Newsletter Term 1 Week 1
From the Senior Executive
I hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits as we start the new school year. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to all of you, and to express my excitement about what lies ahead.
I believe that one of the keys to a successful year is working together, and I am committed to making sure that all students, parents, and staff are connected and working towards a common goal. I believe that good communication is the cornerstone of a positive school experience, and I encourage all of you to stay in touch with us throughout the year.
One important aspect of school life is wearing the correct school uniform. I kindly ask that all students come dressed in the correct attire each day, as it helps to create a positive learning environment and promotes a sense of pride and belonging.
I am thrilled to report that our students have already made a great start to the year, and I am confident that this will continue as we move forward. I believe that with hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, all of our students can achieve their full potential.
Thank you for entrusting your children to us, and I look forward to working together to make this the best year yet.
I couldn’t have written the above better myself!!! ChatGPT (Everything you Need to Know About ChatGPT) wrote this welcome back article for me. As principal, I really do warmly welcome all of you in our school community to the start of the 2023 educational year and I am excited about all the possibilities 2023 brings. ChatGPT is one of those things we are both excited about and challenged by at this moment in time. All educational institutions are quickly pivoting to understand it’s potential and how we must adapt and change our teaching and assessment practices. You may be aware that the NSW Department of Education has currently banned it’s use for students in schools. I expect that as procedures are developed, this may well change in the near future. We will keep you posted on our progress.
As you are also aware, we have had a uniform blitz to start the year and I am so grateful to our students and families who have immediately adapted back to wearing full school uniform. Post COVID, we did not want this to be the emphasis as students slowly adapted from the comfort of wearing whatever they liked at home. Over the past two years we have focused our energies on teaching, learning and wellbeing but are now at the stage of strongly reiterating the expectations of our school community taking responsibility for being correctly attired each day. It does bring a sense of pride and community and it also takes clothing labels out of the picture. Not all families can afford expensive clothing labels. Some of the values of public education we are most proud of are inclusion and equity. Please provide a physical note for your child to carry during the day if there are unexpected washing or drying issues which prevent the wearing of correct school uniform.
We have included our agenda for the two school developments days held prior to the return of students so you as parents and carers can understand some of the ways we are working to develop our teachers and achieve the goals of our strategic plan.
I also wanted to reiterate how well the students of RBSC consistently perform in the HSC. The 2022 HSC average course marks achieved by our students placed us well above the state average and above the average of schools the NSW department of Education says are comparative to RBSC. The table below tells you how RBSC students fare in relation to the rest of the state in terms of the percentage of students and the HSC bands received.
RBSC COMMUNICATION PLAN
Rose Bay Secondary College values parent communication and recognises the importance of having an effective system in place to assist this process. The following document has been produced with the aim of assisting parents to be able to identify who to talk to at Rose Bay Secondary College when they feel that they need assistance with a matter. In each instance if a parent does not have the teacher’s direct email they can address the enquiry to the email below stating their child’s name and class in the subject heading.
rosebay-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Please note that there is a considerable amount of time and effort ensuring that every child is placed into the class where they can achieve their personal best. We do not move students from one class to another unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances.
Position at RBSC | Matters that they deal with |
Classroom Teacher | First contact for anything pertaining to that individual subject. This may include class work, homework, assignments or a specific incident that occurred in that classroom. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening in the classroom or at home in relation to that subject.
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Head Teacher KLA | If a parent has worked with their child’s classroom teacher and feels that their needs should be further addressed. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening in the classroom or at home in relation to that subject.
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Head Teacher Teaching and Learning Support | If a parent feels that their child needs some support in the classroom due to diverse learning needs or learning difficulties. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening in the classroom or at home in relation to their child’s learning. |
Head Teacher Teaching and Learning | If a parent feels that their child’s highly potential and gifted ability needs some support in the classroom. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening in the classroom or at home in relation to their child’s learning |
Year Adviser | Can assist with matters that are occurring outside of the classroom and with wellbeing concerns. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening at school or at home in relation to their child.
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Head Teacher Wellbeing | Can assist with matters that are occurring outside the classroom and with wellbeing concerns that are serious in nature. Can also assist with serious ongoing medical condition notifications (diabetes, anaphylaxis). If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening at school or at home in relation to their child.
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Sports Coordinator | Can assist with all matters pertaining to afternoon sport, external sport, Sports Committee and representative sport. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening at school or at home in relation to their child’s experience in sport.
