Verbis - Term 4, Edition 2 2023 Verbis - Term 4, Edition 2 2023
26 October 2023
Year of Simplicity - Travelling Lightly
From our College Leadership Team
Principal - Mrs Dale Morrow
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Annual Thanksgiving Celebration this year was again a joyous celebration of the accomplishments of our students over the course of 2023. It was pleasing to see so many students achieving highly through hard work and determination. Students were recognised not only for their academic achievements but for providing leadership across the year. The areas of sport, music and debating were also recognised with some outstanding achievements. I am always struck by the joy that is felt on such occasions. We do not all win acknowledgment on such occasions but I hope all students can feel proud of their efforts over the year. We have much to celebrate and much to be grateful for.
It is an aspect of our human frailty that we often get bogged down in our attitude towards life by negative thoughts of the things we think are not going right for us or for our situation, regardless of all the good things that we might also be experiencing. It’s a bit like how the tiniest of splinters lodged in a little finger, makes us feel miserable even though we are enjoying the best of health in the rest of our body. Most of us will experience times in our life when real tragedy or sadness pervades our lives. We can however, fall into a general mild melancholy about life because we get caught up by the small negatives that might be going on and miss out on recognising all the very good things that we should be grateful for.
One of the first messages offered to us in the holy scriptures is the importance of having a sense of gratitude. The sin of Adam and Eve was primarily their failure to be content and happy with all that God had given them - to receive and be grateful for the life God had gifted them. All God had asked of them was to receive it properly, in gratitude - receive and give thanks. It was their failure to do so, their Original Sin, that cast their lives into turmoil. We can only ever be free and ready to participate fully in life by recognising and appreciating all that we can be truly thankful for - before all else, we first must give thanks.
Modern psychology teaches too that gratitude in life and for life is an important component of one’s mental health and is an important motivator in helping one participate more fully in living a more wholesome existence.
When you don’t value the simple gifts, you do have in life, such as the love of family, the comfort of friendship, a deep faith in the provenance of your existence, then life does become worrisome. We tend then to spend all our energies only rejoicing in that part of life that seems “perfect” - which does not include suffering. Before you know it, you are overlooking all the graces and opportunities offered in our everyday living and fail to enter into life because we become dominated by fear and exclusion and not faith.
We continue to keep the Year 12 students in our thoughts and prayers as they sit their external exams. I have been pleased to see a good number of students attending the College to meet with their senior teachers in the final days of exam preparation and I recognise the work of teachers as they support students to achieve their full potential. I wish every student God’s blessing in their final days at the College.
God bless
Dale Morrow
Deputy Principal - Students, Mrs Catherine Allen
We are all aware of the distressing situation happening in Israel and Gaza, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those directly and indirectly impacted. Unfortunately, this has also invited some extreme, confronting content that is being circulated on social media. The eSafety Commissioner has developed this website featuring resources and advice for parents, young people and educators, offering guidance for dealing with distressing online content.
Primary Years News
Head of Primary - Ms Georgina Howard
Recently, some of our Year 6 students enjoyed participating in the Brisbane East Youth Parliament. Held at Parliament House in Brisbane City, Youth Parliament provided the opportunity for students to serve as Youth Parliament Members and gain a hands-on understanding of Queensland’s parliamentary processes.
Youth Members were given specific roles and responsibilities within the Parliamentary Chamber. Each student was tasked to deliver a 1-minute speech as part of a Government Motion, Adjournment Debate or Private Member’s Statement. The speeches reflected topical issues relevant to Queenslanders and school students. To see our Youth Members in action, you can view the sessions of Youth Parliament on the Queensland Parliament YouTube channel. St Rita's Primary students feature in both Part 1 and Part 2.
Students engaged respectfully and enthusiastically, and embraced the opportunity to learn and challenge themselves. Thank you to Mrs Skelton for attending and looking after the students and to the girls for being such wonderful representatives of our College community.
