Issue 4 – 23 March 2022

Newsletter Articles

VISION STATEMENT

PRINCIPAL’S PEN

Dear Families,

I am certainly most grateful to be out of the house after a week of quarantine. I have a newfound appreciation for those that have had to do it for much longer periods of time. As members of our school community have and continue to experience this, it has been heartening to see people prepared to help out those that are in lockdown with groceries, necessities, and even novelty items. Reaching out to those in need is certainly relevant in the current Christian season of Lent.

On Monday, it was a pleasure to welcome our school parents for our Information Evening. Thanks for taking the opportunity to find out about the exciting journey our school is heading in. We want to create an atmosphere where our children run in the school gate enthused each morning and, are eager to tell their families about their exciting days, once they get home.

Last Friday was the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This is an important day on the school calendar as it opens conversations about these topics and empowers our children with strategies if they find themselves in a bullying situation, or as a bystander. Senior Constable Jane Moran, Constable Jamie Burke along with Police Liaison Officer Michael Sands spoke to our students about Bullying and also about their respective positions in the QPS. They were very generous with their time and very patient with the many questions they were asked. A big thanks to Ms Benvenuti for organising this incursion for our students.

Friday was also the day we held our First, ‘Friday Funday Activities’. Students initially had a choice of 5 activities, which was eventually whittled down to three choices after some last-minute staff illness. AFL, Drama, and Technology were the themes. By all reports, the children enjoyed the activities that were offered and can’t wait for the next installment. We plan to do this every fortnight on Friday afternoons on the weeks we don’t have assembly. It’s a great way for our staff to share their talents, skills, and passions with the students. Down the track, we will look at recruiting some of our parent community to also share their gifts and knowledge with the students.

Our first Parents & Friends Meeting and AGM will be held on Monday the 28th of March at 3 pm. I’d encourage anyone interested in joining to attend the meeting, if you can’t make it, and would like to be involved, please leave your name with Debbie and we will make sure you’re contacted for future events and meetings. Our P&F group is a vital cog in our school community and helps us not only to fundraise but also to host different school social events.

Please note on Friday the 1st of April (the last day of term) we will be holding a casual clothes day. We ask that students bring in a gold coin donation which will go towards those who have been affected by the floods in South-East Queensland and Northern NSW. Each school in our diocese is running separate fundraisers to show our support. I ask that students wear closed-in shoes and are SunSmart with their outfit choices (covered shoulders).

Also on this day, Alana from VPG will be running a parent session titled, ‘Little People, Big Worries’. It is a parent workshop designed for parents to help their child/ren manage anxiety. I strongly recommend you attend as I am sure you’ll get a lot out of it. This is open to our community and not just St Rita’s parents, so all are welcome.

RE NEWS

Our Holy Week Liturgy will be held at our school at 12.15 pm on Friday the 1st of April. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the Lenten Season and Christ’s Passion as we prepare for his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

It’s an interesting exercise to ask children what Easter is about. The Easter Bunny or chocolate are often the first things that jump to mind. Easter is a Christian Holiday, a time to celebrate the Resurrection and Glory of Christ. This is the most important and significant event on the Christian calendar. Without his resurrection, Jesus Christ was just another man (an extraordinary man at that). Because of his resurrection, Christ demonstrated that he was both human and divine. By raising himself from the dead, he affirmed who he said he was, the son of God.

Holy week is made up of 4 important occasions in the final week of Jesus’ life;

Palm Sunday- Jesus enters Jerusalem to much fanfare.

Holy Thursday- Jesus shares his last supper with the apostles and washes their feet as a sign of service. He is later betrayed and arrested.

Good Friday- Jesus is tortured, crucified, and buried.

Easter Sunday- Jesus rises from the dead.

I’d encourage everyone to take the time in the next few weeks to reflect on the true Easter Story and the reason behind the holidays many of us get to enjoy.

Michael Rowe
Principal

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING AND VIOLENCE

Please see the link below to read about the Queensland Police Service’s visit to our school last Friday 18th March 2022.

