Dear Parents,

Traditionally, October and November are exciting months for teachers. This is the time of year when the 'penny drops' for many children, and we see tremendous growth, both academically and socially. It’s when you’ll often hear teachers say, “This is why I love our job", and "This is why I choose to teach.” This yearis no exception! You should feel just as proud of your children’s achievements as I am of our dedicated staff!

Leaving families

Our staff will begin discussions around class groupings for 2026 this week. If you know that your child or children will not be continuing at Holy Rosary next year, please let us know as soon as possible. This information is essential to help us assign children to classes accurately.

School Disco

We’re turning up the music and the fun at our Family Disco this Friday night! Come along for an evening of great songs, laughter and plenty of dance moves. It’s a fantastic way to connect with friends, celebrate our community and create wonderful memories for your children.

Bring your best dance moves, your brightest smiles and the family! We can’t wait to see you on the dance floor!

Online Safety

The online world is constantly changing, and it is important that we stay informed about the activities our children are engaging in online. Children can be exposed to inappropriate material and conversations, particularly when playing online games. Constant supervision remains the best protection. Roblox is a favourite among Holy Rosary students. It encourages creativity and connection, but it can also expose children to strangers or unsuitable content.

Tips for Parents

Check that your child’s Roblox account lists their correct age so safety settings apply.
Restrict messaging, friend requests, and in-game purchases.
Talk regularly about who they play with and what to do if something feels uncomfortable while online. Revisit the members of their personal safety network; the people they could report to if they feel unsafe (2 - 3 adults from home and 2-3 adults at school).
Balance screen time with ‘green time’: offline play, rest, and family time.
Talk to your children about the messages they are learning during class ‘Inform and Empower’ sessions. Details about lesson content can be found in your term overviews.

By staying informed and keeping communication open, we can help our children enjoy technology safely and responsibly. Please remind children that phones and other connected devices, including smart watches should be handed in at the office on arrival at school.

Uniform

I ask you to speak with your children on the following uniform policy, as required:

Hair which falls below the collar must be tied back
Nail polish should not be worn
Socks should be navy or white with no logos

Operoo

Operoo has advised that they will cease operations in Australia by January 2026. We have opted to transition to the MACS preferred supplier, Clarisse for the nForma platform which includes medical and First Aid communications. You will be familiar with the name nForma because this is the platform that we use to distribute our school reports. We will advise you of parent actions required as we work through the change process.

Swimming

Parents were notified via Operoo last Friday that we have scheduled six swimming lessons for all students, commencing Tuesday 5 November and concluding Thursday 27 November. A detailed timetable will be shared once finalised. Your child will bring home a swimming questionnaire this afternoon. Please return it to their classroom teacher by Friday 24 October to assist pool staff with the organisation of swimming groups. The Operoo excursion approval must be completed by Tuesday 28 October, to ensure we confirm places with Kensington Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

Maths Olympiad

Congratulations to all students who participated in the Maths Olympiad Competition this year. Students trained each week to prepare for the four competitions that took place throughout the year, with passion and perseverance. It is wonderful to see students work together and share the interesting, dynamic and thoughtful strategies they use to solve the complex questions the competition presents.

We also highlight the following students who achieved additional recognition in the Olympiad competition.

Maths Olympiad- ‘Top 10% Achiever’ Pin and Medal: SC in Year 6

Maths Olympiad- ‘Top 25% Achiever’ Patch: Avyaan

Maths Encouragement Award: Zachary

Maths Explorer- Maths Star Patch: KC in Year 4, Anthony, Samuel, TR in Year 3, Amelie

Have a wonderful week

Christine

Scholastic Book Club