Volume 15 2024

I recently had the opportunity to accompany our outgoing College Captains, Stella Vardanega and Xavier Woods to a celebratory student leadership dinner at NSW Parliament. As guests of Stephanie Di Pasqua MP (Member for Drummoyne), our Rosebank students were invited to join their peers from other schools at this very special venue, for an opportunity to reflect on the importance of leadership, as they prepare to embark on the next phase of their journey as high school graduates.

Stella and Xavier have been exceptional representatives of the Rosebank community during their year as College Captains and their mature, intelligent and friendly interactions with our hosts and other guests on the evening were incomparable. I felt enormously proud to stand alongside them and reflect on what incredible role models our student community have had to look up to this year. These two young people embody so much of what we are striving to develop in all of our students, and they are a credit to their families and to themselves.
 
There are of course so many other outgoing students who have left their mark on our community, whether as part of our student leadership group, as quiet achievers, or simply conducting oneself with integrity, compassion and respect. It isn’t the badge or the test scores that define a person, or that determine whether you will ‘succeed’ in life. Rather, it is having the ability to behave decently, in what is often an indecent society. Ninety-year-old primatologist, anthropologist and conservationist, Dr Jane Goodall, who is also a United Nations Messenger of Peace, recently shared these words which resonate with many members of our community as we farewell the Class of 2024:

“The qualities of human love, compassion and self-sacrifice are what give me hope for the future.

I am constantly in awe of the enthusiasm and empowerment I witness in the young people I meet. And my message to them is that every day there is a new opportunity, so seize it! Their energy in return, provides in me a reassurance that booms loud and says, ‘We will be okay’, and that is incredible.”

As we celebrate our graduates, I want to say thank you to those students who have come to epitomise so much of what this sentiment expresses, students who have made us feel that in their hands, our future will be okay, that ‘We will be okay’. The teachings of Benedict remain very much alive and relevant for us all as the foundation upon which we continue to grow. It is our hope that the parable of the Good Samaritan echoes quietly for these young people through the years ahead and that they play a part in making the world a better place. As the newest members of our Rosebank Alumni, these young men and women will always be a part of our Rosebank community, and I cannot wait to see what they do next. I wish you all a relaxing and safe holiday break and look forward to welcoming all of our students back in summer uniform for the start of Term 4 on Tuesday, 15 October.

Rosebank Teams Shine at Sydney Championships

Rosebank's sports teams showed great determination and skill in the recent Sydney Championships, with triumphs and tough battles marking the competition.

The Girls Intermediate Tennis team has been crowned Sydney champions, showcasing their incredible teamwork and resilience throughout the tournament. This team remained undefeated through all of the Conference round games and the Sydney Championships. Their well-deserved victory has made the whole school proud, cementing their status as the top team from all Sydney Catholic Schools. Well done, Sophie, Sienna, Maya and Chiara!

Meanwhile, the Boys Junior and Intermediate AFL teams fought bravely but were unable to secure a spot in the Grand Final, narrowly missing out after tough semi-final losses. Despite this setback, their dedication and hard work throughout the season have been nothing short of commendable. The future of our AFL teams are in good hands with the depth of talent coming through.

In another remarkable display of perseverance, the Girls Intermediate Rugby 7s team bounced back from a semi-final defeat to win the third place playoff, earning a well-deserved bronze medal. Their tenacity and drive to secure a podium finish reflect the character of all Rosebank Representative Sport teams.

Well done and congratulations to all students who were in a Rosebank Representative Sport team this term. 



From the Court to the Field - Rosebank Teams Leave Their Mark

In Week 8, the Rosebank Representative Sport teams delivered outstanding performances at the Conference Finals, with several teams showcasing their skill, strategy and teamwork to secure top finishes across various sports.

Leading the charge, the Girls Intermediate Rugby 7s, Boys Junior AFL, Boys Intermediate AFL and Girls Intermediate Tennis teams all finished in first place, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and strategy. Their dominance in the finals reflects their efforts in training and a sharp focus on executing their game plans.

The Girls Junior AFL team achieved an impressive second place, playing with precision and showcasing their growing potential throughout the tournament. Similarly, the Girls Intermediate AFL team battled through strong competition to claim third place, growing in their cohesion and strong communication on the field.

