Volume 3 2025

I know you will be keeping the communities of Northern New South Wales and Queensland in your thoughts as they continue to brave the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred. We have been in touch with our GSE sister school Lourdes Hill which is located in the Brisbane suburb of Hawthorn. For the wellbeing and safety of all students and staff they have transitioned to remote learning. Please keep them in your prayers.

On Friday we celebrated International Women's Day, a day when we recognise women in our society and celebrate their achievements. At Rosebank, our girls and boys are blessed to have access to quality education, participation in sports and opportunities in creative and artistic pursuits. Sadly this equity is not the case for all girls in many parts of the world.  Supporting our young women is not at the expense of young men. As you would know, I am a passionate advocate for Catholic co-education, where we empower women and grow good men. Everyone can play a role in forging gender parity and it certainly is not solely a women's issue.

Last week I met with our fabulous senior student leaders and while we shared lunch together, we discussed the women who have inspired them to action. From nurturing mothers to inspiring teachers, aspirational thinkers and entrepreneurial movers, many amazing women were tabled. College Captain Lola McKenzie shared her experience as a kung fu student with the inspiration she took as a child from her female instructors, brave and pioneering role models in a traditionally male dominated discipline. I was delighted to hear the positive affirmations from the young men in the room too - of the respect they have for the women in their lives and in our community.

Photos: (Left to Right - College Vice-Captain Sophia Ferrara, College Captain Lola McKenzie, Ms Iris Nastasi and Sr Patty Faulkner (SGS) Sisters of the Good Samaritan

College Captain Lola McKenzie and Vice Captain Sophia Ferrara joined me at the Catholic Schools NSW International Women's Day Breakfast last week. We were privileged to hear from four Sisters who are in many ways feminist pioneers and who continue to build on the work of the early Sisters in Australia. The panel included representation from the Presentation and Dominican Sisters and The Institute of the Blessed Mary along with our own Sr. Patty Faulkner (SGS) Sisters of the Good Samaritan. I was struck by their resilience, passion, wisdom and common sense approach to life. Sr. Patty shared her wisdom encouraging us all to see the wonder of the world and reminded us that the world needs beauty, community, compassion and hope. She drew from the words of poet Mary Olmer to appeal to our girls and future leaders to make the most of ‘their one wild precious life’, to find that pinch point where their source of deep delight meets the deep need of the world. That is where we are called to be. I was especially pleased to hear the Sisters reference teachers frequently as examples of exactly this in Catholic education.  


Photos: Female staff vs students football match

To highlight International Women's Day at the College, we hosted several events including a female staff versus student football match. Rosebank hosted an EmpowHER guest speaker conference with Question and Answer sessions featuring inspirational women working in STEM roles including; medicine, forensics, veterinary,  zoology, health care, industrial chemistry and the sciences.


Photos: EmpowHER guest speaker conference

Photo: Students and teachers wearing the purple International Women’s Day ribbons. Thank you to Mr Mark Borg and his Year 7 to 10 SRC team who made them

Last Friday Samuel Scaravilli (7), Camille Anquetil (9), Lola McKenzie (12) and Gabriel Sinclair (12) competed in the CSDA Public Speaking Semifinals hosted by OLMC Parramatta. We are pleased to be supporting Gabriel as he takes part in the Grand Final at Marist Catholic College, North Shore on Friday as he looks to win the Senior division to add to his Grand Final victory in Year 8. Congratulations to all of these students who made it so far in a competition that attracts over 700 students each year.

The Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking competition also begins this week with six Rosebank students representing the College against students from schools nationwide.

As the Public Speaking season goes on we look forward to the start of the CSDA Debating Competitions with twelve teams from Rosebank preparing to take part in Australia's biggest debating competition starting in Week 9. 

The wait is finally over—Musical Week is here! Rosebank College’s much-anticipated production of Mary Poppins is ready to take the stage, and we couldn't be more excited!

With just a few days left until Opening Night, now is the time to secure your tickets and get in on the magic. 

Watch as our talented cast brings this beloved classic to life with stunning performances, unforgettable songs, and all the enchanting moments you know and love.

Book your tickets today and support the arts at Rosebank! 

Seniors Week Performance

Photos: Seniors Week performance 

On Monday, 3 March, eleven students from Year 9 Music volunteered to perform at a Seniors Week gathering organised by Canada Bay Council and Drummoyne Community Centre. Hosted at Breakfast Point Community Hall, these talented students impressed the audience with the classics from Chopin and Tchaikovsky to the Beatles. All students performed spectacularly and enjoyed sharing their music with the community. Well done to Sienna, Ethan, Violetta, Faye, Imogen, Leila, Kaya, Jude, Louis, Oliver and Monte.

Rosebank College Music Ensembles

Photos: 2024 Music Ensemble night

Music ensemble rehearsals have kicked off for the year, but it is not too late to join. All rehearsals take place before and after school and are free. This year, we have started a new guitar ensemble with Giuseppe Zangari from Sydney Guitar School, which welcomes students of all playing levels, meeting from 7:30am on Friday mornings.