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School Counsellors | Can assist with wellbeing and mental health concerns. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening at school or at home in relation to their child.
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Student Support Officer | The SSO role is to help students feel safe, supported, connected, capable and motivated to be the best they can be. This is through individual meetings, small group work, assisting whole school wellbeing initiatives. The SSO provides support for students and their families to engage with external services and activities to improve their wellbeing. |
Deputy Principal | To be notified directly with serious concerns that a parent feels cannot be dealt with by other staff at the school. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening at school or at home in relation to their child.
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Principal | To be notified directly with only the most serious concerns that a parent feels cannot be dealt with by the Deputy Principal. If a parent would like to share some positive experiences that are happening at school or at home in relation to their child.
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RBSC School Development Days
Overdue English texts
A reminder that in order for students to be loaned their 2023 English texts, overdue items must be returned. This week and over the next few lessons, teachers will be gently reminding students to return their texts. An email will also be sent to parents/carers with this information and details of cost of reimbursement.
Music Ensemble Program
Rose Bay Secondary College has a vibrant and successful extra curricular Music Ensemble Program (MEP) with over ten ensembles for students of all musical abilities and instruments. Our information night for new students will be online at 6.30pm on Monday 6th February. Come meet our director Murray Jackson and rock band director Sean Windsor and find out how your child can be involved. Please go to the RBSCMEP site and follow the link:Join Zoom MeetingMeeting ID: 636 9290 6448 Passcode: 337870
Years 7 – 12 Rose Bay Secondary College Debating Program Information
The 2023 Debating Program will commence with coaching sessions beginning next Friday, February 10th (Years 7-10) and Tuesday February 7th (for Year 11 and 12).
Rose Bay Secondary College has a strong debating program. We were thrilled to see our Stage 6 team reach the grand final of the Premier’s Debating Challenge last year and other teams enjoyed considerable success in competitions held throughout the year.
Our Debating Tutorial program provides opportunities for students to develop and practise their debating and public speaking skills. Students will have the opportunity to represent RBSC at interschool debating tournaments throughout the year, such as the Premier’s Debating Challenge and Eastside Debating Competition (beginning February 24) as well as social debates.
For Years 7-10, coaching runs on Friday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:45pm in classrooms in B Block English classrooms. Year 11-12 coaching runs on Tuesday afternoons from 2:35pm - 4:05pm. The course will commence on Friday 10 February 2023 and will run throughout terms 1-3, accounting for 27 weeks of coaching. Students are expected to attend all sessions.
Selection for competitive debates is based on merit; and a debater’s attendance and performance in training will be taken into consideration. This program will be run by Mrs Godby, Head Teacher English and supported by a team of experienced debaters and adjudicators.
The annual cost of the program is $260, which goes towards paying the debating coaches. If you would like to register your child for the 2023 Debating Program, please complete this form. If your child is continuing debating from last year, they have been asked to complete a separate form on the Debating Teams page. Students will receive a permission letter with further information about how to pay early next week.
If you have any questions about the program please contact Christy Godby at christine.godby@det.nsw.edu.au
P&C Meeting Tuesday 7 February 2023
We are very excited to welcome you all back and let you know that the next P&C Meeting is Tuesday 7 February at 7pm in the school hall. Entry will be via the gates in front of the hall. All parents, carers and school community members are welcome. We especially look forward to welcoming those new to the school. Membership of the P&C and voting rights is by gold coin donation which can be paid online or in person at the meeting. 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.If paying by bank transfer, the bank details for a gold coin donation are:Name: RBSC P&C BSB: 062238Account: 10113005Payments should note ‘P&C 2023 + name’ so membership can be verified.Please also send an email address with bank receipt to rbscpandc@gmail.com. Please feel free to email us at: rbscpandc@gmail.com The agenda and meeting documents are available 7 days prior on the P&C Public Drive.
The 2023 Netball Season kicks off in Term 1
If you’re planning to play, even just thinking about it, please fill in your details on the google form here to receive information on how to register.
Open to all years, 7 and up.
Parents, we need team managers! Please email us at rbscnetball@gmail.com if you’re game to support the players with some straightforward duties.
More info on registration and trial dates coming soon.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pYsLdoMGnAMbkY_Mio8ZTuRXiGlmhhfbpKVunTg-7sU/edit