RICHMOND CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

TIDINGS - Term 1 Week 7 . 2021

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Hope. Purpose. Identity.

Education the RCC Way...

In the world our children are inheriting, their sense of hope, purpose and identity are entangled in media driven notions of success, popularity (especially in terms of social media) and unrealistic aspirations for immediacy and perfection. Is it any wonder we continue to see dramatic rises in anxiety, depression, eating disorders and youth suicide? Our next generations, your children, are striving to make sense of their world and their role in it.

 Many educational reforms *  focus on developing successful lifelong learners who are, creative, confident, active and informed citizens. These are excellent aspirations for Australian education, but the question parents ask me is: What are you actually doing at RCC to build these foundations?

And, will these foundations be like a solid rock upon which our children can stand and measure their worth in the face of what life asks of them?

At Richmond Christian College, we intend to equip our students with an enduring sense of identity, purpose and hope that will be foundational to their future. Our Christ-centred, biblically based, culturally relevant and academically rigorous approach to education is intended to equip students with solid foundations of truth and wisdom born by experience and rigorous investigation upon which they can rely to confidently and positively contribute to their world.

We achieve this through:

 ·         Intentionally creating a culture of safety in our classrooms and school grounds. RCC teachers, students and parents find a sense of belonging in this safety that perpetuates courageous engagement in ‘mistake making’, teaching, learning and community.

 ·         Intentionally creating a culture of teaching and learning that cultivates rigorous investigation and relevant application of the subject content—ensuring our students authentically engage with their world around them.

 ·         Intentionally establishing and maintaining positive relationships. RCC teachers provide an environment where students and their parents are valued, listened to and cared for. Every teacher affords every student the opportunity to mature and develop safely as they gain insight and understanding to navigate their world, make mistakes and truly learn.

 ·         Intentionally providing students with a significant variety of subjects. RCC students are able to experience the wonderful variety and complexity of life that our world has to offer and begin to find their place within it. In Years 7 – 10 RCC’s subject range includes: Digital Design, Material Technology, Food Tech, Japanese, Commerce, Photography, PDHPE, IST and much more. Our HSC course offers a similar variety of subjects, including: Physics, Chemistry, Extension English and Math, Visual Art, Music, PDHPE, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Modern History and much more. Furthermore, to ensure our subject offerings meet the needs of our students, the students themselves are always involved in determining the subjects we offer each year.

 ·         A distinctively different Year 11 and 12 model that provides students with the opportunity to engage powerfully with their subjects whilst safely navigating these transformative years. A compressed curriculum model enables students to immerse in their learning and receive more immediate and relevant feedback, whilst reducing the heavy exam load and associated anxiety at the end of Year 12. Briefly, in this model students complete three subjects in Year 11 and then sit the three HSC exams at the end of Year 11. They then repeat this model in Year 12. This also affords students the opportunity to engage in early entry university subjects or an apprenticeship in Year 12 without it impacting their face-to-face class time. To date this model has resulted in every graduating RCC student accessing their desired university or course after competing their HSC.

 ·         An extensive Learning Support program that provides every student with opportunities to maximise their learning potential. Students of all abilities are assisted to access the curriculum and grow in their knowledge, wisdom and skills. Extension opportunities are provided through Excellence programs in academics, creative and performing arts, sport and culture. Individualised, additional support is provided to students with additional needs through Individual Education Programs that involve extra one-on-one teaching time and adjusted content, environments, processes and outcomes where possible.

 ·         An extra-curricular program that assists students in gaining experiences that will contribute to their character and connection with the community. This program includes opportunities for leadership, creative and performing arts, music, sport, and cultural engagement.

 A famous parable of Jesus’ from Matthew 7 likens a person’s ability to incorporate truth and wisdom into their life to the wise man who built his house upon the rock and the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. One was washed away in the tides and storms of the world, the other withstood the difficulties and was not washed away. Our children deserve an education that will provide them with foundations of hope, purpose and identity that cannot be washed away in the tides and trends of our world.

RCC is a small school with big opportunities.

RCC staff are passionately devoted to partnering with parents and the broader community to provide a place where our children can safely build an identity, purpose and hope based on God’s Truth—a foundation that will launch them into their world as unique, powerful contributors to the flourishing of society.

