Issue 5 - 20 April 2016

Newsletter Articles

VISION STATEMENT

St Rita’s School will be a compassionate and supportive community built on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, specifically incorporating the Mercy Values which are lived out. We will be a values-based community reaching out to and welcoming the wider community. Our strong school spirit will shine. St Rita’s will be a school in which every member is respectful of self and others.

PRINCIPAL’S PEN

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term 2 at St Rita’s! It is a longer term, of eleven weeks, and staff has been busy preparing a full calendar of school events and new programs. Dates have been set and plans are being finalised for upcoming events such as the Combined Schools Cross Country and Junior Fun Run, ANZAC Day liturgy, Mother’s Day Pampering Afternoon, Under 8s’ Day, St Rita’s Feast Day and the Interhouse Athletics Carnival. Also, classroom teachers will be preparing for NAPLAN Testing, for Year 3 and 5 students, this term.

On ANZAC Day next Monday, St Rita’s School will proudly participate in the Babinda commemorative event. I strongly urge you to bring your children along to this very important community event, as staff and students proudly march behind our school banner. Following the ceremony, St Rita’s P & F will be catering the morning tea at the RSL Hall. Jenni and Loretta are busily organising a roster of helpers to prepare, cook and serve tea, coffee, cakes, slices and sandwiches. Please give generously of your time to support this first P & F fundraiser of the year.

We welcomed new staff members to St Rita’s last week. While Mrs Lisa Calcagno is enjoying her well-deserved Long Service Leave, Mrs Bernie Paterson and Ms Laura Kirwan will be assisting in our classrooms. Julie Parker is undertaking tertiary studies this year, and I wish Julie much success in her journey to becoming a teacher. Mrs Lisa Grima brings valuable experience to the role and will capably continue Julie’s work in the senior classroom. For this term only, Carmel Parisi will be replaced by Mrs Natalie McKenzie. Natalie visited St Rita’s last week and is really looking forward to working as our school counsellor.

One of the highlights of this week will be the Combined Schools Cross Country for the senior students. Supported by Mrs Maryjane Masina and Mrs Debbie Kurucz, our group of 10, 11 and 12 year old distance runners will compete against students from other schools in the district. For our younger children, a non-competitive ‘Fun Run’ will showcase the running and fitness skills of our five to nine year olds. The juniors will run 500m, 1km and 1.5kms on a course around the school grounds. Parents and friends are most welcome to join us for both cross country events.

Social media can provide schools with an additional opportunity to connect with their families and interested community members and to share information and events quickly and easily. Cairns Catholic Education Services developed a successful facebook page last year and assisted with the set-up of our page last term. The St Rita’s Babinda page has been well received by parents and friends in the Babinda community. If you do use social media, you are most welcome to ‘like’ our page and add comments to the posts we will be regularly making.

Have a happy week and enjoy this glorious FNQ weather!

Regards and blessings,

Judy Billiau
Principal

A PRAYER FOR ANZAC DAY

O God, our ruler and guide,
In whose hands are the destinies of this and every nation,
We give you thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in this land
And for those who laid down their lives to defend them:
We pray that we and all the people of Australia,
Gratefully remembering their courage and their sacrifice,
May have the grace to live in a spirit of justice, of generosity, and of peace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever,
Amen

(A Prayer Book for Australia, p 628)

APRE THOUGHTS …..

Welcome to Term Two! What a great start back we have had. Prep/One led the school in a beautiful prayer on Friday, concentrating on how we pray. This reflected what they have been learning about the Catholic tradition of the Sign of the Cross and the Words that Jesus himself taught his disciples on how to pray.

In class and school we often use various methods of prayer, including meditation, prayer in colour, song, dance and traditional prayers. This led me to think that prayer really is all that we do. It is our actions and interactions, our thoughts both said and unsaid. If all I do I offer up to God, then all I do is prayer. When I think about things in this light, it may be I am more grateful when I see the rain fall or the sunset. I may be more gentle with others when I am tired and cranky (by others, I am referring mostly to my husband and own children). Generally, I think that if I believe that prayer is present in all that I do, I simply need to be more present.

