Issue 16 - 11 October 2017

Newsletter Articles

MISSION STATEMENT

St Rita’s School mission is to create a community which inspires a love of holistic, life-long learning grounded in the Catholic Christian faith. Childhood is celebrated and nurtured by caring adults. A student’s capacity for their best future is realised in the context of our small rural community. We provide a safe and supportive environment, characterised by strong, life-giving and respectful relationships with students, staff, families, parish and the wider community. The school strives to ensure we are living out the Mercy values.

PRINCIPAL’S PEN

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to St Rita’s! I hope you had the opportunity during the school holidays to have a relaxing and enjoyable break. The staff has returned to school refreshed and eager to begin a very busy and eventful Term 4. Although it is a short term, of only nine weeks, there are many exciting events being planned and organised for our school. I urge you to add the Date Claimers noted in this first newsletter to your diary. We will be celebrating the important event of Grandparents’ Day this term!

The first week of Term 4 was an incredibly busy and exciting one at St Rita’s as we threw ourselves wholeheartedly into the Babinda Harvest Festival celebrations. The community spirit, which is so evident in our school, was especially highlighted last week. Beginning with our annual Trivia Night last Wednesday, many people enjoyed an evening of social fun and games. I thank Donna Lauridsen and our staff team for organising a very successful evening, and once again Vicki Jago kept the evening running smoothly as the M.C.

Congratulations to the winning team this year, ‘Monster Mash’, who surprised everyone with their win over the ‘Stragglers’ who fought on to try to make it five years in a row! The best-dressed costume winners were Christina Forrest and Debra Hanson, who were almost unrecognisable as characters from the musical Wicked, and were surrounded by many other contestants who came dressed in musical-oriented attire.

If you couldn’t make it this year, I urge you to come along next year to join in the fun. Getting a team together, dressing up in costumes, and finding out how much you know or don’t know, is all part of this fun social event.

Staff needs also to be congratulated for organising a vibrant school display and colourful parade float for the Harvest Festival. Everyone had to ‘hit the deck running’ last week to complete these extra tasks before Saturday. I appreciate that older children are often not ‘keen’ to participate in a street parade, so staff was pleased to see a good turn-out of our senior students this year. Representing the school with pride in community events sets a good example to younger students. Well done Mrs Gaul, Mrs Savaglio and the Year 5/6 class!

This term we are fortunate to have Australian Rules football lessons organised by the Cairns AFL Junior Development Officer. Mr Brenton Edwards will visit the school this week to introduce the ‘AUSKICK’ program which will run after school each Monday. The AUSKICK program will run for six weeks at a cost of $75, which includes a cap, a footy, lunchbox and player cards. Further information about the program will be sent home after this week’s visit.

It was highlighted last week what an active parent community we have at St Rita’s. Throughout the first week, many parents contributed so generously of their time and talents to school events. A special thank you to those who baked or donated goodies for the Trivia Night supper. Your generosity and support of this fundraiser, organised by the staff for the benefit of our students, is much appreciated. Also, Rob McEwan, has continued to give up his time to come to school to coach our senior cricket team. The boys are so excited to be competing in Cairns this Friday, and the extra training provided by Rob has been undoubtedly beneficial. Good luck St Rita’s lads!

The Term 4 Swimming Program will commence next Friday 20th October. It is expected that all students participate in the six-week swimming program during Weeks 3 - 8 of this term. It is a safety requirement that slip-on style footwear (such as thongs) be worn when walking to and from the pool, and that a sunshirt or t-shirt provides sun protection during the lessons. Each class will be have three instructors; Mrs Masina, the accredited instructor, and its classroom teacher and school officer.

We encourage all students to have their own roll-on sunscreen in their school bags so it can be applied before leaving for the pool. Because of the possibility of allergies to specific sunscreen products, the school cannot provide sunscreen to students. H.P.E. is not an optional subject, so students will need to bring a note (written in student diary) if they are sick and unable to participate in a lesson. Students who are well enough but are not swimming will walk to the pool and read quietly while the class is swimming.

The 13th annual ‘Day for Daniel’ will be held on Friday 27th October and students are asked to wear a red t-shirt with their sports shorts on this day. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation held the first Day for Daniel in November 2005. This National Day of Action aims at raising awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. It also aims to help empower our children to ‘Recognise, React and Report’ if they feel something is not right. St Rita’s is proud to be once again registered for this national event.

By participating in ‘Day for Daniel’, we aim:

• To raise awareness about child safety and protection and to promote a safer community for children.
• To educate children regarding their personal safety and empower them to ‘Recognise, React and Report’.
• To provide free safety and educational material.
• To honour the memory of Daniel Morcombe.
• To be part of the more than 1 million people Australia-wide who participate in Day for Daniel.

