Newsletter

Welcoming New Students
As Term 3 begins, it is wonderful to see all our students back at school, eager and ready to learn. We are especially excited to welcome several new students to our Primary School. I have had the pleasure of meeting these new faces multiple times, and it is heartening to see their smiles as they settle into their new routines. Our community of welcoming teachers and students has played a significant role in helping these students feel comfortable and included.

Lunchtime Activities
With everyone back on campus, it’s an opportune time to remind our students about the variety of enriching lunchtime activities throughout the week. Choirs, Art Club, Garden Club, and many more provide wonderful opportunities for students to explore their interests and talents. The timetable for these activities is outlined in the picture below, offering students a range of options to enjoy their lunchtimes creatively and constructively.

Spotlight on Uniforms
With winter well and truly arriving, there has been a need to rug up during the school day. I’d like to place a spotlight on correct uniform standards when dressing in pants or tights. As seen in the photos, our Sport Uniform has corresponding trackpants that can be purchased at the Red and Black Shop. For our Day Uniform, black tights can be worn. These can be purchased anywhere. The photo shows that tights need to be worn without socks. Please avoid wearing leggings with socks, or mixing Sport Uniform with tights, as this is not part of the uniform. Thank you for this.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations
From the 7 to 14 July, we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate NAIDOC Week within our school community. This was a special occasion, as NAIDOC Week typically falls during the holidays. It was a great experience for our students to engage in activities that celebrated the rich history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Please find below some pictures of our Primary students while they create their NAIDOC Week artwork.

PR1ME Core Books
You may have already started to see your child’s PR1ME Mathematics Core Book (A) come home this term as they begin to move onto new concepts covered in their next book. Some of the pages on these books may not be completed as our teachers incorporate formative assessment throughout their lessons where students show their working on mini whiteboards rather than on paper in their texts. Formative assessment provides opportunities for our teachers to check for student understanding and provide timely feedback to students to help them correct misconceptions or improve.

Please be mindful if you are planning on having your child work through the blank pages that some lessons may not have been taught in the initial year of implementation at RGS as students familiarise themselves with the consistent metalanguage of the program. This is part of the roll out process for introducing our new format of the mathematical spiral curriculum.

InitiaLit
Our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 classes are becoming more confident with our InitiaLit program based on The Science of Reading. We have had some wonderful feedback from parents who have witnessed an improvement in their child’s reading and spelling. We are always appreciative when our school community takes the time to share and celebrate successes with us.

For our new RGS families, I have attached the parent / carer information to provide detail on what InitiaLit encompasses. Our year levels engage in the following programs as part of the explicit literacy instruction:

Prep - InitiaLit-F
Year 1 - InitiaLit-1
Year 2 - InitiaLit-2

Year 7 to 12 – Semester 1 Academic Reports
Years 7 to 12 Semester 1 reports were released at the end of last term. Hopefully, you had an opportunity to review the report and engage in a discussion with your child. It is important for students to reflect on Semester 1 and plan for the upcoming semester. It would be worthwhile for students to prepare a brief plan of actions they will implement to improve their results. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance with any queries relating to reports.

Coursing
Students in Year 9 and Year 10 will shortly complete an initial subject selection. Further details will be provided to students and parents during Term 3. Submitting subject requests on time is important, as it allows the School the opportunity to ensure all student requests can be met. Coursing information for current Year 7 and 8 students will commence later this term.

Year 10 – Where to now?
SET Planning
During Semester 2, all Year 10 students will complete their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan, with the HOY – 10 Mr Nicholas Blevin, or Head of Vocational Education and Training, Mrs Cindy Murray or with me, as the Head of Secondary School (Academics). This important document allows students to consider their post school goals and ambitions. This link ( https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/your-qce-pathway/planning-your-pathway ), is a QCAA resource – MyQCE, provides an excellent overview of the process. The frequently asked questions section is particularly informative.

Year 12 Assessment Mock Assessment Timetable
All Year 12 students have been given a copy of the RGS Mock assessment timetable. As a reminder, these assessment items will occur during the two-week period, commencing Monday 2 September and concluding Friday 13 September.

