RICHMOND CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

TIDINGS - Term 4 Week 5 . 2020

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Change. The one constant. Right?

Everyone has thoughts about change: Winston Churchill stated that “to improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” 

For those who remember him, Jimmy Dean said that “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Similarly, Martin Luther King said it is all about our desire and attitude, “if you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

Philosopher extraordinaire, Socrates is recorded as saying that “the secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

Perhaps Einstein sums it up by arguing that “the measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Biblically, change is to be embraced. Followers of Christ are encouraged to passionately pursue Jesus and to let this change their life; ultimately becoming more like a reflection of Jesus as they walk in His footsteps (John 13, Ephesians 4 & 5).

Regardless of your opinion on change it is years like this where we realise, we have no choice but to navigate the consequences of change in our life. This year has been a year that has changed the way we view our world causing us to reassess what is most valuable: what we cannot live without and what we should not live without. As a school, I have seen it force us to realise that community is critical to providing the support for the initiative and strength required to traverse change. 

The result of this support becomes evident in weeks like this week. As I write, rather than go back to their usual classes after exam block Years 7, 8 and 9 high school students are coming together to begin to produce RCC’s first short film that will celebrate life. Over the next four weeks they will engage in this project plus begin to build a community garden designed by their peers. How exciting! Primary students celebrated NAIDOC week this week by engaging in a variety of activities (you can see them on our Facebook page) and Years 5 & 6 students are finishing up a camp that should leave them sleeping for the entire weekend!

Henry Ford said, “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said ‘Don’t change anything.’” All too often it is easy to rest on that which is working and not seek to be perpetually relevant and flexible to ensure we are connecting with and influencing our world for God’s good. Hence, it is wonderful to see that as a school we are continuing to enable initiatives that will authentically prepare our students to engage in their world whilst also pausing to celebrate the wonders of God’s creation that we should not forget.

So, my conclusion on change? It is best summed up by the Psalmist when he writes, “This is the day that the lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118). Let us make the most of every opportunity we are given, whether it appears to be one or not.

Good tidings!

Jonno

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

STAGE 3  CAMP - COFFS HARBOUR ADVENTURE CENTRE
Wednesday 11 November - Friday 13 November
PRE-KINDY ORIENTATION MORNINGS
Day 1   Tuesday 17 November    8.50am - 12.00pm
Day 2   Tuesday 24 November    8.50am - 12.00pm
KINDY ORIENTATION MORNINGS

Day 1   Wednesday 18 November    8.50am - 12.00pm 

Day 2   Wednesday 25 November    8.50am - 12.00pm 

Day 3   Wednesday 2 December    8.50am - 12.00pm

SECONDARY WATERSLIDE CELEBRATION AND ORIENTATION DAY

Thursday 19 November 2020


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PRIMARY LIBRARY  KINDY—YR 6  

Every TUESDAY

FIRST DAY OF TERM FOUR

Tuesday 13 October 2020

LAST DAY OF TERM 4

Wednesday 9 December 2020

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONS

The transitions from home to early childhood education and onto school are important milestones for both children and families. All transitions bring about changes in the self, in our roles, our relationships, and in our ability to respond to new challenges (Cowan et al., 2005). During the early years, children are likely to undergo a range of transitions including moving between home and an early learning setting, and moving between learning settings to school. Changes continue as children move class from year to year and change teachers.

The Early Years Learning Framework (COAG, 2009), describes the following factors as important to successful transitions:

·      Building on children’s prior and current experiences;

·      Ensuring children have an active role in preparing for transitions with families;

·      Assisting children to understand transitions, routines and practices of the learning settings they are moving to and feel comfortable with this process; and

·      Working collaboratively with the teachers in the new learning setting.

At RCC we recognise the important role of families and teachers in helping children navigate successfully through the various life transitions. We offer a transition to school program which focuses on helping children settle into the Pre Kindy and Kindergarten environment before they commence school, so as to become more familiar with the new environment, new teachers, activities and peers. Participation in these types of activities has been shown to be associated with better adjustment to the first year of school (Glallo et al., 2010).

We also offer a Primary Step Up morning in Week 8 of Term 4 which provides students with an opportunity to meet their new teacher and begin to adjust to their new learning environment.

Year 7 Experience Days are held throughout the year providing opportunities for students in Year 6 to be introduced to their homerooms, new secondary teachers, peer support leaders, secondary subjects, and new learning environments.

If you have any questions about any of the transition programs we offer at RCC please speak with Jonno Simmons, Elise Janes (Head of Secondary), or Vanessa Miller (Head of Primary).

Effective Transition of School Children

Dear Parents, 

Attached is a document we have received from NSW School Link for all parents to assist in effective transition of school children. We commend it to you as a very useful resource to include in your toolkit of being prepared for next year and finishing this year well.

Download

PRE-KINDY AND KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION MORNINGS

Welcome to our Pre Kindy and Kindy students for 2021.

We are excited to welcome our new Pre Kindy and Kindergarten children to school next week for the first of a series of orientation mornings. The Orientation program at Richmond Christian College assists children and their families gain an understanding of what school will be like and provides an opportunity for children to meet their new teachers and make new friends as they engage in a range of child-led and guided-play based learning activities.

