Newsletter Term 3 Week 4

Executive Report

1. Rose Bay Secondary College Success in the Sydney Morning Herald

We are proud to share that Rose Bay Secondary College has been recognised in the Sydney Morning Herald for its outstanding HSC results. RBSC was ranked 22nd in the state across all Mathematics subjects in the 2024 HSC, with an impressive average score of 83.8%. In a further ranking of all NSW public schools across all subjects, RBSC placed 45th, with a 2024 HSC average score of 78.5%. These results highlight the dedication of our staff and the consistent efforts of our students in striving for academic excellence.

2. Year 12 Engagement and Staff Professional Learning

As our Year 12 students move into the critical post-Trials period, it is essential that they continue to attend classes to consolidate their knowledge, refine their exam techniques, and benefit from targeted revision. Staff have recently engaged in updated professional learning on effective feedback strategies, focusing on practices that are timely, constructive, and student-centred. These approaches ensure that students receive purposeful guidance on how to close the gap between their current and desired performance, building both confidence and resilience as they approach the final stage of their HSC journey.

3. Successful Term 3 Assembly

Our recent whole-school assembly was a great success, reinforcing RBSC’s values of being respectful and responsible learners. Highlights included the Bullying No Way! National Week of Action, where the theme “Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.” encouraged students to reflect on their role as upstanders in creating a safe and supportive school community. We also celebrated achievements in Science and PDHPE, with students showcasing their knowledge through engaging subject-based challenges. The assembly concluded with a strong reminder that together we can build a culture of respect, belonging, and academic pride.

4. Year 11 Examinations

The Year 11 Examination Timetable has now been released to students. Examinations will commence on Monday, 8th September, and conclude on Friday, 19th September. These assessments provide an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and prepare for their transition into the HSC year. We encourage all Year 11 students to plan their study schedules carefully and seek support from teachers where needed.

RBSC Socials

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IEF News

James Builds Confidence and Independence at Waverley Library

In his second week of work experience at Waverley Library, James continued to shine as he built on the strong foundation laid during his successful orientation last week.

This week, James demonstrated greater independence by arriving on time and getting straight to work. He began the day sorting books under the guidance of Sam, who later stepped back to give James space to build confidence in the role. When unsure of where certain books belonged, James was supported to seek help from other library staff—an important step in developing initiative and workplace communication skills.

A highlight of the day came when a member of the public approached James, mistaking him for a staff member due to his official library shirt. James confidently pointed them in the right direction and suggested they speak with a senior librarian for further assistance.

James also showed excellent time management by keeping an eye on the clock for his break and finishing time, making sure he had enough time for lunch and to catch his bus back to school. At the end of the day, he shared that he felt capable of working more independently, knowing support was there if needed.

Well done, James – we’re proud of your progress and can’t wait to see what you achieve next!

School Assembly

Led by: Doug K and Isla H

This week’s assembly featured important messages and celebrations from across our school community.

Bullying No Way Week

Presented by: Isabella H and Lilah R

The theme for 2025’s Bullying No Way National Week of Action is:

Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.

Bullying can happen anywhere – at school, online, and in the community – but we all have the power to help stop it. Isabella and Lilah reminded us that bullying is ongoing and deliberate misuse of power intended to cause harm, small acts of kindness can have a big impact, and at RBSC we Recognise, Respond, and Report incidents, with 56 examples this year of students being active upstanders. Help is always available – from teachers, Year Advisers, Deputy Principals, Kids Helpline, Headspace, or eSafety.

Science & PDHPE Celebration

Think you can outsmart a Year 11 Science or PDHPE student? Our brightest young minds went head-to-head in a game show–style quiz in front of the entire school.

Representatives:

· Health and Movement Science: Joe M and Ryan H

· Biology: Tosia S and Mira S

· Physics: Jasper T and Gulliver Y

· Chemistry: Micah J and Anna O

Now it’s your turn — let’s see how you would go!

Are You Smarter Than a Senior Science/PDHPE Student?

Health and Movement Science

1. Name the major bones in the skeletal system.

2. Imagine you are an oxygen molecule. Describe your journey through external and internal gaseous exchange.

Biology

3. Compare the methods of breathing in frogs and insects.

4. A team of ecologists visited Centennial Park to estimate the number of ibises living there using the capture-recapture method. On Day 1, they tagged 40 ibises and released them. On Day 2, they caught 100 ibises, 10 of which were tagged. What is the estimated total population of ibises?

Physics

5. A stationary observer is watching a boat travel north at 5 m/s across a river flowing east at 5 m/s. What is the boat’s relative speed to the observer?