NAPLAN
The School’s Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 cohorts participated in NAPLAN online testing late in Term 1. This Newsletter provides the School’s mean data for each cohort who undertook the national test along with the state mean. Student reports are expected to arrive at the School in late July. Once they arrive and are processed they will be posted.

General
As a reminder, if you have any questions regarding academics or your child’s progress please feel free to contact me on rcarter@rgs.qld.edu.au or 49360 609.

A warm welcome back to our Year 7 students for an exciting Term 3. It was so wonderful to hear the noise back in the Birkbeck building and have the students together catching up about their holiday adventures. Thank you also to those of you that were able to make it to the SHOWCASE on the final day on Term 2. It was great to be able to share our classrooms with you.

We have some wonderful things to look forward to this term and, as always, I encourage the students to get involved and be a part of what is happening.

Our pastoral focus this term is on Teamwork. We will be exploring what it means to be a part of a team, what our own strengths are and what we can offer to the teams we are a part of. This will include forms rotating through some exciting activities led by the Year 7 form teachers. This allows each of the classes to work with each of the form teachers throughout the term.

In Tutorial, I will be continuing the work on TEAMWORK but will also begin focusing on Subject Selections for Year 8. This will include our elective Heads of Departments speaking at our year level assemblies over the coming weeks, time to explore subjects on offer and career paths with me in Tutorial each week. It is an important process for the students and as always, we invite parents to assist with the very important decision of selecting subjects for 2024.

Year 7 Immunisation Schedule 2024
7A  -  Monday 22nd July
7B  -  Tuesday 23rd July
7C  -  Wednesday 24th July
7D  -  Friday 26th July
7E  -  Friday 26th July
7F  -  Friday 26th July

Please, if you have any questions contact the Health Centre.

It’s been lovely to speak with the Year 8’s this week and to hear their holidays stories.  With only 17 weeks of school left for the year, our Year 8’s are now closer to being in Year 9 than that from finishing Year 7.

In Tutorial and Form this term, we move our focus onto relationships.  We focus in on safe relationships, both on and offline; recognising toxic relationships; what it means to be a friend, and what it means to be an ally; and consent.  While these are topics we touched on earlier this year as a part of the Your Choicez presentation, this term gives us a greater opportunity to explore these topics and address any questions.

8D had a wonderful time at Ritamada last week, as the first of our Year 8 camps.  It is always wonderful to see friendships blossom, and a sense of comradery develop among students, and they encourage each other to be brave in tackling activities and as they work together, as a team, in a different environment.  This week, 8A set out on their camp with Mrs Silcock.  We wish them all the best for an excellent week and look forward to seeing them return on Friday.  Thank you to Mr Boicos, Ms Treadwell, and the Grounds and Maintenance, Transport and Catering staff who make these camps possible.

In our Tutorials this week, we discussed that it is often easier to see the negatives in a situation, that what it is to find the positives.  I have encouraged the Year 8’s to challenge their mindset this semester by searching hard for the positives in each situation.  Positive thinking isn’t always enough though, so, as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

The activities were designed to challenge, inform and instil confidence in our students as they navigate their path to adulthood. Sometimes the reasons behind some of the activities are not apparent at the time – but it is hoped that over time and with reflection, the challenges of life can be met with the same degree of enthusiasm, confident in the knowledge that there are times in life where we have to face our fears, take and deep breath, grit the teeth and just get the job done. I am extremely proud of all our Year 9 students. It was wonderful to see so many parents celebrate the culmination of a great week.

Over the next week we will begin discussions in tutorials around subject selection for Year 10. I do encourage you to have some meaningful family conversations around what might suit you best and to be aware that if you really are interested in a subject it is important to make that choice now; subjects may not be offered if enough people do not indicate and interest in these early selections. Please remember in your deliberations that it is important for you to consider choosing subjects that you enjoy, subjects that you are good at, not subjects that friends are choosing.

This term promises to be a busy one, with SET Planning beginning soon and the Outdoor Education Programme (OEP) experiences rounding out our term.

