This is the penultimate newsletter for the year, and we are now well into the final weeks of the 2025 school year. The Year 12 exams have come and gone, and our Year 11 students have also completed their exams and as well as their Orientation Program for Year 12. Year 10 exams conclude this week, and students will begin their two-day Year 11 Orientation early next week. Their final day for the year is Tuesday, 2^nd December.

Year 12

I would like to once again congratulate all Year 12 students on their achievements this year and across their 13 years of schooling. It was wonderful to farewell them at Graduation last week, and I was fortunate to have many positive conversations with families whose time with us comes to an end this year. Thank you for your support and your positive contribution to Rosehill over such a long period.

School Captains 2025

Our outgoing Captains did a terrific job all year and hosting the Graduation was no different. Delcine Li and Hugo Bliss thank you for your work and commitment throughout the year, best wishes for 2026 and beyond.

School Captains and Student Leaders 2026

It’s with great pleasure that I introduce our 2026 school captains and leadership team. Alexandra Homatopoulos and Nethasha Silva who will be well supported by our Vice Captains in Amalia Corbalan and Ruby Herriot.

Alexandra Homatopoulos	Nethasha Silva
Amalia Corbalan	Ruby Herriot

Other leadership positions include:

• SRC Captains Amishi Gupta and Ezra McKeown
• Student Voice Captains Zainab Adnan and Keira McGrillen-Mannix
• International Students Captains Linna Nguyen and Anthony Tran

Year 9 Exams

Year 9 exams in English, Science and Mathematics also conducted this week. These assessments provide an invaluable opportunity for students to practise the serious business of sitting exams, develop effective study habits and build the skills needed to work under pressure in the years ahead.

Course Confirmation

Course confirmation for students entering Years 7, 8 and 9 in 2026 will be finalised next week. Information will be sent home, and we ask you to please contact the College if you do not receive this information by next Wednesday 5^th December.

Curriculum Day

A reminder that Wednesday, 17^th December is a curriculum day. All staff will be involved in whole-school professional learning, with a key focus on continued work on the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. This is a student free day.

Staffing Update

I am pleased to report that we are fully staffed for 2026 and continue to attract high-quality educators. Challenges remain across the system, particularly in specialised and bespoke subject areas, but we continue to be well placed.

RIL

I would also like to reiterate our school values of Respect, Initiative and Learning (RIL). These values underpin our work and reflect our moral purpose as educators: to ensure all students receive a high-quality education that supports them to become thoughtful, responsible citizens who contribute positively to their communities.

With this comes responsibility and clear expectations regarding behaviour. We will continue to uphold our high standards, and I thank our parents and guardians for their ongoing support in promoting and modelling these values at home.

Turn the Page…….

As we approach the summer break, it is an ideal time to encourage regular reading. I am currently re-reading George Orwell’s 1984. After so many years, it feels like a new book, almost like watching a film for the second time, you notice things you had forgotten or missed the first time. For our senior students, the Year 12 texts are an excellent place to start and ideally should be read at least three times for maximum understanding.

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.

Every year Victorian Visual Communication Design students, who are completing Unit's 3 and 4, submit their work to Top Designs in the hope of being recognised and exhibited at the Melbourne Museum. This year Rosehill's Natasha Apostolovska has been shortlisted and her design work is among the best of the best of 2025. Her name and work will be published by Top Designs and is in consideration for their exhibition. Good luck Natasha!

Natasha researched a design problem centred around workspace issues in STEM environments. Her design solution is the 'Altera Fusion' branding and signature workbench. Natasha designed this desk through careful human-centred research into existing STEM workspaces. Natasha then trialled design options through prototypes and then creating a digital model in Fusion 360 that she then 3D printed using her expertise in the technology space.

Alicia Centofanti

VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN & ART TEACHER

In Week 6, Year10 Japanese-1 students made onigiri (rice balls) to conclude the Fast-Food unit. Onigiri, considered a Japanese soul food, provides comfort and connection for many people in Japan. Through this activity, students also reflected on the cultural foods that comfort them in similar ways.

Thank you to Ms Annette Therik and Food Technology staff – this experience wouldn’t have been possible without their support.

Yoshiko Bowyer

JAPANESE TEACHER

Year 10 Japanese-2 students received greeting cards from Kogakkan High School, our sister school in Japan. Kogakkan High School's English Club and our class participated in this activity, and the cards arrived just in time for our final lesson, making it especially memorable.

Kogakkan students sent both Christmas cards and nengajo- traditional New Year cards. In return, our students wrote messages in Japanese and English, which are now on their way to Japan.

Thank you to Mr Takanori Hayakawa, Ms Kari Fujita and Ms Miyuki Shibahara, Kogakkan High School, for organising and assisting this wonderful activity.

Yoshiko Bowyer

JAPANESE TEAHER

On Wednesday 19th November, our STEP students proudly showcased their learning through their Digital Portfolio Presentations—an opportunity for them to reflect on their academic journey and share the skills they have developed throughout their time in the program.

Across the afternoon, students presented to their peers, highlighting their achievements, challenges and personal growth. Many demonstrated impressive confidence, creativity and maturity as they spoke about their progress and the goals they have set for the future.

The presentations also reflected the wide range of skills STEP students continue to build, including critical thinking, digital literacy, creativity, problem-solving and communication. Staff were particularly proud to see students articulating their areas for improvement with honesty and self-awareness.

A warm thank you to all staff who attended sessions and supported students throughout the process. Your encouragement contributed to a positive and celebratory atmosphere.

Congratulations to all STEP students for their hard work and their willingness to reflect, present and grow. A special congratulations to our Year 9 STEP students whose STEP journey concludes this year—we look forward to seeing how they continue to build upon their learning in the years to come.

Ms Barbaro

ENRICHMENT INSTRUCTINAL PRACTICE LEADER

Our Years 7–9 STEP students were placed into mixed-year teams to tackle a series of mini challenges, earning essential items—such as soap, clothing and other necessities—to fill a backpack. Each task required students to trust one another and work collaboratively, drawing on their problem-solving skills to complete the activities efficiently.

To conclude the workshop, teams were asked to create and deliver a sales pitch to their peers to promote their backpack. In a special highlight, a volunteer from The Big Group Hug charity visited to explain that the completed backpacks would be donated to children in need. This meaningful moment helped students understand the real-world impact of their efforts.

Congratulations to the winning team:
Ava Yassine (7E), Lucy Kanaris (7E), Lily Kennedy (7E), Ellie Chin (8E), Gypsy Berketa (8E), Spencer Szuveges (9E), Harley Barnes (9E), and Jacob Peck (9E), who were awarded medals for their exceptional work and for proudly demonstrating our school values of Respect, Initiative and Learning. A special shout-out to Ava and Jacob, whose engaging and creative rap duo added an energetic and memorable touch to their pitch!

It was inspiring to see the resilience, teamwork and leadership displayed throughout the workshop. We hope the connections formed today continue to grow and strengthen in the months ahead.

Ms Stephanie Barbaro

ENRICHMENT INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE LEADER