College News – 19 June 2026

Today we wish our Year 10s and 11s all the best as they begin SWOT Vac for Semester 1 exams next week. Exams form an essential part of the holistic education at Rostrevor, helping to cement learning and guide subject selections for Stage 2 subjects, ensuring students are set up for success as they follow their own pathways to reach their potential. 

One Old Collegian who is a great example of a Rostrevor student who honed his strengths to achieve his dreams is current Socceroo goalkeeper Paul Izzo (’12). It is inspiring to see him achieving on the world stage, and it is always immensely rewarding to see our Old Collegians realise their goals and become role models for current students. 

Shana Bennett  

The Year 4 cohort enjoyed an exciting overnight camp at AFL Max this week, where they enjoyed a variety of fun and high-energy activities. From football skill sessions to movement challenges and team-based games, the experience helped build confidence, teamwork and resilience. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to stay active, connect with their peers and create lasting memories. 

The 2026 Rostrevor Old Collegians’ Association Business Lunch last Friday saw hundreds of Old Collegians and community members enjoy a delicious lunch as they took the opportunity to catch up with mates. The biggest ROCA event of the year, the Lunch brought together Old Collegians from the Class of 1973 to the Class of 2025.  

Principal Shana Bennett interviewed College Head Prefect and Deputy, Finn McNamara and Archie Shaw, and Junior School Captain and Vice Captain Xavier Conhye and Angus Hehir about their experience as Rostrevor students, a topic with which everyone in the room was able to connect and appreciate. The Property Development Panel – Tom Russo (’96), Ross Makris and Bruce Djite – was a highlight, engaging the audience with a spirited discussion about Australia’s current real estate market. A special thanks to all the sponsors, guest speakers, interviewer Michael Ruggiero (’84) and Emcee Anthony Medhurst (’99) for their contributions to what was another fantastic ROCA event.  

The Little Rossi Learners group enjoyed their final session yesterday morning before they become the Mid-Year Reception class in Term 3. Over the course of this term, they have been visiting the College to get to know the faces, places and routines of Rostrevor's Junior School so they are ready to hit the ground running when they officially begin their schooling journey.  

This week, members of the Social Justice group were privileged to hear Year 12 Rostrevor student Taha Jawidi share the inspiring story of his father's journey from Afghanistan to Australia. Through a heartfelt presentation, Taha recounted the hardships, uncertainty and challenges his family faced in seeking safety and a better future. Taha spoke about the sacrifices made, the resilience shown and the opportunities that have come from beginning a new life in Australia. His presentation provided a powerful reminder that behind every refugee story is a family, a history and a hope for a brighter future. 

Stories have the power to build understanding, foster empathy and strengthen our sense of community. Taha's courage and willingness to share his family's journey enriched the Social Justice group and encouraged us all to reflect on the values of compassion, gratitude and inclusion. We thank Taha for sharing his story and reminding us that we are all connected through our shared humanity. 

The Year 10 Outdoor Education class enjoyed a fantastic two-night canoe trip to Murtho on the Murray River last week, camping in tents and spending the days paddling between tranquil bends and exploring the tree lined backwaters. Students practised canoe skills, worked together to navigate the river and enjoyed evenings of shared meals, stories and games around campfires beneath a sky full of stars. Wildlife sightings were frequent — from waterbirds such as the resident pelicans and black swans to whistling kites and wedge-tailed eagles and a surprise visit from a Rakali, which is an otter-like marsupial. Excitement peaked when one student landed a carp in the shallows, making the trip a memorable blend of outdoor learning and fun. The new bus gave the group a great resting spot on the way home after a well rehearsed pack-down at the Riverland base. 

Yesterday, students from O'Brien and Barron House joined students from Mary MacKillop College for the second Rite Journey Soup Making session, continuing a meaningful partnership centred on service and community. 

Working side by side, students prepared large quantities of soup and collected generous food donations for Fred's Van, which provides meals and support to those experiencing hardship. Beyond the practical task of cooking, the day provided a wonderful opportunity for students from both schools to build connections, work collaboratively and deepen their understanding of the importance of giving back to others. 

The experience highlighted that acts of service are about more than providing food, they are about offering dignity, compassion and hope to those in need. Thank you to the staff and families who generously donated ingredients and to the students and staff from both schools who made the day such a rewarding and impactful experience. 

On the 7th of June we were lucky enough to attend the Smith Family's inaugural 10/10 Program, where 10 students in the program travelled to Uluru for the trip of a lifetime. This trip gave Aboriginal students the opportunity to connect with our Country and culture. From cultural activities to exploring the incredible surroundings around the iconic rock. The trip was all about respect, socializing and adventure. We met new people, made new friends and made memories none of us will ever forget.  