6. A dentist uses a small mirror inside a patient’s mouth with the teeth between the focal point and the mirror surface. Identify the type of mirror, describe the image formed, and state what happens if the teeth are outside the focal point.

Chemistry

7. What is the name of the Italian noble who came up with the large unit quantity known as The Mole?

8. What element is found in diamond, graphite, and charcoal?

Quickfire Round

9. What is the name of the process that causes a spinning ball to curve as it moves through the air?

10. Blood is mainly composed of which straw-coloured liquid?

11. What is the formula for cardiac output?

12. What is the term for an organism's ability to maintain a stable internal environment?

13. What is the name of the large blood vessel that leaves the heart and distributes blood around the body?

14. If Mr Clarke bowls a 2kg bowling ball at 30 km/h against Mr Portada’s 8kg bowling ball at 10 km/h, what happens on collision?

15. Muscle cells have high numbers of which cellular organelle?

16. Through what leaf structures do plants exchange gases?

17. What is the pH of acidic substances?

18. What element is responsible for green fireworks and the blue colour of octopus blood?

19. What is the only letter that is NOT in the periodic table?

20. Who is the scientist considered the father of modern chemistry and was beheaded in the French Revolution?

21. Which law of thermodynamics explains “heat always flows from hot to cold”?

22. Complete the sentence: The colours of a rainbow are due to the ______ of light.

23. The unit of measure for a force can be given as kg·m/s². What is the derived SI unit of force?

24. What physics principle is the basis for noise-cancelling headphones?

Answers: 1. Cranium, mandible, clavicle, spine, scapula, sternum, ribs, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges, pelvis, coccyx, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges 2. Inhaled → windpipe → lungs → alveoli → capillaries → red blood cells → heart → arteries → muscles → internal gas exchange → energy production → CO₂ → veins → heart → lungs → alveoli → external gas exchange → windpipe → exhaled 3. Frogs: lungs and moist skin; Insects: tracheal system via spiracles 4. 400 5. 7.07 m/s 6. Converging mirror; upright magnified virtual image; inverted if outside focal point 7. Avogadro 8. Carbon 9. Magnus effect 10. Plasma 11. Heart Rate × Stroke Volume 12. Homeostasis 13. Aorta 14. Mr Portada wins (more momentum) 15. Mitochondria 16. Stomata 17. <7 18. Copper 19. J 20. Antoine Lavoisier 21. Second Law of Thermodynamics 22. Dispersion 23. Newton (N) 24. Superposition of waves

Yamaha Motorcycle Day

The Yamaha Motorcycle Day was a fantastic success, with 20 Year 9 - 12 students braving the icy wind and rain to learn from ex Yamaha racing team member Corey and his co - facilitator Aaron, about all things Yamaha and motorcycles. Students enjoyed hearing from Corey and Aaron’s experience in starting out in the industry - including resume writing and interview tips, tips to securing and commencing and apprenticeship, and career progression. Students also learnt to take apart and put together an engine, change a tyre, and assemble and service brake lights, handle bars, seats, air filters and fluids, all fantastic skills for those with a keenness in motorcycles. 

If you are interested in other Yamaha events, please keep an eye out in your Cohort Teams page for an EOI about the Yamaha Marine Day. 

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

Book Week

This week opened Book Week 2025 “Book an Adventure” with a special function for grandparents (or parents) of Year 7 students. Cathy Archer as Principal welcomed families to the school and spoke about the importance of books as a key learning tool. Christy Godby as DP and former Head Teacher English expanded on the way that reading skills and the love of reading supports the wider development of literacy skills which is a target in the School Improvement Plan. The Bellear family was present and their connection through Judge Bob Bellear as the first First Nations Judge to sit on a bench in Australia was explained to the gathering.

Four students, Maximillian, Fabian, Gabi and Lucas gave impressive accounts of the way that reading has social, psychological, cognitive and other benefits for the reader. In small groups families and their children discussed how grandparents can assist their children to be effective readers and how their experience of this development has changes over the years. Everyone agreed that technology development has had an enormous impact on the way that children read books.

On other days this week there will be colouring competitions of book covers, Kahoots easy and advanced designed by our students, Book Club and other activities.

Premiers Reading Challenge 2025

The Challenge deadline for entry finishes on Friday 19th September and is validated one week later by the Teacher Librarian before being forwarded to the Department. The school is notified some time later about successful entries and certificates and medals are sent to the school. These are very impressive and certainly worth working towards, apart from the amazing benefits that reading brings to success across all learning areas.

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.