Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to a new school year!

I extend a very warm welcome to all new families and staff members who have joined the Rosary community and an equally warm welcome to returning families. Whether you are new to our school or continuing your journey with us, we are so glad to have you as part of our vibrant community.

The first few days have been calm, harmonious, and productive—a wonderful start to the term. Our new students, including Kindergarten, showed great excitement as well as a few ‘butterflies’ and settled in very quickly to the new environment. It has been wonderful to have the students back and hear about their holidays and their excitement to start in their new year levels.  

I wish all our students every success and much happiness throughout the year and hope all our families will enjoy belonging to the Rosary community.

Meet the 2025 Staff Evening and BBQ - 5pm - 7.00pm on Tuesday 11 February 2025

This year we will again be having an evening for parents and carers to meet their child’s teacher and other staff who work in the school.  

You are invited to come along to school from 5.00pm and visit your child’s classroom and specialist subject classrooms.  Please bring your child along and they can show you their room and where some of their subjects are taught. There are no formal class parent presentations but rather a more revolving informal evening where you can speak to teachers and staff for a few minutes between 5.00pm and 6.00pm.  At 6:00pm the main school will be closed but families are invited to stay and catch up to start the year. The BBQ will be available from 5.00pm. Families are welcome to eat before or after visiting classrooms.

Please note parents are required to supervise their children at all times during the event.

Supervision Times

Please note that the daily supervision of students by school staff commences at 8.30am and finishes at 3.30pm. In the morning, no child should be on the premises before supervision begins at 8:30am 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 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. If your child does use the equipment/oval after school, they must be collected from the Quad. Parents are also required to be present with them, 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 on the equipment or oval if their parent or carer has not picked them up and assumed responsibility for their supervision and care. 

Thank you for your support and diligence in supervising your child or children.  

School Calendar

The 2025 school calendar was sent home today 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 the community at work!  It is a great ‘working document’ and one you can add to or change as required during the year.

Volunteering to Work in Classrooms, On Excursion or at School Events 

At many times during the year we will welcome the support of parents and carers throughout the school. 

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

School Uniforms

Please ensure your child wears the correct uniform to school each day.  Teachers have spoken to the student’s about the importance of taking pride in their appearance, their actions and their learning. Wearing the correct uniform builds a sense of belonging and also binds us together.  Our school uniform also represents the traditions of Rosary School and does require some commitment and responsibility from the students.  Thank you for supporting your child in this process.  

Holiday/Before and After School Care

Welcome to Community Services # 1 (CS#1) who are the new providers of our holiday and before and afterschool care. If you are looking to use their services information is available on the school website and from the front office.

Staff

Kinder Nagoya: Nicole Rich                                       
Kinder Paris: Ann-Maree Hinds

Yr 1 Vienna: Julie Godfrey/Damien Hinds              
Yr 1 Hague Emily Holgate

Yr 2 Rome: Elizabeth Fryar                                         
Yr 2 Dublin: Liz Higgins/Beth Toole

Yr 3 Barcelona: Rachel McKerrow                            
Yr 3 Osaka: Sharon Stiffle

Yr 4 London: Karen Green                                          
Yr 4 Athens: Nuri La
Yr 4 Washington: Emily Meagher/Janet Hanratty

Yr 5 Copenhagen: Naomi Scott                                 
Yr 5 Casablanca: Nicole Mogan

Yr 6 Cairo: Chris Evans/Kath Watson                        
Yr 6 Bangkok: Shannon Blakey

STEM: Kath Watson

Indonesian: Jacqui Ramesh

Library: Jodie Dawson

Acting Principal: John O’Brien                                   

Acting Assistant Principal: Liz Higgins

Acting Religious Education Coordinator: Chris Evans

Coordinator: Julie Godfrey

Acting Classroom Support Teacher: Rob Read

Classroom Support Assistants: Marie Pecotic, James Croker, Kiara Petriella, Teegan O’Connor, Claire Mass, Colleen Welsh, Kathy Brokenshire, Tommy Hammond, Shannon Evans, Mark Tuialii

Front Office: Sarah Nascimben, Colleen Welsh

Janitor: Paul Mogan

School Counsellor: Sarah Foley

Community Services #1 Director: Sania

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 navy 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.

I wish everyone a great start to the school year and look forward to seeing you at our Meet-the-Staff evening next Tuesday.

John O'Brien 
Acting Principal

• Welcome BBQ - Tuesday 11th February - 5.00pm - 7.00pm Quad / Classrooms
• Kinder Rest Day - Wednesday 12th February
• Opening School Mass - Monday 17th Feruary - 10.00am Holy Rosary Church - All Welcome
• Kinder Rest Day - Wednesday 19th February 
• Year 6 Mass - Friday 21st February - 10.00am Holy Rosary Church

Welcome back! I hope all families have had a restful and enjoyable break. I am looking forward to another exciting term of learning and reading adventures.

A friendly reminder for students to bring library bags to protect our library books. Please encourage your child/ren to care for borrowed books by:

• Keeping books away from food and drink.
• Storing books safely in their Library bags when not reading.
• Returning books on time to share with others.

In Years 2-6, I encourage students to use the book selection strategy ‘The Five Finger Rule’. This strategy helps students select books that match their reading level and interests. This strategy also fosters independence and a love of reading.  I also encourage students to borrow a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, and explore topics that spark their curiosity. 