If your child sings or plays an instrument and would like to get involved but isn’t sure how, please reach out to Mrs Hill at ahill@rosebank.nsw.edu.au, and we will help find the perfect ensemble for them.

Rosebank band performing at One Walk Charity Event

Photo: Rosebank rock band Gamma Radiation 

This year Rosebank's rock band Gamma Radiation is performing at the charity event One Walk, raising awareness and funds for Type 1 Diabetes.

The band will be performing at 9:30am, Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park, on Sunday, 23 March. Everyone is welcome to come out and show their support for the band and the event!

Firstly, I would like to draw your attention to a change of date for the afternoon Information Session for students recently identified with high potential and their parents. The event will now be held on Thursday, 27 March. Invitations to the event with a link to complete the RSVP will be emailed to all parents. If you have a child who has been identified with high potential and were not able to attend an information session in previous years but would like to know more, please email me at the address below by Friday, 14 March and I will arrange an invitation for you and your child; siblings are welcome to attend. 

For the first time last week, fourty-four Rosebank College students participated in the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad (OzCLO). This is a challenging, code breaking style of competition that requires speed and accuracy in pattern recognition, combined with critical thinking and a strong logical imperative. Students competed in teams of four and declared it something that should be an annual event. 

Students interested in these types of puzzles, completed online should consider signing up for Bebras. This will be hosted in Week 10, expressions of interest should be sent to Ms McArthur by email no later than 3pm Friday, 14 March.

The College’s annual involvement in competitive chess will commence in Term 2 with the Metropolitan Secondary Schools Competition, which occurs every Friday after school from Week 2 to Week 7. The Sydney Catholic Schools Chess Conference is a one day competition on Wednesday, 11 June. Interested chess players should contact Ms McArthur via email or at Chess Club in Q103 every Monday (both breaks) on or before Friday, 21 March as teams must be submitted the following week.

Below are reflections from students who attend two of the College Colloquy events available at the end of February. The College Colloquy is an opportunity for senior students to engage with the intellectual life of Sydney through lectures and talks offered by universities and other public facing bodies such as The Ethics Centre. Students select the events of most interest to them from the wide variety offered throughout the year, including the Sydney Peace Prize award and lecture, and participating in the audience for the ABC’s Q&A program. Students from Years 10 to 12 and mature Year 9 students are welcome to sign up to the mailing list by contacting Ms McArthur via the email below. 

cmcarthur@rosebank.nsw.edu.au

Reflection One: ‘The Way We Are’ by Willow M (Year 10)

On Wednesday, 26 February, a group of students from Years 10-12, including myself, had the pleasure of attending a seminar with Australia’s revered social psychologist, Dr Hugh Mackay AO who spoke about the research findings behind his new book "The Way We Are". The book examines the major trends that are shaking the foundation of the Australian way of life. In his talk McKay explored what it means to be Australian, or simply human.

The discussion covered topics such as the three mental health epidemics (loneliness, anxiety, and depression), the importance of community and a sense of belonging, the concept of kindness and the dramatic social changes over the last century.

Dr McKay AO elaborated on the fact that humans are a social species, dependent on one another for survival and well-being. He emphasised the need for community and a sense of belonging as a means of survival. He presented social trends showing that while houses are getting bigger, fewer people are living in them compared to the past with the average people per household at only 2.5. Dr McKay AO also highlighted that we are now more mobile than ever as the new generation of electronics takes over our interactions with others, allowing us to text and call often and from anywhere to anywhere on the planet but it is never the same as contact in person. It was revealed that those who frequently text or spend time online often feel the loneliest. He explained that a FaceTime call can never replace in-person interactions. Direct eye contact, touch and other body language and other bodily sensations all add to the connection of a real-life conversation, in ways that can’t be communicated through a screen. 

Dr McKay AO illustrated this human need of community by discussing other extinct hominids, explaining that Homo sapiens survived over the others not because we were smarter or stronger but because we were able to build and maintain communities compared to the other hominids. He referred to this as "survival of the kindest."

Kindness, what is kindness? Dr McKay AO explained that it is not just about being friendly or nice; it's about making others feel noticed through simple acts of acknowledgment saying “Anything you do that says to other people, that makes them feel noticed that is kindness”. He shared an example of a man who survived a suicide attempt. When asked what could have prevented it, the man replied, "If someone had smiled at me that day, I wouldn't have done it." This statement lingered in my mind that night, highlighting how a small act of kindness can literally save someone's life. Hugh Mackay showed us that acknowledging someone and listening to them can be enough to say, "I take you seriously", making us aware that you could be lonely in a crowded room, the feeling that you could scream as loud as you can and still not be heard no matter how many people are around you.

