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Riverside Currents Week 7 Term 4 2022

From the Principal - Ms McNeil

Step Out Speak Out Walk

I began my working day in a beautiful way this morning, escorting four of our student leaders, Ainslie H, Hannah Y, Elly P and Alex L, to the Randwick Council Step Out Speak Out Walk to raise awareness about domestic violence. The annual Walk is organised by NSW Police Eastern Beaches Local Area Command and Randwick City Council with support from The Juniors.

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism, culminating in Human Rights Day on December 10. Apart from enjoying a stunning walk down Coogee Bay Road to Coogee Beach, with our friends from Randwick Boys, we joined other schools and community members to pledge our commitment to ending domestic violence. There were many powerful speeches from students at the varying schools supporting the event, providing a thought-provoking conclusion to our efforts on White Ribbon Day last week. Thankyou to the students for setting their alarms so early and thankyou to the parents for driving them to school at that hour!

ARTEXPRESS

It is with great excitement and pride that I announce that Riverside has had two students selected to be included as part of the 2023 HSC Showcase Season. Holly Field '薄れゆく記憶の中で' (Withi) at the Virtual Exhibition VX, The Armory, Sydney Olympic Park SOPA, Glasshouse Regional Gallery and Angel Zhang 'Ego' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales - AGNSW, Bondi Pavilion Gallery (BPG).

This is a huge achievement and one that reflects the talent and hard work of these two very dynamic young artists. Credit should also go to their passionate, dedicated teacher, Ms Gleeson, for her encouragement, guidance and skill in preparing not only these two students, but her entire very large HSC Visual Art class, to achieve this very prestigious accolade. Ms Gleeson and I will be attending the Opening Night of ARTEXPRESS to celebrate this outstanding achievement with these two very deserving young artists.

School Reports

As Term 4 comes to an end, we are finalising academic reports for students in Years 7-10. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to read of the academic achievements of all students and be made aware of those not so wonderful academic records. At Riverside we strive to foster and promote a culture of high expectations in all pursuits, principally academic. High achievement and academic success looks different for all students. I always tell the students that all we ever expect is that they do their best and that everyone’s best looks different. There is one thing that applies to everyone; however, and that is that one cannot achieve their best if they do not arrive at school on time every day; if they do not come to school ready to learn, with the correct equipment and resources; if they do not prepare for their learning by completing all homework, revision and assessment tasks; if they do not attend all lessons, despite being present at school; if they do not meet the learning expectations of all subjects, particularly in the senior school, by applying themselves with diligence and sustained effort to achieve all course outcomes. It is important that all of these basic expectations are fulfilled in order to ensure that students achieve the best learning outcomes possible and prepare themselves as well as they are able for their senior pathways, be they the HSC, TAFE or employment.

I am committed to ensuring that every student at Riverside is contributing positively to the learning culture of the school by always being the best student that they can be.

Weak links affect everyone and cast a negative shadow over the school, both in terms of learning and behaviour. I support every teacher to work hard to do the best teaching and learning that they can do, every lesson of every day. I support every student to do the best learning that they can do, every lesson of every day. I will continue to have difficult conversations with any student who attempts to obstruct the learning culture at Riverside by choosing to not fulfil their responsibilities as a student and commit themselves to being a positive contributor to all lessons. This is my commitment to every student who comes to Riverside every day to be the best student they can be, in the classroom, performing arts, sporting arena and leadership pursuit, because this is the least that every student should be able to expect of me.

Enterprise in the Community

Twenty four Year 9 and 10 students have signed up to work on the real world learning activity, Enterprise in the Community, which began this week. Ms Dwivedi has worked with Ms Tao to find community business partners to provide a business issue for the students to solve in groups. I have also masqueraded as a business owner to pose a problem to the students. It is hypothetical, of course. I look forward to the final solutions that these students develop to pitch to their businesses.

P&C

It was wonderful to meet many new members at the P&C this week. Invitations were sent to all parents of Year 7 2023 students and it was lovely that they took up the invitation. I look forward to working with all members of the P&C, existing and new, to create many amazing outcomes for the students through their fundraising and physical efforts. Thankyou to the incoming executive, Meg Hudson, President, Carrie Hamilton and Secretary, Zoe Williamson, for their passion and commitment to the P&C and the school. We appreciate all that you, and the entire P&C, do for us.

Orientation Day

We look forward to welcoming all of our new Year 7 students for 2023 at our Orientation Day on Tuesday 29 November. We have a huge, exciting program put together by Ms Campbell (Year 7 Year Adviser) and Ms Nikoletich. The Front Office has also played a key role in pulling together all of the information and resources to be presented to the students on Tuesday. Thankyou, in advance, to everyone, staff and students, involved in planning such a wonderful introduction to high school for our 100 Year 6 students.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Louise

Faculty News

English

Yr 10 English High Potential & Gifted Education Term 4

Students in 10ENT and 10ENL have been studying a unit this term called ‘The Landscape and the Human Spirit’. Through the study of complex classic texts, the plays ‘Oedipus Rex’ and ‘Antigone’ by Sophocles, students have analysed the characters, ideas, and values in the texts, and their relevance to a modern audience.

