Newsletter Term 3 Week 3
Executive Report
Focus on Bullying No Way! National Week of Action
This week, our school is actively participating in the Bullying No Way! National Week of Action, a significant nationwide initiative aimed at creating safe and supportive learning environments where all students can thrive. The week culminates in a special assembly on Wednesday, where we will officially launch the RBSC Anti-Bullying Plan.
The Bullying No Way! National Week of Action is a critical event because it brings attention to the ongoing efforts needed to prevent bullying in schools across Australia. This week serves as a reminder that every member of our school community plays a vital role in fostering a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion. It’s not just about recognizing bullying but actively working together to eliminate it by promoting positive behaviors and supporting those who are affected
.RBSC Anti-Bullying Policy: A Collaborative Effort
The development of our own RBSC Anti-Bullying Policy has been a major focus for our staff this year. This policy was thoughtfully created using data collected from student surveys, ensuring that it addresses the real concerns and experiences of our students. To further support its implementation, our staff has engaged in Professional Learning sessions this term, equipping them with the tools and strategies needed to effectively uphold the policy and support our students.
Daily Focus: Promoting Empathy
As part of this week’s activities, Ms. Adele Flack, our Relieving Head Teacher of PDHPE, has been sharing daily strategies with students to support the Anti-Bullying Policy.
On Tuesday, the focus was on promoting empathy. Ms. Flack highlighted that empathy is a powerful tool in preventing bullying because it encourages us to understand and share the feelings of others. When we practice empathy, we build stronger, more positive connections within our school community, reducing the likelihood of hurtful behavior.
Empathy can be demonstrated in many simple but meaningful ways: listening to a friend without judgment, reaching out to someone who feels left out, or offering support to someone going through a difficult time. By embracing empathy, we help to create an environment where everyone feels valued, understood, and included.
HSC Trials Update
In addition to our focus on anti-bullying, we are pleased to report that the HSC Trials are progressing smoothly. Our students continue to demonstrate dedication and hard work during this important period. Let’s continue to support one another and work together to make our school a safer, more caring, and inclusive place for everyone.
IEF News
Last week, our IEF students proudly took the stage at the IEF Assembly, where they showcased the Olympic Games in Paris with an engaging and informative presentation. The students put a spotlight on Australian sportspeople and their achievements, highlighting the nation's impressive Olympic history. Through PowerPoint presentations they created themselves, the students shared inspiring stories of Australian winners, demonstrating their hard work, creativity, and passion for sports. The assembly was a resounding success, leaving everyone both informed and inspired.
maGneT is back!
RBSC's maGneT Program, maGneT, our specialised program bringing together and developing talent in gifted primary school children, has started! Our High Potential and Gifted Program welcomes twelve students from seven local primary schools to participate and experience being part of the Rose Bay Secondary College community. This week was about getting to know each other and the students' absolute favourite - the egg drop challenge. Students are given a set number of supplies, such as cotton wool pads, paper plates and cups, to design the ultimate egg saving device and then drop it from a great height. Great fun and really stretches the students' critical and creative thinking skills.
SRC News
The SRC has been hard at work planning some exciting events to liven up term 3. First up, for the mathematically inclined, prepare to put your skills to the test in the new Integration Bee! This high-paced math competition will challenge students from Year 7 all the way to Year 12. Stay tuned for more details on how to participate. Next, it's time to celebrate our diverse school community at the RBSC Country Cultures Day! Bring along your very own personal cultural dish and dress to impress your peers. The event will be held Week 6 Wednesday in the gym during break 1, so expect to see vibrant colours, delicious aromas, and exciting performances. Finally, show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community by wearing purple on Wear It Purple Day. This special day is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Expect a day filled with music, pride, and plenty of purple!
Years 8&9 Parents and Carers Social Event
Library News
Dear RBSC Library Community,
Reading is Magic. Book Week is coming up – 17 -23 August.
Please come along to help prepare for Book Week, we love our volunteers! or come into the library to speak to us about the book you are reading or a book you’d like to read. If you have experienced the magic of reading let us know, come in and tell us all about it; if you would like to experience the magic that can be reading, please come to the library and have a chat. ALSO if you have great ideas or would like to help…
Book Week Preparation.17-23 August, Committee meeting, Break 1, every day this week…all welcome.
It's Children’s Book Week in the library 17-23 August- Every year since 1945 CBCA Children's Book Week has brought children and books together across Australia.
Book Week has had a slogan since 1945, but until 1987 each branch created their own posters to illustrate the themes and promote events. There has been a national theme since 1987.
Traditionally, but not always, the Book Week artwork is developed by the winner of the previous year's Picture Book of the Year Illustrator.
Take a look at past CBCA Book Week themes. https://cbca.org.au/cbca-book-week-resources/
Book Week is an opportunity for all students at RBSC to seek out the magic that is reading. Make it something for you to do for you. Reading can transform your life even if it is for short periods. You can be transported to wonderful places, meet exciting, stimulating characters and feel tremendous thrills or scare your socks off. Participate in the celebration of reading. If you feel you have never really found a novel that really transported you…it’s because you have not met the right book yet! Come into the Library and chat, we will find you the one!
SRC
The Year 11 SRC are looking forward to running the Bullying No Way! initiatives. This will include board games at break two and colouring in available at school breaks; those ‘colourings’ may be pieced together to make a collage at the end. SRC fabulous rep’s will be running the activities this week and helping with Reading Is Magic – Book Week (next week). Come along for the lollies and the fun.
WHAT'S ON IN THE LIBRARY... (STARTING WEEK 2, TERM 3)
Monday- Break 2
CALL OUT FOR ALL YEAR 9 and 10 STUDENTS. BOOK CLUB MEETING. We are looking to start a Book Club for Year 9 and 10. Please come along to our first meeting Monday 5 Aug. and then every Monday after. A Book Club is a relaxed easy place to meet friends, cosy up with some choc. biscuits and find out about what's good to read. The meeting s are run by students (we have a rotating chairperson) and the novels are chosen by members themselves. Come along.
AFTER SCHOOL Homework Club
Tuesday- Break 1
Continuing our initiative to 'Give Back'- the 'Knitting Club returns, looking to give you some retro reprieve from being on a device and the opportunity to give back; by raising money -knitting squares to make blankets for the homeless. The best blanket will be raffled, the proceeds given to a charity of your choice; proven to be a great meditative skill (check out Tom Daley@tomdaley on Instagram). An easy way to stay occupied and off devices/screens. It is cool to be able to knit; come along, learn a skill, and give back. Join KNITTING TEAMS (Teams - 31seoan)
Knitting stuff provided, accepting size nine needles and size 8 pure wool donations.
Wednesday- Break 1
Meditation Year 12. (Senior Study, Library),via Sam Harris, learn to meditate sessions. A brilliant way to manage the pointy end of Year 12, and beyond.
Break 2
Integration Bee, Week 7 this Term, Maths/Science Committee Meeting. All Maths Science students welcome.
AFTER SCHOOL
# Homework Club,
# Chess Club
Thursday- Break 2
BOOK WEEK FUND RAISER
Book Week 17-23 August.
Prep.Committee-
Fund Raising re DRESS AS AN AUTHOR (Mufti Day, for a gold coin),
Committee meeting, Break 1, all welcome.
Friday-
Book Club, check the poster on the Library Entrance door re the TEAMS page, new students welcome.
***
Study Pathways
Please let us know if you would like help with your studies.
For example, we can help with Shakespeare…
Let us know how best we can serve you and your study pathways.
School of Languages
Under the Windows that overlook the Harbour, our School of Languages distance education students sit. It’s a silent area, but a beautiful space for our SOL students to study. If you are studying a language, you will be asked to sit in this space. Ms Lawson is Head of Languages at RBSC.
NSW School of Languages is a public specialist school, with speciality in teaching languages via distance education, located in Petersham. The school is operated by the New South Wales Department of Education. Go to the SOL website to access the career newsletter and to read about the benefits of studying languages.
