What do a pig, a star, a big gift box and teachers dressed up in fancy dress have in common?
They all played vital roles in Our Lady of the Rosary St Mary’s Gift of Reading launch.
The Gift of Reading is the title to the school’s new reading program which is aimed at promoting reading as a fun and engaging activity.
Assistant Principal Julianne Regan said the aim of this program is to take reading into the home of every family.
Principal Michael Siciliano said that reading is a gift that should be treasured by everyone.
“We love to learn to read and we love to read to learn. Reading is something you will use throughout your life,’’ he said.
The launch captured everyone's curiosity. When students and parents made their way into the school assembly, they encountered a giant gift box.
To begin the special assembly, the teachers put on a performance of Aaron Blabey’s latest picture book ‘Pig the Star’, which was met with great applause and captured the imagination of all who watched.
Then it was time to unwrap the big present which was copies of ‘Pig the Star’ - enough copies for each family in the school to take one home!
Thanks to Scholastic and its representative Kim Frankie who came on board and funded all of the books for the school.
Students and their families were also treated to a whole-school shared reading activity and were able to use the bookmarks they had been given by Federal Member for Lindsay Emma Husar MP.
The school plans on making launching a new book a regular event each term as part of encouraging students to enjoy their reading journey.
Facebook | OLOR
-
22 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day Liturgy and Gold and Star Awards Today, our school community came together in prayer to celebrate and honour Our Lady of the Rosary, our patron saint. Although her feast day falls during the school holidays on the 7th of October, we took the opportunity to draw closer to Mary through prayer. A special thank you to Stage 1 for organising and preparing our beautiful liturgy and helping our students celebrate this special feast day. It was wonderful to see our students beginning to pray the Rosary together around our Mary Garden, growing in prayer and faith as a school community. ๐๐ Congratulations to all the students who received a Gold or Star Award at our Awards Assembly following the liturgy. ๐ Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.03 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A big thank you to all of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and father figures who joined us for our Picnic Recess and Liturgy today. It was wonderful to see so many of our families celebrating together. May God bless these very special men today and every day. ๐
Latest news More news
28 Sep 2026
Celebrating 40 years of Voice of Youth and the power of student voice
Six Year 6 students from 58 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) Primary schools came together at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens on 22 September for the Voice of Youth Grand Final, showcasing their public speaking skills through a series of thoughtful and engaging speeches.
22 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day Liturgy and Gold and Star Awards Today, our school community came together in prayer to celebrate and honour Our Lady of the Rosary, our patron saint. Although her feast day falls during the school holidays on the 7th of October, we took the opportunity to draw closer to Mary through prayer. A special thank you to Stage 1 for organising and preparing our beautiful liturgy and helping our students celebrate this special feast day. It was wonderful to see our students beginning to pray the Rosary together around our Mary Garden, growing in prayer and faith as a school community. ๐๐ Congratulations to all the students who received a Gold or Star Award at our Awards Assembly following the liturgy. ๐ Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
03 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A big thank you to all of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and father figures who joined us for our Picnic Recess and Liturgy today. It was wonderful to see so many of our families celebrating together. May God bless these very special men today and every day. ๐
02 Sep 2026
From Facebook
๐ฟ Year 6 Retreat Day ๐ Today, our Year 6 students took time away from the busyness of school life to be still, reflect and deepen their understanding of prayer. Guided by the words of Psalm 46:10, โBe still, and know that I am God,โ students explored the Catholic understanding of how prayer can help us to listen to God, make wise decisions and guide our actions. A special part of the day was hearing from Father Jeff, who spoke to the students about Mary as a model of prayer. Through Maryโs example of trust, openness and willingness to say โyesโ to God, students reflected on how prayer can shape the choices we make and the way we live our lives. It was a beautiful day of quiet reflection, prayer, connection and faith as our Year 6 students prepared to take the next step in their journey. ๐๐ โBe still, and know that I am God.โ โ Psalm 46:10
28 Aug 2026
Our schools are cracking the reading code
Do you remember how you learned to read? For a vital skill that is linked to all other learning, itโs surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
20 Aug 2026
Six Habits That Help Children Develop a Love of Reading
Book Week is a celebration of stories, imagination and creativity, but helping children love reading isn't just something that happens during one week of the year. The good news? It doesn't take expensive resources or hours of extra time. Often, it's the small, everyday habits that make the biggest difference.
07 Aug 2026
From Facebook
28 Jul 2026
Action and Progress: Western Sydney Catholic Schools release 2026 Closing the Gap Report
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has released its Closing the Gap Report 2026, detailing efforts to enhance educational equity, community engagement, and cultural capability across its 80 schools in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
17 Jul 2026
What's It Really Like to Send Your Kid to a Catholic School?
If you've ever assumed that attending a Catholic school means you have to be Catholic and that the fees are expensive, you're not alone. It's a common perception, but for many families, the reality looks quite different.
08 Jul 2026
CSPD students recognised in Refugee Week Creative Competition
Over 125 students from 10 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools have been recognised for their empathy and powerful storytelling as part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Refugee Week Creative Competition.
30 Jun 2026
From Facebook
On Monday we celebrated our End of Term Liturgy, reflecting on the reminder that God is always with us, loving us, caring for us, and calling us to trust in His mercy and hope. A big thank you to our wonderful Stage 2 students for leading such a meaningful liturgy. Congratulations also to all of our Gold and Star Award recipientsโwe are so proud of your achievements. ๐ ๐
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Winter Vinnies 2026 Stayout On Wednesday afternoon our Yr 5 and 6 students had the opportunity to take part in the Vinnies Stayout. The afternoon began with Yr 6 students sharing information about homelessness and poverty and we were blessed to have the local conference members from Vinnies join us to share how they support our community. We joined together in a liturgy before students got to work collating snack packs - a hands-on reminder that small acts of kindness can make a real difference. As night fell, students experienced the dark and cold of the playground, a small glimpse into what it feels like to have no warm place to sleep. The evening ended with a simple dinner of noodles and sandwiches just like many people in our community experience night after night. We are incredibly proud of the maturity and generosity our students showed throughout the afternoon/evening. Thank you to our Vinnies guests, students, teachers and all families who supported this experience. If you are able to make a financial contribution to support the Vinnies Winter Appeal please use this link. https://tinyurl.com/mr34y2ny
Browse Categories