Newsletter Term 3 Week 10

From the Senior Executive

View from the Principals Desk

This week has been one of celebration and farewells. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our graduation ceremony a success and I particularly want to pay tribute to Julie Chiert and Claire Edwards for their contribution and unswerving commitment through the P&C to enriching the College experience for our students.

In this edition: 

• A reminder about getting ready for our mobile phone ban, starting Day 1, term 4
• celebration Assemblies
• Doug's speech about DOVES
• The Captain's Report
• HSC Stay Healthy Tips
• Year 7 Cyberia performance report
• maGnet news
• Waverley Council Youth Forum report
• Year 7 GoIT report
• Year 9 Graphics update
• IEF News
• Information regarding the new School Bytes attendance sytem starting Term 4
• Careers update
• Debating report
• Year 8 Gala Day Wrap
  

We wish all our students and family a safe and enjoyable holiday. Shanah Tovah for Rosh Hashanah.

Huge congratulations to the students who received the UNSW Certificate of Merit for the Faculty of Science School of Mathematics and Statistics. 

• Tamar 
• Qiyue
• Yshai 
• Starsky 
• Luca 
• Lalith 
• Dewitt 
• Ryan 

DOVES

Hey everyone, I'm Doug and today I'm here to talk to you about DOVES.

- DOVES is a DoE Council of 27 members or students, of which I'm lucky enough to be the vice chairperson of. The council was set up by the minister for education in 2021 in order to try get student view on issues.

- The DOVES stands for the department of voices in education in schools, and what that effectively means is we stand for student voice and voice the concerns of the 823,000 students in NSW - with what change we want to see to the way education is in our state. We provide feedback on DoE initiatives and education policy.

- What this means is as a DOVES member, we can present proposals on changes we would like to see to Parliament members. If you have an idea for a change you want to see across all public schools in our state, come and have a chat to me in the playground or talk to an SRC member who can tell me your idea. We as the DOVES council meet 2-3 times a term online including meetings with the minister, so any feedback will be forwarded ASAP.

- DOVES has made some of my best friends from all across the state, and as well as the online meetings we also get to meet in person twice a year. This is very cool to see how for some people going into the city for a few nights is an 8 hour flight, and it really means a lot of decisions are made in those few days.

- As a part of the council, I’ve been lucky enough to attend certain events with decision makers from around the state. These include speaking at state parliament, attending anti-bullying roundtables to try and implement mental health solutions for students, and media opportunities with channel 9 and the Sydney morning Herald, and meeting with ministers on multiple occasions. We've also got to do a talk with the vice chancellor at usyd, tour UNSW with the old minister for education, and a whole lot more.

- We also get to hold student forums, where students from across our doe directorate (for us that being metro South) are gathered in order to give us more opinions on positives and negatives of individual schools.

As a council, we've provided feedback on certain issues such as vaping, the school curriculum, consent, mental health programs and the department strategy.

- The DOVES has also proposed a new council called the NSV (national student voice), which involves students from across all Australian states or territories including members of the DOVES, and that has been approved by the government, so anyone that joins DOVES can have influence on that council or possibly join it.

- It is important to know the council wants all students to be contributing their experience with certain issues, so anyone is welcome to apply for the council or to have a chat with me - you don't have to be a part of the SRC when you join, in fact I wasn't.

- We really as a school want as many students contributing as possible, as we have such a diverse school community with so many different students. Every single student in here's voice matters and has an opinion, so if you want to voice it I strongly recommend speaking up - even though it might be a bit scary at first. Every single one of you in here today truly can make a change.

- If you're keen to find out more about how the doves operate, you can google DOVES student council. My 2 year term on the council is coming to an end at the end of this year, so if you are keen to join and keep reflecting the diversity

of our school on education issues, applications are opening in term 4 this year, so keep an eye out for an announcement. If you are successful, you'll be sworn into parliament in March of 2024.

Mobile phone ban Term 4

Captain’s Report

From the School and Vice Captains:

As our time at Rose Bay and as your Captains comes to an end, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire RBSC community for your support. Leading our school community has been an extraordinary privilege, and we are so grateful for the incredible support and enthusiasm you've extended to us over our time in these roles.

