After 8 weeks leave I arrived at the airport at 4.15 am on Monday 2nd September to travel to Canberra with 49 students and 4 other staff.  Many people commented on what a challenging way this was to return from a very leisurely break. However, for me it was a wonderful way to return after a break.

I have always seen my role as a Principal as a privilege and a responsibility. Each day brings new challenges, new problems, and new adventures. This can be exciting and keeps things fresh. You can go into a day with a solid plan of things to do and fail to accomplish a single thing that you expected. You never know what will await you on any particular day.  As a Principal, there is never an established routine. Each day has its own unique routine that dictates itself as time passes. 

However, during my trip to Canberra with our Grade 6 students, I had the opportunity to take time out from the demands of the school environment, the meetings, staffing, budgets, building projects and the many other things that can keep me from time with children. I had time to enjoy a group of 49 students as they experienced the joys of visiting our capital city and learning about the history of our unique country. I had time to sit and talk with students, laugh at the many adventures we had and support them if they were feeling homesick. In essence, I had the time to do what I used to do as a classroom teacher and it was amazing.   

Thank you to our incredible students who never fail to make me proud. From our first check-in at Hobart Airport we received so many positive comments on our students and their behaviour, attitude and the respect they showed to others. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mrs Catherine Midson, Mr Matt Luttrell, Mr Brent Pearce and Mrs Sarah Dance who gave up their own family time to travel with our students. Spending 95 hours and being on call 24/7 is a commitment that we should all recognise. Thank you to Mrs Sharon Goldsworthy who organised our entire itinerary and ensured we had everything we needed and to Mrs Sue Reardon and Mrs Jacki Jones for their additional administrative support. 

Finally to all our parents thank you for your support and trust that you have in us to look after your precious children. To those parents who sent a text or email on our return to say thank you or took time to personally say this to us please know how much this has been appreciated. 

As I return fully to my role as Principal this week I would like to thank Mrs Lauren McCallum for the outstanding role she did as Acting Principal, it is not an easy role to step into and Lauren did so with absolute commitment, compassion and care. Thank you also to Mrs Gemma Bennett as Acting Deputy Principal for her support in this role and the many additional responsibilities she took on. Lauren and Gemma were supported fully by our fantastic Leadership team and the staff of Holy Rosary Catholic School.

Bernadette Brooks

On Wednesday we celebrated Father Suresh’s 20th year of ordination to the priesthood. Father celebrated Mass with our Grade 1 and 2 students and then joined the staff for Lunch. We presented Father with an art work that was completed by our Grade 6 students. 

The concept was for each student to present a square of artwork with either a symbol, pattern or image that related either to themselves or Fr Suresh.  The students had to use oil pastels to complete their artwork, whilst maintaining the integrity of the outline of the celebrated Fr Suresh. We thought that the idea of many individual images combining to create one portrait image had a connection to the key concept of the Trinity.

Congratulations Fr Suresh on your twenty years of bringing to life the messages of Jesus in your words and actions. We are very grateful to have you as our Parish Priest.

On Monday afternoon at our special assembly, we had an opportunity as a school to farewell and thank Mrs Wendy Werner.  The words from students and staff in the video and in person were an absolute testament to how much Mrs Werner is valued in our school community and how much she will be missed.

Nineteen years is a very significant time to be in one workplace and in that time Mrs Werner has seen so many changes. The school grow to a school of nearly 450 students and 50 staff, the administration staff increase significantly, the technology change, the WH and S increase and so many other things. One thing that didn’t change in this time however was Mrs Werner’s heart. It really is a heart of gold that can at times be hidden but we know it’s there.

The uniform repairs and washing clothes for students, the special birthday gifts for all of us especially those of our students who may not receive a gift, the offer to pay for a student’s meal or dress for the leavers dinner, the absolute refusal to give up on finding a way for our Grade 5’s to travel to Maria Island at reduced cost - this included calls to numerous politicians. These are just a few of the reasons we will all miss Mrs Werner. 

