Newsletter Week 2, Term 3
From the Senior Executive
Great Debating News
Mrs Christy Godby, our debating co-ordinator reports some more great news coming from our debating teams this year: Yesterday morning our Stage 6 Team B defeated Sydney Boys' HS Team B to progress to the State Quarter Finals for the Premier's Debating Challenge!
All the more impressive is that the Stage 6 Team is made up of 2 Year 10 students (Holly and Ellie) one Year 8 student (Doug) and all but one actual Stage 6 student (Ben). The team will debate Sydney Boys Team A on Monday. The winner of which will progress to the semi-finals. Please wish them luck if you see them.
Many thanks to Mr Anil Warrier who has been wonderful in helping to coordinate the Stage 6 PDC competition.
Respectful Behaviour Request
I would like to respectfully remind all parents to be calm, kind and respectful when speaking to administration staff, teachers or executive staff on the phone. This week we have had reports of a number of conversations where parents have spoken in an aggressive and angry manner on the phone. This is our workplace and we deserve to be safe in our work environment. Everyone is doing the best they can in extraordinary circumstances and we understand everyone can be stressed by events at times. I have asked staff to calmly and politely end phone conversations with parents or carers who are acting in an angry and aggressive manner.
Safety Alert
NSW Police Force have requested that we reissue Safety Alert 92 due to recent reporting of young persons in possession of gel guns or hydro blasters.
A gel gun or hydro blaster are gun-shaped toys that expel gel balls through a powered, compressed air gearbox system. Gel guns and hydro blasters are designed to replicate real weapons and the look of these guns can make it difficult for individuals to differentiate between a toy and a genuine firearm.
The New South Wales Police Force Firearms Registry has classified gel guns as an air gun, and as such, are classified as a prohibited firearm under the Firearms Act 1996.
Note: It is a criminal offence to acquire and/or possess a gel gun.
What to do if a student is in possession:
- Schools who become aware that a young person is in possession of a gel gun should treat these matters seriously and call Triple Zero (000) immediately if there is a threat which is current and imminent.
- If safe to do so the school should confiscate and secure the weapon and limit handling.
- All incidents are to be reported as soon as possible to Police and to the Incident Report and Support Hotline.
CAPA Faculty Update
It has been a very busy end to Term Two and start to Term Three in CAPA. As we head toward HSC practical exams and final hand ins of major works, we have also been involved in a range of performance opportunities both here at school and in the community.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT DANCE FESTIVAL
In Week 9 of Term Three, the Junior and Senior Dance Ensembles performed at the Seymour Centre for the In the Spotlight Dance Festival. Both groups had been working hard for months to create their works and they performed beautifully at the festival. Congratulations to the students involved and a big thank you to their families and friends for all your support on the night.
STATE MUSIC CAMP:
My Senior State Music Camp Experience by Emma
In week 10 of term three, I had the incredible opportunity of going to the Senior State Music Camp. I went with three other people from our school, Sophia, Xavier and Elliot. Every day we had 4 hours in our Ensemble 1 (I was in the vocal ensemble). We then also had some rec time where we did things like playing archery tag as well as time in the evening where we played games to meet new people. We also spent 4 hours across the week learning a song for our second ensemble (mine was musical theatre), which we then performed for the tutors and students on day 5. One of the coolest things we did was our ‘Camp Item’. This was where everyone at the camp was involved either in the choir or orchestra. There was time in the mornings and evening where we would all meet together in choir and learn Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy), in German! It sounded amazing when we put the orchestra and the choir together (it could have been the real thing if I do say so myself!) At the end we put together all the work we had done throughout the week and performed it for our family and friends. The whole camp was the most incredible experience. I met so many cool and talented people and learnt so many new things. I would definitely recommend it. It was a long week and a lot of music and activities but it is so worth it and an experience you will never forget. I would 100% go again.
CABARET:
On Wednesday 20th July, 120 RBSC students performed in the school cabaret entitled ‘Voice of Australia.’ The cabaret explored the different aspects of Australian life. Including, the land, the people, moments that changed our nation and the importance of Indigenous history and culture. Students were involved in every aspect of the show, performing (Dance, Drama, Music, Art), writing, backstage, lighting, projections, sound, and promotion.
After two and a half years of not being able to perform in front of a live audience it was so exciting to have a packed hall. The support from family, friends, students, and teachers was very appreciated by all the cast and crew.
A special thank you to the teachers, cast and crew who gave up many hours to ensure that the show was a massive success.
Congratulations to Sofia in Year 9 who designed the beautiful cabaret poster.
