Groups were dismissed to cabins and set on their way to their different activities which included paddle boarding, Skyweb, archery and the most loved waterslide. A lot of memories from having teachers dip into the water while paddle boarding and taking the leap of the tower on the Skyweb.

Youthworks took the stage with their night activity, consisting of spotlighting which was spotting students trying to hide from teachers and leaders. Some students were very competitive and came up with really creative ways to hide away. King Caracticus, weighted plate games challenging our teachers and seeing who will win as well as pool noodle obstacle courses. Students thoroughly enjoyed their night at camp and had very positive feedback from all the students building positive relationships within the cohort. A huge thank you to all the teachers that were involved and engaged with the student throughout camp.

One of the highlights of the camp was the creation of their very own crate climb, where students pooled their creativity and problem-solving abilities to construct a sturdy structure. Through collaboration and determination, they crafted a crate that not only supported their weight but also served as a testament to their collective efforts.

In a display of creativeness, students took on the role of engineers as they designed and built their own catapults. With precision and skill, they fine-tuned their creations, eager to test their launching prowess in a series of thrilling challenges.

No adventure is complete without a dash of adrenaline, and our students soared to new heights on the flying fox, feeling the rush of wind as they zipped through the air with sheer exhilaration.

The camp also presented the opportunity for students to conquer new heights, both literally and metaphorically, as they tackled a vertical climb. With grit and determination, they pushed past their limits, embracing the challenge and emerging victorious with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Year 8 Camp was more than just a three-day getaway - it was an immersive experience that fostered teamwork, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature. As they return home with memories etched in their minds and hearts, these students carry with them the lessons learned and the bonds forged during this unforgettable adventure.

It was a joy to watch the teachers get alongside Year 7 in the outdoor activities, and in our general conversations around the grounds. I was so impressed to see everyone push through the challenging weather conditions we were faced with, and while it ended rather wet, we are so grateful for the sunshine that we had on our first day.

On reflection post camp, I am excited to watch the Year 7 grow closer as they continue in their new friendships that were developed on camp. These friendships, and the opportunity we had in our devotions where we learned about demonstrating our faith, will continue to shape our students for years to come.

A highlight of the trip was the visit to Parliament House, where students had the opportunity to explore the iconic building and learn about the Australian political system. We were able to observe the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, gaining insight into the legislative process. The students were particularly fascinated by the history and significance of the building.

As part of our visit to Parliament House, the students took part in a mock parliament session. The students were divided into government and opposition groups, and we debated the issue of water provision; specifically providing rainwater tanks to the population. Our students shone as we displayed our public speaking skills and understanding of parliamentary procedures.

Another experience that tested our thinking skills was the visit to the Electoral Commission. Here students learnt about the electoral process and the importance of voting. We were given a demonstration of how to cast a vote: a fun activity that showed practically the importance of the preferential vote. The tour guide was impressed with our ability to respond to questions.

The Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre was on the evening itinerary, where the hands-on science exhibits did not disappoint. The highlight of the visit was the "Q Lab," where students had the opportunity to participate in live science experiments. Led by enthusiastic tour guides, explosive live experiments captivated us, inspiring the students to ask questions.

At the National Capital Exhibition we were told the Story of Canberra as the capital city of Australia, and afterwards drove up to the Mount Ainslie Lookout. This experience not only provided a scenic break but also allowed students to appreciate the design of Canberra, consolidating what we had learnt about the story of the Burley Griffins.

Another stop on the itinerary was the Australian Institute of Sport Sportex Centre, where students participated in simulated sports activities. This dynamic exhibition featured a range of interactive activities that allowed students to try different sports in a controlled environment. Whether it was shooting hoops in a basketball challenge or testing our reaction times in a simulated sprint, the students experienced the physical demands firsthand. Overall, the visit to Sportex was a fun experience for the Year 6 students.

Despite the rain on the last day, the Year 6 camp to Canberra was a resounding success. The experience not only deepened our understanding of Australian democracy, but also developed our independence by being away from our parents and home environment. The camp will undoubtedly be remembered as the highlight of primary school.

CIS Football Championships

Thomas M was very fortunate as a Year 5 student to have been selected for the HZSA Football team that competed at the CIS Gala Day on Thursday 4th April at Valentine Park. On a very cold and wet day, Thomas did an outstanding job as centre back for his team.

As a team the boys collectively worked to achieve some fantastic results, winning against CASA, NCIS and SASSA. The HZSA team made the play offs against CSSA and had a 2-1 loss, finishing in 4th place.

Thank you, Mrs Elliott, for the detailed run through of the Championship and congratulations again Thomas!

CIS Touch Football

Congratulations to Flynn I in Year 6 who was selected into the CIS AFL team this week. He will be competing in Albury 22-24 May. Goodluck Flynn!

What is your favourite thing about Pre-K?

