Issue 17 - 25 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,

This week we will be celebrating three significant events in our school community. This Friday, World Teachers’ Day is celebrated in over 100 countries to acknowledge the efforts of teachers in an increasingly complex, multicultural and technological society. At our school, as we do not distinguish between the various teaching roles, we will celebrate the extraordinary work that our teachers and school officers do at St Rita’s. I know that parents and students also appreciate the dedication and commitment of our teaching staff, so you might like to send a special message to school with your child on Friday!

“World Teachers’ Day was inaugurated on 5 October 1994 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to commemorate the 1966 joint signing of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. In adopting this recommendation, governments unanimously recognised the importance of competent, qualified and motivated teachers in society. Internationally World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5 October. However, as this is usually during Australian school holidays, Australia celebrates the day on the last Friday in October of each year”.

DAY FOR DANIEL 2017

The 13th annual Day for Daniel will be held on Friday 27th October. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation held the first Day for Daniel in November 2005. This ‘National Day of Action’ aims to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. It is about educating children and adults about keeping children safe through personal safety and protection initiatives. It also aims to help empower our children to ‘Recognise, React and Report’ if they feel something is not right.

The objectives of ‘Day for Daniel’ are:

• 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 have over 1 million people Australia Wide to participate in Day for Daniel.

This Friday afternoon, our school will go on our annual ‘Walk for Daniel’ through Babinda. By wearing red shirts and carrying red balloons, St Rita’s will be making a statement about the importance of child safety in our school community. I invite all parents and families to join us for this short walk as we promote the message of keeping our children safe in our community. We will be departing school at 2:30pm and returning by 2:50pm. If you do not wish your child to participate in this whole school event, please email or phone the Office.

On Sunday we celebrate a third community event in Queensland, Grandparents’ Day. This day is a chance for children to thank grandparents for their love and support, and for the community to acknowledge the significant contribution that grandparents make to their families. It is also an occasion to recognise the important role grandparents play in our society through their wisdom, skills and experience. All grandparents have a story to share about their life and experience.

I know we have many very active grandparents in our school community, and I hope all St Rita’s grandparents have happy celebrations on the weekend. Grandparents are such very special people in our lives; they are significant role models in our families who provide love, advice and support. Next Monday afternoon, beginning at 2:00pm, grandparents are invited to be our special guests at St Rita’s. Further information is given in the APRE News section of this newsletter.

Last week, I began working with CES staff on developing the St Rita’s Staffing Schedule for 2018. At this early stage, I am pleased to announce that we will be continuing with our three classrooms next year. School Officers who are currently working at St Rita’s will be continuing their contracts to provide maximum support to classroom teachers and special needs students. Additionally, there will be some movement of classroom teachers and this will be announced in the next newsletter.

On Tuesday 7th November, Melbourne Cup Day, everyone is encouraged to have a little fun and “dress up” for the day. Students can come to school dressed for the occasion; as a jockey, horse or in fancy race wear. This is not a fund-raising event, but we ask that students remember to wear sun-safe clothing and appropriate footwear as normal school activity requires.

Have a good week!

Regards,
Judy Billiau

APRE THOUGHTS

‘SOCKTOBER’

This Thursday 26th October, St Rita’s staff and students will have the opportunity to ‘sock it to poverty’ in support of World Mission Month. To kick it all off, we are inviting everyone to put their best foot forward and come to school wearing zany or mismatched socks (with their regular school shoes), along with some coins for the money line competition between the Dalrymple and Palmerston sports teams.

Our Mission Day Liturgy will be celebrated at 12:30pm, and following lunch, we will launch into our Paper Plane competition. Paper will be supplied; just bring expertise! The entry fee is a gold coin donation and there are prizes available for the longest distance flights (1st and 2nd placing) and most creative design. Our thanks go to Melina Musumeci for organising this event into its’ third year of running, and to her family for the donation of prizes.

Catholic Mission will receive all monies raised on this day to continue their work in easing disadvantage in the world’s poorest countries. Please, give generously to this most worthy cause.

