Planning for 2025

Our planning for 2025 is well underway. All students from Year 7 – 11 have been afforded the opportunity to select subjects for next year. At Rosehill we run a tailored curriculum, which essentially allows for an individualised program at every year level. This is a complex process, and subject offerings are based on student choice and staffing availability. Please be mindful that first choices are not always feasible because some subjects are full, or they simply do not attract enough interest to run. The timetabling team will communicate directly with students and families if back up choices are not available. Current Grade 6 students, Year 7 2025 attended on site this week for some testing and parents received information on subject selections. We once again have a healthy number of families joining our Rosehill community and we look forward to having a long partnership with our new and existing families.

Year 10 Tasmania Camp

In a few weeks’ time the Year 10 camp to Tasmania will depart. We wish all students and staff attending a safe and enjoyable trip. Tasmania is a terrific place to visit, and we are so pleased to be able to still offer a comprehensive camps program at Rosehill, despite the significant staffing challenges facing the industry.

Year 11 Presentation Ball

We are also looking forward to the Year 11 Presentation Ball on Friday13th September. I have heard that the Year 11 students have some great dance moves. I wish to acknowledge the Year 11 team and Ms Aquilina, supported by Ms Mortellaro for their work in getting these children ready to perform in front of friends and family in a couple of weeks.

Parent Teacher Interviews

A friendly reminder that Year 7-10 Parent Teacher interviews will be held on Thursday 12^th September. These will be a blend of face to face and online. The bookings portal will open on Wednesday morning, 4^th September, and will close on Wednesday 11^th September. Keep a look out for a compass post early next week with specific details.

Facilities

We continue to work on improving our school facilities. The Capital Works projects are almost complete, and as mentioned previously I am looking forward to having the entire school at our disposal. It has been almost two years of disruptions. We hope to have the classrooms in A Wing back for the start of Term 4. In addition to the major capital works, School Council has been highly supportive of improving all areas of the school and providing our children with the best possible facilities. Below are a couple of images of our ground improvements and outdoor learning spaces in recent times.

Arthur Soumalias

PRINCIPAL

School Policies have been updated in line with Department of Education and Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority requirements. Parents may review these on the school websitehttps://www.rosehillsc.vic.edu.au/under Our School > Policies > Minimum Standards Compliance – June 2022.

Rosehill Secondary College embraced National Science Week in August with great enthusiasm.

The theme for 2024 was "Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability," highlighting the importance of biodiversity and the complex factors that contribute to species survival.

Science Week kicked off with an exciting 'Art Competition,' where students were asked to create their masterpieces showcasing science at its finest.

Congratulations to this year's winner, Marika Pahos from 9H, who drew an amazing portrait of Galileo Galilei with Saturn's ring! 😊

Her work will be framed and displayed in B11.

Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of engaging activities, including the ‘Animal Origami’ workshop, where they learned about endangered animals while folding paper into different animal shapes.

They also enjoyed the ‘Chemical Reactions’ experimental station, where they explored how common kitchen ingredients can be used to create acid-base reactions and make invisible ink, emphasising sustainable practices.

Thank you to Ms Anderson's Year 12 Biology students (Xyza, Claudia, Micah, Jade, Shivanshi, Sam, Madina and Emily) for their help with supervision!

Additionally, students had fun at the Dungeon and Dragons club, and the 'Endangered Species VR Experience,' led by Ms Gulbenkian, was a big hit, allowing them to explore the habitats of various endangered species in virtual reality.

Year 7 students had the opportunity to attend ‘The Marine Team’ incursion, learning about how pollution enters waterways and what actions they can take to help protect ecosystems.

The daily quiz was a big hit again this year, testing students' knowledge of species survival. The winner for 2024, with the quickest time and highest score, is Jenny Nguyen of 8D. Congratulations!

The infamous ‘Science Scavenger Hunt’ returned for its second year, where students followed a list of clues and raced around the school to find as many items as possible.

The winners for 2024 are Toby Bliss and Bailie Watson of 7F, along with Craig Dsouza of 7E. Congratulations!

Teachers also joined in the fun with a special dress-up day, celebrating all things science!

The Science team stole the show with their hazmat suits, animal costumes, astronaut outfit, space attire, and portrayals of various scientists.

Special mention goes to Ms Beechy, who dressed up to remind everyone of the importance of bees, and to Hayakawa-sensei for his outstanding chemistry-themed socks.

Meanwhile, Mr Vincent and Mr Tetradis showcased their expertise by clinching the top spot in the Science Week Trivia Challenge.

Science Week is all about fostering a deeper understanding of species survival, igniting curiosity about biodiversity, and highlighting the role of STEM in protecting the delicate balance of our ecosystems. We hope everyone enjoyed this year's activities and competitions—bring on 2025!

Keep exploring, stay curious, and protect our planet.

Ann Anderson
SCIENCE KLA LEADER

Our Year 11 VM class had the opportunity to visit the Salvation Army classroom in the historic (1885) Bourke Street building to participate in a lesson on homelessness.

Our class learnt about poverty in Australia and how people come to experience homelessness. We found out that 3.3 million Australians are living below the poverty line which is $25,428 per year. Interestingly, Job Seeker payments for a single person amounts to $19,830, while the aged pension is $29,000 annually. Thus, our most vulnerable people are on social welfare payments which are seriously inadequate.

People on these payments face the highest levels of financial stress in Australia. They are forced to choose between paying for their medicine, energy bills, or food. They also struggle to find affordable rental properties.

The first activity students completed was an exercise in budgeting. They were given a scenario of a 30-year-old man who lost his job and had to sign up for the Job Seeker program. With a weekly budget of $381, students in their groups had to prioritise their money. The reflection conversation centred on what they could afford and what did they go without.

During the outdoor tour component of the program, we walked along the city’s footpaths and explored sites of refuge and heard stories of lived experience. This part of the excursion was an eye-opener.

We visited several locations where people try and find some temporary shelter, including Treasury Gardens (where, ironically, the backdrop is two 5-star hotels: the Hotel Windsor and the Park Hyatt). The distinction between rich and poor was evident.

The Salvation Army excursion is a confronting one for our students. It exposes them to people who have had challenging lives – some, through no fault of their own. In addition to understanding the homelessness issue, we feel this experience highlighted the need for tolerance and compassion towards those less fortunate than ourselves.

Vicki Handris

VCE VM COORDINATOR

The 2024 School Aquila is now available to pre-purchase.

Don't miss out on your chance to grab the 2024 school magazine, being distributed to families in Term 4, 2024! Get excited for a glimpse into 2024's highlights and achievements.

If you wish to purchase the School Magazine, please accept the invitation on Compass and process your payment. Please note if the event says ' Attending ' in Green, the school magazine has been paid for and you will not be able to process a payment.

If you are unsure if you have paid, please contact the Administration Office on 03 9337 2488.

No payments will be accepted after the closing date - Friday 20th September 2024.

Stephanie Barbaro

VCE PSYCHOLOGY & MATHEMATICS TEACHER