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- Principals Report Week 8 Term 1
- Religious Education News
- Dates for your Diary
- Veritas Awards
- BEST Awards
- Community Council Update
- Library News - Author Visit Monday, March 27- Dr Vanessa Pirotta
- Rosary Disco This Friday
- Rosary Easter Disco
- Extracurricular Activities at Rosary
- Whole Day Absences via Parent Portal
- Rosary Netball Newsletter
- School Counselling Services
- Car Park Safety Reminder
- UPDATE - CLOTHING POOL STILL CLOSED
- Parentline
- Dads of Rosary Social Group
- Holiday Happenings
- St Edmund’s College - Experience Eddies Day and Open Evening for 2023
- St Clare’s College Enrolment Information
- Merici College Enrolling Now
- Shrek the Musical Jr.
- Girls Programming Network
Principals Report Week 8 Term 1
Dear Parents and Carers,
Staffing News
Rachel Webb has been working with us as a Classroom Support Assistant since the end of 2020. During this time, she has also been completing her teaching degree and next week will start her final teaching placement which will be followed by an overseas study tour. As a result, tomorrow will be her last day working at Rosary. On behalf of the school community, I would like to thank Rachel for her work and commitment over the last two years. She has been a valued member of staff and we wish her well with her future endeavours.
Swimming Carnival
The Swimming Carnival, held at the Dickson Pool last Friday, was a resounding success. The weather was beautiful, and the carnival ran smoothly. Students participated in races, novelty events and water play enthusiastically and were well behaved, following instructions and cheering on their teammates.
A huge thanks is extended to our parents for giving up time to be there on the day to fulfil a variety of roles, provide wonderful hospitality and cheer the children on. Thanks to Elizabeth Fryar and the organising committee for the hours of preparation spent preparing for the day.
NAPLAN
Students in Years 3 and 5 have completed the NAPLAN tests over the last week. Most tests are completed online and they were administered without any technical issues. NAPLAN results will be released in the coming months and parents will receive a report detailing their child’s achievement against national and school performance levels.
Reminder About Morning School Start Time and Supervision
Please note that the daily supervision of students by school staff commences at 8.30am and finishes at 3.30pm. No child should be on the premises before supervision begins in the morning as they will be unsupervised. Please make private arrangements for the care of your child if your circumstances make this difficult or enrol your child in OSHClub before school care. In the afternoon, if we are notified that a parent will be inadvertently delayed, of course, children will be supervised until the parent takes over their care.
Best wishes for the week ahead.
John O'Brien
Acting Principal
KINDER LITURGY
Today, Kindergarten celebrated God’s Wonderful Creation in a beautiful liturgy. This took place at school as the heavens opened with bountiful rain preventing us from walking to the church! Thank you to Fr Mannes and all the parents and grandparents who braved the weather to attend!
YEAR 3 LITURGY
Next Thursday 30 March, Year 3 will participate in a Liturgy at Holy Rosary Church at 10am. All welcome!
PROJECT COMPASSION
Thank you to families who have already donated to project compassion. Your donations to Project Compassion enable Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
We are encouraged to put our compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each classroom has a Project Compassion box for donations. All donations will be greatly appreciated!
HOLY WEEK LITURGIES
The students will participate in a Liturgy to commemorate the events of Holy Week on Thursday 6 April at 12 noon in the quad. All welcome!
Thursday is also the last day for raising funds for Project Compassion. To boost our efforts, students are invited to come in a splash of colour that matches the theme of their grade’s liturgy in exchange for a gold coin (or more) donation.
Colour themes (splash of colour) per grade:
- Kinder and Year 6: Palm Sunday (green or bright colours)
- Year 5: The Crucifixion (dark colours - red/black/grey or navy)
- Year 4: The Last Supper (neutral colours - beige/grey/brown or white)
- Year 3: The Agony in the Garden (dark colours - purple/black/grey or navy)
- Year 2: At the Tomb (neutral colours - beige/grey/brown or white)
- Year 1: The Resurrection (any bright colours)
Please ensure your child wears their runners and school hat.
Thank you for supporting Project Compassion.
