Issue 4 - 13 March 2018

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,

What an eventful week we had at St Rita’s last week. With two of our teachers living in Innisfail, the flooding of North Johnstone River caused them to be stranded in Babinda with their families last Thursday evening. The staff community supported them by providing lodgings overnight, and sharing the teaching load made it possible for Mrs Masina and Mrs Harbour to go home on Friday morning. I am proud to say that we show support and care to each other at St Rita’s!

St Rita’s will be one of the four hundred and ninety schools throughout Queensland who will participate in the eighth NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING AND VIOLENCE this Friday. This NDA is Australia’s key anti-bullying event for schools, and encourages our school community to ‘take a stand together’ against bullying and violence in schools by promoting our own School Wide Positive Behaviour Framework. In our sixth year of participation, our school community gives out a strong and clear message that bullying will not be tolerated at any time.

At a classroom level, students will participate in a range of NDA-focused activities, and at a whole school Assembly we will promote the slogan of NDA, ‘take a stand together’ and ‘speak up’ against bullying to keep our school a safe and happy learning environment. Although the National Day of Action provides an opportunity to highlight the St Rita’s SWPBF, we believe that all members of the school community have rights to and responsibility for safety and wellbeing.

The St Rita’s 3Rs, Rights, Responsibilities and Rules, aim to foster respectful, peaceful relationships between all members of the school community. The third Right and Responsibility specifically targets the right of all members of St Rita’s School, students and staff, to be safe and free from harm.

At St Rita’s School,

1) I have the RIGHT to learn in our school.

It is my RESPONSIBILITY to let others learn and to do my best.

2) I have the RIGHT to be respected in our school.

It is my RESPONSIBILITY to respect self, others and the environment.

3) I have the RIGHT to be safe in our school.

It is my RESPONSIBILITY to act safely and not to hurt anyone.

4) I have the RIGHT to use school materials and resources.

It is my RESPONSIBILITY to take care of all school property that I use.

That’s not to say that bullying does not and will not occur at our school. If it does, however minor an incident may seem, our school has a role in managing behaviours that occur that are not consistent with our School Wide Positive Behaviour Framework. As parents, you also play an important role in keeping your child safe and promoting positive behaviour. If you have concerns about your child’s social interactions, talk to your classroom teacher about it so that the school can take necessary action to stop negative behaviour.

As part of a large group of Catholic school leaders, clergy, CES personnel and parish representatives from the Cairns diocese, Mrs Gaul will be fortunate to participate in the 2018 Religious Education Congress in Los Angeles this weekend. This annual event attracts over 37,000 participants world-wide and offers over 300 workshops presented by more than 200 speakers, with topics ranging from personal growth, music to spiritual development. Next week, Mrs Debbie Carrigan will be teaching Year 2/3/4 in Mrs Gaul’s absence on Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st March.

Twice a year, in Semesters 1 and 2, we plan formal meeting sessions between teachers and parents. During Week 10, beginning Monday 26th March, classroom teachers will be meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress, identify specific difficulties, and set individual goals to guide learning and growth next term. I have always been pleased that in previous years we have had one hundred percent participation by parents in these parent-teacher interview weeks. I hope you will be able to take advantage of the meeting dates your teacher is available this term. You are partners in your child’s education!

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. Miss Donna has been helping me this year to regularly update the St Rita’s School facebook page with interesting and engaging posts. We are pleased to see that the page has been well-received by parents and friends in the Babinda community. If you do use social media, we encourage you to ‘like’ our page and add comments to the posts we will be regularly making.

I hope you have a happy week and I look forward to seeing you around the classrooms.

Regards & blessings,

Judy Billiau

2018 SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN CONFERENCE

This year Catholic Education Services is excited to announce that their annual Safeguarding Children Conference theme is Committed, Connected, Courageous. The Conference will be held on Saturday 28th April at the Pullman Cairns International.

This is a free event, with Leadership and Staff Sessions, Parent and Volunteer Sessions and Diocesan Sessions. The Keynote Speaker is Tom Brunzell, the Senior Advisor Education of the Berry Street Childhood Institute.

Please note that there is no registration cost but places are limited. Registrations are open from 28th February to 20th April 2018. Further conference information and registration details can be accessed via the Safeguarding Children Conference website:

APRE THOUGHTS

CARITAS ‘JUST LEADERSHIP’ DAY

For over 110 years, Caritas has worked towards the creation of a just world. A Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, Caritas is Latin for ‘love + compassion’ – two qualities which are central to their work. Caritas Australia works through the principles and practice of community development, supporting people to help themselves out of poverty, hunger and injustice. Caritas Australia works to bring relief and aid to people whose lives have been devastated by natural disaster or conflict. Integral to undertaking these key activities of aid and development, Caritas Australia works within Australia to engage all people in education and advocacy programs.

The Caritas ‘Just Leadership’ Day, presented last Tuesday, was one of these educational programs specifically for young people, aimed at challenging injustices and developing leadership qualities within the participants. Georgina, Hallie and Jamie, who have formed our St Rita’s Community Carers group, attended this day at Good Counsel College, along with other students from southern diocesan schools.