Primary Awards
Congratulations to our Primary Learner Quality Award recipients this week:
Niamh K, Emily R, Georgia C, Emme C, Isabella A, Ava B, Charlotte B, Claire C, Anugi R, Maggie L, Leilani D, Mia L, Elsie B, Eva O, Zoe G.
Year 5 Before and After School Expectations
A communication from Mrs Morrow regarding before and after school hour expectations for Year 5 students was sent to Year 5 families on Monday 11 September. These expectations continue into Term 4.
Please ensure your daughter is aware of her after school arrangements.
2024 Sport
Please see the sports section below for information on 2024 sport trials and registrations.
- Current Year 5 (Year 6, 2024) submit your Year 6 2024 sport registration.
- Current Year 6 (Year 7, 2024) submit your Term 1 Wednesday CaSSSA Sport registrations.
Year 6 News - Year 7, 2024 Information
All continuing students have now been fitted for their High School uniforms and sizing details have been provided to students to share with their parents for online ordering.
All orders are to be placed via the Qkr! App no later than Sunday 5 November 2023.
Students also require a combination lock (no key lock) to secure their high school locker and keep their belongings safe. Please add a lock (preferably a resettable lock) to your online Boutique order or source via an external supplier ahead of the first day of school.
Faculty News
Science
DNA Detectives
Three Year 10 students, Claudia F, Julia F, and Sofia F, took part in the UQ DNA Detectives activity. This project was created to identify the animals that visit the school campuses around Brisbane and provide data on species distribution.
Students set up DNA collectors in trees around the campus, then these were collected and the samples were sent off to UQ for analysis.
AMA Queensland’s Women in Medicine Breakfast
Earlier this month, AMA Queensland invited some of St Rita’s students who are interested in medicine to the AMA Qld Women in Medicine Breakfast. It was a fabulous opportunity for the students to be immersed with a group of highly successful medical practitioners, listening to their personal stories, able to gather advice for pathways into medicine, hearing about their highs and lows and most of all learning the importance of having strong mentors in their life.
The students heard from a panel of speakers, hosted by Dr Maria Boulton:
- Dr Ira Van Der Steenstraten – President of the Qld Medical Women’s Society,
- Alisha Tang – Final year medical student @ UQ, Supporting Women in Medicine (SWIM) student group
- Heidi Cooper – CEO of Business Chamber Qld
- Daniele Doyle – Health Executive from Healthscope Qld
Each touched on their personal journey, highlighted their greatest influences and how mentors featured throughout their careers. They explained how the advice from mentors sometimes altered the direction of their careers, as the mentor could see qualities in them that they couldn’t see themselves.
Thank you to Dr Maria Boulton (Current Parent) for organising such an opportunity for St Rita’s students.
Sport News - Mr Joshua White, Director of Sport
CaSSSA Wednesday Sport
Registrations have now opened for Term 1, 2024 CaSSSA Sport.
The sports on offer are Volleyball (Inters Year 9-10), Seniors (Year 11-12) and Opens (Year 7-12), AFL Seniors (Year 10-12) and we are also introducing Social Beach Volleyball which will be opened to students in Year 7-12. This option only requires a commitment on Wednesday afternoon and won’t be associated with the CaSSSA Competition.
To find out more information and to register for trials please refer to MySRC here.
Please note trials will be held this term, on Monday 6 November.
Any further questions please email: ncallanan@stritas.qld.edu.au
Netball
Term 4 CaSSSA Netball is travelling well for our Junior Teams with more wins than losses each week, and lots of fun being had, keep up the great work everyone!
Registrations are now open for Club Netball 2024, with trials to be held the week before school commences in January.
Click here to register your interest in playing in the Club season.
Sign ups close on Friday 24 November.
All information about the season can be found in MySRC and the College App. For more information please email: netball@stritas.qld.edu.au
Primary School Sport
Registrations for Term 1, 2024 Sport for Year 5 and 6 students is open, click on the links below to register your interest in Touch football, Tennis, Swimming.
