Year 11 and 12 Senior Schooling Information Evenings

Senior students and parents are reminded about the compulsory online Parent Information Senior School meetings on Tuesday 6 February for each student and at least one parent. There is a MySRC page set up where parents or students can pre-lodge questions and they will be answered on the evening. Parents can also access the Zoom link required to join the presentation from this page. Click Here for MySRC page.

Tuesday 6 February - Senior School Parent Information Meetings Online via Zoom

• Year 11 – 6.00 - 7.00pm
• Year 12 – 7.00 - 8.00pm

Year 7 Parent Information Evening

Parents of Year 7 students are invited to attend the Academic Parent Information Evening prior to the Housewarming Event on Monday 12 February. This presentation will take place in Eirene, and commence promptly at 5.00pm, to conclude at 5.30pm in time for the Housewarming event.

Students will be required to meet at 5.00pm in their House Group and will meet their parents as per the information below. Parents will have the opportunity to meet their student’s Head of House and House Group Teacher. A formal invitation will be emailed through to parents and guardians in the next couple of days.

Space Camp

St Rita’s College is very excited to offer 2025 Year 10 and 11 students the opportunity to attend Space Camp in the US from 5 – 19 April 2025 (during the Easter School Holidays).

Space Camp is a program to promote the study of math, science, and technology. Space Camp is fully endorsed by NASA.

The Advanced Space Academy program sees students participate in a rigorous program that teaches them about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts’ face and provides leadership training as well as learning the importance of teamwork. Students are guided through the past, present and future of space exploration.

Trainees experience a variety of astronaut training exercises, engineering challenges and team building activities all culminating in an extended duration simulated space mission.

Activities include:

• Train like an astronaut on the 1/6th Gravity Chair and the Multi-Axis Trainer.
• Design, build and launch a team rocket, and safely recover its payload.
• Learn teambuilding skills on the high elements at our Space Camp Challenge Course.
• Experience neutral buoyancy while SCUBA diving in the Underwater
• Astronaut Trainer! (Pending physician approval. History of insulin dependent diabetes, epilepsy, reactive airway disease or asthma will not dive. Final determination concerning fitness to dive will be made by the Space Camp Medical & UAT staff)
• Test your skills in our Engineering Challenges by constructing a heat shield and building a Rover.
• Fly jet aircraft simulators!
• Discover the role the International Space Station plays in our global community.
• Prepare for every contingency as you go to Mars on an extended-duration mission simulation!

Year 10 and 11 families who are interested are invited to attend the Parent Information Evening to learn further information:

Tuesday 13 February, 6.00pm at Trinity Auditorium.

Further information about Space Camp click here.

A listing of other upcoming international student experiences can be found below. More details and information about these experiences will be shared with the parent and student community as details are confirmed.

Welcome back to an exciting year of learning and a very sincere welcome to our Year 5s and 7s and our new students in Years 8-11. As a community of ‘Welcoming Hearts’, inspired by Nano Nagle, I was so impressed and proud of the way our Year 12 Big Sisters welcomed their Year 7 Little Sisters. On The Flat last Tuesday, there were smiles exchanged, encouraging words, and small gifts given. Similarly, our Year 11 students welcomed our Year 5s with contagious energy and enthusiasm. Both our Year 11s and our Year 12s have already shown enormous capacity for leadership and empathy that I know that will stand the whole community in good stead as the year progresses. We have had many visitors on our campus in these last couple of weeks – many commenting on the tangible sense of welcome they have experienced. Congratulations St Rita’s, you epitomise the words of Sr Raphael Considine, PBVM – women of welcoming heart, here is your home!

Thank you to students and families who are making a great effort to uphold the high bahaviour and uniform standards here at the College.  A couple of things that could be further reminded:

• Students are to exit the College in full and complete uniforms, including hats on heads;
• Behaviour within our community – on public transport and our local shops. This should always be respectful. 

We have had communication from eSafety that they have developed a new eSafety Schools’ Hub.  This is a one-stop shop bringing together key online safety education resources, including education policy support, professional learning and community engagement materials to help keep students safe online. These resources have been specially created to assist sharing important online safety messages. You can access the eStafety Schools’ Hub here.

