College News – 6 February 2026

The school year has commenced exceptionally well, with a real sense of enthusiasm and purpose across the College. We are looking forward to the commencement of the summer Co-Curricular Program this weekend, and we thank our parents and caregivers in advance for the support they provide and for ensuring the boys’ active involvement across the various aspects of the College’s Co-Curricular Program.  

Shana Bennett 

The Year 8 cohort participated in their camp this week on and around Hindmarsh Island. Students spent half of the program situated at a base camp where they tried their hand at surfing, fishing and enjoyed some sightseeing. The second half of the program saw the boys engaged in a kayaking expedition where they camped in tents and cooked their own meals on a Trangia stove. All students should be commended for the resilience that they demonstrated and their willingness to participate in all activities on offer. 

Students across Years 3 to 6 have been taking advantage of the warm weather over the past week, learning the basics of swimming and water safety with instructors from Royal Life Saving Society SA. These important life skills and knowledge will help to keep them safe as they have fun in the water. 

This year, we are excited to launch our Term 1 and Term 4 Manchester City Football School program to students in Years 3, 4 and 5, adding it to last year's introduction of the Year 6 program. The program kicked off this week, with a group of young footballers taking part in the sessions with coaches Jamie Lee and Damien Pipicella and assistant coaches Sam Haynes and Thomas Mastrantuone. Nearly 50 students took part in their first session on Monday, marking the beginning of their football development pathway at Rostrevor College. 

The Social Justice group’s Breakfast BBQs are back again this year, with ham and cheese toasties and UP & GOs being sold each Friday morning before school at the top of the Valley. The students who run this initiative are volunteers from Rostrevor’s Social Justice group – a group of around 40 students who meet once a week to identify initiatives that not only respond to community needs, but also nurture a culture of inclusion, stewardship and solidarity across the College. The proceeds from the Friday morning Breakfast BBQs will be donated to St Vincent De Paul.  

All parents and caregivers of Senior School students (Years 7 – 12) are invited to attend the Information Evening on Monday next week (9 February) from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.  

The purpose of the evening is to provide you with the opportunity to become acquainted with your son's Pastoral Care teacher and Head of House and receive information about school matters relevant to your son’s specific year level. For more information about the event, please see the letter sent to families. 

All Rostrevor parents and caregivers, both new and returning, are invited to join us for the Parent Welcome Drinks on the stunning Rostrevor House Front Lawns to kick off the 2026 school year. 

It’s the perfect chance to mingle and get to know fellow Rostrevor parents in a laid-back and friendly atmosphere. Come along for great conversation, refreshing drinks and a warm welcome to the Rostrevor community! We can't wait to see you there! 

• When: Thursday 12 March, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
• Cost: Free
• RSVP: via TryBooking 

Please note – the date for this event was previously advertised as Thursday 5 February. This is a parent & caregiver event only – no students are permitted to attend. 

For Senior School (Years 7 to 12) students who would like extra academic support, Smart Work Sessions are available in the Equity Hub after school. These sessions are a chance for students to sit down one-on-one with an academic ESO to:  

• Receive help with homework or classwork  
• Receive help with study   
• Learn how to study and establish good study habits  
• Learn new skills such as how to use SEQTA, Excel or PowerPoint, etc  
• Learn time management and how to balance study with other commitments  

Smart Work Sessions are on: 

• Mondays 2.20pm-4.00pm  
• Tuesdays to Thursdays 3.15pm-4.00pm 

The College is pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Maschotta as First XVIII Football Coach for the 2026 season. In this role, Justin will not only lead the First XVIII team but also work closely with all Football coaches across Years 7–12 to further strengthen and develop the College’s Football Program. 

Justin brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as Coaching Director and Under 18 Coach at the Central District Football Club in 2022, as well as coaching the men’s A-Grade team at Tea Tree Gully District Football Club from 2017–2021 and again from 2023–2025. 

Already well known within our community as the father of Lucas (Year 10) and Thomas (Year 5), we are excited about the skills, knowledge and leadership Justin will bring to the Program and wish him every success in his new role. 

This year, Rostrevor has entered a Senior Touch Football side to the competition for the first time. While most of the team’s players have come across from the 2025 Middle team, we also welcomed four new boarders to the team – Oscar Dunstan, Alfie Gunning, Ben Gibson and Charlie Maher. The game against Marryatville High School on Wednesday afternoon got off to a racing start, with Rostrevor being 3-2 down at half time. A boost in positivity and communication saw a quick couple of tries after the break to get the score to 4-3, before ending the game 7-5 with a fantastic win to start the season. Harrison Mudge made some great runs down the wing and Archie Craig proved a dominant force, controlling the centre. Rostrevor’s Middle B Touch Football team also kicked off their season on Wednesday, battling against a strong Pembroke School side to come away with a convincing 6-4 victory.  

Junior School Basketball started up again this week, with eight teams playing on different days at the ARC. Rostrevor’s Year 4/5 Red team had a fantastic start to their season on Wednesday, winning 31-2 over Marryatville Primary School. Standout players were Devin Fernando with 10 points, Oscar Linton with eight points, and Felipe Weidenbach who impressed with his defence. 

“It's my second year coaching in the Junior School, and I'm very impressed with the level of talent this group has. Thanks for the boys for welcoming me. I'm excited to see where the season takes us,” Jack Isaac, Coach (Year 11).