Dear Rosny College Community,

As Term 2 draws to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on the fantastic events and achievements that have made this term a busy but memorable and rewarding one. I am thrilled to share the success of our latest school musical, Catch Me If You Can. This tremendous performance, showcased the incredible talent of our students, leaving us all amazed and awestruck. The collaborative efforts of our students and the dedicated Performing Arts staff were truly inspiring. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved—from the captivating actors who brought the true story of Frank Abagnale Jnr to life, to the gifted musicians, and the diligent backstage, front of house, and technical crews who ensured every performance was outstanding.

This term also saw a successful Rosny College Taster Day, where we had our largest number of prospective students for many years, 650, from a variety of schools, both public and independent, experiencing a day in the life of a Rosny College student. It was wonderful to witness the excitement and curiosity of these young people as they interacted with our teachers, engaged in their chosen classes, and immersed themselves in our college life and culture. A big thank you to all the staff and students who contributed to making this day a triumph.

As I write this, our exam period is ending, which I am sure many students are pleased has now finished. The aim of this midyear exam period was not only to provide a valuable opportunity to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of what has been covered so far and assessment but also to supports student in preparing for the end-of-year exams, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in future exams.

During this period, our students applied themselves diligently, seeking support from teachers and peers to ensure they were well-prepared. Many took responsibility for their own learning by applying for adjustments where needed, ensuring they could perform to the best of their abilities. The vast majority of students conducted themselves with the utmost integrity and professionalism, approaching these assessments with the same seriousness as they would end-of-year exams and I congratulate our students on this. I encourage all students to engage in conversations with their teachers once exams are assessed. This feedback is a crucial part of the learning process, providing insights into areas of strength and those needing improvement.

As we look forward to the well-deserved break, I encourage everyone to take time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. This term has been filled with significant accomplishments and unforgettable experiences, and it's essential to recharge so we can continue to excel in the upcoming term. Please enjoy the following articles that capture the engaging learning experiences that have occurred throughout the term. Also don’t forget to out the list of important dates for Term 3, which will be coming out in the first week back on our socials.

Warm regards,

Andrew Woodham

It was with great sadness that we learned recently of the death of Brian Hortle. Brian was the foundation Principal of Rosny College, appointed in 1972 to plan the operation of the new College that would provide for the post-compulsory education needs of students in the Clarence municipality. Matriculation Colleges were introduced in Tasmania during the 1960s to prepare students for entry to university and professional employment. Each of these used the premises/buildings of existing High Schools. Rosny with its 'open' teaching spaces demanded a different approach. Brian's vision and energy were immediately put into practice.

He insisted that the name of the new college should be Rosny College, omitting the word Matriculation from its title. A new timetable was introduced encompassing three two and a half hour slots each day, a decision was made not to have a school uniform and students were allowed, even encouraged, to use staff Christian or given names rather than the more formal Mr/Mrs/Ms terms of address. Brian was universally known as, and addressed as, Brian by both staff and students and knew most students by name. 

His relationship with both these groups was perhaps the feature that most would allude to as being central to why they so much enjoyed being at Rosny. Early to work each morning, he was always ready for a chat about anything that was going on and so approachable if someone had a problem. His understanding that the times indeed were ‘a-changin' was not universally shared nor appreciated by some senior administrative personnel within the Education Department. He never wavered, convinced that all young people, regardless of their ability, their background or their intent, should be provided with the opportunity and guidance to fulfil their needs and dreams.

Rosny was different, not only from other schools and colleges in Tasmania but from those throughout the Australian states and from overseas countries too, and he was frequently sought to address conferences elaborating on what was happening at Rosny.

All this was in significant part due to Brian Hortle. He had a clear vision of creating an upper secondary learning environment that promoted and encouraged the provision of learning opportunities for all students, not just those who wished to proceed to university/tertiary study. He was prepared to take risks to empower his staff to assist students in the academic process but also to interact with them as social mentors. We all regret the passing of Brian Hortle. It was so sad that he was not able to participate personally in the 50th Anniversary Celebrations last year. We thank him for allowing us, encouraging us, to be part of something new - so daring, so challenging, with outcomes so varied, but which made us part of something so special.

