On this page
- Year 12 Valedictory and Graduation
- First Nations Education Council
- Year 8-12 Transition Day
- ICAS Awards
- Year 9 Rite Journey Excursion
- Little Rossi Learners Final Session
- National Agriculture Day
- Year 11 Outdoor Education Excursion
- Year 5 Italian Pen Pal Celebration
- Warrina Park Tea Party Celebration
- Social Justice Group Guest Speaker
- Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal
- CO-CURRICULAR NEWS
- Triathlon State Championships
- Year 7 Moules Road Cup
Year 12 Valedictory and Graduation
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2025! On Wednesday morning this week the cohort was joined by Years 10 to 12 students and the Year 12s’ families in Purton Hall for a Eucharistic celebration led by Father Anthony Beltrame (’09) before moving to the front lawns for morning tea. The Year 12s’ final event as students was the Valedictory Dinner at the Adelaide Oval, where we took time to acknowledge and celebrate their individual achievements before they officially became Rostrevor’s newest Old Collegians.
We hope their learning, memories, friendships and the connection they have to Rostrevor College will support them as they navigate the ups and downs of life after school. We hope the education that they have received during their years at Rostrevor, no matter how many, stays with them for a lifetime. While their time as a student officially ended on Wednesday, they will always have a place and warm welcome at Rostrevor, forever. We wish all our Year 12s the very best as they now await their SACE results.
Shana Bennett
First Nations Education Council
Rostrevor College is embarking on a journey to strengthen our commitment to culturally responsive and inclusive education for First Nations students, families, staff and communities through establishing a First Nations Education Council (FNEC). The Council is designed to work in partnership with Rostrevor College to foster an education experience that is informed by, and contextual to, Indigenous values and protocols to work towards self-determination, empowerment and culturally responsive practices.
As part of this journey, the College has sought community engagement from traditional owners, First Nations students, staff, parents, caregivers and First Nations community members. The consultation process has helped to identify areas to strengthen across curriculum, wellbeing and engagement.
Thank you to the many members of our Rostrevor community who have been involved in the consultation process and to the seven people who have accepted a place as an inaugural member of Rostrevor’s FNEC, giving your time to contribute to the important work of the FNEC and helping to shape the educational experiences of Rostrevor’s First Nations students and wider community.
Year 8-12 Transition Day
Students joining Rostrevor in Years 8-12 next year came to their transition day on Monday, alongside some joining in Year 7 who were unable to attend last week’s Transition Day. Those joining as boarders enjoyed an afternoon at the lawn bowls before staying overnight at Duggan House to get a sense of their new home away from home and to meet their new neighbours. Our College community to extends a warm welcome to these students and their families, and we look forward to seeing them in their new uniforms at the 2026 Opening Ceremony!
ICAS Awards
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools, also known as ICAS tests, are a series of academic tests for primary and secondary students that evaluate higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science and Digital Technologies. Designed to be more challenging than standard assessments, they provide a way for students to benchmark their abilities against national and international peers. Tests are undertaken in over 40 countries, in 16,000 schools with over 10 million students participating.
A select group of Rostrevor’s Year 7-10 students have sat a range of ICAS assessments throughout 2026. They have received certificates for participation, merits, credits and distinctions which will be presented at house gatherings in the coming weeks.
To win an ICAS medal, students need to achieve a remarkable score that is the highest in their region, equating to the top 1% of participants undertaking these assessments. This year, two Rostrevor students achieved this amazing feat! Congratulations to Year 9 student John Lee who won an ICAS medal for Year 11 Mathematics, and to Year 10 student Matias Sauchelli who won an ICAS medal for Year 10 English.
Year 9 Rite Journey Excursion
Rostrevor's Year 9 cohort visited Mary MacKillop College as part of their Rite Journey Program. The connections made between the Rostrevor boys and Mary MacKillop girls was clear to see with both groups quickly warming up as they shared stories about school, hobbies and daily life. The meetup became an opportunity for all students to develop empathy for the opposite sex by understanding different perspectives and experiences. By the end, the students were chatting comfortably, forming positive connections, and recognising the value of treating one another with kindness and understanding. We thank Mary MacKillop College for hosting the event and look forward to meeting up again in 2026.
Little Rossi Learners Final Session
Rostrevor’s incoming Receptions and the Mid-Year Reception classmates joining them at the beginning of next year had their final Little Rossi Learners session yesterday morning. The boys have been meeting every Thursday morning this term to become familiar with the faces and places of their new learning environment, ensuring they are set up to hit the ground running on their first day of school in 2026.
National Agriculture Day
Today we celebrate National Agriculture Day, a chance to recognise the incredible role agriculture plays in our everyday lives. From the food on our plates to the fibres in our clothes, Australian farmers work hard to feed and support our communities. It is currently a busy time on Rostrevor's Agriculture Farm with students wrapping up their final units. The Stage 1 class have been testing water quality in the aquaculture tanks and harvesting the barramundi. The Year 10s have been extracting honey from the beehives and tracking the weight gain of our lambs. The Year 9s have been learning about biosecurity and the role a variety of bugs play in agriculture. Year 8 students have been working with the sheep, learning about livestock husbandry, and Year 7s have been testing out different fertiliser rates and are about to harvest their radish crop. Additionally, Rostrevor is currently looking to sell its ISA Brown point of lay hens. If you are interested in purchasing hens, please contact Agricultural Science Coordinator Sam Powel at spowell@rostrevor.sa.edu.au.
Year 11 Outdoor Education Excursion
The Stage 1 Outdoor Education class has been making use of the College rock climbing wall this term, learning skills in roping techniques and developing their general climbing technique. On Tuesday this week, the boys put their skills into practice at Morialta Conservation Park supported by an instructor from Wilderness Escape. Well done to Lachlan Mudge who managed to climb "Brainrack" – a challenging grade 18 climb. Thanks to staff members Mark Roberts and Stefano De Pasquale for assisting with the rock climbing instruction.
