RSC Connections

 

 

 

Student Musings on Remote Learning

 

 

Junior School - Reconnect and Re-engage

 

As we welcomed back our Junior School students this week, each form group took part in various ‘Reconnect and Re-engage’ sessions. Students were provided with the opportunity to reconnect with their peers and teachers, reflect on their time at home during the Remote Learning period and learn about the experiences of others, and take part in creative endeavours relating to their experiences. Students produced origami hearts that the Year 7 and Year 8 Student Leaders are creating a mural with, they shared their own COVID-19 stories through narrative writing, poetry, song, speech, parody or art. Finally, students  worked together in their form groups to develop a class Spotify playlists that represented aspects of their time in social-isolation or helped them cope during remote learning.

 

Tasha Tomlinson 8L 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desy Kutasra 8E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imogene Prince 8L

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Civics and Citizenship

 

Throughout the month of May, Jayda Kelly 8D took part in “Run4Blue” to help raise money for Victoria Police Legacy families. 

 

 

Jayda set herself the goal of running 100km in May and achieved 44.78km in the first 9 days. Jayda reached her goal on May 22nd and ended up achieving 129.64km while raising $703.37 for the families of the police officers that recently lost their lives in the line of duty. Jayda then received the opportunity to run with the Victorian Police relay team in memory of the four officers who recently lost their lives in service. She ran the fifth leg from Boroondara Police Station to the crash site on Eastlink, carrying Senior Constable Kevin Kings baton to honour him.

 

​This was an amazing achievement and a well deserved honour to be recognised by the Victorian Police Force as an outstanding young person in her contributions to the community. Outstanding work Jayda!

 

Reconnect and Re-engage

 

The Year 7 & 8 Student Leaders just finished the attached art piece as part of the Reconnect and Re-engage program.

Middle School News

 

It was with great delight that we welcomed our Middle School students back to on-site learning this week. After two months of learning remotely from home, many students admitted that they were actually happy to be at school. In their first class on Tuesday the Year 9 and 10s engaged in a relaxed Origami activity, making love hearts with messages of hope that will be used to construct a ‘COMMUNITY’ mural for the 500s building. As you can see from the photos below the students enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with their teachers and classmates before getting back into the swing of classroom learning. Students also got to share their isolation stories and to create their COVID-19 class playlists as part of the other Reconnect Activities designed by the Sub School teams to support the transition back to on-site classes.

 

There was much hype in the school yard as friends reunited, catching up on the ‘tea’ (gossip) from the last few months and reigniting those fierce down ball competitions. The weather has played along nicely, sending us some gloriously sunny (albeit chilly) days this week.

 

We have been so delighted with the student’s adherence to the school’s uniform policy since their return, especially after so many weeks of enjoying the comfort of learning in pyjamas, track pants and/or slippers. As the weather continues to cool, we encourage families to invest in the College jacket or woollen jumper, both of which can be purchased at PSW. Please note that rugby jumpers can only be worn with the PE uniform.

 

The Middle School team would, once again, like to extend their gratitude to our wonderful parents and families who have offered such great support to our students whilst they continued their learning from home. We appreciate the challenge that this would have presented and commend you all on your efforts.

During Covid isolation and post covid isolation

Here are responses from 4 students in Year 7 reflecting on their learning during the past few weeks.

 

Eleni Stathatos

 

Year 7 ACE Debating

 

Year 7 ACE students spent the last two weeks of remote learning engaging with a unit on debating. Students spent a couple of lessons learning about how to construct an effective debate before spending times in their groups on Microsoft Teams preparing for the debating challenge. Debates took place over 4 lessons on a MS Teams meeting and students were adjudicated based off the Debating Association of Victoria criteria.

 

The debate topics were as follows:

  • That we should embrace a cashless economy
  • That children should be made to look after their elderly parents rather than placing them in aged care
  • That we should abolish trial by jury
  • That each household should be limited to how many cars they can own

Congratulations to all of our debate team winners that are pictured. Huge congratulations to the following students who were awarded best overall speaker of their debates:

 

  • Jadah Koh
  • Varada Lele
  • Campbell Young
  • Rosie Bluck

 

Overall the feedback from students on this unit was positive and students are really looking forward to the debates we will run in Term 3 and 4 as well as the potential to participate in inter school debating in October.

 

Jessica Lundie

English Teacher 

 

 

News From our Music Ensembles

Welcome back! It’s great to see all our ensembles and musicians making their way back from remote learning. It is so wonderful to hear music being played live in the PAC!

 

Just a few reminders:

. Sanitise on entry into the PAC and exit from lessons/ rehearsals.

. Please bring your own copies of music and pencil for both lessons and ensembles.

. String players please collect your instruments from the CAVE by no later than 3.30pm

. For rehearsals, ensure you sanitise, then set up your own chair and stand before setting    up your instrument.

. Most importantly, enjoy playing music with other people in the same room at the same time!

 

A shout out to our wonderful Performing Arts Technical Support, Corey Lucas Evans, who has made it possible for us to return to our normal rehearsals by connecting our groups in different spaces with live streaming.

 

Thank you to everyone in the Music Department whose “can do” spirit has allowed us to keep music going throughout this term. Really hearing the fruits of everyone’s labour on our return.

 

Awesome job all!

 

Janine Pero

Director of Instrumental Music