This year in Senior School, we’ve tried to balance the benefit of bells, with reduced disruption to learning for classes that have a “double period” so the transition between periods within a morning, middle or afternoon session is managed by staff. Unsurprisingly, students are also very willing to help.This is also a little symbolic of how, as parents, we want our children to transition from dependence to autonomy, which includes executive functioning skills. Whilst our children will sometimes struggle with that, we desire for them to continue to grow into high functioning adults.

In addition, bells have always served as a clear signal: church bells ringing to call people to a Sunday service or to let people know that someone has just been married; train bells ringing to alert passengers of a departure; or even a bell ringing to let an attendant know that a customer has come into the store.

As the new Senior School bell and the longer running Junior School bell are “a bop” (as students would say), I have caught many people busting out some dance moves recently. Multiple studies have demonstrated just how beneficial dancing can be for brain development and wellbeing. So perhaps next time you hear the Junior School bell or Senior School bell, you might take it as a signal to put on your metaphorical dancing shoes and have a “cheeky boogie”. You might be surprised at how quickly it can lift your mood and make you smile.

Mr Scott Roby | Deputy Principal

1. Encourage resilience rather than rescue.
When your child feels stuck on a tricky question or project, resist the urge to step in too quickly. Instead, prompt them to talk through possible approaches (“What’s your plan?” or “What have you tried so far?”). Praise their effort and persistence, not just their marks. This builds confidence in their ability to problem-solve when things get tough.

2. Foster resourcefulness.
Help students see that there are many ways to find answers — class notes, online tutorials, peers, or even trying to explain the problem aloud. Encouraging them to use different tools promotes flexible thinking and a sense of control over their own learning.

3. Support reflectiveness.
After a test or task, ask reflective questions such as “What worked well this time?” or “What might you do differently next time?” Regular reflection helps students learn from experience and plan better strategies for the future.

4. Build positive study habits and routines.
Provide a calm, organised space for study with regular, scheduled breaks. Teach small actions that build focus; turning off notifications, setting clear goals for each session, and reviewing progress. These are the everyday habits that quietly strengthen a learner’s self-discipline and attention.

5. Champion collaboration and communication.
Learning is not a solitary act. Ask your child to explain concepts to you, discuss big ideas, or study alongside classmates where appropriate. Sharing understanding helps to deepen it, and collaborative discussion develops confidence and empathy — hallmarks of Claxton’s reciprocity principle.

Ultimately, when you model curiosity, perseverance, and a positive attitude toward learning, your young learners internalise the message that growth matters more than perfection. Supporting assessments in this way nurtures capable, adaptable learners, ready to take on future challenges with confidence.

Mrs Julia Scrimshaw | Assistant Principal - Head of Academics

Year 6 student leaders were invited to share their reflections on the day, here is a selection of their responses.

CARE AND RESPECT DAY

Last Friday was Care and Respect Day with funds raised going towards the sponsorship of our 4 Compassion children in Indonesia. Thank you to our Student Voice team for promoting this day. The students looked amazing in their various grades’ rainbow-coloured mufti. Teachers organised activities to promote care and inclusion such as card writing and chalk pavement art. The playground has never looked so good! As we strive to be more like Jesus, we work daily with students to ensure respectful and caring relationships are established across our College.

NAPLAN

Our Year 3 and 5 students commenced NAPLAN last week and continued this week, with catch-up days for students who have been absent. We encouraged students to stay calm and do their best. Both grades managed the online completion of the assessments very well. Special thanks to the teachers, Miss Ross, Mr Reed, Mrs Pinney and Mrs Scrimshaw, who supervised the sessions.

UPCOMING GP DAY – PARENT HELPERS NEEDED

We have the first of our Grandparents Days coming up for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) on Tuesday 24 March and require some parents to assist with the setting up and serving of the morning tea. This would involve arriving at 9am to begin preparing scones and staying until morning tea concludes around 11am. Please email Ms Leilua if you would like to assist . [email protected]

CROSS COUNTRY FUNDRAISER

After hearing Olympic marathon runner Eloise Wellings speak at the RJ Sports Gala Evening last year, the Junior School have the opportunity to support the Love Mercy Foundation , a charity that works alongside communities in northern Uganda. The foundation is currently focused on providing access to clean, safe water, helping improve health, education, and long‑term opportunities for families.

We will be offering Zooper Doopers for a gold coin donation after the Cross Country. Please send a gold coin on the day if you would like to support this fundraiser.

JUMP OFF DAY

On the second-last day of term, 1 April, we will celebrate the culmination of our Jump Rope for Heart program. Students have all improved greatly in their skipping skills and RJ continues to raise money for the Heart Foundation through sponsorship. We look forward to each grade showcasing their skipping skills.

Please check your child’s class Seesaw posts for photos as this is an in-College event. Students wear Sports uniform on this day.

EASTER HAT PARADE

On our last day of term - Thursday 2 April, Kindergarten to Year 2 will hold an Easter celebration including grade performances and a hat parade. Each grade has a theme for their hats – Kindergarten : eggs, Year 1 : flowers/plants Year 2: chicks/baby animals.