Participants on the day had the opportunity to explore ‘What is justice?’ and ‘What is leadership?’ and then looked at ways that they could become leaders for justice, both within their local and global communities.

Our students represented our school very proudly and capably; they gave very considered responses throughout the day, and were highly engaged. They have shared some of their reflections with us:

“I was shocked by how many people do not live in proper housing, or do not have clean and fresh water to use. We can help them to have a better life by giving and sharing what we have.” (Hallie, Year 5)

“It was terrific listening to Kerry (the presenter) who had been around the world and worked with people, to help them build a better future. Kerry told us that there are double Australia’s population of children who do not attend school. I was quite devastated that this number was so high. Last year, Project Compassion raised over $11million to help people in need achieve their goals.” (Georgina, Year 6)

“I learnt that people in the world do not have what we have, and we must respect what we have. Everyone can be a leader and lead by example. We can join in with fundraisers for Project Compassion, and help to teach others new skills for life, so that they can earn an income.” (Jamie, Year 6)

As we prepare for the mystery of Easter during the season of Lent, a generous concern for those in need is indeed a focal point. The spirit of generosity is evident at St Rita’s through the fervent fundraising efforts seen in classes. Your continued efforts to support Caritas’ Project Compassion in enabling families and communities to develop self-sufficiency are valued. More information regarding other initiatives for the Lenten season will follow, including our much anticipated Caritas Café.

The Final Judgement

The King will say to the people on his right, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me ... When did I do these things? I never gave you food. I never gave you anything to drink. I never gave you clothing. I never welcomed you when you were alone. Whenever you showed compassion by doing these things for any other person, you did it for me.

(adapted from Matthew 25:34-40)

LA RE CONGRESS

Later this week, I will be embarking on a journey to California to attend the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. It is an enormous privilege to be offered the opportunity to travel along with twelve other delegates from the Cairns Catholic Education Community, and no doubt, it will be a spiritual journey for me, and a time of great learning. May I thank in advance Mrs Debbie Carrigan and Mrs Vicki Jago for teaching the Year 2/3/4 class in my absence, and to Mrs Judy Billiau and our other wonderful staff members for coordinating to cover my role during this time. I look forward to returning to share the fruits of my journey.

ST RITA’S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2018

Looking ahead, in Term 2 St Rita’s will commence our Sacramental Program, which prepares candidates to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist. If your child is in Year 4 or above, is baptised (or is to be baptised) and you would like them to participate in the program, please contact the school office on 40671467 to organise an enrolment form.

Once enrolments have been finalised, an information session will occur, with further details regarding the sessions along with significant dates. Should you be aware of others in our community who would benefit from this information, we would be grateful if you would kindly refer them to contact our school.

Blessings,
Maureen Gaul
Assistant Principal (Religious Education)

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

CASTING THE NET

Personal Stocktaking

Shops have stocktaking, businesses - audits, employees - job reviews, people - medical check-ups … and Christians have Lent. During this time we consider the quality of our life by taking up Jesus’ challenge to ‘Repent. This isn’t an invitation to be miserable and put oneself down. Coming from the Greek word meaning ‘having another think’, we are invited to really think about our lives, to notice what makes for happiness. Jesus doesn’t want us to just drift through life, as this so often leads to unhappiness and poor relationships.

Traditionally three practices are recommended for us to use for our ‘check-up’: fasting, alms-giving and prayer. Realistically, this means we look at personal disciplines, compassion for others and our relationship with God. That is me, others, God. It is useful to stop and seriously think about these three areas. This week, I’ll look at the first.

‘What in my life am I doing to make myself a better and happier person?’ The answer to that question almost always involves some form of constraint – even though we might not see it like that. For Lent this year, I’ve taken up making sure I get enough sleep each night. When I say that to people they laugh – how is that ‘fasting’? Well it is fasting from the book I want to read or the game I want to play. It is fasting from ‘fun’ in the evening so that I can be rested and ready for the next day.

What are the places in your personal life that you feel inadequate, angry or flustered about? What can you do to change? Perhaps that is the best place to fast, to allow God’s Spirit to move within your life and transform it.

Loving God, we rush through so much of life, not taking time to really think what impact our actions have on us. Give me your Spirit of Wisdom to see what I really need to do to live life fully. We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us.

Sr Kym Harris osb

COLES ‘SPORTS FOR SCHOOLS’ PROGRAM

This year, the ‘Sports for Schools’ program started on 7th February 2018 and ends on 15th June 2018. You will be able to start collecting Coles Sports for School vouchers from all Coles stores and Coles Express stores nationally. You can also collect electronic Coles Sports for Schools vouchers when you shop at Coles Online.

Every voucher received will go towards the St Rita’s tally which will enable us to order sports equipment for our school. You may send your vouchers into school whenever you collect them. Thank you to all our school families, friends and parishioners who have been bringing their dockets into the Office. Your assistance in resourcing our school in this way is very much appreciated!

