This would resonate with many of us as parents, wondering how we raise our children in a world that seems to be consistently punctuated by significant local and international events. Whilst the term seems apt to describe the current international climate, it was coined in 1987 when the Cold War was still a reality. I still remember movies growing up that represented the Soviet influence as the great threat.

Whilst international instability is not new to our world, something has undoubtedly changed for our students. The key difference for this generation of students is that they have unprecedented levels of access to information on world events. They are growing up in an AI world where they are not even sure what images they can trust and what they can summarily dismiss. It all sounds very VUCA doesn’t it?

The great news is that the antidote to protecting our students from feeling unsettled and overly troubled about what’s going on around them has always been quality parenting. Whilst the “how” of parenting will have most definitely changed since 1987, supporting your children by actively engaging in their “world” and being present for them can give us valuable insight into what they are processing. Practically speaking, doing the little things consistently with students can have a significant positive impact. A few suggestions include “Screens off” time, conversations around current events, “taking the pulse” with our students, and spending time helping our students engage in critical thinking are all powerful tools to support our students. Helping students disconnect from technology to slow down and reduce the “crowding” in their minds will also ease the pressure. Whilst students don’t always understand the value of turning their many screens off and the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), as teachers and parents we need to role model best practice and show them that whilst we value technology, there is profound value in moments of disconnection.

Mr Scott Roby | Deputy Principal

A few years ago, I took up quilting as a hobby. When I started, quite frankly, the product I produced was fairly mediocre. As an adult learner, it was challenging to improve. However, with perseverance and by reflecting on my practise, I gradually developed my craft, and the end product is now something I am quite proud of.

Our reflectiveness group of muscles helps learners “think about their thinking” so they can plan, monitor and improve how they learn, not just what they learn.

In everyday life, being reflective is essential to doing a good job. Imagine you are starting a new project. The planning aspect of learning helps you consider the actions you need to take and the resources required to get the job done. Revising, on the other hand, helps you improve your plan and adapt your ideas as things unfold, rather than feeling locked into your first plan. Self-awareness as a learner allows you to reflect and draw on prior experiences to do a better job when faced with new learning opportunities.

Why reflectiveness matters for learning and life

Reflectiveness helps learners make better use of their other learning muscles. It refines how they apply their resilience, draw on their resources, and learn from and with others. When learners pause to think about their approach, they are more likely to persevere strategically and rather than push on in an unproductive way. They also become more accountable for their choices, noticing how their choices affect outcomes and understanding that they can adjust and improve.

Over time, reflective habits support emotional growth as well as academic progress. Talking about “what went well” and “what I’d change next time” helps learners process disappointment, celebrate effort and see mistakes as helpful rather than failures. These are the dispositions that underpin confident, adaptable learners who are better equipped to face new challenges beyond school.

Practical ways you can help build reflectiveness at Home

As parents and carers, you play a powerful role in stretching your children’s reflective muscles. Much learning happens in everyday family life. Small, consistent routines and questions can make a big difference, especially when your conversations about learning become a normal part of family life rather than a test.

Change the after-school question

Instead of “What did you do at school today?”, try shifting the question to focus on thinking and learning. For example:

What did you learn today that you did not know this morning?

What was the trickiest part of your day? How did you handle it?

Was there something you would like to try differently tomorrow?

These questions invite children to recall not just events but strategies and feelings, and they model reflection as a normal part of daily life.

Plan together before starting something

Include your children when planning family projects, trips, vacations, or even household chores. It only takes a minute, but can make a difference in learning and family life. It also allows you to model that success comes from good planning.

Talk through adjustments, not just results

When things don’t go to plan—an assessment or test mark, a sporting game, a friendship issue—help your child focus on adjustments rather than blame. Questions such as “What did you try?”, “What helped, even a little?” and “What could you do differently next time?” keep the conversation solution-focused and reflective.

You can also share your own small “revisions” (for example, changing how you organised your day or handled a challenge) so children see adults modelling the same learning muscle.