• Zuri - "I like bringing my own lunch and when we make cupcakes"
• Kavin - "I like when the teacher reads to us"
• Isaac - "I like the activities on the table"
• Ethan - "I was a Dr in the (Pre-K) hospital. I don’t like needles"
• Isla - "My favourite song is Tooty Ta"
• Riaan - "I know Mrs Barnette, Mrs Suliyanto, Mrs Roycroft, Mrs Adams, Mrs Crawford and Mr Hartley. I even saw someone from RHAC at the petrol station!"

What are you looking forward to in the holidays?

• Lucus - "I am going to swim in Bali"
• Mikayla - "I am going on a mummy daughter date"
• Olivia - "I am doing a camp fire with mum and dad. We will have marshmallows"
• Sofia - "I will go to the movies and see a movie I haven’t seen before. I am going to Ghana soon"

During the school holidays, the students will never be far from the teachers minds as they both relax and spend time preparing for Term 2. It’s also encouraging to know that the students also keep school close to their hearts! Aaditri shared, "I play schools at home with my big sister, grandma and mum. Mum wears my school hat. I am Mrs Crawford. I can be a really bossy teacher".

May God Bless you and Keep you over the holiday break!

Scholastic Book Orders

All orders have now been delivered to class rooms. Happy reading!

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Many students have now completed this year’s challenge. We would like to encourage students still working towards this goal to continue reading and recording in the term break. All students have their user names and passwords in their College diary. Click here for more information.

1. Select logon from the side menu panel
2. Enter username – FIRSTNAME.LASTNAME (this must be in capital letters with no spaces) some students also have a number after their last name
3. Enter password – all lower case with no spaces
4. Once logged in students will see their name appear beneath the pink book worm on the main page.
5. Select – Student Reading Record
6. Select – My Reading Record
7. Commence entering books – this can be done with the title, author or the PRC ID number. When searching for book by title do not include ‘The, A, An’ if this is the first word of the title. Don’t forget to click ‘Add’ after each book.
8. If a book does not appear in the search, it can be added as a Choice book – the tab is next to the My Reading Record tab.

Book Covering

Library staff have been busy preparing many new books for our students, as part of this process each new book needs to be covered in contact or plastic, if you are free to cover some book in the holidays, please pop by the Junior School Office as we have some boxes ready to go.

Last year, our students participated in parent-led activities from Greece, Russia, India and Fiji. It would be wonderful to have more activities from a range of cultural backgrounds to help our students understand more about the diverse backgrounds in our Junior School.

If you would like to teach or lead a cultural activity, either by yourself or with a group of parents from the College community, please click the link below to fill out a short form by Tuesday, 14th May (Term 2, Week 3). After you have filled in this form, we will send you a document regarding volunteering at the school.

Please note that the activities will run for about 10 -15 minutes (10 minutes for K-2; 15 minutes for Years 3-6).

Some ideas:

• arts and crafts
• dance
• musical performance
• showing and explaining different cultural items
• story reading (bilingual books)
• games from around the world
• share information about culture
• teach words/phrases (eg. hello, goodbye, numbers and basic conversation)

Thank you for your consideration of leading a cultural activity and/or performing in our Junior School Harmony Day event.

Ensemble timetable

The ensemble timetable, as well as information on each of the ensemble, can be found by following the link below.

Please note that anyone who is participating in our instrumental ensembles (not Choir), they are expected to have private music lessons in or outside of the College.

Private Music Lessons

All Private Music lessons have commended this week and I would like to thank our students, parents and tutors, as it took a little while for our new students and tutors had to navigate their way to their first lesson. If you have signed up to have lessons, you should have been contacted by your tutor sometime this week with the lesson times. Please let Mrs Neralie Want know if you have not heard from your tutor [email protected]

Also, we are currently dealing with a large number of applications so if you have sent your applications in the last week or so, there will be some delay in our response. We apologise for this delay and will get back to you as soon as possible. Please contact Mrs Want if you have not heard back from us by the end of this week. If you would like to sign up for private music lessons, please read the information on Private Music Tuition Brochure which includes the application form.

Also, you should have received your instrument if you have applied to hire an instrument.

Again, if you have any questions or issues with this, please contact Mrs Neralie Want [email protected]

Ensemble Fees

We will be running over 20 ensembles at the College again this year. To cover some of the cost of hiring external conductors, accompanists, new music, performance events and other related costs, students will be subject to ensemble fees. The fees will be added to the school account and will be charged twice per year. This will occur at the end of Term 1 and end of Term 2.

It is important to note that the fee structure is set at $75.00 per student per semester, equating to $37.50 per term. This fixed rate remains consistent irrespective of the number of ensembles a student chooses to participate in. Our intention behind this approach is to encourage students to engage in multiple ensembles.

For families that have more than one child participating in ensembles, the sibling discount will apply for second child and any subsequent children, at a rate of $50.00 per child, per semester ($25.00 per term).

These charges apply to all students participating in instrumental and vocal ensembles, with the exception of the Stage 1 Choir.

Thank you and I look forward to a wonderful year of music making with your children this year.

Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to access subject teachers and support and assistance for work or assessments that are currently completing. Students do not need to book a place but should arrive to the listed rooms at the times included in the below grid.

