Rooty Hill High School Missing Link Term 3 2024

MISSING LINK

Term 3 2024

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE What a wonderful Term 3 we had this year, starting with all our staff having an opportunity to learn about Darug culture and experience "living on the Hawkesbury River" at Brewongle EEC and celebrating Semester 1 at Presentation assemblies, and finishing with the retirement of long serving staff member Susan Billingsley and a fantastic Year 12 Graduation.

In between we celebrated NAIDOC week and watched the Olympic and Paralympic games with great success for Australia's athletes.

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Year 8 and Year 10 students chose their electives for 2025.

Year 10 students completed minimum standards assessment.

Years 7, 8 and 9 students completed the mandatory check-in for reading and numeracy.

Year 8 participated in the Strength in Numbers program.

Year 10 students took part in the annual BStreet (safe driving) program.

Year 11 students nominated for senior leadership positions and we elected our 2025 Senior Leadership team while thanking our outgoing 2024 team.

Year 12 students made early entry applications for university with great success for many students in receiving offers for Macquarie University and the UNSW. The quality of the applications was very high and showed how important it is to get high grades in Year 11.

Year 6 students completed their applications for enrolment with almost 180 students receiving offers for places in the school.

Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 completed the Gifted Gateway sessions and there were many other opportunities for the Learning neighbourhood schools to share ideas, learn together and understand the opportunities for High Performance and Gifted Education. (HPGE). Thanks to David Proctor, Amber, the teachers and the high school students who were mentors.

Our SRC ran a number of events with a special highlight being Kindness Week in Week 4.

Year 12 students submitted their major works and completed performances for the HSC - sometimes it is hard to understand the high level of work that today's students must submit for the HSC and we saw some outstanding work.

In Weeks 5 and 6 the school hosted a VET engineering course as part of the Educational Pathways Program and hosted students from other schools.

Of course we also celebrated Book Week, Public Education Week, SASS Appreciation Week and a range of other events that are reported in this issue of ML. We played a lot of sport, went very well in debating and (thanks to Mr Diaz) created the first Learning Neighbourhood Shine Concert that was entirely online. If you have time, please look at our social media and YouTube for the inspiring videos of our students and our school. We finished on the last day of term with the Graduation and what a chance it was to recognise the students, their families and, of course their

teachers. I hope you will enjoy the photos at the end of this ML. At the same time, we managed some significant teacher shortages and worked hard to make sure students did not miss out. Thanks to teachers who took "double classes", marked 3 times the marking load as in earlier years, covered classes for colleagues and generally showed enormous resilience and team work in the face of enormous challenge.

As principal I am so grateful to work with this team and I want to thank parents and community members who worked with us to stay positive and hopeful.

There is a "relentless" focus to ensure the school is successful in its strategic purposes to help students do their best. There is also a constant focus on having good systems of management, operation and administration so the school runs well for its students and is robust in its practices.

Thank you to our administration, health and safety and finance teams who made sure that the school successfully completed the 2024 DoE Audit. Special thanks to the Audit Team.

Finally, I would like to mention a few specific staff members and congratulate them: • • • •

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Conny Mattimore, Kate Short, Rhonda Szyfer and Joel Treharne received 20-year service certificates from the DoE. Ethan Green, Jason Mobbs-Green and Sandy Ratnappuly completed their NESA accreditation.

We said farewell to our counsellor Isabella Miles (who moved to a school in the Blue Mountains) and welcomed our new counsellor, Fiona Yau. While not directly at our school but important in our Learning Neighbourhood, we wish Lee Sibir (principal at Eastern Creek Public School) all the best as she moves to Colyton Public School. We will miss her.

And last, but certainly not least, we said farewell to Susan Billingsley who had been a member of our staff since 1995. Susan decided to retire and in her farewell speech reflected on starting at a time when school administration was all on paper, when there were only a few computers in schools and everything was saved on "floppy discs". She saw the transition from those days to the high technology, high skills work of administrative staff today and, like all good administrative staff members she left us a list of jobs we have to do. I want to thank Susan for her special contributions to the school from 1995-2024 and wish her very joy in the next phase of her journey.

Thank you to every person who continues to make this school strong in its value, clear in its purpose and successful in its practices.

Christine Cawsey AM Principal

Ms Cawsey and Mrs Morris and the driveway that was blocked for two terms.

Beginning Teachers Throughout Term 3, six new and beginning teachers have actively participated in fortnightly Beginning Teacher Induction meetings. These sessions focus on using the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to identify and plan for their professional development needs across the three domains of teaching: Professional Knowledge, Professional Practice, and Professional Engagement.

As part of their journey toward Proficient Teacher accreditation, they have begun compiling evidence and drafting annotations to demonstrate their proficiency across these domains. Their commitment to this process is commendable, and we congratulate them on their continued progress toward achieving Proficient Teacher accreditation.

Retiring Staff Susan Billingsley, RHHS SASS Staff (1995 – 2024) Yes, I’ve been here for over 30 years – I know, some of you weren’t even born then! But now, the time has come for me to retire and focus on spending more time with my family.

During my time at Rooty Hill High School, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with many departments. I’ve worked in the Printroom, Science faculty, TAS faculty, 6 into 7 Enrolments, Events, Library, Front Office, VET, and the Learning Support faculty, I’ve just about seen and experienced it all.

I’ve journeyed from using a Commodore 64, to floppy disks, CDs, thumb drives, and now SharePoint. Each technological leap brought new challenges, which I’ve enjoyed tackling

over the years. I didn’t get to use AI, but that seems to be where we are heading next.

I’ve witnessed countless students, executives, teaching, and non-teaching staff come and go. Among those who have been here the longest, Debbie stands out, having been here even before me. I’ve known Debbie first as a parent and later as a colleague.

I’ve also seen students return to RHHS as teachers, like Natalia, Megan and Angus. Natalia was the lead dancer of our Rock Eisteddfod group way back in the day.

Chris joined a few years after me and transformed RHHS into a training ground for young, enthusiastic teachers inspiring many to achieve even more from their careers.

Thanks to her support, several staff members have gone on to become executive leaders in other schools.