Click here for Year 5 2024 registration (New Year 5, 2024 students)
Click here for Year 6 2024 registration (Current Year 6 students)
For more information please email: scaruana@stritas.qld.edu.au
Primary School AFL Gala Days
The primary school AFL gala days were a big hit this term, with 30 girls attending each week over the last three weeks. No scores were kept but there was fierce competition in each game. Friendships were formed, fun was had and skills were learned.
A huge shout out to the coaches who had as much fun as the girls.
Water Polo
Saturday competition has begun for the new summer season, it has been very successful for all our teams playing in the BWPI competition. We now progress into normal round games every weekend for Term 4 & Term 1 in 2024.
EOI’s for Australian Youth Carnival (AYC) are out and we would love to see your nomination. We are nominating teams into the following divisions:
- 1 x u12s Team
- 2 x u14s Teams (Competitive & Development)
- 1 x u16s Development Team
For more information, please click here or email: waterpolo@stritas.qld.edu.au
BMTA Touch Football
Club Touch Football is heating up with only two Rounds to go for our 15s, 13s and 11s teams take part in finals. All teams are currently well placed to tackle finals and we look forward to seeing what all three teams can achieve. Well done to all teams so far this season.
Our Opens Team season has concluded. It has been a massive Season 2 of Touch Football for our Opens team. We are incredibly proud of our opens team for what they have accomplished this Season, missing Season 2 Finals amongst some quality opposition. We look forward to seeing what this group continues to achieve in Seasons to come.
Season 2 BMTA Registrations are open
St Rita’s College will continue to enter as many teams as possible into BMTA. This, however, is dependent on numbers. For Season 1 SRC Club Touch Football, St Rita's College will enter teams into - Open, u15, u13 and u11. All Divisions will be played at Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association.
(BMTA) White's Hill, playing on Thursday evenings. Season 1 BMTA will run Terms 1 and 2 2024: February - June.
BMTA Trial #1 - Monday 6 November (3.30pm - 5.30pm) at Gibson Park, Stafford
Information regarding BMTA Trial was communicated via the School App and MySRC.
Volleyball Junior Schools Cup
A great weekend of Volleyball was had between 20-22 October with our Junior Schools Cup Team competing at QLD Schools Cup Tournament at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre. Congratulations to our Junior Schools Cup Volleyball team who finished third in what was a tough competition.
Superb effort from all the players and coaching staff involved.
Swimming
Our first CaSSSA swim event for the 2023/24 season is kicking off soon. This event is only for SRC swimmers, we will not be competing against any other schools. Click here for further information.
CaSSSA Time Trial Event
Where: Acqua Rosa Pool
When: Friday 3 November
Time: 3.30-5.30pm To Register please Click here
More information for the rest of the season is to be confirmed. We will get this information out to everyone as soon as we can.
Swim Camp
The 2024 Swim Camp will be held on 18 and 19 January 2024 at Tallebudgera Recreation Centre. Click here for further details.
To secure your spot for swim camp Click here EOI closes 21 November.
Please note we are only taking 40 students to swim camp
Students in Years 5 and 6 are welcome and encouraged to attend the 8AM. Swim session and the post swim brunch on Thursday 18 January. However, primary students will not be able to travel overnight on this camp.
College Notices
2024 Stationery Orders - Due Friday 17 November
Stationery and workbook requirements are published on the MK Educational Supplies website.
Instructions to place order:
- At the top of the MK Educational Supplies website select St Rita’s College and your child’s Year level, select Girl, then View Book List.
- Place a tick beside your child’s relevant subjects and tick beside A: General Stationary Requirements (additional to items for selected subjects). Please select all subjects and purchase all equipment listed for your daughter's year.
- Show Subjects: to reveal the required equipment and workbooks.
Stationery and workbook orders are due Friday 17 November 2023.
Nominated delivery dates will be shown at the top of the order form and emailed to you at the time of ordering.
