Dear Parents and Carers

Prayers for Recently Deceased Bishop Pat Power

Bishop Pat Power, one of the great Catholic leaders of our archdiocese passed away peacefully on Monday morning this week.  Many you may have known Bishop Pat Power when he was active in his role in Canberra Goulburn region. He was a wonderful man and a very warm and inclusive priest and Bishop. He will be dearly missed.  May he rest in peace with our Lord.

Here is a message from Archbishop Christopher Prouse:

15th September 2025 Our Lady of Sorrows 

BISHOP PAT POWER R.I.P.

I convey to you the sad news that our beloved Bishop Patrick Percival Power, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese, died this morning.

Bishop Pat (1942-2025) was 83 years of age. Over the last few years he serenely responded to major health issues. He died at the Southern Cross Campbell Residential Care in Canberra.

Bishop Pat, a quintessential Canberran, was priest for 60 years and a bishop for 39 years. He was loved and revered as an outspoken supporter for the poor and marginalised. In 2009 he was named Canberra Citizen of the Year.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later. May he rest in peace.

Let us pray,

May your merciful kindness,0 Lord, be with your departed servant, Patrick. May he know the eternal company of Christ, in whom he hoped and whom he preached. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. AMEN

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Archbishop Christopher Prowse

Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn

Mr Chris Evans 2026 Appointment

I am delighted to announce that Mr Chris Evans has been successful in being appointed as Religious Education Coordinator (R.E.C.) at St John Vianney’s Primary School Waramanga from January 2026. This is a wonderful achievement and promotion for Mr Evans, he gained experience this year in his acting R.E.C. role here at Rosary, as well as Term 3 at St John’s Florey. 

Mr Evans is returning to his teaching role in Year 6 at Rosary in Term 4.  It will be great to have him part of our community for the final term in 2025.  Mr Evans has been a member of staff at Rosary since 2022. 

Thank you to the following staff completing roles shortly

I would like to thank the following staff who have admirably filled roles for us in Term 3 or are finishing their roles shortly at Rosary. I am so grateful for their generosity and expertise:

• Mrs Emily Meagher (Kinder Nagoya) and Mrs Janet Hanratty - Miss Nicole Rich returning from leave.
• Miss Nuri La (Year 6 Cairo) - Mr Chris Evans is returning from secondment.
• Mr Mark Tualli (Classroom Assistant) - Ends up Week 3, Term 4.  Commencing a full time Canberra Raiders contract.
• Mrs Shannon Evans (Classroom Assistant) - Undertaking full-time study in Term 4.
• Mrs Kate Worthington (school counsellor) - Mrs Sarah Foley is returning Term 4.

2025 Rosary Intensive Swimming Program CANCELLED

After much deliberation, the annual intensive swimming program Rosary students normally participate in each year (term 4) has been cancelled indefinitely. 

Over the past two years the school has had difficulty securing a suitable pool venue that offers a program that meets the desired outcomes for our students. We have been very disappointed with the programs offered and the quality and consistency of the coaching/tuition. This issue, along with the rising costs of the lessons and bus transport, also contributed to the final decision. The school will still teach water awareness and water safety through their health lessons, as per the Australian Curriculum.   

Parents and carers are encouraged to seek private swimming lessons for their child or children as needed.  Sharing this information now may assist in gaining access to a program this summer.

Term 3 Learning Journeys - Monday 22 September

You are warmly welcome to visit your child’s classroom and the school next Monday 22 September between 8:30 am and 9:30 am. This is what we call our Learning Journey time, where your child can lead the way and show you their schoolwork and some of the other lessons/activities from Term 3. They will show what they have done well and what they are proud of, as well as select an area of their learning in which they could improve on in Term 4.  We hope to see you there.

Year 5 Wakakirri Finals (Awards Night) Appearance

What an exciting time for our Year 5 students and teachers! Tonight they perform their story dance version of The Secret Garden, inspired by the theme “Mind Over Matter: Tales of Inner Strength.” This experience will be something they will remember for many years to come!  It may even give them the confidence to be involved in the performing arts in their high school years.  Good luck to everyone. I hope they steal the show tonight!

Year 4 Jerrabomberra Wetlands Excursion

On Friday this week our Year 4 students will be attending an excursion to the Jerraomerra Wetlands. This term Year 4 read the novel Storm Boy and will visit the Jerrabomberra Wetlands to deepen our understanding of the natural environment, connecting our study of Storm Boy and the Coorong National Park to a local wetland habitat.  This should be a very interesting learning experience.

Year 5 and Year 6 Pilgrimage Experience

This Friday our Year 5 and Year 6 students will experience a unique session together called the ‘Luce’ Pilgrimage. This is an international Church focus during the Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope. Mrs Shannon Evans Shannon, who is a classroom assistant here at Rosary, has worked locally within the Inner North parishes to bring this pilgrimage experience alive for the students.  

Shannon has arranged for people to talk about their pilgrimage experiences and describe what it is like to journey in the spirit of hope and wonder and reawaken our yearning for the treasures of heaven and a deeper relationship with God. 

Luce is the official mascot of the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee. Designed by tokidoki founder Simone Legno, she represents a Catholic pilgrim.  The mascot, which means “light” in Italian — is intended to engage a younger audience and guide visitors through the holy year.

Particularly evocative are Luce's eyes, which shine with an intense light: they symbolise the hope that is born in the heart of every pilgrim, and reflect the desire for spirituality and connection with the divine. They act as a reminder of the universal message of peace and discipleship.

The 2025 Rosary Colour Run is next week!

Thank you all for supporting the Rosary Colour Run again this year. The students' fundraising efforts are going really well and we look forward to the big event next Thursday 25 September. 

Upcoming Pupil Free Days

You are reminded that the next two pupil free days are:

• Friday 26 September
• Monday 13 October 

Wishing you well for the week ahead.

God Bless.

Greg Walker

Principal

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Sacrament of Confirmation

Congratulations to the 19 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday evening. May the Holy Spirit, and example of the saints, continue to guide them throughout their lives.

Thank you to Shannon Blakey, Nuri La and Elisa Pavlic for preparing the students and a special thank you to Rachel McKerrow family and Beth Campton for your music ministry!

Year 6 Mass

The Mass scheduled for Year 6 tomorrow, 19 September, has been postponed to a date TBA in term 4.  

Luce Pilgrimage

This Friday, 19 September, our Year 5 & 6 students will participate in the Canberra Inner North Catholic Community (CINCC) Luce Pilgrimage. The initiative provides an opportunity for students to engage with this Jubilee Year, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, declared by the late Pope Francis. Greg Walker, Shannon Evans and Roger Paul will share their experience of pilgrimage, hope and putting faith into action.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C | Sunday 21 September | green

 

“You cannot be slaves both of God and of money.”

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

September 21 - Sunday 25 ORD

Peace and best wishes,

Liz Higgins

Religious Education Coordinator

• Uniform Free Day - Colour Run Challenge Reward - Friday 19th September
• 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.