8 August 2025

I trust that the holiday break provided rest and renewal for our students and families. As we begin this exciting term, there is much to look forward to and many opportunities to celebrate the life of our College. Even just this past week we concluded our K-6 Parent Teacher interviews and our Senior School Learning Conference series. Thank you to the parents who attended and engaged with our teaching faculty.

Staffing Changes

We’re pleased to welcome several new staff members this term:

• Mr Bardsley joins 4S, replacing Miss Stokes, who leaves RJ to undertake an international teaching opportunity in the UK.

• Mrs Johnson joins the Science Faculty in the Senior School

• Miss Booth, a targeted DET graduate, commences as an early career teacher in the Senior School Mathematics Faculty.

We congratulate the following staff on their internal leadership appointments:

• Mr Hyde – Director of Student Engagement

• Mrs Viatos – Leader of Student Wellbeing (Years 10–12)

• Mrs Statheos – Head of House – Eagles

Year 12 Milestones

This week, Year 12 HSC Music and Drama students completed their trial performance examinations, showcasing remarkable talent, creativity, and effort. Trial Examinations continue in Week 4 and play an important role in preparing Year 12 students for their final assessments.

For our Year 12 students, this term marks their final term of formal schooling, a significant milestone in their educational journey. As they prepare for their HSC examinations in Term 4, we pray for clarity, endurance, and confidence as they work towards their goals. Their commitment and resilience are already evident, and we know they will continue to approach their studies with diligence and purpose.

Athletics Achievements

Over 160 students from our Junior and Senior School recently represented the College at the CSSA Nepean Zone Carnivals. We commend their enthusiastic participation and celebrate the many personal best achievements recorded on the day.

Northwest Mission

A team of students is preparing for the Northwest Mission Trip to Moree and the surrounding region, taking place from the end of the second week of the October holidays into Week 1 in Term 4. This eight-day experience offers a wonderful opportunity to serve, connect, and share God’s love in action. Please keep these students and staff in your prayers as they prepare for this important outreach.

Student Leadership Team - 2026

This term also brings the announcement of our 2026 Student Leadership Team, with appointments to be shared in the final weeks of Term 3. We look forward to acknowledging and celebrating those who will take up the mantle of leadership and service within our College community.

Looking Ahead

Our Year 9 subject selection process will begins soon. Current Year 8 students will have the opportunity to choose their elective subjects for next year, including an exciting new option, a third elective offered exclusively online. Further communication will be shared with parents early next week.

As we begin Term 3, let us take a moment to give thanks to God for the great blessings He brings to our lives – in our learning, our relationships, and our service to others. May we step into this term with grateful hearts and a shared commitment to growing in character, knowledge, and faith.

God Bless
Mr Alan Dawson | Principal 

Join us for a relaxed evening with light refreshments and great company. Connect with fellow parents and the RJ Executive team as we share exciting updates on:

- Plans for our 30-year anniversary in 2027
- New College uniforms
- Future building developments 

You’re also welcome to raise topics for discussion when registering that are relevant for the wider community.

RSVP by 1:00pm Tuesday 26 August - https://bit.ly/45qZnWZ

The PCSLC is on the left as you enter the College turnaround. Onsite parking available as staff have left for the day. We kindly ask that children do not attend, to allow parents to connect without distractions. 

Students from Year 11 have warmly welcomed the Japanese students and enjoyed accompanying them to classes each day. The Oda students have received a little taste of what it’s like to be a student at RJ, experiencing schooling in a different country and a different approach to education. Both the students and staff of the touring party have observed several similarities and differences that have made the experience unique for them. In particular, they experienced a Biblical Studies class that was not only a new experience for them, but would also be a different experience for many students in Australia.

One of the great joys of cultural exchange is the opportunity to listen and learn from people and their different experiences in a way that requires empathy, open-mindedness, and ‘flexing’ your Relationship and Reciprocity ‘muscles’. What has been lovely to see throughout the week is that acts of kindness, warmth, and a friendly smile transcend language barriers. Our students have served our Japanese visitors well and created connections and experiences that will remain with both our visitors and us long after their time at RJ.

