Verbis - Term 4, Edition 4 Verbis - Term 4, Edition 4
24 November 2022
Year of Compassion - Begin with the Heart
From our College Leadership Team
Principal, Mrs Dale Morrow
Dear Parents/Carers
On Tuesday 21 November we celebrated Presentation Day. It gives us cause to reflect on Nano Nagle as a boundary breaker. When we look at Nano Nagle in her historical and social context, it is clear that she was a woman who was prepared to break boundaries, to challenge existing prejudices and to think differently about the poverty which beset those made poor in Cork.
While Nano lived in a very different world from our own, she gifts us ways of thinking and acting which can challenge us today.
A few of these are :
Nano entered the poverty of her time. She didn’t stand at a safe distance, writing letters or donating money – she went into the humble tenements, she walked the dangerous and filthy streets, she embraced the frail elderly, she welcomed the children. She became poor with them and for them. Nano challenges us to be with those who struggle – to go out!
Nano nurtured relationships. Despite the dangers of her educational enterprise, she was protected by those who saw the good in her work. Her family, the merchants and shopkeepers of the city, her benefactors, other charitable groups, her Franciscan friends and many more. Nano reminds us that we are stronger together – to seek out companions!
Nano was grateful for what she had. She didn’t bemoan the limits of her work or her lack of resources. She appreciated the importance of making a difference to one person at a time. Her kindness changed lives. Imagine how the lonely elderly would have felt as they saw her lantern heading towards them in the gloom? Nano insists that presence and kindness are the beginning and ending of all that we do.
Nano knew the power of hope. She couldn’t end poverty, oppression and violence but she could hold out hope for the future. The education of a child, especially a girl, was an investment in hope for an entire family, a community and a nation. Nano places hope at the centre of God’s mission and her work.
Nano was unconventional. Nano saw her world through a different lens. She was unafraid to walk different paths. She cared little for what others thought of her. She shrugged off criticism and hostility. Nano reassures us that being fearlessly countercultural is the Gospel way.
Humble, grateful, hopeful, relational and unconventional. These hallmarks of Nano’s work are guideposts for our journey in a very different contemporary context. Wherever we are in the world, we are called to respond to poverty and other social injustices. Nano reminds us that we are responding first and foremost to people. (excerpt from Mercy Moments no. 146)
As the year draws to a close, we approach the season of advent. This season is one where we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that Jesus came into this world as a vulnerable little baby in some very difficult circumstances. There was no room anywhere in the inns and so Jesus was born in a stable. This has often been romanticised, but I am sure any woman who has delivered a baby would not choose to do so in a stable. Mary and Joseph like many new parents would have been smitten with the arrival of their son. Jesus of course was also the Son of God, so Mary and Joseph were to have many heartbreaks as their son fulfilled his Father’s work.
Jesus’ message was one of love and inclusion. May this Christmas be a challenge for us to be more inclusive and more loving as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.
I would like to wish all families a blessed Christmas. I hope these holidays are also a time to regenerate and share some precious moments together.
God bless
Mrs Dale Morrow
Deputy Principal - Students, Mrs Maree Trims
This Term I conducted a review with the students about their usage of the Student Planner. Overwhelmingly the students indicated that they preferred to use an alternate paper-based planner, or electronic planners such as their Outlook Calendar, or an App. Therefore, the College will not be supplying the students with a printed Student Planner in 2023.
Ms Wallas, Head of Study Skills, will run some sessions for students who want to learn how to use Apps or Outlook for their organisation. Students are also welcome to purchase their own diary.
If a student wishes to make a subject change for 2023, they must complete the paperwork available on MySRC/Parents/Curriculum. This paperwork must be submitted to Mrs Sax-Wood. Students will be notified via email when the subject change has been completed. Click Here
I hope that all students, staff and their families have a safe and restful holiday break. May our Lord bless you and your family this Christmas and I pray for your safe return to St Rita’s in the new year.
Deputy Principal - Students, Ms Catherine Allen
As the school year comes to an end, I would like to offer my thanks and appreciation to all in the community who have worked hard, played hard, performed ‘hard’ and contributed positively in actions and words.
We farewelled our Seniors last Friday. Thank you to all these impressive students for all they contributed to St Rita’s College. Thanks also to their parents and carers. It has been my privilege to journey with these students and their families. I am confident that they will contribute positively to our world.
