20 August 2019

Most of the scheduled Kindergarten 2020 Information/Readiness Sessions have been held for the Oakhurst Campus, with those for our Marsden Park Campus due soon. Enrolment positions will be filled at both Campuses and waiting lists will be facilitated for families not able to be included initially. In fact, the stronger momentum at our Marsden Park Campus now means that we need to step-up to the next stage of the establishment phase.

Therefore, Mrs Narelle Taylor has agreed to transfer full-time to the MP Campus as Assistant Principal/Head of Primary – Marsden Park Campus from next year. We are very fortunate to have an Executive leader with such fantastic experience, astute managerial expertise and tremendous passion and skill as an educator, who will provide the necessary pioneering guidance and the delegated daily hands-on leadership for the MP learning community moving forward. Consequently, we recently advertised for a new Head of Primary – Oakhurst Campus to join our Executive team and to provide an ongoing high level of leadership in the Primary Section together with the three Primary Co-ordinators, Learning Support Co-ordinator, Sport Co-ordinator and other various leaders across the Oakhurst Campus. Our vision is to continue with the successful integration of both Campuses, which this strategic decision to expand leadership will ensure. For instance, both Heads of Primary will frequently liaise, collaborate and plan together. Please be understanding and supportive of these necessary advancements enabling our School to continue to steadily grow.

We look forward to this week’s exciting Book Week activities, including an Open Day at each Campus. Whilst the programs have been slightly revised, following a productive review, the main ingredients from past events will allow our learning communities to have spectacularly enjoyable occasions. Please be fully aware of the detailed information provided and be reminded that we anticipate that our Primary students will remain at School for the remainder of the Open Days, after parents/grandparents leave.

It was extremely pleasing to see how well last weekend’s Duke of Edinburgh Hike went, with a great partnership with students and staff from Wycliffe Christian School, with whom we have regular contact through the regional Secondary Sport Program. Special thanks to Mr Chris Bemrose for leading our team of committed Secondary students.

During Term 4 and through the December – January break, a major $1.5m refurbishment of the Primary Library and the Primary Computer Lab/ Learning Support rooms will take place. At the end of these projects, we will have a superb “Hive” and an outstanding “Studio” (to cater for Music, Drama, STEM activities). The new designs will deliver brilliant contemporary, refreshed and functional spaces. Concept photos of “The Hive” and “The Studio” show to some degree, the extent of these improvements.

However, this extensive work will necessitate builder’s compounds at both levels, placing those areas off-limits and needing activities/resources to be temporarily relocated. Please be aware of such refinements having to be made for Term 4 and we would appreciate everyone’s patience. Later this term, the specific temporary changes will be confirmed.

Through the various learning experiences facilitated for our students at RJ, including the fantastic Learning Celebrations bringing together Primary and Secondary students during these coming weeks, we seek to dwell on positive outcomes and accentuate wonderful aspects of God's creation. Consider the Bible verses below:

"The word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love. Let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke and it came to be. The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." (Proverbs 33: 4-5, 8-9a, 11)

Mr Paul Cockrem
Principal

I believe that young people can be dynamic and effective leaders, and many learn to lead at a very young age without even knowing that they are. 

Let’s not despise our young people like Goliath did when David came out to fight him in 1 Samuel 17:42. While Goliath teased and ridiculed David because he was only a young boy, he didn’t realise the mistake he was making. David fought Goliath and won, but not in the same way an adult would. He used a stone and a sling. So too, our young people need to be aware of their leadership opportunities and leadership skills, and begin their leadership journey. As a teacher, I have learned to never underestimate what students can do or achieve.

Here at RJ, we begin with the premise that firstly, we all must learn to lead ourselves before we begin to lead others. Leading without a badge. Our self-management enables us to work in community with others. We learn the art of self-discipline, delayed gratitude and service to others, all of which build the starting blocks of our leadership foundation. As we become resilient and learn lessons of empathy, we have a better understanding of some of the skills we will need to lead.

This week our current Year 11 students will participate in a Leadership Workshop which will explore many ideas around leadership, who is best suited to lead, and how you can lead without a badge. The student leadership interview process for our School Captain and Vice Captain positions for 2019-20 will also be presented and will commence in a couple of weeks’ time.

The quality of our students opting to nominate for a leadership role is always very high and anyone of those who do so will do a fine job of leading our School in the future. As we embark on this process, I would encourage you to discuss the possibilities open to your child in Year 11 should they nominate to participate in Student Leadership at RJ.

