Dear Parents and Carers

What a busy couple of weeks it has been at Rosary! So many great events and examples of student achievement.  

Staff News

 This is the time of the year when some of our staff studying teaching complete their degrees and seek to enter the teaching profession.  

I would like to congratulate Mrs Nicole Arndt on receiving an upcoming teaching contract at Blue Gum School.  Nicole recently completed her final university practicum at Blue Gum and after leaving a big impression she has been offered a teaching role with them starting soon. 

Blue Gum’s gain is our loss but of course this is great news for Nicole and a reward for her commitment to years of study and her Classroom Support Role here at Rosary.  I would like to thank Nicole for her dedication to her CSA role at Rosary.  Nicole was a Rosary parent too so her association with the school has been over a long period. Nicole’s last day at Rosary will be Friday 23 August (Week 5).  

We currently have two of our other Classroom Support Assistants, Miss Clare Henman and Miss Monica Cougar, off in other schools completing their final university practicums. They will then graduate and be able to teach their own classes. Miss Henman will return to Rosary to teach with us in Term 4 and we wait to hear about opportunities for Miss Cougar.  Thank you to both Clare and Monica for their respective 2-3 years of service at Rosary.      

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

This week we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption on Thursday 15 August.  This is a Holy Day of Obligation in the catholic Church.  Students attended mass together in Blackfriars Church at 10.00am. It was a beautiful mass. Thank you to everyone for contributing to the mass. 

 The Assumption of Mary into heaven can be a hard thing to explain to children.  This is one way it can be discussed with children. 

‘Even though Mary was assumed into Heaven, she is always with us. Heaven is our home and Mary wants us to be with her and her Son for all eternity. On the Solemnity of the Assumption, let us remember our Mother who is in Heaven and who loves us very much. The Assumption is the fourth Glorious Mystery in the Rosary.’      My Catholic Kids site.

What is the difference between the Ascension and the Assumption?  Jesus ascended.  Mary was assumed.  Because Jesus is God, He went up into Heaven by His own power.  Mary, however, is a person.  She is not God.  Thus, she could not ascend to Heaven by her own power.  Thus, she was assumed – taken up into Heaven by God.

May we all continue to draw inspiration from Mary and her great courage to be the mother of Jesus - showing faith, strength, love, compassion and charity towards others.  We know Mother Teresa worked so closely in her life with people who were vulnerable and poor.  She drew much of her inspiration from Mary and offers this prayer to us: 

“Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor.”  ~ Saint Mother Teresa

Rosary Athletics Carnival Today - Friday 16 August

Good luck to all Rosary students competing in our Athletics carnival today at Dickson playing Fields. This is a great opportunity for students to enjoy participating in track and field events and fun games. Thank you to Mrs Fryar, assisting teachers/staff and parent/family volunteers for making this day possible.   

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge Awards

Yesterday Mrs Millband and I had the opportunity to take some Rosary students to the national library of Australia to receive the reading award for Rosary Primary School.  This is the 20th year of the challenge, which is in place to inspire students to read multiple books and try and catch the reading bug! 

Chief Minister Andrew Barr presented our students with the award and we also had a chance to meet author Jack Heath after the ceremony. Well done to Mrs Dawson who promotes the challenge each year and congratulations to all Rosary students who completed the reading challenge in 2024!  

Book Week and Authors Visits

Thank you to Mrs Dawson for organising two renowned authors to visit Rosary this week ahead of Book Week (next week). The authors spoke about how they got into writing and what inspires them to write and keep going. They presented in workshop form and the students had a chance to participate in writer’s activities. 

We look forward to Book Week, Book Fair and the special assembly next Friday.  This years’ theme is Reading is Magic!      

2024 Tell Them From me Survey 

You should have received information via COMPASS this week about an invitation to complete our annual online school survey.  It is titled ‘Tell them From Me’.  We value your feedback and recommendations so please try to find time to complete the brief survey.  Parents, teachers and students have the opportunity to complete their respective surveys. Responses are confidential and we welcome both positive feedback on what we are doing well and ideas on how we can improve our school.  Thank you.