LESSONS IN THE LIBRARY

Exploring with Lego WeDo 2.0

The Year 2/3/4 class has been discovering how scientists and engineers use rovers to explore remote places. Using Lego WeDo 2.0, students were given the opportunity to create Milo the Science Rover. By exploring different programming blocks, students were able to make Milo into an interactive machine. They learned how to turn on Milo’s engine and make him move, change directions and create sounds.

This program provides students with valuable learning experiences linked to the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Students will continue to create with WeDo 2.0 in I.T. lessons and Robotics Club over the coming weeks. We are looking forward to seeing what original prototypes and programs they create!

Britannica Online

Britannica Online is a fantastic resource that all students can access at school and at home (with a computer or electronic device and internet connection).

To access this resource, follow these steps:

1. Open St Rita’s school website below
2. Select the ‘About Us’ Tab at the top of the page and click on ‘Library Search’. This will take you to the St Rita’s online library catalogue.
3. Click on the ‘Britannica Online’ Tab and follow the ‘Enter Here’ links to access.
4. Use your school computer username and password to login if prompted.
5. Select a suitable learning level (Primary or Middle) and get searching.

For more information or help on using and accessing Britannica Online, please feel free to contact me. Email: mvandugter@cns.catholic.edu.au

Michelle van Dugteren
District Librarian & Resource Teacher

CURRICULUM CORNER

LAUNCHING YOUNG READERS! READING ROCKETS

10 Things You Can Do to Raise a Reader

1. Read from day one. Start a reading routine in those very first days with a newborn. Even very young babies respond to the warmth of a lap and the soothing sound of a book being read aloud.

2. Share books every day. Read with your child every day, even after he becomes an independent reader.

3. Reread favourites. Most children love to hear their favourite stories over and over again. Rereading books provides an opportunity to hear or see something that may have been missed the first time, and provides another chance to hear a favourite part.

4. Send positive messages about the joys of literacy. Your own interest and excitement about books will be contagious!

5. Visit the library early and often. Public libraries are great resources for books, helpful advice about authors and illustrators, story times, and more. Make visiting the library part of your family’s routine.

6. Find the reading and writing in everyday things. Take the time to show your child ways that adults use reading and writing every day. Grocery lists, notes to the teacher, maps, and cooking all involve important reading and writing skills.

7. Give your reader something to think and talk about. There are many different types of books available to readers. Vary the types of books you check out from the library, and seek out new subjects that give you and your reader something to think and talk about.

8. Talk, talk, talk. A child’s vocabulary grows through rich conversations with others. No matter your child’s age, narrate what you’re doing, talk in full sentences, and sprinkle your conversations with interesting words.

9. Know your stuff. Parents don’t need to be reading specialists, but it is important to understand the basics about learning to read.

10. Speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Parents are often the first ones to recognise a problem. If you have concerns about your child’s development, speak with your child’s teacher and your paediatrician.

It’s never too early to check in with an expert.

Look for new books and authors that your child may enjoy.
Organise an area dedicated to reading and writing tools, including paper and writing utensils.
Visit the library for story time and book recommendations.
Encourage your child to talk about what he’s read.

Talk to your child, and sprinkle interesting words into your conversation.
Offer a variety of books to read.

Read with your child every day.
Expand your home library to include magazines and nonfiction.
Ask questions if you’re concerned about your child’s development.
Decide to raise a reader!

AROUND THE CLASSROOMS

MILO MOVES

How would you like to see a one-eyed robot with levers for ears and Lego bricks for a heart? At St Rita’s Primary School in Babinda we have it! Last Tuesday, the Year 2/3/4 children sorted the pieces and then started to build a robot. Our robot’s name is Milo.

Milo can move around on its two wheels. We need to type in a code on a computer to make it move, but first we have to click the ‘WeDo’ button to turn it on. Milo can go in any direction you want, with its engine and Smart Hub.

Using the computer, Milo can also make noises. Milo can buzz and beep to give you a warning when it’s stopping. And we can even race with our Milo robots! They go really fast! Our robot won just by a head!

We are very thankful to the Babinda Bendigo Community Bank for giving us a grant of money to buy our robotic equipment. They are entertaining and good fun to learn about.

By Amethyst Ripps and Ayden Stubbs
Year 2

DATE CLAIMERS

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

St Rita’s School congratulates those students who were awarded ‘Student of the Week’ at Assembly on Friday 9th March 2018.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

We congratulate Georgina Stone and Jamie Brose who successfully contributed to the Cairns Post ‘Inspire’ feature on Tuesday 6th March 2018 with an article describing the participation of our school leaders at the GRIP Leadership Conference in Cairns. Well done Georgina and Jamie!

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

COMMUNITY NEWS

MULGRAVE HOCKEY TRIALS

Well Women’s Clinic – Babinda Hospital

(This clinic is available to Medicare eligible clients)

Wednesday 21st March 2018
All services are provided by a specially-trained Women’s Health Nurse.
For appointments phone 4067 8200