The strength and spirit of the Rose Bay community is a true testament to our incredible students, teachers, parents, and staff. It is a rarity to find a school community as close as ours, and for this, RBSC should be exceptionally proud. By harnessing this, together, as a united community, RBSC can and has achieved amazing things, and your unwavering support for your captains and SRC is evidence of this.

Thanks to your support, the 2023 SRC and Captains have managed to achieve many things to improve the student experience at Rose Bay. Notable items include the introduction of the new senior polo shirt, which has been a massive hit, the planting of trees around the school, notably in the canteen area and around the basketball courts, and continued pressure for the refurbishment of the school bathrooms; a project now set to begin next term. We have advocated on behalf of the student body for improvements to RBSC’s school bus services, making representations to Transport for NSW as well as other stakeholders to ensure this vital service remains in place and functions how students would expect it to. We are also thrilled that the school’s air conditioning system will be fully operational within the next term, a long sought after amenity for the student body.

Over this past year, we have been proud to represent RBSC both locally and further into the Sydney Region, hosting a leadership day with the local primary schools, as well as visiting local primary schools to promote RBSC and public education. Further, we have engaged with the leadership teams of high schools around Sydney at various events, collaborating on a larger scale to improve the student experience around Sydney.

Here at RBSC, your participation at the SRC’s various event days has been beyond amazing. Halloween, Valentine’s Day, 2000s Day, and Wear it Purple Day all brought the community together in celebration of our talent, creativity, and individuality, and raised thousands of dollars for well deserving charities within our community. These days have really allowed the RBSC community to shine, showcasing the student body’s various musical, culinary, creative, and sporting talents, something which has been amazing to see.

So, on behalf of all the 2023 captains of RBSC, thank you so much for your support. Keep being the incredible individuals and community that you all are. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as your captains, and we couldn’t have asked for a better community to lead. We are confident that the RBSC community will only grow stronger, and we all can’t wait to see what the future holds for our incredible school.

Signing off,

Maya, Finn, Isaac & Zac 

RBSC 2023 School and Vice Captains

From the Sports Captains:

This past year, we have been extremely lucky to have such immense support from students and staff in building up Rose Bay Secondary College’s sport. We have brought back the sporting awards to support the success of students excelling in our swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals and reward these individuals for their hard work and dedication. Within year 12, we ran student vs student and student vs teacher sport tournaments, which was met by enthusiasm from our whole grade who played and passionately cheered from the sidelines. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved this year and grateful for the support we received from the staff, SRC, students and the whole school community, improving sport at Rose Bay for this year and those to come and bringing us all closer together.

Macy  and Juliana 

RBSC 2023 Sports Captains

From the Arts Captains:

It has been an honour to serve as your Arts Captains this past year. Over the past 12 months, we have organised numerous incredibly successful events, along bands playing themed songs at major days such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Wear it Purple Day, we also saw the return of the ever popular battle of the bands, which over two days and four breaks saw Rose Bay’s best and most talented musicians battle it out for the title of Best Junior and Senior Band, which went to Indecisive and Louder. Additionally, after school activities such as Rose Bay Rocks and other performance evenings have been a massive success, showcasing the talent, hardwork and dedication of Rose Bay’s students. Finally, November will see the eagerly anticipated Rose Bay adaptation of Grease. Make sure to purchase tickets through the links on the posters around the school. Thank you to the entire staff and student body for your continued support and enjoyment of the events hosted throughout the year. We are proud of what we have achieved, and wish the best to the incoming 2024 Arts Captains.

Tomas and Jennifer 

RBSC 2023 Arts Captains

From the Community Engagement Captains:

Having the opportunity to work as your Community Engagement Captains has been a privilege and so much fun. Over the past twelve months, we have significantly grown the SRC’s online presence through our Instagram account, @rbscstudentvoice2023. Through this platform, we have promoted school event days, such as Halloween and Valentine’s Day, as well as beginning a tradition of creating engaging promotional videos for upcoming events. We continue to encourage everyone to follow the SRC instagram page, which we will be handing over to the

incoming Community and Engagement captains, Anh Nguyen and Sophie Roland. We wish them every success in the roll. Thank you again for your support, and we’ll see you all around.

