As we reach the conclusion of another semester, the upcoming school holidays provide an opportunity for students, staff and families to enjoy a well-earned break. On behalf of all staff at Rosehill Secondary College, I wish our community a safe, enjoyable and relaxing holiday period.
For our VCE students, I encourage the use of this time to review and consolidate learning by summarising notes and revisiting key concepts. Many students will also return during the first two days of Week 2 of the break to complete Unit 3 practice examinations.
Staff Farewells and Appointments
At the end of this term, we farewell several staff members and acknowledge their contributions to our school community.
Mr Tas Adams concludes more than four years at Rosehill, where he has been a valued member of the Mathematics and Science faculty and has also contributed to our University of Mathematics program.
Josie Castanzo will commence Long Service Leave for the remainder of the year.
Brooke Gualtieri finished with us last week after almost ten years as an Education Support Learning Support staff member. Brooke accepted an administration position closer to home. We thank her for her dedication and contribution to Rosehill and wish her every success in her new role.
We also extend our thanks to Kani Liu, who has supported the Technology Department over the past six months in a Permission to Teach capacity.
Several casual staff members have worked with us in longer-term roles while covering staff leave this semester. We sincerely thank Jordan Leach, Yeibir Valdes Mosquera, Anh Le and Silvanna Inglese for their valuable contributions.
We are pleased to welcome Kayla Harvey as a Mathematics and Science teacher, Oscar Richardson as our new Product Design teacher, and Simone Mathews as Facilities Manager.
We are very fortunate to have Erin Quinn, Katleyn Stevens and Cassandra Imbriano return from leave and look forward to their experience and high-quality teaching.
The combination of staffing changes and the return of several staff members from leave has resulted in significant adjustments to the Semester 2 timetable. Whilst such changes are unavoidable, accommodating new staff appointments and a range of part-time arrangements has created broader impacts across the timetable. Pleasingly, all classes are staffed by qualified teachers for Semester 2.
Families are reminded to check Compass over the holiday period for any timetable changes. Please note that Monday 13th July is a Curriculum Planning Day – pupil free day. Students in Years 7–10 will begin their new elective subjects when Term 3 commences on Tuesday 14th July.
Semester Reports
Semester reports will be released shortly, and families will receive a Compass notification once they become available. I encourage parents and guardians to spend some time reviewing the report with their child. Celebrating achievements is important, as is identifying areas for future growth and improvement.
Particular attention should be given to the Work Habits section. Strong behaviour, organisation, effort and engagement are consistently linked to positive academic outcomes, and this relationship is reflected in student success across the school.
Year 10 Work Experience
It has been wonderful to see our Year 10 students participating in work experience during the final two weeks of term. For many students, this represents their first experience in a workplace environment and provides valuable insight into future career pathways.
Many students have impressed employers to such an extent that opportunities for part-time or casual employment have followed. Congratulations to our Careers team, families and students for securing such a diverse range of placements. Feedback from employers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many organisations expressing a desire to host Rosehill students again in the future.
General Achievement Test (GAT)
Last Tuesday 16th June, our Year 12 students and Year 11 students studying a Unit 3 and 4 subject completed the General Achievement Test (GAT).
The GAT plays an important role in ensuring students meet the required literacy and numeracy standards. Students seeking an ATAR also completed additional assessments that may be used in the moderation and calculation of study scores where required.
Reports from supervisors and staff indicated that students approached the day with maturity, commitment and a positive attitude. Congratulations to all students involved.
Thank You to Staff
I would like to acknowledge and thank all Rosehill staff for their dedication throughout Semester 1. Their efforts ensure that every student is provided with opportunities to learn, grow and develop into well-rounded young adults.
Teaching is a profession that demands a high level of energy, commitment and care every day. Staff continue to support students regardless of the personal challenges and responsibilities they may be managing in their own lives. Despite these demands, the reward of seeing students achieve success, strive for improvement and demonstrate our values of Respect, Initiative and Learning makes the work worthwhile.
When the opportunity arises, I encourage families to take a moment to thank our staff for the work they do in supporting young people.
The Importance of Reading
As a final reminder, reading remains one of the most powerful ways to improve literacy and broaden knowledge.
One minute of reading per day = approximately 8,000 words per year.
Five minutes of reading per day = approximately 280,000 words per year.
Twenty minutes of reading per day = approximately 1.8 million words per year.
Our reading program provides students in Years 7–9 with multiple opportunities each week to engage in sustained reading. We encourage families to support this habit at home whenever possible.
Children are far more likely to read when they see adults modelling the behaviour themselves. Our library staff continue to provide excellent recommendations, and our collection offers something to suit every interest and reading preference.
Over the holiday break, I am looking forward to reading The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan.
Arthur Soumalias
PRINCIPAL
