Emmaus Catholic Primary School

Dear Parents and Guardians

PENTECOST

Last weekend we celebrated the feast of Pentecost. At this time, we are reminded of one of the most important moments in the life of the Church. Pentecost took place fifty days after Easter, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples gathered together in prayer. Filled with courage, faith and joy, they went out to share the message of Jesus with the world. For this reason, Pentecost is often called the “birthday of the Church.”

Class teachers discussed the meaning of Pentecost with the children through prayer, Scripture and classroom activities. The symbols of fire, wind and the dove help us understand the presence of the Holy Spirit — God’s guiding and comforting presence in our lives.

Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit is still active today, helping us to live with kindness, compassion, courage and hope. As a Catholic community, we are called to use our gifts to serve others, stand up for what is right, and share God’s love in our families, classrooms and wider community.

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and bless our school community.

WHAT DO OUR CHILDREN NEED

We find today that the average child spends less than 1 hour a day playing freely, is on a screen for more than 6 hours a day and spends 9 hours a day sitting. This is quiet alarming when you stop and think about it. When we look at children, we find that their brain, body and nervous system need exactly the opposite of this.

None of them are activated by a screen. They’re activated by life.

Activities such as:

• A 20-second hug.
• Singing in the car.
• Rough and tumble play with dad.
• A bedtime story. Eye contact across the dinner table.

Activities so ordinary most parents walk past them without a second thought. However, every single one of them is doing something no screen or schedule ever could; these activities are actually building the foundation that determines how they feel, how they learn and who they become.

What your child’s BRAIN actually needs:

• Lego builds, bedtime stories, learning an instrument, strategy board games, face to face conversations, 11-14 hours sleep, completing small goals, unstructured play and effort-based praise.

What your child’s NERVOUS SYSTEM actually needs:

• 20 second hug, labelling emotions, weekly family dinners, helping at home, splashing cold water on their face, time with grandparents, singing in the car, eye contact, seeing parents repair and resolve issues.

What your child’s BODY actually needs:

• Team sports, stretching the body, rough and tumble play with dad, protein-rich food, morning sunlight, messy outdoor play, barefoot on grass, carrying heavy things, vitamin B, C, D.

What your child’s ATTENTION SPAN actually needs:

• Waiting in line, visual timer, 1000-piece puzzles, saving pocket money, growing a plant, sitting through errands, movement before focus, uninterrupted play, moments of being bored.

As parents, it is reassuring to remember that supporting our children’s wellbeing does not always require expensive programs, perfect routines or hours of extra time. Often, the greatest impact comes from the ordinary moments woven throughout the day.

As a school community, we encourage all families to protect time for connection, play, conversation and rest. Childhood is not a race to achieve more and more — it is a critical time for building healthy brains, strong relationships and emotional wellbeing that will last a lifetime.

AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR CRAIG SILVEY

We wish to inform our school community that books written by Australian author Craig Silvey, have been removed from our school library collection.

This decision follows recent court proceedings in which Mr Silvey pleaded guilty to offences relating to possessing and distributing child exploitation material.

As a school, we are committed to maintaining a safe and appropriate learning environment for all students. After careful consideration, we determined that removing these titles from circulation was the most appropriate course of action at this time.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

REMINDER

A gentle reminder to our school community, as mentioned in the last newsletter, I will be away on long service leave from the beginning of week 8 until early next term. Mrs Fernandez will take the role of Principal in my absence.

CANCER COUNCIL AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MORNING TEA

On Thursday, 21 May, we proudly hosted our first Cancer Council Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea with our wonderful staff community. The event was organised by staff members who are cancer survivors, providing an opportunity to remember loved ones, celebrate survivors, and raise awareness and much-needed funds to support the important work of the Cancer Council in supporting patients and their families. We were overwhelmed by the generosity and support shown by our staff, exceeding our fundraising goal of $500 and raising an amazing $1,003. A huge thank you to Rita, Sonia, Melina and Carol for putting on a beautiful morning tea for all staff. We are in awe of our Emmaus Heros and Survivors.

