Good afternoon everyone and we hope you are all doing well despite the sudden four day lockdown. It has been a long eleven week term, however as always, staff have maintained a high level of professionalism, energy and enthusiasm, right to the last day!

Yesterday an AMAZING hamper was delivered to the Office (please see the photos below). Thank you SO MUCH to the unidentified sender for this incredibly generous and thoughtful gift, which certainly put a huge smile on our faces and a spring in our step, after this unexpected and disrupted end to the term. Gestures such as this one remind us again, how grateful and lucky we feel as a staff, to belong to this very special school community. A sincere 'thank you' to whoever our mystery gift-giver was - you brought much joy to the staffroom! :)

We were surprised not to have more children join us over the past couple of days. As you will have read from the letter that came home, we had to defer our two planned Professional Development days, and these new dates will be published next term for later in the year.

The COVID situation continues to be a challenging reality for the community at large and schools are not exempt from these challenges. While we all want things to go back 'to normal' as soon as possible, Covid cases here in WA are a sobering reminder that things can change quickly and that the rules we have been observing over the past 18 months are important, even though they certainly impact on the opportunities we are able to offer, especially in terms of larger school community events.

All we can do is continue to stick together, support one another, cooperate with the health advice and keep the big picture in mind. Thank you again to all St Emilie's families for following what we ask of you - it is very much appreciated and really helps us to serve our children and our whole school community to the very best of our ability.

Mental Health in Uncertain Times

COVID continues to highlight the inevitability of change in our lives and reminds us that some things are simply beyond our own control. By monitoring our own reactions to change and uncertainty, and by taking as calm and as positive approach as possible, we and our children, will benefit in terms of positive mental health outcomes. Likewise, learning to focus on small moments of gratitude helps to keep our headspace healthy and positive.

Please know that we are here to help if your child is struggling in any way at all. The earlier we know things, the earlier we can support them. When a child has an opportunity to express their feelings, to know they have been heard, and to understand that they are not alone, it makes all the difference.

We will keep you updated over the holidays if there are any changes to the start of Term Three. In the meantime, we wish you and your families all the very best and we will be holding you, as always, in our thoughts and prayers. Take care everyone!

Kindest Regards

Tania Thuijs

Principal

We also sincerely thank Mrs Samira Misquita for all her hard work stepping into this two day a week role and for the special care she has given the PP children this term. We look forward to seeing Samira return for relief teaching again in Semester Two and wish her a relaxing holiday break.

Reports were made available on Tuesday 29th June.

REMINDER 1

It is very important that you know how to access your child’s report.

Parents whose child in Pre-Primary is the eldest child, as well as all new families, have received an email with information on how to set up your own SEQTA Engage account.

REMINDER 2

Reports for St Emilie’s students are only available online, through SEQTA Engage.

REMINDER 3

If you are having difficulty accessing your SEQTA Engage account please contact the Front Office by emailing

stemiliesadmin@cewa.edu.au and we are happy to assist you.

Individual families will have received an overdue notice by now and you are asked to please go on a big hunt for these books over the school holidays.

This list represents many hundreds of dollars worth of books so we are keen to get them back on shelves for other children to enjoy.

Please make sure that your child's library bag stays in their school bag and that when they are not reading their library book it goes back in the bag.

Thank you for your support and good luck finding these missing titles. Unfortunately fines need to be imposed if books are not located.

TERM 3

Week 1

Monday 19th July

PUPIL FREE DAY

Tuesday 20th July

Students Return

Friday 23rd July

9am House Cross Country Years 3-6

Week 2

Tuesday 27th July

Homework Club 3-4pm

Wednesday 28th July

Bishops Religious Literacy Practise Assessment - Year 5 (to ensure internet capability)

Eucharist Workshops 4pm and 5.30pm - in the Learning Hub - Year 4 families.

Staff Meeting 3.20pm - 4.30pm

Thursday 29th July

Interschool Cross Country @ Tomato Lake Years 4-6

Eucharist Workshops 4pm in Learning Hub - Y4 Families

Friday 30th July

Kindy Body Balls and Brains - Fundamental Movement Workshop 9.00am

Bishops Religious Literacy Practise Assessment - Year 3 (to ensure internet capability)

NAIDOC Week 2021 will be held from Sunday 4 July to Sunday 11 July and is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as the oldest continuing culture on the planet.

Students will celebrate and learn more about this special week upon their return to school.

Below are some links to events that are happening in the local community over the holiday period.

NAIDOC Week events

01 July 2021: NAIDOC Colouring Competition

https://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/Lifestyle/Leisure_Activities/Whats_on_in_Gosnells/NAIDOC_Colouring_Competition_-_18_July_2021

City if Gosnells, Gosnells,WA

06 July 2021: NAIDOC Week Cultural Walk

Learn about Aboriginal history and culture on this free guided walk through Mary Carroll Park Wetlands.

Gosnells, WA

https://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/Lifestyle/Leisure_Activities/Whats_on_in_Gosnells/NAIDOC_Week_Cultural_Walk_-_6_July_2021

07 July 2021: Koorlong Noongar Songs

Come along to our special NAIDOC event led by Amherst Library and the Koorlong Choir Madjitil Moorna performers.

Amherst Village Library2 Holmes Street, Southern River, WA

https://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/Lifestyle/Libraries/Library_locations/Amherst_Village_Library/Koorlong_Noongar_Songs_-_7_July_2021

This is the link to access the Gosnells WA webpage:

https://www.gosnells.wa.gov.au/Lifestyle/Get_involved/Community_Development/Aboriginal_Initiatives/NAIDOC_Week

The carnival will be able to run as per normal, however, if COVID restrictions are imposed it may impact on whether parents will be able to attend. We will therefore clarify closer to the day.

We hope to begin the first race at 9:15am and finish at 10:30am. The estimated event times are as follows:

9:15am - Year 3 (500m)

9:30am - Year 4 (1km)

9:50am - Year 5 (1.1km)

10:10am - Year 6 (1.1km)

If it is raining we will bring one class out at a time rather than all be out and cheering so this will be determined on the morning of the carnival and communicated to the community as early as possible.

ABC Programs

https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/

ABC Games

https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/games/

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.

The ABC Education website has about 120 quality educational games, targeted at kids from kindergarten to year 10.

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.

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.