If you have any enquiries, please see Ms Thomson at the library front desk.
Be Creative
To spark your creativity, we have set up a special Picture Book Display in the library.
A picture book can be a powerful stimulus for writing, whether in prose or rhyme, want to know the difference? Ask at the front desk.
We are also looking to encourage:
1. Cards, Uno, Board Game Fun; register re Monopoly and Chess Championships
2 .Colouring. Encouraging students to colour and illustrate, during the Breaks; also to use the white board tables to play 'Battleship' etc
Year 10,11and12 students.
An important part of being an effective student is being able to take notes.
Cornell Note Taking is one way of managing note taking. Please see me at the desk if you need some help.
The RBSC Book Club is set, our next meeting is scheduled for Friday Aug. 2nd, Break 2, Week 2 the club meets every two weeks. We invite everyone interested to join us. Keep an eye out for updates on our Book Club TEAMS page (Teams code- x250uos). Please see the library front desk for details. Our Book is from the series, Murder Most Unladylike. We are reading the first of the series – ‘Murder Most Unladylike’. Please start the novel and come along. A PDF is available. We will be moving on to our next book soon. Come along and be involved in selecting the next novel.
Calling all Year 11 and 12 Advanced Maths Students…
The RBSC Integration Bee (Like a spelling Bee but regarding advanced maths).
Is happening! Week 5 of this term -please see the Daily Notices for details.
Library Volunteers
We are still encouraging students who would like experience in ‘Display’ to join our growing number of volunteers. If you are interested in Window Display, Book Display, Wall display, then a career in Visual Merchandising, might be for you. TAFE has a Certificate in Visual Merchandising, ask at the library front desk; experience in the library can be a fabulous pathway; volunteering in the library is great to add to your resume. Please see the Library Front Desk if you would like to volunteer or if you need some help writing a Resume
# Come in and talk about your studies and possible study pathways, or simply find books that interest you; volunteer and get some great experience for your resume or just relax, read, study, colour, or play.
We serve our community of students and teachers in a vibrant interactive way. We encourage students and teachers to let us know how best we can serve. It’s a place for everyone. Our Library community is like a big box of chocolates, full of all sorts; it is a safe, working, vibrant and inclusive space; come in and enjoy.
Love the Library!
Woollahra Library Programs
There are two programs coming up at Woollahra Library at Double Bay that may be of interest to students:
The first is an key-note address and activity session with Michael Zenkov, on Tuesday 13 of August, from 4.30pm – 5.30pm. Michael is giving a talk about his experience as an as an Aeronautical Engineer. This is an event as part of National Science week, and we’re encouraging students interested in physicals, maths, science and engineering to attend.
The second is an author Michelle See-Tho, the 2024 Penguin Random House prize winner who wrote the novel Jade and Emerald. The talk is on Thursday 15 August from 4.00pm – 5.00pm, at Woollahra Library at Double Bay.
BJE News
Year 7 Fast Track is BACK!
Starting Week 2, Term 2 2024 at 8:00am-8:50am in B502
Fast Track Literacy and Numeracy classes are open to all students who wish to receive some extra help with literacy and numeracy skills and content. Fast Track is a foundation class that is highly structured and aligns with the current content being taught in Year 7 English and Maths classes. It is highly structured and aims to build the foundations of the skills and content being taught in classes currently. The Literacy class and Numeracy class will run at the same time. If you would prefer your child have both literacy and numeracy support then they can alternate between the classes every 2 weeks. Every 2 weeks equals a new learning cycle. This class is FREE and open to all Year 7 students.
Please email: tamarin.wood@det.nsw.edu.au if you would like your child to be enrolled in the program.
Parenting Workshops
Why Choose Public Education?
For 175 years, NSW public schools have been at the heart of education, preparing today’s children to succeed and build better communities for tomorrow
NSW public schools offer high-quality, well-rounded education that provides a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
So for the best education money can't buy, choose Rose Bay Secondary College.
