Latest Newsletter - Emmanuel Catholic Primary School

18 February 2015
Dear Parents,
Today we celebrated Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent. Each of our classes from Prep to Year 6 will have
reflected on this significant event in our liturgical calendar and some of our students may even have made it home
with ashes from last year’s palms smudged across their forehead. When I was a child the ashes were a reminder of
our mortality – “Remember man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return….” Today our children are
reminded by the ashes that they are loved and that we all have the capacity for change and renewal – “Remember
you are a child of God” or “Turn away from sin and believe in the gospel!” are statements we say as the ashes
are distributed to the children. Fortunately our children have a much clearer understanding of the symbolism of the
ashes and the significance of the Lenten season that leads us to the Easter message.
As we enter the season of Lent we can sometimes pay too much attention to matters that are superficial and trivial and we
can miss out on the important issues of life. The season of Lent is one of those times when the Church gives us an
opportunity to address the important elements of our life in a practical way. There is little point giving up chocolate or sugar
in our tea if we continue to gossip about others, or blame and nag those who are close to us. Nor is there much value in
giving up a glass of wine with our meal if we are going to be moody and grumpy with those who love us. Lent is not simply a
time to make sacrifices but it is a time when we are called to make choices and to make a positive effect on those we love
and care about in our daily lives. So when making your Lenten promises, choose wisely and make sure it leads to a positive
change. Good luck with your choices!
Food for Thought
A Different Approach to Lent
Fasts have a tendency to be orientated toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many ways we can
welcome Jesus’ healing touch. Here are suggestions you may want to consider,
1. Fast from Anger and hatred – give your family an extra dose of love each day.
2. Fast from Judging others – before making any judgements, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.
3. Fast from Discouragement – hold on to Jesus’ promise that he has a perfect plan for your life.
4. Fast from Complaining – when you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little
moments of joy Jesus has given you.
5. Fast from Resentment or Bitterness – work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.
6. Fast from Spending too much money – try to reduce your spending by ten percent and give those savings to
the poor.
Wishing you every blessing for the coming week,
Geraldine Rostirolla
(Principal)
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
SCHOOL LENTEN CHALLENGE
Today we celebrated Ash Wednesday which marks the
beginning of Lent. These are the forty days before
Easter. Lent is a special time for all Christians. It is a
time when we seek God’s forgiveness and try to
become better people.
As part of our Lenten Challenge this year, Emmanuel
School will be supporting Lifeline. During Lent, we ask
that any clothing you wish to donate be brought in to
school. We are expecting the collection of clothing to
begin after Ash Wednesday (18 February).
This morning, Emmanuel students participated in our
Ash Wednesday Prayer Celebration. The students were
blessed with a cross of ashes on their forehead. This is
a mark of faith and also a symbol that we are seeking
God’s forgiveness.
Please forward bags of clothing to your child’s
classroom. It would be appreciated if the bags are not
over packed to ensure that the contents are contained
within the bags. This could be a timely opportunity to
clean out those cupboards.
The students will be on a journey throughout the next
40 days as each has made a promise to God about
something that can be changed in their lives.
GRIP STUDENT LEADERSHIP
What Lenten promise can you make as a family during
Lent?
Here is one idea.
Yesterday, our Year 6 School and House Captains
attended the Grip Student Leadership Conference. The
group participated in activities which helped them focus
on their role as leaders for 2015. The students will be
sharing the information presented with their peers over
the coming weeks.
Miss Peta Wade
Assistant Principal – Religious Education
DATE CLAIMER: GRACE THROUGH MERCY
1st DVD from a Series of 8 DVD presentations from the
Sydney Apostolic Congress on Mercy from the
Conference held in October of 2012, followed by devotion
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2015
to the Divine Mercy, at the Adult Faith Centre, Macalister
CATHOLIC PARISH OF NORTH MACKAY AND St every Thursday from the 5th of February, onwards from
4 pm to 6 pm, Series to end on the 26 of March.
NORTHERN BEACHES
 Sunday 22 February at 10am and Wednesday RSVP: Leenore Reddy 0434929742 or
25 February at 7pm – Family Reconciliation at https://www.facebook.com/mackaydeanery/events
St Joseph’s School Hall.
BISHOP’S IN-SERVICE
All staff will be attending our annual Bishop’s In-service
Day tomorrow, Thursday 19 February. This day is a
pupil free day for students. We look forward to this
opportunity to nourish our personal faith development
on the topic of Evangelisation – Changing minds,
Changing Hearts, Changing Lives’. Our Diocesan
Director, Leesa Jeffcoat, will also be in attendance. In
addition, we will have the opportunity to attend
workshops on a variety of topics.
VIRTUE FOR FORTNIGHT – TOLERANCE
What is Tolerance?
To be tolerant is to accept
differences. You don’t expect others to think, look, speak
or act just like you. Tolerance is being free of prejudice,
knowing that all people have feelings, needs, hopes and
dreams. To be tolerant also means to accept things you
wish were different with flexibility and patience.
UNIFORM SHOP
.
Tuesday 2.30pm – 3.00pm
Thursday 8.15am – 8.45am
MATHS OLYMPIAD
Maths Olympiad is a challenging problem solving
competition run between May and September. On
Tuesday children in Years 5 and 6 received letters
outlining the competition. Registration cost is $5.00,
with 30 places available. If parents wish for their child
to participate in Maths Olympiad and have not
received a letter, please contact the school office.
CAR PARK SAFETY
A reminder to all parents, grandparents and significant
others who collect children from the school about car
park safety. It is important that we support each other
by honouring what is expected. We have had a
number of reports of cars compromising child and
adult safety.
In recent weeks we have been made aware of illegal
car parking outside the front of the school entrance.