One simple action to do, to practise being more present, comes from Brisbane Catholic Education resources. They suggest sitting still, and take a very short time to become aware of the present moment. This can be done by tensing various parts of the body and then allowing them to relax. For example, toes, hands, shoulders and then sit completely still, relaxed and at peace (Brisbane Catholic Education, 2016).

This activity only needs to take a few seconds and one I intend to use to stay prayerful throughout my day. If you see me around, please ask how I am going with it – and hopefully you will receive a prayerful response!

In more exciting news for our Parish, the Sacramental Program for 2016 has begun. This year we have seven candidates for Confirmation, the First Rite of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers through their journey. These children will be attending Mass this Wednesday at 5:00pm, 20th April as part of the enrolment process. All are welcome. Confirmation Mass is to be held in the Church on Thursday 2nd June at 6:00pm.

SEL NEWS

In SEL this term the children will be explicitly studying the key of ‘Getting Along’. The ability to Get Along with others is not only important for children, but as I am sure all parents are aware is just as important in adult life.

In one survey of employers conducted by a career company, found that 77% were seeking candidates with soft skills. Soft skills relate to the way employees relate to and interact with other people. “The Multi-Generational Job Search Study 2014 by Millennial Branding said employers ranked the following as the most highly desired qualities in candidates: communication skills, a positive attitude and the ability to work in a team” (Huhman, 2014). The full article can be read at

How we solve conflicts is a large part of ‘Getting Along’. When small problems are dealt with quickly, respectfully and honestly it can stop them from turning into much larger issues. As a part of instilling this knowledge the children are learning the seven keys to communication. During the term, I will pass on a brief summary of each key to keep you updated with what your children are learning in class, and perhaps you can try some of these at home.

Key One: Call people by name

I often listen to ABC radio in the morning (I know I am old!) and I am constantly impressed by the presenter’s ability to call people by their name during interviews. It is possibly done to inform the audience who is being interviewed, but it has the added benefit of placing an emphasis of importance on that person. We all feel special when we people call us by name (in a friendly tone – see Week Two), and this simple key to communication may assist our children’s getting along skills.

Key Two: Using a talking tone and not a fighting tone

My father has always said “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” and now I find repeating the same words to my teenage daughters. How we express ourselves will spark various reactions from those we are talking to, and to get along we really need to think about our tone of voice. This is especially true when we are angry or upset. Sometimes the best thing may be to say nothing straight away, and give ourselves time to table our emotions and then speak to the people involved.

These keys are taken from the Kimochi’s Feel Guide, which is a program we are incorporating into the SEL program in 2016.

I hope you all have had a fabulous start to the term.

Bec Burns
Assistant Principal (Religious Education)

PARENT SURVEY

During Term 1, our Executive Director Bill Dixon advised of the review of Inclusive Practices for Students with Disability in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Cairns. Its purpose is to improve the ways in which Catholic Education Services include and support students with disability in schools in the Diocese of Cairns.

University of Canberra Emeritus Professor Tony Shaddock who has significant experience across all levels of education and across all educational sectors is conducting the Review. Professor Shaddock will visit a sample of schools in the Diocese, interview and/or survey key stakeholders, and report in June 2016.

An important voice within these surveys is that of our parent group, so we therefore encourage all parents to take the opportunity to participate in this survey -

The survey document contains information regarding the confidential nature of this survey and it will be available online to 3rd May 2016.

2016 SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN CONFERENCE

This year Catholic Education Services is excited to announce that their annual Safeguarding Children Conference includes presentations specifically for parents. This year’s theme is Our Children, Our Communities, Our Future, and the conference will be held on Saturday, 11 June 2016 at the Pullman Cairns International.

Specific parent sessions include:

• Keynote speaker: Andrea Musulin (Safeguarding Project Officer – Archdiocese of Perth)
• Protective Behaviours: everyday teaching moments that encourage safety not fear
• Mental Health: Early warning signs of depression and axiety, school responses and when should I be worried?
• Social Media: the world our children live in doesn’t have to be all digital, but it sure feels that way!
• Help! My child is a teenager!