- Home delivery will be from Monday 11 December. A tracking number will be provided once the order is dispatched.
- Store collection is from Monday 11 December - Saturday 23 December only, between 9.00am to 5.00pm (9.00am to 2.00pm Saturday).
The stationery items listed are the minimum requirements. Parents and Guardians are welcome to purchase suppliers other than MK Educational Supplies. Where brand, style or model is noted, this exact item must be purchased.
From Student Services
Expectations and Procedures
In order to maintain a smooth and secure learning environment, we have some important expectations and procedures to share.
Student Absences
- If your daughter is absent from school for a full or part day, please fill in and submit the Online Absentee form before 8:30am the day of the absence. If this is an anticipated absence (eg. a scheduled medical appointment etc) this form can be submitted ahead of time and you do not need to wait until the day of the absence to submit the form.
- The Online Absentee form must only be submitted by parents/guardians or an emergency contact on file.
Leaving the College during the day
- The person nominated to collect a student leaving early from school, are asked to park on Enderley Road and walk up to Student Services to collect them. If a parent has requested their daughter walk or drive themselves home, the College reserves the right to call to confirm their mode of transport.
Transport Options
- A reminder for all students who catch Red & White Buses to write their name on their bus ticket. In the event that a ticket is lost and handed in, named tickets can be returned to students.
St Rita's College Job Advertisement
St Rita’s College is seeking a Bus Driver on a casual basis to ensure the safe transport of students and staff between the College campus, school excursions, sport team trips and community events.
What we are looking for
- Current C-class, LR or MR licence.
- Proven experience and reliability in bus driving.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team with minimal supervision.
- A sound knowledge of surrounding road networks.
- Commitment to observe WHS and Child Safeguarding policies
Pay: Casual rate of $40.26 per hour with a minimum of two hour shifts. Some early mornings will be required.
For more information or to apply, please send your expression of interest and resume to Mrs Tanya Wrightson, Head of Human Resources via email hr@stritas.qld.edu.au
Important Dates
Upcoming Dates to Note
- Friday 27 October - Xaverian Day for Daniel
- Saturday 28 October - Knowles Cup Tennis Finals
- Sunday 29 October - Studio and Chamber Concerts
- Monday 30 October - Year 9 Japanese Dinner
- Thursday 2 November - Year 8 Japanese Dinner
- Friday 3 November - Year 5, 2024 Orientation Day
- Thursday 9 November - Year 10 Trade Fair
- Friday 10 November - Interhouse Swimming Carnival
- Saturday 11 November - Mother's Lunch
- Monday 13 November - Kildare Senior Farewell Dinner
- Tuesday 14 November - Year 12 Languages Dinner
- Wednesday 15 November - Year 5 Arts Showcase
- Thursday 16 November - Year 12 Retreat
- Friday 17 November - 2024 Stationery Orders Due
- Friday 17 November - Year 12 Graduation Mass and Cocktail Party
- Monday 20 November - Have Yourself a Merry Jazzy Christmas
- Tuesday 21 November - Christmas Concerts
- Wednesday 22 November - Year 6 End of Primary Celebration
- Thursday 23 November - Year 9 Careers Day
- Friday 24 November - Christmas Liturgy and Last Day of School
College Events
Annual Thanksgiving Celebration and Presentation of College Awards
Congratulations to all students who were recognised with an Award at our Annual Thanksgiving Celebration last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the St Rita’s community. To teachers and parents, thank you for supporting our students through all these years of schooling.
A special mention to Year 12 student Niamh Moran, who was announced as the College’s 2023 Prix d’Honneur. Throughout her time at the College, Niamh has been steadfast in her commitment to the values of the College, and this Award is testimony to her commitment and spirit. Congratulations to Niamh and all our Annual Thanksgiving Celebration Award recipients!
College Race Day
A fantastic day of action was had on Saturday 21 October during the St Rita's College Race Day. Thank you to Sports Subcommittee President, Mr Chris Overs and the Sports Subcommittee for their organisation of the event.