Use “thinking out loud” as a model

Let your child hear you reflect in real time as you make decisions or solve problems, such as cooking, planning a trip, or managing a busy evening. Phrases like “I’m wondering what might happen if…”, “I thought this would work, but I might need a different plan” or “Next time I’d like to try…” give children a live example of reflection in action.

Research with young children suggests that adults who think aloud help children learn to verbalise and organise their own thoughts, which supports self-regulation and reflection.

Small changes can make a difference in learning and in how our learners approach the challenges they face. As a parent, your input is essential to building your children’s learning capacity

Mrs Julia Scrimshaw | Assistant Principal - Head of Academics

LITERACY MORNING TEA
Last Tuesday we held our Literacy information session for parents with children in Years K-2. The elements of literacy were outlined along with teaching methods used at RJ and associated hints for parents to promote literacy development at home.
A special thank you to Mrs Pinney, Miss Parata, Miss Ross and Mrs Smith for their input. This Literacy Handout is the summary of information shared on this evening.

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Mr Mitchell and Mr Law have been busy organising our Jump Rope for Heart program this term. We have had a visit from Heart Foundation staff who explained how the money raised will be used to assist medical advances into the field of heart disease – a major cause of death in Australia. They also challenged students with some skipping rope tricks! Already, over $2000 has been pledged from our RJ community. Our students have been practising and honing their skipping skills in PE lessons each week readying themselves for Jump Off Day in Week 10. The big question is, who will win the ‘Miss a Loop’ competition this year – teachers or students?!

WEARING JOGGERS AT SCHOOL
A reminder that students only wear joggers to school on their allocated Sport day (Years 3-6 Wednesday).

PE lessons with Mr Mitchell or Mr Law on other week days require joggers to be brought to school to get changed into, so school shoes are worn to and from RJ as normal. Black joggers cannot take the place of school shoes and uniform infringements will be sent home.

1-2 SWIM SKILLS DAY
Our Stage 1 Swim Skills Day was held last week at The Little Fishes Swimming Centre. Students were supervised in small groups while practising pre-swimming skills with noodles, kickboards and balls. A small water slide added to the fun.

A special thank you to Mrs Gurung, Mrs Armodoros, Mrs Bhatia, Mrs Kahadawala and Mrs Ius for their wonderful assistance on the day and Mr Mitchell and Mrs Smith for their organisation.

NAPLAN
NAPLAN commences for Years 3 and 5 on Wednesday 11 March. Writing is the first discipline, followed by Reading on Thursday 12 March, Language Conventions Friday 13 March and Numeracy on Monday 16 March.

There will be some catch-up days on 17 - 19 March for any absent students. Practice NAPLAN tests are being carried out at school to help prepare the students. Mrs Scrimshaw emailed NAPLAN information to families last week.

RESPECT AND CARE DAY
On Friday 13 March we will be celebrating ‘Respect and Care Day’ to raise money for our Compassion sponsorship children in each Stage while reflecting on our College values.

We are asking Junior students to wear the colours of the rainbow – a different colour for each grade and bring in a gold coin for the mufti day. Care activities such as card writing and pavement chalk decorating will be held throughout the day. K-red, 1–orange, 2–yellow, 3–green, 4–blue, 5–indigo, 6-violet

COMMUNITY CONNECT EVENING
We would be delighted to spend time with you at our RJ Community Connect Night on Tuesday 17 March. Join us at 7:00pm for light refreshments in the Senior Library (the Hub) and spend time sharing with other parents and members of the RJ Executive.
During the night, parents will be updated on relevant school matters including any topics of interest raised through questions.
The event will conclude by 8:15pm. Please register to attend.

STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING CHARACTER IN YOUR CHILD

CONTACTING YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER
If you have a question or need to pass on information to your child’s class teacher, please do this via the teacher’s RJ email address rather than through Seesaw . The Seesaw app is for teachers to promote events, publish photos and provide reminders to families. Teachers will not be responding to parent queries on the Seesaw app.

