College News – 9 May 2025

Early today, Pope Leo XIV emerged from the Balcony of St Peter’s Basilica signifying the beginning of a new Papacy with the words “Peace be with you.” Our community gives thanks to God for providing a shepherd to guide us and bring the joy of the Gospel to all corners of the Earth.  

Together with the Christian community across the globe, we pray for the new Pope:  

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,  
look favourably on your servant Pope Leo XIV, 
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;  
grant, we pray, that by word and example  
he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that,  
together with the flock entrusted to his care,  
he may come to everlasting life.  
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,  
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  
one God, for ever and ever.  
Amen. 

God bless Pope Leo XIV and his ministry of communion. 

Shana Bennett

It was fantastic to see so many mothers, grandmothers and special friends on the Front Lawns this morning at the Junior Years Mother’s Day morning tea. There were some truly beautiful speeches read to the crowd from the older Junior Years boys, with not many dry eyes left amongst grown-ups present afterwards! Well done to the Reception to Year 3 boys also performed a very sweet and well-rehearsed Mother’s Day song. 

Wishing all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts and significant women in our students’ lives a very happy Mother's Day this Sunday. I hope that you enjoy some quality time with your loved ones. 

Shana Bennett 

Each year, Edmund Rice schools across the world come together to celebrate and learn about the important work of our founder, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. On Wednesday, Rostrevor’s Middle and Senior Years students participated in the annual Edmund Rice Day Mass led by Old Collegian Fr Anthony Beltrame ('09), which was a time for us to celebrate what it means to have access to a Liberating Education, based on a Gospel Spirituality, within an Inclusive Community committed to Justice and Solidarity. The Mass reminded us to draw upon our spirituality to find meaning and live a life of service, and to use our own privilege to uplift the lives of others.   

Over the weekend, Rostrevor’s Senior Band, Senior Jazz Band, and Small Jazz Ensemble proudly represented the College at Generations in Jazz — the largest school music festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Held in Mount Gambier, this nationally renowned event brought together nearly 5,000 students from every state and territory across Australia to celebrate and compete in jazz and ensemble performances. 

Our students represented the school with excellence across three different divisions and achieved outstanding results. The Senior Band delivered a strong performance and was awarded second place in Division 2. A special congratulations goes to Alecs Zorzi and Ashton Nguyen, who were recognised for their exceptional individual contributions and selected to perform in the prestigious Division 2 Superband — an ensemble made up of the top musicians from across the division. The Small Jazz Ensemble also earned a well-deserved 2nd place in their division.  

Meanwhile, the Senior Jazz Band impressed adjudicators with their energy, cohesion, and musicality. Although not placed, the band received excellent feedback and praise for their performance, further reinforcing their growing presence in the national jazz scene. 

We are proud of all the students who participated in this memorable event. Their dedication, passion, and professionalism were on full display, and they represented Rostrevor College with pride on one of Australia’s biggest music stages. 

41 Old Collegians from the Class of 1974 and before filled Rostrevor's Pavilion on Wednesday, gathering to enjoy good food and good company overlooking the College's grounds. Some Old Collegians arrived early to participate in the Edmund Rice Day mass. The Pavilion was filled with nostalgic stories as the Old Boys spent the afternoon catching up with friends and reminiscing about their time at Rostrevor. Thank you to guest speaker John Trainer OAM, who spoke of his journey from boarding at Rostrevor, through his time teaching and his career as a high-profile politician.  

On Monday, the Stage 2 Business classes travelled up to @Lenswood Pick Your Own to gain real-world insight into how a local business operates. This excursion served to support the students as they prepare their own business models as part of their next assessment task. The students were guided by Old Collegian Chris Shipway ('03) and his wife Emily, who gave a detailed and engaging tour of the property while sharing valuable insights and tips into the way they run their successful business. Students learned about the key activities of a business, customer relationships, marketing, revenue models, cost structures and and diversification. A highlight of the day was being able to pick and try fresh apples straight from the trees. 

Teacher Ben Thiel’s Year 8 mathematics class had the opportunity to participate in the UniSA STEM program today. The program consists of a set of engaging STEM activities focusing on the science of flight, puzzling mathematics and the engineering design process. 

Rostrevor parents, caregivers and friends are warmly invited to attend the 2025 Foundation Quiz Night. 
 
Saturday 24 May 
6.30pm for a 7.00pm start 
Callan Hall, Rostrevor College (Enter via Kintrye Road) 
 
Organised by the Rostrevor College Friends of Foundation, the evening is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with other Rostrevor parents and test your general knowledge in a fun and friendly environment! 
 
Purchase Tables of 10 or Individual Tickets and pre-order grazing boxes via the link below. There will be raffles and gold coin games throughout the evening. Guests are able to BYO drinks (alcohol permitted) and food, as none will be available to purchase on the night. 
 
Please note that this event is adults only - no children are permitted to attend. 
 
Tickets are limited due to capacity, book now! 

Rostrevor’s First XVIII team got their season started with a strong performance over St Peter's College, finishing on 17.7.109 to St Peter's 8.11.59. Congratulations to the seven debutants on their first game of First XVIII Football: Oliver Easton, Archie Simpson, James Jervis, Harry Krieg, Lewis Grainger, Hugo Jaeschke and Mackenzie Bishop. The first half was a see-sawing encounter with both teams gaining ascendancy in patches, but it wasn't until the second half until Rostrevor took control of the game. Noah Daw and Hugo Jaeschke were exceptional in defence and helped generate some excellent ball movement in the second half. Harry Krieg had a super debut game, whilst Ayman Ismail, Kristian Gould and Harry Maxwell all played well.  

The Second XVIII team also started the season with a win over St Peter’s College, coming away with 12.10.82 to 4.8.32. Despite being on top around the stoppages, the team struggled to take advantage of their dominance in the first half. After half-time, the team started playing a more direct and predictable game, giving their forwards better opportunities in front of goal. Pleasingly, the team finished the game strong and there were several strong contributors including Ethan Staritski, Sam Carey, Fred Hancock, Aden Knowles and Finn McNamara. Thank you to the Year 12 spectators who took these fantastic photos of both games.

Rostrevor College participated in the South Australian Schools Mountain Bike Championships yesterday, showcasing strong representation from Years 7 to 12. Among 66 entries, our Middle Years teams secured 40th and 43rd positions. It was great to witness the team spirit and enthusiasm and the enjoyment the student had competing. In the Year 9/10 category, we entered three teams. Congratulations to Zachary Hughes and Ryan Underwood, who achieved an impressive second place finish! 

For the Year 11/12 category, Rostrevor entered a single team comprising Aiden Lanner and Liam Underwood. They maintained a narrow lead for most of the afternoon, and in the final half-hour, needed only to avoid accidents or mechanical issues. Their efforts culminated in a well-deserved first place in the Open category! Thank you to all parents and staff whose efforts made this event possible.