Thank you in advance to our Xaverian House who will lead our College in facilitating further understanding around esafety on Safer Internet Day.  

Annual Housewarming Evening

An invitation to parents and guardians will be coming soon from your student’s Head of House to our annual Housewarming - Monday 12 February. This Housewarming event is for Year 7 students and their families, our new students in Years 8-11 and our Year 12 students. Housewarming will be split into the following sessions:

 We look forward to this significant College event.

2024 NAPLAN Online – Years 5, 7 & 9

This year St Rita’s College will be completing NAPLAN Online on March 13, 14, 15 and 18.

The schedule for the tests is as follows:

If a student is absent on the day of testing, please, in the first instance, follow normal procedures regarding absences. It would also be appreciated if, in the case of absence, an email to lob@stritas.qld.edu.au, indicating how long you expect the absence to be so that Catch-up tests can be arranged.

Preparation for the tests is currently underway, particularly in Mathematics and English classes. All Year 5, 7 and 9 students have also had access to the NAPLAN Practice Tests. The Public demonstration site (nap.edu.au) is a useful resource to gain familiarity with the online testing environment.

Ultimately the best preparation for NAPLAN is the support of family and school. It is important that all students are reassured that while we all want success for our students, it is a ‘point-in-time’ test which is measurement tool only. In many ways, a good night’s sleep and breakfast is the best preparation. It is important that while we want all students to give their best, they also do not feel any overwhelming pressure or stress to perform.

Requirements for NAPLAN: Students must bring wired earbuds/headphones to complete NAPLAN Online testing. Students do not require expensive earbuds or headphones. Wireless/Bluetooth earbuds/headphones (such as airpods) are not permitted. Students must also bring a pen for their planning/working out. Water bottles are permitted.

You can access more Parent information regarding NAPLAN on the following link: NAPLAN Online – information for parents and carers

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like further information about the College’s NAPLAN Online program.

This year our College emphasises the pillar of Courage. Throughout Nano’s life, she faced barriers and experienced uncertainties. With Moral courage, Nano's evenings were spent bringing food and medicine, comfort and hope to those in need. With a lantern in hand, she would return home making her way among the dark, winding lanes. In spite of fear of danger, discomfort or pain, Nano’s courageous conviction ensured she carried on with a commitment, plan or decision, knowing it is the right or best course of action. Nano's courageous action of taking the injustices in both hands, and trusting in God, saw her cross oceans, move mountains and set hearts on fire with the love of God.

Similarly, we can turn towards St Rita of Cascia who shows what it is to be courageous. With moral courage, she faced her parents decision of an arranged marriage to an abusive husband and sons seeking revenge for their father’s death by feuding families. Who then, as a widow was not accepted into the Augustine convent due to these feuds. Rita’s moral conviction of pray and contemplation on the scriptures and trusting that being able to share in Christ’s suffering, she could show compassion. This spiritual confidence and perseverance gave Rita exemplary courageous action to forgive her husband, reconcile with the feuding families and encourage her sons not to seek revenge and follow her example.

Both of our patrons prayed and reflected on teachings by Jesus on how to act with courage. One key teaching we can turn to for understanding how to use the spiritual gift of fortitude is The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). St Augustine of Hippo and St Thomas Aquinas reflected on The Beatitudes as a way of understanding how to act with courage and what characteristics are gifted with the virtue of fortitude.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:)

To be courageous in our humility is realizing that we need to let go of the illusion that we can do it ourselves and change ourselves.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Mt 5:4)

We are called to show our vulnerability and to acknowledge that we are scared and can be wounded.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Mt 5:5)

Through charity to ourselves and others we grow to understand gentleness and have the courage for encouragement.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied (Mt 5:6)

We are called to righteous anger so we accept the past and acknowledge many injustices cannot be healed and to bravely focus on those in which we may genuinely act.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Mt 5:7)

We are beckoned not just to forgive others without shame but also the strength to forgive ourselves.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Mt 5:8)

That we have the sight to overturning blindness of manipulation and objectifying and to have the courage to understand we are not in control.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God (Mt 5:9)

We are invited to relationships with healthy boundaries and to afford each other freedom and dignity. It is for us to have the courage to accept when even if this is freedom is to fail.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for my sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:9)

We recognise and accept that we are never alone.