National Science Week - Rosary Projects 

National Science Week occurs across the country this week in schools and other centres promoting Science and STEM education. This year at Rosary we are inviting students to research how Science can help protect our vulnerable species and save them from extinction!  Students can undertake a project, make a model or poster, put a speech or IT presentation together, conduct an experiment or think of a response of their own creation.  

The 2024 National Science Week theme is ‘SPECIES SURVIVAL – more than just sustainability.’

This is a home project but all pieces of work will be valued and displayed around the school or presented appropriately depending on the type of work produced.  To give prominence to Book We and other things happening at school, students have 4 weeks to complete their work, with projects due by Tuesday 10 September.  

Wishing everyone a great week ahead.

God Bless

Greg Walker

• Author Visit - Sue Whiting - Tuesday 13th August 
• Year 4 Excursion - National Museum - Tuesday 13th August
• Think You Know Presentation Years 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - Tuesday 13th August 
• The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass - Thursday 15th August - 10.00am Holy Rosary Church 
• Rosary Athletics Carnival - Friday 16th August - Dickson Playing Fields
• Book Week - Reading is Magic - Monday 19th August - Friday 23rd August 
• Rosary Book Fair - Monday 19th August - Friday 23rd August
• Book Week Assembly and Dress Up Day - Friday 23rd August - 2.20pm - School Hall
• Father’s Day Stall - Friday 30 August (Year 4 parents organising).

This week has been an extremely busy week in the library as we ready ourselves for Book Week next week!

Author Visit-Sue Whiting

On Tuesday the students in Years 3-6 listened to a wonderful and engaging presentation by the very talented Sue Whiting. She had the students captivated as she shared stories leaving them mesmerised. Sue kindly shared her ideas for a new book character and was eager to answer questions about her writing.

  

 Author Visit- Amelia McInerney

On Wednesday students in Kindergarten to Year 2 had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with Amelia McInerney. This workshop allowed students in Kinder to create a new friend for one of Amelia’s book characters and provided opportunities for students in Years 1 and 2 to start to write their own story using inspiration from a photo.

  

Think U Know- Educational Visit

On Tuesday students in Years 3-6 had a presentation by the Australian Federal Police on Cybersafety as part of a public education program called ‘Think U Know’. This session provided students with information on various technologies, challenges they may experience in the online world and how they can get help and support. This was an invaluable learning experience for our students.

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge 2024

This year Rosary continued its longstanding participation in the Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge with students in Kindergarten to Year 6 participating. The challenge was made more difficult this year, with students required to read 30 books in 21 weeks at their reading level! This is quite a task even for the most avid reader! All students did amazingly well, giving their absolute best and I am proud of every single one of them. Three students, Gabe, Harriet and Archie represented Rosary at the Awards Day at the National Library on Wednesday 14^th August where we received an award for the P-2 category.

Book Fair- Next Week

Book Fair Times 19^th-23^rd August (Week 5) 

Monday                      3.10-4.00pm

Tuesday-Friday           8.30am - 9am

                                 3.10- 4.00pm

There will be a large selection of books for your children to purchase with a percentage of sales being returned to the library in books and resources.

 Book Parade- Next Friday

The Book Parade is fast approaching, with many classes sharing their excitement over their costumes. It will take place after morning assembly on Friday in the Quad. Please contact me as soon as possible if you are having trouble securing a book to match your child’s costume. This is one of the most special times of the year. Thank you for all you are doing to help make this a special week for your child/children.

Book Week is Coming! 

As in previous newsletters Book Week is in one weeks’ time! The Book Week parade is on Friday 23^rd August! This event can be as simple as dressing up as a 'normal' character from a fiction book or as detailed as having your child dressed in a costume character from a book. 

Book Fair Times 19^th-23^rd August (Week 5) 

Monday                      3.10-4.00pm

Tuesday-Friday           8.30am - 9am

                                 3.10- 4.00pm

There will be a large selection of books for your children to purchase with a percentage of sales being returned to the library in books and resources.

Jodie Dawson

The parent WhatsApp groups at Rosary have been a great success since their introduction in 2020. A parent WhatsApp group exists for each year-level at the school. These WhatsApp groups operate on an annual basis, with a new year-level WhatsApp group established at the start of each school year.