Claudia and Yshai 

RBSC 2023 Community Engagement Captains

From the Environment Captains:

It has been a privilege to serve as your Environment Captains this past year. Over the course of the past twelve months, we have established Op for Inclusion in collaboration with the IEF, promoting sustainable practices and reducing waste. Building on the work of our predecessors, we have continued the efforts to introduce recycling bins across the school to help reduce the school’s waste footprint, a project that is still ongoing. Furthermore, we have initiated the planning process for the introduction of a return-and-earn bin, fostering recycling and environmental consciousness within our school community. These endeavours reflect our commitment to sustainability and the responsible stewardship of our environment, and we are excited about the positive impact they will have on our school's environmental footprint.

Hannah and Benjamin 

RBSC 2023 Environment Captains

Year 12 Stay Healthy HSC

We’ve reached the pointy end of the HSC year, and students are about to embark on the last chapter of their HSC.

The Department of Education has published a Stay Healthy HSC page with details on how to keep yourself healthy and ready for the upcoming examinations.
Key Points:

• Nobody has it all together all the time. So, it’s okay if you have a not-so-good or completely terrible day. Listen to what your mind and body is telling you and take breaks when you need them. 
• Remember how much you have already accomplished. You’ve come so far and worked so hard. Trust that all your hard work will pay off in your final exams.
• If you’re feeling stressed closer to exams, your mates probably are too! Have a chat with them about how you’re feeling and support each other.
• Remember, HSC is just the beginning! There are so many post-school pathways, you’ll be spoilt for choice regardless of your HSC results.
• It can be overwhelming to think about what needs to be done before your first exam. Make a plan, outline your priorities for each day or week to help you feel comfortable and in-control about what’s ahead.
• No exam is more important than your wellbeing, so listen to your mental health needs and look after yourself.
  

Please find more resources at Stay Healthy HSC.

Year 7 Cyberia Performance

On Monday 4th September Year 7 were visited by Brainstorm Productions who presented a dramatic performance about bullying and cyberbullying. This presentation was engaging and highly informative; educating Year 7 about the implications of bullying others both in person and online. The performance provided Year 7 with workable strategies they could implement in a range of scenarios, with the actors emphasising the implications for each. 

Students stated they enjoyed this experience and appreciated the interactive component at the end. Please see Amelia R's review of the performance below: 

The Cyberia performance was about bullying and slightly about cyberbullying. It explores online safety and mental health, as when things that people don’t want others to know, you can distribute it and perhaps cause suffering to yourself, not just to them. It shows when you have plenty on your plate and keep it inside, it can cause you stress and can harm yourself and many others. It was interesting when Ruby posted a secret she shouldn’t have, she went and told the principal explaining what happened and why. I learned that sometimes individuals can get caught up in so many different things, they can forget what is important, as most of the time it can cause discomfort to people around them.

maGneT

Rose Bay Secondary College has conducted another successful maGneT program drawing together highly gifted students from our community of schools. The students from Double Bay, Bondi Beach, Bronte, Rose Bay, Vaucluse, and Bellevue Hill Public Schools came together for 6 Wednesdays to participate in a Challenge to Make a Difference. They honed their skills in problem solving, public speaking, writing, group dynamics, drama, and maths to name a few. Most importantly they chose two projects to plan and implement to make a difference for someone and for their community/environment.

Highlights were the Great Egg Drop where the students worked collaboratively to make a contraption to try and save an egg from breaking when it was dropped from a high spot, a day of drama, script writing and performance, and the Maths Olympiad. The program ended with a celebration of achievements in a Showcase performed for a Year 7 class and then for family members.

The maGneT students shared that they liked making new friends, being part of a unique program, working to solve problems, and having fun.

