Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to the 2023 school year at Rosary. It is great to be back together as a school community. I hope that you and your family were able to have some quality time together and a bit of a summer break.
I would like to offer a special welcome to our new families and students starting at Rosary in 2023. Please support them in any way they need as they settle in.
New School Staff in 2023
I would like to warmly welcome 4 new staff joining the Rosary community this year.
Mr Damien Hinds - Year 2 Classroom Teacher
Damien joins our staff from Holy Family Primary School in Gowrie. Damien is an experienced teacher who knows our school well and has undertaken some casual work here in recent years.
Miss Nuri La - Year 1 Classroom Teacher
Nuri is a graduate teacher from the University of Canberra with lots of interests and talents. Nuri is also an ex-Rosary student who is very excited about returning to the school in a teaching capacity.
Mrs Meg Millband - Classroom Support Teacher
Meg has been successful in this position, one that she has held at her two previous schools, Holy Trinity Curtin and St Thomas Aquinas West Belconnen. Meg brings experience in planning and implementing strategies to meet the needs of students of all ability levels.
Damien, Nuri and Meg have all participated in professional learning with our staff during the past week and I look forward to the opportunity to introduce them to you early in the term.
Alanna McGee - CatholicCare Counsellor
Alanna has been appointed to Rosary for 2023, replacing Hilde as our counsellor. The time allocated for this role is about 2 days per week and I will provide more information when I know more and Alanna starts her role.
Staff in New Roles
Mrs Kath Watson will continue to teach STEM in 2023 with the role extending to 2 days per week. Mrs Watson will also teach our E.A.L.D. students and support other students in their learning.
In 2023 Mrs Elisa Pavlic will be teaching classes when their teachers are released for Literacy and Curriculum Development.
Mrs Janet Hanratty will be teaching in a casual capacity at Rosary in 2023.
2023 Rosary Staff
I am proud to announce their year levels and classrooms:
Classroom Teachers:
Kinder Nagoya: Miss Karen Green
Kinder Paris: Mrs Ann-Maree Hinds
Year 1 Vienna: Miss Nicole Rich
Year 1 The Hague: Miss Nuri La / Mrs Beth Campton
Year 2 Dublin: Mrs Julie Godfrey/Mr Damien Hinds
Year 2 Barcelona: Mrs Elizabeth Fryar
Year 2 Osaka: Mrs Liz Higgins/Mrs Beth Toole
Year 3 Copenhagen: Miss Rachel McKerrow
Year 3 Casablanca: Mrs Sharon Stiffle
Year 4 Cairo: Ms Emma Hillsdon
Year 4 Bangkok: Miss Diandra Blom
Year 5: Washington: Mrs Nicole Mogan
Year 5 Panama: Mr Rob Read
Year 6 London: Mrs Mara Pangallo
Year 6 Athens: Mr Chris Evans
Specialist Subject Teachers:
Music: Mr John O’Brien (Tues - Thurs) / Mrs Beth Campton ( Every second Tuesday)
Indonesian: Mrs (Ibu) Jacqui Ramesh
Library: Mrs Sandy Vincent/Mrs Jodie Dawson
STEM (Science, Technology, English, Mathematics): Mrs Kath Watson
Curriculum Release: Mrs Elisa Pavlic (Wednesday, Thursday)
EALD/Extra Support: Mrs Kath Watson
Sport: Mrs Elizabeth Fryar
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Island Contact Teacher: TBC
School Office:
Ms Rebecca van der Sanden (Monday - Thursday)
Mrs Colleen Welsh (Wednesday and Friday)
Classroom Support Teacher: Mrs Meg Millband
Classroom Support Assistants: Mrs Kathy Brokenshire, Mrs Colleen Welsh, Miss Rachel Webb, Mrs Nicole Arndt, Miss Clare Henman.
School Janitor/Maintenance: Mr Paul Mogan
Canteen: Mrs Melissa Thornton (Canteen open Tuesday to Friday)
Rosary Sports Role 2023
I’m pleased to announce that Mrs Elizabeth Fryar will oversee the sports events and carnivals for Rosary in 2023. Mrs Fryar is passionate about sport and has previously assisted with many carnivals and events in the past. Mrs Fryar teaches Year 2 but will release time as required to attend sports administration. Mrs Godfrey, who also teaches Year 2, will provide this release to Year 2 Barcelona on these days.
We look forward to students participating in many different sports gala days and events, as well as taking part in our main school carnivals and our school swimming program. Parents and carers are needed to assist with coaching, managing and volunteering for all of our events.
Please ensure you have a current Working With Vulnerable people Card (WWVP) so that you can volunteer. These WWVP cards are available from the ACT Government or at
https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/s/article/working-with-vulnerable-people-wwvp-registration-tab-overview
Welcome Back to School Mass
You are warmly invited to attend our 2023 Opening School Mass next Tuesday 7 February at 10am at Holy Rosary Church. We look forward to celebrating the start of the school year and praying for the blessing and opportunities that the year provides for our community. Please note the change of date from the one in advertised in the school calendar.
Welcome Back to School BBQ
This is also on next Tuesday 7 February 5.00pm - 7.00pm. Classroom teachers will open their classrooms from 5.00pm - 6.00pm and be available for informal conversations with you. Your child may like to show you their classroom and where they sit. Teachers will also hand-out Term One Curriculum Overviews and other relevant information. They are not doing formal presentations so you are welcome to visit multiple classrooms at this time. If you are seeking a longer time with your child’s teacher, I recommend organising another time for a formal meeting. The BBQ will be available from 6.00pm so families and staff can mingle together and catch up to start the year. Thank you to our Year 6 parents who are organising the BBQ on behalf of the Community Council.
2023 School Calendar
The 2023 school calendar came home yesterday in hard copy form. The calendar has all known dates at the time of printing and is decorated with images of the Rosary students and community at work! It is a great ‘working document’ and one you can add to or change as required during the year.
Thank you to Mr John O’Brien who was the chief editor and organiser for the calendar again this year.
Supervision Times
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.
Playground Use After School Pick Up
After school parents and carers often allow their children to have a short play on the school equipment or oval after they pick them up from the Quad/Peace Gates. The school supports this physical play and activity after school. Parents are required to actively supervise their children’s play and interactions and have them in sight. The children need to play and behave in line with our school rules. They need to play safely and be respectful towards others.
No students should be playing after school in this area if their parents or carer has not picked them up and assumed responsibility for their supervision and care.
No student should be climbing on the container near the play equipment. It has come to my attention that this has happened in the past but it is unsafe and not acceptable.
OSH Club do need to use the play equipment and grounds for their program from 3.45pm so I ask that you end your family play at this time.
Thank you for your support and diligence in supervising your child or children.
A few general reminders:
Toys at school: We ask that children leave their toys at home and only play with equipment provided by the school; with the exception of hand balls that are labelled with a name. This is to ensure that ‘personal treasures’ do not become lost or damaged at school. It is also to keep everyone safe as some toys are not ‘playground friendly’.
Long hair: If a child’s hair is long enough to touch the shoulders, it needs to be tied back. This is to prevent the spread of head lice and to keep hair out of eyes as well as to ensure a neat and tidy appearance.
Hats: Children need to be wearing the brimmed uniform hat until the end of May.
Allergies to Nuts
Please remember not to send nuts or products containing nuts to school. Several children are severely allergic to nuts and your cooperation in reducing risks to their health is greatly appreciated.
Again, welcome back to the 2023 school year. The school staff and I look forward to working in partnership with you.
God Bless
Greg Walker
Principal