GOOD LUCK:
The CAPA faculty would like to wish all of the Year 12 Creative and Performing Arts students luck for their upcoming HSC performances and final hand ins of major woks. We know that this is a stressful time for you, but please know that all of your teachers are here to help you with anything that you need.
Kelly Vine
Head Teacher
Creative and Performing Arts Faculty
Hardy Street Harvest Garden
The Hardy Street Harvest garden designed and run by the IEF fell into disrepair during Covid lockdowns and the extreme rain fall. The P&C kindly responded to our request for some funding to make the Hardy Street Harvest garden great again. Last week we had a delivery of soil and golden gravel. The students have been hard at work, filling garden beds with nutrient enriched soil and planting out the glasshouse. This week they planted 40 lettuce plants along with many other great vegetables. Watch this space for a lush and produce laden Hardy Street Harvest garden.
Music Ensemble Program Tour
We are thrilled to announce that the MEP Concert Band and Senior Stage Band will be touring to Dubbo in the last week of this term. There will be collaborations with the regional Conservatorium and performances at local schools, as well as time to visit local attractions like the Observatory and Western Plains Zoo.
If your child is in the MEP concert or senior stage band and would like to participate in this exciting opportunity, please email Murray Jackson by Monday 1st August.
eSafety – Digital Safety Support
eSafety have a highly informative website for parents and students regarding safe and responsible online experiences. They have targeted resources so families can have informed conversations around cyber safety and, if necessary, how to seek help.
Please visit the eSafety website to access all their online resources.
Academic Report Card – Parent Feedback
Parents and guardians of RBSC Yr. 8, 9 and 10 students would have noticed a change in the Report Card template for Semester 1.
These changes were made to better communicate student achievement and participation in school.
The school would very much appreciate parent regarding the RBSC Academic Reports and ways in which you would like to receive information about your child's learning, engagement and achievement in school.
If you could please complete this survey (click here), your input will be used to continually improve how we report to the school community.
If you like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact Adam Harris (Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning).
P&C ZOOM Meeting - Tues 2 August 2022
The next P&C Meeting will be on Tuesday 2nd August starting at 7.00pm via ZOOM! All parents, carers and school community members are welcome. We especially look forward to welcoming those new to the school. In order to access the meeting use the link. Alternatively, use the following details to "join a meeting" in Zoom on your device:Meeting ID: 697 7276 1961Membership of the P&C and voting rights is by gold coin donation which this year will need to be paid online. In order to be able to vote on motions at the meeting, please pay a ‘gold coin donation’ into the RBSC P&C account by Sunday 31 July. Please note, the P&C voluntary contribution paid with school fees is separate from the gold coin donation for P&C voting rights. In order to vote the P&C Federation requires you to be a financial member, this is achieved with a gold coin donation. The P&C voluntary contribution allows RBSC P&C to provide funding to many school programs and projects.The bank details for a gold coin donation are: Name: RBSC P&C BSB: 062238Account: 10113005Payments should note ‘P&C 2022 + name’ so membership can be verified.Please also send an email with the bank receipt. Please feel free to email us. The agenda and meeting documents are available 7 days prior on the P&C Public Drive.
Careers
RBSC Library News and Reviews
Reminders
RBSC reading competition. On a term-by-term basis, the library will award prizes to students who read the most books. Let library staff know you are entering the competition and fill in the book review sheet when you return your books!
PRC reading challenge. This ends in the middle of August. Books read for this challenge will also be counted towards the library reading competition.
HSC student collection, Study guides and textbooks to better prepare our HSC students for greater success in their final exams.
Homework club every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30–5:00 pm. Assistance is given to any and all students with research, homework, assignments, and any studying issues they may have.
More and more it seems the art of reading books is fast disappearing in favour of e- books . For myself there is nothing nicer than being separated from a device and lost in the joys of a book! But that’s just me. Or is it. Would love to hear from others if you agree with me.
With that said I thought I would flag another greatly loved Australian author this week Claire Zorn, who has a string of awards including the Prime Minister’s Young Adult literary awards in NSW, Victoria, and WA. ,
Her novel genres vary from contemporary realism to dystopian and in that way caters to all reading tastes. She describes herself as “quite concise, always thinking about how well I can convey something in the least number of words.” To keep the reader engaged and because she is visual, she uses a lot of metaphorical imagery allowing one to easily get engrossed in the text and identify and almost live in the words of the text. Her books in both e-book and physical book format in our Library), will transport you into the life of her incredibly well described characters, that they feel real almost as if they are or could be someone you know.
Titles to look out for are The Protected, The Sky So Heavy and When We Are Invisible.