Dear Parents/Caregivers
We have had a wonderful but busy start to the year! On Wednesday we had our Beginning of Term mass led by our students followed by a smoking ceremony led by Aunty Lena. Our ATAs are keen to teach our students this year about the many different Aboriginal groups who live in Derby and their histories. All our classes will learn next week about the National Apology which happened 12 years ago on 13th February in 2008 when as a nation we formally acknowledged the immense suffering experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to past government policies of forced child removal.
This week we are very sad to say goodbye to Father Victor and the children presented him with cards, letters and sang him a goodbye blessing on Thursday morning. We welcome Father Patricio, who has been in Perth training for the last few years and originally comes from Guatemala. We look forward to getting to know him and working with the parish this year.
Virtue of the Fortnight : RESPECT
Our virtue focus for the fortnight is respect. We spoke on Monday how respectful our students here at Holy Rosary already are and what a great example our older students set for our younger ones. We spoke about how all our students play nicely, speak to each other kindly and respect themselves, each other and their property, and how proud Holy Rosary students should be of the respectful way they behave so much of the time.
Assemblies
Currently we have brief assemblies on Monday morning and a longer assembly on Friday afternoons. This year we will be changing this slightly to have activities on a Friday afternoon every second week instead of an assembly. These activities will be fun, team building and social emotional and wellbeing building activities that we will run in multi-age groups in faction groups. More information will be sent out soon. We will be having our first Friday assembly of the year next Friday, at 1:20 pm.
Coming events
Wednesday 12th February : Parent information evening, 5:30 (see information here: Parent Information Evening)
Wednesday 12th February : Swimming lessons start (See information here: Swimming Lessons Term 1 )
Thursday 13th February: National Apology Anniversary
Friday 14th February : Assembly
Online Notes and Forms
A paper note will be sent home in week 2 for parents to indicate whether they wish to still receive paper notes. Please return these if you still wish to receive paper notes, if not returned you will only receive online communications mainly through texts or with a link to an online note or form. In coming months we will have an online payment system also available for activities requiring payment.
P and F, Board and Annual General Meeting
On February 27th we will be having our AGM and we are hoping that new P&F members and Board members will be nominated at this meeting. Being part of the P&F and/or the board is a wonderful way of having a say in the running of our school and your child’s education. If you wish to be involved please see the info at these links Parents and Friends Association School Boardand submit an expression of interest form.
PUPIL FREE DAY
Please note there is a pupil free day on Monday February 17th, when all staff will be attending a course about literacy strategies.
Well done to these fantastic Year 2/3s who did some great writing this week in Miss Chelsea’s class!!
Best wishes
Yvette Clifton
Principal