Student Leadership Process

One of the great pleasures of this time of year is the oversight of the Senior School student leadership appointment process. Year 11 students have the opportunity to consider how they can serve RJ and the student body by dedicating their time to an area of College life. This week the 2025 College Captains and Vice-Captains interviewed the Year 11 students who have nominated themselves for a College Captain or Vice-Captain role. Two things have immediately stood out in this process: we have been blessed with a strong team of Captains and Vice-Captains for 2025, and it has been a tremendous privilege to witness student voice in action.

The interviews were completely run by the 2025 leadership team, who did a wonderful job. I have been impressed by their tremendous insight as they decided who should be shortlisted for roles. This process is challenging because many students would do an exceptional job in these senior leadership roles. Yet, RJ was once again impeccably represented through their astute questioning and wisdom as they discerned, debated and considered the students best suited for the positions. We eagerly await the opportunity to interview the shortlisted candidates to elect the 2026 leadership team. The 2025 team are trusting them to build on the legacy they have established.

Mr Scott Roby | Deputy Principal

A special welcome to our new students who have joined the RJ family after the break. Please refer to the Term 3 letter emailed out in Week 1 for Assembly information and event dates (Term 3 Parent Letter). Please check Winter uniforms as many students have grown and hem lengths may need adjusting on tunics and trousers.

Year 4 rock first Assemblies for the term ❤🐏

Our Friday Assemblies resumed last week with 4S bringing us a great presentation on our theme for this term – Psalm 23 ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. 4H followed up today with a wonderful reminder of how our great God cares for His people. We loved seeing all the amazing things going on in the classrooms too. Well done, Year 4 stars!

We are GENEROUS& CARING  🥫 $

Junior School students raised over $500 for Anglicare on the last Thursday of Term 2 – thank you so much for your generosity. More than 1500 tins/packets were collected to add to food hampers supplied by Anglicare for those less fortunate – great effort RJ Junior School!

Farewell to Miss Stokes

It is with sadness that we farewell Miss Kelsey Stokes today, one of our fabulous Year 4 teachers. After more than 2.5 years at our College, Miss Stokes is heading to London to continue her teaching journey. She will be greatly missed, and we pray God’s richest blessings over this exciting new chapter in her life.

We are also pleased to welcome the capable Mr Morgan Bardsley, who has joined 4S in her place.

Let’s get to School – being late isn’t cool ⏰ 

We are still seeing a number of students arriving after the 8:45am morning bell. Important information is delivered at our morning lines as well as promoting a settled start to the day with prayer. Please make sure your child arrives before 8:45am.

If your child is late, please accompany them to Junior School Reception to sign in. Use the Dryden Avenue gate bell closest to JS Reception to be buzzed through.

Year 6 Fun Day - a winner! 

We were so excited for today's special event, organised and run by our Year 6 students to raise sponsorship funds for our Compassion children. There were a number of fun activities and yummy treats galore! Students enjoyed purchasing and spending their tokens. Well done, Year 6, a fantastic effort for a great cause!

Go Lions, Go Rams, Go Eagles, Go Sharks!

A reminder that House meetings will be held next Friday, August 15. Please ensure your child wears their House shirt on the day. 

Kindness Day 

Kindness is one of our favourite College values in Junior School. On Friday 15 August, we will be highlighting it through a range of class-run and House activities around the kindness theme. The Junior School does this in parallel with the Senior School's Bullying No Way Day. Please note this is not a mufti or fund-raising day.

Book Week Celebration Day – got the costume sorted?

Our much-loved Book Week Celebration Day is coming up on Monday 18 August (Week 4). Teachers and students will dress up as their favourite book characters, bringing stories to life across the Junior School. Parents are invited to watch the class parades from 9:45am in the Courtyard and on the fields.

How to have THAT conversation with your child…

 ‘Amazing Me’ specialises in providing primary aged children, parents, and educators with positive and empowering information. ‘Amazing Me’ has been developed by Rowena Thomas, a primary school teacher with over 30 years’ experience in her field of sexual health education. Her respectful, age-appropriate and engaging programs are experienced by thousands of children and adults every year. She is passionate about educating children and their families about how amazing they are and opening up conversations in the context of their beliefs and values. Stage 2 and 3 students (Years 3-6) and their parents have the opportunity to participate in these valuable sessions

Time/Date: 5:30pm-7:45pm Thursday 4th September in The Hub (Senior Library)

To attend the program/s a ticket must be purchased via this link - https://www.trybooking.com/DDVOT

Have a lovely weekend,

Mrs Karen Shannon-Duhigg | Head of Junior School

Inter-House and Co-Curricular Activities

The inter-house competition kicked off on Thursday this week, and the General Knowledge competition is now underway. I look forward to seeing our students engage positively across their classes, sporting activities, and co-curricular opportunities this term. 

