Dear Parents and Carers 

This Friday 8 August we celebrate the Feast Day of our only Australian saint - Saint Mary MacKillop. 

St Mary of the Cross MackIllop Feast Day 

This Friday 8 August is the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. 

Australia's first saint is Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. She was canonized on October 17, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. She was beatified in Sydney in 1995. Mary MacKillop is celebrated for her work with the poor, especially in education, and her founding of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.   

We Pray:

God, through the intercession of Mary MacKillop, we pray that the fire of your compassion will ignite many hearts. 

May Mary's attentiveness to your dream inspire us. 

May her energy to overcome injustice empower us. 

May we, like her, make manifest of your presence in our troubled world.

Amen

(source: bbbcatholic.org.au)

Welcome to Mrs Sylwia Ward - University Student Teacher on Kinder Paris

This week we welcomed Mrs Ward who will be observing and co-teaching in Kinder Paris for 4 weeks. This is a wonderful period of the year to be in Kindergarten and our school. It is also great to have an extra pair of hands in the classroom.   

Congratulations to our Year 5 Wakairri Team

Well done to our Year 5 students and staff for an amazing Wakakirri story and dance production at the Canberra Theatre on Monday night.  Their performance was mesmerising and perfect! Their story was based on ‘The Secret Garden.’ Their dance and movement told the story clearly and creatively. Their costumes were spectacular.

A huge thank you to Rob Wilson, a very kind and talented Rosary parent who again helped with our Wakirri production. Rob created and produced amazing digital backdrops for our dance and story presentation.  The digital images really complemented the performance of our students and provided a visual context for our story. This is the fourth year Rob has assisted our Wakakirri Team - thanks Rob, we couldn’t do it without you! 

Author Visit to Rosary - Katrina Nannestad

This week we had a fantastic and informative author visit from Katrina Naanestad.  Katrina ran sessions for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6. I was fortunate to attend the Year 5/Year 6  session and it was very interesting for the students to hear about how Katrina writes her historical fiction books from start to end.  The topics and themes in her books explore the lives of ordinary children caught up in some of the most challenging events/times in history.  Her characters are fictional but based on historical context.  Truly amazing to read.  I think our students were blessed to have listened to Katrina’s presentations. 

More information can be found at: 

https://www.katrinanannestad.com/

School hats back on from Week 4 (next week)

From next week students will need to wear school hats before school, at recess and at lunch.  This is from Monday 11 August. Sunsmart and The Cancer Council advise that people don't need to wear hats in Canberra for the months of June and July but people should wear hats from August onwards - as UV ratings increase. Students were informed of this earlier in the week at morning assembly so they have time to prepare. 

Term 3 Focus on Students’ Lining Up and Transitioning into School/Class to Class

This term Rosary School is having a strong focus on lining up and moving around the school and transitioning between classes and lessons quietly and orderly.  You'll hear myself and staff using the term "voices off".   When students are moving around in an orderley fashion with their voices off, it will create more head space for their learning and we'll be safer at school. 

Whole School Social Skills Program - Term 3

This year Rosary has introduced a couple of social school programs for students in Kindergarten to Year 6.  Each program is tailored to the developmental levels and the social skills stage for each age group.  In Term 3 we are using a resource called ‘URSTRONG’, and in particular, one of their programs called ‘Friendology101.’ 

How does URSTRONG work?

URSTRONG is all about empowering kids with friendship skills!  They have developed a proven, skills-based strategy that teaches kid-friendly concepts, skills and language to help them build and maintain healthy friendships.

Athletics Carnival this Friday

Good luck to everyone participating in the Rosary athletics carnival this Friday at Dickson Playing Fields. I hope everyone has been training up for the range of events and will enjoy participating in the various events and activities.  The carnival should be a lot of fun and for those who are a bit more serious and into their athletics, there is an opportunity to try and perform well and maybe go on to be selected to represent Rosary School at the district and/or ACT level carnivals. 

Thank you Mrs Elizabeth Fryar, our sports coordinator, who has spent a great deal of time organising the carnival. Thank you to all of volunteers coming along to assist too.   

Rosary Competing in Northside Chess Competition

This Thursday Rosary students will compete in the 2025 ACT Primary Chess Championship- Gungahlin Zone at  The Valley Campus, Burgmann College. 

The students in our chess club at school continue to impress with their level of skill and the way they commit to further their game strategy and fair play. Many students from our chess club at school will be part of the team that participates on Thursday.  We wish all these students good luck against the very good competition from other students and schools.   What a great opportunity! Thank you to Mrs Jodie Dawson and the evergreen Mrs Sandy Vincent for their continuing support for the Rosary Chess Club. Have fun everyone. 

‘Healthy Harold’ visiting Rosary next week!

I wonder how many of our Rosary parents and carers remember Healthy Harold from their primary school days?  Does this picture ring a bell?

Life Education presents health education to a range students through the character of Healthy Harold!  The education team and van will be here at Rosary for the week. 

Wishing you well for the week ahead.

God Bless.

Greg Walker

Principal 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Inner North Parishes Amalgamation Proposal

In his letter of 1 July 2025, Archbishop Christopher asked that the parishes of the inner north Catholic community be consulted about their future configuration and canonical status.  As part of this consultation process, Blackfriars Parish will hold a parish meeting at 7pm on Friday, 8 August 2025, in the Holy Rosary Church parish centre. 

Refreshments provided.  All welcome.

Feast Day of Mary Mackillop

Mary was born in Victoria to Scottish immigrants. She was the eldest of eight children and spent her early years working to support her family. At the age of 24 she dedicated her life to God and took on the name “Mary of the Cross”.

Along with Fr Julian Tenison Woods, Mary opened a school in a disused stable in Penola, South Australia. Her vision was to provide education for underprivileged children. Many other women came to join her there, and Mary and Julian founded Australia’s first religious order: the Sisters of St Joseph.

Mary and the Sisters were committed to serving the poor – to going to where the need was and living amongst those in need. This took Mary all over Australia to many rural areas. 

Mary faced fierce opposition throughout her life, which at one point culminated in her being excommunicated. In the face of trial, Mary was a model of forgiveness, insisting no ill be spoken of those who wronged her, while also remaining resolute in her convictions. 

Mary was remarkable as a strong female leader in 19th century Australia. Education in this country is what it is today thanks to her dedication and determination.                                                     

Taken from: https://www.marymackilloptoday.org.au

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Next 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. 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C | Sunday 10 August | green

“Be prepared!”

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

August 10 - Sunday 19 ORD

Peace and best wishes,

Liz Higgins

Religious Education Coordinator

• Chess Competition - Burgmann College - Thursday 7th July
• Rosary Athletics Carnival - Friday 8th August - Dickson Playing Fields
• 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)

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

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.

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.

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/