We have now moved beyond the halfway point of the term, providing a good opportunity to pause and reflect on how the year has unfolded so far. Often, we become so focused on the day-to-day demands that we forget to take a moment to recognise and appreciate what has already been achieved. What successes has your child experienced so far this year?

School Reports

I would also like to remind parents and guardians that interim reports are now available. These reports offer an overview of how your child has begun the year and will help guide discussions during the upcoming student–parent–teacher interviews scheduled for Thursday19^th March. The interviews will follow a hybrid format, with face-to-face meetings available onsite during the day and online interviews offered in the evening. Please note that the online booking portal will close at 9:00am on Wednesday, 18^th March.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing commenced this week for students in Year 7 and 9. All NAPLAN testing is online, and our IT team and staff have been working with students to ensure individual devices are properly set up to enable access to the testing. NAPLAN testing will continue into next week.

Civics and Citizenship

On Monday 2^nd March it was terrific to have the Hon Ben Carroll, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, attend and support our Year 10 Civic and Citizenship program. He spent a good part of an hour talking to and answering student questions and discussing issues relevant to our community and society. We thank and acknowledge our distinguished guest for his valuable time to help provide a better understanding of the different levels of government in Australia. Well done, to our students for asking some very difficult and complex questions which demonstrate a wonderful understanding of current political, social and geopolitical issues facing our society today and into the future.

Swimming Carnival

The swimming carnival on Friday 6^th March was a great success. The atmosphere on the day was very positive and so many children had a great day participating in events/activities or simply cheering their friends and house team. I would like to acknowledge Ms Lotte Riddle who did a tremendous job in organising and coordinating the event.

International Women’s Day

Friday 6^th March was also an opportunity to celebrate International Women’s Day. We sent a small team of women leaders to a morning breakfast at Moonee Valley Council. Hosted by local MP Jo Briskey the event brought together community members and leaders to reflect on this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Balancing the Scales,” and to explore the importance of equity, voice, and representation.

Representing the College were our 2026 School Captains — Alexandra Homatopoulos, Nethasha Silva, Ruby Herriot, Amalia Corbalan and Ezra McKeown — alongside Student Agency Leader Maya Ilic, Senior School Leader Fiona Morabito and Assistant Principal Lena Hudson.

Jo Briskey facilitated an engaging panel discussion featuring prominent leaders from sport and public service: AFLW captains Bonnie Toogood and Steph Cain, together with the Honourable Jill Hennessy, who previously served as Victoria’s Attorney-General as well as Minister for Health, Ambulance Services and Workplace Safety.

The panel explored a range of important issues, including pay parity across industries and the power of having a strong voice. A key theme throughout the discussion was the importance of storytelling — using personal experiences to advocate for change and amplify the voices of others.

Panel members encouraged students to “back yourself in,” highlighting the value of having the right people supporting you, holding others to account when offensive comments are made, and celebrating individuality and authenticity. They also spoke about not allowing the opinions of those who do not matter to undermine confidence.

Another powerful message centred on resilience. Each speaker reflected on how strong support networks, practising challenging tasks and continuing to show up — even in the face of adversity — helped shape their success. They encouraged students to stay grounded in the present, rather than worrying too far ahead, and to remember that they are entitled to be in any room they have worked hard to enter.

Our School Captains found the forum both inspiring and empowering, embracing the idea that “you can’t be what you can’t see.” Their key takeaway was a simple but powerful motto: back yourself in.

Year 7 Camp

The upcoming Year 7 Camp in Week 9 is a terrific opportunity for Year 7 students to meet and make new friends, while also allowing staff to build rapport with students outside the classroom. I thank the staff who generously give up their time to attend these events and help enrich the school experience for our students.

Year 9 – Rosefest

We look forward to this year’s Year 9 Students Festival, which will be held early in Week 9. I know that Mr Love and the Year 9 ID students and staff have been planning extensively and working hard to ensure a successful event in the coming weeks. Save your gold coins as they will be needed on this day.

Metacognition and the Science of Learning – Andrew Fuller

Andrew Fuller – I have included an article from Andrew Fuller with a focus on metacognition and the science of learning. Go to https://andrewfuller.com.au/free-resources/ to access the many free resources for parents.