Sandro Coniglio

Principal

School Start and Finish Times

Pre-Kindy (Thurs and Fri) 9:00 am (doors open) - 3:00 pm

Kindy (Mon - Wed) 8:45 am (doors open) - 3:00 pm

Pre-Primary - Year 6 (Mon - Fri) 8:30 am (doors open) - 3:00 pm

Administration 8:15 am - 4:00 pm

Dear Parents and Guardians

RECONCILIATION WEEK

National Sorry Day is an important time for our school community to pause, reflect and learn about Australia’s history, particularly the experiences of First Nations Peoples affected by past government policies. On Tuesday, students worked with their buddy classes to explore this through stories, discussions and classroom activities, considering the meaning of “sorry” and how we can all contribute to a more inclusive and caring community. As parents, your support in continuing these conversations at home helps children develop compassion, empathy and respect while learning about the diverse histories that shape our nation.

Quite recently in conversation with a child during a class visit, I asked the student what the best part of their day was, and his answer was, “being on my iPad on the way to school in the car.” He continued on about all the games he was fortunate to play on the journey, including ‘Roblox’, a well known, highly addictive gaming platform renowned for exposing children to inappropriate content. Listening to his anecdote about being hooked into the game along the whole road trip concerned me.

Many families are navigating the growing challenge of balancing children’s access to devices with the need for healthy social, emotional and physical development. Technology offers many benefits, however increasing research and parent experiences continue to highlight the impact excessive screen time can have on children’s wellbeing, relationships, focus and emotional regulation.

Supporting Healthy Device Habits at Home

Children thrive through connection, conversation, play, movement and meaningful relationships. When devices begin to dominate free time (even trips in the car where great conversations happen), opportunities for these important experiences can reduce significantly.

Some common impacts of excessive device use may include reduced attention and focus, disrupted sleep, increased irritability, anxiety and decreased social interaction skills.

Small and consistent changes at home can make a significant difference. Families may wish to consider:

• creating device-free times, such as during meals, before school, in the car and before bedtime; Encourage conversation, connection and improved sleep routines.
• keeping bedrooms screen-free to support healthier sleep habits;
• allow for boredom and creativity: children do not need constant entertainment. Unstructured time encourages creativity, problem solving and imaginative play.
• encouraging outdoor play, reading, hobbies and family activities;
• modelling balanced device use as adults; and
• having regular conversations with children about how online activity makes them feel, including their mood when being online excessively (tiredness, frustration or overwhelm).

As a school community, we recognise that raising children in a digital world is complex and ever-changing. By working together to promote balance, connection and wellbeing, we can support the healthy social and emotional development of our young people.

Kind regards,

Emma Fernandez and Loretta Hackner

Assistant Principals

On Sunday, 24 May Catholics celebrate Pentecost Sunday. On this day, the Holy Spirit came to Jesus’ disciples after He returned to Heaven. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples courage and confidence to share Jesus’ message with others. Pentecost is often called the 'birthday of the Church' because it marked the beginning of the Church spreading around the world and reminds us to live with kindness, faith and courage in our everyday lives.

The Emmaus Eucharist candidates in Year 4 and other grades are in preparation for their First Holy Communion. Parents, please take note of these important dates:

Tuesday 2 June

Eucharist Retreat at Emmaus CPS

Thursday 4 June

Reconciliation prior to Eucharist (held at school)

Saturday 6 June

Sacrament of Eucharist 1 at 6:00 pm

Sunday 7 June

Sacrament of Eucharist 2 at 9:30 am

Saturday 13 June

Sacrament of Eucharist 3 at 6:00 pm

Sunday 14 June

Sacrament of Eucharist 4 at 9:30 am

For any queries, please contact Hannah Wager: youth@sthelenaellenbrook.com

Thank you Steve Harris from Catholic Education WA and our students receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion for attending the Parent/ Child Workshop last week. There was lots of engagement and a focus on the significance of this Sacrament.