The process of selecting other leadership roles within the School will also occur in due course with positions such as Chapel, Service, Co-curricular, House and House leader roles being announced at the start of Term 4.

Other leadership opportunitiesfor Secondary students that are becoming available this Term are focussed on Year 8 students who would like to be a part of our Year 4 Pjamarama event. It is always astounding and refreshing at how willing our students are to step up and give leadership roles a go. If your son or daughter is keen on participating in the Pjamarama event as a leader, please encourage them to apply. The opportunity to glean leadership experience is one that our School gives priority to in building future leaders within our community and beyond.

Let’s encourage our young people to step up and lead. Who knows where it will take them!

Mr Alan Dawson
Deputy Principal

Sadly, that does mean my time as Head of Primary at the Oakhurst Campus comes to an end at the end of 2019 after 8 wonderful years in the role. During this time, I have seen the Oakhurst Campus grow and change as incredible new classrooms, amenities and play spaces have been added. It has been very rewarding to lead our Primary students through their Primary years, with the support of our incredible team of Primary leaders and teachers, and I praise God for the wonderful journey and experience I have had at the Oakhurst Campus. I look forward to enjoying the remainder of the year with our Oakhurst students and community and welcoming a new Head of Primary to the Campus in 2020. I will also look forward to seeing staff, students and families at a variety of special School events over coming years.

ASSEMBLY

In Week 2 we had our very first Kindergarten Assemblies for the year. Well done to KM and KR for their wonderful retelling of the journey of Miriam from the Old Testament books of Exodus and Numbers. Both classes also shared beautiful praise to God in song. House Meetings replaced Assemblies in Week 3 with students enjoying some great activities organised by our Year 6 House Leaders. Book Week celebrations replace Primary Assemblies this week. In Week 5, KP at our Marsden Park Campus and KJ at Oakhurst will be presenting Items. In Week 6, KS and 1M will be the presenting classes. Parents of the presenting class are welcome to attend Primary Assemblies.

BOOK WEEK CELEBRATIONS

Parents received information last week relating to our Book Week Celebrations this week. Today our students at the Marsden Park Campus had a great time displaying their wonderful costumes in their costume parade, welcoming visitors into their classrooms to complete a variety of book-related activities, enjoying morning tea together and completing a book treasure hunt in the playground. Our ‘secret book reader’ shared a great story with the children and visitors. Each morning this week, students start their day with a story from a secret book reader. Oakhurst students and families are eagerly awaiting their Book Week celebrations this Thursday 22 August. Please ensure your child has a costume to wear to participate on the day.

EXCURSIONS AND INCURSIONS – OAKHURST

Next Thursday, 1M and 2M students will enjoy an incursion where they look at a variety of toys from the past to compare with present day toys. Our little ones always have a great time playing with toys their parents and grandparents once played with.

FATHERS’ DAY STALLS

The P&F will be holding Fathers’ Day Stalls next week on Tuesday 27 August at the Marsden Park Campus and on Thursday 29 August at the Oakhurst Campus. Gifts cost $5 or $10 so remember to send your child/children along with money matching one of these amounts on the day, securely sealed in an envelope with their name and class, to ensure all our dads have a wonderful Father’s Day. Please be reminded that students are not purchasing for grandparents, only one parent. If they also have a stepfather, please let the teacher know so they can purchase 2 gifts.

KINDERGARTEN 2020

We have been busily meeting with our new Kindergarten children and their families who will be joining us at RJ in 2020. We have seen many smiling, excited and nervous little ones. It is always exciting to see the journey of our children from their very first experience of ‘big school’ through to the end of Year 6.

LEARNING CELEBRATIONS

Learning Celebrations commenced this week and continue through to the end of Week 6. During Learning Celebrations, Primary and Secondary students join together to engage in a wide variety of learning activities. Be sure to chat with your child/ren about what activities they will be doing with Secondary classes.

MATHS GAMES AND MATHS OLYMPIAD

Competition 4 will be held this Friday for participating students. Students are developing a wide range of problem-solving skills through their participation in this program.

MARSDEN PARK OPEN DAY

If you have a child starting Kindergarten in 2021, you are encouraged to come and have a look at our Pre-Kindergarten class at Marsden Park. Our Pre-Kindergarten classroom is a fun and dynamic learning environment which children absolutely love. It is a great way to help your child prepare for ‘big school’ as we develop their pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, social and emotional skills. Marsden Park Open Day is this Saturday 24 August from 9:00am - 10:30am with sessions starting every 30 minutes from 9:00am. 

STAGE 2/3 CLASS AVAILABILITY AT OUR MARSDEN PARK CAMPUS IN 2020

Students have thoroughly enjoyed being part of our Multi-age (Years 4-6) class at Marsden Park in 2019. With the Year 6 students from this class heading to the Oakhurst Campus for Year 7 at the end of the year, vacancies are available in the Stage 2/3 (combined Years 4-6 class) at the Marsden Park Campus next year. The smaller class size allows for additional learning opportunities and teacher attention to support learning. Students also experience greater opportunities for student leadership across the Campus. If your child currently attends the Oakhurst Campus and you would like to consider them transferring to the Marsden Park Campus from 2020, please contact me on 9677-2455 or via email ntaylor@rjas.nsw.edu.au for further information.

WORD MANIA

Our students are in the second week of the 2 week Word Mania competition. Students greatly enjoyed participating in this competition last year and are equally enjoying it this year. Kindergarten children have also had exposure to Word Mania in preparation for participating in the competition more independently in Year 1 next year. Children are encouraged to log in at home through to this Friday to earn points for their class. I look forward to seeing how our students have gone in the competition this year, after some great results in 2018.

YEAR 5 YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM

Students in Year 5 will be participating in the Young Leaders Program in Weeks 7-9 of this term. This program encourages students to try new things and develop their leadership potential by completing tasks which focus on developing skills in communication, organisation and teamwork, service, personal development and physical endeavour. Students can aim to complete these tasks at either a Bronze, Silver or Gold level. Parents are encouraged to support their child to achieve their own personal leadership goals. Participation in this program assists in determining our 2020 Primary Captains and House Leaders early in Term 4.

Mrs Narelle Taylor
Assistant Principal/Head of Primary

On the grass students strived for success in soccer and basketball shoot outs, tested their aim at the Nerf targets, enjoyed the competition in the mini rugby numbers game and used their agility in the obstacle course. Other activities included the spooky haunted house, Disney themed trivia, minute to win it games, craft, what’s in the box and the disco. Year 6 demonstrated servant hearted leadership, giving up their time and energy to help younger students to enjoy their day and feel part of this very special RJ community. This event is an important fundraiser, raising money for our sponsor children in Nepal. We continue to encourage Primary students to bring in small donations each month to continue supporting this cause.

Miss Leah Nye and Miss Alicia Parata 
Year 6 Teachers

We camped in the Warrumbungle National Park where they had, however, used technology to help conserve water. In the showers, you waved your hand across and got hot water for five minutes, and then it was cut off. Many families would probably appreciate that device! The Warrumbungles themselves are a beautiful site to visit, with lots for families to do and explore. As a day trip, we travelled to the Pilliga Nature Reserve and visited the Sandstone Caves – a spectacular outcrop overlooking the plains and preserved for its links to Aboriginal cultural heritage. There is so much to see and do in Western and North-Western NSW – there is great encouragement for “city people” to spend some time (and money) in the bush to support these struggling communities, so if you are looking for something to do next holidays, why not pay a visit?

It is the resilience of country people in the face of such adversity that many students also find inspiring. One of my goals has always been to open students’ eyes to the wider world around them, and see what contribution they could make to the world at large. Students who are travelling to Moree in October will see the landscape and the people first hand, and I am sure their lives will be touched in the same way that many students have experienced before. The beauty of creation is finely balanced with the destruction that drought (and flooding rains) brings, and how we face the challenges that are presented to us says a great deal about our character.

Year 11 students will be asked to consider that question this week as they are presented with a discussion of leadership opportunities at RJ in 2020. Some have had the experience of leadership activities this year, through their various roles in the School but also taking advantage of other opportunities presented to them. All students will now hear the same presentation and be given equal opportunity to apply for designated roles. Please talk with your son or daughter about how they will choose to demonstrate leadership in their final year of schooling, with or without a badge. Both are equally important.

Year 12 Trial exams are drawing to a close, and projects and Major Works are being completed for submission to NESA. Some have already been uploaded (Society and Culture) while others have been completed and submitted, ready to be packed up and sent away to the NESA warehouse for marking. A project is a daunting prospect if not planned well, and you will be able to see the results of that planning on Wednesday at our HSC Showcase evening. Please come along and be entertained by our Music and Drama students, and see firsthand the work that has gone into the various projects and Major Works on display.

Mrs Jenny Clay
Assistant Principal/Head of Secondary

Living out the Christian faith in today’s world is not always easy for our young people. In a world of selfies, identity politics and fake news, the Masterclass inspired, challenged and equipped our students by tackling the big questions: Does the Christian faith make sense? What does the Bible have to say about issues in our world? And what does it mean to live a bold Christian life that makes a real difference?

John Dickson shared his incredible knowledge on the historical Jesus, showing historical evidence that, contrary to some outspoken atheists, Jesus really did live. He shared that if he found one credible historian who would deny that Jesus existed, he would eat a page of his Bible. John’s Bible remains intact.

Many of us have understood the word ekklesia to mean gathering or assembly, but Mike taught us that it's more original meaning is "called out". He gave a great talk challenging us to remember that church (ekklesia) is more than just gathering on a Sunday, it's a movement to be light in our dark world - "we gather on Sundays so we can scatter on Mondays".

Melissa spoke into our world of the selfie to remind us that being a follower of Jesus for our own sake is a small view of what it means to be a Christian and that when one is "hooked by Jesus" our life and purpose are transformed, "the world should be a better place because of us".

Students were greatly encouraged by attending this event and are still sharing with others what they have taken away from it.

Miss Ruth Mahaffey
Christian Ministry Coordinator 

The next Assembly will see quite a number of students receiving Merit Awards, Service Awards and possibly Principal's Awards; again a great time to celebrate the contributions of students. Remember that each Award contributes to House Points and in the past have been very influential in separating the Houses and ultimately determining the overall winning House.

During the last Assembly I raised concerns of repeated actions of willful damage to School property and students intentionally throwing their rubbish in the playground. This type of behaviour has no place at RJ and all students present were reminded of their responsibilities to behave appropriately and report concerning behaviour. Thankfully after this reminder there has been no repetition of the behaviour and we can continue to enjoy the great facilities here at RJ, seeing them used with respect and care.

Finally, parents are reminded that if you have any questions or concerns please contact your child's Home Group teacher so we can work together in best supporting your child. If you would like to meet a staff member please contact the office to organise a time for an appointment.

Mr Brad Maxwell
Director of Welfare 7-12

It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public and to encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world we live in.

This year we were fortunate enough to receive a small grant from the Australian Government through the Australian Science Teachers Association. This has undoubtedly been put to great use with students in Years 7-10 benefitting from a range of Space-based activities in a variety of subjects. Students have been getting Moon-ready by completing a range of activities across all of their learning areas.

We all know that astronauts have to be pretty fit to be ready for their Lunar landings. So, PDHPE completed astronaut fitness training with our students, while HSIE ensured they knew about the journey ahead with the history of the original moon landings.

In Science, students built the lunar surface and explored how the craters on the moon were formed. They also built various rockets and gained release from a Breakout room by answering space-based questions and puzzles. On Wednesday, Year 7 experienced their very own Lunar mission, with our own Hub being renamed Mission Control and students learning about rockets, missiles and Australia’s part in the Apollo 11 Moon mission.

In English, as part of their unit on reading the media, Year 8 put their persuasive skills to the test and created advertisements for something space-related. Some of the messages embedded in their advertisements included: you don’t need to “Go to the stars to experience Mars (Bars),” you can “Hold the Milky Way in the palm of your hands” (in chocolate form) and that “Australians should be the first ones to colonise Mars!"

In TAS, the Year 8 TECH classes made and tested Lunar rovers, and the 9 iSTEM class got our intrepid astronauts to the moon surface with their Lunar landers.

Mrs Julia Scrimshaw
Director of Studies 

• What work am I interested in?
• Communication in the Workplace
• Time Management
• Looking and Applying for Work
• Writing a Resume 

Four students, Montana Doran, Shane Sowter, Sebastian Austin and John Hammond completed the course and were awarded their certificates at a presentation on Tuesday 13 August at NOVA in South Windsor.

Mrs Kerrie Lyons
Learning Support Coordinator (7-12) 

How can you help?

Auction Baskets - Your generous donations are much appreciated and will form fabulous baskets to be auctioned off by Mr Cockrem on the day. We have collected a lot of great items already and the baskets will remain at both Campuses until the end of August.

Cake Stall - The youngest member of each family will receive a cake box and note asking for your family to contribute one or more items for our famous Cake Stall.

Ride Bands - Get in quick to secure your unlimited Ride Band to be used all day on the fantastic rides we have organised. Neighbours, friends and family can book their ride bands, and take advantage of the early bird discount by booking online at TryBooking - www.trybooking.com/BBFLQ  

Time - The more the merrier! Mums, Dads, Carers we need your help during setup in the morning, during the day and packing up in the afternoon. We would love to see everyone helping out to showcase what RJ is about -A Place to Belong. So if you can help out on the day we would love to hear from you. Please send us an email at pandf@rjas.nsw.edu.au.

