6 June 2023

Schools serve as microcosms of society, providing a platform for students to develop social skills, forge friendships, and establish a sense of identity. Research shows that this sense of connection and belonging within a school community fosters a supportive and nurturing environment that greatly enhances students' overall well-being and academic success.

We want all of our students at RJ to feel connected to our school community where they have opportunities to be actively engaged in their education and all that the school has to offer. Developing  a sense of pride and ownership in their school is a good starting point as this can translate into increased motivation and enthusiasm for learning. The feeling of belonging creates a sense of security and comfort, allowing students to take risks, explore new ideas, and collaborate with their peers.

Similar to students reminiscing over past school photos when they have long left their school, reflecting on the activities they took part in at school also form wonderful moments remembered for a lifetime. 

As such, next week our Primary and Secondary students have another moment in time to forge a stronger sense of connection and belonging as they participate in the Annual House Athletics carnivals. In the sporting arena, students challenge themselves to give their best and develop their sense of house spirit. It’s a wonderful time for our students to connect outside the classroom and navigate interpersonal relationships in a different context. Our Athletics Carnivals are not optional events. Please ensure your child is ready to attend and participate, even in a small way.

Also, on Friday June 16, students can participate in the Winter Sleepout held at the Oakhurst Campus. This event helps our students to grow in their awareness of those less fortunate than themselves. It also provides opportunities for our students to develop empathy, understanding, and respect for diverse perspectives. If you would like your secondary student to be involved, please ensure they see Mr Rowe to collect a permission form so they can attend. Students in Year 6 are also eligible to take part in this overnight event.

As we continue to grow learners, connect hearts and build community at RJ, we also want to stay connected to our students who have graduated from their formal schooling. If you are a past student or are in contact with one or two, we would love for them to take part in our Alumni Register. By clicking on this link, our past students can reconnect with us and we would love to know about what they have been up to as they’ve shaped their adult lives. Please pass on our call out to reconnect with our past students.

God Bless

Mr Alan Dawson | Principal 

There’s something magic about the power of someone’s life story. It is their lived experience and allows you to put yourself in their shoes and walk a mile with them. The shared appreciation of what someone has gone through can be informative, educative and even humbling as you appreciate the blessings and challenges that others experience. In addition to learning about some key developments on the Oakhurst Campus, we discussed some big issues that families are faced with as they parent in 2023 including vaping, social media, the use of technology and the academic opportunities and issues our students are facing.

As you may understand from your own home, many of these issues resonated with families as they seek to navigate these issues. Parenting is that delightful combination of hearing your students, learning about them, educating them, correcting them, encouraging them to be the best version of themselves and hoping that you give them enough of a sense of your family values and expectations so that they can take them as they leave and own them for themselves. Sounds easy right? Well as any of us who care for young people of any age know, there are some days when you feel like you’re winning and some where you…reset and start again. I hope it does not surprise you to know that RJ seeks to partner with families to achieve many, if not all, of the same things. That’s when education is really in the “sweet spot”, when families and the school are pulling in the same direction for the best outcomes for our students.

Whilst we are all going to have slightly different approaches to raising our children and all our students have different needs and support requirements, all students benefit from an environment that fosters high expectations, high support and high challenge. We need to expect a lot of students to foster their self-esteem and encourage them to be the best version of themselves. Coupled with this is the need for high support so that we give our students every chance to meet the high expectations we set for them. These supports become the launch pads from which our students are able to reach new personal heights. Finally it is high challenge that allows our students to stay engaged in the process. Students quickly get bored when there is no challenge or conversely when the challenge feels insurmountable. We need to continue to refine the challenges for our students to ensure they stay in the fight as the next challenge always seems to be just within reach.

We want our students to set high personal standards in their learning, in their dress, in their respect of others and themselves and in their capacity to serve, care and respect for others. Perhaps along the way we can challenge ourselves with the same expectations we have for our students. 