Starting school is a major milestone and can be both challenging and exciting for children and their parents. We recognise that children come to school with a range of experiences, skills and abilities. Some are familiar with books, can recognise letters of the alphabet or even write their name or count to ten, while others have not yet learned these skills. A positive transition to school leads to better learning and wellbeing outcomes for children during the transition and beyond. It helps to support children’s continuity of learning and development and supports them to feel secure, confident and connected to new people and places.

To support students’ transition to school next year Mrs Millar, Mrs Watts and Ms. Chilcott are looking forward to welcome their new Pre Kindy and Kindergarten students for orientation mornings from 8:50am – 12pm on the following dates:

Pre Kindy

Day 1 Tuesday 17 November

Day 2 Tuesday 24 November

 

Kindergarten

Day 1 Wednesday 18 November

Day 2 Wednesday 25 November

Day 3 Wednesday 2 December

 

We look forward to welcoming students during the orientation mornings. For further information please email Alison Parr in the school office admin@richmond.nsw.edu.au or phone the school office 6686 7847.

BCEA General Meeting on Zoom

Date and Time

From Wednesday, November. 18th, 7:00 pm

Location

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/92650545555?pwd=b25RaTJ1c2U1bG1LVmtzZFNnMEcvUT09Get Directions

Information

Members of the RCC Community are invited to our Association General Meeting being held on Zoom where Mr Simmons will reflect on the past year and look forward to the plans for 2021.  The Treasurer, Nellie McCarthy, will also present the draft budget for 2021 and there will be the opportunity to ask questions of the Board.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.  

RCC Plateau Bus

As a part of our commitment to ensuring families in this area have the opportunity to receive excellent Christian education, we will be continuing to provide a direct RCC bus from the Plateau to Richmond, with an afternoon return, for the exclusive use of RCC students, PreK – 12.

Service Route:

The service begins at Wollongbar at 8am and proceeds through Alstonville, Tuckombil, Teven, Tintenbar and Cumbalum and then on to Richmond Christian College by 8.40am. The service then leaves RCC at 3.05pm and concludes at Wollongbar at approximately 3.45pm.

The costs for unlimited travel are:

·       First child $200 per term

·       Second child $150 per term

·       Third child $75 per term

·       Fourth and subsequent children – free

Further details are available on the website https://richmond.nsw.edu.au/plateau-bus/.

Applications for use in 2021 are available now from the School Office.  Please contact the School Office on 66867847 if you have any questions about the service.

2021 SCHOOL FEES

The fee schedule for 2021 has been emailed to all families and can also be located on the website https://richmond.nsw.edu.au/fees/.  If you have any queries or concerns, please contact the Finance Officer, Laurel Trainor at finance@richmond.nsw.edu.au. 

UNCLAIMED BOOK FAIR ORDER

We have an order that was made online from the school book fair through The Book Room without a name.  If you have not received your order, please contact the School Office.

FOR SALE : RCC Sports/Swimming Bags ONLY $5. Available at the School Office.

AVAILABLE AT THE SCHOOL OFFICE

LEARNING THE RCC WAY

Primary Merit Awards

RCC NAIDOC Celebration

On Monday 9th November, K-6 students enjoyed celebrating NAIDOC week by engaging in a variety of activities to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Australia and in our local area. Students were grouped in mixed stage groups with Bundjalung animal named groups.

K-6 students, led by our wonderful K-6 teachers, took part in sharing of Aboriginal cultural stories, information about the importance of Indigenous totems, caring for the land and environment, hand & face painting, significance of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, created a fabulous Sea of Hands on the primary hill area and even managed to make an Indigenous coloured bracelet.

A fun day was had by all. Thank you to all teachers and to all of our terrific learning support staff that assisted with preparation of many of the materials.

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

HOCKEY COMES TO RCC

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day

We choose to honour Remembrance Day to commemorate the sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom, and also to remember the huge cost of war and the devastation that conflict of any kind can bring to humanity.

We are reminded of our own human tendencies to conflict and how individual peace and world peace are ideals we can all work toward.

In the Bible Jesus is known by many names, including as the Prince of Peace.

Jesus shows us that true peace is not possible through human means because we are all capable of selfishness. However, peace is the ultimate gift of God through Jesus, and with God’s help we can work towards peace in ourselves and in the world.

Isaiah 9:5-7

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TUTORS AT RICHMOND

Piano and Vocal Tuition

Jaylene Fergus has a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in both ‘Performance’ and ‘Music Education’. For all inquiries regarding piano or vocal tuition please phone Jaylene Fergus 0401032440 or email fergusjaylene@gmail.com

CANTEEN

CANTEEN MENU

Racecourse Café will continue to provide a lunch canteen Monday to Friday in Term 4.


Bring your orders into the School Office before school or by 10.30am.
Please write the name and order on a bag or envelope and enclose the exact money. 

Note: No Change will be given as orders go straight to the Racecourse Café. 

COMMUNITY NOTICES

FOOTBALL FUN DAYS IN THE HOLIDAYS