24 May 2024

Here at RJ, students have the chance to take part in the Duke of Ed Award through our camping program and over the years, many of them have achieved their Bronze and Silver Awards as part of this offering. The Duke of Ed Award encourages and supports young people to build resourcefulness and develop important and relevant life skills outside the classroom and we consider this a wonderful way for students to achieve this. If your child has just completed the Year 9 outdoor camp, they may have very well started down the Duke of Ed track and should be encouraged to continue to step out of their comfort zone and see what new skills they could achieve. There is much gold to be found!

Our Year 10 students have commenced the process for Year 11 Subject Selections for 2025. This is a really important time for all of our Year 10 students to consider the pathway they would like to take as they track towards the completion of their formal schooling and head into life after school. As a College, we don’t treat this time lightly, but in fact, we have intentionally given thought to the best practice in assisting students to make informed decisions as they move forward into their final years of study. 

Parents are asked to take part in a meeting with their student and a senior member of the College to help facilitate a smooth transition with subject selection with career aspirations in mind. I would encourage all parents to take part in these meetings as they are integral to the advancement of your student at the College. So keep a look out for the invitation that is being sent to all parents of Year 10.

We began the last fortnight with some Sports gala days and House meetings, and we finished with the Senior School Talkfest Showcase and K-12 Cross Country events (and everything else in between). There’s never a dull moment at RJ but we do enjoy the smiles and laughter of our students around the campus as they engage with each other both inside and outside the classroom.

As we look to the future, we invite you to attend our inaugural Trivia & Puzzle Community event on Friday 14 June, 7pm. Please organise a table of 8 and dress up in a fun theme, or purchase individual tickets ($5 each). This is an exciting new initiative and will certainly be entertaining as we come up with random trivia as we complete a jigsaw puzzle at the same time. More information is below. Trivia Night Booking Link

RJ Uniform Update: We greatly appreciated the input provided by parents, students and staff in regards to the current RJ uniform. We now invite parents to express their interest in joining our RJ Uniform Committee as strategic participants. We are specifically seeking one parent representative from the Junior School and one from the Senior School. The Committee will be exploring options to refresh our uniform and improve the quality and wearability of the fabrics. As outlined in the letter to parents in Term 1, we are planning for a rollout in 2027, coinciding with our 30 year anniversary for entry level Year groups (Kinder, Year 7, Year 11), with an extended transition period for other Year groups. While this date may seem far away, we aim to have a solid understanding of uniform options by the end of this year, with development continuing throughout 2025. Therefore, a long-term commitment to the Committee is required.

Please carefully consider this opportunity and submit an Expression of Interest in the link below before Monday 3 June 4pm: Expression of Interest Link

We pray that your house would also be filled with joy as you endeavour to place your trust in the Lord.

God Bless...
Mr Alan Dawson | Principal 

• The proactive care of our students.
• Considering possible sources of challenge for our students.

The proactive care of our students is most successful when we address issues before they arise. Informal conversations addressing current topics in the media or other events that are happening around our children are ripe for discussion. Often these can be triggering points for students who may process them internally. Having the opportunity to discuss these ideas can assist students to refine their thoughts and increase self-awareness. It can also give us some insight into what is going on in the context in which our students live.

Sometimes our most challenging moments as educators and parents are when we see or sense that our students are experiencing difficulty. Students can be quick to dismiss questions that seek to understand what they are experiencing. This can be challenging in the busyness of day-to-day living. We may be less perceptive to the nuances and needs of our children when we are busily going about our days. We need to ensure we allow check in time so that our students can unpack their day. This can be particularly difficult for our teenagers who at times seem capable of only monosyllabic responses. So too can it be challenging for our little ones who may not yet have the language to communicate their thoughts accurately. Reading body language, staying curious and asking open questions typically increase the effectiveness of such conversations.