The Beatitudes gives us our spiritual foundation for moral courage to develop our courageous conviction to act from the heart with courage.

As part of our College community, Primary students follow the College Uniform Guide. Please refer to the Guide for all uniform requirements.

Skorts: We note that many Primary students have grown over the holidays. With the Formal Uniform Skort being an essential part of our Primary uniform, please ensure your daughter’s hem is no more than 2.5cm above the knee at all times. Skorts will need to be re-hemmed as your daughter grows and provision has been made for this periodic alteration in the skort design.

Earrings: Please ensure your daughter is wearing the correct earrings as part of her uniform. Students are permitted to wearing gold or silver studs, sleepers or pearl earrings (plain pearl, with no gold or silver features). Please refer to the earring size chart in the College Uniform Guide for details.

Parents are reminded that the Before and After School Expectations apply to all Primary students in both Year 5 and Year 6.

Thank you to Year 5 Parents for following the Year 5 Morning Drop Off and Afternoon Pick Up Plan. As requested, please ensure your Student Surname Card is clearly visible on the passenger side visor. 

Our Primary House Representatives and fellow Year 6 leaders assisted teachers in facilitating a wonderful Primary House Assembly last week. Students worked together in their Houses to learn about their House Prayer.

It was the first opportunity for Year 6 students to lead the Year 5 students in an activity and it was pleasing to see such encouraging and supportive interactions between the girls. The Year 6 students led discussions about their House motto, crest and prayers.

Each House created a large prayer poster for our shared space and six individual posters for each of our classrooms, each displaying the unique creativity of our Primary House Groups.

On the weekend prior to school commencing, members of Concert Band, String Sinfonia, St Rita’s Chorale and Guitar Ensemble travelled to Mt Tamborine for the Senior Music Camp. This is always a great way for our senior core ensembles to kick off the year with rehearsals and social activities to bring our senior music community together.

While the weather was overly hot up on the mountain, all of the students showed a remarkable amount of resilience to focus and concentrate to make the most of each rehearsal. This focus was also brought into action with some incredible outfits and costumes for the Saturday night disco theme of “Through the Decades” and the Friday night activities ably led by our Music Captains.

Upon our return to Enderley Road on Sunday, the teamwork was once again evident with the efficient emptying of the bus and truck to then move into the Trinity Auditorium for some final polishing of the camp choir song, “Into the Unknown”. Perhaps this is a suitable mantra for the year ahead.

The inaugural season of the St Rita’s Community Choir is now into its second week of rehearsals and things are looking and sounded great. The response to the choir has been overwhelming with more than 40 alumnae, parents and staff being led by our choral team of Lou Wall and Brendan Murtagh each Monday night.

In our “Year of Courage”, it has been great to see so many people with varying musical abilities stepping out of their comfort zone and reaping the benefits that come from singing with others. To paraphrase some of the participants, they have said; “I’m not sure what I was doing but it’s still a lot of fun and I’m sure that I’ll pick it up as we go along”.

We are confident by the time the performance comes around for our St Agatha’s Choral Concert that everyone in the choir would have picked up quite a bit and will be looking forward to the choir’s first performance. Be sure to come along and support these courageous people in St Agatha’s Church on Monday 11 March, 6:30pm.

Click here for further details regrading upcoming Music events.

The College is excited to kick off the swim season and defend the Championship for 2024.

With a difference of 12.5 points to take the win last year, we will need to muster as much preparation as possible to give the team the best chance of success.

This year's motto from our captains is: Be Brave, Be Bold, Go for Gold

Let's make history. Please sign up to our lead up meets to be considered for our CaSSSA Swim Team for 2024.

Lead up meet #2 Registration Link

Lead up meet #3 Registration Link

Age Champs Sign Up Link    

This year sees 24 Club teams, 5 Vicki Wilson teams and we expect up to 15 CaSSSA teams. The netball season kicks off with some specialist clinics in Term One

• Thursday 14 March
• Thursday 21 March
• Thursday 2 May

Sign up HERE or via MySRC or the app for these. There is a cost of $75 for the 3 clinics

Training for the Club season will begin on Monday 4 March for four weeks before the season starts. Information will be emailed to all registered players in the next week.

