Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back for Term 3.  I hope everyone had the chance for a restful school holiday break. The weather was certainly mixed with some cloudy and wet weather days and then some heavy frosts but nice days so I hope you were able to keep warm! 

Term 3 is always an exciting term where students get the chance to really go deeper in their learning and also experience lots of school events. In this newsletter I have included dates of some of the highlights and special events coming up.  

Term 3 Staff Updates 

Mr Chris Evans (Year 6 Cairo) has been seconded to St John the Apostle for Term 3, where he will be acting as Religious Education Coordinator.  Congratulations to Mr Evans on his secondment. Mr Evans has been Acting Religious Education Coordinator here for Term 1 and the majority of Term 2. 

We wish him every success in this important executive role and look forward to welcoming him back to Rosary in Term 4.

As we look ahead to Term 3, we are very pleased to welcome back Miss Nuri La, who will be teaching the Yr 6 Cairo on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Mrs Elisa Pavlic will take the class on Wednesdays. 

NAIDOC Week this week in schools

This year’s National NAIDOC Week marks 50 years of the week-long celebrations, and the theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead. 

“Over the decades, NAIDOC Week has grown into a powerful national celebration that continues to honour and elevate Indigenous voices, culture and resilience 50 years on.

“Guided by the wisdom of our Elders and the groundwork laid by our forebears, each NAIDOC Week reinforces our vision for an Australia where Indigenous voices are not only heard but lead the way.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we look toward the next 50 years of NAIDOC Week celebrations, with excitement and confidence, while ensuring that NAIDOC remains a movement grounded in community-led vision and integrity.”

Aunty (Professor) Lynette Riley, National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair. 

We celebrate NAIDOC this week in our schools.  Our Aboriginal students have been invited to attend the Catholic Education Mass this Friday at St Christopher’s Cathedral Manuka, along with our Year 6 students.  Miss Rachel McKerrow, our Aboriginal Contact Teacher, and Mrs Shannon Blakey will attend. Rosary has also had a number of Aboriginal educational performances recently and activities in class. 

Think U Know Workshops

This week our Year 3-6 students took part in Think U Know workshops with Australian Federal Police educators. It is so important for students' development and safety that they understand how to use the internet,online platforms, gaming and social media appropriately and safely. Social media and being connected online is a big part of the lives of people today but it comes with lots of challenges and risks.  

The educators from the Australian Federal Police spoke to our students about safely accessing online sites and how to protect their identity and personal details. There were also other safeguarding measures and strategies shared with students. 

Thank you to Mrs Jodie Dawson for organising the workshops and continuing our school focus on educating students about the online world today.  

New Resources for Students Unveiled

Rosary has purchased some new resources following funds raised by last year’s successful colour run event. Please see the photos below of new gymnastics mats in the hall which are used for junior gross motor classes and other fitness activities in the hall.  There are also new outdoor tables and chairs that our Kindergarten students use for eating.  These tables can also be used for Year 6/Kinder buddy activities and buy other groups of students. You will also see that there are new soccer goals for students to use on the infants playground and the Year 2-6 oval. These are a big hit as soccer or ‘football’ as the fans of this world game say, is played by the students all year round at Rosary.            

School Playground - Stage 2 Upgrades

During the school holidays  Stage 2 maintenance work was carried out on the senior playground area near the oval. As part of the project, all equipment was checked by industry experts and parts replaced as required due to wear and tear. In some areas the border around the playground was extended and increased in height to hold more tanbark as softfall.  All tanbark was topped up to provide a very good level of support to reduce the risk of injuries from falls.    

Our students were very excited that they were back on the equipment for the first day of this term.

Some of our Upcoming School Events

Friday 1 August 10.00 am St  Dominic's Feast Day Mass (Holy Rosary Church)

Monday 4 August - Year 5 Wakakirri evening performance at Canberra Theatre

Monday 4  August - ‘100 days of Kinder’ celebration

Thursday 7 August - Rosary students competing in Burgmann College Chess Competition

Thursday 7August - Kindergarten Incursion activity at school.

Friday 8 August - St Mary of the Cross Mackillop Feast Day

Friday 8 August - Rosary Athletics Carnival at Dickson Playing Fields

Friday 15 August 10.00 am -Feast Of The Assumption Mass (Church).

Friday 15 August 2.20 pm - Year 1 School Assembly (School Hall).

Monday 18 August - Friday 22 August (Week 5) -  BOOK WEEK

Friday 22 August - 9am BOOK WEEK Parade & 2.20pm BOOK WEEK assembly  

Friday 29 August 10.00am - Year 3 Liturgy (Holy Rosary Church) *Please note change of date from the school Calendar

Friday 5 September - Father’s Day Breakfast (TBC) 

Friday 12 September 5:30pm - Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation with Archbishop Christopher Prowse. 

Friday 19 September 10.00am - Year 6 Mass (Holy Rosary Church).

Monday 22 September - Rosary Learning Journeys and Open Classrooms (before school)

Thursday 25 September - Potential Date for 2025 Colour Run Event and Fundraiser (TBC - Last Day of Term 3).

Friday 26 September - PUPIL FREE DAY (Staff Professional Learning). No school for students.

Lunch Time Clubs in Term 3

Parents and Carers often ask about these clubs…this term our staff are offering:

Agriculture Club (Mr Read)  Thursday

STEM Club (Mrs Watson) Tuesday

Card Games Club (Mrs Scott) Wednesday

You can encourage your child to attend these activities if you think it will interest them.

Extra-Curricular Clubs Offered Outside School Hours

• French Lessons - Wednesday 8.00am - 9.00am (beginner) from week 2
• Italian Lessons - Friday 8:00am - 9:00am (beginner) 
• Action Tae Kwon-Do - Monday 6.30pm Children class / 7:30pm Adult class
• Chess Club - Tuesday 3.10pm - 4.30pm (Weeks 1-9)
• Zanshin Martial Arts - Tuesday 6.30pm Junior class / 7:30pm Senior class
• Artkids - Thursday 3.10pm - 5.00pm
• Musicorp (various instruments) / Piano Lessons - Friday 8:20am and during class time throughout the day
• Block Crafters - Tuesday and Wednesday from Week 2 - 3.15pm - 5.00pm Coding and Robotics After School Programme for interested students aged 8-12 years 
• Dance Club - PLAY - The Dance Agency - Tuesdays at Lunchtime from Weeks 2-9 - Kinder to Year 4 

2025 NAPLAN Results Available for Year 3 and Year 5 Parents

The 2025 NAPLAN results have been finalised and parents and carers will soon receive their child’s assessment report in paper form.  These reports will be sent home with students in a sealed envelope. 

Wishing you well for the week ahead.

God Bless. 

Greg Walker

Principal