It will also be a pleasure to acknowledge and celebrate student achievements during our assemblies, particularly at the upcoming Year 12 Graduation Assembly later this term.

Finally, I pray that through Chapels and House Chapels, students will continue to reflect on who Jesus is to them, reflecting on the love and mercy God shows through Him.

House Keeping

• Semester Two Assessment Calendars have been published for students in Year 7 to 10, accessible via CANVAS
• The first of our two HSC Showcase evenings will take place on Wednesday 13 August from 5:00pm 
• HSC Trial Examinations commence on Monday 18 August in the PCSLC

CRU Blast

Thank you to the RJ students and staff who gave up part of their holidays to help run the CRU Blast Camp, a clear demonstration of their willingness to serve. It was wonderful to see the energy of the children who attended and the leadership and engagement shown by our Senior School students.

Year 12 2025

• HSC Mock Trials - Well done to our Year 12 students who participated in the recent holiday mock trials
• HSC Trials - The Music and Drama Trials took place earlier this week.
• HSC Major Works - Students have begun submitting their major works for selected HSC subjects, with all submissions due this term

I invite RJ families to join our staff in praying for the Year 12 Cohort as they enter their final term of learning. Please uphold them as they move from learning mode into performance mode, as they complete the Trial HSC examinations and major works.

Reminder - Late arrivals to the College

Senior School students must arrive at the College on time each day, ready for Home Group at 8:30am. Students arriving after this time must sign in at Student Reception. As communicated in my Term 3 letter to parents/carers, unexplained late arrivals will result in a demerit. The accumulation of five demerits will lead to a formal lunch detention. Sadly, after just two weeks of Term 3, some students have already received detentions due to repeated unexplained lateness.

College Uniform and Presentation Policy

Thank you to families who support the College by ensuring students wear the correct uniform. We also appreciate the prompt and supportive response when uniform adjustments are requested.

A reminder regarding hair expectations:

• Hair colouring must be subtle and in tone with the student’s natural colour – no extreme variations. Hair should be a single natural tone with no highlights or streaks.

• Hair must be clean, tidy, and well-groomed. It should not hang across the face or eyes. Boys must have hair above collar length. Girls with shoulder-length or longer hair must tie it back using navy blue scrunchies, ribbons, or headbands.

A good indicator that a haircut is needed is if a student frequently flicks their head to move hair out of their eyes.

Students who do not comply with the College's Uniform and Presentation Policy will not be acknowledged on stage during formal College events, including assemblies and the Year 12 Graduation Assembly. Continued non-compliance may result in students being withdrawn from classes and sent home until the issue is resolved.

Final thought

As our current Year 11 students apply for leadership positions for 2026, I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”. This approach can only benefit and build our community, particularly when upheld by those in positions of influence and leadership.

Please continue to use the RJ App to stay informed and manage permissions throughout Term 3. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s Home Group teacher.

Mr Brad Maxwell | Head of Senior School

Be inspired by the creativity and entertained by our talented and outstanding Year 12 students. 

Light refreshments provided prior to performances.

Friends & Family come & join us!

The following vaccines are offered for free to all
Year 7 students on Monday 11th August:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine - Single dose
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (Whooping Cough) vaccine - Single dose

The following vaccine is offered for free to all
Year 10 students on Wednesday 27th August: 

• Meningococcal ACWY vaccine - Single dose

In 2025 parents/carers can provide online consent for their child’s vaccinations or use traditional paper consent forms. Vaccination will only be provided at the College if consent has been received.

How to provide consent:

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage
2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
   a)Enter your child’s personal details.
   b)Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child.
   c)Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement. Translations available in 27 languages.
   d)Provide consent.

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper consent form from Student Reception.

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit

www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination

If you require information in your language, please visit

www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx

Late in May, our Year 8 Drama Club students competed in the Sharp Short Theatre competition at Parramatta Riverside Theatre. They performed The Murder at Windermere Manor, written by Eden HL, Joanna S and Alannah K. This was performed by these students along with Ruby N, Celina M, Delani, David M and Sienna G. During the day, the students rehearsed on the professional stage receiving valuable feedback by professional directors and stage technicians. After further rehearsals they performed for a live, paying audience in the evening. While they did not advance to the final, their performance was engaging and they represented out College with flair and panache.