Hope. Purpose. Identity.

Education the RCC way.

 *(including Australia’s most recent, Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (Dec 2019)

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

ZONE TOUCH FOOTBALL GALA DAY

Tuesday 16 March at Saunders Oval, Ballina

YEAR 7 2022 INFORMATION NIGHT

Wednesday 17 March 2021 - 5.30pm - 7.00pm

Contact the School Office if you would like to attend

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LAST DAY OF TERM 1

Thursday 1 April 2021

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FIRST DAY OF TERM 2 2021

Tuesday 20 April 2021

LEARNING THE RCC WAY

Author - Lucas Proudfoot visits the Primary School

Student Reflections from Lucas Proudfoot Writer's Workshop

On March 11th Lucas Proudfoot came to our school to do a writer's workshop. The purpose of his visit was for us to learn how to write creatively. He first asked us to think about our favourite things and write our ideas down. Lucas said it is easier to write about the things we enjoy.  My favourite part of Lucas' Creative Writing workshop was being able to go into the teepees and practice writing our ideas into the form of a short story.  He encouraged us to put our ideas down on the page and not worry about what others might think about our ideas. We shared our ideas as a group and enjoyed listening to everyone's funny stories. I would like to thank the Byron Bay Writer's Festival and the organisers of StoryBoard for enabling Lucas Proudfoot to visit our school.

Written by Niva Year 6

The writers workshop was really fun, we got to sit in mini teepees. Lucas first asked us a bunch of questions to find out our names and what we like. He then gave us four funny words to use in a short story.  The words he gave us to include in our short story included, Monkey, Banana and Chicken Nugget. We then had to choose fours words to make a second short story and we enjoyed sharing these in the group. Overall the workshop with Lucas Proudfoot was super fun! I hope he can come back again.

Written by Iona Year 6

On the 11th of March Lucas Proudfoot came to our school. We had lots of fun with him as a whole primary school. It was extremely entertaining and interesting hearing his testimony about his culture. We sang songs and learnt about the instruments played by the characters in his book. During his performance, a few people went up on the stage and danced and played instruments with Lucas. After the Assembly Year 4,5 and 6 got to do a writing workshop with him. He taught us some writing tricks and we learnt that it is easiest to write about the things we love. I loved the workshop and the show. It was so fun!!

Written by Abigail Year 6

What Did I like about the workshop?

I really enjoyed the great experience with Lucas Proudfoot. What I enjoyed most was learning how stories can be told in many different ways through music, dance and oral storytelling.  I also really enjoyed learning that it is easier to write about the things we love and admire, and that everyone has a story to tell. 

What we could do in the future?

I would really like it if the Writers workshop could go for longer and that we have an opportunity to invite Lucas Proudfoot back to school. I would also like to more people to have an opportunity to participate in Lucas' workshop.-In summary, I loved the experience and I hope that we get this amazing opportunity more times in the future for our school and us students. Thank you to the Byron Writer's Festival for enabling Lucas' visit.

Written by Jwenil Year 6

Congratulations Henry

Henry from Year 5 competed at the CSSA Primary Schools State Swimming Carnival in Sydney, during the week, and qualified for the CIS State Swimming Carnival in 50m Butterfly. Well done Henry! What an achievement!

Congratulations Pierce

Congratulations to Pierce, Year 6, who was selected in the CIS Primary Boys AFL Team to compete at the NSW State Carnival! There were 86 boys from all over NSW who competed for a place in the team today in Sydney. Such a wonderful achievement Pierce! Well done!

CANTEEN

CANTEEN MENU

Racecourse Café will continue to provide a lunch canteen Monday to Friday in Term 1.


Bring your orders into the School Office before school or by 10.30am.
Please write the name and order on a bag or envelope and enclose the exact money. 

Note: No Change will be given as orders go straight to the Racecourse Café.   Please note that mini beef burgers and mini cheese burgers are no longer on the menu.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

GIRLS ONLY SOCCER (5-9 Year Olds)

Relaxed, fun learning atmosphere with qualified female coach

When: Wednesday's  4pm - 5pm

Where: Saunders Oval, Ballina

Cost: $10per session

Ring Wendy 0490 806 105 for more information or to book a place