In responding to these texts, students have undertaken a variety of activities to extend their skills and knowledge. Students had fun debating against each other on topics based on philosophical issues and have extended their skills of analysis in essay responses based on fate, empathy and the tragic form. For the remaining weeks, students are writing articles for a website based on areas of interest. Stay tuned for the final websites!

This is what students have said about this topic:

Through the reading and understanding of Greek tragedy and theatre, I have come to understand a different portrayal of intense human experience and moral complications faced by the characters and the religious conspicuousness. Sughi

I enjoyed these extra activities because they gave me a small taste of what I am going to be doing next year. Ashley

I have learnt that Greek tragedies have had a great influence on literature as I saw many parallels between Oedipus Rex and Antigone to modern tropes and texts. Studying these texts has taught me the importance of having an awareness of the culture and society that a text has been produced from. Francesca

Classics By The Cove

Rehearsals have really intensified this week with Classics by the Cove only a week away! The stages in the quad have come alive with the students in Years 7 and 8 rehearsing their pieces. A variety of texts studied this year will come alive on Thursday 1st December, including Pandora’s Box, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, classic poems, The Secret Garden and Twelfth Night. Students in Year 10 Drama have also offered assistance with direction on some of the performances.

The show will begin at 6pm and everyone is encouraged to come along and join in the fun.

We are encouraging families to bring a picnic rug or chair to sit on, as weather permitting, this will be an outdoor event. There will be some chairs placed around the quad as well. Food will be available to purchase so you can have a picnic whilst enjoying the performances. The P&C are having a sausage sizzle, as well as selling drinks, fairy floss, popcorn, lollies and gelato.

The students and English teachers have dedicated a lot of time and effort into this creating this showcase and we look forward to sharing it with you on Thursday 1st December.

Ms R Young

Debating

TAS

Year 9 Food Technology

Year 9 Food Technology made some delicious ham and cheese tarts in class this week (Mr Palmero's mum's recipe). You can try making this at home.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 2 pastry sheets
  • oregano
  • 5 slices of ham
  • 100g cheese

Method

  1. Line a baking pan with baking paper
  2. Leave the puff pastry to defrost
  3. Crack 4 eggs into a bowl and whisk together
  4. Place one sheet of pastry in the tray, ensuring to flatten the edges and corners
  5. In the tray, lay down the ham, cheese, oregano and seasoning
  6. Leave a small amount of mixed egg (1 tbsp) wash in the bowl
  7. Pour the remaining into the pan to cover the ham and cheese mixture
  8. Place the other pastry over the top and press the edges down
  9. Use the remaining egg wash to brush the pastry
  10. Bake in an oven at 180 for 20 minutes
  11. Cut, serve and enjoy

HSIE

Year 7 History Ancient Egypt presentations

In Year 7 History we have just concluded our unit on Ancient Egypt. To end the unit, students were tasked to walk in the shoes of a famous Ancient Egyptian personality. Students had to use their research and creativity skills to create both an infographic and prepare an interview presentation. It was great to see the students engaging in the task, many getting involved and dressing up. In the photo attached is 7G in action. It was a wonderful way to end the topic. Well done, Year 7!

Ms E Turner

Senior Geography Fieldwork

On Monday, Senior Geography students braved the wind to conduct fieldwork in Green Square as part of their HSC course. Students investigated how the urban dynamics of change, urban consolidation and urban renewal, have impacted the rapidly developing precinct by assessing its sustainability. Students practised their geography skills by surveying local residents and workers, applied a rating index to assess sustainability and observed the culture of place in Green Square. Austin, our urban development expert, was very impressed with the students’ critical analysis of the urban planning which occurred in Green Square.

Ms Skinner Crowe

Maths

Maths Corner

Last week’s newsletter answer : 101 plants in total

Ms M Frangos

Co-curricula News

Senior Volleyball Schools Cup Tournament

On Monday our Senior Volleyball team participated in the final Volleyball Schools Cup Tournament of the year. As always, Riverside gave it their all with an abundance of enthusiasm and effort when playing against other schools across Sydney.

This year we had over 50 students from all ages partake in the School Volleyball program. We competed in multiple knockout competitions where we made it all the way to the state finals (placing 4th overall), as well as 6 seperate School Cup tournaments throughout Terms 2 & 4 against other schools from the public and private sectors. The students showed great effort in their weekly training sessions, whether they were in the school gym or Ryde Aquatic Centre. I would like to congratulate each and every student for their tremendous commitment this year.

I look forward to seeing our Volleyball program grow next year, with a new knockout team, as well as different Schools Cup team configurations when we welcome any new Year 7 candidates. Trials will be early Term 1 of next year, so any student (in any year level) who is interested in joining the Volleyball program next year, please keep an eye out for updates on Sentral and the Sports Google Classroom regarding the trials!

Ms T Hendricks-Styles

'The Stream' our new student created magazine

The cover and contents pages

The RGHS magazine - The Stream - is at the final stages of editing before it goes to print. The student writers have spent two terms working towards their articles.

Some of the student editors and designers take a look at the final draft before sending it off for printing!

If you are interested in a copy please register your interest in one easy step here: tinyurl.com/TheStreamForm

Ordered copies will be available for community members at the office and students at the quad from Monday of Week 9.

A Digital copy will also be sent out to students and community members at the end of week 9.

Mr Zabakly

Upcoming Events

Dates for the diary

Community Notices