Please note that there is no registration cost but places are limited.

Conference information and registration details can be accessed via the conference website:

CASTING THE NET

WORKS OF MERCY: TO VISIT THE SICK

Schools have changed since I was a child. One area that pleases, even amazes me, is the ‘food bank’ that many schools have: a freezer where a number of dishes are held ready for a family that may be hit by illness. In times of extended difficulty, a roster is often drawn up by which a few of the main meals are provided each week in such a way that the care is shared around. As a person whose mother was often in hospital when I was a child, I am in awe of the combination of care and practicality of such programmes. We do know how to do these things.

But as I look around and listen, I wonder how well we care for ourselves. Most of the good people I know soldier on in illness in a way that does not seem healthy. When our body is ill, it can be a good and holy thing to take notice, to listen to what it has to say and to care for it appropriately; in other words, to truly visit ourselves when we are sick. ‘Being sick’ has its own peculiar dynamic and when we are prepared to enter into it, we can find a space within ourselves where we learn good and precious things about ourselves. ‘The body never lies,’ was a wise phrase said to me many years ago.

In listening to our body and respecting it, we open ourselves to a different way of encountering God: we learn prayer in helplessness. Also, as we are caring and sensitive to ourselves, we learn how to visit others when they are sick.

Loving God, show me how to respect myself when I am ill, entering into the mystery it has to offer. Then, with new sensitivity, let me care for others in their illness. I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

COUNSELLOR’S CORNER

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN EMPATHY

Helping our children to develop empathy is one of the most special gifts we can give them. Learning empathy requires practice and guidance. Regularly considering other people’s perspectives and circumstances helps make empathy a natural reflex and helps children get better at understanding other people’s feelings and perspectives. So, how can we, as parents, cultivate empathy? Here are some ideas:

Look for good in everyone. When our children are faced with people they don’t like or are at odds with, encourage him or her to try to find something good, however small, in that person.

Empathize with your child and model empathy for others. Children learn from watching us and experiencing our empathy. Tune into their needs, understand and respect them, take a genuine interest in their lives. Children notice how we treat others and often they copy. Demonstrate empathy for others, including those different from you. Consider regularly engaging in community service or model other ways of contributing to the community. Even better, consider doing this with your child.

Teach basic rules of politeness. Good manners are a practical way for children to show care and respect for others.

Make caring for others a top priority. Consider the daily messages you send to children about the importance of caring. For example, say something like, “The most important thing is that you’re kind and that you’re happy.”

Help your child understand that the world doesn’t revolve around them. It’s vital at times for parents to put children’s concern for others above their happiness, for example, insisting at times that children turn off the TV and help around the house. Giving children jobs assists them in becoming more responsible and consequently also learning altruism and caring.

Provide opportunities for children to practice empathy. For instance, involve your child in charitable activities. Acts of kindness are a wonderful way to teach your child to have empathy. For instance, if a friend is unwell your child might help with making a special card to give them to help them feel better. Encourage empathy for peers. Ask your child(ren) about their classmates and other peers. Ask children when they’re in conflicts with peers to consider their peers’ perspectives.

Reflect on empathy and caring. Notice with your child when you’re together and someone exhibits strong empathy—or shows a lack of empathy, in your daily life, in a book or on television. Discuss why acts of empathy are important and why lacking empathy can be harmful.

When your child performs an act of kindness, tell him what they did well and be as specific as possible: “You were very generous to share your sandwich with Tommy. I saw him smiling and I know he was happy.”

Yours in counselling,
Natalie McKenzie

WELCOMING A SPECIAL VISITOR

At the end of last term, St Rita’s invited Police Liaison Officer Stacey Kneubuhler to be part of our National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence school event. Officer Stacey presented the senior class with an interesting and informative talk focusing on personal safety, cyber bullying and engaging with social media. The students appreciated this important session and are hoping that further classroom visits will be planned for this term. Thank you Officer Stacey!