Regards,
Michael

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Parents and Carers,

As one of our school initiatives this year we have decided to take on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS- Engagement) alongside Dr Shiralee Poed. Dr Shiralee is the Associate Professor at the University of Qld and honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Her work includes understanding systems and how they can best change for educational equity. We are excited to take this on as a school and will look at improving outcomes for all students. We will be conducting fortnightly meetings amongst staff to brainstorm how we can best use MTSS-Engagement to meet the needs of our learners. As a staff, we will endeavour to do this by:

• Improving classroom and school climate
• Decreasing reactive management
• Maximizing academic achievement
• Improving support for students
• Integrating academic and behaviour initiatives

Why we do MTSS-Engagement at St Rita’s Babinda.

To Improve outcomes for all students. We believe that all children have the capacity and willingness to learn new skills and do well. This is driven by our desire and understanding that:

• All children have the capacity to learn.
• Behaviour is a way of communicating a need.
• Prevention is better than cure.
• We all learn best in positive environments.

How does MTSS-Engagement do this;

• Through positive preventative and proactive behaviour supports.
• We use evidence based practices.
• We have systems of support in place using Tiers 1,2,3,
• We work collaboratively with our staff.
• We use data to make decisions, ENGAGE.
• Use of ACARA curriculum to teach personal and social capabilities.

What are our intended outcomes?

• Better Social, Academic and Behavioural outcomes for all.
• All members of the community ‘want to be there”.
• All members feel supported and safe.
• Increases in academic performance.
• Increases in social connectedness.
• Increases in social skills.
• Members of the community feel valued.
• Students are motivated and engaged.
• Staff are motivated and engaged.
• A sense of belonging.
• Better attendance.
• Less unproductive behaviour.

Kind regards,
Samantha Benvenuti
Deputy Principal – Leader of Learning and Teaching

COUNSELLOR CORNER

As a Triple P Practitioner for over 20 years, I have seen it’s founder Matt Sanders share many valid points of wisdom. I thought I would share this one with you, as we have navigated our children to the end of first term for 2022. Some of us have celebrated early achievements and some of us have been challenged with disappointments – which is a part of life. Here Matt reminds us of the important role we have as parents in guiding our children’s disappointment which contributes to the development of their self-esteem:

Dealing with Disappointment (By Professor Matt Sanders)

Despite what certain sport shoe commercials might have you believe, life isn’t always about winning. It is equally important for the development of healthy self-esteem that children learn how to deal with disappointment. As a reaction to not getting what they want, such as being chosen for a team, children may sometimes put themselves down, saying things like: “I’m dumb”, “you hate me” or “I’m just stupid”. If this happens, try to avoid being too sympathetic. Instead encourage your child to try again after the set-back and to enjoy the activity or game even if they aren’t the winner. Rather than simply reassuring your child that everything will be okay, you can help your child develop their own sense of worth by letting them know that you understand their feelings of disappointment and that you are there to help them work out a reasonable way of dealing with that disappointment. Remember too, when you’re helping your child with an activity or with homework concentrate on effort not results. Praising your child for trying and making an improvement will motivate them to continue trying at a difficult task. Professor Matt Sanders is founder of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program®. For more information go to www.triplep-parenting.net or speak with me your School Counsellor Jo’lene Burzacott.

Happy Holiday’s and I look forward to working with the School Community next term.

Warm regards,
Miss Jo
School Counsellor

SPORTS UPDATE

Last Monday, in some very trying weather conditions, six of our students represented St Rita’s at the annual Combined School’s Cross Country. The top three competitors in each age group will now go the next level and compete in the Peninsular Trials. The results are as follows:-

Well done to everyone!

Samantha Benvenuti
Sports Co-ordinator

DATE CLAIMERS

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

St Rita’s School congratulates those students who were awarded ‘Student of the Week’ at Assembly on Friday 11th March 2022.

BIRTHDAY CONGRATULATIONS

St Rita’s wished Pearle Logan all the best for her recently celebrated birthday.

We hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration Pearle!

LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG WORRIES – 1ST APRIL AT ST RITA’S

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

MUNRO THEATRE

Well Women’s Clinic – Babinda Hospital

(This clinic is available to Medicare eligible clients)

Tuesday 12th April 2022.
All services are provided by a specially trained Women’s Health Nurse.
For appointments phone 4067 8200

CIRCLE OF COMMUNITY

DIGITAL WELL BEING

KID’S EAT HEALTHY