STUDENT UNIFORM REMINDERS

Students can still improve in meeting the uniform expectations at RJ. Bags, jewellery, belts and socks remain the students’ biggest area for improvement. Students must utilise the College Bag and/or the College Laptop Bag when bringing their materials to and from the College, as well as moving between classrooms. We have seen a significant improvement in this area recently and we encourage students to speak to a staff member if they need any support in meeting this expectation. Jewellery remains an area for improvement for our girls. One single set of studs or sleepers can be worn, and bracelets, necklaces and rings (particularly those of value) should not be brought to school. Girls are permitted to wear one single plain ring. Wearing the correct socks should be the focus for our boys as is bringing a belt to school each day, which helps to not only hold up the trousers but also to keep the shirt tucked in. Some of our boys are choosing not to wear a belt for this reason. Students who are not meeting College uniform expectations will be addressed and prompt correction will be expected. Students who are unwilling to meet the College’s expectations can expect to have significant conversations involving their families with a staff member. Please support your student in meeting College uniform expectations.

Mr Scott Roby
Deputy Principal

CROSS COUNTRY EVENTS

K-2 held a successful, if not tiring, Cross-Country event last week. The students gave it their all and it was a fun afternoon. Years 3-12 held their Cross-Country event yesterday at Hanna Reserve. It was quite a challenging course with the older age groups having to complete two laps. Congratulations to all who completed the course and to the Junior School students who have qualified for the CSSA State event on Friday 31 May. We wish you well as you represent RJ.

DA VINCI DECATHLON

On Thursday 16 May, two teams of students from Stage 3 headed to Knox Grammar School to represent RJ in the da Vinci Decathlon. They joined around 1300 students from all around New South Wales to participate in an academic competition that was incredibly challenging. The Year 5 and Year 6 teams competed in 10 different tasks. Each team completed activities in Code Breaking, English, Ideation, Science, Creative Producers, Cartography, Art and Poetry, Mathematics, Engineering and Legacy that required them to demonstrate a variety of skills.  

Throughout the day the students found themselves in The Learning Pit on a number of occasions, however, they showcased resilience and teamwork as they engaged in each of the disciplines. It was a fantastic experience for all the students and they represented the College with pride. Their commitment to each task and their tenacity when faced with challenges is commended. 

Congratulations to Mark B, Arsh A, Oliver T, Hetavi J, Ivy Y, Sofia F, Kai G, Austin L, Ansh P, Stephanie M, Alicia S, Sahil C, Aarav P, Sienna F, Veeshaye S and Bella S.

MUSICA VIVA

Years 3-6 enjoyed a captivating performance from Water Rhythms – part of the Musica Viva school performances offerings. Through an engaging exploration of dance, rhythm, soundscapes and improvised movement, students learnt how to listen to music in new ways to create dances and music of their own, and to express themselves through movement. Thank you to Miss S-D for organising this wonderful creative arts experience. 

NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME

This fun event occurred on Wednesday this week featuring this year’s book – Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker. Mr Dawson and I really enjoy promoting quality Australian literature to our young readers here at RJ.

LATE ARRIVALS

We continue to have a large number of students arriving after our 8:45am bell each morning. Please try hard to get your children to school on time so they have a settled start to the day, meet up with their friends and hear the announcements on lines. Expect to be contacted by the College if your child is regularly late.

DISCO

The ever-popular Junior School Fundraising Disco will be held on Tuesday 28 May in the College Hall with two sessions.

Years K-2: 4pm - 5pm

Years 3-6: 5:30pm – 6:45pm

Cost is $6 which will include three glowstick bangles. Booking link below. Dress Code: Colourful and modest clothing, and footwear appropriate for dancing. Parents should not remain on site in view of the hall to prevent distracting the students during the event. Students will need to show a copy of their ticket (or parents provide a digital version) when collecting the glowsticks.

K-2 -  https://www.trybooking.com/CRYRH

3-6 - https://www.trybooking.com/CRYRK

Enjoy your weekend, 

Mrs Karen Shannon-Duhigg
Head of Junior School

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT - TERM 2

I do hope to see student's engage in our upcoming events such as the Winter Sleep Out and the annual Heritage Festival. Parents/carers also have an opportunity to assist with food stalls during the Heritage Festival. Students and parents/carers are encouraged to respond to any relevant communication from the College to ensure that they are able to express their interest in being involved.