Sometimes the long school holidays can lead people to spend a lot more time online. Sometimes this is great. Sometimes it’s not so great. Please remember the SchoolTV resource (click here). Our P&F support this subscription and it holds a lot of very valuable information around a number of issues. It is a resource designed to empower parents/carers with credible, current and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies. ESafety (click here) is another resource designed to offer support to parents/carers and students to have positive online experiences. In the unfortunate event that something uncomfortable or worse occurs online please report. This can be done here. eSafety helps Australians prevent and deal with harm caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content.
As we finish the school year it is timely to check uniform items. Some formal school hats are looking dishevelled and beyond repair. Please purchase a new hat if this is the case. If you are unsure whether this is warranted, please see Mrs Hinder in the Boutique and she will let you know if the hat can be repaired and can refer you to someone who can do this repair. Please also be aware that no student is to carry the unbadged satchel outside the College grounds. This will result in an infringement. These may only be used to carry items from class to class whilst on campus. All students are to carry badged, College bags as per website, when outside the College. This includes lunch bags. Non-College lunch bags must be placed inside a College badged bag, too. Badged College lunch bags can be attached to a College bag via the House coloured carabiner. The Boutique link is here.
May everyone in our community enjoy a wonderful Christmas season, filled with much joy, peace and love.
Assistant Principal - Mission, Mrs Erica Qureshi
This Sunday, 27 November, Christian Churches around the world will begin to celebrate the season of Advent. This is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It is literally translated from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” where Christians anticipate the coming of Christ from two perspectives – the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah and by being alert for His Second Coming.
Our College community will celebrate our Christmas Mass on Friday. As the readings this Sunday relate to the Old Testament patriarchs, the first candle to be lit is the Candle of Hope. The second Sunday’s readings tell of the prophesy of Christ’s birth in a manger and so this candle is called the Candle of Bethlehem. These candles are both purple. On the third Sunday of Advent a pink candle is lit, marking the joy of the shepherds. The readings for the fourth Sunday relate to the annunciation of Christ’s birth, so the candle is known as the Angel’s Candle.
And so, it is with joyful anticipation that we await the coming of the Messiah. The season of Advent and subsequent season of Christmas remind us that Jesus remains a powerful living presence amongst and within us. There are many messages we learn from the Christmas story, the main message is that if we want to know about God, we look to Jesus. If we want to know what God wants us to be, we look to Jesus. Without the Christmas story, quite simply, we would know much less about God.
We pray that this season we might accept, as Joseph did; take up challenges, as Jesus did; and say ‘yes’ to serving others, as Mary did. May God bless our community over the Christmas period.
CHRISTMAS APPEALS
As we draw nearer to Christmas, a time of expectant joy for many, we are reminded that it is also a time when we look inwards to ensure joy is experienced by those around us too. 2022 has been another uncertain year for many families in our community. Below are the organisations our school community will be collecting on behalf of for the remainder of the year. Please give in whatever capacity you’re able.
Contributions to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
These contributions are non-perishable food items and items to prepare for Christmas, for example: biscuits, Christmas food (shortbread, pudding), coffee, tinned food, cordial, soft drinks, Christmas decorations. Please, no children’s gifts and no alcohol; however, items such as pencil cases and water bottles are always appreciated.
Kildare House initiative: Contributions for particular St Joseph’s families in Murgon
Students in Kildare House Groups have been assigned a family for whom they are packing a hamper. These hampers will be delivered to St Joseph’s by some Kildare students on 29 November.
Donations for St Vincent de Paul can be dropped off at Student Services. Donations for the families in Murgon are being collected through Kildare House Group each morning.
Many thanks for your anticipated support of these appeals.
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching, Mr Martin Lobb
Reporting for Semester 2
Years 5 – 10
All results for individual tasks, under the Continuous Reporting processes, will be released on MySRC for Years 5 – 10 students before 3:00pm on Friday 2 December. Semester 2 Academic Transcripts will be available in MySRC for parents to download during the week beginning Monday 12 December and print if they wish. They will remain in the student’s MySRC profile until they leave the College. These results will be the overall results for each subject over the course of Semester 2.
