27 June 2025

Vision Statement

St Rita’s school is a dynamic learning community strengthened by our Mercy heritage and inspired through the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are connected and compassionate to the needs of our community and are proud of our local Wanyurr-Majay culture. We engage our learners through relevant and hands-on experiences, bringing joy and confidence to learning.  

PRINCIPAL’S PEN

Greetings Parents,

Yet another busy term has come to an end. For some of us, I’m sure it couldn’t come soon enough; for others, the routine of school will be missed over the next two weeks.

This past month, my wife and I have felt like passing ships in the night—rarely seeing each other as we juggle the demands of four active children. I’ve been away, and just as I returned, she left. While we usually work as a team, we've recently had to go solo, and it's given us a glimpse into the life of a single parent. I’m well aware that this is a daily reality for many, and I now hold a much deeper appreciation for those who do it consistently.

My sister was a single parent for many years before meeting her husband. While I didn’t give it much thought when I was younger, I can now look back and admire the sacrifices she made in her early twenties to raise my niece—who is now married with her own child.

Parenting is hard. There’s no secret formula, and every child brings their own gifts and challenges. I recently saw a young family at church with three children under five, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Take me back! (Even though, at the time, I was impatient and eager for my children to become more independent.)

As a principal, I deeply relate to the challenges parents face today—because I’m living it too. I understand the struggles with technology, bedtimes, picky eating, meltdowns, school refusal, homework stress, after-school commitments, friendship troubles, hygiene battles, sibling rivalry, and sickness... the list goes on. I get it—because I live it. My children are far from perfect, especially at home. So please be assured: whatever challenges you're facing, there's no judgment here—only empathy and understanding.

Through this quiet reflection—and with some encouragement from my wife—we’re excited to launch St Rita’s Community Connection: Family & Parent Group (still a working title!) early next term. This group will be facilitated by our wonderful school officer, Sunni Day.

The idea is to create a relaxed, welcoming playgroup where parents can connect with each other, members of our parish, and the broader community. It will be a space for support, mentorship, and conversation over a cup of tea, while pre-school-aged children play or enjoy story time. It will be open to all families in the Babinda community.

While the finer details are still being finalised, I hope you’ll consider supporting this initiative if you're able. More information will be shared early next term. Parenting is a tough gig, and we hope this small initiative can help lighten the load and give our children the best start possible.

Gianna Beretta Molla (4 October 1922 – 28 April 1962) was an Italian Catholic paediatrician. Although aware of possible fatal consequences, Molla refused any personal medical intervention during her pregnancy with her fourth child in order to preserve the child's life. She died of septic peritonitis one week after giving birth.                                       

Molla was proclaimed a Saint of the Catholic Church in May of 2004. She is a modern saint known for her dedication to her family and her choice to prioritise her child's life over her own. She is a terrific example of sacrificial parenting and somebody who we can pray for their intercession when times are tough in family life.

Prayer to Saint Gianna Molla

O compassionate Saint Gianna, physician and caregiver to the poor, the elderly, to children and expectant mothers, look lovingly upon our humble prayer, and intercede for us with our Heavenly Father. As a dedicated wife and mother, you imitated the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, even to the point of giving your life to save the life of your preborn child. Ask the Holy Spirit, we pray, to fill us with courage, so that your words may become our own: “Whatever God wants.” If it is in God’s loving plan for me, pray that my intention may be granted. Amen.

Athletics

We had a splendid day at BSS for our Small Schools Athletics Carnival. I was very impressed with our students' attitude, sportsmanship, and encouragement of one another. It was heartening to see them cheering for all competitors throughout the day.

Our school finished 2nd overall, and a big reason for this was the near-100% participation rate on the day. It was also fantastic to see so many families come out to support our athletes.

Congratulations to Jude, Riley, and Abel, who were named age group champions, and to the many other students who placed in the top two of their events and qualified for the Cassowary Coast meet next term. A note will go out early next term with more details.

A big thank you to BSS for hosting, and especially to Mr Dwayne Richardson for coordinating the event, and also Bun and Sok from Babinda Bakery for providing our students with a special treat after their big day of athletics. 

Attendance

At the end of each term, we like to acknowledge students with exceptional attendance. Consistent attendance is vital in maintaining the continuity of learning planned by our teachers.

Congratulations to Loclan and Alex, who achieved 100% attendance in Term 2! We also had many students with attendance above 90%, which is very pleasing—well done to all!

School Review

We’ve just completed an extensive school review and were commended for several of our initiatives. It was a very positive affirmation of the hard work put in by all stakeholders over the past five years since our last external review.

One reviewer captured the essence of our school beautifully:

“The way we learn makes school fun.”

Thank you to everyone who participated in the review process.

AFL Program

Our AFL program wrapped up this week with an exciting excursion to Fretwell Park, where our students had the opportunity to hone their skills on a full-size AFL field.

Huge thanks to Ali, who has expertly guided our students through the fundamentals of AFL this term.

For those interested in continuing their AFL journey, Gordonvale Suns is the closest club to Babinda and is affiliated with AFL Cairns. Feel free to see me for more information.

Next term, we’re looking forward to taking part in a Soccer Program through the Sporting Schools initiative.

Reports

School reports will be sent home this week. Our teachers have been diligently assessing student progress since the start of the year to provide accurate and meaningful feedback.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s report, please make an appointment to meet with their classroom teacher.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable break, and we look forward to seeing you back in Term 3!

