7 June 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principals Report

There is no doubt that for all of us life is unpredictable. At some stages we all experience struggles, losses, and grief. However, we all react to adversity in different ways: the same trauma that emotionally scars one person and prevents them from moving forward may lead another to grow, to make a new start.

That inspiring way of adapting to a setback and settling into a new normal is called resilience. Resilience isn’t about ‘bouncing back’, since life after a ‘bad’ event is never quite the same. Rather, it is about incorporating that event and beginning a new chapter in life. Resilience helps us find real meaning, even strength, in effectively dealing with adversity. It is a process that takes time, and for each person, it unfolds differently.

Because resilience has many strands and many pathways, it isn’t just something you have when you are born. It’s something you can cultivate, and one of its key components is the skill of emotion management. You can learn to recognize, understand, label, and express emotions in a healthy way—and, importantly, you can learn to shift emotions and put yourself in a more pleasant or even in a higher-energy state. Managing emotions may be tricky to master, but, like a muscle, it gets stronger with practice.

As teachers and parents, it is important that we model emotion management and resilience building, for our children. Think about it – if you have a disappointment at work or interaction with a friend, you can share your strategy for ‘hanging in there’ or trying again, with your children. In this way, they will learn resilience possibilities by watching you shift your mood and effectively manage your emotions.

Life isn’t easy—that’s a given. But the gift of resilience can help anyone make the very best of a bad situation, and that gift is within everyone’s reach.

Source: The Magic of Resilience Robin Stern, Ph.D. and Marc Brackett Ph.D.
Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Kind Regards
Bernadette Brooks
Principal

Prayer and Reflection

Anyone who has lived and grown in any relationship knows that small things can mean so much. The ‘just right’ tiny present, the kind word, the helping gesture, given just when we need it, convey an understanding and sensitivity for which we crave. Forget the big flashy things – what we really want is something that speaks to the heart and says, ‘I know who you are and I love you.’ But to be alive to giving and receiving them, we have to train our minds and hearts to appreciate the small.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (Corpus Christi). One of the things that continues to amaze me when I go to Mass is that Jesus chose bread and wine to convey his own self. In his society, these were so ordinary. Yes, bread is to us but wine? In Jesus’ time, it was the common beverage – like tea and coffee is to us. Jesus took what was the most ordinary food and said over them, ‘This is my Body, This is my Blood, - these convey me.’ Then when we receive them, we only get a little bit – a small piece of bread, a sip of wine. And, hopefully, we adore….and are changed into what we consume. Then in the power and love that we receive, we are to go out and give from God’s love to those we meet…in the small presents, words and gestures of daily life. Yes, in our tiny actions the grace and love of God are revealed.

Loving God,
let me realise how important are the small things in the way of love.
May my words, gestures and gifts carry with them your abounding love.
I ask this in Jesus’ name, confident that you will hear me.

Sr Kym Harris osb

Walk for Christ

During the past three weeks our students were encouraged to write prayer intentions for the ‘Book of Life’ as part of the ‘Walk for Christ’ walk that was celebrated in Hobart over the past weekend. These prayers formed part of the procession of prayers from around our Catholic schools and parishes. After the procession the prayers were being sent to the Carmelite Monastery where the Sisters there will continue to pray these prayers.

The prayers written by our students were beautiful, thoughtful and faith filled. Students wrote prayers for those sick and old in their lives, prayers for their family members, for their friends, for those who they loved but now have died, and prayers for those devastated by natural disaster. They also prayed for hope and for peace and love in their lives and in the lives of others around our world.

Student Reports

Over the next two weeks I will be reading each student’s report from Prep to Grade 6. While there is no doubt this is an extremely time consuming task it is also an incredibly rewarding task for two main reasons.

Firstly, I am absolutely in awe of the amount of time, thought and care that each teacher has taken with each individual report. Secondly it is a privilege to be able to read of each student’s strengths and achievements and the progress made.

On Wednesday 27th June when reports are issued I hope everyone celebrates with their child/ren when they read the mid-year reports. Every child has put in effort, and every child has shown progress in at least some aspect of their learning. Could some have done more? Perhaps, but this is the chance to set goals for the second part of the year, to reinforce the discussions held at school about valuing and using learning time, taking responsibility, having a go, doing your best. Student reports provide an opportunity to refocus and set improvement goals.

Optional Parent Teacher interviews will be taking place in the last week of Term 2. These interviews strengthen the partnership between school and home, ensuring that we all work together to assist your child to reach their full potential. Information will be included in the report packs.