Over the years, we’ve shared many happy times – special birthdays, weddings, babies, and sadly the sad loss of some of our colleagues.

volleyball, oztag, soccer, netball. The reason why everyone was chosen was because of their skills. Some of the team’s won and some lost, but we were always motivating each other to try our best. Even if you lost, you still represented RHHS. The PERSIST values that we used throughout the day were participation, success, teamwork and respect.

HOYTS Excursion Written by Rachel Ofisa During the HOYTS excursion, Year 7 got the opportunity to go to the movies and watch a recently new movie called Inside Out 2. During the time being there, we split up and went into 2 different theatres. When we entered the theatres, everyone was a bit shocked at its size and all the furniture, as the entire theatre room size could at least compare to at least half of a soccer field.

Overall the entire excursion was a really nice experience as the movie quality was very detailed and good and all the furniture aka the chairs was very nice, and comfy during the movie and because of this it made the experience better.

Lastly, one more thing we had great day bonding with each other and talking with new people.

Through it all, this school has remained a vibrant and supportive community.

Thank you to Chris, and the entire RHHS team for making my time here both busy and enjoyable. It’s been an incredible journey, and I will cherish the memories.

Thanks again for all your good wishes.

YEAR 7 Year Adviser Message Year 7 began the term with fun, respect and enthusiasm as they went on an excursion to watch ‘Inside Out 2’ at Mt Druitt HOYTS. This set the tone for the rest of the term as students learned new topics and skills across their different subjects.

Year 7 were able to showcase their skills inside and outside the classroom, whether that was through Art, Science or Sport. Many students represented RHHS by participating in the volleyball championships and the St. Clair Sports Gala Day where they showed off their skills and values, such as enthusiasm, respect, teamwork and leadership. Book week was another great opportunity where students demonstrated creativity and teamwork.

Year 7 has been very insightful when discussing the results from the Tell Them from Me survey. It was inspiring to see the analyst team discuss their thoughts on the stories behind these results and I look forward to working together to implement your ideas.

Miss Ratnappuly Year 7 Adviser

St Clair Sports Gala Day Written by Eli Suitupe The St. Clair Gala was fantastic, most of the Year 7 students went to the gala day. The sports on that day were basketball,

Volleyball Schools Cup Written by Shanista Irshita This year, I was involved in the Volleyball team. The Volleyball School Cup competition was at the Olympic Netball Centre and as soon as we got there everyone started warming up for their games and were excited to play with each other. We learned to communicate and to trust each other and once we started to play for fun, we ended up doing really well and coming 3rd place. We would like to thank Mr Levi and all the Year 12 students and thank them for all the skills they taught us this year.

Tell Them From Me Analyst Team Written by Roman Villanueva During the Tell Them From Me Analyst meeting we discussed the results from the Tell Them from Me survey.

For example how many people come from a bilingual family and how many students are Aboriginal etc. It was overall a really nice experience. We used most of the PERSIST values such as, participation, respect, teamwork and also leadership. What made it even better was that we knew that we could change the whole school into a better place.

Book Week Written by Samir Warsangeli Book Week was a fun and enjoyable week for all as we saw Mr. Proctor in a dobby costume! There was a fun variety of activities set up for students. The activities were, the Rubix Cube competition on Monday, the book decorations ended on Tuesday, ‘Feel the Magic’ with quiet reading on Wednesday, a magic show on Thursday and the costume competition on Friday.

A big thank you to the teachers and coaches who guided us through these experiences. As Year Adviser, I am proud to see Year 8 continue to grow, collaborate, and push their limits. Well done, Year 8! Looking forward to seeing what our last term of Year 8 brings!

Miss Elford Year 8 Adviser

Strength in Numbers Written by Maya Salameh, Malu Matatia, Lebron Da Cunha & Khang Phan Strength in Numbers gave students the chance to connect with peers and try a bunch of fun and new activities over two days of Term 4. Some of the activities included wheelchair basketball, cheerleading, creating a First Nations-inspired charcuterie board, forensic science, drumming on djembes, traditional Indigenous games (TIG), macrame, music-making, and even speaking on a podcast.

These activities allowed us to bond with classmates we might not normally interact with and create lasting memories. Highlights included teamwork in wheelchair basketball and preparing First Nations-inspired tea, special shout out to Miss Middlebrook and her moving dedication.

As Year 8 students of 2024, we want to thank the volunteers who came to our school from Wheelchair Sports Australia, MMAD and Combat Allstars. We also want to thank Mr Diaz for capturing the day, the teachers who ran amazing sessions, the Year 9 photography team, Mrs Andrews, and of course, Miss Elford. We had the best time!

LOTE Written by Lilly Smith My experience in language this term has been phenomenal.

I have been able to expand my knowledge about Chinese culture, expand my language and participate in many activities, like decorating hand fans. I am excited to see more things I get to learn next term.

YEAR 8 Year Adviser Message Year 8 had an eventful term, filled with a variety of academic, sporting, and whole cohort achievements! This term, Year 8 participated in the Strength in Numbers program, where students explored activities like wheelchair basketball, cheerleading, First Nations-inspired charcuterie boards, forensic science and more!

These activities were not only fun but also encouraged teamwork, communication, and creativity, helping students bond with peers they might not usually connect with. It’s been so nice hearing you talk about memories you made during these days and seeing your macrame keychains on your bags!

Additionally, our sports teams had great success. Both the girls' and boys' teams put in outstanding efforts, with the girls winning their 5th gold medal and the boys finishing 4th, showing determination and resilience throughout the competition.

Volleyball Schools Cup Written by Alex Llagas & Muzamale Sadiqi Term 3 of 2024, the Year 8 volleyball teams had the opportunity to compete in the two-day Volleyball Schools Cup competition. Not only did both teams play exceptionally, but they all displayed the PERSIST values of RHHS. The girls team returned to the school cup after a recent loss and without our setter, and we were feeling doubtful. But with the encouragement of our coach and the support of our captain, Aaliyah Acosta, we won our 5th gold medal and regained our confidence. Playing with these girls has been an amazing experience, and I’m so proud of my team for overcoming many challenges.

The boys' team also did a fantastic job, finishing 4th. A standout moment was our game against Tempe High School, where despite setbacks, every player pushed through and enjoyed the game. The Year 8 boys are working

hard to win a medal next time, and special thanks to captain Jacy Deleon for keeping spirits high.