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Waverley Council Youth Forum

On Friday 8th September , all schools in the Waverley council area were invited to a youth forum at Waverley council chambers. We were invited to discuss current issues regarding school and everyday life that us students felt were the most prominent and needed to be addressed by the council as soon as possible. During the youth forum we began with a speech from a member of the council discussing what they are currently working towards and working on, we then presented prepared speeches from each school highlighting two important issues in their community. Some common issues brought up were mental health, vaping, transport, price of living, environment, and more. We played many interactive kahoots as a group building activity. After this we were separated into groups containing a mixture of one person from each school so we could better understand and elaborate on the issues of other schools as well as our own and together form possible solutions. Each table group was offered around two minutes to speak to tell everyone about the solutions their group came up with. During the forum there were many opportunities to express new ideas and solutions, ask questions about the structure of the council, and form friendships with students from other schools. Overall we concluded that the youth forum was successful in allowing us to express our opinions freely, and that we look forward to seeing more frequent youth forums in the near future with an even broader perspective of students and ages.

-Frida, Zoe, Harper and Phoebe as SRC representatives from year 8.

Year 7 Selective Cohort Thrives in PBL Program: GoIT/Creating an App for the future

In the fast-paced world of technology and innovation, our Year 7 Selective Cohort is leading the way in embracing the future with open arms. The recently concluded Project-Based Learning (PBL) program that took place on Thursday and Friday of Week 9, Term 3, showcased the remarkable engagement and creativity of our students. This initiative centered around coding and collaborative app development, allowing our young minds to shine as they worked together to bring their ideas to life.

The PBL program provided an opportunity for our Year 7 students to delve into the world of coding and app development. In an era where digital skills are becoming increasingly essential, this hands-on experience allowed our students to not only gain technical knowledge but also foster teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

Coding is often referred to as the language of the future, and our Year 7 cohort is well on its way to mastering it. During the program, students were introduced to the basics of coding, including languages like Python and Scratch. They were encouraged to think logically, break down problems into manageable parts, and use coding to find innovative solutions.

One of the highlights of the program was the group project where students worked together to design and create their own mobile apps. These young minds embraced their creative freedom and used coding as a tool to bring their app ideas to life. It was inspiring to see the diverse range of concepts that emerged, from educational apps to games and even social networking tools. Collaboration was at the heart of this PBL program. Our Year 7 students had the chance to experience the synergy that comes from working together towards a common goal. They learned the importance of effective communication, compromise, and leveraging each other's strengths to achieve success.

Throughout the two days, students faced various challenges, and it was amazing to see how they tackled them head-on. Whether it was debugging their code, resolving conflicts within their teams, or refining their app designs, these young problem solvers showed incredible resilience and determination. They were able to "Shark Tank" and present their ideas to the Senior Executive Team of the School at the end of the program. The most innovative team and the Team who worked the best together will receive their award at the Year 7 Year Level Assembly next Wednesday (Wednesday, Week 10). 

Our Year 7 Selective Cohort has once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence and its eagerness to embrace the challenges of the future. The PBL program was a resounding success, highlighting the incredible potential of our students in the fields of coding and app development. We are excited to see where their newfound skills and creativity will take them as they continue to excel and make a mark in the ever-evolving world of technology. Congratulations to our Year 7 students for their outstanding achievements during this program, and we look forward to their future endeavours!

Year 9 Graphics

Year 9 Graphic students finished up their formula 1 module where they sketched, 3d modelled and designed formula 1 cars which will be tested in week 10. Students developed different components creating an assembly putting all parts together.
Some students designs and 3D prints are seen here! Good work year 9 graphics.

IEF News

EF H went on an excursion to The Rocks run by The Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre last Friday.

Students undertook an ‘Amazing Race’ style hunt for clues about important people, places and events that shaped Australia’s identity during the colonial (19th Century) and modern (20th Century) periods.

Students examined the Tank Stream Mosaic at Circular Quay, a huge map above Sydney’s clean, fresh water source which shows farm gardens, a hospital, and many more places in Sydney Cove at that time.