Arthur Soumalias

PRINCIPAL

School Policies have been updated in line with Department of Education and Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority requirements. Parents may review these on the school website https://www.rosehillsc.vic.edu... Minimum Standards Compliance – June 2022.

As parents and carers may be aware, staff at our school who are Australian Education Union (AEU) members have been negotiating alongside teachers, education support staff, assistant principals, and principals from public schools in Victoria, with the state government and Department of Education for improvements to pay and employment conditions. Negotiations have been occurring over the last seven months, and the state government has not made any offer at all to this point in time.

Currently, Victorian public schools are the lowest funded in Australia and there are significant staffing shortages across Victoria. Victorian public school teachers are also the lowest paid teachers in Australia, with many education support employees and school leaders paid less than their colleagues in other states and territories who do the same role.

AEU members are seeking pay increases and reductions to excessive workloads, with the aim of ensuring the retention of existing employees and the attraction of the next generation to enable the ongoing provision of a high-quality education to students. Because there has not been any offer, AEU members are undertaking a vote to endorse industrial action, with the union calling a statewide 24-hour stop work for Tuesday 24^th March, should the government not respond properly to key claims.

The AEU has written to our school council outlining some of the issues that school staff need resolved, including school funding and staffing shortages, as well as pay and conditions. The union acknowledges that a decision to stop work is not one to be taken lightly and regrets the impact it has on students and their families, with the state government able to avoid such action if a fair and decent offer is made to employees. If the industrial action goes ahead, we will provide our school community with all the information needed to manage the situation.

It goes without saying that as a school community we support all of the staff in our school and expect them to be paid reasonably and have fair conditions of work.

We are incredibly proud to announce that our Year 9 Debating Team emerged victorious in Round 1 of the school’s competition held last night at St. Bernard’s College.

Competing against Buckley Park College, our students demonstrated remarkable poise, confidence, and eloquence. This achievement is particularly impressive as it was their very first competitive debate — a fantastic accomplishment!

The celebrations did not stop there. Congratulations to Jem Howe (9E), who was awarded the prestigious Best Speaker for the round — a truly outstanding individual achievement.

Please join us in congratulating our winning team:

• Alexia Radimisis (9A)
• Jem Howe (9E)
• Jordan Shah (9A)

The team is already preparing for Round 2 on March 30th. We wish them the very best of luck as they continue their debating journey — we look forward to cheering them on!

Ms Abuacan

DEBATING COORDINATOR

We recently welcomed Digital Thumbprint to run workshops for our VCE VM Year 11 students. Our presenter, Dom, delivered a fun and engaging program. The sessions helped students understand the benefits of having a positive online presence and gave them important tips on how to stay safe online.

Students were reminded to think carefully before posting or sharing personal information. Today, anyone can search your name online — including employers who often check social media before hiring someone. A photo or comment that seems funny at the time could harm future job opportunities.

Dom also spoke about the dangers of posting negative comments or “rants” online. He shared real-life examples of how social media posts have led to serious consequences, including people losing their jobs. These examples showed students how quickly online actions can affect their future.

Students were encouraged to regularly search their own name online, review their privacy settings, and avoid posting anything they wouldn’t want employers or others to see.

Overall, the presentation was a valuable experience for our students. We hope it encourages them to be responsible and thoughtful members of the online community.

Vicki Handris

VCE VM LEADER

On Friday 6th of March, year 12 student leaders were invited by Maribrynong Minister Jo Briskey to attend an International Women's Day Breakfast. The student leaders that attended were Alexandra Homatopoulous, Nethasha Silva, Ruby Herriot, Amalia Corbalan and Ezra Mckeown accompanied by our amazing teachers Miss Illic, Miss Hudson, and Miss Morabito.

Jo was joined by guest speakers, former Attorney-General Jill Henessy and Essendon AFLW players Bonnie Toogood and Steph Cain, who shared their experiences and insights to the young girls and women attending the event.

A key theme in UN Women’s Australia is “Balancing the Scales,” to consolidate the importance of representation, and reminding us that we cannot be what we cannot see. Without seeing women in politics, women in sport, women in education, women in management - it becomes a deterrent for younger girls to pursue these positions. Hearing these four women speak about how they have overcome their own battles encourages us to use our voices - making a positive difference for young girls in Australia.