Thank you to our Race Sponsors:
Thanks also to our many prize donors who gave such fabulous items for our Raffle! And thank you to all who attended for your support of St Rita's College.
Upcoming Events
St Rita's College Mother's Luncheon - Saturday 11 November
Join us at the St Rita's College Mother's Luncheon! With just five days remaining to RSVP, click here to book your tickets now!
Studio and Chamber Concerts - Sunday 29 October
Our end of year Studio Concerts for instrumental and vocal students enrolled in the Music Program will be held on Sunday 29 October 2023. This afternoon will have concurrent concerts occurring in the Trinity Centre with students scheduled to play in one of the numerous 1 hour concerts throughout the afternoon. Please click here for further details.
All students learning at the College are expected to perform with instrumental teachers communicating specific performance times to students. Students are required to wear smart casual clothing for their performance.
Bookings are not required for this event.
Christmas Concerts - Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 November
Our Christmas Concerts will be held on the following days:
Monday 20 November 2023, 3:30pm in TM03 - Have Yourself a Merry Jazz Christmas for our Jazz Bands (Jazz Ensemble and Big Band) and Guitar Ensemble (please note, cheese platters and bar facilities will not be available for this concert)
Tuesday 21 November 2023, in St Rita's College Trinity Auditorium:
4:00pm - Christmas Bands (Prelude Winds, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band)
5:30pm - Christmas Bows (Prelude Strings, String Ensemble, String Sinfonia)
7:00pm - Christmas Chorale (Prelude Voices, Nano's Voices, Chamber Voices, St Rita's Chorale, Chamber Chorale)
Boutique News
Year 6 Fittings for Year 7, 2024 Uniforms
All current Year 6 students have now received a uniform fitting and will have received a order form with their sizes. Parents are reminded that ALL orders are to be placed online via the Qkr! App no later than 5 November 2023. Orders will be delivered directly to the Primary area for collection.
Please note: Students in the Secondary School are issued with a locker which needs to be locked at all times. As such, students will need to bring a combination lock to school on their first day (no key locks please). Locks can be purchased online via the Boutique or via any external supplier. The Boutique now offers a new combination lock which can be reset when students forget their combination. Our trusty Maintenance Team can unlock their lock with a master key and remind them of their combination instead of cutting the lock off to gain access to their locker. This saves the expense of buying additional locks throughout the year. The types of recommended locks are pictured below.
The Boutique has moved to Qkr!
Qkr! (pronounced 'quicker') is a mobile app designed to provide a seamless and convenient online ordering and payment process. The College first introduced Qkr! in January, with the launch of online ordering for The Pantry via the app. Now, we are proud to provide easy access to our online Boutique catalogue via the same platform.
Qkr! has replace our current online ordering website for the Boutique. Getting started is easy - simply download the Qkr! app on your Apple or Android device, then find St Rita’s College in the app, by searching for 'St Rita' and create a student profile for each of your children. You will be asked to provide your student’s ID number, so please have this ready. Click here for full step-by-step instructions. Parents who prefer to use website ordering can create their account and log in at: https://qkr-store.qkrschool.com/.
Product categories from the old website have been mapped over to Qkr!, for your convenience. We have also kept the option to arrange product fittings at the College, if required.
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 11.00 am.
Should you have any questions regarding the new ordering process, please contact our Boutique Coordinator, Laurinda Plant via: boutique@stritas.qld.edu.au.
Boutique Opening Hours
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Friday: 7.30am - 9.00am & 11.00am - 3.30pm
Term Time only - All orders placed over the school holidays will be available for collection on return to school.
Community Notices
Altru Fest
Sign up to volunteer for Altru Fest on Saturday 11 November 2023
The Annual Altru Festival offers immediate, onsite access to essential services, advocating for poverty-living, marginalised and at risk youth. Please click here for further information and click here to register for the event.
