Leadership News Article 2

Written on the 16 February 2017 by Leadership

Years 7-12 Parent Information Evening

We received much positive feedback from parents who attended last Wednesday evening. A great deal of information was delivered by Heads of Houses regarding the Pastoral Care structure and processes. If you were unable to attend please refer to the PowerPoints available from the Parent Portal by clicking on the "Parents Documents" link on the home page.

The success of any student at Rostrevor depends entirely upon the strength of the three-way partnership that must exist between student, family and school. This partnership has as its foundation, respect and trust. We all want what is best for the boys and, in order for this to happen, the College and its staff must respect the role of parents / caregivers in being the first and most important teachers of the boys. Likewise, the parents / caregivers must respect the teachers and support them in their role and the boys must respect the parents / caregivers as well as the teachers.

Dux Assembly

I would like to offer my congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2016 on their success in their final year of schooling. Tomorrow at our Dux Assembly, we will acknowledge their achievements and, in particular, congratulated our Merit Winners and students with ATARs above 90.

I look forward to hearing from our 2016 Dux, Christian Piteo, who achieved an ATAR of 99.45. Christian was closely followed by our Proxime Accessit, Jake Richter who achieved 98.90.

It is very encouraging to note that 25 students received ATAR scores of 90 or over - this represents 25.5% of the eligible Year 12 cohort. Furthermore, just under 50% of our cohort achieved an ATAR above 80. This is an outstanding achievement and offers great confidence to those in lower year levels who aspire to such academic excellence.

99% of all subject grades were either A, B or C and 31% of grades were A's and 72% were A's and B's only. This is excellent and underlines the good work of staff in encouraging students to do their best.

A total of 15 Merits and an additional 12 A+ grades were awarded to the boys who graduated last year; SACE Completion for the cohort was 97%. Four Year 11 students undertaking Stage 2 subjects were awarded Merits and one other was awarded an A+. Again, this is both very pleasing and encouraging.

Additionally, 13 students completed full Certificate III's in VET which contributed to their ATAR.

These figures should give the Rostrevor community great confidence in the expertise of not just our Year 12 teachers, but all teaching staff, as well as the support services we offer in order to assist students to achieve their personal best.

Year 10 "Stepping Up" (Father or Male Mentor & Son) & Retreat Days

On Thursday 9th and Friday 10th March, we will be holding our annual 'Stepping Up' (Father or Male Mentor and Son Program) and Retreat days for our Year 10 students. The program consists of two parts with 3 House groups participating in a Retreat on one day (boys only) and then spending the day with their father or male mentor, experiencing a range of activities here at the College on the second day. It works in reverse for the other 3 House groups. Every year this has run we have received numerous messages of thanks and encouragement for it to continue. While it is difficult for some fathers or male mentors to get time off work it is certainly worthwhile for all those who can attend.

Through our Pastoral Care Program, our Academic Programs and our Spiritual activities we aim to assist in the development of young men who can be true to themselves and who will become advocates of the values their families and school share. It is our main goal at Rostrevor to educate young boys and watch them grow into fine men, able and willing to make a difference in the world around them. If we achieve this then we certainly have followed Edmund's directive when he said, "The will of God be done in this and everything we undertake".

Frank Ranaldo
Deputy Principal 

Br John Ahern Blesses the Prefects Badges during the Week 1 Ceremony 

Many of you were present for our opening ceremony this year as we welcomed the new students into the valley and began our year of seeing further. The reading that I chose for this was the treatise on love from first Corinthians thirteen, a reading which is often used at weddings. It talks about the primacy of love in our lives and that if we lack it we have nothing to offer. 'See further' is not a selfish concept but is done with others welfare in mind as well as our own.  As the reading says: Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Let us all try to live up to these ideals this year.

Last Friday our year eight group had their enculturation day which introduces them to the best of Rostrevor's traditions and story.  After an opening session in the Kelty theatre which featured a film of our past, the power point 'We are Standing on the Shoulders of the One's who came before Us' and a welcome address from the Principal, they began the day. It involved a time in the archives room, a look and explanation of the Chapel windows, a time with some year 11 mentors, a walk around the historical plaques in the school and an introduction to Handball which because of the heat became a swim in the pool. I was impressed with their interest and involvement even though it was a hot day. Thanks to the House leaders, Mr Deegan, a former staff member Mr Bernie Tobin and Mr Messer for their contributions. Welcome to all to 2017 at Rostrevor.

Br John Ahern
APRIM