Library Days Term 1, 2025:

Tuesday- Year 2 Rome, Year 2 Dublin, Year 3 Osaka, Year 3 Barcelona, and Year 4 Washington

Wednesday- Year 1 Hague, Year 1 Vienna, Year 6 Cairo, Year 6 Bangkok, and Year 4 Athens

Thursday- Year 5 Casablanca, Year 5 Copenhagen, Kinder Paris, Kinder Nagoya, and Year 4 London 

Book Club

Ms Sandy Bigna, one of our RPS mums, has generously offered to co-ordinate Bookclub again this year. Thank you so very much Sandy!!! Brochures will come home in the coming weeks for families to look at. All orders are then placed and paid for online by a family member. Sandy then disseminates the orders to the students' classrooms when the books arrive at school.

Jodie Dawson 

Hello lovely Rosary Primary School families! My name is Sarah Foley and I have been part of the MaryMeadCatholiccare Student and Family Counselling team since 2006.

I am a registered Psychologist with a passion for working with children, young people and their families. I have previously worked in marketing, community based aged care, crisis counselling and the homelessness sector.

In my school counselling work -I provide short term client centred support to children and their families drawing from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Strengths based, Mindfulness and Trauma Informed approaches in a developmental context. For more complex issues I also provide referrals and information/parent consultation. I am at Rosary all day Mondays and Tuesdays during each school term.

How to make an appointment.

If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing and would like to access School Counselling, please talk to your child’s Class Teacher or the Principal (John O’Brien for term 1) for further information about the online registration process.

Parent consent for counselling continues to be required for all primary school students and will be sought and provided via email as part of the online registration process. 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.

I look forward to working with you and the school throughout 2025!

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

Email; Sarah.foley@mccg.org.au (Please be aware I may not reply to emails until my scheduled days at this school).

Supporting Kids at the start of the new school year

Dear Parents,

With the return to a new school year, schedules are starting to get very busy again and it’s a lot on us as parents, and it’s even more on our kids. Take this article as permission look after yourselves! Monitor how your kids are going and if you are observing post-school melt downs happening more than just occasionally, it is time to respond by simplifying the after school routine.

Here’s some tips to help make late afternoons more peaceful when your child is adjusting to the new school year

Expect kids to fall apart – Your child might hold it all together and be on their best behaviour at school and then the minute they get home they go off the rails. This is NORMAL behaviour. At school your child works so hard  to follow all the rules and have so many social interactions, it’s tiring and they need to let it out at some point.

Plan for downtime – School days are draining and your child needs to balance the demands of a new school year with some relaxation and rest. When you notice a pattern of after-school meltdowns, clear their afternoon/evening schedule for the week where possible. Postpone the playdates, skip the supermarket visit after school, and go straight home and let your child unwind.

Have a healthy snack ready – Your child might not eat enough at school. Drinking and eating are social in nature, and children just tend to snack until they are comfortable. Be prepared for their end of school day HANGRY side to come out and be ready with a nutrient dense snack.

Don’t take it personally – You’re probably so excited to see your child/ren at the end of the day to give them a hug and find all about what they got up to at school. Then you pick them up and they are tired and limited in what they want to share, making you feel disappointed or rejected. It’s not about you, give them space, time, rest and food.

Sensory play – Draw a bath with lots of bubbles and their favourite bath toys. Or put on some calm music and let them relax with a puzzle, play dough or kinetic sand play. They will love it and it will help them unwind.

A popular book for those in junior primary school at the moment is by Author Jane Godwin and illustrator Anna Walker. They have created a delightful picture book all about families’ busy lives. It’s called ‘Today We Have No Plans’ – ‘a busy week, a slower day brings time to dream and time to play’. Also available for loan at Libraries ACT.

Ongoing concerns about back to school anxiety; If your child is showing signs of difficulties with adjustment beyond the first few weeks of school term, such as ;

– physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches or nausea

– trouble sleeping

– changes in appetite;

– changes in behaviour;

-expressing not wanting to go to school

They may be experiencing anxiety.

If you have concerns about your child experiencing back to school anxiety-

remember to make some quiet time together and ask open-ended questions – for example, ‘How are you feeling about starting/going/being back to school?’ This gives your child a chance to share their thoughts, feelings and anything that’s worrying them.

 Listen closely and acknowledge your child’s feelings. For example, ‘I can see why you would be worried about starting in a new class. I know that lots of kids feel anxious about making new friends.’

Remember, school is a major part of your child’s life, so try to see things from their point of view and don’t dismiss their worries, even if they seem small or silly to you. You don’t need to have all the answers or be able to fix things. Instead, the most important thing is that your child believes they can overcome their feelings of anxiety and knows that you’re there to help them through it.

For more information on how to support your child through back to school anxiety and where to go for professional support talk to your child’s class teacher as the first point of contact or see the following article on the Emerging Minds website;

https://d2p3kdr0nr4o3z.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2024/01/29163457/8-tips-to-help-your-child-manage-back-to-school-anxiety.pdf

With thanks to MCCG School Counselling resources and Emerging Minds website.

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 - Wenesdays at Lunchtime from Weeks 2-9 - Kinder to Year 4

Please contact the school if you require further information.

2025 Term 1 - SCHOOL PROGRAM ROSARY PRIMARY SCHOOL • Play