Cyber Safety in Grade 5

On Wednesday 23rd May, Tasmania Police visited Holy Rosary to talk about Cyber Safety. Grade 5 students were really engaged by the presentation and it generated a lot of discussion in the classroom about how to be safe online and how to be a good cyber citizen. We worked on posters to highlight the important messages that the police talked about. Here is some of our work, showing you how to be smart online.

HRCS Cross Country

After a long and stern conversation with Mother Nature the delayed Holy Rosary 2018 Cross Country Carnival was finally up and running on a beautiful Autumn day!

Mr. Mackenlay and Mr. Simonetis braved the dawn, kicked the dew from the track and ensured the kids knew exactly where to go! Our newest members in Kinder kicked things off, the sight of 50 five year olds charging down the oval was quite a sight to behold! The Preps followed with a full year of experience and a sharp look of confidence in their eyes. They flew around the track taking the corners and finishing strong like a young Robert De Castella! The Grade 1’s and Grade 2’s were next, taking on the large course is never easy with legs like matchsticks. But in true HRCS fashion the resilience and strength shown by all those in Grade 1 and Grade 2 was magnificent, the lollies were certainly well earned!

As the afternoon sun began to smile upon us the big guns entered the arena, the tribal chants reverberating through the air. The dodgeball hall was filled, mega hookey was as challenging as it was surreal, and each Grade took their turn negotiating what was one of the most demanding Cross Country courses we've seen here at HRCS.

After all was said and done, hoops thrown, dodge balls chucked, legs burnt out, it was the Falcons of Young that prevailed by 5 points in easily the closest Cross Country Carnival in recent times.

I would like to personally thank all of our wonderful teachers, students and parents who supported the day and really made it a great carnival.

Mr Johnson
PE Teacher

Grade 6 Fundraising

One of the commitments for our Grade 6 parents is the Canberra trip in November. The cost of airfares, accommodation, and tours is approximately $1200.00 for the four days. In recognition of this cost to Grade 6 parents we made a decision three years ago to fundraise the spending money that the Grade 6 students take on this trip. Each student in Grade 6, even those who are not attending the trip, receive $100.00 spending money. The 2018 Grade 6 staff, students, parents and our wonderful Parent Circle groups have certainly risen to the challenge and created some incredible fundraising opportunities. Our walkathon raised a phenomenal $5,900 of which $1,000 will go towards the Archbishop’s Samaritan Fund.

We also had an unprecedented demand for our Ice Cream Sundae specials. Despite ordering extra ice cream and all attempts with pre orders some students missed out and received a $1 refund and a paddle pop. The resilience, manners and outstanding behavior of our students as they waited for their ice creams or paddle pops when we ran out was so impressive and a credit to themselves.

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

News from Qkr

As of June 6th some of the older versions of the Qkr App will no longer work, and families must update their App. Most people have auto update enabled in their phone settings so this will happen seamlessly for them. If any parents are getting a message saying the App has stopped working, you simply have to download the current version from the App store.

If you still have any issues, there is always the website on offer as a backup to people with really old phones that may not be able to upgrade.

HRCS Soccer 2018 Facebook Page

HRCS Soccer now has a Facebook page. This will be the platform used to distribute information and create a network for the HRCS Soccer community. Over the next week information will be posted about the upcoming season. In the meantime, jump on, give it a like, follow and share!

Entertainment Books

Holy Rosary Catholic School is fundraising with the Entertainment fundraiser this year, and we’d appreciate your continued support.

Your 2017 | 2018 Entertainment Membership expired on 1 June 2018. Please continue supporting our School by purchasing the 2018 | 2019 Entertainment Membership from us today. Hundreds of great value offers are ready for your enjoyment, while also helping our fundraising!

Books are also available for purchase from the office.

B.U.D.S

Cool Kids Anxiety Group Programs

Claremont Girl Guides

Car Boot Sale to be held 24th June from 10am – 2pm in their hall and carpark on Box Hill Road, Claremont, opposite Claremont Village.

Lots of bargains available on the day

Sites are $10 inside (includes table) or $5 outside

Please come and support Guiding in Claremont. We have vacancies for girls 5 – 18 in Claremont Girl Guides.

New stock of Girl Guide biscuits available.

All enquiries can be directed to Robyn on 0437 075 623.

Mount Carmel College Open Day

Term 2 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