Mr Scott Roby
Deputy Principal  

DISCO FUN

Two successful discos were held in Week 5 for our K-2 students followed by 3-6. The Hall was aglow with coloured flashing lights and glow sticks matched by some very flashy outfits from students and staff! Thank you to all who contributed to make this such a fun event for our students.

NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME

This national literary event was held in Week 5 in the Hall with students in K-6 being entertained by Sam the Starter and Spike the Sloth (possibly Mrs Shannon-Duhigg and Mr Dawson!) We enjoyed the book, The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie that reminded us to always try our best, persevere and not compare yourself to others.

COOLER WEATHER

The colder temperatures have finally arrived – especially in the mornings before School. Please make sure your child has their jacket every day - clearly labelled. The School beanie is also a good cold weather addition to the uniform. We are continuing to promote good hygiene at School with regular reminders to wash hands, cough into elbows and the use of hand sanitiser. Please keep your child at home if they have cold or flu symptoms as there is a lot of sickness at the present time.

HOUSE MEETINGS

Students are to wear their House shirts this coming Friday 9 June for House meetings to prepare for the upcoming Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival on 15 June. See Mr Mitchell’s column for more details.                                                

HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME

A reminder that School attendance is crucial for your child’s continuing progress through the curriculum and development of knowledge and skills. We request that families please limit holidays during term time, remembering Class Teachers will not set work as it is rarely completed, and students regularly return with significant gaps in their learning. Use school holidays, where possible for major trips away.

BREAD BAGS

Our Student Forum has again  enrolled us with Wonder Recycling Rewards to collect used plastic bread bags. Once a certain weight of plastic bread bags has been collected, our school qualifies for some play equipment. Please send in any bread bags (minus crumbs!) with your child over the coming weeks.

Enjoy the rest of your week,  

Mrs Karen Shannon-Duhigg
Head of Primary - Oakhurst

It is also true that music is so vitally important at RJ and since Marsden Park has added individual tutoring rooms we have since had a significant expansion of the music program at RJ over the last 12 to 18 months. We have seen many new students learning piano, guitar, drums and string instruments this year. We have also started to have some of those students performing at our weekly assembly. There are several events over the coming weeks that I want to highlight. 

TASC Primary Choral festival 

This is an opportunity for our amazing choir to perform in front of a packed audience at Penrith Anglican College. This is the second year now that Marsden Park has been able to send its own choir to the event. We have absolute confidence that our Primary Choir will represent in a way that makes us all proud.  

Soloist Concert  

All students who are currently involved in the peripatetic program are performing in a few weeks’ time. More information about this event will be shared via an Edumate broadcast and tutors working with their students will be in discussion about what songs and items they are participating in.  

Performance Assembly – Original date changed now the 30 June. 

On the last day of school this Term we are having a performance assembly to celebrate all the amazing hard work that has been done throughout the Semester. The event is really meant to be a celebration for the students' hard work and determination.  Due to limited space in the hall, we are only able to invite the parents of the Choral Festival students to attend the event. But I assure you that this will not be the last event of this kind for the year.  

8 June – House Assemblies 

This coming Thursday will see House Meetings run in Primary. This House Meeting will largely focus on the upcoming Yrs 3-6 Athletics carnival which is being held the following week. Please ensure that students are dressed in their house attire this Thursday. 

Winter Rug-up  

Again, winter is upon us and we wanted to remind students and parents that it is important for students to come fully dressed, in their Winter Uniform, for school each morning. An explanation of the Uniform Policy is on the school website for further information.  

New date Mini-Athletics 

Due to the postponement of the K-2 Mini Athletics we have decided to hold the event on 26 June at 2:00pm. The car park will be available from 1.45pm.