Vicki Wilson 

Sign ups are now open for Cup, and Shield teams, please see below for links to sign up, you can also find them on MySRC and the App

• Vicki Wilson Cup registration
• Vicki Wilson Shield Year 9-10 registration
• Vicki Wilson Shield Year 7-8 registration   

CaSSSA 

Senior and Inter netball sign ups are now open. Trials will be held on Thursday 29 February. Please click on the link HERE to register or find it on MySRC and the App. Sign ups will close on Friday 23 February

Tennis – Training started this week, with first games on Saturday 3 February. 

Information has been sent to all parents and students along with draw dates and venues.

Well done to those students who kept up their training over the holidays. S&C Sessions have kicked off this week and it is great to see so much energy in the gym.

Congratulations to Audrey H and Courtney W, who have already hit a personal best this week.

Year 12s, we are looking to hear from you about what kind of exercise session you would like to participate in this year. Please look out for the survey in the next couple of days.

If any students are still interested in joining the program, please send an email to mclarke@stritas.qld.edu.au this week to sign up. 

The Touch Football season kicks off with training beginning Wednesday 31 January and Round 1 on Thursday 15 February. The Sports Department is looking forward to an exciting season with more teams entering the BMTA Competition for Season 1. 

The AFL Schools Cup team kicked off training in Term 4 (Last Year 2023). The team will return to training this Thursday 1 February. The team will compete at Schools Cup Gala Day on Wednesday 22 May, with the team playing in Term 1 AFL CaSSSA as a lead into the Gala Day Competition. The Sports Department is looking forward to an exciting season.

This year we are trying to streamline sign ups for representative sport. All the information and registration for each term can be found under the representative sport tile on the Sports page on MySRC and can also be found on the College App. Click on the link to the sport you wish to trial in and once you have filled in the relevant form and have been approved to trial, a QR code will be sent to you. This form must be completed by the cut off date, no late entries will be accepted. Paperwork will then be sent to a parent email address

Students wishing to trial for a rep team must have at least 1 year’s experience playing at a high level in a club or school team to be considered. Contact the sport office if you have any questions.

The Outdoor Education program at the College is carefully designed to give students the opportunity to participate in team activities that develop and enhance resilience and collaboration, alongside their organisational and leadership abilities. Working in partnership with two of the most respected Queensland-based providers of Outdoor Education, a sequential approach has been constructed to reference seminal points of Australia’s national narrative – the uniqueness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the ANZAC story. 

Attendance at camp is compulsory for students in Years 5-10. Every year, students show us how brave they are by stepping outside of their comfort zone when faced with a range of personal challenges. If your daughter has specific needs or circumstances which we may need to plan for, can you please make contact with me as early as possible so we have plenty of time to ensure adjustments and plans are in place so that she is safe and comfortable at camp. If she is feeling nervous about camp, we can discuss strategies to support her.

If your daughter is commencing at the College in either Year 5 or Year 7, I strongly encourage you to consider purchasing a good quality rain jacket that she will grow into so it can also be taken to camp in future years.

Information about each camp is sent closer to the time via Operoo. In the meantime, please take note of the 2024 dates and locations for the camp for each year level. 

• Year 5 Camp - QCCC Tamborine - Term 4: 20 - 22 November
• Year 6 Trip - Canberra - Term 2: 3 - 7 June
• Year 7 Camp - QCCC Mapleton - Term 1: 21 - 23 February
• Year 8 Camp - QCCC Tamborine - Term 2: 22 - 24 April
• Year 9 Camp - QCCC Noosa - Term 3: 24 - 26 July
• Year 10 Camp - Emu Gully - Term 4: 8 - 10 October

If you have any questions about Outdoor Education Camps throughout the year, please contact:  OutdoorEd@stritas.qld.edu.au

2024 Fee statements and FACTS online payment portal information have now been distributed via email to all families.

New families to the College will need to set up their account in FACTS, and establish their payment arrangement.

Continuing families are asked to login to their FACTS account and confirm details such as the direct debit account, and payment plan arrangement.

The first payment plan payments commence on 5 February, depending on the plan you have selected. So please ensure your FACTS account is updated before next week.

