Volume 2 2025

Thank you to all the parents who made the time to join us for the Parent Welcome and Information Evening. There was a tremendous amount of information and conversation shared which has laid the foundation for what promises to be an exciting year. Visit the ‘Parent Engagement’ page via the Parent Portal to view some of the information covered  during the year group presentations on the evening. This event is always the first ‘test’ of the year for our Hospitality students who spent the entire day in a busy kitchen to prepare and serve the canapés for our guests. Under the guidance and support of their incredible teachers Mrs Gal and Mr Ha, they once again surpassed our expectations.

It was wonderful to have three generous mums, Samantha Hand, Joanna Riccobono and Mellissa Ferguson join our team of staff as hospitality volunteers to help serve drinks during the social component of the evening. We hope to have a few more ‘hands on deck’ to volunteer an hour or two of time at the Open Day Food Hall in Term 2 on Sunday, 4 May. Planning is already underway for our biggest community event of the year and the events team would love to hear from you if you can lend a hand. Please email pandf@rosebank.nsw.edu.au.  

Over the past two weeks I have been fortunate to spend some time catching up with our students around the College. On Valentine’s Day, Ms Goodenough and her Year 7 RE class generously welcomed me to their ‘Cups of Love’ activity before I joined students in the SRSC to enjoy a ‘Date With a Book’, complete with background jazz and an inviting ‘Coffee Shop’ scene on the big screen! This was a well-run initiative which received tremendous support from the students. Ms Gyi and Ms Cesaro, who were looking after everyone when I arrived, are to be commended for finding a unique and engaging way to continue to deepen the reading culture at Rosebank.

I was also lucky enough to catch the Mary Poppins Musical musicians in rehearsal and had the opportunity to learn a thing or two about the MalletKAT instrument from a very talented James Lagis in Year 9 Adamson. Strangely, I have yet to be asked to return for a second audition.

Out on The Green, the ‘Future Problem Solvers’ charmed me into buying far too many chocolates as they work to raise funds for their upcoming trip to Indiana, USA, in June. I am also excited to be working with the Vaughan House Captains as they fine-tune an exciting whole-school fundraising initiative for Term 2.

China Study Tour - 2026

Our Languages Coordinator, Ms De Jong, has confirmed an exciting study tour of China in 2026. This will be open to all students currently in Years 8, 9 and 10 providing an opportunity to visit the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors, a Panda Research base, a local high school and more. To get an idea of what these study tours look like, click here to view a short video or join us for the China Tour information evening on Tuesday, 8 April in the SRSC. Click here to register your interest or attendance.

This is only one of a number of international tours in the pipeline and we look forward to sharing details about these as they are confirmed.

Learning Progress Meetings

Feedback from our 2024 Parent Survey indicated that the majority of parents prefer the Learning Progress Meetings (LPMs) to remain via Zoom. As such, only our Year 7 LPMs will take place onsite this term (Tuesday, 25 March) with all other year group LPMs conducted via Zoom. All the LPM dates for the year for all year groups, can be viewed in the Student Diary or via the Parent Portal online Calendar.

As per last year, the Year 10 Subject Selection interviews will continue to take place on-site in Term 2 (Tuesday, 17 June). Additional information will be sent to parents closer to the date of these events.

"Step in time" for a magical night!

Get ready to be swept off your feet with the high-flying, supercalifragilistic production of Mary Poppins! Our talented students are bringing this beloved classic to life with toe-tapping tunes, whimsical choreography and plenty of magic in the air.

Tickets are selling fast – don’t miss out on this enchanting experience! Whether you’re a fan of the iconic songs, the delightful dance numbers or just looking for an unforgettable night out, Mary Poppins is sure to delight.

Be prepared for a "supercalifragilistic" time – book your tickets today! 

Buy your tickets now

Win a Mary Poppins Prize Pack!

Simply purchase a raffle ticket for your chance to win an exclusive Mary Poppins prize pack. The more you enter, the better your chances!