God Bless  
Mr Sale 

Term 2 Assembly Class Dates

Housekeeping   

• Absences: Please email the absences email address:  absences@rjas.nsw.edu.au or SMS 0438 657 339  
• After school care arrangements: If you have arranged after school care, please remind your child before dropping them to school. Please call the office to ensure the message is not missed in an emergency.  
• Please remember that the carpark is now rear to curb only. Please drive safely due to the high volumes of children walking through the area.  
• Snack Day items. Please be mindful that we limit the amount of items that students are allowed to purchase for snack day. The rule is one item and one drink for all students.  
• Early Leavers. Please also remember that if students are leaving early then a call should be made to the office no later than 10am that day.  

Mr Luke Sale
Head of Primary - Marsden Park

CRU Blast is an exciting CRU Day Camp held for students in Kindergarten to Year 6. Your son or daughter will have the week of their lives and get a great opportunity to make new friends and develop new skills during their school holidays! They'll enjoy the experience of camp, with the chance to participate in exciting outdoor activities and explore a Christian worldview, whilst still going home to sleep in the comfort of their own bed.

The dates for CRU Blast are: 
Monday July 17 – Friday July 21, 2023  (the 3rd week of the July School Holidays)

The registrations have commenced and students have received a flyer:

The link below will take you straight to the registration page: 

REGISTER HERE!

or visit:  https://crudaycamps.com.au/cru-blast#cru-blast-introduction

We’d love to see your child/ children at CRU Blast this year. If you have any questions, please contact Stewart Rowe at School by phone 9677 2455 or email – srowe@rjas.nsw.edu.au 

Mr Stewart Rowe
Christian Ministry Service Learning

We created our own ‘splat’ artworks in the style of the artist Jackson Pollock. 

Miss Parata & Mr Hunt
Year 6  Primary Teachers

The Heritage Festival is taking place in Week 10 of this term on Thursday 29 June. For the first time in a number of years - parents are able to attend. There will be an opportunity for parents to register via Trybooking, there will be a link sent out in Week 9. 

Learning Conferences for Years 7 and 8 occur later this term, an email will be sent to parents that will allow them to book in times to meet with their child's subject teachers. 

Uniform Concerns

A small but growing number of students are wearing their sport uniform to school on days when they should not be. Sport uniform is not to be worn by Stage 6 students unless there is House Meetings or a Secondary sporting event, such as the upcoming Athletics Carnival. Students in Years 7 - 10 can only wear sport uniform to school on Tuesdays. Students who persist in wearing sport uniform instead of the normal winter uniform will not be permitted on the playground during the recess and lunch break.

The Flipside

All students in Years 7 to 10 watched "The Flipside" presented by Brainstorm Productions last week. They were also given the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session at the conclusion of the presentation. The focus of the presentation was on the use of social media and it questioned the false reality of two different worlds, the real world and the digital world. Students were challenged to be consistent, that is be the same person in real life and also online. The impact of sharing videos and making harmful comments online was raised within the presentation, highlighting the potential impact that students may have on others and themselves.  They were encouraged to be consistent in who they are both online and face to face. Students were encouraged to report any issues they have faced online to a trusted adult and also the e-safety Commissioner. https://www.esafety.gov.au/

All members of the RJ Community are reminded that the E-Safety Commissioner's website has very useful resources in relation to social media and online safety.

Teen Vaping

During the recent RJ Community Connect evening one of the topics presented and discussed was teen vaping. While the school's position regarding vaping was communicated, the focus was on tips for parents in relation to teen vaping. Three key points raised was the need for parents to be aware of the latest information while taking care in what they model at home and normalising conversations with their children in relation to vaping. The latest information about to the contents of vapes and the health risks vapes pose were shared. The proposed law changes from the Federal government were also discussed, highlighting the government's goal to make vapes harder to purchase and to make them less attractive through the use of plain packaging. Parents were encouraged to be brave in their conversations with their children and contact the school for support where relevant.

The latest information regarding vaping released by the NSW government can be accessed via the following website:

www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping

To be clear, bringing, sharing and/or using a vape is not permitted for any student while at school and in RJ uniform outside of the school grounds. Parents will be contacted if their child is found to have used or been in possession of a vape and the likely consequence for the student will be suspension. If a student is found to be selling or distributing vapes to other students the police will be contacted as it is illegal to provide vapes to people under the age of 18 years.

Finally, I do hope that each student continues to strive to demonstrate respect and care towards all members of the RJ community in their conversations, the way they use school facilities and through their online contributions. One of the more challenging aspects of demonstrating respect and care towards others is when things go wrong, where someone is hurt and upset by the actions of another. In recent weeks I have had the opportunity to discuss with some students the challenge laid out for us in Galatians 3:13, which is to forgive others. While forgiving someone may not be easy it is a central part of the care and respect we can demonstrate within our community as we strive to move forward together.

Mr Brad Maxwell
Head of Secondary

Over the past six years, students from Richard Johnson have participated in the Youth Off the Streets Winter Sleepout. The Sleepout is on again this year and will be held from Friday evening June 16 to Saturday morning June 17. If your child/ children are in Years 6-12, encourage them to collect a permission form and return it with the receipt from TRY BOOKING.

The TRY BOOKING link is: https://www.trybooking.com/CIFLR 

Download the Permission Form Here

Closing date for registration for the Sleepout is on Tuesday: June 13 

If you are keen to attend, please get your forms in early as numbers may have to be limited due to COVID restrictions.

The cost of the evening is $10 per student, paid through TRY BOOKING which will be donated to Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets Program. Additional sponsorship is also available to support this very worthy cause. 

Cardboard boxes are the go for the evening, so encourage your children to start collecting their bed for the night!! Permission notes are available from Student Reception, D Block Staffroom or your child’s Home Group teacher.

Important: The permission note must be returned with the TRY BOOKING receipt.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Rowe at school by email- srowe@rjas.nsw.edu.au or by phone.

Students explored the way in which the figures representation has changed throughout history and investigated how art historians viewed the classical figure should reflect “Calm grandeur and noble simplicity” (Johann Winkelmann). Students studied artists such as Bernini, Michelangelo, Donatello, Caravaggio, Brancusi and Giacometti, while experimenting with a variety of mediums such as ink, chalk pastel, oil pastel, charcoal, pencil and pen. The sheer talent exhibited across students was outstanding.

YEAR 10 - MASTERFUL ETCHINGS BREAKS NEW GROUND

This Semester Year 10 Visual Arts have been exploring Asian Art and it’s cultural and historical origins and the way in which it has influenced Western art with a particular focus on printing. Students were introduced to dry point etching as a way to capture the aesthetics of traditional Asian Art and the depiction of the surrounding landscape. This was a new technique explored for the first time at Richard Johnson and the results were outstanding and of such a high quality, excellence and professional polish. Students combined the traditional imagery and etching with a western inspired silkscreen printed background that created a warm eye-catching graphic artwork. The hard work and dedication students exhibited in the meticulous creation of this artwork reflected their passion, talent and love for Visual Arts.

YEAR 8 - VISUAL ARTS CULTURAL PRINTS

This Semester Year 8 Visual Arts explored their Cultural Heritage, traditions, and practices through the research of sign, symbols and personal reflection into their identity. Students utilised referencing their knowledge gained previously on elements and Principals of design while also utilising the Subjective and Cultural frames to come up with a graphic lino print design. Students were asked to print a series of three prints which included two black and white prints and one watercolour print. The designs were each unquie and imbued with a rich personal cultural context and reflected the growth each student in understanding their own personal story and identity.

YEAR 7 - VISUAL ARTS TOE-TAPPING SUCCESS STORY

This Semester Year 7 Visual Arts students have explored the fundamental building block of Visual Arts the Elements and Principles of Design and how artists use them to create art, explain art and analyse art. This culminated in the creation of a Shoe compositional drawing that encompassed Line, Shape, Texture, Tone, Balance, Proportion and Size. The results were fantastic and reflected a high calibre of technical skill and natural talent in drawing.