None of this would have been possible without our coaches, Mr. Treharne and Mr. Levi. We’re all incredibly grateful for their hard work, long hours and unwavering dedication.

YEAR 9 Year Adviser Message Year 9 have been involved in many activities this term including various sports cups, Music Enrichment programs, the Fast Forward Program, resume writing and 9Y excursions. Our Tell Them From Me Analyst team are meeting as well as a top-secret team to discuss a new Year 9 event.

The growth this cohort experienced during the junior years of high school has been extraordinary with all students supporting each other and their successes. Absolutely outstanding term Year 9!

Mr Crosilla Year 9 Adviser

Engineering and Design & Technology Australian Dance Festival Written by Ms Sun This term a group of dancers had the opportunity to attend the Australian Dance Festival at the Sydney Olympic Park.

Learning from the very best dance choreographers in Australia - all jam packed into one amazing day.

This was such a great experience for the students to be part of this festival to explore and enhance their skills as dancers.

To be able to learn from the very talented dance professionals such as Max Ostler, Soraya Zapata, Jack Harrison, Lauren Elton, Lilly Jay and Felicia Stav. It was an eye opening and learning experience for the students, well done to all of the students who tried their absolute best in these workshops.

Written by Melody Martin & Aizel Cellona The Australian Dance Festival was a day filled with movement and energy. Every dancer expressed their passion, creating a sense of harmony and connection with others. Personally, my experience at the festival was unforgettable.

While the positive atmosphere was uplifting, the constant moving and learning new choreography every hour was quite exhausting. Still, I was thrilled to improve my techniques and skills. I want to thank my dance teacher, Miss Sun, for making this opportunity possible for me and my peers. A highlight of the day was spending time with my friends and being part of an event I truly love.

Written by Raiyan Huda & Ekaterina Lapteff During Term 3, the 9Y engineering class combined with the 9Y design and technology class to go on an excursion to the Sydney Tower Eye. We went by train from Rooty Hill Station to Town Hall. We walked from our arrival spot to the Tower Eye, which also happened to be a Westfield at the base.

We explored the food court to find some delectable treats for our lunch. After, we made our way up the elevators to the jaw-dropping views at the top of the tower. Some highlights of this excursion included when we jumped in the elevator, when we went to the Westfield food court and when we went up the 309m Tower to see Sydney Airport, the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. (some guy got lost and went on a completely different excursion). Due to the amazing scenery, some students even managed to run into a pole.

Food Technology Written by Ecrin Diler In Term 3, Year 9 Food Technology students had the opportunity to go to Criniti’s. We were able to make our own pizzas were we were taught by professional chefs at Criniti’s. During this time, we made our own dough, pizza shape and toppings on our pizzas.

This opportunity gave us knowledge, and skills about cooking and taught us about multi-culturism in Australia.

Furthermore, we were able to socialise with other Year 9 students and engage in fun activities like pizza catching. As a result, the Year 9 food technology students had an amazing fun time.

Child Studies Written by Jamielle Lopez During Term 3, the Year 9 child studies class had a chance to visit not only a family planning clinic but we had time to explore Penrith Plaza. It was a fun experience and most of the class had a positive message towards the excursion.

When we arrived at the family planning clinic, we met two women who made us feel welcomed informing us about birth contraceptive methods. It was fun as we got to interact

with the people while also having fun with our classmates.

After the family planning clinic we walked to Penrith Plaza where we had to create small groups and build a nursery room taking photos and recording it into our booklet, however staying on a budget.

While we had a mission we still had time to visit different stores and have a good time with our friends. Overall, the experience was a great chance to meet new people, walk around and learn new information that relates to our topic.

Time Travellers Written by Aeden Dinglasan The history excursion was a great experience. The 9Y history class arrived by the train station, and then we first travelled by train, jumping from one train line to another, which was a fun experience.

After the train ride, we had a wonderful, relaxing walk in the city, and soon enough, we arrived at the Sydney Jewish Museum. We walked through an X-ray machine and then we gathered in a hall of history, a timeline of events. These events having to do with the Australian Army. We were welcomed by our museum guide as they arrived and talked about what we were going to do for the day.

We would walk around the museum to look at the History of the Jewish people and how their existence was a major part in a major event during the Second World War. We walked around the museum, took a look at some ancient Jewish artefacts recovered from the Second World War and their history.

We would finish our walk around the museum by entering a small auditorium. We wore some masks and took our seats, we waited, and the main guest arrived, a Holocaust Survivor, he talked about his survival during the Holocaust, and how he arrived in Australia.

Music Enrichment Program Written by Ekaterina Lapteff The Music Enrichment Program is a great opportunity for talented students of our school to improve on their vocal abilities and instrumental talents.

Our school has participated in many great performances such as PULSE Alive and School Spectacular, as of this program. Performances that have been held at this school have also been organised by the Music Enrichment Program, such as the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) showcase.

Overall, the talented instrumentalists and vocalists have been working behind the scenes, practising songs and beautiful pieces of music in their spare time, to bring you these harmonic performances (Tuesdays from 3:00pm to 4:30pm).

Fast Forward Program Written by Daveleen Mulbah During Term 3, a group of students selected by Mr. Crosilla were chosen to participate in a program. The Fast Forward Program was a very educational and fun experience for all of us.

It was a great opportunity for us to explore Western Sydney University and different future career aspirations. We participated in a bunch of different activities that consisted of treasure hunt, cup games, solving a mystery and more.

My favourite part of the day was the end of the day when RHHS came victorious over all the schools at the event.

Over all the experience was definitely one to remember.

In the end, we went to a small classroom to learn more about the Holocaust, then we finished the day by heading to some fast-food restaurants to pick up some food, before heading home by train. This was a great experience to behold. We got to meet a Holocaust survivor and learned more about what life was like back then.

Photography Written by Jasmine Browne The photography excursion was a very enjoyable and engaging experience. The 9Y photography class went to Circular Quay for a treasure hunt. This treasure consisted in photos around the Opera House, wharfs and Harbour Bridge.

