Dear Parents and Carers

I hope Week 7 has been good for you.  Many great events continue this term. 

Carlo Acutis Canonisation

Something significant is occurring this Sunday 7 September.  The young Blessed Carlo Acutis will be canonised a saint in the Catholic Church by Pope Leo IV.  

We will be talking about this with the students at school and it makes a great story and example to talk to your children at home about. Some young people often can’t relate to the saints of another era, but Carlo Acutis is a great example for them to study and look up to.  He is our first Catholic Millennial Saint.    

Carlo’s life and death tells the story of a normal young boy/teenager who found God in his life, quite profoundly from the age of 7. 

He was born in London, raised in Milan, spent time in Assisi and is now buried in Assisi.

He was born to privileged parents of good wealth and fortune, but this did not define Carlo’s life or his choices. Carlo is called ‘The Apostle of the Eucharist’ because of his personal experience and connection with the blessed sacrament and the body and blood of Christ.

So struck and transformed by the Eucharist in his own faith, Carlo decided to research and present all of the Eucharistic miracles of the Church to other people in the hope they too could experience the unconditional love of God. Carlo was a tech-savvy kid who loved computers.  He used his technological skills to create a website for people of all ages to learn more about this. He used technology to send out his message of evangelisation to all corners of the world. He stood up for those human values and dignity.  He worked to help those people suffering, less fortunate than himself and those in need of love, purpose and direction in their lives.  Many of his family, friends and people he met said he bought them closer to God.

He lived a teenage normal life including sport, soccer, gaming, school, friendships, family events and travel.  

Sadly, Carlo’s life was cut tragically short when he developed a rare and aggressive form of leukemia and passed away within a week of being diagnosed. Carlo was just 16 years of age.  He lived from 1991 - 2006.

In 2013 a miracle was attributed to Carlo. A family prayed for the intercession and support from Carlo when their young daughter was very ill with a pancreas malfunction causing life threatening consequences.  They prayed to Carlo and her condition disappeared!  Doctors could not find any medical or scientific explanation for what happened.  

Carlo was pronounced as ‘Blessed’ in a ceremony by the late Pope Francis in Assisi in 2020 and was destined to be canonised and made a saint. 

Carlo’s canonisation is this Sunday and we pray for him, his family and all those who will benefit from his example in our Church today. 

Many sites online tell the story of Caro Acutis’ life.  

Please note that this Sunday we also honour the canonisation of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who devoted to helping the poor in his community. He died age 24 in 1925. 

Carlo Acutis                                                                Pier Giorgio Frassati

(Pictures: Wikimedia Commons)

Sacrament of Confirmation

Many of our Year 6 students will make the very special Sacrament of Confirmation next Friday 12 September.  Archbishop Christopher Prowse will confirm our candidates at the 5.30pm mass in Blackfriars Parish Watson.

Confirmation is about the candidates confirming their commitment to follow God as a young adult, as their parents and God parents did on their behalf at Baptism. Our young Christians remain close to Jesus and can open their hearts and minds in a way that nourishes, sustains, comforts and inspires them.  As their journey into adulthood continues, God will always be walking with them every step of the way.  

Happy Father’s Day this Friday/Weekend

Happy Father’s Day to our dads and grandads in our community, and all those parents and carers who look after our students.  We look forward to a nice Father’s Day BREAKFAST and community celebration tomorrow morning Friday 5 September. Parents and students are welcome to attend between 8:00am and 9.00am for breakfast. 

Colour Run Fundraising Underway

The Rosary 2025 Colour Run event is planned for Thursday 25 September (Last Day of Term 3).  The colour run was launched on Monday this week, with our Year 6 students doing a fun dance and quiz for the whole school. Students have been given special cards to seek fundraising and donations over the 4 week period.

Thanks for your support as the Community Council and parent volunteers work together to raise funds to keep improving Rosary School.   

Our first colour run last year was a huge success and a lot of fun!  

EREA School Leaders Visit to Rosary

On Monday this week Rosary School hosted a group of 15 principals and school leaders from the Edmund Rice Education Australian (E.R.E.A.) schools from Queensland and Australia.  They were particularly interested in observing our classrooms in action and watching our pedagogy and student engagement in learning. The principals were very impressed with Rosary School, the staff and students. They are exploring introducing the evidence based explicit teaching pedagogy and other engagement norms with students in their schools.    

Rosary staff and students received some very affirming feedback from our visitors! Nice work everyone.   

RUOK Day (Week 8)

Rosary School is taking part in the National R.U.O.K. Day next Thursday 11 September. We all know the importance of promoting and maintaining good mental health. This includes your own mental health and the wellbeing of others.

R.U.O.K. Day is about promoting conversations between people about how they are travelling and coping with school and life in general.  It is hard to speak up and there are skills in how to have these conversations respectfully and genuinely. 

Rosary Community Council Open Meeting Held Last Night

Last night our Community Council held an open meeting and it was lovely to have two new parents attend.  They were able to hear about how our Council operates as well as meet the members and hear about our current strategic initiatives and what is planned for the future. 

We look forward to sharing more Community Council news with you soon.  

Wishing you well for the week ahead.

God Bless. 

Greg Walker

Principal 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Prayer for the Canonisation of Carlo Acutis

Oh God, Our Father, thank you for giving us Carlo,

a life example for the young and a message of love for everyone.

You made him become enamoured with Your Son Jesus,

Making of the Eucharist his “Highway to Heaven”.

You gave him Mary, as a most loving Mother, and, with the Rosary,

you made him a poet of her tenderness.

Receive his prayer for us.

Above all, gaze upon the poor, whom he loved and helped.

Grant for me too, by his intercession, the grace that I need . . .

And make our joy fulfilled, placing Carlo among the Saints of your Church,

so that his smile may shine again for us in the glory of your name.

Amen

Confirmation Preparation

Please pray for the students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 12 September @ 5:30pm.

Year 3 Liturgy - thank you

Year 3 participated in a beautiful Liturgy last Thursday. Their singing and participation was excellent. Thank you to Sharon Stiffle and Rachel McKerrow for all your work. Thank you to all the parents and family members who were able to attend.

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C | Sunday 7 August | green

“Unless you are ready to give up all that you possess,

you cannot be my disciple.”

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

September 7 - Sunday 23 ORD

Liz Higgins

Religious Education Coordinator

• Fathers Day Breakfast - Friday 5th September
• Uniform Free Day - Colour Run Challenge Reward - Friday 5th September
• R U OK Day - Thursday 11th September
• Sacrament of Confirmation - Friday 12th September
• ACT 12 & U Track and Field Championship - Tuesday 16th September - AIS
• Year 6 Mass - Friday 19th September - Holy Rosary Church 10.00am
• Learning Journeys - Monday 22d September  - Classrooms
• Colour Run - Thursday 25th September
• Term 3 Ends for Students - Thursday 25th September
• Pupil Free Day - Staff Only - Friday 26th September

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.