16 NOVEMBER 2017

Dear Parents, Where has the year gone to? Only a few weeks of the school term remaining! However, when you look into faces you can see from the lines of weariness that a year has gone by and it will be great to have a break from the usual daily routine. I suppose the quick passing of a year illustrates in some way how brief the measure of our own life really is; the author of Psalm 102 further illustrates that a couple of thousand years haven’t made much difference to the way in which people have their ups and downs: “Good Lord where are you? If you really do exist, why don’t you come out of hiding and do something about this creature in distress. I am physically weary, I am mentally depressed, I am spiritually defeated. I can’t eat, can’t sleep. I feel like discarded refuse in the back alley; like yesterday’s rubbish shuffled around by the wind.” If you’re feeling as bad as the psalmist seems to be, then thank heavens for holidays. They allow for a change in routine and if you’re lucky, a change in scenery. Also, they allow some time for “peace and quiet”. In times of serenity when the hustle and bustle is far away, it is possible to answer the question “Good lord, where are you?” and maybe like the psalmist you can experience the answer. Hopefully, the remaining weeks of the school year will be a time of enjoyment and cooperation so that the rewards of a year’s fine effort can be experienced by everyone to the very last day. During these final weeks of school it is important that we all continue to support each other in a positive way that allows everyone to stay settled and calm. It is also essential that we continue to maintain the high standards that we have set for ourselves and the children. Thank you for your ongoing help and support with the children to ensure that we all continue to support and respect each other, follow school policies and keep our communication channels open. Wishing you every blessing for the coming week, Geraldine Rostirolla (Principal)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WHAT’S IMPORTANT? – A REFLECTION

While on holiday in Poland, an American tourist paid a

visit to a renowned rabbi. He was astonished to see

that the rabbi’s house was only a simple room filled

with books, a table and a single bench.

“Rabbi,” asked the tourist, “Where is your furniture?”

“Where is yours?” replied the rabbi.

“Mine?” asked the puzzled American, “but I am only a

visitor here. I’m only a visitor passing through.”

“So am I” said the rabbi.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole

world and forfeits his soul” (Matthew 16:26)

Money can buy a house, but not a home;

A bed but not sleep;

Status and fame, but not inner confidence and lasting

security;

Comfort, but not peace.

All our possessions are useless at the moment of our

death. All that we take to eternity is the love that we

have sowed and the life we lived before our God and

neighbours.

(Unknown)

THANKSGIVING MASS

Emmanuel has a tradition of celebrating the end of

the school year with a Thanksgiving Mass. It is always

a special time for memories and reflection. We

farewell students and staff who are leaving Emmanuel

and present hampers of Christmas food (collected by

the students) to the St Vincent De Paul Society for

distribution to needy families.

This year’s mass will take place at St Joseph’s

Church on Thursday 30 November at 9:30am.

Please mark this date on your family calendar and

join with us to celebrate our year together.

ADVENT Advent begins on Sunday 3 December. It is the

liturgical season of anticipation and hope that begins

the Liturgical Year and prepares us for the celebration

of Christmas. Sadly Advent is often forgotten in all the

excitement of Christmas. Please find below some

fabulous resources that explain the season and

support its celebration.

Find out more about Advent @

http://www.catholic.org/advent/advent.php?id=5

Advent Videos, Prayers and Reflections

http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/advent

Watch the short animation “What is Advent Again?” @

http://www.resourcemelb.catholic.edu.au/object.cfm?o

=128

The “Xt3 Advent Calendar 2017” app features a daily

reflection, bible quote and multimedia item.

YEAR SIX GRADUATION

Our Year Six Graduation Mass will take place at St

Joseph’s Church on Tuesday 21 November at 6pm.

Parents are asked to bring a plate of food for a light

supper which will be held in the Parish Centre on

conclusion of the Mass. A celebratory cake will also

be cut by our School Captains. Please deliver your

supper plates to the Parish Centre prior to the

commencement of our Liturgical celebration.

All Year Six students are expected to attend this

celebration. Students are to wear blue day uniform.