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY

2017 National Grandparents’ Day is celebrated in Australia on Sunday 29th October. In appreciation of grandparents, and to celebrate the great richness and joy that they bring to our lives, St Rita’s would like to invite all grandparents to our Grandparents’ Afternoon. This will be held on Monday 30th October from 2:00pm, where we will have a whole school shared prayer time, afternoon tea and classroom visits. Could you please RSVP to the Office by Friday afternoon. We look forward to meeting your family’s forebears!

WONDERS OF LIVING PROGRAM

Educators from Natural Fertility Services will visit St Rita’s on Wednesday 1st November to present the ‘Wonder of Living’ Program and Puberty Talks to students. Parents are welcome to attend the Parent Information Sessions, which will be held in the library from 8:35am – 9:35am, and then, have the option of joining the children’s sessions throughout the day. If you require further information, kindly refer to the note that was sent home earlier regarding the program. You may also be interested in visiting the Cairns Natural Fertility Services website:

Blessings,

Maureen Gaul
Assistant Principal (Religious Education)

CASTING THE NET

World Teachers’ Day

Recently I gave a calligraphy workshop to four adults. They were interested, readily following instructions and suggestions. They were polite and friendly to me and to each other and their enthusiasm was contagious…but I went home exhausted. Oh yes, I was exhilarated by all that was achieved but I was wiped out as well. I can hear the teachers reading this laughing... ‘Only four, all adults, all enthusiastic …why if she had my class…’ Exactly.

What was the crux of ‘my problem’? It was that all day I was constantly trying to see the challenges from the point of view of each of these adults, seeing how they held the pen, drew the lines, choose their colours, saw how well they matched and a myriad of other details and then trying to work out how to convey my knowledge to them in such a way that they could learn. Being a good teacher is a constant exercise in humility. You have to take all you know and put it at the service of the pupil.

Our teachers do that every day in classrooms not filled with compliant adults. Imagine your child in a bratty mood. Our teachers may have a few of them on any given day. Imagine your child at his or her most enthusiastic. Our teachers may have a few of them on any given day. Imagine the many moods your child goes through in a day and thank the teachers that have whole classrooms of such children…and come to work enthusiastic, prepared and committed to opening the wider world of knowledge to your child.

Loving God, thank you for the teachers that care for my child/ren. Show me how to express my thanks and support our teachers in the challenging and wonderful work they do. I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

CURRICULUM CORNER

Throughout the year, classroom teachers have worked in a Professional Learning Team with Gloria West, CES Literacy Coach and school-based Literacy Coach, Mrs Vicki Jago, to develop a Spelling Sequence & Scope which will be implemented in 2018. For your interest and information, elements of this curriculum document will be shared in school newsletters.

FOUNDATIONS OF SPELLING

‘Spelling can be seen as a process that is necessary for the social practice of writing, and essential to being literate. In alphabetic languages such as English, it involves use of the letters of the alphabet to represent oral language in a written form, and requires knowledge of the structure and properties of language. Effective spellers understand and make use of four kinds of linguistic knowledge, alongside visual and strategic processes.’

• Phonological knowledge - knowledge of the sound structure of language
• Orthographical knowledge - knowledge of the system of written symbols used to represent spoken language
• Morphemic knowledge - knowledge of morphemes: the smallest parts of words that carry meaning
• Etymological knowledge - knowledge of the origins of words

(Oakley G. & Fellowes J. (2016) A Closer Look at Spelling in the Primary Classroom, PETAA)

SPELLING BELIEFS

At St. Rita’s Babinda, spelling is explicitly taught through the teaching of knowledge and strategies that are integrated into the reading and writing process.

The teaching of spelling is about empowering students to use a range of problem solving strategies when attempting to spell unfamiliar words in a range of situations.