The photos were in hidden photos like different types of windows or even trees. We saw many different things like ferry’s, the Harbour bridge, the Opera House and even street performers. Near the end we sat on the Opera House stairs and took a rest while looking at the many beautiful sightings. Overall, we had a great day.

Commerce Written by Gabrielle Morales In Term 3, Year 9 went on a commerce excursion to Timezone in Parramatta. We were able to play games, getting food, free time around the stores, Miss Rashid took photos of us and other students too. It was an enjoyable experience and opportunity to bond with your friends and verse them in games. Therefore we socialised, we also saw a good opportunity of how business could run whilst having enjoyment during it.

Year 9 Elective Excursion – Art Gallery NSW In Week 3, 9X Visual Arts elective students visited the Art Gallery of New South Wales as part of their course work. In exploring the new and old gallery spaces, the class was able to see the Archibald (including the Young Archie Prize), Wynne and Sulman Prizes as well as the Alphonse Mucha Art Nouveau exhibition. It was a wonderful day and our students are to be commended for their outstanding conduct on the day.

fantastic time and we look forward to the Jamberoo excursion at the end of Term 4.

SALSA Youth Voices

Year 9 PASS Excursion – SCG and Allianz Stadium Written by Maira Hussain In Term 3, Year 9 went on a PASS excursion to Allianz Stadium. We got to visit a museum for sports and see all the different athletes that had played within the stadium and lots of amazing memories that were held in Allianz stadium.

Whilst we were there, we were lucky enough to see a soccer game that was being played. We also got to go into the commentating rooms, the changing rooms and the gym. The purpose of this excursion was for us to learn and see what it’s like to live a life of a professional athlete in Sydney Australia.

It was a very memorable experience as many students that attended aspire to be a professional athlete and got to experience what it’s like.

During Week 8, 8 Year 10 SALSA leaders were selected to represent the school at the SALSA Youth Voices forum held at the GWS Giants training facility in Sydney Olympic Park.

Students worked together formulating an idea to increase healthy eating or physical activity amongst the RHHS community. Later in Term 4 students will present their work at Westmead Hospital. On the day, students were able to watch the GWS Giants in action as they prepared for their finals matches.

Year 10 Commerce Market Stalls Written by Zinyadana Swe & Ms Kennerson In Term 3 of Week 8, Year 10 Commerce students ran stalls to simulate the operations of a business as they learn the topic of “Running a Business”.

The stalls sold a variety of different foods and items at lunch time on Tuesday 10 September for all students and staff.

Running the stalls involved a tremendous amount of planning, including the circular flow of income, target marking, selecting preferred suppliers, break even analysis, a nerve-racking pitch to the Deputies and Principal investors, and of course, budgeting and profit calculations.

It was a valuable learning experience for all students. We ran these stalls in order to raise money for a charity of Ms Cawsey’s choice, to contribute back to the community.

YEAR 10 Year Adviser Message Year 10 had another successful term completing RoSA tasks, Minimum Standards, attending B-Street Smart, SALSA Youth Voices and finishing the term with the BOUNCE excursion.

Miss Short Year 10 Adviser

BOUNCE As a fun end to the term students were able to participate in the BOUNCE excursion. Students participated in dodgeball, basketball, flips all while on trampolines. All students had a

From the process, we learnt how to maximise our sales revenue as well as manage the risks involved in running a business. Importantly, we all had to work together to ensure the success of each individual stall, and the event as a whole.

The stalls included catchy slogans and marketing tactics to sell a variety of sweet treats like candies, ice cream sundaes, soft drinks, cookies, donuts and temporary tattoos.

The following commerce lesson we counted our sales revenue and calculated a whopping profit of just over $900 to go to charity. It was a very fun and rewarding learning experience for all involved.

Under 16s Boys Rugby League Panther Trophy Team The Under 16's Boy's Rugby League Panther Trophy Team embodied the spirit of teamwork and athleticism. Although the Rooty Hill team played well, they unfortunately missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals. However, the team's cohesion is evident both on and off the field. Their commitment to excellence and sportsmanship makes them a formidable force in the near future.

Congratulations to all of the Year 11 students who were elected as part of the senior leadership team, I know you will represent the school and our year group with pride.

YEAR 11 Year Adviser Message Year 11 continued to exhibit the school values of PERSIST during their last term of their preliminary Higher School Certificate (HSC). I am very proud of what they have achieved as a year group so far and am very excited for students to start Year 12 next term.

Miss Pozoglou Year 11 Adviser

Year 11 Camp and Life Ready at School Year 11 students had the opportunity in Week 2 to attend school camp at the Great Aussie Bush Camp. Students participated in a range of outdoor activities such as the Giant Swing and Power Fan, as well as taking part in Life Ready education sessions. Students had such a great time at camp that they have been asking for another one!

We were also told by the camp employees we had one of the best groups of students they had ever seen, so well-done Year 11 on being such great representatives of the school.

Students who did not attend camp still participated in Life Ready sessions at school and had the opportunity to have some fun in outdoor activities run by Miss Munzenberger.

Year 11 Examinations During Week 8 and 9 this term, Year 11 sat for their yearly examinations. This was the first time students had to sit formal examinations with external invigilators. All students showed excellent behaviour during the exams, and it was great to see some study groups formed in the lead up to exams. I wish all students the best of luck in the completion of their exams, and I hope those students hoping for early university entry get the marks required!

Senior Leader Assembly Written by Zahra Almaoiel, RHHS 2023 Alumni Good morning, everyone! It’s such a pleasure to be back on this stage today speaking to both the emerging and outgoing leadership teams of RHHS. This stage is very familiar to me not only as a former student who walked across it many times during presentation assemblies but also when I stood here and spoke as a member of the Senior Leadership team last year. Being here today feels like a full circle moment as I was in your shoes last year, sitting in these very seats, presenting one of the newly elected Sports Captains with their badge.

I’m honoured now to talk to you about the qualities, values and impact of leadership. This year I am studying at University of New South Wales completing a bachelor’s degree in medical science whilst working as an SLSO here at Rooty Hill High School. When I walk through these halls during the days I work here, I can’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia – and possibly a slight sense of panic as if I still have an assessment due!

Senior Leader Elections Students in Year 11 were able to nominate for positions as part of the Year 12 Senior Leadership Team for 2025.