They investigated Cadman’s Cottage at Circular Quay, the oldest surviving residence in the City of Sydney. They walked through the Suez Canal, where ‘The Push,’ a gang from Sydney, frequented the lane in the 1870s. IEF H admired the works of the architect Francis Greenway, and explored ‘Foundation Park.’ Here they stepped back in time and walked through the ruins of eight terrace houses built on a sandstone cliff from 1874 to 1878. Students discovered who lived there and handled artifacts related to the inhabitants. Everyone had a fantastic day and really enjoyed the on-site learning experience.

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New mobile phone policy

Mobile Phone Ban. Term 4.
Over the next few weeks we will continue our explicit teaching of the expectations in the College
relating to digital devices. All carers will be emailed with specific information this week so you can
plan for this change. Please find the new policy below. This may also be found on the school website.

New School Bytes attendance system

Rose Bay Secondary College is moving to a new system through School Bytes to record explained student absences. This applies to early leavers, late arrivals and whole day absences. This new system will come into effect at the start of Term 4.

The link to the School Bytes Form for Early Leavers / Late Arrivals and Whole Day Absences can be found on the Rose Bay Secondary College's website (School Forms) and through the parents/carers School Bytes portal.

If you have any questions, please email the school at rosebay-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Careers

A group of Year 12 students had the amazing opportunity to attend a Careers Day at the Park Hyatt at the Rocks. They explored a whole range of careers within the hotel industry and had a lot of fun at the same time. 

Debating News

On Tuesday morning, the Year 8 PDC Debating team were successful in their first Knock Out round debate against Tempe High School. 

The topic of their debate was: 'that schools should punish students with physical activity such as running laps and push ups'. Year 8 were affirmative and argued this point thoughtfully. 
Debaters: 
Jasper ,Grace, Taj and Rafael 

Yr 8 Gala Day Wrap

Netball 

Rose Bay had three teams in the netball Gala Day. We took the court against multiple teams from Randwick Girls High School, Inner City High School, South Sydney High School, Sydney Girls High School. All our teams played well, even if we did have a few tumbles and used many, many band-aids. Every RBSC team went into the finals undefeated. The teams ended up playing each other in both rounds of the finals, and though we lost the grand final to Randwick Girls, there was great comradery shown between the players throughout the day. The weather was warm and sunny, and the day was a lot of fun.  

Boys Soccer 

The 3 teams played well all day against their opposition – Inner Sydney HS, Central Sydney IEHS, South Sydney HS, Alex Park CS and JJ Cahill Memorial HS. A lot of goals were scored, and a lot of goals were conceded but all the boys had a really enjoyable day. 2 teams made the Semi Finals, with 1 of those teams going down in the GF 1 nil to an Inner Sydney team. The boys were very grateful for the day and very grateful for the Yr 10 Helpers – Coaching, refereeing, or helping Mr Flack to Coordinate to event.  

Boys Oz Tag 

RBSC Oz Tag boy team played a selection of teams from the Zone. They won comfortably against most the other schools but found it tough against on of South Sydney High Schools team. Overall the atmosphere was great, with a friendly display shown by all sides.  

Girls Soccer 

The girls performed very well through out the day. They won the majority of their games and had an awesome day, having fun playing the game, playing with their mates and against a lot of other like minded students from the other Zone Schools who participated. Thanks to Ms Bowd for supervising us through out the day.  

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Flack for organising a great day. We really enjoyed it.  

RBSC Presents...

RBSC P&C YR 8&9 SOCIAL

Children, Youth & Families Strategy Consultation

Council has started consulting the community for our new Children, Youth & Families Strategy. The purpose of the consultation is to understand the current and emerging needs of children, young people, and families. Council will develop a Strategy and 5-year Action Plan in response to these needs. 

NESA News - Study Guide

The HSC Study Guide is out now, packed with everything HSC students need to kick their exam goals!

Students can find exam advice from teachers and past students, learn how to nail their study routine, and test their knowledge with the ultimate HSC quiz! Look out for some familiar faces who share their expert advice across a range of HSC subjects.

