Dear Parents and Carers

New School Counsellor for Remainder of Term 3

I am pleased to advise that Rosary will have school counsellor support for the remainder of this term while Sarah Foley is away on leave. Kate Worthington, a highly experienced school counsellor, will be available every Tuesday starting from Tuesday 11 August (this week).

Marymead/CatholicCare have given Kate a thorough handover to familiarise herself with Rosary. New referrals can now be made to see Kate, as we would have done by contacting Sarah or Colleen in the school office.  Kate will begin reaching out to parents and offering support to students accordingly.

If you have any questions or need support for a student please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Rosary Athletics Carnival Success!

Congratulations to everybody involved in the Rosary athletics carnival on Friday at Dickson Playing Fields. It sounds like everybody had a great day and enjoyed the range of activities, races, throwing and jumping events. Thank you to our many  volunteers who helped on the day.  We couldn’t run the carnival without your help.  Special thanks again to Mrs Fryar for organising our carnival and all the work she does in her sports coordinator role. Thank you to Melissa in the canteen for making up the lunch packs for students and providing a service on this big day on the school calendar. 

Year 1 Assembly

Good luck to our Year 1 students and teachers for their assembly this Friday afternoon in the school hall. I know they’ve been working really hard this year and are looking forward to showcasing some of their learning and activities with the parents and carers that are able to attend. Thank you to Mrs Holgate, Mrs. Godfrey and Mr. Hinds for their wonderful efforts in teaching and supporting these students.

2025 BOOKWEEK is nearly here! 

Next week is Book Week, one of the highlights on the school calendar. Thank you to our Teacher Librarian Mrs Jodie Dawson for planning for this week and all the exciting activities to take place. We do have another special author visit next week from Gregg Dreise. Gregg is a popular indigenous author, artist and song writer.  He is famous for his books about Australian birds and animals. They are bright and colourful books, sure to entertain all children and adults. 

Children will also be able to take part in the annual Rosary Book Week Parade on Friday morning 22 August. There will also be a special Book Week Assembly on that afternoon as well. Mrs Dawson is also running the Annual Book Fair again from Tuesday to Friday next week in the library.  Parents and carers can drop in and buy a new book or two to inspire their child to read more or try a different genre or author.  It will be a fun week with the focus on READING! 

2025 NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK 

It is National Science Week around the country this week and it was launched at Rosary today (Thursday).  All students are invited to take part in completing some work for Science Week, but it is not compulsory. It’s for those who love Science! The students do their work or project at home because they love Science and STEM and then we will display their work at school.  Last year about 70 students presented awesome projects on the theme of ‘Endangered Species.’  

The 2025 theme is a bit more complex - ‘Decoding the Universe - Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.’  

However, when the theme is unpacked it opens up a lot of possibilities for students to explore. It’s all about unpacking the mysteries of the universe!  The focus is also on Quantum Science and the use of physics, mathematics and STEM in nature’s equations. 

For students they can really study any mystery or part of nature in the universe (anything in the world or space.)  It’s about looking for small things like patterns, waves, colours, combinations, particles, atoms, interactions between matter or substances, light, gases, electricity - almost everything that works, grows or happens in our universe.  This is a chance for students to find out WHY something is like it is or HOW it happens.   

The National Science Week resource pack has ideas about plants, flowers, animals, wave lengths, particles, rocks, minerals, weather, the solar system, gases (you know the ones I mean!), shadows, decoding DNA etc.,   

So many things we take for granted today like iPads, Computers, MRI machines, Digital Cameras LED lights, forensic science, medicine, lasers, phones, communication etc.   

Students are encouraged to study something in the universe and see how it works and look at the patterns and the science and mathematics behind it.  What can we understand and learn from these phenomena?  Explore something small that we find in nature or something big cosmos in the universe! First nation cultures have used traditional knowledge systems gained by observing the land and sky, by recognising patterns and through decoding meaning. 

You research something, make a poster, design an experiment, or showcase how something looks or works. Ideas can be found at:

https://www.scienceweek.net.au/school-resource-book-for-national-science-week-2025-is-live/

We will make the due date for the projects the end of Week 8 on Friday 12 September.

Students Leaving Rosary in 2026

If your child has enrolled in another school for 2026 or you are moving to another school within the ACT or interstate, could you please let the School Office know as soon as your plans are finalised? This will allow the school to look at offering places to students currently on the waiting list in most of our levels And we obviously wish all students leaving Rosary all the best for their new schools and adventures ahead. Thank you.

Wishing you well for the week ahead.

God Bless.

Greg Walker

Principal 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Inner North Parishes Amalgamation Proposal

As part of consultation requested by Archbishop Christopher on a proposed amalgamation of the Canberra Inner North Catholic Community parishes, Blackfriars Parish is convening a second consultation meeting.  This will be held on Thursday, 21 August 2025, at 6.30pm in the Holy Rosary Church parish centre.  Refreshments provided.  All welcome.

You are also invited to complete a survey on the proposal.  Here's a link to it:   https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAZAAFovfv5UQURPME4xOTJZWTcxWUQ0T1NaT1lGNU5KWC4u&route=shorturl.  

Please submit the survey by 22 August 2025.

Thank you and God bless

Blackfriars Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council and Renewal Team'

Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This Friday, 15 August @ 10am, the school will attend Mass to mark the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a holy day of obligation, and all members of the parish and school community are invited to attend.  

Confirmation Preparation

Please pray for the students who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on 12 September.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C | Sunday 17 August | green

“I have come not to give peace, but discord.”

