From Leadership

Mr Frank Ranaldo
Deputy Principal

WELCOME BACK

I hope that families have settled back into school routines, particularly after a three week break.

We have 'hit the ground running' with Year 12 Mid-Year Trial Exams in the first week of school, subject selection preparation taking place, commencement of dancing lessons for some of our Year 10 students and arrangements for the 2018 Prefect selection process. While busy, it has been a very positive start to the term and we hope that the energy and enthusiasm with which students have commenced the term does not dissipate as the term progresses.

REPORT REFLECTIONS

At the commencement of each term, students in Years 7 12 work with their Pastoral Care teacher to review and reflect upon the academic results they achieved at the end of the previous term. This reflection should also involve a detailed conversation at home where your son will hopefully be honest in his assessment of not only his semester grades, but more importantly, his attitude to study, homework and behaviour in class.

Students, their families and our staff need to work together to make sure that the goals set are achievable and that all avenues for success are explored.  Students must set themselves challenges, however, at the same time they must be undertaking courses that are best suited to their interests, abilities and stages of development. The role of the Pastoral Care teacher is also very important in this process, as they too share the responsibility of working with students to monitor this overall real-life development plan.

This semester, most students will be undertaking a number of new subjects. This fresh start is another opportunity to turn over a new leaf, if required, or to continue to develop a more thorough understanding of subjects they are undertaking with respect to future career choices.  This is obviously very important in the senior years.

PREFECT SELECTION PROCESS

On Friday I will meet with our current Year 11 cohort to run through the Prefect Application process for 2018. All students will be issued with the Application Package, which includes instructions, the Application Form and two Teacher Endorsement Forms.

The 2018 Prefect structure will be the same as this year. There will be six non-House Portfolio positions, including the Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect, Prefect Head of Boarding, Prefect Social Justice Captain, Prefect Community Activities and Prefect Internal Services. There will also be an additional six Prefect roles associated with each of our six Houses, namely Prefect House Captain.

We have developed Position Information Documents (PIDs) for each Prefect position which outlines in some detail the duties, responsibilities and expectations we have of students who may be interested in such a role. These have been made available via a Virtual Workspace which all Year 11 students have access to from the Student Portal. A detailed flowchart and timeline outlining the process is also available.

We hope that members of our Year 11 cohort who have already served in some leadership capacity within one or more of our pillars (Academic, Spiritual & Co-Curricular) or have leadership aspirations, will give thorough consideration to applying for a 2018 Prefect's position.

PATHWAYS TO POST SECONDARY PROGRAM AND SERVICE LEARNING

In the last week of Term 2, our Year 10 and 11 students were involved in our Pathways to Post-Secondary Program and Service Learning, respectively. The feedback received so far from members of our community and external organisations with regard to student engagement and demeanour has been very positive. Students represented themselves, their families and the College extremely well.

The Pathways to Post-Secondary Program provided students with the opportunity to be exposed to a range of work, career and tertiary pathways and opportunities. This was well situated in terms of timing as we begin the subject selection process this term. An enormous amount of work went into planning and preparing the program and we must thank Belinda DeConno-Coward, Julie Farmer and other College staff who assisted with supervision and/or the delivery of sessions.

With respect to our Year 11 students on Service Learning, we also had many reports back from providers commending our young men on not only their manners and efficiency but how they immersed themselves selflessly in the program.   We believe this is one of the most important lessons we can provide for our students that life is not all about them and that it is through giving of ourselves to others that we start to develop an understanding of the real purpose of our lives.

DARWIN MUSIC TOUR

One of the many great programs offered at Rostrevor is our Music Program. Much time and effort is invested in order to be successful in any field and our music students and teachers are no different - an extraordinary amount of after-hours time is spent planning and rehearsing for performances. This certainly was the case for the 2017 Music Tour to Darwin at the end of last term.

Congratulations to our Music Department, in particular Marnie Tiggemann, on another successful event.

God bless
Frank Ranaldo

Br John Ahern
APRIM

During the final week of Term Two our year eleven cohort were on their Service Learning Placement. This is a crucial part of our school Spirituality program. As well as learning about being a Christian, it is important to put it into practice. The students meet with Mr Callisto who is the Service Learning Coordinator and then all students in Year 11 undertake a compulsory component of the program by which they enter into a placement organisation for a week-long period. This year, students were placed in a range of organisations including nursing homes, schools for children and teenagers with special needs, rehabilitation centres, homeless shelters, Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul Stores, animal rescue shelters, and more.

The placements were again a great success. Glowing feedback came back from the placement supervisors across Adelaide and in regional areas (for the Boarding Students who returned to their home town). Our Year 11s were certainly a credit to the College.

The Service Learning Programme offers students the opportunity to work with people who require extra support, often those on the margins the elderly, children or adults with special needs, the sick and the poor. 

From here, Year 11 students are encouraged to return to the service facilities in their own time to complete the remaining hours necessary to fulfil the 30 hours program. Many have already gone above and beyond these service requirements, which is fantastic to hear. Congratulations to Mr Callisto for his dedicated work.

As well, in week one of the holidays, I was invited to help welcome the leaders to an Edmund Rice Camp which was being run at Woodhouse in the Adelaide Hills. It was great to find year 12 Alex Cusack and four old scholars giving up their time to work with children in need. Indeed, our saying of producing "Men for others" is happening in reality.