Warm regards,

Michael Rowe
Principal

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN – CAIRNS CATHOLIC EDUCATION

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Personal and Social Capability in the Australian Curriculum (V9)

Dear parents and carers, at St Rita’s Babinda, we believe that learning is not just about academics—it’s also about helping our students grow into confident, respectful, and adaptable citizens. That’s why we’re excited to share how we’re implementing the Personal and Social Capability strand of the Version 9 Australian Curriculum.

This capability is made up of four key areas:

Self-awareness – understanding your own emotions, strengths, and areas for growth.
Self-management – setting goals, managing emotions, and staying resilient.
Social awareness – showing empathy, respecting others, and understanding community roles.
Social management – communicating, collaborating, resolving conflict, and making decisions.

How Will We Assess These Skills?

By the end of Year 6, students at St Rita’s will be assessed using an A–E scale that reflects how well they demonstrate these capabilities in real-life situations. We are co creating a rubric for students to be assessed against as they depart St Rita’s Babinda at the end of Grade six. We’ll use cognitive verbs (like describe, explain, evaluate, and lead) to help students understand what they’re doing well and where they can grow.

Here’s a simple example:

A – “I can lead a group, solve problems, and explain how my emotions affect my choices.”
C – “I can describe how I feel, set goals, and work well with others.”
E – “I’m learning to name my feelings and ask for help when I need it.”

These assessments will be based on classroom activities, group work, reflections, and real-world interactions—not just tests.

We Want Your Voice!

We’re currently developing a school-wide policy on how we teach and assess these important life skills—and we want to hear from you! We are looking for feedback in this area as we collaborate with various stakeholders.

Parents: What social and emotional skills do you value most for your child?
Students: What helps you feel confident, calm, and connected at school?
Staff: What strategies work best in helping students grow in these areas?

Please share your thoughts by emailing us or attending our upcoming Parent & Community session. I am happy to discuss what this looks like within our context,

Why Does It Matter?

When students leave St Rita’s, we want them to be more than just academically ready—we want them to be:

Resilient in the face of challenges
Empathetic toward others
Collaborative in teams
Reflective about their learning and growth

These are the skills that will help them thrive in high school, in their communities, and in the world beyond.                      

Kind regards,
Sam Benvenuti
Deputy Principal

COUNSELLORS CORNER

Yours in Counselling,  
Kind regards,
Carmel  

DATE CLAIMERS

2025 TERM DATES

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

BIRTHDAY WISHES

Congratulations to both Michael Burrows and Maddison Owens who recently celebrated their birthdays. St Rita’s hopes you had wonderful birthday celebrations.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

MUNRO THEATRE

A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR AMY EDEN

A Message from Mayor Amy Eden – 2025/2026 Cairns Youth Council Nominations

Not sure if leadership is for you? Neither was I.

Here’s something most people don’t know — I never planned to go into politics.

I was a social worker, working in the community, for the community. That’s what made me tick. Politics? Not even on the radar. But after being asked (a lot!) to run for Council, I eventually said yes. I was elected in 2020, found out I was pretty good at it, and more importantly—I loved it.

Fast forward to 2024, I stepped up to run for Mayor because I wanted to drive real change. And now here I am, the youngest Mayor Cairns has ever had.

I’m sharing this with you because you don’t need to have it all figured out to step up and lead. If you’re aged 13 to 17 and live in the Cairns region, you can nominate to be part of the 2025–2026 Cairns Youth Council—and I reckon you should.

You’ll meet other young people who care about our community, get involved in real decision-making, and build connections that could shape your future. One of my favourite sayings is: your network is your net worth. This is your chance to build that network early—with people who are just as passionate and switched-on as you.

Even if leadership isn’t on your dream board—just give it a go. You might surprise yourself. I know I did.

🗳 Nominations are open until 21 July 2025.
https://www.fya.org.au/young-mayors-cairns/

Warm regards
Annie
Annie Morris | Executive Assistant to the Mayor
Office of the Mayor | Cairns Regional Council
P: 07 4044 3083 | E: a.morris@cairns.qld.gov.au  | W: www.cairns.qld.gov.au
Mail: PO Box 359, Cairns Q 4870 | Office: 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns

ATTENTION E-SCOOTER INFORMATION

With more and more e-scooters popping up in our community, it's important that we all know the rules — especially our young riders!
Did you know?
Children under 16 are not allowed to ride e-scooters in public without direct supervision from an adult.
Here’s a quick summary of the key points shared by Babinda Police:
 Riders under 16 must be directly supervised by someone 18+
 No doubling ever – even adults with children ($160+ fine)
 Footpath speed: 12km/hr |   Road speed: 25km/hr (fines can exceed $640)
 Same rules as cars: obey road signs, signals, etc.
 Helmets are mandatory at all times ($160+ fine)
 Stick to the side of the road or use bike lanes where available
 Do not block footpaths when parking
 No phone use while riding ($1200+ fine – same as using a phone in a car!)
 No eating or drinking while riding – it’s considered distracted driving
 Offences affect your driver’s licence – including demerit points
 Riding while intoxicated = drink driving charge
 The police have issued this warning and will now begin issuing fines and following up with parents where needed.
For full details, please check with Queensland Police Service or Queensland Department of Transport.

Babinda Library School Holidays activities

MY EMOTIONS AND ME FUN WORKSHOP

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN - MAGGIE DENT WEBINARS