On behalf of our school community, I would like to wish Mrs Werner a very happy long service leading into retirement and in the words, I always use when those who are special to us leave our beautiful school: “Don’t cry because it’s over smile because it happened”.

Memories of Mrs Werner from our Grade 6 students......

Dear Mrs Werner,

Over my past 7 and a half years at this school you have filled my heart with both love and compassion. You have put aside your job in the office to help injured or sick students including myself. We all thank you for  the work you have done for us and the teachers. Thank you Mrs Werner.

Memory’s in 

Grade 1: In grade 1 I hurt my knee badly and you bandaged it up.
Grade 2: I came up to the office due to me not feeling well and you were there to help.
Grade 3: I cut my arm on the rocks and you made it feel better.
Grade 4: I bruised my hand badly and you fixed it.

Sincerely,
Ashton Barr.

Dear Mrs Werner,

You have done amazing things for our school. You have looked after the kids that had vomited, had headaches, chicken pox and injuries. Every time I walk into the office you’re there smiling asking me “What do you need?” Or “Did you injure yourself or are you not feeling well?” Or “Do you need Mrs Brooks?” 

We will all miss you, the amount of times you have helped me in sick bay is a lot and I’m definitely not always getting hurt.

You have done so much for our Holy Rosary Catholic School community you always will be in our family and we will never forget you. I’m sure I won’t. Thank you once again. 

Sincerely,

Bree De Cotter.

Dear Mrs Werner, 

I want to say a huge thank you for all that you have done for me William, Cooper and Maddison.  

It really means a lot to me and you have been a big part of my primary school life at Holy Rosary. 

You will be missed a lot but you will be remembered for being a nice caring and passionate person. Everyone you talk to and help out will know how good of a person you are. When anyone walks into the office you're always there and if they are sick/injured you will stop everything and try to help them as much as you can. I can't count how many times I have came into the office whether it be I hurt myself or I am sick, you will always know what to do.

You will be missed but never forgotten. 

From James Hutchinson.

Dear Mrs Werner,

You've been a massive help for all students including myself. I would like to thank you for using your time to care for me and every other student when we were unwell or injured. All staff and students will miss your bubbly, caring and joyful spirit around our community after 19 years at Holy Rosary . We hope you have a great time at home with your family and friends! I hope you have an amazing rest of the year.

Goodbye Mrs Werner.

We will miss you dearly…

Sincerely,

Mia Fenton 

Thank you to Isaac Manson, 2013 Holy Rosary School Captain, who joined us for Work Placement from Guilford Young College.  It was a pleasure to have Isaac join us and we are very grateful for his contribution whilst here with us.

Over the coming weeks and during Term 3 a number of staff will be taking their long service and other leave entitlements. This will mean some changes to the leadership and teaching staff. One of the wonderful things about our school is that we have a group of relief staff who have been with us for many years and know our processes and students very well.

I will be on leave from Monday 8th July until Monday 2nd September. During this time Mrs Lauren McCallum has been appointed by Catholic Education Tasmania to the role of Acting Principal. Lauren is to be congratulated on this appointment and I feel extremely fortunate to know that our school will be in such caring and capable hands.  I know all parents in our community will give Lauren their full support. As Lauren steps into the role of Acting Principal Mrs Gemma Bennett will take on the role of Acting Deputy Principal. Mrs Andrea Quick will be replacing Gemma in Kindergarten B.

Mrs Donna French will be on leave from Monday 24th June and will return at the commencement of Term 3. Mr Matt Hunter will be teaching in Grade 3F during this time. Mr John Rickwood will be on leave from Monday 24th June and will return on Monday 29th July.  Mr Markus Bucher will be teaching Grade 5R during Mr Rickwood’s leave.

Mrs Catherine Perkins will be on leave from Monday 22nd July till Friday 9th August and Mrs Jessica George will be on leave from Monday 5th August to Friday 27th September. During these times of leave, Mrs Lisa Cooper will be working five days a week, Miss Rachel French will be covering Mrs Perkins for the three weeks of her leave and then move into the co-teacher role. Miss Emma Reardon will also be teaching in Prep during this time.

Through fog, sleet, black ice and the thought of heading north towards Launceston, the aerobic elite of HRCS ventured to Symmons Plains raceway to challenge the best of the best in the 2019 All Schools Cross Country championships. In what was a tremendous day for our school, a total of 18 runners competed with every runner finishing within the top 150, a huge effort! A special mention needs to go our 9yrs boys lead by Jake Beams whose masterclass reminded me a of young Steve Prefontaine leading from start to finish with a big smile on his face! A magnificent effort, and one that everyone in attendance will remember for a long time! Well done Jake!! In his last Cross Country run for HRCS Jake 'Mr.consistent' Cox again finished inside the top 50, a great effort also. All of our students (as per usual) represented our wonderful school exceptionally well and are to be congratulated for their efforts! I would like to personally thank Mr. Zegveld and Miss Wise for their wonderful support on the day and a big thanks to the parents who took on the midland highway fog and attended aswell! 

Grade 3 have been working hard creating, planning and writing their own narratives.

After some unexpected problems, we now have a date. On the 29th July, the enabling works will commence, nearly two and a half years after we first started planning. Stage 1:

• Demolition of the Toilet Block
• Demolition of the two terrapins which are currently used for Grade 4CL and the Library
• Closure of the path leading beside the Hall and back of Grade 5 and 6 classrooms to the asphalt as this area will be levelled out
• Building of two new General Learning Classrooms
• Construction of one of the new banks of toilets

Approximate time 18 weeks 

Stage 2: To commence when Stage 1 is completed

• Demolition of the Canteen
• Extension of the existing Grade 1 classrooms to become a Learning Resource Centre and new Canteen.
• Construction of a second bank of toilet amenities

Approximate time 18 weeks

Due to the extensive nature of the building works the following arrangements has been put in place. Every effort has been made to minimise disruptions to student learning and the operation of the school.

• Grade 4CL will be relocating to the Music Room in the Hall
• The Library will be closed and a small mobile library will be operating to ensure all students can still access borrowing.
• Music will occur in the classrooms
• Access to the under covered asphalt area will be available but at a reduced rate
• Portable toilets will be on site and located on the walkway to the Oval
• Storage containers will be located near the Hall and in the Church Carpark
• The builders site office and car parking will be located at the back of the school behind what is at present terrapins.

I thank all in our community for their support during this time and we look forward to some very exciting times ahead for our school.

On Tuesday 25^th June our Grade Five students attended the Dominic College Taster Day.  It was a wonderful chance for our students to experience a “taste” of life in Grade 7.  We participated in many activities including, Art, Drama, Coding, Cooking, Wood work, Empower and Animal Husbandry. We also enjoyed a dance and musical performance and had a yummy BBQ lunch.  The highlight of the day was when we participated in the ‘Taster Day Cup’.  This included a range of various outdoor fun challenges where we had to all work together and compete against other schools.  It was very exciting when Holy Rosary was awarded the Taster Day cup for winning the most points.  We enjoyed our day at Dominic College and appreciated the chance to experience what life will be like at high school.

We saw the Julie Gough exhibition and learnt about the history in all of us in the education centre.

Smaller sizes in the formal uniform are on sale for half price while stocks last

Please note that enrolment applications are due for Grade 7 2020 in August 2019.

The Standard Mental Health First Aid course will teach you how to provide initial support to other adults who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidenced based Action Plan.

Please find attached a flyer with all the details with regards to this course if you are interested and how to go about securing a place.

Designed for kids 8 - 12 years, a 10 week program that runs over  the school term.  Please see the attached flyer for all the details.