Next week, we will begin our final subject selections for Years 11 and 12. After students make their electronic subject selections, parents will receive an electronic receipt for signing. Following this, students will schedule a SET Plan interview with me to evaluate their chosen subjects and ensure they align with their desired career outcomes. This interview will require each student to bring along their signed SET Plan document (to be emailed next week). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about subject selections; I am happy to assist before SET Planning begins. Additionally, the Curriculum Handbook is available on both Student Café and Parent Lounge to support your decision-making in the coming days.

The Year 10 camps are in the final stages of preparation. In the coming weeks, students will attend camp-specific planning meetings to address any questions and ensure they feel well-prepared and comfortable for their OEP experience.

Lastly, we were fortunate to have Adair Donaldson visit in the first week of term. He primarily discussed consent, and his session has had a significant impact on our cohort. We are collectively grateful for his visit.

Looking forward to a productive and exciting term ahead.

The day was a way the community could support those going through a cancer experience, recognise and celebrate survivors - with two RGS members walking the survivors lap on the day - and to honour and remember loved ones lost. As we learned on the night, one in two will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they reach 80 making the event that more meaningful for our students. We were able to raise over $3000 for the Cancer Council! On behalf of students, RGS staff and Myself, we would like to say thank you to all who supported our fundraiser.

During Week 1, the Year 11s had a presentation from Adair Donaldson. Adair Donaldson is a lawyer and educator who is also an ambassador for Rape and Domestic Violence Services of Australia. Since 2007 Adair has worked to develop educational programs and consulted on legal issues affecting youth. The development of acclaimed preventative law resources that address the legal consequences of alcohol abuse, sexual assaults, discrimination, illicit drugs, violence, social media, and the illegal use of technology has been a long-held passion for him. Adair has presented workshops to thousands of students, parents and athletes over the past decade, and has worked closely with the NRL to develop and implement educational resources for their players and clubs.

Throughout Term 3 and Term 4, the Year 11s will have SET Plan follow-up interviews. All students in year 10 are required to undertake a SET Plan meeting to discuss their subject selections and pathway options for senior school. It is important to have these follow up conversations about subjects and their suitability for pathways, especially before Year 12 work commences. We encourage students to book meetings with Ms Belonogoff to discuss their careers and pathways. Please reach out if you have any questions regarding SET Plans or coursing.

I am looking forward to the weeks ahead and hoping your child/ren are also, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hard to imagine that there is only 11school weeks left until Year 12’s head into External exam block. The Year 12’s have returned to a heavy assessment period for their final internal tasks. Most students will have completed all internal tasks by the end of Week 4 this term which also means that there is likely to be some quite stressed individuals out there. Please ensure your Year 12 student is looking after themselves, holistically. This means ensuring adequate sleep, good nutrition, down time with friends, family or just relaxing with a good book. This will help to ensure more productive study periods. Additionally, continuing to adjust planning is essential to keeping on top of tasks and reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed. Of course, if this is occurring, I would certainly encourage students to come and see me. While QCAA requires evidence for extensions, this does not mean that we cannot assist in other ways, especially if we are aware early that a student is struggling with workload.

Following this period, the focus will be on mock exams in September (Monday 2 to Friday 13) and externals commencing Monday 21 October. Both the mock timetable and external timetables have been distributed to families and the external exam timetable can also be accessed here , so please ensure these are looked at carefully and planned for. If there is any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me. Further information regarding these exam periods will be provided in coming weeks.

As per my final newsletter and end of semester letter in Term 2, please take note of the following important dates for this semester:
* 100 days left celebration – Wednesday 7 August
* Leadership Colours Ceremony rehearsal – Wednesday 16 October
* Headmasters lunch – Wednesday 16 October
* Mocktails – Thursday 17 October
* Final day of classes – Friday 18 October
* Leadership Colours Ceremony and Handover – Friday 18 October
* Curriculum Prep days - Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14 November
* Valedictory – Friday 15 November
* Year 12 Final Day – Friday 15 November (ALL students MUST attend)