The Rosary Community Council endorses the use of WhatsApp amongst the parent groups to promote open communication, positive health and wellbeing, lift spirits, share strategies, have a laugh or two, and to generally support each other.

If you are not currently a member of your child’s year-level WhatsApp group and wish to join, you can join via the link in the Compass Portal. This can be found under ‘My News’ (or ‘Latest News’), titled ‘Year X parent group – Class Contact and Parent WhatsApp Group Information’. 

By agreeing to join the WhatsApp group, parents are agreeing to be respectful towards everyone in the group. To ensure the safe and proper use of WhatsApp within the school community, please find below a reminder of the guidelines that group members should adhere to:

-          It is encouraged that parents include their name in their WhatsApp profile.

-          Be respectful and courteous.

-          Respect people’s opinions - no judgement.

-          Rude or offensive members will be blocked.

-          No complaints regarding the school or teachers. Any complaints must be communicated through official school channels such as the teacher or Principal.

-          Do not share or forward the “Invite to Group” link.

-          Respect each other’s privacy. Do not forward or share any post or photo which has been shared within the Group.

-          Be circumspect in what you post or share. Remember that once you post, you lose control of whatever it is that you post.

Should you have any queries, please contact the Rosary Community Council: rosarycouncil@gmail.com.

Covid and Cold and Flu season are now upon us. To assist in preventing the spread of illness, we seek your co-operation keeping children at home if they are unwell and regularly reminding children about basic hygiene practices including:

Hand Hygiene: frequent washing of hands with soap and water. Using hand sanitizer where apporpriate.

Coughing/Sneezing Etiquette: covering of the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, disposing of the tissue in the bin and washing hands. Alternatively, coughing into the elbow.

We thank you for your cooperation with this important health and safety matter.

The School Counsellor is at Rosary all day Mondays and Tuesdays during each school term.

How to make an appointment

If your child was seen by the School Counsellor last year and you would like them to receive support in 2023, we require you to complete a new counselling registration form. Please either contact your child’s class teacher or Greg Walker- the Principal for further information.

Similarly, new referrals and requests can be made by contacting your child’s class teacher or Greg Walker- the Principal for further information.

Parent consent for counselling continues to be required for all primary school students and will be sought and provided via email. Where parents are separated, we require the written consent of both parents. Once the referral has been received by myself- School Counsellor- I will make contact with parents on my next day at Rosary to further discuss the referral.

More about School counselling/how to access school counselling at Rosary Primary School

As part of the pastoral care program for students at Rosary, students have access to a Student and Family Counselling service provided by MaryMeadCatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn (MCCG). MCCG are contracted by the CEO to provide a counselling service to students and their families on site. There is no fee to access this service. The service offers short term counselling support (roughly up to six sessions per referral issue) to children and their families – the counsellor can also provide referrals for more complex issues requiring intensive or long term therapy/support.

The role of the counsellor is to focus on the emotional, social and educational well-being of the students. Counsellors welcome contact with students having difficulty with some part of their life, the problem does not have to be a big one. It is better to seek help sooner rather than later. Some typical

concerns that counsellors work with include: anger, anxiety, behavioural problems, low mood, family changes/separation, grief and loss, learning and educational challenges, parenting challenges, peer and other social relationships, school avoidance, stress and study skills. As well as individual sessions with students, counsellors can run groups, consult with parents and teachers and make referrals to other services and supports.

Student and Family Counsellors subscribe to a set of professional ethics that include duty of care and respect for the individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. The counsellors’ obligation is to ensure the safety, well-being and confidentiality of the student they are working with. All counsellors are mandated to report any disclosure or sign of abuse (including self-harm) or neglect to Child Protection Services. Outside of our mandated requirements, all counselling sessions are confidential and the details will not be discussed with other parties unless written consent is given by the client.

Sarah Foley- is onsite at Rosary Mondays and Tuesdays during term.

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 - Monday 3.10pm - 4.20pm (continuing) / Wednesday 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 3.15pm - 5.00pm
• 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 - Tuesday and Wednesday Week 2 - Coding and Robotics After School Programme for interested students aged 8-12 years 
• Dance Club - PLAY - The Dance Agency - Tuesdays at Lunchtime from Weeks 2-10 - Kinder to Year 4

Please contact the school if you require further information.

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