1 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principals Report

Each morning I see so many parents walking through the gate holding their child’s hand and settling them in for the school day. It is indeed one of the joys of my day when I get the opportunity to stand at the front gate and welcome parents and children of a morning and catch up on the news and see the joy and excitement of our students as they begin their day with their parents by their side.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have spoken to many of our parents of our 2017 Grade 6 class about how they are settling into their respective new schools. Parents have shared their own feelings of nervousness and the big adjustment to letting their children go, either walking up a very long driveway to a new school or catching a bus. The overwhelming response from our 2017 Grade 6 parents is that the children have settled in extremely well, they are very happy and loving High School. While this is a credit to their new schools it is more a credit to the manner in which parents have prepared their children for their movement to High School.

Undoubtedly, it is also a credit to the way in which we as a Primary School have prepared these students for the transition to High School including setting the students as independent and confident creative learners, passing on information to the High Schools and working with them to ensure smooth transitions.

As a Principal I speak regularly to the other Principals and staff of the schools our students go to and check in to see how they are going. Overwhelmingly, whether it is a Catholic or Department of Education School, the response is always extremely positive as they talk about the level of respect and commitment to their schooling the students who have come from Holy Rosary have.

An email I received from a parent this week sums up this reflection perfectly “There is much to be proud of as a school community and the hard work everyone does ultimately reflects in the students”

Bernadette Brooks
Principal

Prayer and Reflection

Lent is a special time when we stop and think about how we can play our part in God’s hope for a world that is fair, just and peaceful. We think about our relationship with God, and how through serving others we can grow closer to him. Project Compassion runs each year during Lent and is Caritas Australia’s annual fundraising and awareness raising campaign. This year Project Compassion shows how Caritas Australia works with young people to be a positive change for their entire communities. During Lent we may choose to go without something we like to eat or do such as chocolate or iPad time, this is called fasting. We can then choose to give money we saved or raised to people who do not have as much as we do, this is almsgiving. We can put the money we raise into the Project Compassion Box and know it will help people around the world who need it the most. A Just Future is possible for all generations and communities, who are part of one human family. A Just Future starts today.

Parent Teacher Student Goal Setting

Each grade level has produced a Class Information Booklet/Sheet that was sent home to parents last week. These booklets read in conjunction with the Parent Handbook sent home in the first week, should provide parents with all the necessary information relevant to each class.

From the 5th to 9th March we are holding Student/Parent Goal Setting Interviews with the class teacher. Each student must accompany their parent/guardian to these 10 to 15 minute interviews and work together to set goals for the 2018 school year. The process of setting goals allows students to choose where they want to go in school and what they want to achieve. By knowing what they want to achieve, they know what they have to concentrate on and improve. Goal setting gives students long-term vision and short-term motivation. Having sharp, clearly defined goals, which students can measure, will allow them to take pride in accomplishing those goals. They can see clear forward progress in what might have seemed a long drawn out process. By setting goals students can: improve their academic performance, increase their motivation to achieve, increase pride and satisfaction in performance and improve their self-confidence. If you are experiencing difficulty in going online to make a booking for the goal setting interviews, please contact the office.

Disability Parking

As with nearly every school I have been involved with parking is always an issue. While we are certainly in a much more fortunate position than many of the inner city schools, parking still causes considerable problems. I would particularly like to thank those parents who are following our requests in relation to parking. However, I would also like to ask that parents and guardians respect those parking spaces that are marked for disability parking. These areas are clearly marked and are designated for those with eligible placard holders. Parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability are not a privilege, they are a necessity meant to improve the quality and dignity of their lives.

Kindergarten Rocks!

56 Kindergarten students have embarked upon their journey through school life at Holy Rosary Catholic School. Our Kindergarten Program is tailored to meet the needs of 4 to 5 year olds and ensures that these students first school experience is a positive and happy one. We have two Kindergarten classes in the EYC (Early Years Centre) both providing learning environments that are beautiful and purpose built. This year we welcome Mrs Gemma Bennet to the Kindergarten Program in Kinder B on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Mrs Libby Piesse teaches Kinder P on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Our many Early Childhood Educators continue to work closely with Prep and other Early Year staff members to ensure that each child is well known as they make the important step into our HRCS School Family. Our focus in Kindergarten is the creation of a relaxed, warm and nurturing environment where all children feel safe, secure and supported as they begin their first step into formal education. Children are invited to play, explore and develop a wide range of skills, whilst gaining confidence and independence. In the first two weeks the children have participated in fun and age appropriate activities such as painting, singing, reading books, puzzles, constructing with blocks, climbing and learning about themselves and their interactions with their new classmates and educators. We welcome all Kindergarten students to Holy Rosary and look forward to many years of involvement and interactions with them and their families.

We have so much fun in Kinder

VIEW GALLERY

We have so much fun in Kinder

Click images to enlarge

Social and Emotional Program

Grade 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival

The HRCS 3-6 Swimming Carnival will be held on the 16th March at the Glenorchy Swimming Pool from 10:15am - 1:15pm. Students will be involved in multiple activities during the day including their grade swimming races. All of these activities will enable students to gain points towards the HRCS House Cup. A timetable is attached below and a permission note will be distributed in the coming weeks. Parents and spectators are strongly encouraged to attend what will be another great carnival for our students!