One thing that really stuck out to me personally was a sentiment that Attorney-General Jill Hennessy shared about adversity in the industry. Jill imparted us with the simple wisdom of a pause. It seems quite underwhelming in hindsight, but the power of pausing to think in a conversation is a skill that comes a long way in an industry that can be hard for women to thrive in. Sometimes, we are asked questions or told statements that are only told to evoke some sort of emotional response. And to use restraint in that kind of situation can be difficult. But the simple act of pausing is such an incredible asset to let the other person bask on their own - for want of a better word - stupidity and learn from it.

Bonnie Toogood and Steph Cain were incredible speakers who shared insight into the sport industry, specifically AFLW. Bonnie told us how when she was a child, she was always told not to think about a career in football and told that that was wishful thinking. Steph echoed this sentiment, saying how they were told to pursue careers that could act as a financial cushion, neglecting where their true happiness comes from. Only goes to show how these mental barriers can be overcome through work ethics and passion. Being told you cannot over and over can be demoralising, but passion is stronger than outdated rhetorics.

International Women's Day is important to recognise and celebrate how far we have come, but also how far we still have to go. The day draws attention to the intricacies of true feminism, in lifting up women through empowerment, without pitting us against each other. In working as a collective unit of strong individuals, without the media tearing us apart for things we cannot control. While Australia celebrates our inclusion, we also draw attention to the women who get paid less in the industry, to the women who lose work momentum with balancing maternity leave, the women who feel like they are always second to men's opinions, the women who struggle every day to deal with feeling unheard.

Equality is not about advantage for some - it is about dignity, safety, and fairness for all. When women and girls stand equal, families grow stronger, workplaces become fairer, communities thrive, and society becomes safer for everyone.

This International Women’s Day, let us Balance the Scales together.

Maja Ilic

STUDENT AGENCY LEADER

On Monday, 16 February 2026, the Rosehill International Program proudly hosted a Lunar New Year Lunch, reflecting our school’s strong commitment to inclusion, cultural diversity and student wellbeing. The event brought together international students, local students and staff to celebrate this important occasion in a warm and welcoming environment.

While Lunar New Year is traditionally a time for families to reunite, many of our international students are away from home during this significant celebration. As a school community, we recognise the importance of connection and belonging, particularly during meaningful cultural events. This lunch provided an opportunity for students and staff to come together, share traditions and ensure that no one felt alone during this special time of year.

A highlight of the celebration was the delicious Banh Mi, one of Vietnam’s most popular traditional dishes. Sharing food allowed our community to experience and appreciate different cultures, strengthening intercultural understanding and respect across our school.

Our International Student Leaders, Linna Nguyen and Anthony Tran, delivered heartfelt speeches reflecting on the challenges of celebrating Lunar New Year away from home. They shared their experiences of homesickness during this important cultural holiday and expressed their gratitude to the school for recognising this and organising a celebration that helped students feel supported, included, and valued. Their words were both moving and inspiring.

The Lunar New Year Lunch was more than a celebration — it was a meaningful expression of our school’s commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive and connected community where every student feels valued and supported.

We wish everyone a very Happy Lunar New Year — the Year of the Horse. May the year bring good health, happiness and success to all.

Dalena Tran

ISP COORDINATOR

Our Year 11 VCE VM class hosted the BBQ stall at the swimming carnival. The enthusiastic VM students — Ryan L, Tara, Lauren, Declan, Julian, Con, James, Ryan V and Sonny — worked hard throughout the entire day, taking on a variety of responsibilities. They assisted teachers with setting up marquees and tables, cooked the meat and onions, and served a steady stream of hungry customers — some of whom had lined up before the BBQ was even lit to be first in line. Throughout the day they also restocked drinks, kept the area clean, and finally packed everything away, loading the equipment into Mr Raiti’s car.

The BBQ was a great success. We sold out of sausages within an hour and had to make a quick dash to Coles to restock. In total, we raised over $1,000. These funds will go towards supporting the Salvation Army and helping to subsidise our Term 2 incursions and excursions.

A special thank you to the wonderful and dedicated teachers who generously gave their time and support throughout the day: Mr Raiti, Ms O’Malley, Ms Ivas, Ms Morabito, Ms Georgiades, Ms Zorbas, Ms Hudson, Ms Vossos and Ms Thompson. Your support and assistance helped make the day such a success.