Our Junior School Cantabile Choir and Senior School VOX Vocal students also represented the College in a spectacular way at the TASC Choral Festival, hosted at Thomas Hassall Anglican College. Cantabile's lively performance of One Short Day was met with enthusiasm and the beaming smiles of our Junior students as they performed were particularly winsome. VOX's powerful performance of Rain Down impressed everyone. RJ Senior students presented a polished and confident performance featuring several solo segments and lots of energetic, tight movement. It was a delight to have both choirs perform their pieces at our final K-12 Assembly on the last day of term 2.  

The Soloists Concert Series, held towards the end of term 2, was a wonderful testament of the musical benefits of hard work, dedication and application. Seventy music students performed across three programs throughout the week, presenting a rich variety of pieces. From our youngest performers in Year 2 to our accomplished Year 12 music students, each displayed courage, poise and musical excellence. The concerts highlighted the talents of students who receive one-on-one lessons with our highly skilled tutors, as well as some of their own external tutors.

This week, our Music and Drama Students have risen to the challenge of presenting their full music performance programs and their Individual and Group projects for the Trial Examinations. While the experience was challenging and nerve-racking, it was also deeply rewarding. The feedback they received has been invaluable, and the opportunity to perform under exam conditions is an important step in preparing for the HSC practical examinations.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all RJ students as they prepare for their upcoming Fine Arts assessments – Dance NESA practical exams on 21 August, Drama on 27 August, the submission of Visual Arts Bodies of Work, and Music practical exams in early September. This is an incredibly busy season for our talented students.

We also look forward to our HSC Showcase Night on Tuesday, 13 August – an evening not to be missed. Guests will enjoy stunning displays and a diverse range of performances, reflecting the dedication, skill, and creativity of our Year 12 students. Doors open at 5:00pm, with performances commencing at 6:00pm. All are warmly invited to attend.

Parents wishing to enquire about Individual lessons at RJ can do so through this form - https://forms.office.com/r/FFM68WiyUH 

To the artists among us who are seeking more Visual Arts opportunities, our co-curricular program offers plenty to inspire. Students can join the lunchtime Masters of Art club run by Mrs Key, or the exciting new program for Year 5 and Year 6 students led by Ms Linehan. We are eagerly anticipating next term’s Visual Arts Exhibition, which will showcase work from Year 5 students through to the major works of our Year 12s, as well as the creations of our co-curricular Visual Arts groups.

Teaching Visual Arts is always an invitation to glimpse the rich imagination of our students. The art rooms are a safe space where difference and individualism are embraced, celebrated, and encouraged. It has been a joy to witness this creative spirit in our RJ art rooms in recent months, and we look forward to seeing it flourish even more throughout the year.

Ms Linehan | Senior School Teacher

Time to step back and admire the creative brilliance of our RJ artists, in the brilliance of completion. Ah, there it is. Or soon will be, for our Year 12 Visual Arts students, once the Body of Work Marathon and the many hours of creative labour come to a close.  

Right now, the Visual Arts rooms are a flurry of activity as our Senior HSC Visual Arts students put the finishing touches on their submissions, ready for exhibition. The range of media is broad, including layered drawings, mixed media sculpture, wire, textiles architectural models, stencils and painting. The sophistication of our senior artists’ work is impressive to say the least, and as a faculty we are immeasurably proud of their dedication and innovation.

The community will see these works on display next week at our annual HSC Showcase, Hall doors open at 5pm for an unmissable event for everyone.  

Ms Linehan | Senior School Teacher

During the first semester, Year 10 Visual Arts investigated the significant role that Eastern/Asian Art has played in the history of art, and its impact of various artists' personal, conceptual, and artmaking practices. Students explored a range of printmaking methods from various cultures such as Wood Block Printing, Dry point etching, Silkscreen Printing, and deepened their knowledge through case studies of artists Ai Wei Wei, Xu Bing and Musami Teraoka.

This study culminated in the creation of three detailed dry point etching prints, incorporating ink, watercolour, and silkscreen printing techniques. It was a highly complex task, requiring multiple intricate steps to produce successful prints. The standard of work across the Year 10 Visual Arts cohort was exemplary, showcasing sophisticated design and refined printing techniques of a truly professional standard.

