All In This Together
Welcome back to Term 4
I want to say a big thank you to all our students, parents and carers for your continued resilience and support so far throughout this year. I know remote and flexible learning has not always been easy, but through our collective efforts, our students have continued to make valuable progress in their learning. You can be confident that we will support our students to continue to move forward with their learning upon return. Let’s continue to work together to finish the year well.
It was lovely to see our senior students return for the GAT earlier in the week and to witness their excitement in catching up. I would venture to add that I have never previously seen any students approach a GAT with such enthusiasm! Our year 12s will now enter an important revision phase for their exams, which commence on November 10th. . Over the coming weeks we will be implementing the requirements for Consideration of Educational Disadvantage that was announced by the Minister and VCAA last term. This will be done in consultation with students, staff and families.
We are now looking forward to having these senior students return for regular classes on Monday and in particular are delighted to welcome back our Year 7s too. It has been such a tricky year for them as they have transitioned from primary school and are still forming relationships with their teachers and classmates. It will not be too much longer before our Year 8 to 10 students are back with us too. I am sure that there will be many smiling faces behind the well fitted masks!
Our focus for the remainder of this year for students across years 7 to 10 will be to prioritise re- engagement and wellbeing, learning development with the utilization of differentiated approaches, and ensure successful transitions. Detailed communications are being provided by the sub school leaders in which arrangements will be outlined.
I would now like to turn to some other specific advice especially when travelling to and from school. The Department of Transport has provided the following information to assist as students and staff return to the classroom.
Public transport and school bus network
School buses will operate as normal across Victoria throughout Term 4 to support those students who need to get to school. Public transport continues to operate on its regular timetable during the day for passengers who need to travel.
Extra extensive cleaning is being carried out on all trains, trams and buses as well as stops and stations, to help keep passengers safe. We’re cleaning high touch surfaces regularly and deep-cleaning trains, trams and buses every night.
When traveling on the public transport network or school bus, please make sure you:
* Stay home if you are sick. Students and school staff members should not travel on school buses or public transport if they are unwell.
* Practise good hand hygiene and cough into your elbow
* Maintain appropriate physical distances where you can
* Wear a face mask (if over 12 years old)
* Keep doorways clear so people can get on and off safely
* Provide priority access to the front door of the bus for those who need to use it
Before you start school, check your myki balance before you travel to make sure you are ready to get onto public transport. Students with refunded school passes
https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/concessions-and-free-travel/children-and-students/school-students will need to get a new one.
Please be aware that public transport staff are no longer handling cash payments in order to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Parents, students and school staff will need to use a credit or debit card to pay for travel on the public transport network for all in-person transactions. Cash can still be used at myki card vending machines located across the network.
Visit the PTV website www.ptv.vic.gov.au/coronavirus for more information on how you can get ready to travel on the public transport network.
Road network operations
On the roads, school speed zones will operate as usual throughout Victoria. School crossing supervisors will also continue to help students and staff move around schools and roads safely.
Please be patient when as you drive around our school and community during drop-off and pick-up times. Remember to stick to the school speed zone limits, take extra care when driving near the school and allow students to cross the road safely.
Need more information?
Please visit PTV www.ptv.vic.gov.au/coronavirus for further information on public transport safety and coronavirus (COVID-19) initiatives or
VicRoads www.vicroads.vic.gov.au for updates on the road network.
Student Wellbeing
I have recently come across a really relatable piece and short article from well-known child psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller, which I would encourage you to read. Titled, “How to Get Your Child’s Learning Mojo Back”, it provides some simple and effective approaches and strategies that parents can use to assist in building hope, connectedness and self- belief for their child.
The senior school building will be in use from Monday and is such an exciting addition to our College’s physical learning environment. There have been lots of other significant improvements that have been undertaken around the college which we hope the students will notice and enjoy. There are some additional works that have been scheduled for the next month adjacent to our new building which will provide some new locker spaces.
Michael Phillps, OAM
College Principal
Welcome Back
Welcome back to everyone for another different looking term with some students and staff onsite for the first time in a while. I do hope that you enjoyed a relaxing holiday break.
An upcoming initiative for the RSC Community, local primary schools and the Maroondah Positive Education Network (MPEN) is ‘Flourishing Families’.
This series of information sessions will be a great opportunity ‘to explore, learn, develop and apply wellbeing capabilities that will help your family to flourish together’.
Flourishing Families is a series of 5 parent sessions, which allow families within our Maroondah community to explore the key principles of Positive Education, a pilot initiative adopted by all schools in Maroondah. Our staff and students across our schools (Eastwood PS, Great Ryrie PS, Heathmont East PS, Ringwood SC, Tinternvale PS) continue to explore, practice and embed key concepts of Positive Education and we would like to share this common language of wellbeing.
Throughout these sessions we aim to create an awareness of how Character Strengths, Mindsets, Positive Emotions and Positive Relationships can help us thrive and flourish individually and collectively. Learn more about Positive Education and how you can continue to enhance your own wellbeing, as well as support the wellbeing of your children, at home, at school and within the wider community.
Refer to the flyer for further details.
For all our students we wish them a successful and prosperous future and encourage every student to embrace opportunities that present, to challenge themselves but most importantly to become the best person they can be.
A few words of wisdom that encapsulates the future they may create are the ‘five steps forward’ by Cam Greenwood, founder of Monsta Surf.
1.Set your compass
2.Pack lightly
3.Step out
4.Expect storms
5.Keep moving
Maria Allison
Assistant Principal
HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR A VCE SCHOLARSHIP YET?
The RSC Heritage and Alumni group is proud to again offer VCE Scholarships to selected Year 10/11 students seeking to extend their learning into 2021.
Information will be on the website along with an application form to be completed and returned to RSC no later than Friday 16th October 2020.
These scholarships are especially referenced for students with a community spirit and a willingness to exert oneself against a challenge.
Application forms are available from the college by contacting the college on 9870 2002.
Interviews will be held in October and we invite you to consider applying.
It is the contribution of funds by former RSC/RHS students that make this scholarship offer possible.
Barry Ring
Heritage and Alumni Group