Vicki Handris

VCE VM COORDINATOR

On Tuesday the 10th of March, Year 11 and 12 students were fortunate enough to participate in an Elevate Education- Artificial Intelligence session.

The presenter spoke to us about AI and how it can be used as an effective and efficient tool or tutor rather than a shortcut that replaces critical thinking skills and learning.

During this session, we were educated about various AI platforms such as AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), LLM (Large Language Model) and CHATGPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) as well as gained an understanding of what they are used for.

One the main things that we learnt from this session included what types of things AI can do effectively and the types of information it can provide reliably.

For example, something that we learnt was that AI is unable to watch videos, meaning that asking it questions about the video may be inaccurate. However, it can be extremely useful for generating ideas.

In addition to this, we also learnt how CHATGPT can be used more effectively following PSI (Purpose, Specifics, and Intent). By following these steps, AI will be able to generate more relevant, detailed, and useful responses.

The purpose of this seminar was to educate students about the importance of using AI appropriately as a tutor guide instead of breaching authentication policies and using it to generate your work for you.

We would like to thank Ms Morabito and the Senior school coordinators for organising this very informative seminar.

Gorja Bhardwaj

Year 11G

The Global Learning Student Ambassador Project is a meaningful initiative designed to support international students in feeling welcomed, valued, and included within the school community. At the same time, the program encourages local students to develop intercultural understanding and build a strong global mindset.

On 26 February 2026, our six student ambassadors — Hengsong San, Roni Diep, Toby Doan, Audrey Cook, Leanne Tran, and Gorja Bhardwaj — attended the Opening Forum held at the Angliss Conference Centre. The day marked the official beginning of this year’s journey and provided students with the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate cultural diversity.

With support from their teachers and mentors, students came together in mixed-school teams to share ideas, discuss their projects, and organise their work for the year ahead. It was wonderful to see them collaborate so effectively, quickly building connections in a relaxed and friendly environment. They supported one another, engaged in productive discussions, and formed strong foundations for teamwork, demonstrating enthusiasm, respect, and a positive spirit throughout the day.

The forum was not only productive but also celebratory. Students enjoyed delicious food together, strengthening new friendships in an informal setting. A highlight of the day was the presentation of ambassador badges and sashes, proudly marking the beginning of their roles as Global Learning Student Ambassadors.

We look forward to seeing the students explore their ideas and work together on projects throughout the year.

Dalena Tran

ISP COORDINATOR

The Global Student Voice Ambassador Program is an initiative organised by the Department of Education – International Students Division. In 2026 Rosehill was represented in this program by 6 Year 11 Students:

• Gorja Bhardwaj
• Audrey Cook
• Roni Diep
• Toby Doan
• Hengsong San
• Leanne Tran

On Thursday, 26^th February they attended the Opening Forum event in the Melbourne CBD. Rosehill Secondary College is one of 12 schools invited to be part of this program. The Global Student Voice Ambassador Program supports international students feel welcomed and included in the school community and help local students develop greater intercultural understanding and global mindsets.

This year the Rosehill Global Student Voice Ambassadors will be working on a range of initiatives including supporting Close the Gap Day, Harmony Day, and social sports activities. These events will occur during Terms 2 & 3—keep an eye out for upcoming announcements.

While this day was a launch pad for success for 2026; Global Student Voice Ambassadors are looking forward to working with their mentor from the Department of Education, Miss Emilia Fields. Miss Fields will have regular check-ins with the group (in addition to support from Rosehill staff) to support the Ambassadors to develop new and engaging opportunities for all students at Rosehill to develop greater understanding of the diverse community that is Rosehill.

Gorja Bhardwaj & Audrey Cook

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

If you have a current Health Care Card or Pension Card, you may be eligible for the Camps/Sport/Excursions Fund (CSEF) payment. This funding can be used towards excursions, camps and sporting activities that run throughout the year at Rosehill.

If you applied for CSEF in 2025, and are a current student, you do not need to complete an application form unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

You will only need to submit a new application form in 2026 if any of the following changes occurred:

• New student enrolments
• Change in family circumstances.

Schools can accept and process applications up until the end of term two each year. CSEF payments are made to schools from March onwards.

Application forms are available via the department’s website, at the general office or below. Please complete and return this form to us along with a copy of your valid concession card.

Applications for 2026 will close on 26 June 2026.

Levena Hayes

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE