In 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations whose lives had been so deeply affected by past policies of forced child removal and Indigenous assimilation.

This apology was a pivotal moment in Australian history - a time when we finally and formally acknowledged the suffering caused.

Each of us has a role to play when it comes to reconciliation - as individuals, families, communities, organisations, and as a nation. This Reconciliation Week, may we all continue to reflect on how to take more meaningful action in our own thinking, words and choices.

During National Reconciliation Week children are learning more about Aboriginal history, culture, and achievements and exploring how each of us can continue to achieve reconciliation in Australia so that we can all work and thrive together.

Below are five integral and interrelated dimensions that are key to us achieving a more just Australia for our First Peoples.

Hi everyone!

With a wet weekend ahead, hopefully you can turn it into a great opportunity for some relaxing and fun family time!

Two-Way Meetings

Thank you for your engagement with the Two Way Parent Meeting opportunities provided this week and for some classes next week. Hopefully you have found the experience worthwhile, informative and affirming.

Kindy Two Way Meetings - BOOK NOW HERE:

http://web.stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/?p=38177

Awareness

This week saw us call to mind Sorry Day and connect with National Reconciliation Week. These are important dates on the Australian calendar as they prompt us to remember, to think, to reflect, and to commit to being the change we want to see in our society. Many thanks to staff for their efforts in providing meaningful opportunities for children to engage and may we all continue to support the reconciliation movement in all the ways that really matter.

Anxiety in Children

Anxiety is a really normal human experience, however if starts to overwhelm, it also has the potential to affect the belief we have in ourselves and in our engagement with the world.

According to the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia.

Parents and schools play a really important role in helping children to learn to manage anxiety while continuing to build increasing resilience and self-belief.

Creating safe and calm environments, and modelling how to:

- acknowledge and manage worries,

- find ways to distract and soothe ourselves,

- challenge negative thinking and self-talk

are essential skills when learning to manage anxiety.

If you have a child who may be prone to anxiety, you are encouraged to check out the Hey Sigmund blogs by Karen Young (Australian Psychologist) https://www.heysigmund.com/blog/ as she gives some really great practical advice and these blogs are easy to read.

The Smiling Minds app is free and another great resource - https://www.smilingmind.com.au/smiling-mind-app

Our school social worker Ms Kylie Goodes is another great resource in our school - please see details below.

Social and emotional learning is embedded within the curriculum and teachers support all children to build resilience as part of the classroom program.

Next term we are planning to secure a guest speaker for parents on the topic of managing anxiety in children, so keep an eye out for this opportunity.

School Disco - Friday 11th June

Families are asked to please read the information below regarding the P&F School Disco really carefully as there are some changes to previous years.

Despite a very busy few weeks with parent teacher meetings only just behind them and report writing on the horizon, staff have generously agreed to once again support this much anticipated, child-friendly Friday night event. Mrs Green and Mrs Carruthers have also generously taken on the DJ-ing gig!

K-2 children will be going to their disco straight after school. Children will need to eat prior to each disco this year - K-2 are to bring some afternoon tea from home while Years 3-6 are to eat at home.

The way your family can show your appreciation to staff is by carefully reading and following directions, respecting due dates for order forms and respecting published drop off and pick up times.

The P&F team are looking forward to supporting your child to have a really enjoyable experience with their friends and they are once again thanked sincerely for all their planning and hard work.

Parent Opportunity

As advertised in earlier newsletters, we have a WA mum who is also a guest speaker coming this Wednesday the 2nd June, from 3.00pm - 4.30pm to talk about her son, his autism and their journey. At this stage all the staff and a small handful of parents are attending. While this talk is based on a child with autism it also deals with a mother's mental health journey and has something to offer all parents. It isn't too late to secure a spot - please phone/email the School Office. Any school aged children will be supervised in the library.

All the very best for the week ahead

Regards

Tania Thuijs

Week 7

Two Way Interviews Week 2

Tuesday 1st June

Homework Club

Wednesday 2 June

8am Community Mass - Year 4

3.00pm - 4.30pm - Swimming with Sharks - Living with Autism / Mental Health Presentation in the Learning Hub (children of parents supervised in the Library - please let the office know)

Thursday 3rd June

Earth Science Incursions

Friday 4th June

Year Five Assembly - 4th June

Kindy-Year 6 Crazy Hair Day - Gold Coin donation for Catholic 'Lifelink' Charity

Disco Order Forms due back today

Year Six Eagles Cup

http://web.stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/?p=37914

Week 8

Monday 7th June

Western Australia Day - PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday 8th June

3-4pm Homework Club

Wednesday 9th June

8.45am P&F Meeting

4.00pm and 5.30pm Reconciliation Meeting in Learning Hub

6.00pm School Advisory Council Meeting (School Board)

Thursday 10th June

Earth Science Incursions Years 1, 5 and 6.

Friday 11th June

Year Six Eagles Cup

http://web.stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/?p=37914

P&F School Disco - Let it Glow!

(Please see below for details)

This term Year Sixes have been competing in the Eagles Cup each Friday and some great photos have captured some special moments so far! Likewise, students have been lucky enough to participate in the excellent golf clinics on offer for the next couple of weeks.

The St Emilie's PE Program aims to give our children a variety of physical education opportunities and provide developmentally appropriate physical skills. In addition, children are supported and challenged to show good sportsmanship and to see sport and physical activity as essential to good health outcomes.

LifeLink provides a wonderful opportunity for students attending Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Perth to join together to show their support for the many Church social service agencies – which, on behalf of us all, reach out to provide practical care and direct assistance to thousands of people in need each year. 37,000 Western Australian families and individuals each year depend on LifeLink agencies being there at their time of need.

Come on St Emilie's - we can have fun, rock a crazy hair style and help others all in one!

Please help your child get involved by wearing a crazy hair style and send in a gold coin on Friday 4th June! Fun times ahead!

Clara Harris is an advocate for her 20 year old autistic son Sam. She is a farmer from Binnu in the Midwest of WA, is married to Damian and is Mum to Sam and Sophie. She shares the real life story of their family.

‘Swimming with Sharks,’ is the story you didn’t know you needed to hear. It is for every adult in the community. It is for those who’ve never been exposed to disability, through to those whose lives are completely immersed in it.

Please phone the Office 92569696 if you would like to attend. It starts at 3.00pm this Wednesday the 2nd June and finishes 4.30pm. If you have school aged children that need minding please let the Office know and we will set up a space in the library.

Looking forward to seeing you there! This opportunity is being provided free of charge.

Below is a brief summary for you to read if your child will be attending the disco in two weeks time on Friday the 11th June:

1. Years K-2 will be going to their disco straight from school at 2.45pm (ie if you only have

one child you won’t need to pick them up at this time).

- Staff will walk them to the hall.

- Please send a bright top or shirt to school for your child to change into after lunch.

- They are also asked to bring some extra afternoon tea to eat prior to the disco at the end

of the day (supervised by staff)

- Any child not attending the disco will leave to go home as normal.

- Parents will drive through to pick up their child after the K-2 disco outside the hall (see

map on attached document) at 4.05pm

- Any siblings will be dropped off at 4.05pm too - who need to walk to the undercover

area until it is time to go to the hall for their disco.

2. Years 3-6 are to be dropped off in a drive through at the hall at 4.30pm.

They are to be picked up at 5.55pm at the normal drive through location.

3. Goodie bags will be given to kids as they exit the disco.

4. Glow sticks and other glow novelties will be on on sale on the day before the disco and

at recess on the day of the disco.

5. All children are required to bring their own drink bottle.

6. Please note that Ticket Order Forms for the disco are due back to your child’s teacher

by 9.00AM - FRIDAY 4TH JUNE.

Thank you everyone!

JOY

Week 7 Focus:

Try to find the good in every situation

Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day if we can learn to keep our eyes, mind and heart open to the pissibility.

When children eat well they behave better. They are also able to concentrate for longer. Packing a healthy school lunchbox will help them to learn and be happy at school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzuc9XdNRSI

7 steps to a healthy lunch box

1. Make time to prepare. Write a shopping list to make sure fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and yoghurt, bread and crackers are available

2. Shop wise and save money. Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables to ensure good quality and value for money.

3. Make your own snacks. Build snack packs from fresh ingredients bought in bulk.

4. Look after the environment. Put sandwiches and other items in reusable containers instead of plastic wrap.

5. Choose a mix from the 5 food groups - grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy and proteins.

6. Include a bottle of water.

7. Keep it cool. In warm weather freeze a water bottle or put a small ice pack in the lunchbox.

Heights of the desks are as follows:

680 mm

580 mm

480 mm

If you wish to purchase one or more, please contact the school office by email detailing how many you are interested in.

Please tell your neighbours and friends also!

Desks can be collected from the back gate next Friday when the Busy Bee is being held.

All proceeds will go the P&F for fundraising purposes.

Many thanks to everyone who grabbed a desk at the Busy Bee.

If you are interested please let the Office know!

As you will be aware this Government initiative encourages the community to recycle cans, bottles etc and receive a 10 cent refund.

If you are already doing this with your family - great! If however your family would like to support our school and direct some of your bottles and cans etc here, we would be very grateful!

Please see the poster below for more details.

If you have a child starting next year please ensure that you have completed an enrolment form. We still have some spaces so please spread the word!

Kindy enrolments are an exciting time for our school - we love to meet new families and touch base with our existing families!

School social workers focus on the student in the school environment and work collaboratively with principals and teachers to minimise the impacts of personal, family and school difficulties and, where possible, remove any barriers to learning.

With students as their focus, school social workers provide consultancy, advice and support to principals, teachers and other school staff and to families so that they can best meet the needs of individual and groups of children and young people. There is a strong emphasis on individual student and family counselling and support. This is an amazing opportunity for kids, staff and families and one we have wanted in our school for some time.

Please find below the Parent Referral and Consent Form to access our School Social Worker.

You are asked to read the procedure carefully and also note that Kylie only works two days a week. While she will do her very best to accomodate all family referrals, patience may be required as she prioritises her case load and allows time for observation visits, classroom support and playground involvement.

Keyed Up Music has been operating at St Emilie's School for a number of years now. We have excellent tutors and a great program!

We will be teaching keyboard, guitar and voice group lessons this term after school.

Lessons start from $18.65 for a group of 4 per lesson.

If you are interested in your son / daughter learning an instrument, please ring Savanna on 1300 366 243 or enrol at http://www.keyedupmusic.com.au and complete an enrolment form.

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Thanks for your consideration everyone.

Gillian Norris

Coordinator

Below is a link to the OSH Club Recent Newsletter:

http://web.stemiliescps.wa.edu.au/?cat=15

Link to the OSH Handbook:

https://www.oshclub.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OSH014-Family-Handbook-A4-4pp-fin.pdf

The St Emilie's Parish are running their major fundraiser for the year and they have asked us for our help to sell 19 books of tickets.

Each book has 20 tickets and each ticket is $5.00.

We would REALLY appreciate it if we could find 19 wonderful families who would be prepared to take a book and sell these tickets as soon as possible to neighbours, friends and workmates to support our parish.

Please contact the Office if you can help and we take a note of your details and send the book home.

THANK YOU!