Earlier today, under the warm spring sunshine, staff and students from years 4 to 11 gathered on the front lawns in the shade of the trees and Rostrevor House for our Remembrance Day ceremony. It is on this day that we pause and remember those who have served and died in wars and armed conflicts. This year’s ceremony was led by Mr Shannon Simpson, with contributions and support from student leaders, Ms Carelyn Robinson and Br John Ahern. 

We were privileged to have Operations Officer of the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment, Major Paul Harris in attendance. Major Harris is the father of Eamon in Year 7 and Luke in Year 4. He joined the army in 1986 and in January next year will have served 38 years in the army. In 2011 he was operationally deployed to East Timor with the Peace Keeping forces and again in 2014 to Afghanistan where he worked inside the American Army Division Headquarters. I sincerely thank Major Harris for coming to Rostrevor this morning to talk to students about the sacrifices made by those who served in both World Wars and for encouraging students to contemplate what service means to them and how it relates to 2023’s theme of unity.  

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;  
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.  
At the going down of the sun and in the morning...  
We will remember them. 

The Year 6 Junior Years leaders spent the day with their counterparts from St Paul’s College and Christian Brothers College yesterday, sharing their fundraising achievements for the year, reflecting on their time as leaders and participating in team bonding activities at the last event of its kind for 2023. They then spoke to our Year 5 cohort and offered some advice before they begin the leadership discernment process for 2024. Thank you to our Year 6 student leaders for the dedication they’ve shown to their roles this year, setting an example for their younger peers. 

Our 2024 Prefect group ventured to Rostrevor’s sister school, Loreto College on Tuesday afternoon for a meet and greet afternoon tea with Loreto’s 2024 Student Executive team. It was a fantastic opportunity for both schools’ leaders to get to know each other and begin discussing initiatives for next year. 

As part of the Early Years Learning Framework Belong, Being, and Becoming, Rostrevor places a strong emphasis on identity and the diversity of our community. Throughout their current unit on cultural awareness and celebrations, the Mid-Year Reception class are learning to respond to diversity with respect as they become aware of their own and others’ cultural events. This week, Kabir Virk’s mum Chandan spoke about the celebration of Diwali before the class carefully decorated a Rangoli and lit a Diya. Thank you to Kabir’s older brother, Abhir (Year 6) for helping with the presentation. Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate the event in our community. 

There was excitement at the Agriculture Farm on Tuesday morning when it was time for the nine sheep in residence to have their annual trim. Some Year 9 Agriculture students came along to help out, herding the sheep into a pen for the shearer and collecting the wool.

Thank you to Athlete’s Foot Burnside Director, Byron Davis for coming to Rostrevor on Wednesday to deliver a cheque for $1025. The money was raised over the course of the year, with $5 from each pair of shoes bought by Rostrevor families adding to the total. Byron would like to remind Rostrevor families that the store also offers a recycling service for your family’s worn-out shoes which saves them from entering landfill.

Congratulations to all Junior Years students who participated in this year’s International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS), and in particular, to the five students who achieved Merits and Credits! Aristo Wiguna achieved a Merit in Science, Tyler Kovesy achieved a Credit in Maths, Inuk Haradasa achieved a Merit in Maths and a Credit in Science, Angus Hehir achieved a Credit in Maths and Connor Webb achieved a Merit in Maths. 

Last week, the Year 11s participated in the Road Awareness Program. Delivered by specially trained firefighters to young drivers, it gives an open and honest insight into the experience of firefighters working in road crash rescue and provides a hard-hitting, realistic insight into road trauma. After the program, the Year 11s provided the following positive feedback:  

“Thanks to Bolts for a strong presentation. If half the impact you made on me is made on my peers, I’m sure you won’t be rescuing anyone in this room. Thank you, Lisa, the courage it takes to share your story is deeply appreciated. Daniel seemed like a beautiful and determined young man.” - Julius Piro 

“Thanks Bolts. This presentation really hit hard and made an immense impact on me. It was emotional and made me think about how I drive as a P plater. Lisa, your story was touching and made me tear up. You’re such a strong individual and an amazing mother.” - Noah Bischoff 

Congratulations to the Junior Years athletics team who last Friday won the Boys Section 1 Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival, retaining the shield for the third year in a row! Our Year 6 athletes won the Year 6 pennant and Zak Carberry (Year 3) was awarded Year 3 age champion. The team consisted of 39 students who ran, threw and jumped with excellent determination and effort. They also showed great team spirit and supported one another even when things didn't go their way. 

Our Year 7/8 Volleyball team competed in their first major tournament on Friday last week, finishing middle of the table in what was a very competitive state championship. Our comparatively young team played with more assurance and cohesion with each game. A shaky start against the eventual top team spurred them on to play at the level required to be at the pointy end of the competition.