
From the Principal
“Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.”
I have always loved this quote by Napoleon Bonaparte, because it so beautifully captures the power and importance of reading. As American journalist Mary Schmich once wrote, “Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.” Through books, we can be transported to unseen worlds, find new wisdom without a teacher, and discover inspiration to transform our lives. This is one of the many reasons I treasure opening and reading God’s Word each day.
At our College, we place great emphasis on Scripture as the foundation of our lives. Yet, without strong reading skills, we risk missing the treasures of revelation contained in it. That is why reading is not just part of our curriculum, it is a passion we seek to instil in our students: first, the ability to read well and then the joy of reading for life.
This week we celebrated Book Week, an event that never fails to bring joy and colour to our community. Staff entered into the ‘Book an Adventure’ theme with creativity and enthusiasm, while students delighted us all by dressing up as their favourite book characters and sharing their chosen stories. It was especially wonderful to have so many parents join in the celebration.
Our Year 12 Trial Exams are nearing their end and it has been heartening to see the determination and focus of our senior students as they prepare for their HSC in Term 4. At the same time, our recent HSC Showcase was an outstanding display of student talent, passion and dedication. Visual Arts, Textiles, Society and Culture, Music, Drama and Dance students all presented their major works to the RJ Community, and the results were nothing short of inspirational. Congratulations to each student for the countless hours of effort poured into these projects and their teachers for their guidance in these endeavours.
Looking ahead, next week we host our Term 3 Community Connect Evening, a valuable opportunity for parents to meet with our Leadership Team and engage in meaningful conversations about the College. I will also be sharing some exciting updates about our future, including:
• Plans for our 30th Anniversary celebrations in 2027
• The launch of a new College logo and uniform in the same year
• Developments from our College Master Plan and building projects
• A new curriculum initiative for our Year 9 students in 2026
As we approach September, please also mark your calendars for our Junior School Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 5 September at 8am. This is always a joyful occasion for our dads and father figures to enjoy a BBQ breakfast with their children and perhaps even take home a prize or two!
As I began, so I will end, with the reminder of what a precious privilege it is to open the Bible. Within its pages we find the greatest love story ever told: God’s invitation to each of us to know Him through His Son, Jesus. May I encourage you to find time this week to open His Word afresh and discover His love, faithfulness and peace.
God Bless
Mr Alan Dawson | Principal














