SEMESTER 1 ACADEMIC REPORTS AND LEARNING CONFERENCES  

The Semester 1 Reports for students in Years 11 and 12 were released to both students and parents/carers last week. The reports are accessible via Edumate for the students and the RJ APP or the Parent Portal on the RJ website for parents/carers. Semester 1 reports for Years 7 and 8 will be released later this Term, with reports for Years 9 and 10 released early in Term 3.

Learning Conferences take place the week following the release of the Semester 1 Academic Reports. Thank you to the parents/carers, students and staff involved in the recent Year 11 and 12 Learning Conferences earlier this week. I hope that the conversations that took place during the conferences provided feedback relating to recent learning and achievements and also direction for future learning.

Parents/carers are reminded that if they have any questions or concerns regarding one of their child's subjects they can contact the College and request to speak with the subject teacher. Additionally, all parents/carers are encouraged to attend the Learning Conferences with their child, taking advantage of the opportunity to gain an overview of their child's progress in all their subjects. 

BRAINSTORM PRODUCTIONS

On Thursday 6 June, Senior School Students will be engaging with the team from Brainstorm Productions and their performance of "Wired". The event will focus on a range of issues and themes relevant to teenagers including social isolation, bullying, online safety, school stressors, family relationships and pressure from social media. It addresses barriers to help-seeking and provides strategies for resilience, problem-solving, goal-setting and positive mental health. Parents/carers are encouraged to speak with their child following this event, and as always engage in conversation around the use of social media as part of the ongoing care support they have for them.

I am looking forward to seeing our students continue to take up the opportunity to serve others within the RJ Community and beyond. In 1 Peter 4:10, we are encouraged to serve others using the abilities that God has given us to the benefit of those around us while reflecting the grace and generosity that God shows us. The willingness to place the needs of others before our own reflects some of the attributes we would like all RJ students to possess: being connected, resourceful and positive contributors. Whether students engage in a formal opportunity to serve, such as the Service Team or simply offering assistance when a need arises, it strengthens our community and is highly valued.

Mr Brad Maxwell
Head of Senior School

Students were taught how to use Adobe Photoshop and learnt how to layer images, change background, colour, use opacity, masking, and lasso tools amongst others to create their own print advertisement. This was new to all students. Students first made a print advertisement for Hilux “Unbreakable” Ute campaign that demonstrated the durability, toughness and 'never say die' quality and dependence of the Hilux Ute.

Students then explored the use of Print Design in film advertisement by creating a movie poster that incorporated a personal reflection on interests, heritage and personal identity. The result was outstanding, and extremely polished. Each student demonstrated exceptional learning and a high level of technical skills in the creation of their movie poster. Each student successfully learnt a new design skill and technique that they were able to share within the class through peer tutoring.

Mrs Sarah Key
Senior School Teacher

FOOTBALL GALA DAYS

On Monday we had our Stage 2 Football Team, and on Tuesday our Stage 3 Football Team compete in their respective Gala Days at Mamre Anglican School. Our four teams had a lot of fun on their Gala Days. They scored some great goals, won some matches, competed to the best of their abilities and were humble in defeat; this is a trait that we are instilling in our Junior School students.

Special thanks to Mrs Fiore and Mrs Bichescu for their hard work on the day. A big thank you also to Mr Guardia and Mr D’Morias for their assistance on the day with the Stage 3 event.

3-6 CROSS COUNTRY

Our 3-6 Cross Country occurred on Thursday. The top four students will now progress to the CSSA State Cross Country next Friday. Well done to all our runners.

Mr Gavin Mitchell
Junior School Sports Leader

• Our excellent MC will entertain you!
• Lucky door prizes! (When booking, please provide the name of each person booked. If unknown at the time of booking, use "John Doe" or "Jane Doe"; however these placeholder names and any duplicate names will be excluded from the lucky door prizes.
• Individual seats can be purchased. Simply select a table number to join when booking.
• Extra points are available for themed tables! Each table (up to 8 people) can pick its own theme.
• Extra points are available for completing the jigsaw puzzle allocated to your table.
• Each table requires a phone to use with Kahoot!
• BYO snacks and drinks (no alcohol).
• Adults only.
• Participants are respectfully asked not to use their phones to source answers online.
• Tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets: Trivia & Puzzle ticket link

RSVP, Friday 14 June, 4pm.

Start planning your table theme now!