Issue 11 6 August 2021

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 Families,

Remote Learning

Unfortunately for us, the Cairns lockdown will affect our school as we have been forced to close until at least Thursday. Our teachers are currently preparing for the move to remote learning and the possibility that it may be extended beyond this week. Please continue to monitor your emails and phones as the situation continues to evolve. We will keep our families updated as best we can but please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any immediate concerns. No schoolwork will be offered on Monday or Tuesday to allow staff to prepare for the change to remote learning. We will notify parents when home learning packs have been organised and are ready for collection. A survey will go out to families today to gauge your readiness for remote learning. Please respond to that promptly so we can make suitable arrangements for each family. Remember, the work we provide is encouraged but not mandated. We trust you to do your best, understanding that this is a very trying time for many. Please let the classroom teachers or myself know if you have any concerns.

Camp Reflections

This week I was fortunate enough to attend our school camp with our Year 5 & 6 students along with the senior students from St John’s in Silkwood. We had a terrific three days with all of our children having loads of fun while also overcoming many personal challenges that they were confronted with, whether they were physical, social, emotional, or mental hurdles. I witnessed growth in all of our students and it was great to see them in a different light and watching them cope under duress and a lack of sleep!

Upon reflection, I was reminded of the value of such experiences and the profound impact they can have on our children. Activities like camp remove our students from their comfort zone and place them in what some psychologists call the growth zone, a zone of optimal learning and the fulfillment of potential.

As a parent, I often wonder if I do too much for my children and am too protective of them? Do I need to give them more risk-taking experiences and challenge their insecurities? One of my favourite quotes which is used widely in both parenting and education circles is, ‘Never do something for a child they can do for themselves’. This is both challenging and true. Challenging because sometimes they aren’t going to like it, there may be a meltdown and it’s just quicker to do it myself. True because if we want our children to become truly independent and successful adults, they need to learn how to do and work out things for themselves. For me, it’s trying to find the balance and pick my battles. Yes, I will do some things for my kids and students that they can do for themselves, however, I will also provide them with lots of opportunities where I can support them in doing things independently.

Echo Creek Camp was a perfect scene for these growth opportunities. It’s worth noting that some of our kid's default answers to a new challenge is “I can’t”. However, after some support and encouragement, they were soon able to overcome what once seemed to be an impossible challenge.

Catholic Education Week

The year's theme for Catholic Education Week was ‘A Spirited Tomorrow’ and it was great to have to opportunity to celebrate Mass and activities with the other Catholic schools in the Southern Deanery. We thank Good Counsel Primary school for hosting us, all of our students had a great day of prayer, reflection, learning, socializing and fun.

Thanks to all who attended our special assembly last Friday. Fr Kerry was on hand to present the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards. A huge congratulations to Latoya, Katara, and Samuel who were recognised as outstanding citizens of our school.

Fr Kerry also presented certificates and prizes to the finalists in our St Rita’s Artwork competition. We were all amazed by the level of entries this year and aim to continue this as an annual event. Congratulations to Abel, Hannah & Eva as our class winners. Their winning entries are now framed and displayed in each of their classrooms. Well done to Evie R, who was voted as the overall winner. Her work is now proudly displayed in our front office.

Attendance

Four weeks into the Term and it is pleasing to see that our attendance data is on the improve from our first two Terms. This has coincided with teachers reporting our kids have been much more settled in the classrooms to start the semester and the learning continues without interruptions. Please remember to let the office know if your child can’t attend school for any reason, we would love for this positive trend to continue.

Welcome

St Rita’s would like to welcome Annabelle and her family to our school. Annabelle is in Year 3 and by all reports has settled in very well this week, making some new friends and reconnecting with old friends.

Regards and blessings,

Michael Rowe
Principal

APRE THOUGHTS

In Spirit of Tomorrow

Let us pray
Come Holy Spirit, show us your beauty reflected in all the peoples of the earth, so that we may discover anew that all are important and all are necessary; different faces of the one humanity that God so loves.
Amen.

An Ecumenical Christian Prayer, given in Assisi by Pope Francis, 3 October 2020

Catholic Education Week Wrap

The Spirit of Catholic Education was in evidence last Tuesday as staff and students from St Rita’s Babinda, St John’s Silkwood, St Rita’s South Johnstone, Good Counsel Primary School and St Clare’s Tully gathered together in song and prayer to celebrate Catholic Education Week. Our thanks must be given to our host, Good Counsel Primary School, who showed great hospitality and welcome towards us, and to our staff for assisting with organisation on the day.

Our appreciation also extends to Father Kerry for presenting the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards to our very deserving students: Latoya and Katara Ambrum, and Samuel Shaw at last week’s assembly on Friday 30th July. Well done to these fine young people who consistently demonstrate the spirit of generosity, selflessness and thoughtfulness to others in our school community.

St Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day

The Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop is celebrated this week on August 8th. Interestingly, many common threads exist between her life and the life of Catherine McAuley, who you may recall was the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland. Both women championed for social justice, and in particular ministered to women and children, providing them with access to education and shelter. Both acted with courage to overcome resistance and hostility shown towards them, as they acted in service to the poor and marginalised. And both remained steadfast in their faith and committed to the continuation of Christ’s work on earth. Their unwavering dedication to their cause shaped Catholic Education during our nation’s founding years, and their work epitomises the core beliefs and teachings of our faith. Below is a short summary of the life of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop which you may find of interest.

Mary came from humble beginnings and dedicated her life to the service of those in greatest need. She was born in Melbourne in 1842 and established a school in a disused stable on St Joseph’s Day 1866. The school was for children whose families could not afford to educate them within the township of Penola, South Australia.

A year later, she took her religious vows and began the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She recruited young women to join the order and established more Josephite schools to provide free Catholic Education. Mary MacKillop’s outreach extended to providing housing and education to women and children in poor circumstances, and comfort by way of visits to the sick and those in prison, through The Sisters.

Her life was not without controversy though. She faced ongoing opposition from both the Church and Government - and was even excommunicated in 1871 for one year - but, her strength and determination to realise her Vision won through! She is the Foundress of Australian Catholic Education and the Josephite Sisters, and was instrumental in setting up schools and welfare systems to provide opportunity to the most vulnerable members of society, namely poor women and children. She died on the 8th August 1909.

Mary MacKillop was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 and later canonised as Australia’s First Saint in 2010. She is known as St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Mary MacKillop Prayer
Holy God, source of all goodness,
You show us in Mary MacKillop
A woman of faith
Who lived by the power of the cross.
Teach us to embrace what she pioneered:
New ways of living the gospel
That respect and defend the human dignity of all in our land.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Significant Cultural Days

This week, attention is turned to the world’s indigenous peoples with two significant events taking place. In the first instance, it is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day. This is celebrated on 4th August, where all families are encouraged to celebrate the strengths and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. And secondly, on 9th August, is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous peoples hold a vast understanding of their unique cultures, traditions, languages and knowledge systems, and have a special relationship with their lands. These days are an opportunity to show our support for diversity, and acknowledge the crucial impact that culture, family and community play in building a healthy society.

Blessings,
Maureen Gaul

DATE CLAIMERS

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

MUNRO THEATRE

Well Women’s Clinic – Babinda Hospital

(This clinic is available to Medicare eligible clients)

Tuesday 17th August, 2021

All services are provided by a specially trained Women’s Health Nurse.

For appointments phone 4067 8200

PLAYGROUP AT ST RITA’S

LIONS YOUTH DISCO AT RSL HALL

CENSUS NIGHT 11TH AUGUST

PARENT ENGAGEMENT INVITATION