ST RITA’S COLLEGE Verbis 22 AUGUST 2019, TERM 3, EDITION 12 issues. He would push for the girls to be worldly – that is, to know what was going on in FROM THE PRINCIPAL the world and to have an opinion about world affairs. He was, and is, passionate about Mrs Dale Morrow young people participating in our government and understanding issues that will affect not only their lives but also the lives of others. Mr Jarvis had and continues to have a Dear Parents/Guardians, commitment to social justice and this is evident in his teaching. Last week we spent an Assembly saying farewell to Mr Paul Jarvis who has been a Teacher at St Rita’s Mr Jarvis briefly taught History and Mathematics. He assured me that he was a very bad for nearly 40 years. I would like to share my farewell ‘maths’ teacher and pitied his students. Sr Marlette Black, former Principal of St Rita’s, address with the College community. introduced Study of Religion as a subject into the curriculum and we were one of the first schools in the State to do so. Mr Jarvis worked with Sr Marlette teaching Study of Our Assembly today is to farewell a very special Religion, which eventually became an everyday occurrence in most Catholic schools. He person who has been at the College for just on 40 was happy to be on the cutting edge of a subject that would challenge and extend the years. Mr Paul Jarvis applied to work at St Rita’s in girls in their thinking, particularly in relation to their faith. 1979 and was appointed to teach in the subject areas of Economics, Business Principles and Mathematics, commencing his teaching career at A little known fact these days was that Mr Jarvis accompanied a number of students on a St Rita’s in January 1980 at the age of 28. He had come to Brisbane to follow the love of study tour in 1989 to the Soviet Union before the fall of the Berlin Wall. St Rita’s was the his life, Lynnie, whom he married in December 1979. first Australian school group to undertake such an extraordinary cultural and educational journey. Dealing with the USSR bureaucracy and catching trains and Aeroflot planes We are today joined by Mrs Jarvis and her daughter Nicola, a past pupil, and her son gave the staff and students an historic appreciation of the complexities of the Soviet Andrew. We welcome you all here today. Mr Jarvis is rightfully very proud of his family Union. Even before departure, he was dealing with comments such as the group ‘should and we have been grateful that they have shared him with us for these past 40 years. not go as the girls could be kidnapped by the Communists’. Mr Jarvis’ desire to provide Teaching, you see, is an occupation that does not allow someone to work the hours the girls with another view of the world was fundamental to what he believed a good of 9:00am to 5:00pm. Teachers work to make sure that they are giving their students education should consist of. This was not an easy tour to organise or run, but fortunately the best opportunities possible – every lesson, every day. Going hand in hand with that all returned home with stories and an experience of a lifetime. responsibility is the connection a teacher makes with each student. Learning occurs when connections are genuine and care is evident. These are the hallmarks of Mr Jarvis’ Mr Jarvis has also been known for his absent mindedness on occasions. Two such time at St. Rita’s. occasions (according to Mr Skinner) were; Firstly, Mr Jarvis had bought a digital clock with a large face for the classroom, but Prior to coming to St Rita’s Mr Jarvis taught at Santa Sabina College in Sydney for four when he tried to set it he found that no matter what buttons he pressed the display years, as well as one year at Edmund Rice College in Wollongong. Mr Jarvis grew up did not change. So, he sought help from another teacher. Immediately that other in Sydney and attended Waverley College - a Christian Brothers school located in the teacher reached down and pulled off the advertising label that was covering the face Eastern suburbs of Sydney. He was a bit of a sportsman in his day and was awarded the of the clock to reveal the actual time displayed on the clock! Corbett Cup for the best all-rounder sportsman at Waverley College. Mr Jarvis studied a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of New South Wales and completed his Secondly, one morning Mr Jarvis was delayed by unusually bad traffic and missed Diploma of Education at the University of New England. the morning Staff Briefing. During that briefing Sister Elvera (who was Principal at the time) had announced to the staff that the new signal for a lockdown would be I quote from the reference Mr Jarvis received from the Principal of Santa Sabina: an announcement over the College PA system that teachers should “carry out a hat Mr Paul Jarvis has taught at Santa Sabina College for four years (1976-1979). As a check”. When later that day this announcement was made, Sister walked around the teacher he has been highly successful and effective… Over the years, Mr Jarvis’ results school to check on its effectiveness only to find Mr Jarvis had lined up all his students in the higher School Certificate have been outstanding. In 1977, two of his three in the hallway outside S06 and he smilingly and proudly announced to Sister that all unit economics students obtained 147/150 and 145/150, and in 1979 one student hats had passed the check with flying colours!! obtained the maximum and received the top mark in the State…Mr Jarvis has enjoyed popularity and respect amongst the staff. I am sure that the girls who have been taught by Mr Jarvis will all know how important he thinks it is for students to be good critical thinkers. He has a strong belief in Mr Jarvis has taught Economics to many students over his years at St Rita’s and many of understanding content and then using that understanding to think critically. In other the ex-students found their love of Economics and Commerce from being in his classes. words: have the ability to think in novel ways, be self-directed and to always question He loved to extend the girls and always would encourage them to have an open mind on Continued Page 2 2018 YEAR2019 OF YEAR COURAGE OF JUSTICE - LEADING - LIVING WITH JUSTLY COURAGE ST RITA’S COLLEGE Verbis FROM THE PRINCIPAL... CONTINUED why you think what you think. He wants his students to have the ability to think about hearts and in the hearts of hundreds of past pupils. important issues and to always come from a position that is informed by research. Mr Jarvis always wanted to outlast Sister Elvera, but unfortunately that is one milestone Please accept these gifts as a sign of our appreciation. A statue of the Lady with the that he will not reach! Lantern to remind you of your time here living out the ethos of the Presentation Sisters and gold cufflinks in the shape of a bee to remind you of Cascian House and also the I would like to thank you, Mr Jarvis, for your commitment to the many students you miracle of St Rita. have taught over the past four decades at this College and we are particularly grateful that you chose to spend those four decades with us at St Rita’s. Every time I meet a Good bye Mr Chips !!! past student they ask about you. You did more than teach content, you developed their curiosity and challenged their thinking and so many past pupils fondly remember you for the engaging, caring and fun-loving man that you have been to us all. We thank you for all the joy you have contributed to so many and we wish you well in Mrs Dale Morrow your future endeavours. Please know you will always hold a very special place in our Principal, St Rita’s College ST RITA’S COLLEGE SCHOOL FEES PAYMENT OPTION For parents looking for alternative fee payment arrangements over an extended period fortnightly or weekly payments to Edstart over 12 months or longer. of time, from 2020 we are referring parents to Edstart. Edstart offers an easy, flexible and low-cost way for you to pay for your child’s education over a time frame that suits your If you have any queries, please contact Edstart on 1300 139 445 or chat with their team family budget. With Edstart, you can fund your tuition fees, levies, textbook hire, as well at [email protected] as additional expenses such as camps and retreats, uniforms, private music tuition and amounts outstanding. Please note, in providing information about Edstart, the College does not provide any recommendations, brokering or advice services. The College does not receive referral Apply online at www.edstart.com.au The simple three-step process: Calculate => Select fees, commissions or other remuneration from Edstart. Payment => Application can be completed within minutes. Once approved, Edstart will pay the school on the two Semester instalment dates and you will make regular monthly, ENROLMENTS YEAR 7, 2023 A reminder to our families that if you have a daughter currently in Year 3, enrolments are open now for Year 7, 2023.