One of the things that I am most thankful for about my mother growing up was the way she knew how to balance nurturing when it was time for a hug and when I needed to be motivated (firmly but appropriately) to get something done myself or anywhere on the spectrum between. Balancing this is part of the art of parenting and, contrary to what it can feel like at times, young people love having clear boundaries and knowing the things that fall into the category of “we don’t do that in our family”. When we get that right as parents, our children will likely never thank us at the time, but will appreciate that as they grow. Whilst sometimes they may be able to articulate that on their path to adulthood, at other times we have to be content with the knowledge that holding the line on the issues that matter helps create some pretty wonderful young adults.

One of the greatest gifts I believe we can give children as teachers and parents is to model apologising when we have made a mistake or believe we need forgiveness. Demonstrating reflectiveness to students that results in us identifying mistakes we have made or improvements we can see, can help them minimise a defensive mindset that inhibits growth, while also modelling behaviour that will be highly beneficial in both their work and personal life.

So whether we are mothers, fathers, grandparents or support people, we can hold high standards for our children as we continue to nurture and challenge them to stretch and grow into the young people we hope for them to be.

Mr Scott Roby | Deputy Principal

What Is a Growth Mindset?

Psychologist Carol Dweck spent decades studying how people respond to challenge and failure. She identified two ways of thinking about ability:

•    A fixed mindset assumes that intelligence and talent are set in stone — you either have it, or you don't.
•    A growth mindset believes that abilities can be developed through effort, good strategies, and support from others.

The difference might sound small, but it has a huge impact on how learners approach learning, especially when things get tough.

Why It Matters in the Classroom

Learners with a growth mindset don't see struggle as a sign that they've hit their limit. They see it as a sign that they're learning. When they receive feedback or make mistakes, they ask: "What can I do differently?" rather than "I knew I couldn't do this."
Research shows that students who develop a growth mindset:

•    Take on more challenging work
•    Bounce back more quickly from setbacks
•    Achieve higher results over time
•    Develop greater resilience and confidence

The Magic Words: "Not Yet"

One of the simplest ways to encourage a growth mindset is to change how we talk about progress. Instead of saying "I can't do this," we encourage learners to say "I can't do this yet."

This little word carries enormous meaning. Yet signals that the journey isn't over, that with practise and persistence, learning new things, even hard things (or should I say challenging things) is within reach.

How Families Can Help at Home

A growth mindset isn't just built in the classroom. Here are a few ways to nurture it at home:

+ Praise effort, not outcome. Rather than saying "You're so clever!", try "I can see how hard you worked on that." This teaches children that effort — not natural talent — is what drives success.

+ Talk about your own struggles. Share stories of times you found something difficult and kept going. Children learn a great deal from watching the adults in their lives embrace challenge.

+ Reframe mistakes as learning. When something goes wrong, ask: "What did we learn from that?" Mistakes aren't failures — they're feedback.

+ Celebrate "not yet." When your child is frustrated, remind them that struggle is part of the process. Every expert was once a beginner.

Our Commitment at RJ

Our teachers are weaving growth mindset language into everyday classroom conversations. This is a fundamental part of Learning @ RJ . We believe every student has the capacity to grow, improve, and surprise themselves. With the right mindset, that belief becomes a reality.

Mrs Julia Scrimshaw | Assistant Principal - Head of Academics

WINTER UNIFORM and PHOTO DAY

We have officially transitioned to Winter uniform and it was lovely to see all K-6 especially well-groomed for our photo day this week.

With the introduction of the new uniform next year, we are aware that some uniform items are getting harder to source through Lowes as they run down stock. Please check RJ's Pre-loved Uniform Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/414716933092159 or visit the Op Shop at Oakhurst Anglican (open Mon–Fri 8:30 to 1:30) if Lowes does not have what you need.

CROSS COUNTRY EVENTS

K-2 will hold an activity-packed Cross-Country event this afternoon. Thank you to Mr Mitchell and Mr Law for organising this event and to the K-2 staff for helping make it happen.

Congratulations to the Junior School students who have qualified for the CSSA State Cross Country event on Friday 29 May . We wish you well as you represent RJ.

MOTHERS’ DAY EVENTS

We held two successful Mothers’ Day events last week – the gift stall and the breakfast. A special thank you to the parent volunteers who ran the gift stall for the students. We hope you loved your gift! ❤️

The breakfast last Friday drew a bumper crowd and was a morning of smiles, chatter and yummy food. I hope all our Junior School RJ Mums had a special day last Sunday. 🥐🍥

LATE ARRIVALS

We continue to have a large number of students arriving after our 8:45am bell each morning. Please try hard to ensure your children arrive at school on time so they can have a settled start to the day, meet up with their friends, and hear the announcements on lines. Please expect to be contacted by the College if your child is regularly late.

Enjoy your weekend

Mrs Karen Shannon-Duhigg | Head of Junior School

Opportunities for Involvement – Term Two
We are looking forward to a number of upcoming events, including the Winter Sleep Out and the annual Heritage Day Festival.

Parents and carers can support the Heritage Festival by assisting with food stalls, and students are encouraged to participate in all available opportunities. Please keep an eye on College communications and ensure you express your ability and interest in supporting this event.

Semester One Reports & Learning Conferences
Semester One Reports for Years 11 and 12 were released on Friday 15 May and are available via Edumate (for students) and the RJ App or Parent Portal (for parents/carers).

Learning Conferences will follow, providing an important opportunity to discuss student progress and future learning goals. Year 11 and 12 conferences will be held in the SLC on Wednesday 20 May from 4:00pm .

We encourage all parents/carers to attend with their child. Should you have questions about any subject, you are always welcome to contact the College to speak with the relevant teacher.

Reports and conferences for Years 7–10 will take place in Term Three.

Brainstorm Productions – Student Wellbeing Presentation
On Thursday 21 May, Senior School students will attend a performance of The Hurting Game by Brainstorm Productions. This presentation explores important issues for teenagers, including decision-making, consequences, empathy, resilience, and respectful relationships.

Following the event, we encourage parents and carers to continue these conversations at home, particularly around social media use and online interactions.

Uniform Reminder
A reminder that Senior School students are now expected to wear full winter uniform, including the College blazer and RJ tie or scarf. Year 12 students may wear their jersey from Monday to Thursday but must wear their blazer on Fridays.

On Thursdays, students are to wear their House shirt as part of the sports uniform to support Inter-House competitions.

During the recent Photo Day, some concerns were noted regarding adherence to the College Uniform and Presentation Policy. Expectations include appropriate grooming standards - male students needing to be clean shaven, neat hairstyles, and correct uniform presentation, particularly make up for female students. Unfortunately, a small number of students were unable to participate in photos due to these issues.

We appreciate the ongoing support of parents and carers in reinforcing these expectations, ensuring all students can fully participate in College events.

Serving Within the College Community
During the photos day it was pleasing to see the number of students who gathered for the Service Team photo. It reminded me that we encourage all students to serve others within the College and wider community. As highlighted in 1 Peter 4:10, each person is called to use their gifts in service to others.

Whether through formal roles such as the Service Team or through everyday acts of support, these contributions help build a strong, connected, and compassionate community.

Mr Brad Maxwell | Head of Senior School