Year 11
The Academic Transcript for Year 11 that will be released in the week beginning Monday 12 December will contain the overall results for Unit 2 – this will pertain to the tasks completed during Term 3, and in some subjects, it may include Term 2 tasks as well. Year 11 students have all commenced Unit 3 and this will be reported on, when confirmed, in 2023. Individual Year 11 subject task results for all Term 4, Unit 3 tasks will be released during Week 2 of the 2023 school year.
Primary Years
Head of Primary, Ms Belinda Emmi
We made it, what a journey, what a year!
To the wider St Rita’s Community, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for welcoming Year 5 into your world this year. As a new Year level into the College, the Primary students, teachers, support staff and myself have all felt your welcoming heart and compassion this year as we have undertaken this new venture together. It has been a year of many firsts for the school, the students, parents and teaching staff as we navigated the waters of reintroducing Year 5 to St Rita’s College. What a successful, fun, engaging and inspiring year it has been for all involved.
The Year 5 students have thrived being a part of this community. A community of compassion and hospitality, where our youngest learners have answered the call to be brave, be women of action, be all they can be and more. We have watched on as our students have jumped, leapt and dashed through interhouse athletics carnivals, splashed, shouted and raced through interhouse swimming carnivals and smiled laughed and cheered as they celebrated House Heroics.
The generous nature and support offered by our St Rita’s secondary students and teachers to our youngest students has been an absolute pleasure to witness. The students in Year 5 have loved sharing this journey with you all and aspire to be like the brave young leaders they watch at each assembly.
Celebration of Learning Event
On Monday 14 November Year 5 students and teachers opened their doors to our parent community and extended families. What a pleasure and joy it was to welcome everyone into our school and learning community.
Our Year 5 students reflected on the year that has been, sharing their challenges and successes in light of our new Primary Learner Qualities. Seeing the excitement and energy generated by the students when they were given the opportunity to share their world truly made the event special. All students in Year 5 have worked exceptionally hard this year to progress their learning and achieve.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the afternoon a great success.
What You Need to Know
Arrangements for Final Day of School Tomorrow
A reminder that school finishes at Midday this Friday, 25 November.
- The College uniform must be worn as usual to and from school. Students may wear Christmas accessories (Christmas hats, earrings, etc.) after Mass, but not before or during Mass.
- The Pantry will be open for breakfast and morning tea, but will not be serving lunch items. No online ordering is available.
- The Library will close at 1:00pm. Students must return all outstanding resources to the Library prior to the end of the school year, with the exception of Year 11 Units 3 and 4 texts.
- Years 7-11 students must ensure all items are removed from their lockers. There will be no access to lockers over the Christmas/New Year break and the same locker may not be in use for 2023. Please encourage students to start bringing home items in their locker before last day.
- Year 5 students can be collected from the Primary Drive Through Pick Up area from 12:10pm-12:30pm.
- Year 5 students are to take home all their belongings prior to the end of school. Year 5 students are not to bring their laptop on the last day of school.
- Red and White Buses will run a full service for all routes departing the usual Oriel Road stop at 12:15pm.
- Hornibrook Bus Lines will run on their usual Route 999 afternoon timetable with no modification to accommodate the early finishing time.
- Please continue to bring in non-perishable food items and Christmas items for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal - biscuits, Christmas food (shortbread, pudding), coffee, tinned food, cordial, soft drinks, Christmas decorations. Please, no children’s gifts and no alcohol; however, items such as pencil cases and water bottles are always appreciated.
- Kildare students are asked to continue to bring in donations for the Kildare House Murgon Family Christmas initiative.
Christmas/New Year Dates to diary
College Office Closure
College Office: will close on Friday 16 December 2022 at 3:00pm and reopen on Tuesday 3 January 2023. If you have an urgent enquiry during this period, please email administration@stritas.qld.edu.au. This email address will be checked periodically during the closure period. As such, there may be a delay in reply.
Boutique Hours
St Rita’s Buy Swap Sell Giveaway Site
Parents who would like to buy or sell College Uniform items may wish to use the very popular St Rita’s Buy Swap Sell Giveaway Facebook site, which is run by parents. The Boutique does not offer a second-hand uniform buy or sell service.