At St. Rita’s this will be achieved by:

• Annual assessment using SWST to identify individual and whole class needs
• Using diagnostic data from SWST testing to develop teaching/learning programs
• Forming appropriate groupings based on assessment data
• Identifying the strengths and weaknesses for individuals and groups
• Teaching spelling through explicitly modelled and guided spelling lessons
• Explicitly teaching spelling rules
• Instruction will be predominantly through a multisensory approach
• Word lists will be comprised of words from diagnostic evidence gathered through SWST
• Assessment should provide meaningful information. Effective assessment involves using a variety of assessment strategies which allow students multiple opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understandings in spelling.
• Monitoring student improvement

(Excerpt: St Rita’s School Babinda Spelling Sequence & Scope 2017)

LIBRARY LINKS

Author Cameron Stelzer Visit

On Thursday 2nd November, we have a special visit from Author and Illustrator Dr Cameron Stelzer. Cameron is visiting our school to run workshops with our students. Prep-Year 6 students will be taking a behind-the-scenes look at creating a book, and applying their own drawing components. Students and teachers are looking forward to a fantastic session!

In conjunction with Cameron’s visit, St Rita’s families have a special opportunity to purchase signed and personalised copies of Cameron’s books at special prices. Individual items are $15 each and there are also exclusive book sets available. Students will receive an order form prior to the visit, and forms and payment can be returned to the Office by Thursday morning, 2nd November. Cameron will personally sign all books (including the child’s name and message), and students will receive their books in time for the school holidays.

Lisa Calcagno
Library Assistant

AROUND THE CLASSROOMS

Fun at the Harvest Festival

Finally, the Harvest Festival had come again with all the rides to go on and toys to buy.

Firstly, we had a parade from the golf course into town and back. October the 7th was a hot and humid spring day, so to walk all that way was a lot of work. The theme was ‘Musical Mayhem’. Our school went as the Yellow Submarine. The teachers dressed up as The Beatles and the children dressed up as beetles. We walked proudly through the town.

After the parade we went to the Showgrounds. I felt excited because there were bouncy castles and laser tag, a tall climbing wall, stalls with toys to buy, food stalls and the Harvest Princesses.

I saw a helicopter flying over. It was time for the lolly drop. I ran quickly to collect lollies that had fallen from the helicopter. I felt excited that I had some lollies. Sadly one of my friends did not get any lollies at all.

The Batman castle looked interesting, so I had a turn on it and it was a lot of fun. Then I went to laser tag and I saw some friends. My team won the laser tag game.

I bought a sling shot, a laser and a scary mask from a toy stall.

Soon the Harvest Festival queen was crowned.

Finally, the fireworks went off. They were so colourful. They were the best fireworks ever.

It was the best time ever.

By Kaelan Maxwell (Year 4)

SPORTS UPDATE

T20 Boys Cricket Team

Congratulations to the Year 4 - 6 boys who represented St. Rita’s at the T20 Cricket Regional Finals held at Endeavour Park Cairns on Friday 13th October. After winning the Term 3 Gala Day against schools in the Babinda area, the boys were excited to participate in this competition. During the finals, the boys ‘held their own’ against the top teams in the Cairns district, when playing against much larger primary schools, such as St. Thomas’s, Redlynch State School and Wonga Beach State School. Andy Pham received ‘Player of the Day’ for his consistent effort on and off the field and excellent sportsmanship.

We are so proud of how far the team had come to qualify for the finals and the commitment our boys have shown during this whole competition, especially the extra effort given during lunchtime and afterschool practise sessions. A huge thank you to Coach, Rob Mc Ewan, who has guided us with his expertise and wonderful coaching skills. Also, a thank you to the parents who assisted with transportation and encouragement given on the day.

Well done St Rita’s!

Mrs Masina
Sports Coordinator

P & F NEWS

On behalf of the Queensland Parents & Friends Federation, Carmel Nash wishes all St Rita’s teachers and school officers a happy World Teachers’ Day 2017.

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 Elijah Geary and Charlie Whitling all the very best for their recent birthdays. We hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration. Congratulations Elijah and Charlie!

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

COMMUNITY NEWS

TOYOTA COWBOYS CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION

CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL eCARD COMPETITION