Mrs Sarah Key & Mr Chris Bemrose
Secondary Visual Art Teachers

These activities have included:

The Run4Bibles Cross Country BBQ

Students from the Service team helped organise, cook and serve sausage sandwiches for the students and staff at the School Cross Country Carnival. The Run4Bibles program raises money to supply Bibles to secondary students in South Africa. A huge thank you to all the students, parents and community members who supported the project this year. Each Bible costs $7 and were able to raise over $1900. Because of the kindness and generosity of the School Community, 270 secondary students in South Africa will have their own Bible to read and be part of a study group. Well done to the wonderful Service Team helpers and thank you everyone for supporting this great cause.

The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

During the Red Shield Appeal, students from the Service Team partnered with Josh and Lorelle Vince from the Salvation Army, helping at one of the collection points at Plumpton Marketplace. The students were wonderful ambassadors for our school and their help was greatly appreciated by the Salvation Army Team.

Hanna Reserve Clean-up

On Monday 22 May, 24 Primary students from Years 5 and 6, and 6 Secondary students spent an afternoon at Hanna Reserve cleaning up the paper and rubbish at the Reserve. The students worked very well during the afternoon and collected over 9 large bags of rubbish. Thank you to the students who participated in the clean-up. You all worked very well. Thank you also to the Service Captains who initiated the project and promoted it among the Primary students. A big thank you to Mr Hyde and Mrs Pinney for their assistance and to the Administration staff for the lovely afternoon tea the students enjoyed at the end of the clean -up.

School events

Over the past few weeks, there have been several activities at school that members of the Service Team have been involved in. These included the Parent Open Afternoon, Primary Discos and the Primary Mothers’ Day Breakfast. The students were a great support during these activities and their help was much appreciated by the teachers involved.

A huge thank you to our wonderful Service team who serve the school community in so many different ways. Well done everyone and a special thank you to our great Service Captains: Jaeda, Stela, Amber and Logan.

The 1500m event is an invitational event. Mr Mitchell will nominate selected students and will contact parents to see if their child would like to run the event. Parents will need to drive their child early to the carnival for this event.

Due to the venue still undergoing refurbishments, one discus net is unavailable for us to use. As a result of this, a few events will not be held on the day. These events will be finished during PE lessons.

Two students from track events and field events will qualify for the Zone Athletics Carnival which will be held early in Term 3 on Wednesday 2 August.

CSSA Gymnastics

RJ had two representatives at the CSSA Gymnastics event last week. Chloe S from Year 2 competed in her second ever competition and benefited from the competition. Edyn S finished in 1st place overall with some amazing scores in the various disciplines she competed in. Well done to both the girls.

Rescheduled K-2 Athletics Carnival Marsden Park

The K-2 Athletics Carnival at the Marsden Park Campus will now occur in Week 10 on Monday 26 June.

K-2 Athletics Carnival Oakhurst Campus

The K-2 Athletics Carnival for the Oakhurst Campus will take place this Thursday. We look forward to this event which will commence after lunch. At the conclusion of the event, parents can wait in Pioneer’s Way until the conclusion of the school day before collecting their child on the bell

State Cross Country

Our RJ students competed to the best of their ability at the recent CSSA State Cross Country. Thankyou to Miss Stephens for cheering on the squad for the day.

Mr Gavin Mitchell
Primary Sports Leader

What is your favourite food?

Thai.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Spending time with family, playing sport and going to the beach.

When and why did you come to work at this School?

I started at RJAS in term 2, 2023. I was ready for a career change and had an interest in education.

What do you think you will enjoy about your role in the School?

Being able to work with people within our community and believers of Christ.

Describe a wonderful experience you’ve had which you’ll never forget.

My first trip to Hawaii, many years ago.

Why did you become a Christian?

Because I love God and want to do the best I can to do right by him.

What is your favourite bible verse and why?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 - It encourages me with all that life brings in each season.

What is something you want to achieve?

To learn my new role here at Richard Johnson.

If you could meet any person in the world at the moment who would it be and why?

T.D.Jakes, I enjoy listening to his podcast.