DIARY DATES

Wednesday 11 March - Friday 13 March - NAPLAN Year 3 and 5

Friday 13 March - Respect and Care Day (Dress in your Year Groups rainbow colour mufti. Gold coin donation)

Friday 20 March - House Meetings (Students wear House shirts)

Enjoy your weekend,

Mrs Karen Shannon-Duhigg | Head of Junior School

Our Senior School Leadership Day was a highlight, bringing together nearly 70 students who hold leadership roles across the Senior School. Thank you to the students and staff who participated and helped make the day such a valuable experience.

Assessment calendars for Years 7–10 have now been shared with parents and carers through the RJ App.

Looking Ahead to the End of Term One

As we move further into the term, some students may find they need a haircut to ensure they remain within the College Uniform and Presentation Policy. All students are reminded that hair should be clean, tidy, and well groomed, and must not fall across the face or eyes. Hairstyles should also meet the following guidelines:

•    Boys: Hair must be above collar length.
•    Haircuts: Clippers must be set to a no. 2 blade or above; skin fades and similar styles are not permitted.
•    Girls: Shoulder length hair or longer must be tied back.

While we hope it does not become necessary, students who are not meeting uniform and presentation expectations may be unable to represent the College at events, including Senior School Assembly, excursions, and other activities.

Last week, our Year 12 students received their Class of 2026 jerseys—a moment they enjoyed despite the warm weather! Students may wear their jerseys from Monday to Thursday, but not on Fridays due to Chapel and Assembly.

Year 10 Careers Testing

Year 10 completed their Careers Testing program this week. These assessments help build a detailed profile for each student, supporting conversations around future pathways and HSC subject selection. Parents and carers will receive further information later in the year, including feedback and details regarding Subject Selection Interviews.

NAPLAN
Students in Years 7 and 9 will sit NAPLAN during Weeks 7 and 8. Testing will take place in the Hall during the morning session. Students should arrive before 8:30am and will remain in the Hall until at least recess. Testing will run from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 16 March , covering all four NAPLAN components.
Students must bring the following each morning:
•    Fully charged laptop
•    Headphones
•    Pen
•    Lead pencil
As NAPLAN is conducted online, the NAPLAN browser must be installed on student devices. If your child missed the installation session earlier this week or has recently received a new device, please ask them to visit IT before Wednesday 11 March.
If your child is unwell on a testing day, please notify the College via the RJ App. Catch up sessions will run across Weeks 7 and 8.

RJ App

We hope all parents and carers have downloaded the RJ App and are noticing the Attribute Tokens students are receiving from their teachers. It has been encouraging to see so many students recognised for demonstrating qualities we value highly at RJ, including:
•    Courteous and Kind
•    Courageous
•    Resourceful
•    Connected
•    Reflective
•    Critical and Creative Thinker
•    Positive Contributor
•    Willing Learner

You may also notice entries for late arrivals to school or class. If this is the case, we encourage you to speak with your child, particularly if there are repeated late to class entries, as this may indicate the need to move more promptly after recess or lunch.

Final Reflection
It was a privilege to spend time with our Senior School Student Leaders as they explored what it means to lead with purpose anchored in values. We reflected on the guidance found in Philippians 2:3–4:
“Do not be selfish; do not try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
I look forward to supporting our leaders as they work to serve others, care for our community, and lead with humility. Our hope is that they will have a positive and meaningful impact on their cohorts and across the Senior School.

Mr Brad Maxwell | Head of Senior School

A huge thank you to our staff and wonderful parent volunteers, your support helped make the day a safe, fun, and memorable experience for all.

CSSA Primary State Swimming

What a night in the pool! Despite an unexpected evacuation delaying the carnival by an hour, our RJ swimmers, and the entire Nepean Zone, showed incredible resilience and focus.
Records and PBs came thick and fast, with several swimmers smashing their personal bests and four All-Time RJ records falling .
A special congratulations to Ryder , who capped off the evening by taking out the Under 11 Age Champion title!

Mr Gavin Mitchell | Director of Sport