From the Office

Study Group at RSC - Years 7 – 10

Study Group is running again in 2020. The aim of Study Group is to assist students with completing classwork/assignment in all subject areas, time management, organisation skills and work habits. Senior students will be tutoring the junior students in small groups.

The Semester 1 program commenced on Tue 3rd March and concludes Tuesday 23rd June.

The session times will again be held after school on Tuesdays between 3:15 and 4:15 in room 107.

If interested please complete the application form attached and pay at the General Office. The cost for the semester is $100.

Eddie D'Alfonso

Study Group co-ordinator

College Council Newsletter Report

The RSC college council gathered for their first meeting in 2020 on Wednesday 19th February. The meeting opened with enthusiasm and positivity for what looks like an exciting and innovative year ahead at the College.

The process of determining members of the college council for 2020 is currently underway, with three new parents and 2 DET members nominating to fill the places of the following retiring council members: Andrew Amos, Michael Crump, Sharon Rogers (our current school council president), Sarah Rutherford, James Barut and student representative Mitchell Hart. Their efforts, hard work and leadership on council have been greatly appreciated and their contributions highly valued. These members will be missed, and we look forward to recognizing and acknowledging all retiring members at our upcoming council dinner.

There will be an invitation for expressions of interest from year 10 and year 11 students who may wish to nominate for the two remaining places on the college council as student council representatives.

The Ringwood Secondary College School Review took place on Monday March 2nd. Staff have been very busy and working hard to prepare for the review, in which we believe the college will do very well. The Principal Michael Phillips and Council representative Helen Parker attended the validation day for the review and the findings will be presented on March 23rd. The full report will be due back to the college early in term two.

Principals Report:

Michael Phillips spoke of the visit to the college of the Victorian Minister of Education, James Merlino and State Member of Parliament for Ringwood Dustin Halse on Friday February 14th. The Minister and Dustin Halse spoke with the Sustainability Students, and enjoyed a performance by the Senior Stage Band. The Minister came to view the progress of the new Senior School Building and discussed and recognized the need for future building works at the college, including the sports stadium and master plan.

There were several positive and exciting initiatives discussed, including the invitation to the college to be part of a School Breakfast Club Program; a major review of how the VET and VCAL programs are run in Victorian schools; and it was acknowledged that the new staff and new year 7 students have all settled in well into the new year at the college.

The new Senior School Building project is on track and despite the weather causing a few hold ups, the roof is expected to go on this week and the whole project is still due for completion and ready for occupancy in Term 3!

A big clean up and repairs were required following a nasty storm on Friday 14th Feb. The BOM recorded the rainfall that day as 40ml falling within 90 minutes in Ringwood! A large tree branch fell near the oval and the PAC came very close to flooding- but was saved by the swift actions of Chris Salisbury and other College staff. Thankfully there were no injuries, and the auditions being held for the Senior Production, The Wedding Singer, went full steam ahead!

Michael Phillips also reported that one Year 12 student has been selected for the Premier’s Spirit of Democracy Study Tour, and will be traveling to Greece during the Term 1 school holidays this year. Only 30 students state wide were selected.

Resources:

The finance and resources report from Joe Gleeson was extremely positive with the College budget and finances in very good shape moving forward into 2020.

Policy and Education:

Last year, a ministerial order was put in place where students were no longer able to carry and / or use mobile phones during school hours. The policy and education committee fine-tuned the education departments state wide policy in 2019 and it was implemented at the beginning of the 2020 school year. It was reported at council that the policy is working well and that there are minimal actions being required to enforce the policy. There was also quite positive feedback from parents and students that welcomed the new policy.

From the facilities report, the Council received updates of all the fantastic renovations and improvements made around the college, including the refurbishment of the Wellbeing Centre, Room 207, the oval, and other improvement and update works around the college.

Ringwood Training (RT):

Michael Phillips reported that enrolments are looking good with strong numbers in all of the RT programs. There will be a VRQA Audit to be conducted in March on all courses offered by the RT.

The council also discussed an excellent start to the 2020 school year. Members heard news and updates including; the success and destination of the Year 12 class of 2019 for university, TAFE, work, travel and other endeavours; a successful 2 weeks hosting of 28 students from the Usti nad Orlici School in the Czech Republic (thanks Mr Mac!); the settling in of the new year 7 students to secondary school life, the progress of the year 11 ball dance rehearsals and the excitement of the first ball to be held in the new modern format.