Peace and best wishes
Liz Higgins
Religious Education Coordinator
- School Disco - Friday 24th March Kinder - Year 3, 5.45pm - 7.00pm, Dinner Session 7.00pm - 7.30pm, Years 3 - 6, 7.30pm - 8.45pm (Year 3 may attend either session)
- Year 3 Liturgy - Thursday 30th March - Holy Rosary Church 10.00am
- North Gungahlin SSACT Swimming Carnival - Monday 3rd April AIS
- TRY DARA Day (Year 6 Students only)- Tuesday 4th April
- Term 1 Ends - Thursday 6th April
- Pupil Free Day - Monday 24th April
- ANZAC Day Public Holiday - Tuesday 25th April
- Term 2 Commences for all students - Wednesday 26th April
- First Eucharist Formation Evening - Thursday 27th April - Holy Rosary Church 5.30pm
Congratulations to the following students who received a Veritas Award:
Kobe Cullen
Louise Pedregosa
Mikaela Rudd
Zoe Alderman
Charlotte Pham
Jackson Flowers
Louie Garreffa
Atleigh Roland
Sangay Rigzin
Bonnie Le Mesurier
Yangchen Tshomo
Isabella Therklesen
Ari Taglieapietra
Louis Monahan
Emily Henderson-Allard
Sami Thomas
Congratulations to the following students who received a BEST Award:
Henry Harris
Henry Greenaway
Nadia Burleigh
Vivien Thornton
Dorothy Fryar
Mori McAlister
Anna Stein
Marcelo Valdivia
Julia Liso
Henry Pochi
Ava Frawley
Carlo Wallace
Nel Baraniecki
Jed Perks
Council has met twice this term however my apologies I missed an update after the first. Herewith a combined update.
Firstly we welcomed Fiona Hill-Stein as a new member to Council. Fiona nominated and was accepted as a new member in 2022 however with a start of 2023. At the first meeting it was noted that a number of members of Council would complete their term at the end of 2023 and therefore step down. Nominations are now being sought to join Council and more information can be provided via email to rosarycouncil@gmail.com or meeting in person. Please email to make contact.
Fr Mannes also provided an update on the planning for changes as the Dominicans hand the pastoral care of the Watson Parish to the Archdiocese at the end of November 2023. More information will be available as the plan moving forward evolves.
Council has set up 2 sub committees for this year to address our 2 major activities being the Grounds Masterplan, which will consider all green and play spaces around the school, and the 60th Anniversary celebrations co-ordinating and planning activities with the parish.
- The Grounds Masterplan will allow us to plan and incrementally progress the implementation of changes and upgrades to the school grounds. Parents and children will have the opportunity to provide input through a Survey Monkey which will be sent out via WhatsApp in the near future - please watch out for it. The survey will include questions for students so please include them in the discussions. We have had 2 consultation sessions to date, one with staff and one with Council members. The sub committee is all but in place ready to progress further. Input is also being sought from other users of the spaces like the Rosary Rugby Club.
- This year is the 60th Anniversary for both the parish and the school. The sub committee will determine the celebrations in conjunction with the parish and plan these going forward. Watch for updates on what is planned and how to be involved in the celebration events and activities.
It was decided that our 2023 Open Meeting, open to the school parent and carer community, will be on Wednesday 6 June. This is a great opportunity to participate in a Council meeting and learn more about the things we discuss and consider in terms of school matters and the education, learning and wellbeing of our students and teachers. More information will be provided in Term 2.
Library News - Author Visit Monday, March 27- Dr Vanessa Pirotta
It is with much excitement that I can announce that Rosary Primary School is hosting a visit from Dr Vanessa Pirotta, Australian wildlife scientist and author in the school Library on March 27 from 9am. Vanessa is going to be speaking with our year five students who are currently doing a library-based inquiry unit about Antarctic fauna.
Parents would recognise Vanessa as Australia’s foremost authority when discussing whales and dolphins in the media. She is known for her work in wildlife conservation and her ground-breaking use of drones to monitor whale health. Vanessa is passionate about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and the importance of getting knowledge and content out to inspire the next generation!
Vanessa has also written a new picture book The Voyage of Whale and Calf. Last week, Vanessa’s book was honoured by the Children’s Book Council of Australia for its accuracy of information, book design and excellence in the non-fiction writing genre. Further to this, I have been able to secure 65 copies of her book for pre-sales for the day. If parents would like to pre-purchase a copy which Vanessa will personally sign, an order form will be coming home via Compass soon.
Vanessa is a past Rosary student (and Library Monitor), so I’m beyond enthralled with her achievements on the world stage!
Sandy Vincent
Teacher Librarian
DISCO
The Disco will be held in the school hall this Friday evening. The Disco is organised into timeslots as follows:
- 5:45 – 7:00pm Kindergarten to Year 3
- Dinner service for all grades from the canteen – eating and drinking in the quad only (no food or drink to be taken into the hall)
- 7:30 – 8:45 Year 3 to Year 6
NB: Year 3 students may choose to attend either session but not both.