CURRICULUM UPDATE

‘Dance Fever’

St Rita’s will welcome the ‘Dance Fever’ instructors for lessons which will begin this Thursday. The strand of Dance is taught in the Term 2 The Arts curriculum. ‘Dance Fever’ is a well- organised program designed to teach children social interaction through the enjoyment of dance. The program, which has been implemented in many Catholic Schools across Cairns, will run over ten weeks of this term. Please keep Thursday afternoon 23rd June free in your diary. Our ‘Dance Fever Showcase’, which is the culminating activity of the program, should not be missed.

HOMEWORK CLUB

An ‘extra’ that our school provides to students is a weekly after-school Homework Club. During Homework Club, classroom teachers provide assistance to individual children to complete some of their homework tasks for the week. “Homework is a valuable part of the learning process of every child. It is designed to give students opportunity for further practise of skills taught in class, to share learning with parents, as well as to investigate interests and topics being studied” (Parent Handbook).

This term we will trial a combined group of all students working together in the library. As there will only be one teacher supervising Homework Club each week, we are calling on parent helpers to assist. If you can help once or twice a term, please let the office know and we will develop a roster. Thank you for your support!

AROUND THE CLASSROOMS

Narrative Writing in Senior Class

Last term the senior students, years 5 and 6, had been exploring the questions ‘What makes a narrative interesting?’

The students were read a story from the library titled ‘Nobody’s Dog’ by Jennifer Beck and Lindy Fisher. This became the stimulus for our writing about the topic of a ‘lost dog’. Then we let our imaginations take over. Some children kept the same beginning as the book, others changing the story slightly to make it their own. Many kept the thread of a ‘lost dog’ and created a new setting, characters and plot.

Writing a short story wasn’t easy as it needed a clear complication and resolution ‘ending’. Something needs to go wrong! A problem needs to happen. We found that we were great at writing our orientation, the beginning of our stories, although developing a problem was kind of tricky, which resulted in our endings becoming rushed or lacking detail. This brings our students back to the importance of ‘planning’, which leads to greater success during the writing phase.

After examining a number of texts and looking at the different ways the author has ‘hooked’ their reader. Our class has been practicing some of the elements taken from the ‘Seven Ways to Successful Writing’, focusing on writing interesting opening sentences, the use of direct speech to add detail, beginning our stories to where the action had started. This term we will be writing a science fiction narrative with Mrs Anthony in preparation for NAPLAN.

Mrs Masina.

Step 1: Plan for Success
Step 2: Sizzling Starts
Step 3: Tightening Tension
Step 4: Dynamic Dialogue
Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell
Step 6: Ban the Boring
Step 7: Endings with Impact

The Lost Dog by Lachlan Mellick

The truth was it’s nobody’s dog. Sam wanted a dog so he had someone to play with. On his way to feed the chickens, there was a strange appearance. He thought one of the chickens got loose. But from behind the bush was a black and white Great Dane.

“Oh boy it's a dog!’’ said Sam.
Dad said, “Don't pat that dog.’’
“Why?’’ I asked.
“You don't know where that dog came from and that dog might bite,” said Dad.
The next day I asked my mum and dad if I could keep him.
“No!” said mum and dad.
I was watching Pugman on TV then I remembered about the strange dog. I was interrupted by my mum yelling that dinner was ready.
“Dinner is ready!” mum called.
“But mum, I am watching Pugman.”
“NOW!” Mum said.
“Mum! One more minute please.”
“Ok,” said mum, “but when you are finished watching Pugman you need to come out.”

The Lost Dog by Steele Day

Once there was a lost dog. He spent many days on the street as a stray. He was always on his search for food scraps. One night he ran across the road to chase a nearby cat. He was hit and laid still on the side of the road. The stray dog woke up is some pain and whimpered as he closed his eyes to go to sleep. He soon felt himself being lifted and placed into a car. He smelt the smell of new leather in brand new Bugatti.

