Middle School

2020 Start

A new year is upon us, and with it comes a myriad of new opportunities and experiences at Ringwood Secondary College. Even the Middle School Office boasts a new team, and you will have been introduced to your student’s House Coordinator via Compass email in the last week. As a collective, we thank you for your organisation and support in the return-to-school period.

Fortunately for our Year 9s and 10s, the first day back was a Friday, so their extremely busy day was quickly rewarded with a rainy weekend. It was very reassuring to see students smiling and laughing amidst the tumult that is locker allocation, new electives, old friends and more, as it reminds us that they do find joy and feel at home in the RSC community.

The Middle School Team are hoping to focus on and improve this very sentiment of community. We understand how important these years are in forming students views of themselves, their abilities and their possibilities; we also understand that the learning environment and broader community play immense roles in developing these views. Throughout 2020, therefore, we have the goal of enhancing student voice and agency to find more ways of engaging our youth in their education and increasing their sense of belonging – and thus their pride – in the college community.

We would like to remind families about the updated Mobile Phone Policy, which states that phones are to remain switched off and in student lockers for the duration of the school day, including breaks. Students have been briefed on the consequences that will follow breaches of this policy. So far, as expected, the Middle School cohort seem to have responded positively to this initiative, and we are all enjoying the screen-free scenes at school.

As you will have noted on Compass, the green school dress will be completely phased out beyond this term (Year 12s exempt). This means when the summer uniform returns in Term 4, students must be in the new Ringwood dress. This change has already been embraced by the majority of the cohort, and again, we appreciate your early organisation and support. Furthermore, please be reminded the Uniform Policy states that the only facial piercings accepted are clear retainers in existing nose piercings – no other facial piercings are permitted.

Looking ahead, our Year 9s will be heading off to their Phillip Island Challenge Camp in Week 8 of this term, and further information will be shared with students and families over the coming weeks.

Marissa Lee

Middle School House Coordinator