Last Tuesday, the Year 4 students went on an excursion to La Salle College to find out about life in a high school.

First, they attended a science lesson and learnt about chemical reactions; elephant toothpaste and a gas explosion were highlights. Then they attended a session on blind contour drawing, which resulted in some interesting pieces of art. A sit-down recess of chocolate chip muffins and juice boxes sustained them for a sports session during which they played hockey, basketball, netball and soccer. The final session of the day was a lesson on textiles, where the children created a chain of butterflies, and designed cutting-edge fashion clothing.

A fantastic time was had by all, and we returned to Emmaus exhausted. What a day!

Our Year 4 and Year 5 students enjoyed a fantastic excursion to Fremantle last week. Year 4 students explored the fascinating history of Western Australia at the WA Shipwrecks Museum, where they learned about famous shipwrecks and life at sea in the early days of settlement.

Meanwhile, Year 5 students visited the historic Fremantle Prison and took part in an engaging tour, discovering what life was like inside one of Australia’s most significant heritage sites.

After a busy morning of learning and exploring, students enjoyed lunch together at a local fish and chips shop before heading back to school. It was a wonderful day filled with fun experiences, and great memories for all involved!

Congratulations to our Year 5 students for their outstanding work in the Wax Museum project. They presented themselves with confidence and creativity as notable historical figures, showcasing their research through engaging oral presentations. Students from across the school, along with staff and families, enjoyed visiting and learning from their exhibits. The depth of knowledge, attention to detail, and effort were truly impressive. Well done, Year 5!

Staff have recently noted a significant number of students either wearing incorrect uniform items or missing pieces. Students wearing no ties is a common observation. Both girls and boys from Year 1-6 are required to wear a tie as part of the formal uniform. Additionally, running shoes are not to be worn with the formal uniform - only black strapped or lace-up shoes are permitted.

The transition to winter uniform was from the beginning of this term and by now all correct winter uniform items should be worn. Ties are also in stock at the uniform shop, so for any purchases yet to be made, please do so via the online ordering system. Please see the examples below of correct uniforms:

Emmaus CPS has been part of the URSTRONG initiative since our school's opening in 2023. URSTRONG is all about empowering kids with friendship skills! Across the grades, the 'Language of Friendology' Curriculum is taught, with each year level building on strategies to navigate through friendship ups and downs. It is a proven, skills-based strategy that teaches kid-friendly concepts, skills and language to help them build and maintain healthy friendships, BUT the best way for our students to learn and practice is when parents have similar conversations and encourage the same guiding techniques.

All parents at Emmaus have access to the online resources, including instructional videos by the URSTRONG founder, Dana Kerford. Most of the sessions are interactive and done alongside your child! To access these, log into https://urstrong.com/parents/ then scroll down to the fill-in form. Enter your details and select "Emmaus Catholic Primary School", then click on 'Join Free For Life' for access. GET ON BOARD! Definitely worth investing time in this training!

We are having a lot of fun this term in our Apron Amigos cooking program. We have cooked ANZAC Biscuits, Fork Biscuits, Ozzy Owl Rice Cakes, and now we are making healthy Bread Case Mini Quiches! Thanks so much to our adult volunteers this term – Mr McLean, Mr De Goede, Mrs Harrison and Miss McKrill. We are also very appreciative of our senior students who have assisted us.

We are looking to expand our team of parent helpers for Term 3. We just ask that younger siblings not to attend. Our sessions are held on Wednesday afternoons 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm. If you are interested in joining in with the fun, please email Mrs McKrill – debbie.mckrill@cewa.edu.au

Kindly, please donate to the Emmaus / St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Final donations will be accepted next week, with our St Vincent de Paul representative collecting on Friday 5 June. Thank you to the Year 6 Discipleship Team for organising this.

Emmaus Wellbeing Coordinators 2026

Ms Kate Cameron (Wellness & SEL Coordinator) & Mrs Hannah Thomas (Social Worker)

This term in Kindy we have begun exploring the Kimochis program which is a social and emotional learning program that helps children understand and manage their feelings, build friendships and develop confidence in communicating with others.