Elections took place this term after an extremely rigorous process. The nominated students participated in an interview process as well as providing written statements and finally, preparing a speech to give to the Year 10 and 11 students and teachers.

The speeches given by all candidates were outstanding and resulted in the election of Laurel Lyttleton and Jayden Chua as our School Captains for 2025.

As a previous senior leader I have learnt valuable lessons that I would like to pass onto all of you today. During my time here, I had the privilege of serving as Sports Captain.

It was a fun, fulfilling and rewarding role, however, it was also about more than organising, promoting and managing sports events. As a member of the 2023 leadership team, I often found myself stepping in to help others, learning that leadership isn’t just about taking charge; it’s about being there for your team, working together, and knowing when to ask for help.

Leadership doesn’t mean you take on all the responsibilities yourself – it means recognizing that you can’t do everything alone and the strength of a leader comes from the ability to lean on others, collaborate, and achieve goals together.

Of course, I know some of you might have pursued a leadership role for the fancy blazers and badges – and hey, no judgment there! But the real value of leadership goes far beyond the uniform. It’s about how you rise to the occasion, even when things don’t go as planned.

It’s about inspiring and motivating others, turning vision into reality. As cliche as it may sound, the truth is each of you as a leader becomes a role model. People will look up to you whether you realise it or not and your action will set a tone for those around you. By leading with integrity, enthusiasm and compassion you will empower those beside you, creating a positive ripple effect that goes beyond your elected role.

Colour Run The Colour Run was a highlight of the term. As a year group, Year 12 spent an afternoon together, covering each other in the brightest colours. Students spent time with their friends, teachers took many photos and everyone went home covered in colour. It was a fun way to spend time together as a year group before students graduate.

As I said before, leadership is not a solo journey. It’s about leading alongside the people with you and drawing support from mentors and role models. Without which my team and I would not have gotten through everything without their support! One thing a mentor has taught me is that leadership isn't just about talking on stage but also in the way you act, treat others and help the people around you! The kindness of a leader is what can motivate people to also show the same to others.

These traits are what distinguishes a good leader from a great one. It is the difference between merely wearing a fancy blazer to truly making an impact in the lives of others.

This understanding of leadership extends far beyond the walls of school, helping me endlessly outside of school too, from organizing events at university, helping teach here at Rooty Hill, to taking on leadership roles within the community and simply communicating with others. It opened doors I never thought possible and taught me that the qualities you develop as a leader will benefit you in almost every aspect of your life.

Muhammad Ali once said, “We cannot be brave without fear.” This quote sums up one thing I’ve learned as a leader and that is that challenges are inevitable. You may not always have the opportunity to lead in the way you hoped.

So, how do you still lead in those situations? You adapt. You stay flexible, and though you may have the fear of leading in this new way, you draw support from the many mentors and friends alongside your journey.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your own leadership journey!

YEAR 12 Head Teacher Senior School Message Year 12’s final term was jam packed with events. We had The Colour Run, Throwback Day, Pyjama Day, Aloha Day, HSC Open Night Year 12 Farewell BBQ and of course Graduation. Being their final term of high school, Year 12 wanted to enjoy their time with their friends at a place most of them had attended every day for 6 years…and they made the most of it.

Miss Munzenberger Head Teacher Senior School

Aloha Day, Throwback Day & Pyjama Day In the final weeks of the term, Year 12 took part in some dress up days. Throwback Day asked students to wear their junior uniform or wear a decade theme, throwing back to their younger days. Students also participated in Pyjama Day and it was a hit! There were some students who had obviously literally rolled out of bed, while others were extremely stylish in their PJs. Students spent the breaks playing dodgeball and making memories.

Year 12 said farewells on Aloha (Hawaiian) Day. After the swimming carnival rainy weather Year 12 wanted another chance to wear their Hawaiian themed clothing. After many photos this led to a year group game of bull rush on the oval.

Graduation Day Graduation was a day to celebrate. Students arrived in their gowns, and best school uniform to walk across the stage of the hall for one last time. It was a wonderful day with tears, laughter, hugs, and congratulations. The hall was packed with parents, carers, staff, siblings and Year 12. The ceremony was fantastic, students from the HSC music class performed, and the captains gave their farewell speech.

Once the ceremony was over, students went out into the quadrangle to celebrate with family and friends.

Congratulations to Year 12 of 2024!

2024 HSC Open Night The HSC Open Night celebrated the achievements and excellence of students who completed their major projects for the HSC in 2024.

Year 12 Visual Arts students presented a striking display of their artworks, showcasing their final 'Body of Work' submissions to the RHHS community.

CAPA State Drama Ensemble Shaun Siliva of Year 11 was selected to be part of the NSW State Drama Ensemble. An intensive program for high potential and gifted drama students from NSW public schools. Shaun will attend workshops throughout the school holidays and perform at the Arts Unit Drama Festival in October.

Dracula Theatre Excursion In Week 2, 40 students from Years 9, 10 and 11 participated in an unforgettable experience to see Dracula at Sydney Theatre Company. Students were in awe of the incredible solo performance, combined with live video and design.

Years 8-10 Sculpture Workshop In Week 9, 20 students across Years 8 to 10 developed a sculptural piece based around themes of sea life and the ocean. Using only wire, glue and a variety of papers, the group produced ethereal works that will form a larger, collaborative installation for exhibition at the Semester 2 MAD (Music, Art, Drama) showcase in Term 4.

Congratulations to all students involved in this project

SRC The Blacktown Youth Forum is an event that provides a platform for young people in the community to voice their concerns, collaborate on solutions, and advocate for positive change. At the Blacktown Youth Forum, Farwah and Sabika had the opportunity to speak about the issues around the community, specifically domestic violence and provided some initiatives and programs the government could implement to improve the area. Farwah gave a speech and

presented the ideas to the mayor and the counsellors. They also had the opportunity to engage with local leaders, the Blacktown Mayor, the counsellors and leaders from different schools in the area.