Nomination Guidelines

• All nominations should come from the student interested in trialing.
• Students MUST email all nominations to the Head of Student Opportunities [email protected] AT LEAST 3 days before the nomination date. Late nominations will not be accepted. Students who do not nominate will be turned away from any trial they attend.

Nominations need to include the following information:

• Name:
• Event:
• Date of birth:
• Year Group:
• Parents email:
• Playing positions (1st and 2nd preference):
• Playing/representative experience (only include information from the past 2 years):

Once the nomination has been completed and accepted, further information about the trial will be sent to students and their nominated parent email address.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

If you are currently learning an instrument or like to sing, it is not too late for you to join an ensemble. P lease email Mr Tyler Barnes [email protected]

Please see the Ensemble timetable below for the rehearsal times, as well as information on each of the ensembles that are offered at the College.

Private Music Lessons

All Private Music lessons have now commenced. If you have signed up to have lessons but have not started your lessons, please let Mrs Neralie Want know [email protected]

We are currently dealing with a large number of applications so if you have sent your applications in in the last week or so, there will be some delay in our response. We apologise for this delay and will get back to you as soon as possible. Please contact Mrs Want if you do not hear back from us by the end of this week.

If you would like to sign up for private music lessons, please read the information on Private Music Tuition Brochure which includes the application form.

Also, if you have signed up for Instrumental Hire, you should have received your instrument on your first private lesson or at your first ensemble rehearsal. Again, if you have any questions or issues with this, please contact Mrs Neralie Want [email protected]

Ensemble Fees

We will be running over 20 ensembles at the College again this year. To cover some of the cost of hiring external conductors, accompanists, new music, performance events and other related costs, students will be subject to ensemble fees. The fees will be added to the school account and will be charged twice per year. This will occur at the end of Term 1 and end of Term 2.

It is important to note that the fee structure is set at $75.00 per student per semester, equating to $37.50 per term. This fixed rate remains consistent irrespective of the number of ensembles a student chooses to participate in. Our intention behind this approach is to encourage students to engage in multiple ensembles.

For families that have more than one child participating in ensembles, the sibling discount will apply for second child and any subsequent children, at a rate of $50.00 per child, per semester ($25.00 per term).

These charges apply to all students participating in instrumental and vocal ensembles (with the exception of the Stage 1 Choir in the Junior School).

Thank you and I look forward to a wonderful year of music making with your children this year.

I would love to have you with us at the Castle Hill Showground on Saturday, 18th May for whatever time and energy you can give. Your community needs you, and this is a wonderful way to raise much needed funds for Cancer Council NSW who need it for research projects, treatment, patient transportation and support services (just a few). Joining and supporting the RHAC Community Team not only helps to make a difference in many lives, but it shows your support for your College team and the wider community in which we live.

We are looking forward to welcoming new team members showing supporting for our friends and family. This year we are going in harder and finishing stronger!

Stay tuned for our weekly updates.

• Fundraising Goal: $16,000
• Total Funds Raised: $4,025.00
• Fundraising Leaderboard: Lily S ($374.00), Caitlyn D ($356.00), Vicki L ($314)
• Team members: 43

Mrs Debbie Elliott
RHAC Community Team Captain

• Monday: 8:00am - 12:00pm
• Tuesday: 8:00am - 12:00pm
• Wednesday: 8:00am - 12:00pm
• Thursday: 12:30pm - 5:30pm
• Friday: Closed

Any enquiries, please contact the College Shop directly [email protected] or 8814 3518 .

College Shop Hours (eff. 26/10/23)

Uniform fittings are by appointment only. Over-the-counter sales are available throughout.

For holiday hours (eg. term holidays, Easter, Christmas/New Year), please check for notices under College News of the newsletter.

2024 Trading Hours

Normal trading hours resume week commencing 05/02.

• Monday – Wednesday: 8:00am - 12:00pm
• Thursday – 12:30pm - 5:30pm
• Friday: CLOSED

College Shop Contact Details
[email protected]
Ph: 8814 3518

This year, we're excited to announce the Spring Fair, a major fundraising event in the 2024 calendar. We welcome your support in planning and participating throughout the year as many hands make light work. Businesses interested in sponsorship or supplying goods or services are encouraged to reach out.

Family Support Meals

From time to time, fellow families at the College are hit by unforeseen stresses (physical, emotional, financial, etc.). The RHAC P&F, through your support, facilitates a way for those families to access quality meals in their time of need to simply ease a bit of the pain during difficult times.

You can help by donating a store-bought meal, or by donating as little as $10 by clicking the link below which would be greatly appreciated. If you can provide a store-bought meal for the freezer, slices / banana breads / muffins (lunch box fillers) and desserts are also most welcome and may be dropped off with Mrs Sharon D’Agostino at the College main reception.

Get Involved

To get involved in the P&F, contact us at the email below.

Warm regards,
Matt Perry
President – RHAC P&F Association
[email protected]