Newsletter Term 4 Week 2

From the Senior Executive

The students of Rose Bay Secondary College are congratulated on their transition to the mobile phone ban. The playground is definitely noisier than previously which is a great sign that the students are socialising, playing games and running off any excess energy. I witnessed a very intense game of Scrabble yesterday in the library that took all my will power to not sit down and get involved! 

Year 12 have reached the end of the second week of the HSC Examinations. The students have been very supportive of one another, working together and sharing knowledge. It is this collegial approach to study that is so important for success and is visible proof of the strong bonds they have made with each other. Keep going Year 12 – you are almost there! 

Our 2024 Year 12 students and parents were presented with vital information this week by Rel. Deputy Principal Ms Godby on HSC requirements and processes. A recording of the seminar will be available shortly on our school website. 

Today the 2024 Captains are meeting to plan for a vibrant program for 2024. Their mission statement will be presented at the SRC Induction Assembly next Tuesday. 

Year 10 Term 4 is always an exciting time for students as they become aware that the end of their junior years is coming to an end, and they will transition into the new seniors of the school. It is important that all students are attending their classes and maximising their learning. They are learning important skills and content in preparation for their HSC Preliminary year. 

We have had a few incidents of parents/carers contacting students via their mobile device which has then led to a phone confiscation. If you need to contact your student, please call the school on 9301 0300 and the message will be passed on to your student. Please also be aware that our gate-to-gate policy also includes mobile phone use when on excursions and off-site Sport. 

Please remind your student that if they are using an e-bike to travel to school, they need to be mindful of where to park it when finished. Neighbours have voiced frustration that e-bikes are left in their driveways and gardens. We expect Rose Bay Secondary College students to be respectful citizens in the community. 

Mobile phone Ban Term 4

Y12 - English HSC Student Event

The English Teachers Association are running an online event to support students in starting the HSC English course and specifically, the Common Module. This event is relevant to all 2 unit English courses and can be accessed anytime between now and December 15. If you or your child are interested, they can register using the link below.

Introducing the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences

A wonderful way to motivate, inspire and energise your new HSC class.

• English for the 2024 HSC: what you need to know, where you need to go.
• Unpacking the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences
• Insights to assessment including related texts, multi-modal tips
• Unpacking the Common Module for EAL/D
• 14 presentations on Common Module Prescribed Texts
• EAL/D texts
• Downloadable notes
• Students who have registered can have access through their own email address

Yr7 - Class Challenge

The Year 7 Wellbeing Team (Year Advisers - Ms Flack, Ms Bowd,  HT Wellbeing – Ms Westbrook and DP – Mr Godby) are very excited to announce that all Year 7 classes will participate in a four-week Class Challenge starting on Monday 23rd October. Year 7 Class Challenge link details exactly how this will work. Essentially, this program aligns classroom behaviour with the College’s Positive Behaviour for Learning, as we continue to work on ensuring that all students are Respectful and Responsible Learners. The Class Challenge provides the classroom teachers with the opportunity to explicitly discuss behaviour in the classroom that is expected of all students.  

Yr 7 Lifesaving/Water Awareness Program

The yr 7 Lifesaving/Water Awareness Program is on from Monday 4 Dec to Friday 8 Dec, Week 9 Term 4.  

It is a compulsory yr 7 Program and will take place for the whole week and will be instead of normal classes.  

An email was sent to parents on Monday 16 October, seeking some information on the following:  

1, Online Consent and  

2, Child’s swimming ability.  

Can parents please complete both links (the email may have gone to your Junk box).  

The Microsoft Form survey will close on Friday 10 November.  

The Online consent form will close on Monday 4 ^December.  

Year 7 Wellbeing programs

Since the beginning of the year, Year 7 have been working hard on demonstrating our core cohort value of kindness, building a culture of inclusion and respect that fosters positive relationships with others. 

Throughout the year, Year 7 has participated in: 

E-Safety Talk - A informative talk about respectful online behaviour and the importance of maintaining a positive online presence. 

Thought of the Week - Students receive weekly 'kindness' thoughts and challenges, posted on the Year 7 Cohort Teams page, encouraging them to display acts of kindness towards themselves and others throughout the week. 

'How to be the best me' campaign - A comprehensive program run by Ms Wood and participating teachers to foster a cohort culture of kindness and respect. Students worked within their core class groups, to participate in personal reflection and team building activities achieving inclusion between Year 7 students and their peers. 

Year 7 Camp - a three day dynamic program empowering Year 7 to build new friendships, foster a sense of community and develop perseverance to overcome adversity and challenge. 

Cyberia Performance - An anti-bullying presentation presented by an educationally centred performance company, who performed for Year 7 a dramatic telling about the consequences of unethical personal conduct online and provided Year 7 strategies of how to maintain respectful relationships with others online. 

Police Talks - Students were empowered to be empathetic and respectful citizens within RBSC and their local community. 

Wear it Purple day - celebrating RBSC's diverse student body, recognising the diverse sexualities and genders of students who contribute to our school community. 

Courage to Care - Students depended their understanding of the Jewish experience during the Holocaust, hearing from Holocaust survivors and their family members to further extend their awareness of this experience and the importance of acting as upstanders when witnessing bullying, inclusion and injustice. 

Additional targeted programs - select students continue to participate in small group weekly programs receiving mentorship from older students or targetted external supports, to build positive behaviours and resilient attitudes. 

Year Assemblies - termly assemblies of commendation and recognition for academic, sporting and personal bests. 