MASSES AND LITURGIES Please find listed below upcoming Liturgies and

Masses. Fr Stephen will be here to celebrate year

level Masses at 9am on the dates indicated. Parents

and families welcome.

Thursday 23 November Year Five Mass

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS

Please pray for the students who recently received

the Sacrament of Penance for the first time. Their

sacramental journey will continue next year with

Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS

Each year our school supports The St Vincent de

Paul Christmas Appeal in assisting needy families in

the Mackay region. In our current economic climate it

is more important than ever that we recognise the

needs of those families in our community who are

under financial and emotional stress. Our support

allows them a little relief during this joyous time of the

year.

Each class will make up a hamper of non-perishable

food items that will be presented to the parish St

Vincent de Paul Society at our Thanksgiving Mass.

Your generosity will be much appreciated. Suitable

hamper items include:

Tinned ham

Boxed Christmas cake

Christmas fruit mince pies

Tinned fruit

Tinned vegetables

Assorted biscuits

Packets of jelly crystals

Bottles of softdrink

Large fruit juice poppers

Cordial

Large packets of lollies

Nuts

Christmas decorations

THANK YOU to all families who have already

contributed Christmas goodies to these hampers.

They will be very much appreciated by those who

receive them.

VIRTUE OF THE FORTNIGHT –

THANKFULNESS

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like

wrapping a present and not giving it.” (Unknown)

Thankfulness is being grateful for what we have. It is

an attitude of gratitude for learning, loving and being.

Appreciate the little things that happen around you

and within you every day. Think positively.

Thankfulness brings contentment.

“It is not happy people who are thankful. It is

thankful people who are happy” (Unknown

Mrs Noeleen Kliese (Assistant Principal – Religious Education)

CAROLS EVENING An invitation is extended to all Emmanuel families to

join us on Monday evening 27 November at 6:00pm

sharp for a Christmas carols sing-a-long on the lawn

area outside the music room. Please bring your chairs

or a blanket to sit on and lend your voices to the

children as we sing some well-known (and not so well

known) Christmas carols. During the evening the Year

Six students will ‘take the hat around’ to ask for

monetary donations for the St Vincent de Paul

Christmas Appeal which will be presented at our end

of year Thanksgiving Mass. Our school choir and

each individual year level will lead us in singing a

carol in what should be an entertaining night. Don’t

forget to wear your Christmas hats and bring along

your singing voice.

YEAR FIVE CAMP The key areas of our camp are Leadership,

Teamwork, Challenge and Resilience. We take the

students away to challenge themselves and to step

out of their comfort zone so they can share the

leadership skills they possess inside

themselves. What a wonderful group of students we

have prepared to lead our school next year. The lead

up to camp was full of anticipation of what the famous

G-Swing was like and again it was the most talked

about part of the camp. As we drove into the camp

grounds, talk soon filled the bus. Students finally

came face to face with the mighty challenge. “That

doesn’t look high Mrs Beardmore!” “No way am I

going on that!” “Cool, when can we go on that?”

filtered down the bus. We met Mez our camp

coordinator and she explained how we will all face

some of our fears while there. For many it was

height, others being away from home, others was

being away from their creature comforts like air con

and technology. When you put fear in perspective, it

really is False Evidence Appearing Real. (Even the

teachers and helpers feared not being able to function

on only a couple of hours sleep!) But with coffee and

a positive attitude, we all got through. Though the

High Ropes were not as high as the G-Swing, it

posed others challenges for us. The G-Swing allowed

you to sit in a harness and be pulled up the 20m and

release the cord, but the High Ropes needed you to

climb the 10m and then step out onto a wire with the

trust of those below keeping you safe. Whatever the

FEAR was, we all took one step further then we

thought we could. At the dam, there were a few rafts

not considered sea worthy, but the fun of doing

something with others was the winner. Again we

could not have gotten through without the help of Mr

Geoff Baguley, Mr Brenden Craig, Mr Mark Crofts,

Mrs Tim Desbois, Mr Mark McGrath and Mr Larry

Owens. A wonderful group of patient, enthusiastic

and supportive fathers. Thank you for joining us.