A highlight would have to be the drone show we visited just off Uluru; it was amazing as it told a story in the sky using lights and colours. Another highlight was actually going to Uluru and being able to touch it, being around it and really just explore its surroundings. 

Chase Tuohy-Brown & Joshua Coleman, Year 10 

In the spirit of our Year of Belonging, the Barron and Murphy House Year 7s and 12s embraced the opportunity to connect through light-hearted games, meaningful conversations and a pancake cook-up on Monday this week. The Year 12s presented each Year 7 with a hand-written letter of support and fully embraced taking the younger boys under their wing, imparting some wisdom and ensuring that they felt known, supported and valued.  

The impact of our Senior students' efforts was visible and served as a powerful reminder of the difference we can make simply by being present and approachable. While the pancakes may have been the highlight for many, we know that some of the Year 7s will walk a little taller knowing that they have a new source of support and connection on campus. 

Yesterday, seven of Rostrevor's First Nations students travelled to Flinders University for their 'Life in the Uni Lane' day. They participated in various engaging activities that aim to introduce the wide variety of courses offered at Flinders whilst also bringing students together with current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ambassadors who offered perspective on how they transitioned to university. 

They heard from a variety of fields, including Midwifery and Coding, to Humanities and Science, before walking around a few market stalls to look at employment pathways, including the Port Power Pathways program and even housing help for university. 

This week, Year 6 students combined their learning from Technology and Science in a fun and engaging hands-on activity. As part of their Technology lessons, they investigated food hygiene and safe food-handling practices, while in Science they explored the properties of solids, liquids and gases through the study of States of Matter. To apply their learning, students worked together to create their own ice-cream, each group adding a unique flavour to personalise their recipe. Adele Stramare had the pleasure of sampling every creation and was impressed by the creativity, variety and effort demonstrated by the students. It was fantastic to see everyone collaborating effectively and using their knowledge in a real-world context while enjoying the delicious results of their hard work. 

Thank you to the Rostrevor families who have already donated to the Kick Start For Kids Period Poverty Campaign. The Prefects are still seeking donations of pads and tampons until the end of Week 1 Term 3 in the Equity Hub. 

Rostrevor is still the only all boys school in South Australia who has stepped up to advocate for this important cause. As a community, our aim is to fill the donation boxes to support those girls and young women in our community who, without our help, are missing out on school due to lack of access to period products.

Rostrevor narrowly bested St Paul's College this week, managing to secure a winning goal late in the game. Marcus Caporaso's two first half goals saw Rostrevor up 2-0 going into the break. St Paul's came out strong in the second half and scored from a well-worked free kick before levelling the score less than two minutes later. The game's best goal came from Samuel De Ieso, who neatly chipped the ball over the on-rushing keeper to give Rostrevor the win. 

Rostrevor's First XVIII Football team travelled to Westminster for Round 6 of the Division 1 competition on Saturday, coming away with a convincing win with 14.19 (103) to 6.11 (47). After a narrow defeat to PAC before the long weekend, the team was focused on getting off to a fast start. Rostrevor's contest and pressure was at a high level from the start, and with players focused on playing their roles, the team got into offence and created some exciting passages of play.  

The team were rewarded for early dominance and led by five goals at half-time. They continued to play with the same spirit and intent in the second half, producing a pleasing four-quarter performance. The game was played in great spirit by both teams, and we now look forward to a big game away at Sacred Heart this Saturday.

The best players were Tyler Hitch, Charlie Best, Archah Parisi, Zayd El Hosni, James Jervis and Hugo Jaeschke, with Oliver Easton and Tate Boxer scoring three goals each. 

Congratulations to the Year 7/8 Knockout Basketball team who competed in the School Sport SA Division 1 Knockout finals yesterday at the State Basketball Centre. The team picked up two great wins early against tough St Peter’s College and Henley High School opponents. They then progressed to the Semi Finals where they fell just short by five points to Glenunga International High School. Overall, the team finished fourth in the state for the age group which is a great achievement! 

Rostrevor came away from the game against Glenunga International High School with a convincing 7-0 win in the Year 9/10 Knockout Soccer competition on Tuesday, with boarder Khenan McGrath netting an impressive four goals for Rostrevor. The second match saw a closely fought contest against St Michael's College, ending in a 1-0 victory. Flynn Chilvers produced a stunning save in goal before Joshua Tassotti scored a late winner for Rostrevor, sending the team into the next round of the competition. 

The Year 5/6 Knockout Soccer team travelled to Service FM stadium on Tuesday this week to compete in the first round of the School Sport SA Statewide Soccer competition. Coached by Old Collegian Henry Knight (’24), the team were victorious in all five of their matches finishing at the top of their group and will now progress to the next round in Term 3.