This June, our talented cast, crew, band and production team performed their 2024 musical production, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN THE MUSICAL to well over 2,500 audience members across the season.

The team, comprised of staff, students and industry professionals, spent nearly 4 months to bring the production to the stage, learning scripts and dance steps, harmonies and instrumentation, building sets and creating costumes and props. Over 60 students participated in the production in both on and off-stage roles to bring the jet-setting, high spectacle production to life.

Clare Latham, the show’s director, says “the students worked incredibly hard in all areas of the show, and we couldn’t be prouder of the efforts and commitment that they demonstrated throughout. The students were able to showcase the wide range of skills and talents across all areas of the production that they possess. It was a special and unique experience to witness, seeing our students undertake this collaborative and hands-on learning journey. They should be heartily congratulated.”

In case you missed the performance itself, you can find a review of the show on Stage Whispers here: https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/schools/catch-me-if-you-can

A huge thank you goes out to all involved in the show, to our sponsors and to our community for your ongoing support of the wonderful learning opportunity that is the Rosny musical. We have now started planning for the 2025 musical and look forward to announcing it sometime in term 3.

At the beginning of April students from our college completed their PADI Open Water Dive Certificate. This is an internationally recognised qualification allowing students to SCUBA dive to 18m in open water. The course was run over 3 days with professional dive instructors from Godive Hobart.

Day one consisted of basic safety and operational skills in the Clarence Pool. Day two was 2 shore dives at Fortesque Bay, diving to 7 metres and repeating previously learned skills. Finally, on day three the students departed Pirates Bay at Eaglehawk Neck via boat and completed two boat dives to 18 metres at the beautiful Waterfall Bay. Students were lucky enough to see many species of sea-life, include some crayfish, draughtboard sharks, several varieties of stingray, and even the rare weedy sea-dragon.

Congratulations to all 13 students for their new qualifications as open water divers. A big thank you must go to the team from Godive Hobart - Aaron, Steve, Dom, Nick, and Jacob for their professionalism and expert instruction.

Here are some quotes from our students about the experience:

“The scuba camp was a great experience, loved seeing lots of aquatic wildlife. I would recommend the course to anyone interested.” - Patrick Hill

“I absolutely loved the scuba course, from the pool to the ocean. It was a great experience to learn, see the amazing wildlife, have fun with friends and meet more people.” - Kahu Afeaki-Wardrop

“The dive course was an amazing experience and truly eye opening. From learning to use the equipment in the pool to actually going into the open water and seeing some underwater wildlife, every step was a blast!” - Jasper Gye

“The scuba camp was so much fun; it was amazing to see all of the underwater wildlife from a new perspective.” - Henry McCracken

“Had great instructors to give us the opportunity to explore diving and experience the aquatic animals and environments at depths of 18 metres.” - Fergus Smith

“The scuba camp was an amazing experience, and it was so cool seeing all the marine life. It is something I will definitely do again.” - Arianna Reeve

“I’ve always wanted to do my PADI diver course, and it absolutely lived up to all expectations. It was so much fun, and it was amazing to be so connected to the natural underwater landscape. It has opened up a whole new world of underwater potential that I can’t wait to explore.” - Monique Schnitzer

What a whirlwind for the Certificate III Screen and Media students earlier this term as they stepped onto the set of the highly anticipated Bay of Fires 2. 

Amidst the hustle and bustle of production, they witnessed scenes coming to life, engaged in conversations with directors, explored the intricacies of costume and art departments, and gained invaluable insights from the production team. It was a glimpse into the exciting possibilities their qualification could unlock. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Bay of Fires Crew for generously sharing their time, expertise and passion.

To those interested in a career in Screen and Media, keep an eye out for our 2025 Course Guide to see subject offerings at Rosny College. There are so many opportunities in this industry waiting for you!

Each year, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery curates an exhibition of diverse artworks created by students in years 11 and 12 from across Tasmania. This term Rosny College visual arts students took the opportunity to view the exhibition while it was in situ at the Long Gallery in Salamanca. Now in its 29th year, ArtRage continues to celebrate the creativity and talent of budding artists state-wide. A fantastic opportunity for our students.

