rostrevor A Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition March 2012 ROSTREVOR COLLEGE inside Palma Merenti Chair of the Board From the Headmaster Senior Years Middle Years Junior Years Scholastic Highlights Red and Black ROCCC Elders’ Lunch 2011 1976 Reunion John McInnes Reflects Butch Harding Obituary 1981 Reunion KOK Willowfest ROCFC ROCSC In Memoriam QUARTERLY Print Post Approved PPP 535216-00029 Rostrevor College Glen Stuart Road, Woodforde South Australia 5072 Telephone 08 8364 8200 Facsimile 08 8364 8396 email [email protected] www.rostrevor.sa.edu.au 2 Palma Merenti From the Outgoing Chairperson 2011 Isn’t it strange that we admire The elephant gets another gig in that College and community facilities in the innovation yet often feel uncomfortable we also talk of the elephant in the form of an Early Learning & in the face of change and unwilling to room or (as George Clooney says) the Development Centre and Sports & take risks? Risk taking, after all, is a moose in the room. Meaning a problem Aquatic Centre on the Magill Secure pre-condition for innovation and an or truth that is so big, so obvious, that Care Centre site. absolute game changer when it comes it’s impossible to overlook – yet we We have been thinking big, wanting to to conceptualising and implementing pretend is not there because no one pre-empt and precipitate change rather successful organisational change. We wants to discuss it. than simply adapt and react to it. The would do well to remember a lesson or And I’ve been known to say that it’s opportunities are exciting, the two from our own adolescence, and easier to extract teeth out of a live challenges are enormous, the outcomes continue to learn from our adolescent crocodile than it is to convince people still unknown. children and grandchildren! that it’s better to step into, and The College has been rippled by A couple of animal metaphors embrace change, than it is to step back uncertainty over the past two years as highlight our fears and foibles in the and resist. There are some basic differences in the we have implemented a new staff face of change pretty well. way young people and older people In handing over their schools to leadership structure and further pursued think. For one, adolescents question For example, we talk about sacred Edmund Rice Education Australia our strategic directions. As an agent of the status quo while adults – not all, cows – the things you won’t tinker (EREA), an organisation that took change, new Principal Mr Simon Dash but many – don’t. For another, with or criticise for fear of public enormous courage and faith to create has put in some hard yards and there is adolescents feel good asking “Why?” outcry. Ways of thinking and doing and trust in, the Christian Brothers more to be done. The formal whereas adults feel better explaining that are automatically accepted – even provide a very recent and very real appointments of Mr Paul Belton and Mr “Why not!”. revered – because of protocol or example of what it means to be Frank Ranaldo as Deputy Principals in It is a natural predisposition for adults popular opinion rather than questioned “change friendly”. late 2011 will undoubtedly help to and put to the test. ensure that the College continues to – not all, but many – to say “Why The Brothers could have stayed in their embrace the winds of change and change?”. On the other hand, We talk of white elephants – valuable comfort zone. But they didn’t. They punch above its weight. adolescents typically think, and often but burdensome possessions that you chose to re-visit their mission, put their enough say with disbelief, even can’t dispose of but whose cost of faith in their leaders and God, and shift I thank all past and present staff, contempt, “Why not?” upkeep outweighs their usefulness or their energy and influence back to the students, parents and board members for Traditional wisdom tells us “if it ain’t worth. Indeed you may recall some margins of society where they believed their contributions to the College during broke, don’t fix it”, meaning that we years ago, I suggested Rostrevor House they were most needed. my years as Board Chair and extend my – our grand white building – might congratulations to Mr John Lewis and shouldn’t look to improve something Over the past three years the College easily become a white elephant as Mr Claudio Galloni, the new Board Chair that works or works well enough. An Board and Headmaster – now Principal ideas about schooling change. If, for and Deputy Chair respectively. unconventional but equally valid view – have been focused squarely on the example, students no longer need to be suggests, however, that we should future. On 21st Century learning, Ms Caz Bosch physically present every day, instead