Additionally, a reminder that to supplement our Pastoral Care Programme, the following guest speakers and workshops will be held this term:
* Red Frogs: Life After School – Wednesday 17 July during Leadership
* Young Workers Hub – Wednesday 14 August during Leadership
* Bolsover Health Presentation – Wednesday 21 and 28 August

Last week, we had Jodi from LIVINWell talk to Year 12’s about Mental Ill Health and ways to manage this and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health concerns. The presentation was excellent and touched on the area of mental health that there are not many people out there talking about – Stigma. Additionally, there was a very male dominant approach which was refreshing and further reduces the stigma of being open about mental ill health given it is usually males who are more hesitant to reach out for help. Jodi was engaging and interactive with the students and his personal story really helped draw in the students. A wonderful presentation that is another tool to remove the devastating impact that misunderstanding, lack of information and apprehension has in this space. We also had Adair Donaldson return to discuss various aspects of the law and how it can impact Year 12 students very differently once they are 18. He also discussed the impacts of a person’s social media presence and how this can impact future career aspirations. As always, Adair was wonderfully engaging, adding some levity and interactive elements that really helped students both engage with the content and fully understand the important topics of consent, the law at 18, and the difference and understanding between school sanctions and workplace sanctions.

I look forward to another busy, yet exciting term as the Year 12’s begin the final leg of their school journey. I encourage all students, once again, to enjoy these last few months and the many ‘lasts’ that come with it.

Term 3 Key Dates

TERM 3
17 July - Secondary School Formal Assembly
10 - 12 August - Boarders’ long weekend
12 August - Student Free Day – Secondary only
30 August - Student Free Day (Primary & Secondary)
2 - 13 September - Year 12 Mock Exams
6 September - Last day of Term 3 for students (P – 11)
9 - 10 September - Student Free Days

Brisbane Tertiary Studies and Careers Expo 2024
July 13 to July 14, 2024

Get expert advice for your transition from education to employment. The Brisbane TSXPO is a fantastic opportunity to find all of the information you need to kick start or redirect your career and find information all under the one roof! Brisbane TSXPO is suitable for a range of visitors, including:
* High school students and their parents
* Mature age and post graduate students
* Career seekers of ALL ages
* Employers looking for staff training.

Find out more

UniMelb | Meet Melbourne Cairns
July 18, 2024

Our Future Students team are visiting Cairns to meet with prospective undergraduate students like you to discuss your study options and the exciting campus life that awaits you at Melbourne. Join us to learn more about:

* How our Melbourne curriculum supports you to explore your passions, follow your curiosity and find your path through our wide range of majors and breadth subjects
* Our special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) Access Melbourne which takes into consideration your personal circumstances in your application – you may even be eligible for guaranteed entry
* Our University Accommodation options and student life initiatives to support you in making Melbourne your new home and feeling welcomed by our community
* How you can take advantage of opportunities in and out of the classroom, such as concurrent diplomas, work-integrated learning and internships, exchange programmes, and peer mentoring.

Find out more

Important Future Events

Queensland Police Service | Open Day - Brisbane
July 20, 2024

Join us to learn all about a career with the Queensland Police Service. Take this rare opportunity to check out our state-of-the-art training facilities and chat with our specialist units like the Dog Squad, Road Policing Command, Dive Squad, Mounted Unit, Stock Squad, PolAir and many many more. Find out more

UniSC | Open Days 2024

Moreton Bay: July 21
Sunshine Coast: August 4, 2024

UniSC Open Day is all about welcoming community and future students on to campus to check out UniSC’s program offerings, meet staff and explore UniSC’s world class teaching and learning facilities. Find out more

Bond | Open Day 2024
July 27, 2024

Open Day is the perfect way to learn more about everything a university has to offer – whether that’s done through meeting students and academics, roaming our beautiful campus, or even testing out our facilities. Find out more

QUT | Open Day 2024
July 28, 2024

Come and explore the amazing facilities at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove and see for yourself what makes QUT the university for the real world. Find out more

Townsville Careers Expo 2024
July 29, 2024

The Expo is a must for anyone interested in starting, changing or upgrading their career, including high school students and their parents, mature age and post graduate students, career seekers of all ages, employers looking for staff training, and others. This annual event offers a wealth of information for visitors, including:
* Access the latest careers, course study and employment options.
* Advice on enrollment procedures.
* Talk to local and national employers.
* Opportunity to talk to admissions staff.
* Meet with interstate and overseas exhibitors.
* Info on bursaries, scholarship and application procedures.
* Compare courses from different providers.
* Students services, GAP and exchange programs.

