Issue 12 - 7 August 2019

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,

Since our last newsletter we have celebrated the first of many significant events for Term 3. St Rita’s celebrated NAIDOC Week on Friday 26th July, as this national event occurs during the mid-year school holidays each year. NAIDOC recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with this year’s theme of, ‘Voice. Treaty. Truth’. Ms Ebony Lowah-Jia, our Indigenous Liaison Officer, Mrs Maureen Gaul and Ms Myree Sam, CES Indigenous Education Officer, successfully organised an action-packed day of special activities for our invited guests, staff and students. Thank you Miss Ebony for the extra effort you put into ensuring the success of this important event on our school calendar!

The following week, St Rita’s School engaged in a wonderful celebration of Catholic Education Week in Queensland. As a school community, it was a week focused on highlighting what makes a Catholic school different to other public and private schools, and to feel pride in being part of Cairns Catholic Education. The staff was especially proud to belong to St Rita’s School when we accompanied our Year 4 – 6 students to Innisfail last Tuesday. The behaviour of our students was outstanding, and their participation in the celebration noteworthy. At the mass, which started the day in Good Counsel Parish Church, our school captains represented us in the entrance procession, readings and the Gospel procession with other school leaders of the five schools and one secondary college in the southern deanery.

We finished the week with a special whole school assembly, the highlight of which was the Assistant Principal’s presentation of this year’s ‘Spirit of Catholic Education’ Awards to students nominated and chosen by the staff. Certificates were presented to Joseph Geary, Pearle Logan and Kylee Hansen. Congratulations to these students who have demonstrated our school values both in the classroom and playground throughout this year.

Throughout all dioceses in Queensland, ‘Spirit of Catholic Education’ Awards are also presented to staff members in recognition of individuals or teams who have made an outstanding contribution to Catholic education. Two of the eight recipients of these awards were from the Cairns diocese and were presented their certificates in Rockhampton last week. Our school congratulates two school officers, Ms Nat See Kee of Our Lady Help of Christians School in Earlville, and Ms Robyn Bloomfield of Holy Spirit College in Cooktown, on receiving their awards for Catholic Education Week 2019.

Last week saw Miss Sian return to St Rita’s to continue teaching dance lessons. Sian is so enthusiastic and energetic, the children cannot help being eager to participate. Teachers are happy to see their students so engaged in dance lessons this term, as the program Sian is teaching caters for all ages, interests and ability levels. It is heartening to see the Preps especially enjoy this aspect of the curriculum.

‘Destination Moon: more missions, more science’ is the school theme for National Science Week in 2019. This theme is a way for teachers and their students to discover past missions to the Moon and space programs that have solved some of the seemingly unsolvable problems—and current and future space programs, operations and missions. Many of these use big picture thinking in science to solve problems, and technology, engineering and mathematics to design new solutions. This will help forge our future paths in the areas of space operations, space science, Earth observations, positioning systems and communications.

The national call to ‘bring Science Week into your school’ is taken up by our school each year when we host a special event, Science Fun Day. This event, shared with us by Mc Donnell Creek students, will take place on Wednesday 14th August. On this day, the children will become scientists for the day and engage in learning experiences in science planned around the theme of ‘Destination Moon: more missions, more science’. A detailed letter outlining the day’s program and how your child can be transformed into a ‘Mad Scientist’, will be sent home this week.

Once again, our goal this year is to create an atmosphere that will inspire the children and ignite their interest in Science through practical activities, while at the same time teaching them the basics of different science phenomena through modelling and whole group discussions. The day will begin with the ’60 Second Science Show’ and the Year 5/6 class are excitedly preparing their scientific demonstration.

Letters from your classroom teacher will be distributed this week informing parents about what is happening and what is being taught in your child’s class in Term 3. This important source of information sharing is recognised as being an integral part of enabling the partnership between home and school to be most effective. If you have any queries regarding what your teacher has planned for this term, please arrange a meeting soon.

As the term progresses, could I please take this opportunity to advocate for full school attendance by all students of St Rita’s. To maximise learning outcomes for your child, it is imperative that he or she be at school every day for learning in the classroom. Late arrival similarly impacts on the level of learning a student can achieve in one school day. Arriving before the bell each morning also allows children time to socialise with peers and ready equipment for the start of the day’s lessons. I appreciate that children are sometimes sick, and for these absences we ask that you notify Debbie in the office by email (secretary.babinda@cns.catholic.edu.au) or phone (40671467 / 0400 698414) before 9:00am.

Next week, the P & F group will meet for its first monthly meeting of the term. I encourage you to join us for this meeting, as the committee keeps the meetings ‘short and sharp’ and makes decisions about future social and fundraising events. The end of term disco, a Father’s Day social afternoon, and plans for the Harvest Festival fundraiser are all agenda items you might be interested in contributing your ideas too at the next monthly meeting. I hope to see you there on Monday afternoon 12th August at 3:00pm!

Altogether we have an exciting few weeks ahead in and around our classrooms. A highlight of this week, will be St Rita’s welcoming back Mrs Jago to her Year 5/6 classroom. Vicki has enjoyed her four weeks of Long Service Leave, and the class was capably taught by Mrs Debbie Carrigan while Vicki was having her well-deserved break. Throughout the remainder of the term, I hope to have a super turn-out of families at all our upcoming school events. Come and have fun learning with us at St Rita’s!

Enjoy your week!