Thank you also to the Emmanuel staff members who

accompanied us on the Year Five camp.

Mrs Angela Beardmore

MUSIC NEWS School Choir will again be held in the music room at

8:45am next Thursday, 23 November. This will be our

final rehearsal for the year before our ice-cream party

break up! If there are any choir students who would

like to join us at year 6 Graduation Mass, that would

be wonderful. The mass will be held at St Joseph’s

church on Tuesday 21 November at 6pm. Students

are asked to be there by 5:45pm wearing something

smart casual. It would be great to have a strong group

of singing voices to help lead the hymns alongside

myself and Mrs Whelan.

Students in grades 2-5 were treated to a fantastic

instrumental showcase yesterday by Josh and the

team from Musicorp. If your child has been inspired

by the demonstration and wishes to learn a

woodwind, brass or percussion instrument, please

see Mrs Maunder at the office for more information.

We also have Mr Jim who offers guitar lessons and

Mrs Jansen for strings.

Preparations are well under way for our Emmanuel

Carols night. Each year level will be performing a

beautiful, traditional Christmas Carol and we will finish

the night with some of the more commercial type

carols all together. It’s going to be a wonderful night of

song and celebration. Hope to see you all there!

Yours in Music, Mrs Dale

SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS

This year for the annual Mackay and District Schools

12 Years & Under Sportsperson of the Year

presentation, Emmanuel has five of its sporting stars

nominated. Congratulations to the following students:

Conor Mezzen (Swimming), Jake Bryan (Rugby

League), Cooper Spencer (Hockey), Kalen Morris

(Cricket) and Flynn Battaia (Rugby League) The

presentation will be held on Tuesday, November 21 at

Sky’s Function Centre, Magpies Sporting Complex.

Good luck to all!

SCHOOL BANKING Please note next Thursday, 23 November will be the

last day for school banking for 2017.

We would like to thank Mrs Michelle Vella, Ms

Renae Borg and Ms Lisa Finnigan for kindly

volunteering your time. Your help throughout the

year has been greatly appreciated.

VACATION CARE - OSHC Emmanuel Outside School Hours Care is currently

taking enrolments for vacation care over the

December/January school holiday period. We wish to

advise families and caregivers that we will be closed

from Monday 25 December 2017 and will re-open on

Monday 8 January 2018. If you would like to enrol

your child, or have any queries please do not hesitate

to contact us

TUCKSHOP ROSTER – TERM 4 WEEK 8 COMMENCING – MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER

Monday 20 November

Nicole Murray

Tuesday 21 November Amanda Webber

Wednesday 22 November

Alice Symons

Thursday 23 November

Jason Wheeler Kelsey Wallace

Friday 24 November

Donna Ellis Marie Schembri

TUCKSHOP NEWS Please note, our tuckshop ceases operations for the

year on Wednesday 29 November. Keep in mind

some menu items will become unavailable as this

date approaches. I would like to take this opportunity

to thank our wonderful parent volunteers who have

assisted in the tuckshop this year. We wish you a

safe, happy and Holy Christmas. We look forward to

seeing you in 2018.

Mrs Angie McGowan

(Tuckshop Convenor)

WEEK 7 Fri 17 Nov Assembly – 9.00am Swimming – Year 2W/3J

WEEK 8 Mon 20 Nov Swimming - Prep J/Prep P Tue 21 Nov Swimming - Prep J/Prep P Year Six Graduation Mass Wed 22 Nov Swimming - Prep S/1M Thur 23 Nov Swimming - Prep S/1M Year 5 Mass Fri 24 Nov Swimming - 1G/1W

WEEK 9 Mon 27 Nov Year 6 Orientation Day – HSC Christmas Carols Tue 28 Nov Swimming - 1G/1W Wed 29 Nov Swimming - 3C/3P Thur 30 Nov Thanksgiving Mass Fri 01 Dec Last Day of School

BOOKPACK COLLECTION The dates and times for bookpack collections is as

follows:

Tuesday 21 November - 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Wednesday 22 November - 8.00am – 9.00am

- 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Please note all bookspacks MUST be collected

by an adult.