2023 Term Dates
Term 1
Tuesday 24 January (Years 5, 7, 11 and 12 commence) – Friday 31 March
Wednesday 25 January (Years 6, 8, 9 and 10 commence) - Friday 31 March
Term 2
Monday 17 April – Friday 16 June
Term 3
Monday 10 July – Friday 15 September
Term 4
Tuesday 3 October – Friday 24 November
2023 MySRC Calendar
The MySRC Calendar has been updated with 2023 scheduled activities and events. The entries will be populated with relevant activity/event information as soon as practicable when information is to hand.
College App
Parents should ensure they update their Tag subscription notifications in the College App to reflect their 2023 student status and activities and avoid receiving unnecessary notifications – i.e. if you are currently a Year 7 parent, you should at the start of the new year unsubscribe to Year 7 notifications and subscribe to Year 8 notifications. Please also update cocurricular tags as required.
Please note: The College App is the mobile-accessed communication device and NOT MySRC. MySRC is the College’s Learning Management System. Parents receive College communications via the App, MySRC and email according to the relevance of the item. CLICK HERE for the SRC App User Guide.
SRC Supporter Gear - Purchase up to Thursday 8 December
Parents and Past Students can purchase mens and ladies Polos and Caps up to Thursday 8 December with last collection for 2022 on Friday 16 December from College Reception.
The range is non-cocurricular specific and is perfect to wear at sports, music and/or debating events and any other opportunities to promote the Brown and White with pride. These make great Christmas presents.
Please note that the Boutique does not stock nor sell Supporter gear. All enquiries should be made via administration@stritas.qld.edu.au
The College thanks Mrs Rosanna Ferguson for her work on this project.
Click Here to be taken to the purchasing portal along with full details.
Thank you to our Business Directory Advertisers
The College Business Directory Advertisers are giving parents, staff and the wider College community insights to their exceptional goods and services, and supporting the sport and music programs of the College. Thanks are extended to all advertisers this year.
Click on the Brown Ribbon on the College App homepage to contact them at any time.
Click Here to View our Advertisers. Click into the Business Logo to be directed to their websites or email. Don’t forget to mention you are from St Rita’s when contacting them.
Service Roster
Big Brekky Holiday Roster
Students are to meet the supervising staff member at Student Services at 5:55am. Students are to wear modest comfortable clothing.
Tuesday 29 November: Mrs Star will accompany Enuri Malavi, Mia Hollyman, Jemima Irvine and Lily Holm
Tuesday 6 December: Mrs McGrath will accompany Heidi Lynch, Stella Kay, Chloe Barron and Felicity Fletcher
Tuesday 13 December: Mrs McGrath will accompany Annaka Morton, Amelia Flitton, Sophia Brady and Charlotte O’Keefe
Tuesday 20 December: Mrs Star will accompany Sinead Rowe, Libby Fryar, Ella Innes and Molly Wright
Tuesday 10 January: A staff member will accompany Sophie O’Neill, Ava Webcke, Maddie Ditchburn and Lily Holm
Tuesday 17 January: A staff member will accompany Jemma Marcoionni, Siena Curcuruto, Amalia Bonfield and Greta Larman
Tuesday 24 January: Mrs Star will accompany Mia Hollyman, Jemima Irvine, Bridget Conn and Harriett Pozzebon
Debating News - Mrs Lorraine Specogna, Debating Coordinator
2023 Debating
The 2023 season for Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 will begin in the week of 20 February. The finalisation of teams will happen in Week 2 next year. Thank you to the students who have already registered. All information is available on the BGDA and QDU websites.
BGDA - https://www.bgda.org.au/
QDU - https://www.qdu.org.au/
The Primary Years debating season does not commence until May. Further details for the Primary competition will be sent out in March 2023.
QDU 2023 State Trials
Congratulations to Sophia Smith, Year 9, who qualified in the top 24 debaters in the recent QDU State Trials.
Nudgee College Invitation to Secondary school debaters
Nudgee College in collaboration with QDU is holding a Debating Development Day for secondary school debaters on Sunday 29 January 2023. This day is an opportunity to learn new debating skills and have fun debating each other’s schools. The program is still being finalised but will be held at Nudgee College beginning at 9:00am and concluding at 4:00pm. QUT Debating Students will coach, adjudicate and provide valuable feedback to teams. It is anticipated morning tea and lunch will be provided.
Please email Mrs Specogna after 16 January but before Wednesday 23 January, if you are interested in this Debating Development Day.
Languages News
German Dinner Sponsorship - Thank you Mycelium!