The PE Dept.

2019 Kinder Enrolments

The Village

Our Birth to 4 Program is back for 2018. We are running sessions on Wednesday and Friday in 2018. Please come along with a gold coin donation and a piece of fruit (Wednesday only) and have some fun.

Milkshake Mondays

Students of the Week

Uniform Shop

White Socks Girls Single Pack - $2.00
Sizes 5-10, 2-8

Navy Stockings - $4.00
Sizes 3-5, Avg, XTall

Rugby Jumper (old stock) - $20.00
All sizes except Size 8

Polar Fleece - $10.00
Sizes 14, S, M, L

Tartan Trousers - $20.00
Sizes 12, 14, 16, 18

House Polos

In an exciting development students will be able to purchase House Polo tops for the first time at Holy Rosary. The tops are available in the three house colours and have the school logo on the front and house insignia on the back with all child/youth sizes available(see photos). The Polos can be worn to all school sports carnivals and Ploughman Cup events throughout the year and are a great way for students to support their house.

Students/parents can order the Polos on special order for $30 (payment with order) from the office.

Our new House Polos look so good

VIEW GALLERY

Our new House Polos look so good

Click images to enlarge

Canteen Volunteers

Recently Work Health and Safety officers have put a number of directives in place in light of the new refurbishment which will take place later this year. Please find attached “Information for Volunteers” and a “Volunteer Form” with all this information.

HRCS Parent Circle

School Banking

School banking will take place every Wednesday. If you would like your child to participate and they currently have a Commonwealth Account, their bank book can be sent to school and we will make the deposits for them. Each deposit earns a token and once 10 tokens have been collected they can be redeemed for a prize. If your child does not have a Commonwealth Bank account, application forms can be picked up at the school office.

Tasmanian State Election

In the lead-up to the March 3 State election, the Tasmanian Catholic Education Commission, the Tasmanian Catholic Schools Parents Council and the Executive Director of Catholic Education Tasmania, sent a joint letter to four parties (Liberal, Labor, the Jacqui Lambie Network and the Greens) requesting their party's response to a series of questions as to their respective positions of issues to Catholic education in Tasmania.

Follow the link below to our website for information on the State Election 2018 and what it means for Catholic education in Tasmania.

Of interest to us in particular is that neither the Liberals or Labor responded to the request for financial support for parent engagement activities that will deliver better learning outcomes for students.

Coles Sports for Schools 2018

Coles are running the 2018 Sports for Schools program. If you shop at Coles and receive these vouchers can we kindly ask that they please be brought to the school office. We as a school will redeem these vouchers to acquire some wonderful sporting equipment for our students.

Lucinda and her family joined online and registered their online shopping.

Year 7 Enrolment Process

To assist families with the transition process from primary to secondary schools the 2018 Year 7 enrolment process has been broadened to allow families of students in Years 5 and 6 to commence the enrolment process for Year 7 in Catholic education. Therefore, advertisements will be circulated shortly opening up the enrolment process for Year 6 students who will commence Year 7 in 2019 and Year 5 students who will commence Year 7 in 2020. This process will continue to be based on the TCEC Enrolment Policy, which can be accessed by the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office Website. In opening up this process we hope it will provide an opportunity for families to discuss any concerns they have about their child’s transition and provide certainty around their ongoing education pathway into Year 7.

SVC Senior School Open Day

St Virgil’s College Senior School Open Day – Austins Ferry campus, Thursday March 9 from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm for guided tours. Come and experience Grade 7 to 10 students at work and play during an interactive tour of the College. Meet staff and students and learn about the exciting learning opportunities available to boys at St Virgil’s College.

Mount Carmel College Open Day

Sunday 4 March, 11am – 1pm

Our Open Days are a great way to discover all that Mount Carmel College has to offer and to help prospective parents make an informed decision about their child’s education, commencing with a welcome from our Principal, Mrs Fiona Nolan.

Whilst visiting, you will see and hear about the wide range of curriculum choices, co-curricular activities and pastoral care program that Mount Carmel College offers.

Small group tours, conducted by our students, allows families to view our Kinder to Year 10 facilities.

Refreshments are provided at the end of our tours, giving families the opportunity to meet key members of staff and ask any questions

Register now online via the link below or by contacting the College.

Please note that for 2018, the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office has determined that enrolments will be taken for Year 7 entry for both 2019 and 2020 which has brought the timeline forward 12 months for current Grade 5 families. Year 7 enrolments for 2019 (current Grade 6 students) and 2020 (current Grade 5 students) close on Thursday 29 March.

Term Dates for 2018

Term 1 2018 Assemblies and Liturgies

Parents and Friends are most welcome and kindly invited to join us for our School Assemblies which are held at 1.45pm and our Liturgies which are held at 12.00 noon on the following dates in the School Hall or St Bernard’s Church unless noted differently.

2018 Upcoming Events