Newsletter Term 3 Weeks 2 & 3
Executive Report
We’re off to a strong start this term with a number of significant events and milestones already underway. Thank you to our staff, students, and families for the positive energy and ongoing support.
HSC Trial Examinations
The HSC Trial Examinations began on Monday, August 4 and will continue through to Friday, August 15. It has been a smooth and respectful start, and we commend our students for their focus and determination. A big thank you to all staff and students for maintaining a calm and quiet environment around the exam rooms—this makes a real difference during such an important time. We wish our Year 12 students all the very best as they complete their trials.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thank you to all families who attended the Years 9 & 11 and Years 8 & 10 Parent-Teacher Conferences over the past two weeks. These meetings provided valuable opportunities for collaborative conversations around learning progress, goals, and support strategies. We appreciate the thoughtful engagement from families and staff alike.
Subject Selection – Years 9 and 11 2026
A reminder that subject selections for Year 9 2026 and Year 11 2026 are due by 4:30pm on Friday, August 8. We encourage all students to discuss their options with teachers and families to ensure informed choices are made. Please reach out to the relevant Year Adviser or Deputy Principal if you require assistance.
Duke of Edinburgh Program
A big congratulations to the 19 enthusiastic Year 9 students who recently completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Adventurous Journey in the Dural bushland. Despite wet and chilly conditions, the group showed exceptional resilience, teamwork, and spirit across the three-day hike. Thank you to Jess Chapman and John Flack for leading the experience with care and commitment. We also extend our thanks to Jess Gray for her outstanding work as the previous Duke of Ed coordinator. Jess Chapman has now taken on this role and will no doubt continue to grow the program’s success.
Aerosol Cans – Reminder
We remind all families that aerosol cans are banned in NSW public schools. This includes deodorant sprays, which can trigger asthma and allergic reactions, and present safety concerns in enclosed environments. Please speak with your child to ensure they understand that roll-on deodorant is the appropriate alternative to bring to school.
School Buses
Our School bus allocation are reviewed in term 3 before contracts are issued by Transport NSW. Our bus routes are determined by the number of students using them. This term only 3 students have used their card to tap on. Transport NSW uses this data to inform their decisions. We are putting posters up at the end of the school day and staff will be reminding students to tap on when they leave the College. Please remind your children to tap on if they use the school buses. Our school bus runs provide safety and specialised routes to assist travel to and from school. Every year the Principal make the case to provide a customised service for our students, it would be a deficit if we lost some routes due to a failure to tap on.
Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to another productive and engaging term ahead.
RBSC Socials
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IEF News
Solar Buddies
Last week, we had the wonderful opportunity to welcome 12 volunteers from Goldman Sachs as part of their Community Teamworks initiative. The team visited the IEF to share an inspiring presentation on the Solar Buddies program, which aims to provide solar-powered lights to children living in energy poverty in developing countries.
The volunteers explained how the Solar Buddies initiative helps tackle the global issue of energy poverty, which affects millions of children, limiting their ability to study and thrive. Through this program, students create solar-powered lights that are sent to children who would otherwise rely on dangerous and inefficient forms of lighting. These solar lights offer a sustainable, safe, and reliable energy source, opening up new opportunities for education and well-being.
Following the presentation, our IEF students had the chance to engage in hands-on learning by building a Solar Buddy. The students worked together to assemble the lights, gaining valuable skills while making a tangible difference in the world. Each student also wrote a heartfelt letter to the recipient of their Solar Buddy, sharing words of encouragement and connection with a child in need.
This experience not only introduced our students to a global issue but also allowed them to actively contribute to creating a brighter future for children in developing countries. It was a meaningful day, showcasing the power of community, collaboration, and the positive impact we can have on the world.
Thank you to the Goldman Sachs Community Teamworks for making this opportunity possible, and to all of our students for their enthusiasm and dedication to this important cause!
Waverley Library Orientation – James’ First Day
Waverley Library welcomed its newest member, James, for his first day of orientation, marking an exciting beginning to his journey in the world of library services. On arrival, James was greeted with enthusiasm, receiving his passkey and a branded t-shirt before securing his personal belongings in a locker, ready to dive into the day’s activities.
