.ngala.com.au fill in the online form.