This exclusive prize pack includes:

• Two VIP tickets to a performance of your choice
• Mary Poppins merch box
• $15 Candy Bar voucher
• Two drinks from the bar
• Reserved car space at the performance

Support the arts and be part of the magic of Mary Poppins.

Raffle tickets are available here – Hurry, the clock is ticking! Entries close midnight Sunday, 2 March. Winners will be drawn on Monday, 3 March and notified soon after.

The beginning of the year is always an exciting time for the SRSC as we welcome students and staff back from the holidays. Much of the conversation is about what we have been reading and an organic swap meet of books.

Rosebank is committed to support ‘Reading Routines’ as a cornerstone for students and their learning journey. As a result we have met all the new Year 7 students via their ConnectED classes as an introduction to the Scholastica Research and Study Centre. During this time we explore the many and various activities offered in the space for students and take the time to get to know their reading habits.

This year we are very excited to be able to survey each Year 7 student and match them with a personally selected novel and bookmark that we hope they may enjoy whether it is manga, historical fiction or speculative fiction, we have something for everyone. We encourage every student to read each night for at least 15 minutes before bed as an opportunity to transition from screens and the busyness of the day. We are keen to touch base with them later in the term to explore the novel they are reading and see if they would recommend it to others.

As a parent I am acutely aware of the changing nature and acceptance of young people to read. I know, it is not easy, but as parents we must persist and provide our children with these opportunities. The Australian ‘Discovering a Good Read’ research highlights, ‘Reading for pleasure, makes us happier, healthier, and more empathetic and helps us to make sense of ourselves. International research has also shown that regular reading in teens has also been seen to lead to greater academic attainment and employment opportunities later in life.’

Don’t give up and if your child doesn’t find anything in our library that meets their needs please tell them to come and see us and we will work with them to match them with the right book. As adults we need to model reading for students which was seen last Friday on ‘Library Lovers Day’ where Rosebank staff and students spent the break reading.



We are also very pleased to welcome our newest staff member in the SRSC Ms Beth Cesaro, who joins us with a wealth of experience and knowledge of all things reading. She is an accomplished librarian and is published as an illustrator of children's picture books. Ms Gyi has also been working tirelessly supporting Senior Students in their Study and choosing the best books for their sons and daughters.

Literacy and Numeracy Week is around the corner and we have encouraged Year 7 to start thinking about their favourite characters for ‘Character Day’ in March. We foster creativity in their choices, recycling clothes and raiding cupboards to represent the characters that inspire them.

“I wouldn’t be a songwriter if it wasn’t for books that I loved as a kid. I think that when you can escape into a book it trains your imagination to think big and to think that more can exist than what you see.” – Taylor Swift

Sydney West Careers & Employment Expo

Friday, 14 March 2025 - 9am to 3pm
Saturday, 15 March 2025 - 9am to 4pm
Sydney Showground, Olympic Park

Sydney’s West New Careers & Employment
The Expo will run from Friday, 14 March to Saturday, 15 March 2025, at the Sydney Showground. The Expo will showcase over 120 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages. Entry is free.

The event is designed for school students, parents, graduates, job seekers, individuals exploring courses and workers seeking fresh opportunities. It’s an excellent chance to gain valuable insights, connect with potential employers, and discover educational or career paths. Students, in particular, should attend to explore future opportunities, network with industry professionals, and gain guidance on their next steps after school. Key features are below: 

• Gain free career advice 
• Talk with over 120 training Organisations and Employers
• Discover jobs of the future
• Discuss options with with leading Organisations about training and apprenticeships
• Attend free career seminars
• Learn how to write a winning resume
   

If you are looking for a job, career change, courses or you are a school student looking for a career path, please consider attending the Expo. Register here

Year 12 Future Talk – Demystifying University & The Future World of Work
Online Monday, 3 March 2025

Future Talk is a series of online information sessions designed specifically for a student's support crew. If you're a parent or carer who is navigating the HSC too, you’ll find this useful.

This session breaks down the language of higher education, offering practical strategies to support young people in making positive post-school decisions with confidence. The session will explore key trends in education and the workforce—locally, nationally, and globally—along with the impact of AI and emerging technologies on future career opportunities. Find out more and register