Anyone who is unwell must not attend the event.
Please be aware of the following conditions:
- No student is permitted to bring a phone, camera or other digital device to the Disco. Should parents need to be contacted, a staff member has access to all contact information and will make the call. Should a child be noted to have a device in their possession, they will be asked to place it in a designated, safe space within the canteen and to collect it at the end of the Disco with an accompanying parent.
- Year 3 parents are responsible for the organisation of the Disco and will provide supervision. Registered volunteers will be identified with a fluorescent vest and will be allocated to particular roles and positions. A member of Executive school staff will be present at all times.
- Registered volunteers must have a current WWVP card (or can sign at Statutory Declaration) and this must be always kept on their person during the event.
- Only registered volunteers will be permitted into the hall during the Disco, however, parents who are accompanying students may remain in the quad.
- Only existing school students are permitted to attend the disco.
- Older siblings who attend other schools may not attend the Disco unless they are registered volunteers who will be working at the event.
- Younger siblings who are not of school age are permitted to attend but must, at all times, be supervised by a parent. Registered volunteers must not have younger siblings in their care whilst performing supervision duties.
- No enrolled student is permitted to enter the canteen area at any time or is to engage in food service or money handling. Only older siblings who are under the care of a parent and who are registered as volunteers may be in the canteen space and perform these tasks.
- The quad is a space for parents to sit and for food and drink to be consumed. It will not be open for play or running around by the students. Students who wish to go in and out of the hall to visit parents in the quad may do so.
- A first aid kit will be retained in the canteen.
- Students will be retained in the hall space for parents to collect at the end of each session. Junior students at the first session will need to be collected from the hall by a parent and then accompanied to collect their dinner from the canteen.
The following items will be able for purchase on the night using cash only:
- Drinks (soft drink, water, juice box) - $2 each
- Chips - $1 each
- Lolly bags (containing chocolate eggs) - $1 each
- Glow Sticks – 3 for $1
Extracurricular Activities at Rosary
There are many extracurricular activities available onsite for our Rosary Students. Please note all of these activities attract a fee and are delivered by external providers. Please see the timetable below for details:
- French Lessons - Monday 3.10pm - 4.25pm (continuing) / Wednesday 8.00am - 9.00am (beginner)
- Action Tae Kwon-Do - Monday 6.30pm Children class / 7:30pm Adult class
- Mandarin Lessons - Wednesday 3.10pm - 4.15pm
- Chess Club - Tuesday 3.10pm - 4.30pm (Weeks 1 - 9)
- Zanshin Martial Arts - Tuesday 6.30pm Junior class / 7:30pm Senior class
- Artkids - Thursday 3.15pm - 5.15pm
- Italian Lessons - Friday 8:00am - 9:00am (beginner)
- Musicorp (various instruments) / Piano Lessons - Friday 8:20am and during class time throughout the day
- Block Crafters - Coding and Robotics After School Programme for interested students aged 8-12 years (currently fully booked).
Please contact the school if you require further information.
Whole Day Absences via Parent Portal
Whole Day Absences
If your child is absent from school for a whole day or longer, please submit details of the absence via the Parent Portal. This should be completed within 7 days of the absence. There is no need to adjust times for whole day absences.
If your child will only be absent for a partial day, the absence will be recorded as your child is signed in or out via the kiosk at the front office. You do not need to add an early pick up or late drop off via the Parent Portal.
Unexplained absences for your child will be displayed on your homepage when you log in to Parent Portal.
If an unexplained absence appears that you believe to be incorrect, please send an email to the front office for investigation.
The school counsellor, is available every Thursday and Friday.
You can refer your child for counselling by filling in a referral form available on Catholic Care’s website or follow this link: https://catholiccare.force.com/housing/s/school-referral-form
After you have filled out the referral form you will automatically be sent an email requesting your consent for your child to access the service. In the case of families where parents are separated, consent of both parents is normally required. If this is difficult for you please feel free to discuss this with the counsellor.
UPDATE - CLOTHING POOL STILL CLOSED
The Rosary Clothing Pool remains closed. We are working very hard to get things back up and running as soon as we can.
We apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
Fathers and carers of all years are invited to attend the 1st DoR’s catch up for 2023. If successful the DoR’s will look to quarterly catch ups throughout 2023.
Friday 17th February - From 5pm
The Cornerstone Pub (Gungahlin)
Please join our WhatsApp Group.
During the April school holidays, Charlotte Woodhouse (yr 5) will be performing in Shrek The Musical Jr. Details for the performances are below. Well done Charlotte!
NOTICEBOARD