Emmaus Catholic Primary School

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Yesterday, 25/4/24, was a significant day in our nation's history: ANZAC Day. This solemn occasion holds a special place in our hearts as we come together to honour the bravery, sacrifice, and camaraderie of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought valiantly in World War I.

ANZAC Day, observed on April 25th each year, marks the anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli in 1915. It serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience displayed by our servicemen and women in defence of our freedom and values.

Here at Emmaus Catholic Primary School, we hold ANZAC Day in high regard, recognising it not only as a day of remembrance but also as an opportunity to instil in our students the importance of honouring those who have served and continue to serve our country. Through various educational activities and discussions, we aim to deepen our students' understanding of the sacrifices made by ANZAC soldiers and their families.

One of the most touching aspects of ANZAC Day is the dawn service, which symbolises the darkness of war giving way to the light of hope and peace. I hope that some of you may have had the opportunity to attend various services yesterday morning.

Moreover, the tradition of wearing red poppies on ANZAC Day serves as a poignant symbol of remembrance, inspired by the poem, "In Flanders Fields", written during World War I. In classrooms, students may engage in crafting poppies or learning about their symbolism, fostering a sense of connection to our nation's history. (See poem above).

Every ANZAC Day allows us also to extend our gratitude to the men and women of the Australian Defence Forces who continue to serve our country with honour and dedication. Their sacrifices remind us of the importance of cherishing and preserving the freedoms we enjoy today.

On Wednesday 24/4/24, we as a school, held our own whole school service for ANZAC Day. We were fortunate to have Mr Robert Gildare from the Bassendean RSL attend our service and briefly spoke to the children of his experiences in the army. We also had Mr Bill Armstrong, (husband of Mrs Armstrong upper EA), play the bagpipes for us. This was a very emotional experience for all of us. The children were all, so well behaved and very reverent throughout the service.

Together, let us remember and reflect, ensuring that the spirit of ANZAC lives on in our hearts and minds.

Lest we forget!

If you have a younger child that is due to start Kindy next year, we urge you to lodge an Application for Admission form without delay. Interviews for 2025 places will occur throughout May and June.

If you have any friends or family that are looking at enrolling their child/children at Emmaus, please inform them to lodge an Application for Admission form as soon as possible.

Documentation required in addition to the application form is listed below:

1. Birth certificate (required)
2. Australian Immunisation Register Immunisation History Statement (required) *
3. Baptism certificate (if applicable)
4. Australian Citizenship certificate (required if born outside of Australia & if applicable)
5. Passport and Visa (required if born outside of Australia & if applicable)
6. Any current restraining orders or custody orders (if applicable)

*Immunisation

The Immunisation History Statement must be generated by the Australian Immunisation Register and be no more than two months old. For Pre-Kindergarten (3 year old) and Kindergarten (4 year old) classes, children must be up-to-date with their immunisations or on an approved catch up schedule as indicated by their immunisation history statement or have a valid immunisation certificate issued by or declared by the Chief Health Officer or be eligible for exemption. For Pre-Primary to Year 6 enrolments, an immunisation history statement is still required.

I would like to thank the P&F and every volunteer who helped cook and serve sausages at the Bunnings Ellenbrook store on ANZAC Day afternoon.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated by our community. You are all doing a superb job in building this wonderful community at Emmaus Catholic Primary School.

While the weather was a little fresher, the crowds must have been tempted by the deliciousness wafting through the Ellenbrook air. An estimate of $1700 was made yesterday adding to the $1847 made at Bunnings last term, which all helps to boost educational resources for our school.

Grazie!

On Monday of this week, Mrs Hackner and I met with representatives from OSHClub to discuss the possibility of a vacation program at Emmaus CPS.

Our last survey for OSHClub Vacation Program was very promising but lacked consistency in numbers. Hence, to have a Vacation Program commence immediately will not be feasible. However, in saying this, OSHClub will be happy to trial something new which will give them an indication of the want and need for a vacation program at Emmaus CPS. They will trial whole day supervision of students in need of care, during our remainder PD Days, (28 June, 6 September, 20 September, 7 October and 9 – 13 December).

If these days show a good response, then the possibility of a Vocational Program becomes very strong for 2025. With the growth of the school this will also add to the numbers for 2025.

Please be aware that over the last week we have had WA Police, monitoring speed along Arthur Street. Some days they are immediately outside our school grounds. Many motorists have been picked up already.

Please be aware of this and travel at the correct 40km speed limit.

Thank you!

Over the last week we received two requests from parents for class teachers to send work home for sick children.

Please be aware that this is not in any school’s practice. During COVID this was obviously the case, however, prior to COVID this was never the case.

Hence, if a child is sick at home, they are sick! The only work I would suggest is for them to read if they can. If not sick, then the child should be at school.