“I’m so sorry boy, stay with me. I’m going to take good care of you,” said a Man’s voice. “Scruffy I’m going to call you Scruffy,” the Man said gently as he stroked his matted fur. Scruffy found himself in a caged room with other dogs and animals that were sick. Scruffy heard the voice of lady this time, “He must have just been clipped with your car as there are no broken bones or internal bleeding. There is only some bruising on his hind leg. Does he have a home?” she asked.

“He will be coming home with me and by the way you can call me Jim.”

The next day Jim came to collect Scruffy who was now sitting up in his cage.

The Dog with a Great Memory by Billie Luce

“We can’t afford to keep him, he’s too much to handle!’’ said dad. “What about Sam?’’ “He loves that dog,” Mum explained. As my parents continued to fight I wondered what would happen to my best friend. As I sat and listened, my parents continued to argue. It didn't seem to be getting anywhere. I started to doze off into the night.

The next morning, I woke up to see that Ziggi was gone. I rushed downstairs to find my favourite meal of ‘beans on toast’ just waiting for me. All of a sudden I had forgotten about Ziggi and began to eat. Ziggi is usually waiting for me to drop him some scraps under the table but he wasn’t there. Right at that moment I remembered…

...Ziggi!!!
“Dad where's my dog?’’ I yelled from the top of the staircase.
Mum came out of her bedroom and said, “We need to talk.’’
“Your father has taken Ziggi, he’s at a better place now,” Mum explained.
“No, Dad always carries his gun around. I know where Ziggi is, don’t deny it,” I said as tears ran down my face. I ran to my room and started to cry.

I cried and cried out for Ziggi but I couldn’t see him anywhere. I sat down to cry in the freezing cold winter snow when I faintly noticed a pack of wolves stalking me from the corner of my eye. I slowly got up and started to run. They were so fast, I just couldn't outrun them I turned around to see if the wolves were gone. I wasn’t watching where I was going, I tripped and fell right before a huge cliff and I had nowhere to go. I was cornered.

The wolves were closing in on me. I didn’t know what I was going to do.

All of a sudden...a stray dog with a dirty honeycomb like coat lashed out between the wolves and I. It was Ziggi, he came back and somehow he managed to fight off all of the wolves and threw them of the cliff with his mouth.

Once the wolves were gone, I tried to get up but I couldn’t. I must have sprained my ankle during the fall. What was I going to do? I thought to myself. Unexpectedly, Ziggi remembered the scent of the house and ran back to get my parents. I thought he was abandoning me.

Ziggi had gone to the house to get my Mum and Dad, he barked and barked until they came out. Somehow my parents knew to follow Ziggi into the woods so they jumped onto the quad bike and rushed to find their son. They found me laying on the soft snow barely conscious.

They put the dog and I on the back of the quad bike and took us home and laid us down in a warm cozzie bed. After hours and hours of being drowsy, I finally woke up to find a nice clean groomed dog sitting at my feet alongside my parents.

After a week of recovery I mustered up the courage to ask my parents if I could keep him ‘again’. “Of course,’’ they both said, “he saved your life’’. We all lived a happy life as a family, ‘with the dog’.

IMPORTANT DATES

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

St Rita’s School congratulates those students who were awarded ‘Student of the Week’ at Assembly on Friday 15th April 2016.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

We congratulate the students who successfully contributed to the Cairns Post ‘Inspire’ feature on Tuesday 1st and 15th March. Teelah Geary and Tony Pham enjoyed engaging with the Dr Seuss display in the Library. Nicholas Stone and Melina Musumeci wrote an enthusiastic recount of their attendance at the GRIP Leadership Conference in Cairns.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

COMMUNITY NEWS

BABINDA CATHOLIC WOMEN’S GROUP ‘CENT SALE’

The ladies from the Catholic Women’s Group invite you to its Mother’s Day Cent Sale next month. It promises, once again, to be an afternoon of fun and games, with over 200 prizes, wonderful raffle prizes and a scrumptious afternoon tea.

Details as follows:

When: Saturday 7th May 2016
Where: Golf Club House, Hospital Street
Time: Doors open at 12.00pm for a 1.30pm start
Entry: Adults $ 4.00 Children $ 1.00

BABINDA HOSPITAL – WOMEN’S CLINIC