Fortnightly roll call meetings - Year Advisors and Deputy Principal continue to promote the importance of kind, inclusive and compassionate behaviour, providing Year 7 with targeted strategies which allow them to achieve their personal best with learning and improve their sense of wellbeing. 

The Department offer a range of online resources and advice for both students and families, to understand steps that can be taken if a young person encounters or enacts bullying:

For students: https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/attendance-behaviour-and-engagement/anti-bullying/students

For parents, to support their children: https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/attendance-behaviour-and-engagement/anti-bullying/parents-and-carers

Years 7-10 Chess Competition - RBSC

The inaugural Chess Competition will take place Tuesday 14 November in the Hall between   9 AM - 1 PM.  

Cost: $20 

All students in years 7-10 at all levels are welcome.  

Please register by filling in your name and year in the form: https://forms.office.com/r/ECYZQeu00w 

Registration closes: Friday 3 November 

For more information please contact Mr Magal on boaz.magal@det.nsw.edu.au

All Years - Effective Parenting Seminar

Effective Parenting for Teens and Family Wellbeing WAYS Youth & Family have a free seminar for parents looking for some advice and practical education to understand and communicate with their teens. It also provides great information for managing difficult and risk taking behaviours. It is cost-free and on Wednesday, November 1st. At the Effective Parenting for Teens and Family Wellbeing seminar parents and carers of young people aged 10 – 17 years can gain practical tips for communication, managing conflict and difficult conversations with adolescents assisting the development of healthy and resilient relationships.

All Years - Student support

Additional resources to assist our community.

The school is continuing to provide support to our students and staff who may be affected by the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza. Please contact our Wellbeing staff or students can self-refer to the Counsellors.

Please find below additional resources that you may find useful.

Helpful contacts if anyone needs support beyond JewishCare and Jewish House.

https://jewishcare.com.au/israel-support-resources/

Resources currently available:

Ways that you can support those that are affected

https://jewishcare.com.au/israel-support-resources/inclusion-and-diversity-duplicate/

Talking with Children About the War in Israel

https://jewishcare.com.au/israel-support-resources/mental-health-duplicate/

Practising self-care during these troubling times

https://jewishcare.com.au/israel-support-resources/talking-with-children-about-the-war-in-israel-duplicate/

All Years - Bus behaviour

I have had concerns raised with me by members of the public about the disrespectful behaviour of a number of students who are catching the bus from the Shuk bus stop.

The College policy is that students should be catching the buses from school, where there is full supervision and processes to ensure students can safely catch their buses home.

The College also expects all our students to show exemplary respect and responsibility in the community. If any student is behaving disrespectfully and can be identified as a member of the College then disciplinary action can be taken.

I am aware the majority of our students behave with great pride and respect in the community, and I am disappointed that the actions of a few are tarnishing the reputation of the majority of our students.

All Years - 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

All Years - new Mobile Phone policy

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.

All Years - 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.

SRC - RBSC Halloween

Get out your spooky costumes and get ready rosebay, as on the 27th of October RBSC will be visited by all sorts of scary creatures as we celebrate Halloween, be prepared to feast on delicious spooky treats from the bake sale in break one, and be given a fright by the incredible rock bands in break 2, with a Sausage sizzle happening alongside it. Make sure to be dressed in your best Halloween mufti, for a chance to win the RBSC costume competition.

Library News - Week 2, Semester 4

This new semester sees us welcome Steve Killen (see image) to the library team whilst The Bob Bellear Memorial Library’s Teacher Librarian, Margaret McLelland is on leave this term. Mr Killen will be taking Mrs McLelland’s library classes as well as working in the library Tuesday to Thursday. Teacher, Richard Brandt, will be overseeing the library on Mondays and Fridays. Library Technicians, Lisha Marsden-Hafer and Lindy Thompson continue to be in the library daily and are available to help students with any queries.  

The library has enjoyed welcoming the new Year 12 (2024) student cohort this term as many familiarise themselves with the library more as a senior study space. Library Collab Pods, with writable surfaces, can be booked in advance as well as the Think Tank space for group study. Year 12 students can also use the Silent Senior Study area at the back of the library. The Library Technicians are always happy to show students around the library and any study resources. Don’t be shy, just ask at the Help Desk! 

Students and parents/carers are reminded about the school’s Homework Club which runs in the library from 3:30-5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays each week of term. Tutors are on hand to assist any students with their studies. All years are welcome. 

During the school recess and lunch breaks, it has been wonderful to see more students reading, playing board games, cards, or chess, as well as interacting with each other more in the library since the mobile phone ban. 

This semester the library is following up on outstanding book loans. It would be appreciated if parents/carers could please check with their children to make sure any outstanding books are returned to the library. 

RBSC Presents...

Cyber Bullying Safety App

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

P&C RBSC Tour + Meeting Tuesday 24 October

The next P&C RBSC tour + meeting is Tuesday 24 October. Tour will start at 6.15pm, followed by meeting at 7pm. Entry is via gates in front of the hall, meeting in Room A520. 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: 062238
Account: 10113005

Payments 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. 

Would you like to get involved with a P&C Subcommittee?

- Music Ensemble Program (MEP) Subcommittee
- Social Subcommittee
- Building & Grounds Subcommittee
- Sports Subcommittee
- Alumni Subcommittee

The subcommittees meet at least once per term. You can express interest or contact subcommittees via email on:  rbscpandc@gmail.com