Find out more

ACU | Open Day 2024, Brisbane
August 3, 2024

Open Day is your chance to find out everything you need to know about studying at ACU before you enrol. You’ll be able to check out the campus, meet staff and students, discuss entry pathways, and talk to experts about your study options and career goals. Find out more

CQUni | Open Days 2024
Mackay: August 3, 2024
Bundaberg: August 8, 2024
Rockhampton: August 18, 2024
Gladstone: August 22, 2024

Explore our facilities and learn about your study options direct from our supportive staff. Our Open Day events are held across July and August at our regional campus locations.

Get your questions answered: We’re a friendly and passionate bunch who take the time to explain the nitty-gritty of starting study. Ask us about your pathway options, fees, scholarships, and support with your application.

Start planning your future: With both TAFE and university study options available, we’ll help you discover your dream course. You’ll even get the opportunity to speak with our teachers about work placements, graduate outcomes, and career opportunities.

Experience campus life: Step onto our vibrant campuses and soak in the atmosphere. From relaxed student spaces to cutting-edge facilities, you’ll feel right at home.

Find out more

UQ | Open Days 2024
St Lucia: August 4, 2024
Gatton: August 18, 2024

We can’t wait to welcome you to Open Day at UQ’s St Lucia and Gatton campuses. Explore your interests and study options, immerse yourself in university life and get answers to all your questions. What to expect:
* Attend sessions to uncover your study area of interest and find out more about the degrees we offer.
* Enter a competition, grab some freebies, listen to live music, get hands-on in a workshop or come on a tour.
* Get to know UQ. Ask current students and teachers all your questions and find out about student life.

Find out more

JCU | Virtual Open Day
August 6, 2024

JCU’s Virtual Open Day is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the University ranked number 1 in QLD for graduate starting salary. Get information on courses and support services in a relaxed and convenient environment, and have your questions answered via live chat with JCU advisors, current students, academics and alumni. Find out more

Torrens | Open Day 2024, Brisbane
August 8, 2024

Meet our academics and Future Student Advisors, who will be able to answer all your questions about scholarships, entry pathways and our world-class facilities. Explore our campus and find out firsthand how exciting studying in Brisbane can be. Find out more

Griffith | Open Day 2024
August 11, 2024

Explore a world of possibilities! With over 150 activities, workshops, and information sessions to choose from, our Open Day is your ticket to an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re curious about science, business, arts, or health, we have something for everyone. Find out more

UniSQ | Open Days 2024
Ipswich & Springfield : August 11, 2024
Toowoomba: August 18, 2024

* See careers in action, explore our campuses and chat to our lecturers.
* Meet our world-class lecturers and speak to current students about studying at UniSQ.
* Soak up the atmosphere and check out our campus facilities. We’ll also have live music and food trucks.
* Participate in hands-on activities and experiences run by our academics.
* Have a free one-on-one career conversation to help explore your options and the best path for you.
* Ask the questions you’ve been wanting to ask, face-to-face in one place. On-campus accommodation, fees and scholarships, degree information and more.