break things even if they’re not broke. curriculum and technology. On 21st BOARD CHAIR dialling in for lessons or completing And then put them back together to Century aspirations for our students them online, receiving pastoral care prove they are working as best as they and staff. On strategic plans to be and counselling via the web, and using can. Or put them to rest and move on “community facing” – to share our Front Cover Wii/Wii Emulators to take care of their to create new ways of thinking and existing resources and develop new 1st Assembly in the Valley, 2012 doing. physical education needs. Ms Caz Bosch, Chair of the Rostrevor College Hamish Tynan is presented with his Year 9 Mitchell Sutcliffe, Year 12, is presented with Jack Kenny, Year 12, is presented with his Board (2008-2011), makes her farewell Health and Physical Education Prize his P&R Schreiner Gold Medal for Best All P&R Schreiner Gold Medal for Best All Round address and report at the 2011 Presentation Round Sportsman Sportsman Night at the Convention Centre, Adelaide. 3 From the Outgoing Chairperson 2011 Ms Caz Bosch is presented with a token of Rostrevor’s appreciation for her four years as Cameron Villarosa, Year 12, is presented with his Outstanding Contribution to Barron House Ty Scrutten-Turner, Year 8, is presented with Chair of the Board by Principal, Mr Simon Award his Learning Centre Mary Rice Award Dash Reeve Wijaysekera, Year 9, is presented with his O’Brien House Award Luke Turner, Year 8, is presented with his O’Brien House Award Year 12 Rock Band from Left: Daniel Russo, Luke Ciaramella, Reuben Lane, Adrian Martin, Senior Band members Harrison Bartley, Ilario Spano and Alexander Trevorrow Anthony Costanzo. 4 From the Chairperson Rostrevor is a great school. However beyond. Therefore perhaps one of our we operate in a very competitive weaknesses is that we do not sell all of environment and I am personally these strengths well enough! committed in ensuring that Rostrevor One very encouraging aspect over the College excels in all fields of past couple of years has been the endeavour, including academic, increasing number of old scholars that sporting and co-curricular activities, are sending their boys to Rostrevor and importantly our boys become College. This is a very encouraging outstanding young men in the development, and re-affirms the very community. strong connection that old scholars and One of the great aspects of our school their families have with our school Mr John Lewis is its uniqueness. We have correctly community. Chair of the Board avoided the fashion that has afflicted Once change that I have noticed over some other schools by maintaining our many years has been the increasing commitment to an all-boys education role that school life has in our lives. and the clear benefits that flow from Particularly for those of us who live in Catholic Schools where the this. For example, we achieved Adelaide, the school has replaced the responsibility has been handed to the Firstly, as the new Board Chair at outstanding academic results in Year parish church, the football club and each boy’s local parish, Rostrevor Rostrevor College and on behalf of the 12 last year, which is also a great even or the local service club as the College has taken on the responsibility entire school community, I would like testament to our wonderful teaching central part of many of our activities. of ensuring our boys undertake the to extend our deep gratitude to our staff. We possess a magnificent campus As we have become more focussed on sacraments as a school community. former Board Chair, Caz Bosch, for a ‘far from the madding crowd’ where our children, we have then also From personal experience these have job well done. Caz has not only been our boys can learn, develop and gain ‘a become more focussed on our school, been great occasions not only for the an outstanding leader for the Rostrevor sweat’. Proudly we remain a school for with increasing expectations (perhaps boys but also for the families. And in school community, but also throughout a range of boys and families from at times unreasonably), and at times many ways it has resulted in a the education community both locally diverse backgrounds, but all stand even pushing some of the re-connection with the Church. and nationally. Like all Board Chairs, under the Rostrevor banner with great responsibilities back to the school. But Finally, at this very early stage of the Caz leaves a very strong legacy, and I pride. The boarding aspect of our this can also have a positive effect. An year, I would like to pay credit to our look forward to building on that great school is also a great and unique example of this in recent years has teaching staff under the leadership of work.