James was given a comprehensive tour of the library, exploring not only the main floor but also the back office and staff room. Throughout the tour, he had the chance to meet most of the library staff, fostering a sense of community and support that is vital in such a bustling environment.
As part of his orientation, James began to familiarise himself with the library's layout, learning where various materials are stored, including books, magazines, and DVDs. This foundational knowledge is essential for anyone looking to thrive in library services.
One of his first practical tasks involved sorting returned items. Under the guidance of his supervisor, Sam, James practiced reading spine labels and arranging items both alphabetically and numerically. While he took his time to recognise the correct order, he made very few mistakes, demonstrating his attention to detail and willingness to learn. By the end of the day, James was tidying up shelves with Sam, showcasing his growing confidence in handling library materials.
James’ first day at Waverley Library was a promising start, filled with learning opportunities and new experiences. As he continues to adapt to the dynamic library environment, it is clear that with time, patience, and support, he will flourish in his role and contribute positively to the library community.
HSC Drama Night
On Monday evening, year 12 Drama students performed their group and individual performances at HSC Drama night. This evening was a valuable performance opportunity in front of an authentic audience of supportive teachers, friends and family, and also served as the students' trial examination. The performances ranged from dramatic to comedic, and audiences were treated to a range of characters and stories ranging from stressed out mums and stressful auditions, to desert islands and Stranger-ville, to police interviews, prison cells and political confrontations.
Congratulations to the year 12 Drama class for their diligent efforts preparing their pieces and their striking performances on the night. We can't wait to see how these works will continue to progress in preparation for this performance exams in late August. A big thank you to Ms Buckley and Ms Vine for double marking the trials, and to Ms Alonzo, Ms Cave and Mr Floriano for their support on the night.
Sports News
Sydney East Regional Athletics Carnival – Tuesday & Wednesday, 5th & 6th August
What an awesome two days we had at the Sydney East Regional Athletics Carnival held at Sylvania Waters Athletics Track! This event brings together the top athletes from the five zones in the Sydney East region - Bligh, Eastern Suburbs, Port Hacking, St George and Sutherland - making it an outstanding achievement to qualify.
We had 40 students represent Rose Bay Secondary College across the two days, competing at an exceptionally high level and showing great sportsmanship and team spirit. It was fantastic to see everyone perform at their best and support one another throughout the carnival.
Congratulations to the following 3 students who have qualified to represent Sydney East at the State CHS/All School Athletics Championships later this term.
- 1st – 12yrs Discus: Felix T
- 2nd – 15yrs Long Jump: Niki D
- 2nd – 14yrs Shot Put: Sam M
Other great individual performances included:
- 3rd – 14yrs Discus: Sam M
- 3rd – 13yrs Discus: Leonie F
- 4th – 15yrs 1500m: Layla K
- 4th – 17+ Discus: Harry M
- 5th – 15yrs 800m: Layla K
- 5th – 14yrs 800m: Jacob F
- 5th – 16yrs 200m: Tilly T
- 5th – 12yrs Long Jump: Felix T
- 5th – 16yrs Shot Put: Tomas G
- 5th – 14yrs Discus: Ryker N
- 5th – 13yrs 200m: Toby P
- 6th - 16yrs 200m: Isobel C
- 6th – 14yrs 800m: Teiki C
- 6th – 13yrs High Jump: Elizabeth N
- 6th – 14yrs Shot Put: Amelia R
- 6th – 15yrs Discus: Kai P
- 6th – 13yrs 100m: Toby P
Strong relay performances capped off the carnival with all our teams finishing in the top 10.
- 3rd – 15yrs 4x100m Relay: Niki D, Layla K, Maya K, Cora H
- 4th – 16yrs 4x100m Relay: Tilly T, Georgia E, Isobel C, Isla H
- 5th – 12yrs 4x100m Relay: Callum S, Nico A, Thomas F, Felix T
- 6th – 14yrs 4x100m Relay: Jamie S, Braxton P, Chris G, Flynn O’C
- 8th – 14yrs 4x100m Relay: Teiki C, Victoria B, Viva T B, Jazz C
A big thank you to Tyler H, who, although not part of the official regional team, attended all relay training sessions, filled in for absent students and was a huge support to our teams.
