Dear Parents & Guardians,

It was my absolute pleasure to accompany our Grade 6 students on their recent trip to Canberra. We had a fabulous trip and the student’s behaviour and engagement were exemplary. It was a very busy trip with visits to - Questacon, the Australian War Memorial, the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Museum of Australia, Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy (old Parliament House), the Royal Australian Mint, the National Capital Exhibition, High Court of Australia, Mount Ainslie then a bus trip to Sydney with shopping at Manly Corso, ferry to Circular Quay and walks to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. It was an amazing opportunity for our students to expand their learning. A common theme throughout was the praise we received from tour guides, our bus driver and airport passengers for the way our students conducted themselves - including a commendation from the air steward and a round of applause from the plane passengers when we touched down in Hobart (rather delayed at 12:45 am!). We were so proud of them!

Congratulations to our Grade 3 & 4 students who participated in the Southern Primary Schools Basketball Tournament. Whether they were current players or trying the sport for the first time the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It was wonderful to watch some of the games over the weekend and to see the skills, sportsmanship and camaraderie. Thank you to our wonderful coaches - Shane Hutton, Allira Morrison and Riley McCreghan. Thank you also to our umpires and the cheer squads at each game! A big shout out to Jodie Johnson who organised our teams in both the 5/6 & 3/4 tournaments. Well done!

Grade 3 Camp was held on Monday & Tuesday of this week at Blue Lagoon Dodges Ferry. They were blessed with fabulous weather and wonderful company. For many children this is the first time away with a big group. Thank you to the attending staff - Donna Rickwood, Michelle Hibberd, Ben Johnson, Libby Piesse, Gab Fisher and Cam Clark and well done to all our students.

How wonderful were our students who participated in the Christmas Pageant last Saturday? We enjoyed the opportunity to share the Christmas story with the wider community. Photos and write up elsewhere in the newsletter.

I bring to your attention a new campaign launched by the National Office for Child Safety called  ‘One Talk at a Time’. This national awareness-raising and behavioural change campaign aims to help prevent child sexual abuse by encouraging adults to learn about the issue and have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations with children and young people in their lives. The campaign is a key measure under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and fulfils a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.   

Finally, I wish to inform the school community that Sue Reardon, our Business Manager has submitted her resignation, effective from 29th March 2024 (Holy Thursday). We have been blessed to have had someone of Sue’s calibre as a strong presence in our community. Sue has been a parent and staff member for 24 years and her impact is widespread. Sue has been instrumental in the development of many of the facilities that we are fortunate to have. We will miss her dearly. We will be advertising in the near future for her replacement.

Kind regards, 

Susan McGann

Welcome to Mid November and the mad race towards Advent and Christmas.

So much to think about during this season. So much to get ready for and in the midst of all the turmoil both of the season and in the horrors of what is happening in the Middle East, remember that God is a God of love so I offer to you the prayer that I wrote at the weekend:

Prayers suitable for your children @ home.

Sometimes it is hard to find the right words - I have included several prayers today which have been written especially for reading with young children - they encourage honesty and openness for your children at difficult times.

A prayer for Peace

Jesus, you see all the fighting in our world,

You see all our shouting and arguing.

Help us to learn how to love each other

Just like you love us,

Please will you help the people in …..

To stop fighting and find a way to live together happily.

Please Help, Jesus. You are the Prince of Peace.

A Prayer for People in Need

Not all people have a home

Or a place to call their own

Jesus, please help those with non

To find a place where they belong

When they’re hungry, give them food

When they’re sad, please lift their mood

When they're scared, please keep them safe

If they lose hope, please give them faith.

A Prayer about Change

When things change it’s sometimes hard

To stop my worries winning

What will happen, when and where?

My head seems to be spinning

Other people struggle too

If too many things are new

Help us all to calmly trust

That you are always there with us.

“Jesus Christ never Changes! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

                                                                                                Hebrews 13:8

English - Persuasive Writing 

We have been learning about text types. Our unit focus has been on persuasive writing. We have thoroughly enjoyed debating various topics and developing our understanding of how to structure persuasive texts using the acronym, OREO.  We know that O stands for opinion, R for reason, E for example and O for opinion.

Mathematics - Data 

We have participated in an array of learning experiences to strengthen our knowledge of data. We have explored ways to collect data and discovered how to accurately represent it using tables and graphs.

Congratulations to all the students and staff who participated in this year's Christmas Pageant. Our Christmas Story float, which included Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the three Kings, Sheep, Shepherds and lots of tinsel-laden angels, even won the "Best Christmas Themed Entry".

A huge thank you to all the staff who helped to make the costumes and were there to support the children on the day, in particular Jess George for her organisation of the whole event.

Recently we have appointed a new Postman at Holy Rosary Catholic School.

During the afternoon, Grade 5 student, Levi Pennicott has been delivering all the classroom message bags to each classroom. He has taken on the task with great enthusiasm and efficiency.  We appreciate your service Levi!

Thank you to the parents/guardians who placed "Back to School" pre order for uniform. 

A reminder that you can collect your uniform pre-order before the end of the year.  To do this please contact the office to arrange a time to pay and collect from Thursday 30.11.23 - Thursday 7.12.23.  Once you have arranged to collect it, your order will be prioritised for packing.

If you wish to collect in the New Year, your pre-order can be collected from the office when it opens from Tuesday 30 January 2024.  You do not need to contact us if you collect in 2024. Please just come during office hours, Monday - Thursday 8am - 4pm and Fridays 8am - 3.30pm.

Uniform Shop purchases including QKR online purchases will close for end of year stocktake and pre-order packing on Wednesday 29th November 2023.

The uniform shop will only be open for walk-in purchases on Thursday 1st February 2024, from 9am - 12pm.

Alternatively you can order through the QKR! app which will reopen once school has returned.

A reminder that formal uniform is required for students from grades 3 - 6.

Black formal school shoes are to be worn with the formal uniform, no skate or white soled black shoes should be worn.

The uniform policy is attached for your information.

Uniform Policy

Girls Basketball

Claremont Cheerleading Taster Day