The P&F thanks everyone who has already contributed and look forward to a great day!

In meeting with our Year 11 students, many are attending University and College Open Days and we have been looking closely at course guides and study options, to discover new and innovative careers that are challenging and interesting for our modern world.

In addition, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Technology have been invited to present to students during lunchtimes. Dates are yet to be confirmed and will be announced in our next Careers Report.

Miss Voula Simos
Careers Advisor

ZONE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

The Zone Athletics Carnival was held at Blair Oval recently. It was in stark contrast to the washed-out date from last term. Glorious sunshine allowed our students to compete to the best of their abilities. Well done to Laylah Golden (100m), Rihanna Petelo (High Jump), Hannah Bush (High Jump), and Jackson Moule (Long Jump) for setting new School records. 24 of our athletes qualified to represent our Zone at the CSSA State Carnival.

CSSA STATE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Last Friday, 24 students from RJ competed at the CSSA State Athletics Carnival. It was fantastic to see so many students obtain personal best times as they bettered their times, heights or distances since the recent Zone Carnival. While none of our students were able to move onto the CIS Carnival, we had some fantastic results. Laylah Golden and Zoe Harris set new 800m School records and Susahna Peacock set a new shot put record. Zoe Harris broke another old record, setting a new PB in the 1500m, remarkably dropping her time from the Zone Carnival by over 2 minutes. Well done to all of the athletes who enjoyed a wonderful day of competition.

CSSA NETBALL GALA DAY

We recently had the CSSA Netball Gala Day at Jamison Park. The day began beautifully but very soon strong winds made conditions extremely tough for both our Junior and Senior teams. Both of our teams won several matches throughout the course of the day. The Junior team made the quarter finals, the first time in several years that an RJ team has gone that far into the Gala Day. Thank you to Miss Nye and Mrs Evans for coaching the girls.

CSSA METRO CUP SOCCER GALA DAY

The CSSA Metro Cup Soccer Gala Day was also held at Jamison Park in the extreme winds. Both of our teams played well in very tough conditions. We had some positive results throughout the course of the day and our Junior team made it to the quarter finals. While they played really well, they unfortunately went down in that game 2-0. A big thank you to Mr Torchia and Mr Sultana for their assistance on the day.

CRICKET CLINIC

Cricket NSW are running a cricket blast program for students in Years 3-6 after school on Monday afternoons from 3:40pm - 4:40pm. There are limited spaces available in the program, with only 32 spots open. Please refer to the website to register your child for the program which commences on Monday 2 September. The program runs for 6 weeks (last 4 weeks of Term 3 and the first 2 weeks of Term 4). You can use an Active Kids Voucher for this program.

Mr Gavin Mitchell
Primary Sports Coordinator

This event is compulsory for Year 12 students who will have work on display or are performing Music or Drama Items and Year 11 Hospitality students. Year 11 students are welcome to attend and see what lies ahead!

The eSafety Commissioner’s Office constantly researches young people’s online usage and updates the e-safety material on their website. Some helpful material you can find on their website:

eSafety topics for parents and carers: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

• Cyberbullying
• Online pornography
• Nudes and sexting
• Time online
• Gaming
• Unwanted contact and grooming

Online safety: a guide for parents and carers: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/online-safety-guide

Tips and advice on helping your child have safe and enjoyable experiences online 

Skills and advice for parents and carers: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice 

What parents and carers need to know, including online safety basics, good habits start young, the hard-to-have conversations and privacy and your child.

• Online safety basics
• Are they old enough?
• Good habits start young
• The hard to have conversations
• Taming the technology
• Privacy and your child

#GameOn

https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/classroom-resources/gameon/watch-the-film

#GameOn is a cybersafety video about the online experiences of a group of lower secondary students who find themselves in situations that catch them off-guard and teach them the consequences of making poor decisions online.

The video can be viewed all at once or in episodes. Discussion topics for parents and children are: cyberbullying, hacking, friendship betrayal, downloading ‘free’ online items, excessive video-gaming, maintaining privacy, loss of control of shared material.

Back to the question: In recent research conducted by the eSafety Commissioner, what percentage of parents do you think felt confident to deal with cyberbullying that their child might face? 

Answera) 46%

Do you feel confident to effectively respond to cyberbullying, if needed?

Cyberbullying support tool

https://www.esafety.gov.au/complaints-and-reporting/cyberbullyingcomplaints/cyberbullying-a-guide-for-parents

and for further reading…some research from the eSafety Commissioner:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-the-office/research-library