Congratulations to all students who competed, we are very proud of you!
RBSC Team:
Nico A, Victoria B, Isobel C, Jazz C, Teiki C, Niki D, Elena d J, Georgia E, Diego E G, Thomas F, Leonie F, Jacob F, Chris G, Tomas G R, Isla H, Harriet H, Cora H, Maya K, Layla K, Mia K, Harry M, Sam M, Ryker N, Elizabeth N, Flynn O'C, Braxton P, Audrey P, Kai P, Toby P, Amelia R, Jamie S, Jeremy S, Oliver S, Xavier S, Callum S, Viva T B, Tilly T, Felix T, Immy T, Olesia W.
V-Fest is coming!
Careers News
* Please find the School Leavers Handbook here
* Please click here for the latest Careers Bulletin
* Find information on University Open Days here
* Year 10 subject selection guide
Careers - Support for Parents
- Support Indicator Quiz - is your child thinking of pursuing an apprenticeship or traineeship and want to test your literacy and numeracy skills? Ask them to complete practice literary and numeracy tests here to find their strengths and areas for improvement
- Open Days 2025 - find all information about tertiary open days for 2025 here
- Work Experience Toolkit - download the electronic toolkit to read more about work experience and to support your child to find a host employer
- My Future - Parent Portal - access parent friendly career resources, including Career Bullseyes and creating a Career profile, to support career conversations around the home.
For information about TVET courses which may be offered in 2026, please read the TVET 2026 Course Guide
Library News
New titles
A film titled "How to Train Your Dragon has just been released. The film is fantasy adventure and follows on from an earlier animated film suitable for young children. Themes of friendship and facing adversity with hope and courage are explored sensitively. The flying sequences in the recent release are stunning with convincing use of computer generated images (CGI).
The library recently purchased the full set of twelve titles that this film is based upon (see below) and library lessons with Year 7 in Weeks One and Two were based on exploring the way the front cover and chapter one of each book set up curiosity and anticipation for the action to come. Students worked in pairs and reported their findings back to the class.
Below is the latest set of titles from Lamont book suppliers in Melbourne. Our fiction collection is refreshed frequently with regular standing orders with books selected by experts in fiction for young readers. Year 7 Reading classes will be introduced to them and encouraged to add new titles to their Premiers Reading Challenge.
The PRC closes for all students in Years 7 - 9 on Friday, September19th. We hope to have even more students in 2025 submitting their book lists to the Department. The certificates which are issued on completion are very impressive and are presented on Year assemblies.
NSW CBCA Book Week
Next week is Book Week and each day we have some exciting activities happening for students.
- On Monday, 18th August at 2.00 PM (Period 5) in the library, we have the launch of Book Week. The Principal, Ms Cathy Archer, will welcome grandparents or other family representatives of students in Year 7 to the launch.
There will be an informal discussion about the CBCA Book Awards 2025 and the importance of reading and this will be followed by light refreshments and a chance for grandparents to mingle with their grandchildren and meet other families.Invitations have been sent out and we are hoping for a strong response to the invitations and an exciting afternoon.Book Week Program
- Tuesday 19th August Break 2 Kahoot competition - all years.
- Wednesday 20th August Break 2 Advanced Kahoot competition - all years.
- Thursday 21st August Colouring Competitions Breaks 1 and 2 - all years.
- Friday 22nd August Book Club and book/Author Discussion Group with Ms Thomson.
Book Week Display including new books purchased selected for the CBCA Short List for young adults and picture books.
Fast Track
Homework Centre
The Homework Centre runs every Monday and Wednesday in the library from 3:00pm to 4:40 PM. This is a great opportunity for students to receive extra support with homework and assessments, with tutors available to provide guidance across various subjects.
We encourage all students to take advantage of this valuable resource to stay on top of their studies in a supportive environment.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Foster Carers needed
Why Choose Public Education?
For 175 years, NSW public schools have been at the heart of education, preparing today’s children to succeed and build better communities for tomorrow
NSW public schools offer high-quality, well-rounded education that provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
So for the best education money can't buy, choose Rose Bay Secondary College.