Students in both Japanese 2 and Japanese 3 are continuing to enjoy authentic language practise with one of our sister schools, Aichi Keisei Senior High. Practising language in this fashion helps students improve pronunciation and intonation and learn more colloquial Japanese vocabulary, as well as exposing students to different dialects. These cultural insights improve motivation and engagement and help to build both relationships and language learning networks.

Our Springboard Composite Materials class has been hard at work creating a dollhouse. They are also making furniture and figurines to place inside it! Once complete, the dollhouse will be donated to the Rosny Playgroup. Students from the Working with Children classes will support playgroup attendees in engaging with the dollhouse.

Dollhouses offer opportunities for open-ended play and can support children's emotional and language development. We look forward to seeing how the children at the playgroup interact with this fabulous dollhouse when it is finished.

By Charles Bidgood, Rosny College student

On Tuesday 21^st of May students of Marine Biology at Rosny College attended the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Tour to learn about how Tassal handles the production of fish into the consumer market, and how exactly they clean and sell fish. At 8:30 students gathered outside Fish Frenzy in Hobart to then walk across to the Marine Board building, travelled up 9 stories t to the Tassal headquarters, sat down at a conference table and listened to some staff from Tassal speak about the environment as well as all the job opportunities Tassal has to offer. The group then went down one story to observe the massive computer room that maintains surveillances and feeds the Tassal fish farms all around Tasmania.

After the Tassal visit, the group went by bus to Cambridge to tour the Skretting factory and observe the production and process of fish food making.  Staff who work at Skretting explained what they put in the fish food and what benefits it has for the fish.  After this the group was driven over to SALCO were they explored and played with the crayfish that grew in the factory. The group learnt how valuable the crayfish trade is in Tasmania and a single crayfish can cost up to $2000 if sold in China. Then the group took a short walk over to Tasmanian Gourmet Seafood for an amazing lunch and to be told firsthand by the staff where the fish comes from.

The group was then driven by bus back to Hobart and the tour ended at IMAS with a presentation from a lecturer about all the different degrees IMAS has to offer.

This week the Drama 3 class performed their major production for the year – a pantomime called The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, which was a mash up of many well-known and a few lesser-known fairy tales.

To give the students a wide range of performance experiences we welcomed in primary school students from Bellerive and Howrah Primary to enjoy the show by holding 2 school matinees as well as opening to the public for 2 evening performances. This production made up one of the classes major practical assessments for the year and gave them the opportunity to gain performance experience in our theatre. Congratulations to everyone involved for putting on such a fun show.   

Earlier this term Rosny Expedition students took part in their Sea Kayaking camp to Bruny Island. Students paddled from Gordon to The Neck at Bruny Island and camped for two nights before returning. They completed two 13km kayaking trips and a 6-hour rock hopping coastal walk to Adventure Bay. The group was also treated to an amazing Aurora show on night two.

Check out the awesome range of HPOE courses and opportunities like this that you could experience in 2025 in our 2025 Course guide!

In May, a group of local and international students participated in an online conference with students at our sister school in Fujian Province, China.

The program isdesigned to help students develop cross-cultural communication skills as a foundation for further studies, overseas travels, and future employability in any global organisation around the world. This session helped our students to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures while also building ties between us and our Fujian sister schools.

In Term 3 is when we start enrolments and subject selection for our year 11 cohort who will be moving into year 12. Our Course Guide will be available digitally at the end of this Term so make sure you take a look and start thinking about what opportunities you’ll take on next year.

The Department for Education, Children and Young P

eople (DECYP) is doing statewide consultati

on on school attendance, closing on Thursday 4 July. 3P Advisory is independently running the consultation. Your answers are confidential, and you won’t be identified.

We want to hear from you. You can take part in an online survey, share or vote for suggestions, or join an online drop-in session via the 3P website. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

You can also share your thoughts about what you like or don’t like about our Every school day matters campaign.

As a parent or carer, please have your say.

 Please encourage your child/ren, too.

Every piece of feedback counts. Thanks for helping shape future DECYP initiatives, school-based engagement strategies and public awareness campaigns.