It offered a safe and inclusive space for young people to express their views, collaborate on solutions, and advocate for positive change in their community. The event not only provided a platform for voicing concerns but also encouraged proactive participation in shaping the future of the community, ultimately paving the way for a more inclusive and empathetic society. Their involvement not only demonstrated their commitment to the well-being of the community but also encouraged proactive participation from everyone involved.

and fun event for all of us. I like the peaceful environment in the library. I enjoy the displays and events that are always going on around the library.

I'm always excited about the new books that get added to the library, the new decorations that get put around the place, Willber the Squishmellow and just anything new that goes on there! I'm excited to see anything that will come to the library in the future and spend more time in the library!

Gateway Program In 2024, we ran a reduced Gateway Program with 4 days of fun with students from the local learning neighbourhood.

Students participated in geography fieldwork, volleyball, gaming, forensic science, dance, maths, creative writing, visual arts, drama and music. Some examples of the fun and learning were African drumming, group dance performances, mummifying apples and extracting the DNA from fruit. Thanks to all the support from teachers involved and the primary school attendees from Mount Druitt, Eastern Creek, Minchinbury and Rooty Hill Public Schools.

LIBRARY Written by Chloe Bird & Mackaillyn Davies The library is my favourite place in the school, I visit daily and enjoy visiting. From playing the board games they have there with friends, reading, borrowing and returning books to just being in the library. I always manage to find myself inside the library for whatever reason there is.

This term, we had lots of activities and displays in the library. For Science Week, we had made terrariums that could look after themselves, which personally I found really cool and a great way to spend time with my friends at lunch.

For Book Week we had a magic display with a book genre wheel spinner and the fortune picker. There was also rubik’s cube solving competition, a magic show and a costume competition in the form of a fashion show. It gave everyone an opportunity to dress up and show off their cool costumes and earn cool prizes from books to candy, it was an exciting

Chess Competition Term 3 saw Year 10 students; Steven Bondoc and Nikhil Kumar, as well as Year 7 students Jack Li and Arnold Joseph pitted against students from Years 7 to 12 during an inter-school chess tournament. At the semi-finals Steven came in 7th overall and Arnold came in 4th overall.

Congratulations for their hard efforts. We will be back in 2025!

SPORT 2-Day Volleyball Championships Great results from the Term 3 2-Day Volleyball Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. Please see below: Year 7 Boys – Gold Year 7 Girls – Bronze Year 8 Boys – 4th Place Year 8 Girls - Gold

Year 9 Boys – 5th Place Year 10 Boys – 6th Place Year 12 Boys - Bronze

Year 9 Girls – Gold Year 10 Girls – Bronze

sportsmanship.

Within our team, two students qualify for the opportunity to represent our region at the Combined High Schools (CHS) Athletics Carnival, which resulted in one of these athletes being a part of the second place 4 x 400m relay in the state.

Under 15 Panther Trophy Team Our Under 15s Panthers Trophy Team had the honour of representing RHHS for the second time this year.

Unfortunately, an early injury to a key player meant the team was in for a difficult day.

Despite this setback, the boys demonstrated remarkable teamwork, persistence, and resilience throughout the day.

Their spirited performance fell just short of securing a spot in the finals, but their efforts were a testament to their dedication and skill.

Under 13s Panther Trophy Team The Under 13s Panther Trophy Team displayed excellent teamwork and communication skills across the day. Some fantastic rugby league was played both with and without the ball resulting in a tough semifinal loss on a technicality. The boys are to be commended on their effort throughout the day.

Girls Rugby League Finals After earning the right to participate in the Sydney Wide Gala Day, the Girls Rugby League Team faced the best of the best from the Greater Sydney region.

Flag Football Gala Day Our mixed Under 15 Flag Football Team put in a commendable effort at the annual Gridiron Day. Despite facing tough competition, they managed to secure two wins and two losses, finishing third overall. The team's dedication and sportsmanship were evident throughout the tournament.

Congratulations on your impressive performance!

In an impressive display of teamwork and skill, the Opens Boys Flag Football Team triumphed at the annual Flag Football Gridiron Day, finishing the tournament undefeated.

From the very first whistle, the boys showcased their exceptional talent and determination. With a combination of strategic plays and athletic prowess, they quickly established themselves as a formidable force on the field.

Over the course of the tournament, the team not only demonstrated outstanding offensive capabilities, scoring numerous touchdowns, but also exhibited a robust defence that kept their opponents at bay. The championship game saw the team face off against a fierce rival, but their relentless energy and focus carried them to a resounding win. Congratulations!

Sydney West Athletics Carnival In 2024, 27 students qualify to represent the Colebee Zone at this year's Sydney West Athletics Carnival. Our students showcased their skills, dedication, and athletic ability and represented the zone with the utmost respect and

Both games were absolute nail biters where unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the scoreboard. All girls gave their all, including some girls who had limited experience in the sport. They are to be commended on consistently displaying the PERSIST values throughout.

ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION 100% Attendance in Term 3 2024 Year 7: Alghasim Balla Calvin Casupanan Joel Giannetti Cooper Jones Jack Li Zeth Maralang

Ester Mashikura Mackenzie Pittman Quincie Pugosa Marcus Risati-Joe Jarryd Santiago

Year 8: Natasha Ah Lam Nathan Metua Gray Jesnoor Khehra Raina Kongkon Kate Manio Vivienne Nguyen

