Term Two Week Ten – Commencing Monday 30th June 2025

NAIDOC Week 
This week is NAIDOC Week at St Emilie’s and a chance for us to celebrate and call in to focus those from a First Nations background in our school and our wider community. On Wednesday, 2nd of July, parents and carers are more than welcome to join with the children, staff and parishioners for NAIDOC Week Mass. During Mass, we will keep all Australians, particularly those from a First Nations background in our thoughts and prayers and pray for the continuing promotion of reconciliation and shared understanding during Mass. 

The official dates for NAIDOC Week across Australia are held between the 6th to the 13th of July. The theme for NAIDOC Week in 2025 is ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’. To learn more about NAIDOC Week, please visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/ 

During Mass, the children will be sharing a beautiful song sung in Nyoongar. The song is called ‘Wanjoo’ and is written by Gina Williams. This song has been beautifully embraced by our children who look forward to sharing it with you on Wednesday. The word Wanjoo in Nyoongar means welcome and the song speaks about welcoming strong friends from all around. 

Parents and carers are also invited to join us at 8:50am on Monday morning for a Welcome to Country/NAIDOC Week by Mr Willie Ponton. Mr Ponton is a proud Nyoongar man who has been working with staff recently around our co-responsibility to care for Country. As part of the Welcome to Country/NAIDOC Week, there will be a Smoking Ceremony led by Mr Ponton and all parents and carers are more than welcome to join us in the Undercover Area if they wish.

Later in the morning, the children will join with Mr Ponton as she shares more information about Nyoongar culture with them.

Mid Year Reports 
This Thursday, Mid Year Reports will be shared with all children between Pre-Primary and Year Six. These reports will provide parents and carers with an insight into your child’s achievement against the West Australian Curriculum as well as their effort, and emotional and social development at school. It is vital that all parents and carers read the information in the Mid Year Report and celebrate their child for the wonderful things noted in the document. The reports will be sent home on Seqta Engage and parents and carers will need to download the app to access the report. 

On Wednesday, information about how to read your child’s Mid Year Report will be sent home including some answers to frequently asked questions. Please keep this email handy to assist with you interpreting your child’s report.

In a slight evolution to our reporting procedure here at school, going home with the Mid Year Reports will be a formal opportunity for children and parents and carers to reflect on the celebrations from Semester One and then share these celebrations back to your child’s Class Teacher during Two Way Interviews in Term Three. We see this opportunity for authentic partnership and for children to play an active role in their learning as an important evolution in line with our School Vision for Learning. 

LifeLink Fundraising Day – Pyjama Day 
Lifelink is an important fundraising initiative which all Catholic schools across Western Australia participate in. Raising money for Lifelink ensures that those who are doing it tough in our community continue to have access to essential services. For further information about Lifelink, please visit https://lifelink.com.au/ 

On the final day of school, Friday 4th of July, children are invited to wear their pyjamas to school! Children are asked to bring a gold coin donation with them on the day and can spend the day in their comfy PJ’s all for a great cause. 

During the morning, students will be offered a ‘mini muffin’ organised and supplied by our P&F as a special little treat.  Chocolate and Blueberry flavours will be available, plus a gluten-free option.  An email will be sent on Monday with the ingredients, and we ask that you notify teachers if the muffins contain ingredients that your child is allergic to. If your child does have an allergy to any of the ingredients in the photo, they are most welcome to bring a small snack that they would like they can eat as an alternative.

Disco Thank You (P & F Committee, Bianca Woolhouse Photography & Chatime Australia) 
Last Friday’s disco was an overwhelming success. A huge thank you must go to our P & F Committee and their band of volunteers for assisting during the afternoon. We also thank Bianca Woolhouse for her generosity of time and expertise in taking photos for us during the event. The moments that have been captured are absolutely priceless and will remain in the school archives for years to come. 

We also thank Chatime Australia for their very generous support of prizes for the disco providing the children with cups and vouchers for Chatime. 

Eagle Cup Netball Grand Finalists 
Congratulations to the Year Six Netball Team who advanced through to the grand final of the Eagles Cup competition. This is a mighty achievement and we are all so very proud of your efforts. 

Western Australian Student Assistance Payment 
A reminder to all families that you are eligible to receive a one off payment as part of the West Australian Student Assistance Payment, an initiative from the West Australian Government to ease the cost of living for families. Applications to receive the payment must be made by Friday, 4th of July. Further information can be found if you scroll down in the Weekly Reminders. 

Children Who Are Unwell
Given that we are now in the colder months of the year, we are well and truly in the season for bugs and germs to be spread at school. If your child is unwell, the best place for your child is at home. We ask that even if your child wants to come to school, that children stay at home to recover and avoid the spreading of bugs and germs to others in the class. In our experience here at school, even if children are given medication in the morning to combat the symptoms, this generally wears off by morning tea, which leaves children with the symptoms when at school. Thank you for your support in helping keep our community fit and healthy during the Winter months.

Kindy Enrolment 2026 – A Call for Siblings 
There has been a phenomenal response to calls for applications for Kindy enrolments for 2026. Commencing this term, the school will begin interviewing children for Kindy in 2026. If you know of anyone who is interested in attending Kindy at St Emilie’s in 2026, please encourage them to submit an application to the School Admin office as soon as possible. 

We are especially calling families of children already enrolled at the school who have siblings who are Kindy age. Due to the high demand for places in Kindy in 2026, it is vital for you to submit an enrolment form to the school. Please note that just because you have a child enrolled at the school, it does not mean that you automatically receive a guaranteed place for their sibling if you do not submit the application on time. 

Uniform Reminder
As the colder weather sets in, a reminder that children are permitted to wear track suit bottoms to school at present. I have been informed that Perm A Pleat are currently waiting for some stock of sizes 8 and 10, and these are due into Perth next week.  

Perm A Pleat continue to work especially hard for our school in an attempt to back fill holes in our stock lines that have been left by our previous supplier. We appreciate your patience with all things uniform and know that once our stock lines have been filled, we will be in a better position going forward. 

Girls are also most welcome to wear navy blue 70 denier tights underneath their skorts if they wish, however, as the School Uniform Procedure explains, these should not be worn with socks. The School Uniform Procedure can be found here.

In regard to jewellery, chains with a small religious or cultural icon are permitted; however, they must be worn underneath the uniform at all times for health and safety reasons. 

Congratulations Elizabeth – Medal in Golf 
In some very exciting news for the school, Elizabeth from Year Two recently represented St Emilie’s in a School Golf Competition and finished in first place in her age range. Congratulations on your fantastic achievement Elizabeth. 

Parent Circle
Please note that as per the calendar on the website, there will be no Parent Circle this week. The Parent Circle will once again run in Term Three and further information will be shared next term.