Dinner auf Deutsch!
The Year 9 German class enjoyed a delicious dinner of Schnitzel and Sauerbraten at the Brisbane German Club on Tuesday 22 November. Ms Knogler and the class thank Mycelium Ventures for their generous offer to cover the costs of dinner. Vielen Dank!
Sport - Mr Dane Robinson, Director of Sport
Sports Subcommittee Sponsorship
Each year the Sports Subcommittee recognises the top achievements of St Rita’s College athletes that have been achieved within sport over the course of the year.
The sponsorship is a financial contribution to assist the family with the associated costs of pursuing a high level of sport. This financial contribution is put towards covering a Term’s fee for the Sporting Excellence Program (SEP) in the following year. There are two tiers of sponsorship on offer. Tier 1 recognises National/International level of achievement and Tier 2 recognises State level of achievement.
The recipients of this year’s sponsorship include:
TIER 1:
- Lily Carrick Water Polo
- Darcey Johnson Cricket
- Matilda Morrow Water Polo
- Emma Williams Water Polo
- Horatia Schlect Water Polo
TIER 2:
- Rose Acklin Track & Field
- Elke Cooper Hockey
- Izabelle Cooper Track & Field
- Jemima Irvine Water Polo
- Cate Klinge Water Polo
- Maria Veneris Track & Field
- Romy Vickers Track & Field
- Nina Vickers Triathlon
- Abby Vickers Triathlon
- Holly Williams Hockey
Swimming
St Rita’s Swimming will shut down during the Christmas holidays from Friday 9 December to Monday 16 January 2023.
During this time, any St Rita's swimmers can instead swim at Rackley’s Centenary and Terrace sessions, the times and locations of these sessions are reflected in the Junior and Development schedules attached below (note the sessions that are held at Centenary Pool and the ones held at Terrace).
Please also be aware that all Centenary and Terrace squad sessions will be paused for Christmas from 17 December and will resume on 3 January.
Please take advantage of the swimming on offer!
Click Here for holiday squad sessions and venues.
Swimming Carnival
The Swimming Carnival was held on Friday 11 November. It was a perfect day for swimming and competitiveness among the Houses was at an all-time high. The House points were close all day with Hogan pulling away at the end to win the Carnival. The final House points were:
- Hogan - 1522
- Cascian – 1386
- Collins – 1321
- Marian – 1308
- Rosa – 1238
- Xaverian – 1171
- Nagle – 1052
- Kildare - 1002
The Aqua Rosa race took place for both the Primary and Secondary students. In this race each House nominated their fastest swimmer over 50FS and they race for the honour of being the fastest swimmer in the school. It was an extremely close race with the following students winning:
- PRIMARY - Ciara Donovan (Hogan)
- SECONDARY - Sienna Counsel (Hogan)
Touch Football
From Friday 7 October through to Sunday 9 October our Open Touch Team competed a the All-Schools Championships.
This young team that has been training hard for most of the year, narrowly missed out on making the finals. They played some very competitive games and showed massive improvements from last year. There are big things ahead for this incredibly talented team.
Special mention must go to the Seniors in the team - Isabella Catalano, Abbey Vickers and Sophia McCarthy - who led from the front.
Tennis
The SRC Knowles Cup team successfully defended their title and won the Knowles Cup Tournament for a record equalling fifth consecutive year.
It was an incredible team performance that saw every player contribute towards the win.
Special mention must go to the Tennis captains, Alexandra Zornig and Felicity Shepherd, who were consistent leaders all year. Special mention must also go to our Head Coach, John James, for doing such an amazing job coaching the team.
Volleyball
Congratulations to our Junior Volleyball Team who recently won the Junior Volleyball Schools Cup (Div 2).
Special mention must go out to our Head Coach, Molly Edwards, who is doing a fantastic job developing these young Volleyballers and has had amazing success with all the All Schools Teams.
Water Polo
Congratulations to Horatia Schlect (Yr 12) and Amelia Watt (graduated) for being selected to represent Australia at the NZ Test Match Series and Training Camp.
Both players have been part of the St Rita’s/Polo Bears Pathway that we provide for our students, giving them the opportunity to train and play at high levels during and after school.
This is an exciting achievement. Well done to both.
Community Notices
Boondall Figure Ice Skating Spectacular
Christmas Mass Times at St Agatha's Church
