Dear Parents and Carers,

At our recent Principals’ Retreat, we had the opportunity to explore the power of charisms in leadership. Charisms are unique spiritual gifts that guide and inspire us in our work, helping to shape the culture of our schools. Through insightful discussions and reflective activities, we were able to delve into how these gifts can enhance leadership styles, foster community, and deepen connection with both staff and students. It was a transformative experience that reminded us all of the importance of leading with purpose, passion, and a heart open to serving others. Archbishop Christopher Prowse was also there to celebrate two Masses with us.

The newly appointed Executive Director of Catholic Education, Mr David de Carvalho was able to attend and meet the principals. He will be taking over from acting Executive Director, Ms Pam Betts, in the middle of the year.

Yr 6 Camp

Last week our Year 6 students went to Berry for their camp. It was a great to see our students step out of their comfort zones, embrace new challenges, and create lasting memories. A big thank you to our supervising teachers, Mrs Shannon Blakey, Mr Chris Evans, Mrs Kath Watson and Mrs Elizabeth Fryar for making this experience possible and to the Year 6 students for their enthusiasm and positive spirit throughout the trip!

NAPLAN

This week NAPLAN testing started. So far, the students in Years 3 and 5 have completed the writing and reading assessments. These tests provide a snapshot of each student’s progress in key areas like reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy. While it’s an important assessment, we also remind our students to approach it with confidence and to do their best, knowing that it is just one part of their learning journey. Our teachers have worked closely with students to ensure they are well-prepared, and we are proud of the effort and resilience shown by everyone involved.

Parking on the Courts

Please remember that the curb that runs along the Peace Gates is drop off only in the morning. If you are coming into the quad, please park in a bay. In the afternoon it is a no parking space.

Best wishes for the week ahead.

John O'Brien

Acting Principal

As we enter the Season of Lent we have a great deal to reflect on. Last week we were able to come together as a School and Parish to mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, even our Year 6s who were not able to be with us were able to be marked with Ashes in a liturgy at Camp in Berry, NSW.

Ash Wednesday gives us the opportunity to begin our Lenten preparations and calls us to join with the Church in Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

This year in particular I would encourage you to consider giving as generously as you can to those in need, both in our community and around the world. The cost of living problems that have been much talked about in the media have wide-ranging impacts on families, and can push families who are on the brink into crisis.

At school, we will be talking with our classes about the work of Project Compassion - the key fundraising activity of Caritas Australia. This year's theme is Unite Against Poverty. Caritas Australia provides much needed support to communities around the world, this year their focus is on supporting people in Vietnam, Samoa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I would call on families to support Caritas as generously as they are able, as you may have heard the United States has dramatically cut its foreign aid budget, and this is likely to lead to up to a million preventable deaths and “condemn millions to dehumanizing poverty”.

https://www.caritas.org/2025/02/closure-of-usaid-foreign-aid-will-kill-millions/

We are in a position at Rosary to support Caritas in the vital work that it does around the world, and I call on all member of the Rosary community to be as generous as you can be.

Kind regards,

Christopher Evans

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

Important Dates coming up:

Kinder Liturgy (in Classrooms) - Friday Week 6 (14th March) 10 am

Year 2 Liturgy - Friday Week 7 (21st March) 10 am

Year 5 Mass - Friday Week 8 (28th March) 10 am

Year 3 Liturgy - Friday Week 9 (April 4th)10 am

Sacrament of Reconciliation - Saturday 5th April 10 am

• NAPLAN Test Period - Wednesday 12th - Friday 21st March
• Rosary Swimming Carnival - Wednesday 19th March - Dickson Swimming Pool
• Year 2 Liturgy - Friday 21st March - Holy Rosary Church 10.00am
• My Body My Life - Year 6 - Tuesday 25th March
• Year 5 Mass - Friday 28th March - Holy Rosary Church 10.00am

Year 6 had an amazing 3 days at camp. Students participated in various activities such as; Dark Maze, Archery, Sea Biscuits, Paint Water Ballons, and rock climbing as well as night activities which included Tabloids and Games. These activities challenged the students' ability to work together and step outside of their comfort zones. So much fun was had, and the teachers were very proud of the students' attitudes and efforts all round. 

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.

Earlier this month, year 3 Osaka's Charlie Battey and Oliver Walmsley travelled to Thredbo to compete in the Australian Mountain Biking interschools championship.

The boys proudly represented our school and successfully competed in a range of downhill mountain bike races against riders from all over Australia.

Here are some photo of the boys in action.

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 1-10)
• 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.