 
Photo: (Left to Right) Willow M, Leah K, Joshua F, Rex N, Jada G, Isabella O and Dali G

Reflection Two: ‘The Way We Are’ by Leah K (Year 10)

A seminar hosted by Dr Hugh Mackay AO based on his book “The Way We Are” highlighted the importance of human kindness in our interactions with all people whether they be a friend, a neighbour or stranger. He highlighted various topics such as, how to: respect one another, be responsive to people, engage and understand one another. He also highlighted how the world has changed over time and why “we are the way we are”. The seminar was engaging and relevant for anyone that wants to find out how to be the “perfect Australian”. I found it intriguing when he discussed the current decline in mental health, not just in Australia but across most developed nations, linked to the increased use of technology. While designed to foster connection, it actually reduces face-to-face interaction. He explained how issues like loneliness, depression, and anxiety are major contributors to the rise in poor mental health. His insights made me reflect on my own technology use and reconsider how I spend my free time. Honestly, it was a thought-provoking and informative seminar that really made me think about the impact of technology in the modern world.

Reflection Three: Global Conflicts, Competing Narratives by Cormac P (Year 9)

On Thursday, 27 February, a small group of Rosebank College students had the fortunate opportunity to listen to world-renowned scholar Pankaj Mishra in conversation with Simon Longstaff (Executive Director of The Ethics Centre). Mr. Mishra, who recently published ‘The World After Gaza: A History’, spoke about global conflicts and their future, with a special focus on Israel and the war in Gaza. Reflecting on the constantly shifting roles of victim and victimiser and the creation of the Israeli national identity from the Holocaust and the Zionist mindset still carried over from World War II, which has ultimately led to the violence in Israel/Palestine.

 
Photo: (Left to Right) Jada G, Cormac P, Rex N and Joshua F

Reflection Four: Global Conflicts, Competing Narratives by Rex N (Year 11)

I had the opportunity to attend the talk from Pankaj Mishra centred on the past and current conflict in Gaza. I was surprised by his ability to rationally talk about the issue without conveying any noticeable bias. Many of his insights were invaluable to understanding the conflict fully. He talked about his own experiences growing up and hearing about Israel especially in a country like India that had their own Muslim state with conflicts involving land claims and the bias towards Israel was present. He also talked about how he broke these preconceptions implanted in his mind after he broadened his horizons and met many people from the Middle East including displaced Palestinians coming to India seeking a university education. Throughout the talk Pankaj expressed many insights and comments that explained how the situation developed across the area in modern history especially after World War II. Overall, it was a highly valuable and interesting experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Our Holiday Program, for children aged 5 to 12, offers a great chance to experience Rosebank College while staying active during the school holidays. It's about making friends, building confidence, and creating memories. Open to all children, not just Rosebank families or waitlist members, the program features one-on-one coaching in various sports, with tailored instruction from experienced coaches. The fun, engaging activities take place on our College grounds, offering a safe and nurturing environment. Don't miss this opportunity for your child to stay active, develop new skills, and connect with peers. Registrations will open next week. 

We look forward to welcoming your family to our community and providing an unforgettable holiday experience for your child!

Key information:
Multi-Sport Programs (Two and three days)
9am – 3pm daily

Dates
Week 1 
Multi-sport (Two days)
Option 1: Monday, 14 – Tuesday, 15 April 2025
Option 2: Wednesday, 16 - Thursday, 17 April 2025

Touch/Oztag Camp (Two days)
Monday, 14 – Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Football Camp (Two days)
Wednesday, 16 – Thursday, 17 April 2025

Week 2 
Multi-Sport Program (Three days)
Tuesday, 22 April – Thursday, 24 April 2025 

Cost                                                                                                                                                                                            

All prices are inclusive of GST.

• Two-day Multi-sport program: $215
• Three-day Multi-sport program (offered second week only): $250
• Specialised two-day Football/Oztag and Touch footy Program: $230
• One-off day: $130 (only offered first day of each sport camp)
• Aftercare: $33 per day 

To learn more about our Holiday Program, frequently asked questions and to register, click here.

Early registrations close Friday, 4 April. Bookings after this date will incur an additional fee. 

Photo: Social Justice Leaders 

On Wednesday,19 February, five Social Justice Leaders, Alissa, Minal, Alex, Mia, and Olivia, attended a Prefect and Leaders Afternoon Tea at St Patrick's College in Strathfield. We met and collaborated with a number of leaders, many like-minded, from all across the greater Sydney area, where we participated in activities, such as trivia and ‘match the blocks’ within our respective groups. We were then welcomed by the insightful Dr John Kyle-Robinson, who gave us advice on managing life whilst implementing our roles as leaders. He also presented the proactive concept of ‘The 3 C’s - Clarity, Consistency and Compassion' - a simple concept that is incredibly helpful and has inspired us to strive to improve and embrace our leadership methods. Overall, this was such a welcoming and invaluable event to attend as well as an exciting opportunity to meet amazing new people.