Regards and blessings

Judy Billiau

APRE THOUGHTS

Homelessness Week

Bless us all, 0 Lord, we pray, for loved ones, here and near, and far away. And everyone for whom we pray. Keep us safe each night and day, the homeless who have no place to stay. Those who are suffering in any way. The dying, those mourning or grieving and all who need God's mercy. Keep us safe, Heavenly Father, when we are at home, or travelling on our way, or when we are vulnerable, or in danger in any way.

Australia’s statistics around homelessness are stark: there has been a 13.7% increase in homelessness over the past five years, with an estimated 116 000 Australians on any given night without a home. Homelessness is not ‘rooflessness’, but means not having a home for safety, security, privacy and stability. It affects our most vulnerable people, including: families with children, young and older people, single adults, people with disabilities and those in both regional and urban areas. Homelessness can often be hidden, with the majority of people who experience homelessness sleeping in cars, ‘couch surfing’, or staying in temporary types of accommodation. This week, during Homelessness Week, events are being held across Australia to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people. More information can be found at the link below:

Many Voices. One Spirit.

The theme for this year’s Catholic Education Week celebration: Many Voices. One Spirit. was certainly lived out last Tuesday, during the Southern Deanery’s Mass. Along with staff and students from St John’s, St Rita’s (South Johnstone), St Clare’s and Good Counsel, our students in Years 4, 5 and 6 demonstrated the extraordinary spirit that is evident in Catholic schools. Together, all five schools commemorated this significant event with a Eucharistic mass, and enjoyed the company of each other during lunch and play. Our thanks go to Fr Kerry, Fr Hilary and Fr Mathew for presiding at the mass, and to Good Counsel schools for graciously hosting us.

Solemnity of the Assumption (Holy Day of Obligation)

Each year, on 15th August, Catholics praise the holy and blessed life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. At the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we celebrate how God has honoured Mary, and welcomed her, uncorrupted, into heaven. Our whole school will attend mass next Thursday at 12pm with parishioners, led by Father Mathew. Please feel very welcome to join us, if you are able to for this occasion.

Date Claimer

Similarly, parents are warmly invited to join us on 11th September for our end-of-term Whole School Mass at 12:00pm. Prior to the mass, Fr Mathew will visit students in the classrooms, and join staff for a shared morning tea. It is most wonderful for our school to have a ‘priestly presence’ at a time when many parishes are without this, due to the diminishing availability of priests.

Blessings,

Maureen Gaul
Assistant Principal (Religious Education)

CASTING THE NET

Spiritual Works of Mercy: To bear wrongs patiently

Have you ever been wronged? Of course you have. And the advice ‘to bear wrongs patiently’ would have been very difficult to take. In the midst of the anger and hurt, humiliation and the desire to hit back, to be told to just take it calmly and peaceably seems not only like further insult, it seems down-right impossible – for it is. When we are hurt, we are hurt and no amount of pretending otherwise will take away the pain. But, and you knew that ‘but’ was coming, we are not being told to take the wrong but to bear it ‘patiently’ and that is a very different thing. The word ‘patient’ comes from the word for ‘passion’ so this advice really is ‘to bear wrongs passionately’ given that in the Christian understanding this means with passionate love. We are not meant to be timid in the face of hurt, or to lash out in anger. We are meant to be passionately involved, seeking to understand our own pain and that of the others involved, including the perpetrator/s.

And that is why we have to ‘bear’ wrongs. Something we bear involves work and time. We engage with the situation long enough to find out what is really happening: what is the real cause of our hurt, what can be done realistically and how could grace and love work creatively in this situation? If this sounds like a big ask, it is. It is much easier to be a doormat or to lash out in the face of injustice. For us to transform such a situation, we need help from on high: the wisdom, courage and fortitude of the Holy Spirit. Thinking on your own experience of being wronged, can you imagine how you could creatively and lovingly act with such a power helping you?

Come Holy Spirit, give me the wisdom and courage I need to unleash your creative love in the situations where I am wronged. I ask this in the name of Jesus who turned an unjust death into the place of life.

Sr Kym Harris osb

DATE CLAIMERS

‘SPIRIT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION’ AWARDS

St Rita’s School congratulates those students who were presented with the ‘SPIRIT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION’ awards at Assembly on Thursday 1st August 2019. These annual awards acknowledge those students who consistently demonstrate St Rita’s school values throughout the year. We especially congratulate Joseph, Pearle and Kylee!

‘INSPIRE’ AWARDS

St Rita’s congratulates Maddisyn Masina for her published article in the Cairns Post ‘Inspire’ section on Tuesday 30th July and The Innisfail Advocate on 31st July 2019. Maddisyn wrote about how much fun the Prep/Year 1 class had celebrating 100 Days of School. Congratulations Maddisyn!

BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS

St Rita’s wishes Timothy Logan all the very best for his recently celebrated birthday. We hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration Timothy! The Prep/Year Ones really enjoyed sharing your delicious birthday patty cakes too!

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

COMMUNITY NEWS

POSTER COMPETITION

PARENT WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES IN INNISFAIL

ST THERESE’S SCHOOL 90 YEAR CELEBRATION

Well Women’s Clinic – Babinda Hospital

(This clinic is available to Medicare eligible clients)

Wednesday 28th August 2019.
All services are provided by a specially-trained Women’s Health Nurse.
For appointments phone 4067 8200