Faith Nucom Khang Phan Harley Pittman Muzamale Sadiqi Sam Scobie Noah Sinnett

Year 9: Danniella Annetts Aeden Dinglasan Evan Gao Colin Malsi Leon Munro

Princess Namocot Mitch Neich Clarissa Randell Ava Scobie Alyssa Urfano

JUNIOR SCHOOL SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS TERM 3 2024 Year 7: Luis Abarca Rashed Al Kanem Sione Alalea Kareem Alaydrus Omar Alayed Amy-Rose Anae Jessie Andrews Adriel Angeles Singha Attard Alghasim Balla Skye Bankler Fahima Bare Ezel Biber Chloe Bird Mohammad Bonyad Zada Rachael Bourne Amani Brigden Hope Bryant Andrea Cabacungan Kobe Castanares Calvin Casupanan Brooklyn Cayabyab Olivia Chalmers Sienna Champion Wafaa Chandab Alexandria Cowley Jacob Cross Alana Dang Ahmed Dannawe Priscilla Darwon Mackaillyn Davies Zeke Davila Avery De Leon Hailee Dimeck Lillian Dunn Aviela Dunn-Too Killa Duriso Neo Ektoros BellaRose Elliott Maximilian Evans Savanna Ezzat Levi Falemoe Eshaal Fatima Georgia Follers Brydon Angus Foreshew Bella Foster Patrick Franklin Krishma Gautam Nargis Ghulami Lianah Giacalone Joel Giannetti Muez Girma Mihran Haidari Athar Hassani Taniela Haumono Eleah Hewitt Kavvya Hingu Tyson Hoban Muhammad Hossain Shayan Hussain Shiraz Hussein Zahira Hussein Alysha Hutt Sisilia Ikamanu Shanista Irshita Arnold Joseph Ariya Kaur Shriya Kaur Utsav Koirala Issa Lafi Mi'a Lafo Jason Lanau Ryzel Legaspi Nargis Rasuli Sarthaksinh Raulaji Ryelie Rebutoc Rhyse Rihara Laki Rimoni Audrey Rivera Lucas Ross Charlotte Saafi Aaqib Saleem

Zainap Sammadi Jarryd Santiago Sharaya Sewak Bella Sionepeni Lilly Smith Jordan Sosaiete Levi Spiteri Amara Stehlin Keilani Sua Eli Suitupe Wendy Sy Alexis Tangimana Yehuda Taufan Uapukupuku Touariki Teariki Mia-Rose Toleafoa Jyrah Tongamoa Robert Toomalatai Yashaswi Twati Zacha Velasco Chelsea Vella Isabella Villar Buchanan Year 8: Mariam Abdelmaksoud Aaliyah Acosta Natasha Ah Lam Ehan Ahmad John Jr Alejandro Janus Alonzo James Aoun Cyrus Bailey Lilly-Anna Bateman Emma Batty Tristan Belan Chloe Berthon Gurpreet Singh Bhamra Amelie Bogaz Jada Bose Elaina Bramley Chase Bugeja Marie Carnay Angelica Castro Aizel Cellona Riley Clark Daloba Conde Janesh Dandamudi Evelynn De Leon Jacy De Leon Mercado Ethan Dillon Vicky Dinh Kyle Duran Amira Elia James Evans Amelie Foreshew Ashna Gandhi Ethan Gao Noah Germain Aalia Gloria Riya Gounder Levi Gray Nathan Metua Gray Nastaran Haidari Ali Hashimi Sosefina Heron Abdullah Hofiani Farrokh Hussaini Nargis Hussaini Lukas Hutt Sionefonua Ikamanu Muhammad Imran Kenneth Ioane Melissa Joseph Nevaeh-Maree Kake Jacob Khalil Jesnoor Khehra Raina Kongkon Mercy Lalaga Tamzyn Le Roux Keziah Levi Sofi Lilburne Alexandra Llagas Matthew Lucre Malik Maaz

Kate Manio Melody Martin Eliana Mascarenas Malu Matatia Mataiah Mitchell Meafou Mahin Mohammadi Azlan Mohammed Luti Mose Rose Moubayed Ali Naderi Alexis Naidu Vivienne Nguyen Faith Nucom Usu Ohi Alexis O'Neill Karla O'Neill Lialeti Oto Cayden Parsons Ella Partridge Anjani Patel Nishi Patel Khang Phan Harley Pittman Rosa Puchowski Jayden Rapa Tyler Reeves Jakin Reuelu Anthony Reyes Maryam Rezaee Brooklyn Rogers Matilda Rusitovic Muzamale Sadiqi Arshpreet Sakhala Maya Salameh Kylee Sarmiento Zaminali Sarwari Sam Scobie Khadija Siddiq Malini Siliva Kushala Singh Noah Sinnett Ella Skinner Xavier Tahana Hozaan Talabani Adut Thon Caleb Thorpe Rashad Toufaili Catherine Veng Zayne Villanueva Miguel Villena Mitchell Walker Amelie Whiddon Julia Williams Margaret Wilson Melissa Yang Year 9: Aaron Acosta Tala Ah Lam Dina Al Kanem Shahad Al Nemer Aurora Alejandro Zahra Al-Khled William Allen Chris Baluyot Joaquin Baquiran Jessica Barrett Melis Bilgic Serena Bingas Emma Bonnici Simaa Boram Maddison Briffa Isabella Brooke Jasmine Browne Jordan Buist Tristan Catalbas Taylor Cayabyab Shanay Chand Khaila Chavaria Alivia Chojnacki Hannah Collisson Mikayla Condon Anyier Dau

Anastasia Davis Risha Dayal Ceylin Diler Ecrin Diler Aeden Dinglasan Angel Euese Ulata Falemoe Gregory Fuaivaa Jacob Gale Evan Gao Natik Goundar Samiuela Haunga Bailey Hodson Humzah Hussain Maira Hussain Muhammad Hussain Hayden Hyde Peter Iosefa Angelo Israeil Destiny Johnson Raine Jordan Michael Khalil Mia Knox Jai Kochhar Mono Delaiono Lamese Ryan Lanau Ekaterina Lapteff Uelese Lautoa Anthony Le Kelvin Li Julian Lintag Jamielle Lopez Colin Malsi Addison Marsh Alarna Matatia Tzangita Mativa Peyton Maybury Jai Mehta Amiracle Meng Maxene Mojica Gabrielle Morales Joshua Moyse Daveleen Mulbah Asli Nacakli Princess Namocot Caitlin Navarro Mitch Neich Christopher Norton Darrel Nucom Christina Ofisa Jakob Onesemo Alecia Ostric Steven Parmar Tarnaya Patau Kairav Prakash Juan Gabriel Pugosa Clarissa Randell Justyn Raquedan Miguel Reyes Zainab Rezaee Marcus Rivera Alipate Saafi Duaa Saeed Laith Saleh Jasmine Santiago Ava Scobie Muhammad Shehzad Akenese Sofeni Ah Cheung Khian Sta Maria Lillyarna Suitupe Manusiu Tangimana Papatani Taufoou Ngavaevae Teiho-Meteka Summer Thompson Memphis Tinao Benjamin Tirados Savar Tokas Daniel Tomson Timothy Tumbaga Lilah Tume Alyssa Urfano Jordan Vella Joseph Zammit