Mrs Turner's last day at Emmaus before she commences her maternity leave was today, Friday 26 April. We wish Mrs Turner and her husband, Mark all the very best as they welcome the arrival of their second child. We look forward to seeing a photo of your precious baby and visits later in the year.

We warmly welcome Alessia Fraser who will take over the Year 2 class. Miss Fraser has spent the last two Fridays getting to know our Year 2s and we look forward you being with us here at Emmaus.

Our Year 5 and 6 students were lucky enough to have spent part of their Wednesday with friends from the Swan Valley Memory Cafe. The students re-enacted their assembly item, read books about ANZAC Day, made poppies to add to the school ANZAC display and chit-chatted over a delicious morning tea with treats made by our Year 5/6 students. Our students love meeting up with the SVMC friends living with dementia and look forward to having them re-visit us soon.

Our uniform supplier has informed a couple of days ago that they are experiencing delays with girls' culottes as well as sports tracksuits. The culottes are now being made locally and sport tracksuits are due to arrive at their Osborne Park store by the end of next week.

Due to these delays, the onsite Uniform Shop that was advertised as being open on Monday 29th April, will be canceled. JFE will advise Emmaus when the next uniform shop onsite (in the school Library) will be open this term.

Other uniform items can continue to be ordered online or by visiting the Osborne Park store.

For girls still waiting for culottes, the school will allow the continued wearing of the summer dress (with navy tights and jumper/cardigan if extra warming is required). Please note that track pants or leggings under the dress is not part of the uniform.

JFE UNIFORM SHOP

Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 4:00pm

Friday 8:00am - 1:00pm

Unit 1 / 85 Guthrie Street, OSBORNE PARK WA 6017

Telephone: 9204 1701

www.jfe.net.au

(School code - 9641)

A reminder to parents and members of the choir (Years 4-6) that choir sessions are held each Tuesday from 8:00 am to 8:40 am in the Music Room. If you are a member of the choir your attendance each week is required unless unwell.

Next term our Emmaus Choir will be performing at Catholic Education WA's Spirit of the Arts Festival, and therefore it is imperative that all members attend these once-weekly practice sessions.

Mrs Leith

Music Teacher

As per last year, student reports are issued electronically to all parents / caregivers at the end of each semester via SEQTA. Catholic schools no longer distribute hard copies of school mid-year or end-of-year reports.

On Wednesday, a SEQTA 'Welcome Email' was sent to all parents/caregivers who either did not activate their SEQTA account last year, or who are new to Emmaus CPS. Please check your inbox for this email (including your junk box). Please note that the activation codes/link lapse after 7 days - please take the time to set up the account in these upcoming days.

Should you experience difficulty in setting up your account, the school's network and IT Manager, Steve Duncan, is available to assist on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

The students are continuing to enjoy Friday morning Run Club with Mrs Bol, in preparation for our Cross Country event. All students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 are invited to join in, as well as parents too! The session commences at 8am. There is ONLY ONE MORE Run Club session ahead next week, Week 3 - Friday 3rd May, before our school carnival. Come along for a great end-of-week heart-starter.

Our Emmaus Cross Country event is on Friday 17 May at 9:00 am.

Mrs Bol is looking for parent helpers to assist on the morning. Should you be willing to assist with marshalling checkpoints at the event, please email Mrs Bol at rebecca.bol@cewa.edu.au.

We are looking forward to celebrating all our wonderful Mums, Grandmothers and Mother Figures. Our staff are busy making preparations for the upcoming Mother's Day Breakfast on Friday 10 May. We invite the special motherly women in our school community to join us for a celebratory treat, followed by our school assembly where the P&F will be drawing the Mother's Day Raffle.

For catering purposes, RSVP is required ahead of the Mother's Day Breakfast. Please complete the RSVP form below, by Monday 6th May.

MOTHER'S DAY ATTENDANCE FORM

Please also note that the P&F have organised the Mother's Day stall once again this year. Students will be able to purchase lovely gift items to treat Mums ahead of Mother's Day. Students are to bring no more than $10 in a labelled purse/pouch or zip lock bag as well as a recycled bag (Coles or Woolies bags are ideal) on the following date:

Wednesday 8th May - Kindy to Year 6 Mother's Day Stall

Getting enough sleep is vital for student wellbeing. Lack of sleep can have a huge impact on many areas of a child’s day to day living, including academic success. Students will be learning a range of relaxation techniques in class and focusing on these areas during our Wellbeing Dedicated Time each week.

See the information sheet below for some facts about sleep from the Sleep Health Foundation.