The children have already met two special Kimochis characters called Lovey Dove and Cloud. Lovey Dove helps us learn about kindness, friendship and caring for others, while Cloud teaches us that it is okay to have big feelings and that everyone experiences emotions differently sometimes.

Through stories, discussions and role-play, the children are learning important skills such as recognising emotions, using kind words, solving problems and understanding how others may feel.

In Year 3, our dedicated Wellbeing time this term, provides students with opportunities to slow down and relax. Recently, we have been focusing on relaxation strategies through calming and creative activities. Students have enjoyed listening to calming music while following guided ‘how to draw’ videos, allowing them to express their creativity while developing focus and mindfulness. We have also been listening to stories together and engaging in mindful colouring activities connected to the themes of each story.

Alongside this, we have been continuing our learning through the URStrong friendship program. Students have been exploring ‘The Four Tricks’ for making new friends:

1. Super Introducer - Learning to confidently introduce themselves by making eye contact, offering a greeting, and asking for the other person's name.
2. Ask and Pass - Practising conversation skills by asking questions and taking turns, like a game of catch, to build connections and find common interests.
3. Quick Question - Preparing simple questions (e.g. "What book are you reading?") to help navigate new or awkward social situations.
4. Be a Magnet - Understanding that being friendly, positive honest and approachable naturally attracts others.

These lessons are equipping students with practical tools to build confidence and form positive friendships both in and out of the classroom.

If you haven't already signed up to the Premier's Reading Challenge, it's not too late to do so! The challenge is still open until 12 June 2026.

Join the challenge for your chance to win!

It is that easy, and there are plenty of chances to win. Click the link below to register:

https://www.premiersreadingchallenge.wa.edu.au/

Students across the grades participated in the National Simultaneous Story Time, listening to the story of Luna Roo: The Kangaroo Baller. Written by football veterans Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd, Luna Roo captures all the intense excitement of the game, with a heartwarming message that courage and determination are a winning combination.

About the book: Rookie captain Luna Roo leaves nothing on the pitch as she leads FC Outback in a thrilling face-off against Bush United. Faced with a spider goalkeeper, snakes in attack and bubbling nerves, Luna must trust her skills and her teammates to soar to victory.

Take a look at some happy snaps of our students enjoying this shortlisted ALIA book.

Issue 4 has now been distributed to all students. The closing dates for orders will be Friday 12 June. All sales earn the school points that contribute to additional resources for our school Library.

A digital copy of the most recent Term 2, 2026 Parent Calendar is included below: Please see important dates for Term 2, 2026. Please note that any revised changes to the school calendars are updated and will be posted on our online calendar and in newsletter attachments.

👉 TERM 2 👈

Week 7

Tuesday 2 June

• Eucharist Retreat Y4
• P&F meeting 5:30 - 7:00 pm
• SAC meeting 7:00 - 8:00 pm

Wednesday 3 June

• Liturgical Dancing Club 8:00 am
• Kindy Disco

Thursday 4 June

• Reconciliation for Eucharist students

Friday 5 June

• Assembly
• St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal collection
• Pre-Primary to Year 6 Disco

Saturday 6 June

• Eucharist Mass 6:00 pm

Week 8

Sunday 7 June

• Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
• Eucharist Mass 9:30 am

Monday 8 June

• Kindy Hospital Familiarisation Incursion 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Mini Vinnies Connection Event (Year 6 Mini Vinnies Leaders 2:00 pm)

Wednesday 10 June

• Liturgical Dancing Club 8:00 am
• Lifelink Day at Corpus Christi College 9:15 am

Thursday 11 June

• Sacred Saints Indigenous Carnival (Year 5 & 6)

Saturday 13 June

• Eucharist Mass 6:00 pm

OSHClub are excited to have been selected as the dedicated onsite provider at Emmaus CPS!

OSHClub offers care for students before and after school, on pupil free days and school holidays.

click on the link below for more information!

Enjoy your long weekend!

Mr Sandro Coniglio

Principal