College News – 20 March 2026

The Year 7 Faith Formation Day – Enculturation Day is an annual event aimed at introducing students who are new to the Senior School to the unique heritage, culture and ethos that shape a Rostrevor education. The cohort spent today rotating through different activities, broadening their understanding of the College. They heard stories of past eras from Br John Ahern in the Heritage room, learned how to play Rostrevor’s traditional game of Handball under the guidance of Old Collegian coaches, walked the College’s history trail, took time to understand the beauty within our Rostrevor Chapel and spent time with Year 11 mentors discussing the challenges and blessings of beginning their Senior School journeys.   

Through this range of activities and experiences they learned about the importance of upholding the legacy of those students who walked the grounds before them, gaining a better understanding of their place in the history of our century-old College community.   

Congratulations to all students recognised at the Student Leadership Assembly today. We acknowledged the many forms of student leadership this year, including year level Identity, Arts and Sports Captains and House Vice Captains. These students received badges which they will wear with pride on their blazers this year. We also awarded the Man of Camp medals, presented to those students who best displayed Rostrevor’s values of mateship, leadership and teamwork at this year’s Year 7 and 8 camps. 

Harmony Week is a time for us to remember and celebrate the significant benefits that come from living in a diverse community. Over the last week, both Junior School and Senior School students have been learning about the importance of cultural diversity, linked to the College Touchstone of Inclusive Community. Through classroom discussions, they have been learning about how we can show respect and create an environment where all people can experience a sense of belonging, in which cultural or linguistic backgrounds are celebrated. This learning culminated in activities in House or Junior class groups where students were asked to design and draw symbols on a paper hand which represents their own cultures and heritage, or a message about what Harmony Week means to them. 

The Year 10 Outdoor Education class took to the reef at Port Noarlunga to do their practical sessions on Snorkelling yesterday and last week. The group spent valuable time in class researching the reef and its ecology before undergoing an intensive few lessons on safety in aquatic environments. After another excursion next week, the class will have visited the reef on three occasions, at the end of which the boys will be able to use the equipment safely, enjoy some quality time in the water, and know why a reef is a such delicate ecosystem.  

Over the course of last year, Rostrevor’s Development Office produced a series of videos capturing all the elements of what a Rostrevor education can offer. Thank you to all the students and staff who feature in these videos! We’ll be launching them over the next few terms across social media, the College News and the Rostrevor website – you may have already seen the Why Boys?, Identity & Mission and Boarding videos. 

Rostrevor College’s Junior School has a long tradition of offering quality educational experiences to boys in the Edmund Rice Tradition. Students across Reception to Year 6 benefit from access to the College’s expansive grounds and facilities, but also enjoy a strong feeling of community within their own wing of the campus. Know someone considering enrolling at Rostrevor in Reception to Year 6? They are invited to join a Junior School Tour to discover the benefits of a Rostrevor education. 

As part of their learning about Reconciliation, Year 3 students reflected on kindness, understanding and forgiveness, exploring how these values shape their relationships with others. The song “Open My Eyes” by Andrew Chinn supported this learning beautifully, inviting students to open their hearts and notice the ways they can bring compassion into their school and community. A video created by teacher Mikki Dimas of the class dancing to the song was shared at the Chapel service proudly led by Year 3 students this week. 

Parents and caregivers across Reception to Year 12 are invited to attend a Cybersafe Families session to learn about how young people use the internet and the strategies you can use to keep your children safe across all stages of their development. 

In this session, Cybersafe Families will cover:  

• Current popular social media  
• Step-by-step device security settings for smartphones and tablets  
• Tools to recognise and manage online bullying  
• Online grooming and other cyber safety risks  
• Communication strategies and how to start difficult conversations  
• Privacy and ‘sharenting’  
• Behaviour management strategies, including tips on managing screen time 
• Recommendations for establishing cyber safe homes  

When: Monday 30 March 2026, 6.00pm – 7.00pm 

Where: Kelty Theatre, Rostrevor College  

RSVP: Microsoft Forms via https://forms.office.com/r/BtLN30Mzg8 by 9.00am, Friday 27 March 2026 

As part of our College’s commitment to continuous improvement, we are seeking feedback from our families through a short online survey which was sent to families in Week 5. Your insights help inform our strategic planning and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our students and community. The survey should take only a few minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous.  