The council were also pleased to hear of the success of the swimming sports day with many students attending and a wonderful celebratory atmosphere- especially from the year 12 cohort and from the music and performing arts students and staff who provided great entertainment on the day.

Council members would like to welcome back the whole college community to the new school year and wish you all an amazing 2020!

Teresa Lodge

College Council

Ringwood Training

Please see the details for the upcoming Welding Course

From the Chaplain

I was looking towards 2020 with a lot of anticipation but what a year it has been so far!  We have had the calamity of bushfires, crazy hail storms and on a slightly different note the deep impact of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi's shocking passing in a helicopter crash.

It's a lot to process in a short amount of time and something that can get us when we least expect it.  However, it has reminded me of a couple of things that I have found encouraging as I watched these tragedies unfold. 

The first thing is our Australian community has this amazing spirit.  We seem to have an innate ability to rally around the down trodden. Whenever these events occur we put our differences aside and help those who are struggling and need support.  People offer their time and their own wealth and finances to assist others. I don't think it stops at crisis either, but also when people see a need they are willing to step in and help;  putting others before themselves.  This too included the fire fighters, some of whom gave their lives to try and save other people’s lives and property's.

The second thing I noticed, and this goes beyond Australia, was the profound impact a sporting icon like Kobe can have. My son who is just about to turn 10 was significantly impacted by his passing and I have since seen the outpouring of tributes both on social media and within the basketball networks.  I have reflected on why this has cut so deep for people. What makes Kobe so special?  Kobe was known to have this Mumba mentality. The alter-ego helped Bryant cultivate his own philosophy. Simply stated, Mamba mentality means “just trying to get better every day.” It’s the “simplest form of just trying to get better at whatever you’re doing.”  Was it that the people who followed Kobe could resonate with this, therefore, even though they didn’t necessarily know him, they felt connected to him by how his example impacted them personally?

He was an icon on how to work hard and not give up despite some of his own personal emotional and physical setbacks. In amongst the heartache, it is nice to think of the beauty displayed as we come together through the good and the bad.

Adam Bryant

Chaplain (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thurs) 

RSC Car Show

RSC car show has changed locations this year due to the building project at the school. 

We have been able to secure a great location with 1 acre of undercover parking!!  We are aiming to raise $5,000 this year which will assist in helping raise money to support the families at Ringwood Secondary College through the Chaplaincy Program.

Date: 20th March

Time: 7pm- 9:30pm

Location: Stairway Church, 171 Rooks rd Vermont. 

If anyone in our community can donate silent auction items or your time for the event please email gackroyd@ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au

Class of 1990 Reunion

Students from the Class of 1990 joined us from overseas and interstate for the event.

Attached are a few photos from the event  - we would love to show off our event to your school and keep the links happening. 

Thanks so much to Ron Meehan who was our then Year Level Co-ordinator and current member of the Heritage Committee who promoted our event via social media.  We had a great turnout of over 40 attendees, and the networking of class members and Ron was great.

The group photo at The Auburn Hotel in Hawthorn on Saturday 22nd Feb, where the Reunion was held last weekend. 

Second is a photo of Samantha Hilton (nee Davies) and Michael Hilton, high school sweethearts from the Class of 1990 - now very successful professionals (Samantha is a lawyer) living as ex-pats in Singapore long-term with their three children - Sam and Michael flew to Melbourne especially for our Reunion and re-linked with many Ringwood High friends. 

Third is a photo of myself (the Reunion organiser) and Jarryd Roughead, AFL legend who was there by chance at our Reunion and happy to promote our event with a photo. 

Fourth is myself and David Milburn (nee Vine) - David flew down from interstate to attend our Reunion.  Fifth are alumni friends Natasha Burdett and Denis Leadbeater - Denis' rock band played for a group of us in Collingwood after the Reunion event. 

Sixth is a group of girls from Class of 1990 Ringwood High: Sandra Knight - Kindergarten Teacher; Kathy McLeod - Social Worker, travelled from England for our Reunion; Kendra Gill; Sam Davies, and Julie Barkla - a high profile Melbourne Lawyer and Senior Partner in a Law Firm. 

Lastly, a photo with Mr Peter Crawford, our long-standing PE teacher, who turned up for our event, pictured with Maria Romano, Clare Collins and Nicole Wilkins.

Good to hear Ringwood Secondary is thriving and families we know are attending currently!

Kerry Draffin

Class of 1990