RSC News

Around the School

Facilities 

It’s certainly been a crazy year but the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to shine! Since the students have returned, we have focussed on consolidating several major projects around the school and planning for future works. Here’s a bit of a summary of recent works

  • Recladding back of the hall (This is part of a real push to improve the back of the school)
  • Plumbing repairs-We have made significant improvements to drainage throughout the school.
  • Installation of new dryer-Food Technology Prep area (We wash all Tea towels after every lesson)
  • Senior School locker build (Being held up by steel works)
  • Gardening and maintenance(The oval is looking like the MCG!)
  • Recoating of staff recreation area decking (thanks VCAL students)
  • Audit of Science rooms-checking for gas leaks

The Senior School is going gangbusters and the remaining civil works will be completed during the remainder of the year. It is such a thrill to see the Year 12 students studying in the new building and enjoying it for a few short precious weeks. 

 

Enjoy the photos 

Chris Salisbury

Facilities Manager

Business Economics

Students in Business Economics year 10 are playing Monopoly to start exploring economic decisions as an introduction to Economics.

 

Clare Raffety

Middle School 

We are well and truly in the swing of things in Middle School as we rejoice in the growing positives of our situation, whilst looking excitedly ahead to our future opportunities. Our students seem to be finding their return to semi-normal school life refreshing after what has been a very trying time for not only our College community, but all of Victoria.

 

The Middle School Team would like to share how extremely proud we are of every student for their personal effort during remote learning. It was no easy feat for students, staff, or families to manage this process, but we did it despite the challenges, which is a credit to both our individual and united strength. 

 

Students, whilst your learning has certainly taken a few detours this year, you are still very much on track – take the time to marvel at the strange situation you have overcome but keep your eyes forward on the rest of your schooling. Families, we are so pleased to have been able to work alongside you in this context and offer our earnest gratitude for your patience and support during remote learning – working from home tested our community in countless different ways and we value the unique experience of each family. Thank you for your efforts in engaging your young people whilst also prioritising their wellbeing, as was so critical over the months.

 

Back on campus, the Team were pleased to be able to hold COVID-safe interviews for the 2021 Middle School leadership positions, where an impressive number of Year 8s and 9s showcased their skills and qualities with the goal of leading their peers next year. Well done to all applicants for demonstrating passion and ambition in this important process.

 

Lastly, we were thrilled to hear Mr McNamara, Director of Performing Arts, announce that RSC will be offering a unique production experience next year: Middle School students will be invited to participate in a 2021 run of High School Musical (that’s right – exclusive to Year 9 and 10 students). Having missed out on much of their performing arts opportunities this year, it is wonderful that our young people will be able to explore and express their talents in a show of their very own. 

 

Marissa Lee 

Middle School Coordinator 

 

InterGREAT

It's NAIDOC Week 2020 and this year's theme is ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’.NAIDOC week is a time to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this land for over 60,000 years.

 

In InterGREAT this week we watched ‘The Final Quarter’, a documentary which looks at the achievements and experiences of footballer Adam Goodes. Classes then discussed the issues raised in the film, the impact of racism in the community and the need to respectfully listen to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

 

The documentary certainly had an impact. Here are some examples of the students’ insights into this issue:

  • “Let Indigenous people tell their stories - White people are not the experts on problems”.
  • “I want to learn more about how to have conversations about racial abuse in order to gain understanding.”
  • “Watching the racial abuse of a proud Indigenous man makes me feel ashamed that this could happen in my country”.
  • “Racism is so integrated in society that it is part of daily life. We think this is normal, as it is what we listen to”.
  • “We need to listen to and respect the stories of Indigenous Australians and the abuse they face”.
  • “It stood out to me that some people are racist without knowing it”.
  • “I was amazed at Goodes’ bravery in the face of racial abuse”.
  • “I was surprised by how openly influential people, like media personalities, talked about racism when they probably don’t understand it.”

It was a profound day of cultural awareness and understanding!

 

Virginia Watson

InterGREAT coordinator