Our students are well and truly underway with implementing our URStrong Friendship Curriculum and our Year 5 and 6s have been effectively teaching and guiding our classes through the key ideas in our school assemblies. Now it's PARENTS' TURN TO LEARN TOO! Do you often find yourself at a loss for advice when your children come to you with their friendship issues? Don’t worry, you’re not alone and URStrong is here to help.

Emmaus CPS is inviting parents and caregivers to participate in an online workshop to learn the key concepts and strategies that your children are learning about navigating the tricky parts of friendships:

1. Introducing the common language to open up lines of communication around friendship challenges and build trust.

2. Providing practical skills and coaching techniques to guide your child through friendship dramas.

3. Learning how to empower your child to make healthier decisions in their friendships and put out Friendship Fires (resolve conflict) in a respectful way.

Please see the flyer and click on the link to register your online involvement:

URStrong Parent and Child Online Workshop - Registration

Our students have learnt so much about being a good Friendship Ninja in the concepts covered across the URStrong Program. With the parent/child online workshop on the 23 May, we are also inviting students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 to dress as a Friendship Ninja for the day. Black gear with a coloured headband and fabric sash will do! Please see the flyer below.

Issue 3 of the Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to students. The final day for orders is Monday 6th May. Please note that any orders submitted with this issue will grant a $5 credit towards any purchases from Book Club Issue 4.

There's been a fair few P&F events recently, as well as upcoming news, so please peruse the following updates flyer as well as event posters for the Mother's Day Raffle and Cadbury Fundraising Boxes:

Parents, please take note of upcoming P&F events and reminders for the remainder of this term:

• Grill'd Burgers Community Fundraising. Emmaus will have a jar at Grill'd Midland from 1st April. Buy a burger and pop your token in the Emmaus jar.
• Mother's Day Stall - Wednesday 8th May for 4K to Year 6.
• Mother's Day Raffle - Friday 10th May at 9:00 am Assembly.
• Pyjama Day - Wednesday 12th June for 4K to Year 6 and Thursday 13th June for 3K (please note change of date to previously advertised)
• School Disco - Thursday 27th June

Last week Mr Borrello (Deputy Principal), Mrs Birch (Enrolments Officer) and students of Holy Cross College visited the Year 4s, 5s and 6s to highlight the wonderful opportunities at Holy Cross College as a secondary schooling option. Details about the upcoming Open Day was also mentioned and Holy Cross College are inviting all Emmaus families to visit Holy Cross College for an insight into school life on Saturday 11 May. It will be a great opportunity for parents and potential students to learn what classes are on offer, see the facilities and meet the staff and students.

Registration for attendance is necessary. Please click on this link to register: Holy Cross Open Day

Parents of Year 6 students who are considering Holy Cross College for secondary education, please see the scholarship information below. For further information, feel free to call the College on 92977600.

La Salle College is now taking enrolments for students starting Year 7 in 2026 and 2027.

La Salle believes that education extends beyond the classroom, encouraging their students to live out their faith values in the service of others, whilst making a positive impact on the world in which they live. Through La Salle's teaching and learning, they aim to transform tomorrow's hearts, minds and lives in all that they do.

They offer a wide range of learning programs and academic pathways, as well as opportunities in a multitude of areas such as skill-based and work-based learning, music, arts, sport and extracurricular activities and clubs. Their wonderful facilities and generous outdoor spaces, which includes Science labs, Aquatic Centre with 10-lane swimming pool, Performing Arts Centre with orchestra pit, Chapel, Trade and Skills Centre, provide an innovative and modern learning environment that inspires their students to be the best they can be.

With limited places available for Year 7 2026 and 2027, you are encouraged to make an enquiry today or join them on a student led tour of the College.

Term 2 & 3 Tour Dates:

• Monday 13 May at 4:30 pm
• Tuesday 23 July at 4:30 pm
• Tuesday 27 August at 4:30 pm

Bookings can be made via the La Salle College website www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/book-a-tour.

If you would like to know more about their enrolments process visit www.lasalle.wa.edu.au/enrolment or contact the College Enrolments Team via email: lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au or 9449 0601.

The Term 2 Parent Calendar is attached. Parents, please note that this is the current calendar as at 26th April with some dates varied from the last one issued.

• Tuesday 30 April - P&F Meeting 6:00 pm.
• Friday 3 May - Run Club session 8:00 am.
• Saturday 4 May - Eucharist Enrolment Mass 6:00 pm.
• Sunday 5 May - Eucharist Enrolment Mass 9:30 am and 5:45 pm.
• Monday 6 May - Silver Threads Band @ Emmaus 11:20 am - 12:10 pm.
• Wednesday 8 May - 4K to Year 6 Mother's Day Stall.
• Friday 10 May - Mother's Day Breakfast, Raffle & Assembly

The next newsletter will be distributed on Friday 10 May.

God bless.

Sandro Coniglio

Principal