There’s also plenty of practical information from our partner, ReachOut, on looking after mental health and wellbeing in the lead up to exams.

CHECK OUT THIS YEAR'S GUIDE

2023 HSC Written Exam Timetable

YEAR 12 HSC - Important Dates

NESA has released the due dates for all major works, both practical and performance.
For all students completing major works, please take note of the date on the attached document. You must start setting weekly goals of completion to ensure you create a quality product.
Hard copies of this timetable are available outside Ms Buckley's door.

Library News

R U OK Day is every day in the library ...

With R U OK Day being held this week it is a good time to acknowledge the importance of The Bob Bellear Memorial Library as a safe place for students to not only read, study and learn but also to gather their thoughts, share quiet time with friends or to have a chat about their day, studies or concerns with one of the librarians.

The Library team is passionate about student wellbeing and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Since the new team came together, at the beginning of the year, they have witnessed a growth in the number of children visiting the Library and enjoying the space for a variety of activities. Chess during breaks is a big drawcard!

Teacher Librarian, Margaret McLelland, plans to grow the Library’s Wellbeing non-fiction book section in the coming months. With so many books now available dealing with young adult mental health and wellness it is important we grow the collection in this area.

In an online Guardian opinion article, published this week, by writer Nova Weetman entitled, “School libraries are an ally to students needing an escape. We can’t let them vanish”, Nova states:

“The library has long been an ally to students needing an escape. A place surrounded not just by books but by adults who understand, who read, who talk in measured whispers. These librarians know their collections, can pass the right book into the right hands and discuss stories with students for hours. But more than that, these librarians demonstrate to students the importance of reading.” The complete article can be read here.

If your children or students don’t already make the most of the College’s Library space, please encourage them to come and say “Hello”! Library staff are always happy to meet new students and to help them find books or resources they’ll enjoy or simply to have a chat. Everyone is welcome.

Careers News

5 senior students had the opportunity this week to attend a careers day at AFL SportsReady to explore careers in the Sports Industry. It was a fantastic day and everyone had a great time and learnt lots about career pathways in Sports Management and Coaching. 

Vaping Fact Sheets

Uniform Policy

Core rules:

Maintain a neat appearance, including adhering to the requirements of the school's uniform or dress code policy. Rose Bay Secondary College is a "uniform" school and all students are expected to wear the correct school uniform. The Department of Education supports the waering of school uniforms by students and the upholding of high standards of dress by students and staff. A school uniform identifies students as belonging to Rose Bay secondary College. We expect students to wear the uniform with pride during school hours, while travelling to and from school, and when engaged in school activities out of school hours.

Students may wear any item from the Rose Bay Secondary College current uniform selections on any school day. Students will need to be in sports uniform for practical PE lessons and sports days.

Students may choose to mix and match from all items listed in the uniform shop and are expected to be in full Rose Bay Secondary College clothing everyday. 

Uniform shop Opening Hours

Tuesdays and Thursday 8:30am - 2:30pm     Contact : 9301 0349 rbsc@midford.com.au

You are welcome to puchase from the online shop at your convenience, orders are filled the next time the store opens. Download online instructions and use the code RBSC2003 to start an account.

Rose Bay Secondary College Parents and Citizens Association (P&C)

Rose Bay Secondary College Parents and Citizens Association (P&C)

Whether you want to just be informed or you want to be actively involved, we welcome you!
Contact the P&C:  rbscpandc@gmail.com

RBSC P&C Return and Earn

Please help RBSC P&C reach our fundraising target of $3000!

Return & Earn will help RBSC P&C provide funding for facilities, events, equipment, activities and technology to enhance learning and other opportunities for students and the College community.              

And it's easy as 1,2,3:
1- Download the Return and Earn app (available from your App store or Google Play store)
2- Look us up under the “Charities” menu and press "Set as payout"
3- Scan the app, return containers and press "TRANSFER" on the RVM screen when finished! 

100% of the refunds will be transferred to our organisation. Thanks for your support!

Cyberbullying App

Yoochooz is a mobile app for parents and kids to prevent cyberbullying and teach online safety.