This area is clearly signed with instructions for
motorists. We cannot compromise student safety and
parents are asked to refrain from parking in these
areas in the future.
The school would prefer not to have to issue fines and
involve police for parking infringements but we may be
placed in situations where this has to occur. I hope
that we can continue to place student safety as the
highest priority.
We would appreciate your support in this matter and
thank many of our families who indeed adhere to
school safety requirements.
TERM 1 SCHOOL FEES
School Fees have been emailed/posted and are due
Wednesday 25 February. You can also access a copy
of your statement via Parent Lounge.
 Existing families would have received their
login details Term 4, 2014. If you have
misplaced them, please contact Jill at the
office to have them reissued.
 All new families will have their Login details
posted to them by Monday, 16 February.
changes and forward to the office, or Log into Parent
Lounge and update your details there. We cannot
stress how important it is that the contact details we
hold are as up to date as possible.
CASSEROLE CLUB
Parents new to Emmanuel School may not be aware
that in times of hardship, our school community has a
Casserole Club whereby parents volunteer to cook
meals for a family in need. This is one way that our
school community can practically support those in our
school who are facing hardship. If parents are willing to
be part of the Casserole Club please contact the school
office with your name and number or complete the form
at the bottom of this newsletter. Your name will be
placed on a register and in times of need, you would be
contacted and asked to cook a meal and bring it to the
school office for delivery.
A big thank you to those parents who helped with the
Casserole Club last year and also to Marie McCusker
who has co-ordinated our Casserole Club for the last
two years. Melanie Camilleri will be our co-ordinator for
2015.
Thank you.
INTERHOUSE
2015
SWIMMING
CARNIVAL
The interhouse swimming carnival will be on Tuesday
10 MARCH at the MEMORIAL SWIM CENTRE. This
will be a day carnival, allowing for maximum
participation with many heats followed by finals. The
carnival is for all students from Years 1-6 with students
competing in the age group that they will turn in 2015.
Years 1 and 2 will participate in novelty events or width
events, depending on their swimming ability, and return
to school mid-morning. A detailed letter has been sent to
all parents of Years 1 and 2 students. Year 3 have also
received a letter and will return to school before lunch
after participating in width events.
In the past we have had many parents who have
generously volunteered to help in many ways at the
carnival. Your assistance is again sought to ensure the
smooth running of the carnival.
Comprehensive instructions on How to Navigate
Parent Lounge to pay fees, along with details of the
various payment options open to you are attached to
this newsletter.
If you can help, please complete the slip in the
newsletter and return to the school. You will be
contacted the week before the carnival to confirm your
job on the day.
Please note that as of Term 2, ALL fee statements will
only be emailed, as well as being available to you for
viewing on Parent Lounge. If you have not provided
your email address to the school, can you please do
so as soon as possible.
Thank-you for your support.
Monday 23 February
Elise Strike
PARENT INFORMATION FORMS
Tuesday 24 February
Help Wanted
On Wednesday, you would have received a Parent
Information Form either via email or post. This
document details the records as held in our computer
system for your contact details. It is vital that you
check the details shown and advise us of changes to
address, contact phone numbers or emergency
contact. You can either print the document, note any
Wednesday 25 February
Louise Sheedy
Thursday 26 February
Michelle Prince
Friday 27 February
Janine Refalo, Melanie
Camilleri, Maria Axiak
TUCKSHOP ROSTER - WEEK COMMENCING
MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY
VIRTUE VOUCHERS
FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY
Prep
Yr 1
Yr 2
Yr 3
Yr 4
Yr 5
Yr 6
Tobias Roche
Kaizer Holt
Lara Pritchard
Billy Morris
Mia Findlay
Zarviera Newton
Blayde Parkinson
Sophia LoPresti
Elli Corr
Aja Rose
Ashley White
Alexandra Larrson
Gabrielle Ipson
Charlotte Winter
Jake Heke
Georgia Borg
Kynan Day
Sarah Wortley
Ben Reginato
Cooper Spencer
Flynn Bryant
Courtney Brooke
Emma White
Lily Donnelly
Lauren Underwood
Daniel Desbois
Elena Watt
Grace Dowling
Charlotte Spencer
Jessica Dorl
Emily McVeigh
CASSEROLE CLUB
Yes, I would like to be part of the
Casserole Club.
NAME: ……………………………………………
CONTACT NO: …………………………………
CHILD’S NAME/CLASS: ………………………
Please return to the school office.
SWIMMING CARNIVAL HELPER’S NOTE
I can help on Tuesday 10 March.
NAME: ……………………………………………
CHILD’S CLASS: ………………………………….
CONVENIENT PHONE CONTACT: …………
I prefer to help with
Scoring / Ribbon Writing / Timekeeping
Lifesaving / Judging / Marshalling / Any
Setting up tents before and after carnival
TERM CALENDAR
Thurs 19 Feb
Tues 24 Feb
Tues 10 Mar
Tues 17 Mar
Sat 21 Mar
Sun 22 Mar
Thur 2 Apr
Fri 3 Apr
Sat 4 Apr
Sun 5 Apr
Mon 6 Apr
Mon 20 Apr
Sat 25 Apr
Bishop’s In-service Day
Pupil Free Day
Yr 3 – Safety Circus Visit
Emmanuel Swimming Carnival
Opening School Mass
Harmony Day
Children’s Mass
Holy Thursday
Last day of Term 1
Good Friday
Easter Saturday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Term 2 Begins
Anzac Day
PUPIL FREE DAY
BISHOP’S IN-SERVICE
THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL
10.00AM TOMORROW AS ALL STAFF,
INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION STAFF,
WILL BE ATTENDING THE BISHOP’S INSERVICE DAY.