• Complete Community Satisfaction Survey 

We thank you for taking the time to share your enrolment experience, your feedback is valuable in helping us improve our community and the educational experience for all students. The survey closes this Monday 23 March at 9.00am. 

The new under-16 social media age restrictions are here, and many families are now navigating what that means in everyday life. This parent/caregiver webinar focuses on living with the changes at home. In this session Wellio will equip parents/caregivers with the tools to: 

• Make sense of what's happening now: what social media use looks like for kids under the restrictions, and what parents are seeing at home. 
• Manage access without constant battles: how to respond to pressure and pushback without turning it into daily conflict. 
• Keep safety in focus: how to notice when something online isn’t right and keep conversations open. 

When: Tuesday 24 March 2026, 6.30pm 
Cost: Free 

To register for this event, please visit the Wellio website.  

On Thursday last week, 26 Years 11 and 12 students set off on the Rostrevor College Senior Football Trip, travelling to Ballarat and Melbourne for a valuable pre-season experience. A key focus of the trip was to strengthen connection among players while developing both individual and team performance. This was achieved through a range of activities including football training sessions, team-building exercises and a dedicated session centred on team values.  

On the drive over, the group met with boarding student Harrison Tink’s parents to celebrate his birthday with some delicious baked goods. The group then faced St Patrick's College Ballarat in a high-quality match that provided an excellent opportunity for both teams to continue their pre-season preparations. We extend our sincere thanks to St Patrick’s College for hosting the game and for their generous hospitality, including a meal shared in their boarding house following the match. 

On Saturday, students travelled to Melbourne and visited North Melbourne Football Club, where they observed a training session ahead of their Round 1 clash with Port Adelaide Football Club. The visit included a tour of the club’s facilities and the opportunity to hear from coaches and players, including Head Coach Alastair Clarkson and Rostrevor Old Collegian Toby Pink (’16). 

The group also attended two AFL matches during their time in Melbourne, including the clash between Adelaide Crows and Collingwood Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Overall, the trip was a highly valuable experience, enhancing connection and culture within the Senior Football program. 

Rostrevor’s Senior Water Polo team took out an impressive win against St Peter’s College on Friday. Playing at the St Peter’s pool, they got off to a great start, scoring the first goal and leading at half-time. They managed to keep their opponents from scoring in the second half, and with an exhilarating buzzer-beating goal at the end of the fourth quarter from Jaden Chung, ended with eight goals to two. We wish the team the best of luck as they head into the final two games for their season.  

Rostrevor’s First XI played their final home and away two-day game over the weekend against Pembroke. Rostrevor posted a healthy score of 193, with Archah Parisi scoring 56 and Archie Shaw working his way to 40* in a very mature late innings. With the ball, the Rostrevor team was ruthless with their line and length, making it very difficult for any scoring from the opposition. Wickets fell gradually, and Pembroke were dismissed for only 76. Oscar Crafter was clinical with the ball, taking 4/13 off 9.3 overs whilst also standing in to lead the team alongside Joseph Honner in the absence of Captain Archah on the Saturday due to his selection in the SACA U19 team. Congratulations also goes to Saige Vandeleur who made his debut for the First XI on the weekend! 

Congratulations to Year 12 Harvey Pearce who has this week been announced as the Co-Captain of Norwood Football Club’s Under 18 Boys team ahead of the Round 1 match at Norwood Oval. A boarder from Port Lincoln, Harvey has been playing for Norwood since commencing at Rostrevor in Year 9, and last year served as Deputy Vice Captain of Rostrevor’s First XVIII Football team. Norwood U18 Coach Alex Newell said “...while Harvey might not be the most vocal person, the boys will follow him with the way he plays and goes about his footy. When you cross the white line, you want Harvey to be alongside you.” 

Congratulations also to Rostrevor’s Head Boarder Charlie Best and Old Collegians from the Class of ’25 Lachlan Smith and Fergus Myall who have been named in the leadership group for the U18 side, and to Tyler Hitch, Will Viney and Zayd El Hosni who have been selected for the U16 leadership group! These boys follow a proud tradition of Rostrevor students excelling at Norwood, with Old Collegian Jacob Kennerly (’18) captaining the A Grade Men’s team for a fourth season in 2026, who took over from Matthew Panos (’08) who captained from 2019-2022.