Please click on the link below to access the readings and reflections for this Sunday

August 17 - Sunday 20 ORD

Liz Higgins

Religious Education Coordinator

• Feast Of The Assumption Mass - Friday 15 August 10.00am - Holy Rosary Church
• Year 1 Assembly - Friday 15 August 2.20pm - School Hall 
• Book Week - Book an Adventure - 18th- 22nd August (Week 5)
• Author Visit - Gregg Dreise - Thursday 21st August 
• Book Fair - Monday 18th - Friday 22nd August
• Book Week Dress Up Parade - Friday 22nd August at 9.15am - Quad
• Book Week Assembly - Friday 22nd August at 2.20pm - School Hall
• Science Week - Decoding the Universe - Monday 25th - Friday 29th August
• Year 3 Liturgy - Friday 29 August - Holy Rosary Church 10.00am (please note the change of date from the school calendar)

Katrina Nannestad- Author Visit

Last Tuesday 5th August, students at Rosary had the opportunity to participate in an engaging session with award winning author Katrina Nannestad. She shared valuable insights into the writing process, including how ideas are developed, characters are created, and stories are shaped. Some students had the opportunity to dress up as some of the characters in her stories bringing them to life. Katrina inspired many students to continue to create their own stories.

Book Week- Next Week

This year the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book Week Theme is Book an Adventure!  I would like to alert all Rosary families that this year’s Book Week falls in Week Five of this term (18th-22nd August). Book Week is an annual celebration that is the highlight for all students! As part of Book week celebrations, I will be asking the students to come dressed as a book character ensuring that they have the book the character relates to with them on the day. I am happy to assist with any book choices. The children will be asked to come to school in their costumes on Friday 22nd August. Please be mindful of the suitability of props e.g. swords.

Book Fair-Next Week

Our annual Book Fair will be held in the library from the afternoon of the August 18th – 22nd inclusive. There will be a large selection of books to purchase for your children with a percentage of sales being returned to the library in books and resources. 

Author, Artist and Song Writer Visit -Gregg Dreise - Thursday 21st August

Rosary is very fortunate to have Gregg Dreise visiting Rosary on Thursday 21st August. 

Gregg Dreise is an award-winning Australian author, song writer and artist. He creates vibrant, engaging books, songs and artworks that celebrate First Nations stories, culture, and language for children. His work blends humour, music, and powerful messages about kindness, respect and belonging. 

Attached is some information about how to order one of Gregg's books to be signed and delivered at the visit. 

Mrs Jodie Dawson

Teacher Librarian

Bonnie Le Mesurier is taking the ACRF Hair Dare to support Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) in their mission to achieve a world without cancer.  

Help raise vital funds to give people Australia’s best cancer research. Will you support me? https://fundraise.acrf.com.au/fundraisers/bonnielemesurier 

Thanks for backing brilliant cancer research! 

Bonnie

Access to the clothing pool will now be as follows:

Monday - Friday - Before and after school only

Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers who maintain the space for our community.

Please note: All donations of preloved uniforms (in good wearable condition) are welcome at the front office.

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.

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 - 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 - Wednesdays at Lunchtime from Weeks 2-9 - Kinder to Year 4

Please contact the school if you require further information.

Just a few reminders about the car parking and drop off / pick up arrangements:

• The speed limit is 5 km/hr in the car park and all road rules apply.
  
  
•  Pedestrians always have the right of way. 

• Park only in the designated parking spaces, facing forwards towards the university. 

• The white markings relate to traffic flow and parking (coloured markings relate to the children’s playing spaces.) 

• The area closest to the Peace Gates is reserved for Set Down Only in the mornings. Parents can stop in the marked bays long enough for children to alight from the vehicle on the quadrangle side and then enter the school through the Peace Gates. 

• For pedestrian safety there is no parking or stopping against kerb near Peace Gates after school. 

• Please note that no reversing is allowed from the bays marked on the courts. 

• Please follow the white arrows and drive in and drive out again in a forward direction only. This is to reduce the risk to children who cannot be seen by reversing vehicles. 

• Due to the spacing of the bays, parallel parking is only available in the area adjacent to the shade shelter on the oval. This area should be used by larger vehicles and trucks wherever possible. 

• Parallel parking is not available adjacent to the university grounds as this space is needed for vehicles to exit the parking area in a forward direction. 

• Parking on the courts is not permitted between 9:15am and 2:45pm as they are used for play at recess and lunch and by classes for sport throughout the day. 

• There is ‘Long Stay’ parking available in front of the hall for parents who spend time at the school after 9:00am. (This is the only area in which reversing to exit is permitted.) This ensures that the courts area is free for classes to use for sports lessons. 

• After school, some parents may need to see teachers or the front office staff. If this is the case, please leave your cars outside in the bus bay or behind the hall on Higginbotham Street as the gates are locked at 3:30pm. 

• All students travelling home by car are to wait in the quad until collected by a parent/carer. 

• Parents waiting for their children after school are asked to move well into the quad to assist access. 

• When children arrive at school, they are to enter via the Peace Gates in the quadrangle. Children are not to enter through the front office foyer. Likewise, children are not to leave through the front office at the end of the day unless catching a route bus. 

• No child is to meet a parent/carer anywhere other than the quadrangle area at the end of school. 

• The children must be supervised in the car park – they are not permitted to go to a parked vehicle without a parent/carer with them.

Get ready to groove!

Incredible lunchtime dance classes are now running every Wednesday at Rosary Primary School, led by professional instructors from Canberra’s top studio - PLAY The Dance Company.  Classes will run from weeks 2-9 for students in Kinder to Year 4.

✨ Fun, active, and perfect for all levels

✨ Boosts coordination, confidence & creativity

✨ Run by expert instructors from Canberra’s best!

Enrolling now using the link below!

Don’t miss out.

Let your child move, express, and shine all with the convenience of no after-school running around! 

https://www.playagency.com.au/product/2025-term-3-school-program-rosary-primary-school/