Find out more

JCU | Heroes in Sport, Townsville
August 12 to August 13, 2024

Do you have a passion and desire to develop a career in physiotherapy and sports and exercise science? From this full-day programme you’ll gain unique insights into a career in sport. You’ll go behind the scenes at the Cowboys Community, Training and High Performance Centre, and learn from industry experts in physiotherapy and sports and exercise science before hitting the field for a high performance training session. Find out more

SCU | Open Day 2024, Gold Coast
August 18, 2024

Check out Southern Cross University campuses in person. Come to our Open Day at the Gold Coast campus in August 2024. Find out more

TAFE QLD | Gold Coast Online Open Day
August 21, 2024

TAFE Queensland on the Gold Coast invites you to attend our Online Open Day. Experience our on-demand video content and delve into the study areas that interest you. Take a virtual tour of our cutting-edge facilities, reserve a spot for a campus tour, get first-hand experiences from our students about their time at TAFE Queensland, and much more. Our Online Open Day is an opportunity to:
* Watch on-demand videos featuring our experienced educators
* Experience our virtual campus tours of key learning spaces
* Explore our student stories
* Access digital course guides
* Learn more about how to enrol, course fees and available subsidies
* Chat live during business hours
* Book an in-person campus tour

Find out more

ACAP | Open Day 2024, Brisbane
August 24, 2024

Experience the ACAP difference, and find your path in the applied professions. Whether you’re interested in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, Criminology, Law, or Business, ACAP is your pathway to making a difference. Be part of a workshop, meet our industry-renowned facilitators, and hear all about life as an ACAP student. Join us for a day of exploration and inspiration! Find out more

SAE Institute | Open Day 2024, Brisbane
August 24, 2024

Find your future in creative media! Open Day is your ticket to everything SAE – get a taste of our courses in workshops, explore activations on campus and get some hands-on experience with our state-of-the-art facilities. Find out more

Whitehouse Institute of Design | Open House 2024, Brisbane
August 24, 2024

Are you excited by design and dreaming of a creative career? Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia invites you to Open House, a day where you can explore our courses and the endless possibilities within the world of design. Explore your study options, meet our incredible team, and tour Whitehouse’s unique facilities. Whether you’re interested in Fashion Design, Interior Design or Creative Direction and Styling, this is your chance to see what makes Whitehouse has to offer. Find out more

JCU | Heroes in Business
Rockhampton: September 4, 2024

Fuel your passion for a career in business or commerce as you learn from industry experts. From this one-day program you’ll gain unique insights into the professions that funnel into a business and commerce career. Our experienced Professor in Management will expertly lead you through the process of creating, exploring and pitching a business opportunity, including the marketing and financial implications. JCU Advisors will be on hand to provide information about courses and university life. Find out more

QUT | Advice Night
September 10, 2024

If you’re a current Year 12 student or parent/guardian of a Year 12 student, join us online to discover the 5 essentials of getting into QUT in 2025. You’ll hear about:
* entry requirements
* Year 12 Early Offer Scheme (for Queensland QCE students only)
* adjustment schemes
* upgrading pathways
* scholarships.

You’ll also hear from real students about their uni experience and have a chance to ask questions about their course, why they chose QUT, the QTAC process and uni life. Registration will open in early August. Find out more

Experiences

Work Experience

QIMR Berghofer Laboratory Work Experience
Organisation: QIMR Berghofer
Open date: June 4, 2024
Closing date: August 4, 2024

Are you thinking of a career in science and medical research? QIMR Berghofer has a free work experience program for eligible Year 11 and 12 students. The laboratory work experience programme takes place over three days and offers introductory laboratory training in our purpose-built Education Lab, followed by a placement in one of our working research laboratories.  Students will undertake training in a range of molecular biology skills including:
* Pipetting and serial dilutions
* DNA extraction and PCR
* Agarose gel electrophoresis
* Vortexing and centrifugation
* Microscopy
* Blood smears

The three-day programme runs from 16-18 September, 2024. Applications open 4 June and close 4 August, 2024. Offers sent 7 August, 2024. Find out more

Gap Years

Live-in Pub Gap Years
Organisation: Letz Live

Letz Live help you secure a place for a live-in pub job before you arrive in the UK, and then you can stay for up to three years while you gain hospitality experience at the same time as you experience a different culture. Find out more

Camp Counsellor Gap Year
Organisation: Letz Live

Become part of a time-honoured American tradition as a Camp Counsellor with a Camp Exchange programme in the USA. Gain valuable new skills as a leader and educator while making new friends in a picture-perfect outdoor setting. Summer Camp is magical. The best time of your life. Find out more