Have a good week,
Regards,
Judy Billiau

APRE THOUGHTS

Welcome back to Term 4! From the shining eyes and bright and cheery grins that returned following the holidays, I can surmise that the holidays were received with great excitement - and indeed, relief - following Term 3! Staff and students appear enthusiastic after the two-week break, ready with renewed vigour to take on the challenge of a nine-week Term 4. Welcome back to you all – an exciting term of learning and events has already begun to unfold!

Night is drawing nigh –
For all that has been – Thanks!
For all that shall be – Yes!
DAG HAMMARSKJOLD

SOCKTOBER

So, what’s the big deal about socks? Though they may be small and seemingly insignificant, socks have a big part to play in spreading the message of Catholic Mission during Socktober. Partner-up! Socks work best in pairs, so we are invited to join together and support the most needy and vulnerable children in the world to have better opportunities in life and a hope filled future. Just as socks keep us warm, protect us and help us enjoy sport and have fun, our support allows Catholic Mission to protect, house, feed and educate children across the globe. And of course, there are so many different and diverse types of socks, which reminds us that every child is unique and special. An ‘everyday item’, something so normal for us can be the means to make a vast difference in the lives of those less fortunate than us.

Later this month, on Thursday 26th October, St Rita’s will ‘pull up our socks’ and join in with prayer and fundraising activities to support World Mission Month. On this day, a Mission Day Liturgy will be celebrated at 12:30pm. As well, staff and students will have a Crazy Sock Day, and are invited to wear either mis-matched or zany socks with their school shoes for a gold coin donation. Children will also be invited to enter the highly anticipated Paper Plane competition for a gold coin donation.

The theme of World Mission Month 2017 is “Called to Life”, and the focus country for Mission Month is Uganda, where the Church seeks to provide health care for children subject to life threatening diseases. Uganda is a country of great natural beauty, unique wildlife and untapped resources, yet Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. Together, we can ‘sock it to poverty’, with all proceeds from our Mission Day activities to be donated to Catholic Mission.

Here I am Lord – Body, heart and soul.
Grant that with your love I may be big enough to reach the world
and small enough to be at one with you.
MOTHER TERESA

MONTH OF THE ROSARY

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary in the Catholic Church. Using prayers from Holy Scripture, the Holy Rosary meditates on a cycle of Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries, and thus is a summary of the Gospels and Christian life. Centred on Christ, the Rosary honours the life of Christ in the passion, death, resurrection and glory, and contemplates Mary too, since her life is so closely linked with Jesus.

Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus, encouraged praying the Rosary to those she revealed to at various approved apparitions. Prayer is a means to experience a greater love for God and to develop a closer union with God. We too are encouraged to pray the Holy Rosary throughout the month of October and in doing so, foster a deeper relationship with God and allow ourselves an opportunity to transform ourselves into the people we are meant to be.

Last term, each child was presented with their personal set of blessed rosary beads during the Assumption of the Blessed Mary Feast Day Mass. These beads were generously donated to the St Rita’s Parish by an Australian family who have experienced the power of prayer through the rosary. Perhaps you may make some time individually or as a family to pray the Rosary! Further information on how to pray the Rosary can be found at http://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/scripture-and-tradition/devotions/praying-the-rosary.

DATE CLAIMERS

Please find listed below some important date claimers to celebrate our faith and mark significant community events. Parents and carers are always welcome to join us for these celebrations, so please come along whenever you are able to!

Thursday 26th October – Mission Day Liturgy 12:30pm
Monday 30th October – Grandparents’ Day Prayer Liturgy
Friday 3rd November – Reconciliation Liturgy 11:05am
Friday 10th November – Remembrance Day Liturgy 2:30pm
Thursday 23rd November – Graduation and Supper 6:00pm
Friday 1st December – End of Year Mass 11:00am

Blessings,
Maureen Gaul

CASTING THE NET

Protecting children is Everybody’s Business

I saw a lion last night. I woke during the night and saw the silhouette of a lion at the front door protecting the house. My mind flitted to the image of Jesus, as the Lion of Judah and I felt safe. Of course there wasn’t a lion there – it was the moon shadow playing on the palms at the front of the house. You may have thought my response strange for being pious. I thought it strange for being positive. You see I wasn’t like that as a child. I was fearful, an oddball and had a negative reaction in most situations. I’m not like that now and largely that is due to the many people, in so many different ways that encouraged me to be different, to be positive, to look on the good side of life.

How many knew they were doing this? Hardly anyone at all. You see anyone can take a part in building up the children around them and you can never underestimate the influence of the passing word, the kind gesture or the interest shown in a child’s life. I can think of a shopkeeper that said the right word, a teacher who defended me when I was badly treated by another teacher (knowing what I know now that was powerful), of family members who showed love and a grandfather who was always interested. It was a long journey and I am so grateful to so many people.

As we celebrated Child Protection Week last term, let us recognise that each of us can have a powerful influence on the minds and hearts of the children around us. Most of the time, we will have no idea what that influence may be but it will be there. By kindness, by interest, by sharing we each can offer the protection that encourages them to grow into their best selves.

