I extend a warm welcome to everyone as we embark on Term 2. It's hard to believe how quickly time flies, and we find ourselves moving towards the midpoint of the term.

I would like to take a moment to highlight the some of the memorable events from last term. A major success was our Achiever Evening held on Thursday, March 30th. It was an absolute honour to recognize and celebrate the exceptional achievements of our learners from 2022 who have excelled in various subjects, demonstrated outstanding community service, and made valuable cultural contributions. These awards not only signify their hard work, determination, and commitment throughout their educational journey at Rosny College but also symbolize their dedication to excellence, personal growth, and future aspirations. I hope that these accolades serve as inspiration, motivating them to continually push their boundaries and achieve even greater success in the future. Congratulations to all the award recipients! I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in making the evening such a remarkable and unforgettable event. For the full photo gallery please click on the link below.

During the last term, our Rosny College Student Association representatives assumed their office bearer positions. I would like to offer my congratulations and gratitude to these students who have made a remarkable commitment to supporting our college community. The Rosny College Student Association has already conducted a student survey, which will inform their future decisions and actions for the remainder of the year. We have already witnessed their proactive involvement in student support, environment week, and other significant events. Stay tuned to hear more from this dynamic group of student leaders.

Our Performing Arts team has been tirelessly working on our upcoming musical production, "Priscilla Queen of the Desert." The amount of effort and dedication that goes into designing and constructing sets, costumes, acting, lighting, music, and dance is truly incredible. As we prepare for the six performances, commencing on June 8th and concluding on Saturday, June 17th, the intensity of their work is increasing. Tickets are now on sale through the link below, and they are selling rapidly, with over 500 tickets sold within the first 24 hours.

Reports have been emailed home this week. If you have not received yours, please contact our office. Additionally, in Week 5 on May 24th, we will be holding Learning Conversations (parent-student-teacher interviews). This provides an excellent opportunity to check in with your child and their teachers regarding their progress. We encourage parents and caregivers to initiate these conversations now. Our staff actively share feedback and grades with students, so they will already be aware of their progress in each of their courses.

Our learners should now feel comfortable and connected with their classes. If you have any concerns regarding your child's attendance or progress at Rosny, please do not hesitate to contact our school office, your child's Learning Area AST, or Support Group Teacher.

I would like to take a moment to discuss recent vaping considerations. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority. As you may be aware, there has been a rise in the number of children and young people vaping in the broader community.

Vaping is similar to smoking cigarettes, but without the use of tobacco. Instead, the electronic cigarettes (vapes) heat a liquid until it turns into an aerosol. This aerosol is then inhaled. The aerosol is not water vapour but is made up of different chemicals. Some of these chemicals can be harmful for the lungs, brain development and general health. Often, vapes contain nicotine, which makes them very addictive.

In supporting the health and wellbeing of our learners, the Department for Education, Children and Young People has adopted a harm minimisation approach to responding to vaping among children and young people. In line with this, all government schools are designated smoke and vape free areas. Signage displaying this will be placed around the College property.

The Department is working closely with the Department of Health to ensure that staff, students and families are educated on the health impacts of vaping. The Department has developed a suite of resources centred on a dedicated webpage for vaping. This page also includes resources on how to support your child (link below). 

I encourage you to take the time to talk to your young person about vaping. To make it easier to start this conversation, I have included a Vaping: Information and advice for parents and carers fact sheet. If you are worried that your young person might be impacted by vaping or is struggling with the topic, it is important to remember that support is available. Information is on the fact sheet or the Department’s website.

With the cooler months approaching, it is important to remind our young people about the significance of attending their scheduled classes punctually. We understand the challenge of stepping out into the cold winter mornings, but we know that consistent attendance has a profound impact on learning outcomes. Remember, every minute and every day counts. By now, our learners should have established good daily and nightly routines to help them navigate through the colder months.

Finally, I am pleased to inform you that we have received numerous expressions of interest from community members regarding the re-establishment of the Rosny College School Association. It was a pleasure meeting with parents on Thursday, May 11th, and defining roles. I look forward to engaging with our School Association in collaboratively developing the ways in which we can support our learners.  The School Association will provided the opportunity to contribute to future newsletters, so watch this space.

All the best for a great term 2.

Andrew Woodham, Principal

Priscilla Performance Bookings Link

https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/about-us/projects/child-student-wellbeing/vaping/