God bless
Br John Ahern

Junior Years

Mr Geoff Aufderheide
Director - Junior Campus

Dear Members of the Rostrevor Community,

It has been a frenetic start to the term and I trust all students, parents, caregivers and staff have had a restful break. The boys certainly looked rested, refreshed and recharged upon their return. The advent of a three-week break has allowed the boys to completely refresh during the mid-year period and many have returned with wonderful stories about time with family which we'll all agree is the most important stuff!

It is my pleasure to welcome three new boys who commence their journey at Rostrevor College this term. We are delighted to have with us Baxter Pollock (brother of Samuel in Yr. 2) and Mitchell Smith (brother of Jayden in Yr. 1) to begin their formal schooling this week. I would also add that both Baxter and Mitchell come to us having 'Graduated' from the Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre right cross the road. Their smiles have been infectious this week!

We also welcome William Humble to the Year 6 Cohort. William has already hit the ground running this week and we look forward to his first game of football with the Primary 'A' team this weekend! Will joins us at the perfect time in Year 6 as the rest of the year level commence their formal transition into the Middle Years at the end of this week. The Year 6's will commence their journey across the 'bridge' to Year 7 and this will culminate in their rite of passage event at the end of term 4. We wish Will and the rest of the Year 6 group all the very best as they commence this important time.

Important dates and Information:

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM RECONCILIATION 

We have confirmed our date for the Year 3 boys who are involved in receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the Tranmere Parish Church on Wednesday 6 September from 7:00pm. We will provide information to families as it is required and Mr Adam Pipe reports that preparations for this important step in the faith journey of these boys have been going well.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION 

Dates for Year 4 Confirmation and First Holy Communion have been communicated to those families involved. We are holding an information night next Tuesday 4 August from 7:00pm in the Ideas Centre. Information about the process and responsibilities of those involved will be presented during this time and any questions will be answered.

YEAR 6 CANBERRA TOUR 2017

Our Year 6 boys are looking forward, with tremendous excitement, to the Canberra Tour which will be held in Week 9 of this term 19-22 September. We will be holding an Information evening for parents and boys on Tuesday 8 August in the Ideas Centre from 6:30pm. Boys have been preparing for this in their learning via the formal 'Civics and Citizenship' Program being run in HASS lessons.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE:

Junior Campus Athletics Carnival will now be held on Friday 8 September as advertised recently.

God Bless,
Geoff Aufderheide
Director, Junior Campus

Senior Years Co-Curricular News

Mr Jeff Fischer
Head of Co-Curricular

Despite taking some time away from Rostrevor to do some travelling, I maintained a keen interest in the results published in the newsletter each week and am genuinely excited to work with the Rostrevor boys this term to enable them to have an enjoyable finish to the winter co-curricular season.

All levels of competition resume this weekend and a number of the middle and senior teams are still in the mix to make the finals of state knockout competitions.  I wish all boys competing in all competitions, regardless of the level they are playing, the best of luck as they strive for personal best performances across the many wonderful activities on offer.

INTER-COL

Next weekend marks the 94th Inter-Collegiate contest between Sacred Heart and Rostrevor College. The schools contest 3 cups over the course of the Weekend and the Br Bourke Trophy will be the first of these when the 1st XI soccer teams compete at 3.40pm on Friday afternoon at Sacred Heart.

At 10.30am on Saturday, the Open A Basketball Team will compete for The Shanahan/Turner Cup in Sacred Heart's newly renovated gymnasium and then at 2.15pm the 1st XVIII Football Teams will compete for the Jan Baldwin Cup.

Throughout all matches, individual players will have the opportunity to be recognised as the most valuable player and will be awarded as Inter-Col medallists.

It would be excellent to see plenty of support for all matches that are contested throughout the day and I look forward to seeing the Rostrevor boys compete hard, have fun and represent their College with pride.

SPORT PROGRAMS

All Term 3 fixtures and weekly maps are available on the Rostrevor College Website under Co-Curricular and any amendments to the programs will be updated as they are received.

AWAY VENUES

When your son has a scheduled away match, he is required to seek a map to the ground which will be available on-line from the College website under Co-Curricular.  (http://rostrevor.staging.thewebconsole.com/fixtures.html)

Schools do not always play on their actual grounds; therefore, it is important to check where the match is being played. Maps are usually available by Wednesday of the upcoming weekend at the latest but I am reliant upon the opposing school to forward this information.

STUDENT AVAILABILITY

Students are reminded that they are required to make themselves available for all matches indicated in the program. Where a student does require exemption from a weekend fixture, he should ask his coach as early as possible and by the Wednesday preceding the game at the latest. If an unexpected illness or problem occurs on Friday night or Saturday morning, students must get a message to their coach to avoid consequences. All teachers are contactable via email and contact with outside coaches such as old scholars and parents should be discussed at training or games.

COMMUNICATION

Our Co-Curricular Program is very extensive and occasionally things will not go entirely to plan. Please contact me if a problem arises and we can work to resolve the issue before it becomes a major concern. I will be equally happy to hear from you when things go well.

IN OTHER CO-CURRICULAR NEWS:

Year 12 Harry Petty rounded off an impressive U18's AFL carnival by being named as SA's most valuable player for the tournament and was also named in the U18 All Australian team.

If your son, be he a current or past scholar, has made any significant achievement in an activity outside of the College, please pass this on to me via email to jfischer@rostrevor.sa.edu.au or by phone, so that I can include his achievements in the weekly newsletter.

Jeff Fischer
Head of Co-curricular Activities

NO SPORT RESULTS DUE TO HOLIDAY BREAK