Our junior Tennis teams also put in noteworthy efforts, with both the Girls and Boys Junior Tennis teams finishing in third place. Their solid technique and composure under pressure earned them well-deserved podium finishes.

These results highlight the athletic talent within Rosebank and the collaborative spirit that drives each team forward. Congratulations to all teams on their outstanding achievements in the Conference Finals!



Baseball Gala Day

The Rosebank Representative Baseball team recently participated in the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) Sydney Championships Gala Day. While the competition was tough, the team’s spirit and performance were commendable.

With the sun shining and perfect conditions for play, the students were eager to take the field. They showed tremendous enthusiasm, even taking extra time during breaks to train and improve their skills. The children’s behaviour was exemplary, with each player fully committed to contributing to the team’s success.

Despite lacking any representative players and having limited pitching options, the team more than held their own. Through smart strategies and teamwork, they put up a solid fight in a challenging pool. Though they missed out on a second place finish by just four runs, their effort and resilience were impressive throughout the day.

NSWCCC Athletics Championships

Fifteen of Rosebank’s finest athletes were selected to represent the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) at the NSWCCC Athletics Championships held on Monday, 16 September. Competing against some of the state's top athletes, Rosebank’s students demonstrated remarkable skill, determination and sportsmanship.

A number of the Rosebank students placed in the top five in their event. Among the outstanding results, several students achieved podium finishes:

• Joshua Bartle - 3rd place 13 Years 800m
• Jaden Kane - 2nd place 13 Years 800m and 1500m
• Bentley Luketic - 3rd place 13 Years 1500m Race Walk
• Bianka Pavela - 2nd place 16 Years 200m and 3rd place 100m

The dedication and hard work of all of these students have made the Rosebank community proud.



Strong Start for our Term 3 Term 3 Club Sport Teams!

Our Club Baseball teams have started strongly over the first three weeks of competition, with our under 19s and under 16s white both undefeated.  The results are as follows:

• 7/9/24 - Club Baseball - U14- BYE
• 7/9/24 - Club Baseball - U16 Gold- Rosebank White - 9-15 loss
• 7/9/24 - Club Baseball - U16s White - Rosebank Gold - 15-9 win
• 7/9/24 - Club Baseball - U19s - North Ryde - 16-0 win
   
• 14/9/24 - Club Baseball - U14Kissing Point - 8-7 loss
• 14/9/24 - Club Baseball - U16s Gold - North Ryde - 3-15 loss
• 14/9/24 - Club Baseball - U16s White - BYE
• 14/9/24-  Club Baseball - U19s - St Pats - 20-1 win
   
• 21/9/24 - Club Baseball - U14 Stealers - 8-11 loss
• 21/9/24 - Club Baseball - U16s Gold - BYE
• 21/9/24 - Club Baseball - U16s White - Greenway - 16-10 win
• 21/9/24 - Club Baseball - U19s - Five Dock - 20-3 win

These teams will still improve, and we look forward to all of the sides being successful in Term 4 after the arrival of our new pitching coach from the US college system in Week 1. There are still positions available in our under 14 development team. 

Our MLC invitational Water Polo teams finished strongly, receiving third place in the Senior Girls division. The most exciting thing about this program was the number of young girls who continually put their hand up to play a division. These girls grew in stature and skill, enabling the senior team to finish with back-to-back wins, elevating them into third place. 

Club sports in Term 4 will also see basketball, volleyball, futsal and hockey added to the schedule, with teams already selected.

Year 9 Students Take on the Bronze Duke of Ed Award!

This year a record 199 Year 9 students are participating in Duke of Ed and are working towards completing their Bronze Award. This is the largest number of Duke of Ed participants the College has had from one year group and the internationally recognised Award allows our students to reach their potential and explore their purpose, passion and place in the world.

Bronze participants must complete 13 hours of Physical Recreation, 13 hours of Skills, 13 hours of Voluntary Service and an additional 13 hours of one of these sections. Participants also complete an Adventurous Journey where they work together with other participants to challenge themselves in a new environment, which our Year 9 participants will complete next term during Discovery Week.

The program allows students to learn, grow and develop skills while gaining valuable experience. One of the Year 9 Duke of Ed participants shares her experience below.