SENIOR SCHOOL SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS TERM 3 2024 Year 10: Petra Adamovic Samira Ahmed Saja Akl Sarah Akl Mashfiqur Alam Mohammed Alkalif Keeley Allen Nuha Anarwala Anuel Mussolini Atienza Nattanicha Aye Tawhid Azizi Adrienne Barbeau Edil Bautista Andre Bettridge Evelyn Bogaz Steven Bondoc Taylor Cassar Aneesha Chandra Mali Coombes Noreen Daylo Rhian Elyse Dela Cruz Leyla Derin Amelia Ektoros Jaslene Euese Khalia Evagelia Daniel Ezra Foai Alandra Fuiono Kasak Gautam Jeeya Gawai Mounir Girma Amy Gower Maryam Hassan Wajiha Hassani Annabella Hawkins Zainab Haywari Jarred Hide Sarah Houston Skyla Hulme Asher Hussain Taiba Hussain Zaheen Hussain Firaba Hussaini Manamo'ui Ikamanu Ricky Johnson Caitlyn Keehn Rameez Khan Jakob King Malae Koro Gracie Kumar Nikhil Kumar Washington Laban Natalie Lee Keharna-Rose Lever Yong Guang Lim Harmony Lord-Romero Mohammad Maliki Mikayla Mantua Micholai Marquez Eli Mascarenas Ethan Mascarenas Cooper Masterson Rahela Mirzaie Rayyaan Mohammed Benjimen Moore Ella Munday Peter Murad Jemuel Nallas Myah Nguyen

Tristan Nunez Nina Palani Ashmeet Parmar Alexa Parreno Ava Partridge Vianca Pelayo Grace Pham Angel Pita Yonalee Polwaththa Gallage Tiana Ramos Mackenzie Reeves Reupena Reuelu Zahra Rezaee Mila Roqica Zahira Sadiqi Jimmy Santiago Emir Selvi Jeffery Siaosi Ahmad Sideq Ma Jacqueline Sinclair Mulufuaina Sofeni Ah Cheung Clara Stirk Nikhi Taufoou Ritia Teariki Hanzo Tekeu Anzac Thach Lewis Tierney Aden Tran Seini Tulevu Elizabeth Vella Jackson Verzeletti Kevin Vinoya Samuel Vista Aayan Waqar Kacea White Ahmad Wissam Eltaf Hussain Yawari Christabelle Zapata Castro Year 11: Daniel Ademovic Henrietta Ah Lam Phoenix Ah San Fawz Al Jamhour Marwa Amini Christopher Aoun Hooria Asghar Ramon Ayoub Malcolm Bagust Billy Bicol Sienna Briffa Roxanne Cajumban Abigail Camat Jayden Chua Melvan Coombes Jyrell Coppini Avnith Datt Chellsea Diakowsky Bailey Duncan Lilley Gotts Harlem Grant-Cairns Blake Green Lucas Hicks Elisha Ieremia Isabella Kauvai Cyrus Knott Tyarn Lees Scott Lever Matthew Lim

McKenzy Lolo Princetontinei Lopeti Laurel Lyttleton Zane Mason Mason Morris Priya Muduliar Marniel Namocot Brock Neich Michael Ner Jayden O'Brien Heela Oriakhell Wynter Paluch Isabella Perkins Taylor Pigram Junior Pita Rohan Prakash Georgia Quillano Zahra Rajayee Divine Sang-Yum Shaun Siliva Consaij Siloi Ashmita Subba Noah Tapaitau Angelique Vinensig Brionne Vulimaibau Dakota Shae Wiki-Ormond Brody Willcockson Maxwell Woodhall-Murphy Emily Xian Lena York Year 12: Tyler Abela Ilma Ahmed Mustafa Al Khazaaly Halle Alefosio Madiha Ali Manar Alkhled Nicole Ancheta Atem Atuich Chloe Ayre Muhammad Abdullah Baig Lucas Bain Felicity Baluyot Chelsea Batty Genesis Bautista Rascha Bauty Jazmin Birett Yasemin Bitiktas Thomas Bogaz Aphril Cabban Joshua Campbell Gerammy Casimiro James Collisson Gabriel Convento Gabriel Corderoy Mandy Cottier Charliene Coulthard Ella Cowell-Stirling Brayden Crass Timothy Dela Cruz Brock Delaney Yakup Derin Riley Evagelia Daniel Faaitaita Falemoe Taitoe Falemoe Noah Fesseha Blake Fryer Janardan Fuiono

Lileanna Godwin Jazlyn Graza Mikayla Grosvenor Justin Guevara Maria Halatanu Freshta Hashimi Lokiniva Pange Phoenix Haumono Luis Hernandez Ammara Hidayat Janice Hide Ryan Houston Lily Iaulualo Zena Jalil Indyanna James-Pullen Jassjot Singh Jhutty Cooper Jones Mikayla Kaisa Kaiser Kauvai Alleyah Khan Myra Kumar Chelsea Leu Xiu Hui Lim Eddie Setu Lopeti Joshua MacDonald Sabika Maliki Christian Malsi Ryan Manansala Henna Mansory Jacob Martin Kassandra McGrath Mikhail Melgar Nilofar Nabizadah Rhianna Nallas Cayli Neville Toby Ostric Liam Paraan Joy Pham Danaka Pitovao Ravikesh Prasad Ammar Rahimi Elijah Ross Leeanne Ross Jack Rusitovic Shaye Ryan Kamila Sadeqi Edrea Santos Jayden Seaton Dilara Sengul Sahiba Sheikh Farah Sideq Ryzell Soria Tiresa Stanley Jacob Stirk Taliyah Suitupe Um-e-Farwah Syed Ghazala Tariq Kane Thai Shaniyah-Lee Toleafoa Jaimee Tompsett Ana Tufunga Emjay Tuiloma Kiara Villena Georgia Waata Astrid Whitehurst Candice Wilden Michael Williams Emma Zielinski

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Rooty Hill High School Learning, Leadership & Achievement North Parade, Rooty Hill NSW 2766 P.O. Box 70, Rooty Hill NSW 2766 Phone: 02 9625 8104