Mrs Key | Senior School Teacher

Year 11 Visual Arts have explored the intrinsic role that the representation of figure and form has played in the history of art, from the traditional Canons of Art through to Contemporary and Modern movements. Students researched the practices of well-known and influential artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Bernini, Donatello, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Francis Bacon, to deepen their understanding of the figure’s significance in art.

They were then tasked with producing a Body of Work featuring various depictions of the figure, spanning from Renaissance to Postmodern Art movements. For this, students utilised a wide range of mediums, including chalk and oil pastels, charcoal, acrylic paint, and other materials that could be manipulated to create different textures, extending their artmaking “toolbox.”

Their ability to apply the knowledge gained through their studies, creating postmodern reinterpretations while also replicating original artmaking traditions and technique, was truly outstanding.

Mrs Key | Senior School Teacher

As a community here at RJ, we celebrate not only our students, but also the many cultures and traditions that shape their growth as individuals. Students explored the powerful role that cultural symbols, design, and traditional artmaking methods play in visual and oral cultural history.

The Where I Belong unit gave our Year 8 students the opportunity to draw on their own cultural backgrounds, combining them into a montage design for a lino print edition. Lino carving presents its challenges, yet the artists in this group produced prints that reflect a deep pride in their heritage. The results speak for themselves – confident, evocative, and bold.

The outcome is a striking series of well-executed, graphic prints that showcase the many diverse cultures contributing to the richness of our RJ learning community.

Mrs Key and Ms Linehan | Senior School Teachers

The Aquatic Life unit kept our Year 9 Visual Arts students busy creating hand-built ceramic vessels with an aquatic theme – a project that posed both structural and aesthetic challenges. This group of artists didn’t shy away from the task, producing teapots, vases, chalices, bowls, and platters that together transformed the art room tables into a kind of underwater banquet.

Their study of textures, movement, repetition, form, and transformation informed the making of these vessels, using techniques of addition, subtraction, and clay impression, followed by glazing and a final firing. The moment the kiln door is opened always carries a sense of ritual, with the outcome never certain until that instant – but we were not disappointed!

Year 9 now turn their focus to Surrealism, delving into its visions of strange dream worlds and the subconscious mind.

Ms Linehan | Senior School Teacher

Visual language is one that transcends the written word – more so now than ever before, with images saturating our world. Our newest senior school artists, Year 7, have begun their creative journey by building an understanding of the fundamentals of Visual Arts: the Elements of Design. They have submitted folios featuring tonal and colour drawings in various media, focusing on capturing the nuances of light, texture, and form through analytical observation. Through these skills, this group has become a team of budding artistic magicians, able to create two-dimensional illusions of real-life objects while adding that extra creative flair.

Year 7 Visual Arts have enjoyed ‘toe-tapping’ success in exploring the building blocks of art – the Elements and Principles of Design. Students investigated how line, shape, colour, texture, tone, and balance can be used to create artworks, design compositions, and apply critical and historical analysis of art. They studied various case study artists, including Paul Klee, Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Kandinsky, and Picasso, culminating in the creation of two artworks: a pencil shoe drawing and an oil pastel drawing of an apple. The quality of work across the year level has demonstrated an impressive level of learning excellence.

Mrs Key and Ms Linehan | Senior School Teachers

🏃‍♂️ Junior School Zone Athletics Carnival

Despite a rainy forecast, Harold Corr Oval saw sunshine and stellar performances! Our students competed with heart and spirit, and three of our relay teams placed in the top three 🥉. Our Junior School squad made us proud with a 2nd place overall finish! We now eagerly await news on who will qualify for the CSSA Primary State Athletics Carnival on Friday 22 August.

🏐 Netball Gala Day

Stage 2 and 3 teams represented RJ at Jamison Park yesterday with energy and sportsmanship. Miss Stephens shared that our girls gave it their all and played with integrity. Well done, team!

🏉 OzTag Gala Day - Good Luck!

Next Wednesday, our OzTag Gala Day team will hit the field at the CSSA OzTag event. Best of luck, we’ll be cheering for you!

⛅ WSCS Kicks Off Soon

We’re hoping to commence WSCS next week after rain postponed Round 1. Let’s hope the sunshine sticks around!

Mr Gavin Mitchell | Director of Sport