The event will begin at 2:00pm in the Junior School Courtyard. Parents may take Kindergarten children home at the conclusion of this event, please wait in Pioneers Way for older siblings.

DOGS ON CAMPUS

A reminder of the College policy regarding pets on site. Families are not permitted to bring a pet onto the grounds, even if on a leash and supervised by its owner. This policy optimises the safety of staff and students and aligns consistent with the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW), Section 14. The Principal may grant permission in specific cases (e.g. Assistance or Service Dogs).

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE LUNCH?

We seem to have an increasing number of students coming to school with no lunch. This places additional pressure on our busy Canteen staff to make additional sandwiches. Please check each morning that your child has their lunch or that a lunch order has been placed.Consistently coming to school without lunch can raise wellbeing concerns under our Child Safe responsibilities, so we appreciate your support in ensuring your child is prepared each day.

ON CAMPUS AFTER SCHOOL

A reminder that after-school supervision duties conclude at 3:40pm . After this time, any Junior School students onsite must be in the care and under the direct supervision of their parents.

For safety, please ensure your children do not use climbing equipment and carefully monitor physical games. Ball games are not permitted.

To help us conclude the day smoothly, we ask that all families please depart the campus before 4:00pm.

Have a lovely weekend and upcoming Easter break.

Mrs Karen Shannon-Duhigg | Head of Junior School

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing concluded this week, with the final catch‑up session held today. While the first day of testing presented some challenges, the remainder of the testing period ran smoothly. Thank you to our Years 7 and 9 students for their cooperation, patience, and perseverance throughout the process.

House Spirit – Meetings and Inter‑House Netball

It was encouraging to see our students actively engaging in House Meetings last Tuesday. Thank you to the House Captains, House Leaders, and Heads of House for their efforts in making these meetings both meaningful and successful.

The sportsmanship and competitive spirit displayed during the Inter‑House Netball competition has also been impressive. It has been pleasing to see students proudly wearing their House shirts each Thursday as a sign of support for their teams.

RJ Respect and Care Day

Last Friday, many Senior School students participated in a range of activities led by the newly elected Student Voice Representatives. The Post‑it notes written by students demonstrated a growing and deeper understanding of respect and care. It was particularly encouraging to hear members of the Student Voice address their peers at the conclusion of assembly, challenging and inspiring students to contribute to a community marked by respect and care in all interactions.

Our hope is that every member of the RJ community embraces the challenge found in 1 Peter 4:9-10 :

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Approaching our community life in this way - using our God‑given gifts to serve others - provides a strong foundation for respect and care to be consistently demonstrated.

Thank you to the Student Voice Representatives for the time, thought, and effort invested in making the day such a success. I look forward to seeing their contributions continue across a range of activities throughout the year.

Upcoming Events

Year 10 Careers Testing Catch‑Up Session
Wednesday 25 March (for students who were absent earlier this term)

Senior School Cross Country
Thursday 26 March (morning)

RJ’s Got Talent
Friday 27 March (afternoon)

K–12 Easter Service
Thursday 2 April (last day of Term One)

End‑of‑Term Locker Clean‑Out
Period 6, Thursday 2 April
All lockers are to be emptied and left locked over the term break. Students are encouraged to begin taking resources home prior to the final day of term to minimise the weight of the school bag on the last day.

Thank You

Thank you to the students who consistently serve the Senior School community by setting up chairs for Chapels and Senior School Assemblies. I also acknowledge the helpful students who assisted with packing up 220 exam desks and chairs in the Hall on two separate occasions. Their willingness to assist is greatly appreciated.

Finally, thank you to the many students who consistently meet the College’s expectations by wearing the uniform correctly, arriving on time, being prepared for classes, and actively engaging in their learning. Their positive contributions are highly valued and play an important role in shaping our College community.

Term Break and Term 2

I hope and pray that both students and staff have a safe and restful time in the up-coming two week break. May our families take time to acknowledge the significance of Jesus life, death and resurrection as we celebrate Easter.

Term 2 for students commences on Tuesday 21 April, with Years 8, 9 and 10 going on their camps on Wednesday 22 until Friday 24 April. Please be mindful of the recently announced ANZAC Day public holiday on Monday 27 April.

Mr Brad Maxwell | Head of Senior School

🌊 CIS Swimming

A huge congratulations to Ryder and Serafina , who will represent RJ at CIS Swimming next week. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and commitment on the pathway to this stage. Best of luck, we know you’ll do well.

🏊‍♂️ RJ Swimming Squad – Term 2

Selected swimmers have been invited to join the RJ Swimming Squad Program , kicking off at SGAC in Term 2 .
If your child is a keen swimmer who has completed their stroke levels, feel welcome to contact Mr Mitchell at [email protected] .

The squad is ideal for swimmers who have recently finished :

Rainbow Fish – Little Fishes

Dolphin or SwimFit – SGAC

Ripple – Best Aquatics

Cross Country

We are hopeful that the Cross Country can proceed next Thursday. We will notify the RJ community if any anticipated rain over the coming days keep grounds closed.

Mr Gavin Mitchell | Director of Sport