As per the College Fee Conditions, all payment plans (including annual payment) are required to be set up in FACTS, and if fees are not paid in full, an ongoing automatic plan will need to be established.

Parents looking for alternative payment arrangements over an extended period are referred to Edstart edstart.com.au/stritas with further information available on the College website.

Families experiencing financial difficulties are encouraged to contact the Accounts Receivable Officer on accounts@stritas.qld.edu.au or by phone on 3862 1615. 

Over the break, the College has implemented a number of MySRC features to improve the technology and communication experience for parents and guardians. Key enhancements include the launch of a new look MySRC Parent Dashboard, Parent Hub and News Feature.

Parents and Guardians are encouraged to view our MySRC Parent User Guide accessible via the
MySRC Parent Hub > Parent Instructions to assist you in navigating these new features.

Additional information will continue to be added to this guide to optimise and support usage of this important College information and communication platform.

We are confident that these improvements will contribute to a more efficient experience for all members of our College community and we look forward to sharing the rollout of further technology and communication enhancements with you.

The next College Photos will be held on Monday 5 February. Please view the full schedule by clicking here and take note of any relevant uniform requirements.

Principal, Mrs Maree Trims warmly invites all St Rita’s College Parents and Carers to our 2024 Welcome Function.

Join us to create new connections and reconnect with members of our College Community.

Light canapes will be provided and a cashless bar will be available.

This adult only event is proudly hosted by the Parents & Friends Association.

Purchase your tickets by Friday 8 March. Click here for further details.

Term 1

• Tuesday 20 February - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry) 
• Tuesday 12 March - P&F AGM and election of new committee - Orana Room Trinity Building - 6.00pm. 2024 P&F Committee Nomination Form 
• Friday 15 March - Parent Welcome Function 7.00pm - 9.00pm, Cove Lane, St Rita's College $30.00 per person - adults only

Term 2

• Tuesday 16 April - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)
• Friday 3 May - Primary Mother Daughter Event
• Saturday 18 May - Mother Daughter Dinner
• Tuesday 21 May - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)
• Saturday 9 June - Rita’s Longest Lunch (proudly supported by the Music SubCommittee)

Term 3

• Tuesday 16 July - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)
• Tuesday 20 August - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)
• Wednesday 28 August - Father Daughter Breakfast
• Tuesday 10 September - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)

Term 4

• Tuesday 15 October - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)
• Saturday 19 October - Rita’s Race Day (proudly supported by the Sports SubCommittee)
• Saturday 16 November - Mother’s Luncheon
• Tuesday 19 November - P&F Meeting - 6.00pm Stanley Hall Staffroom (opposite the Pantry)

Just a quick reminder to Year 7 students that all backorders are available for collection from the Boutique. Please collect these by Friday 9 February.

The updated 2024 College Uniform Policy can be found here

More SALE items have been added to the SALE section on Qkr! Jump online and have a look.

• Monday – CLOSED
• Tuesday to Friday – 7.30am to 9.00am & 11.00am - 3.30pm (closed between 9.00am and 11.00am). 

 The Boutique is closed during school holidays throughout the year.

Online Orders can be made any time via the Qkr! App and collected during Boutique opening hours.  

Orders received prior to 9.00am Tuesday-Friday will be available to collect from the Boutique from 11.00am the same day. Orders received after 9.00am will be available for collection the following business day after 11.00am. 

The Boutique is staffed by Ms Laurinda Plant who can be contacted on 3860 7119 or via email at boutique@stritas.qld.edu.au. 

Parents wishing to seek out second hand uniform and school items are encouraged to try the St Rita's Buy, Sell, Swap, Giveaway Facebook Group. 

The site is parent administered and new items are being added regularly by families.

The College Boutique does not trade in second hand items.

What will you sing for in 2024? Join Voices of Birralee Choirs to find out more!

Does your child love to sing? Voices of Birralee has a choir program for them to share their love of singing with like-minded new friends! Birralee’s values and mission are to provide connection and belonging, help to develop language and memory skills, and boost overall mental and physical wellbeing.  

Visit www.birralee.org for more information or contact our office at contact@birralee.org | 07 3367 1001.