Loving Father, I thank you for all the many people who have had a good influence on my life. Inspired by them, may I show to all children the love and protection that encourages them to go into the fullness of life. I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

LIBRARY NEWS

Hello, my name is Mrs Darelle Horsford and I am very pleased to have joined the learning community at St Rita’s School Babinda. As part of my role as District Teacher Librarian for the southern cluster of schools in the Cairns Diocese, I will be visiting the students and teachers of St Rita’s every Wednesday throughout Term 4.

The first week of the term has flown by with lots of exciting learning experiences happening in the library across all year levels. The students in Prep/Year 1 have been engaged in reading for enjoyment from a series of book called ‘Pie Rats’. The 2/3/4 class will be undertaking studies in the strands of Drama and Media. In pairs, the students will write a short play and dramatise the story, which will be recorded onto an i-Pad. Our senior students have been busy researching, collating and note-taking information regarding Indigenous astronomy and websites using their Chromebooks.

The students will be practising their research skills by locating online information and access to the interactive websites they have been using in the library or at home by typing in our school Library Portal address via the link below

I am looking forward to working with St Rita’s staff and students.

Darelle Horsford,
District Resource & Information Specialist - Teacher Librarian

BOOK FAIR

Yippee! The time has finally arrived! Next week, St Rita’s will once again hold its annual Book Fair. A Scholastic Book Fair is a lively and fun event that engages children’s interest in literature and promotes literacy. It also enables children, parents, teachers and community members to purchase quality books and classroom materials at reasonable prices, while earning free books for our school.

Students, parents and teachers love Book Fairs for a number of reasons, including:

• It is an opportunity for children to see, touch and connect with books they want to read
• It offers affordable books for parents to buy, which suit every interest and reading level
• It provides an excellent range of books which are selected from over 60 publishers worldwide
• It allows us to build our own library resources, as every book sold at the Fair earns free books

Please visit our Book Fair in the St Rita’s Library from Tuesday 17th October through to Friday 20th October. For your convenience, you can visit the Fair from 8:00am - 8:30am each morning and from 3:00pm - 3:30pm each afternoon. If you are unable to visit the fair, students will be bringing home a ‘wish list’ of books they are interested in purchasing and this can be returned to school at any time.

This is a terrific time to purchase some amazing gifts for upcoming birthdays, Christmas or special occasions. If parents would like to purchase books or stationery as gifts and would like to keep it quiet to surprise their children, I am more than happy to help in any way I can. Parents can phone the office on 4067 1467 and leave a message regarding your requests and I will arrange your purchases for your collection, at a time suitable to you.

See you at the Book Fair!
Lisa Calcagno

AROUND THE CLASSROOMS

Prep Ones Bear Hunt Adventures

On Wednesday the 15th of September, the Prep and Year Ones of St Rita’s Babinda went on an excursion to the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns to see ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’. It was really funny and even a bit scary especially when they went through the forest because it was dark and gloomy. We laughed when they got covered in mud and were very surprised to be squirted with water and have snow drop on us. We felt sorry for the bear they found because we think he just wanted to be friends with them.

We also had a Teddy Bears Picnic when we got back to school. We had to go on a bear hunt again because one of our teachers Teddy’s kept going missing. We found him up a tree, up the stairs and finally we found him in the sick bay. We think he ate too much at our picnic.

We have enjoyed reading the story at school and acting it out. Some of us can even read the whole book by ourselves. Teddy Bears are certainly fun and friendly and great to have picnics with.

By Katara Ambrum and Hayley Geary

DATE CLAIMERS

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

St Rita’s School congratulates those students who were awarded ‘Student of the Week’ at Assembly on Friday 6th October 2017.

BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS

St Rita’s wishes Melina Musumeci and Lachlan Mellick all the very best for their recent birthdays. We hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration. Congratulations Melina and Lachlan!

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

We congratulate Rhya Maxwell who successfully contributed to the Cairns Post ‘Inspire’ feature on Tuesday 29th August 2017. Rhya wrote an interesting article about our Science Day in Term 3. Charlie Whitling and Hannah Lansdown wrote and about their Prep/Year 1 class’s Book Week celebrations on 12th September. Congratulations and well done Rhya, Charlie and Hannah!

Parents and Friends News

THANK YOU for your wonderful support!

Dear Staff and Parents,

Thanks to your remarkable effort and support at our food stall at the Babinda Harvest Festival 2017, we were able to raise over $1000. This money will once again fund needed resources and benefit our students at school.

We acknowledge your commitment, dedication and community spirit and are proud to be part of St Rita's School Babinda.

We look forward to continue this great work with future fundraising events.

Your P and F Committee

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

COMMUNITY NEWS

Well Women’s Clinic – Babinda Hospital

(This clinic is available to Medicare eligible clients)

Wednesday 1st November 2017
All services are provided by a specially-trained Women’s Health Nurse.
For appointments phone 4067 8200

CRICKET