Year 5 Italian Pen Pal Celebration
On Monday, Year 5 students from Rostrevor College and St Dominic’s Priory College met in person after a year of exchanging Italian Pen Pal letters. They enjoyed a range of Italian cultural activities, including bocce, social interaction bingo and sharing cannoli. The visit concluded with an exchange of Italian Christmas cards, marking a meaningful end to their year of correspondence. It was a wonderful celebration of friendship, language learning and cultural connection.
Warrina Park Tea Party Celebration
A group of our Year 11 students – Reece Barrett, Alessio Maiorano, Andrew Henderson, Hugo Jaeschke, Alex Iasiello and Ethan Staritski – recently attended a heartwarming ‘wrap up’ tea party at Warrina Park to celebrate the conclusion of the intergenerational Virtual Reality (VR) project.
This special gathering brought together Rostrevor students, residents, staff from Warrina Homes, University representatives and research lead Beck Stewart, who showcased the incredible impact of the VR program. The research had paired Rostrevor students with residents Jennie and Betty, measuring the benefits of meaningful shared experiences and conversations through innovative VR technology.
During the celebration, guest speakers highlighted the positive outcomes of the program, from increased connection and confidence in residents to the development of empathy and communication skills in students. The event was a wonderful reflection of how powerful intergenerational learning can be.
A particularly touching moment came when Jennie proudly displayed her Peace Lily plant, gifted by the boys during an earlier visit. She shared that the plant has begun to flower, symbolising the growth of the relationships built throughout the program.
As a token of appreciation, the students were presented with gifts for their involvement, commitment, and genuine care throughout the project.
Looking ahead, Warrina Park plans to introduce VR technology permanently within the nursing home, expanding opportunities for residents and continuing to foster valuable intergenerational connections.
We are extremely proud of the Year 11 students for the respect, enthusiasm and kindness they brought to this meaningful experience.
Reece Barrett had this to write after attending the tea party:
“The lunch we had at Warrina park was a good way to finish a great experience. Showing the other residents in the home the experiences we had with Betty and Jennie inspired them to get involved the next time an opportunity shows up. It was great to reflect on the four weeks we spent with them and is something that I will be remember for a long time.”
Social Justice Group Guest Speaker
This week, the Social Justice Group had the privilege of hearing from Roo, an Afghani refugee who courageously shared his powerful life story with our students. Roo is currently completing his University placement as a Student Counsellor at Rostrevor College, and his journey is one of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of education.
Roo shared that he was just nine years old when his mother made the difficult decision to leave Afghanistan. As a woman who was no longer married, life became unsafe and unsustainable for her and her children. Seeking safety and a chance at a better life, the family fled to Pakistan, where they faced many challenges — including periods of homelessness. Despite these hardships, Roo worked from a young age to help support his family.
In the midst of these struggles, Roo’s mother reminded him constantly that education was the key to creating change, encouraging him to work hard, dream big, and become a role model for others. Her strength and guidance shaped his determination to build a brighter future.
In 2015, Roo and his family moved to Australia, where he embraced the opportunities available to him. His commitment to his studies and his desire to support others have led him to pursue a career in counselling — a vocation driven by compassion and lived experience.
Our students were deeply moved by Roo’s honesty, courage, and the wisdom he shared. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, resilience, and the impact that one person’s journey can have on a community.
We are grateful to Roo for sharing his experiences and for the inspiration he continues to bring to Rostrevor College.
Year 8 student Emmanouel Pishas had this to write after listening to Roo;
“We had a guest speaker come to our school who talked about his life moving from Afghanistan to Pakistan and then to Australia. He shared the challenges he faced, such as learning new languages and adjusting to new cultures. One of his greatest achievements was getting his driver’s licence and becoming fluent in six different languages. His story to me taught me moving countries, learning new languages, and starting over isn’t easy, but he showed that hard work and patience can lead to great achievements.”
Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal
A reminder to families that next week is the final week we are accepting donations for the Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal. To see a list of items each House is encouraged to donate, please see correspondence HERE.
CO-CURRICULAR NEWS
Triathlon State Championships
Last Friday, Rostrevor competed at the SA State Triathlon Championship at the Aquatic Reserve, West Lakes. Following the individual events, where competitors raced for selection in the State team, three Rostrevor teams were ready to take on strong boys’ teams from across South Australia. The event consisted of a 500m open-water swim, a 17.5km bike ride and a 5km run.
In the Senior Boys team, Ben Maher got things underway with a strong swim—his first time racing in a triathlon wetsuit. Liam Underwood then delivered a blistering bike leg, before Charlie Best powered home with an excellent run to secure the State Championship for Rostrevor. An outstanding achievement by all three boys.
The Intermediate Boys team of Dan McGuire-Coward, Ryan Underwood and Ethan Sturm placed third overall. Dan showed great determination in his first open-water swim, Ryan produced an exceptional ride and Ethan finished strongly despite challenging, windy conditions.
Our second Intermediate team—Will Darcy (swim), Harry Whalan (bike), and Christiaan van Staden (run)—also put in an impressive performance, particularly as bottom-agers competing against older students.
A big thank you to the parents for their support on the day, and congratulations to all the boys for such an outstanding performance.
Year 7 Moules Road Cup
Rostrevor’s Year 7 Soccer team walked down the hill yesterday to play in the friendly Moules Road Cup against Morialta Secondary College. Now in its second year, the Cup is a great opportunity for our two neighbouring schools to come together for a community-building-focused morning of fun and competition. Congratulations to our Year 7 team who came away victorious with five goals to two.