On my journey throughout my Duke of Ed Voluntary Service section, I have made many memories and experiences that I share with my friends and family now that I have completed it.

I completed my 13 weeks of Voluntary Service at St Vincent de Paul on a Wednesday afternoon for one hour per week. Every Wednesday, I would complete several tasks such as putting clothes out, putting prices on clothes, organising the homeware section of the store and many more. Doing this helped me develop my people skills, my sense of responsibility and organisation, and many other aspects of what it is like to have a part-time job, as well as helping a not for profit organisation.



One of the highlights of this activity was helping people who came into the store. From things as small as informing customers where they should drop off some donated items to helping customers with which piece of jewellery suits them, it was a great learning experience. As much as I am glad to have completed one of my Duke of Ed sections, I am sad to leave the environment I learnt in, but knowing I have achieved many skills that can help me throughout my time at high school will assure me that it was all worth it.

By Poppy Swanson (Year 9 Bronze Duke of Ed Participant)

Textiles and Design 
Congratulations to student Madeleine Newman on her nomination for the SHAPE exhibition showcasing outstanding works from HSC Textiles and Design, Design and Technology and Industrial Technology.



Madeleine’s Major Textiles Project is a three-piece theatrical costume designed for the iconic fem fatale character of Morticia Addams. Madeleine took inspiration from the elegant, formal design conventions of the early 1900s era. Her costume consists of a bishop-sleeved, black sheer blouse; a stained glass-inspired corset belt cinched with a long red ribbon; and a floor-length, lush black velvet trumpet skirt.

Industrial Technology
Congratulations to Keelan Fischer, Javier Leiva and Ethan Stefas of the 2024 HSC Industrial Technology class, who have been nominated for possible inclusion in the annual SHAPE exhibition. 


Keelan Fischer's major work


Javier Leiva's major work


Ethan Stefas's major work

Being nominated for an HSC Showcase is an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication these students put into their Major Projects all year. We could not be more proud of them!

Claudia Peterie and Kristen Tannous, two of Adamson's wonderful Year 12 students, attended a statewide summit with other Olympic Change Maker award recipients. This award recognises their active leadership through sport and their use of sport as a vehicle to improve health and wellbeing and drive social change in their school or local community. 

Claudia and Kristen spent the day with secondary students from around the country who, like them, demonstrate the Olympic spirit – friendship, sportsmanship and striving for excellence - both on and off the playing field. They heard from Olympians, including Harry Garside, Chloe Dalton, Keesja Gofers and Lani Palister. These sportspeople shared many insightful experiences, and everyone present also heard many inspiring stories from other change-makers.

Claudia and Kristen are now invited to the National Summit in Canberra in December. There, they will work with Olympians and 25 Changemakers nationwide to propose ideas for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics within parliament. 

Adamson are so inspired by these two and we are excited to hear how inspired they have been by their day with the Olympians.

The SRSC was incredibly proud to host the ‘ASK R U OK ANY DAY’ pledge for 2024. It has never been more important to touch base with people and check in with them to better support their wellbeing.

As young people, we may find this difficult, especially with people outside our friendship groups. However, connection is powerful and could make a real difference to someone who feels isolated.

So, when we do simple things like smile at someone, comment on something a person is doing, or include them in our conversations or groups, we are being inclusive. The idea of ‘ASK R U OK ANY DAY’ is that we do not need to wait for the campaign but can take an interest in people, fostering a sense of belonging that will have a positive impact on their wellbeing. 

Please support this pledge as parents and have a conversation with your children. Check in with them to see if they are OK and encourage them to foster kindness toward those on the fringes of our society.

Enrolment for our 2025 bus service to selected suburbs (Gladesville, Putney, and Newington areas) is now open. Please note that submitting the form will add the student to a waitlist, and final enrolments will be confirmed in November 2024. Priority will be given to current service users and their siblings. We will provide information about the bus fee soon.

Apply now.

The Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) 2024 Parent Survey on Student Wellbeing and Learning is seeking your perspective as parents/carers of children who attend a Catholic School in Australia. 

You are invited to share your views on existing and emerging affirmations and/or challenges in relation to your child/children’s wellbeing and learning. Please consider completing this anonymous, confidential, and completely voluntary online survey. 

More information about the study, how to participate and how to have questions answered, can be found here.



Thank you for your interest.