When I chat to existing and prospective RHAC parents, and when I meet parents whose children go to other schools, I sometimes take the opportunity to ask them what features of a school are important to them. While their responses do vary, emotional safety is a common theme.

Parents love their children and therefore want them to feel secure, confident and positive about going to school each day. Sadly, however, children do not always treat each other well. These negative interactions may take the form of Student A saying something unkind to Student B who reacts in a way that is hurtful to Student A and before you know it both children are upset.

Sometimes the 2 students resolve their differences by the end of lunchtime and return to school the following day the best of friends again. On occasion a teacher may gently intervene soon after the unkind words have been said, encourage apologies and everyone moves on happily.

However, there are times when negative interactions between students are not so easily resolved. It can be challenging for parents when their son or daughter comes home upset, because it can be difficult to be sure whether their child is an innocent victim or if they contributed to the conflict. It may also be difficult for parents to determine whether their child is understandably distressed by what they experienced or whether they over reacted. I am very thankful to RHAC mums and dads who wisely manage their child’s emotional needs each day, and I particularly thank mums as we celebrated mother’s day with a wonderful breakfast this week.

Despite a parent’s best efforts, sometimes it is in their child’s best interests if they contact the school for support to help manage and respond to the negative interaction their child experienced. The parent manual, which is accessible via a link in the newsletter, provides guidance on who parents can contact. In this newsletter you will also notice a heading 'child safety' with links to some helpful charts on how parents can contact the school.  Our teachers are very committed to supporting children who experience negative interactions with their peers.

While it important for schools to meaningfully support students who have been hurt by interactions with their peers, it is equally important for schools to adopt strategies and a culture that prevents negative peer interactions from happening in the first place. I don’t have the space in today’s newsletter to describe our proactive strategies that foster positive peer relationships. However, I am confident that structured activities such as peer support and the intuitive actions by our teachers are making a meaningful contribution to positive student wellbeing.

In other news:

The 2027 term dates are now on our website. We try to post the dates at the beginning of Term 2 each year. Please accept my apologies for the delay.

The College has engaged a builder to refurbish the C Block administration area. Work will start in late Term 2 and will hopefully be finished by the end of Term 3. I am confident that this development will substantially improve the RHAC reception under the clocktower and the student reception area. We will create a much-needed meeting room for parent, teacher and student meetings during the school day. Please note that on 25 May the adult and student reception areas will temporarily move to the rooms underneath the auditorium.

Refurbishment of our old science, technology and visual arts rooms was completed during the school holidays. They are spacious general purpose classrooms, with fresh paint and new carpet.

I'm sad to say that our Head of English, Miss Jackie Doman, will be finishing at RHAC at the end of the term. Miss Doman has been a fine teacher and has selflessly given so much of her time to the broader RHAC community. I, and many in our community, will miss her. At this stage in her career, Miss Doman would prefer to work part time as a class teacher and so has accepted a position at another Christian school close to where she lives.

“A mother’s work is never done!” It’s a well-known saying and one I hear mums around me quoting often and for good reason. I read a statistic this week stating that mothers make, on average, 1000 micro-decisions a day – almost 3x the amount they made before having children!

I don’t want to underestimate the vital role fathers have in the lives of their children, but today, in light of Mother’s Day on Sunday, I’d like to pause and reflect on the specific role God has given to mothers in our society. Each day at school, I have the privilege of greeting countless mums at drop off and pick up, in the playground and at events around the College. It is always a delight to watch as Junior School children run excitedly to greet their mums at the end of the day – full of news and information about what they have learnt. Of course, there are also the moments some little ones run to their mums and feel the safety of their hugs and collapse in tears after a day that didn’t quite go to plan. As a mother of high schoolers and young adults myself, I don’t get quite that greeting anymore – high schoolers aren’t very keen for big hugs at the end of the day – but just being there, cheering them on from the sidelines, is something I know they still value and need.

But despite these precious moments, the fatigue of daily mothering can often take its toll. The decisions about dinners, shopping, school events, uniforms, sporting activities, finances, friendship advice, homework, reading, bedtime routines, doctor’s appointments – well they can seem never ending! In the letter to the Galatians, chapter 6, the Apostle Paul writes this Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up . Gal 6:9. The task of a mother is a big one, one that weary us at times. But can I encourage us all not to grow weary in doing good but to remember that we will, one day, see the fruit of those efforts. What a wonderful reward it will be to be able to raise young men and women who are ready for the adult world and to walk alongside them, reaping the harvest of our countless efforts in the process.

I am also very aware that Mother’s Day is not always an easy day for everyone. Many of us in our RHAC community have lost mothers, live far away from our mothers, have strained relationships with our mothers or are having significant challenges as we seek to mother our children through their struggles. In those moments, we can turn to our great God and Heavenly Father who is the God who “tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” - Isaiah 40:11

May all our mothers enjoy a wonderful Mother’s Day and, who knows, maybe we will only need to make a mere 999 micro-decisions on Sunday!

Fundraising for the Hills Relay for Life 2026 was in full swing this week with our Senior School leaders putting on a BBQ at lunchtime. Special thanks to the Colburt family for their delicious donation of 120 Krispy Kreme donuts which proved very popular! And to IGA Rouse Hill for their generous bread donation.

Excitingly we are looking likely to exceed our initial fundraising goal for the RHAC Community Team, with results still to come in for the ‘High Tea’ and ‘Maccas boardroom lunch’ raffles, as well as the lolly-guessing and colouring in competitions next week.  We will be aiming to raise the bar as we head toward the finish line ...every dollar counts for this worthy cause!

There is still time to get involved in the following ways:

• Encourage your child’s entry into any of the above competitions and raffles with prizes for winners.
• Make a donation to the RHAC community Team through our Relay for Life team page HERE
• Visit the Relay itself on Saturday 16 May to support our students,teachers and alumni as we participate in events, performances and continued fundraising throughout. See the Relay program provided for more! Click here to see the program.

It was an absolute joy to see everyone come together this morning for our Mother’s Day Breakfast. Seeing so many mums and students sharing a meal and a laugh before the school day began was a beautiful reminder of the love that anchors our college. It is a blessing to honour the incredible women in our community, and we cherish the opportunity to celebrate your wisdom and care.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing P&F Committee for their tireless work behind the scenes. From the early morning setup to providing such a delicious spread, your dedication made this event possible.

As we look toward the weekend, we pray that every mother in our college community enjoys a restful and blessed Mother’s Day, surrounded by the love and appreciation of your family.

Information correct as of the time of publication.

Information correct as of the time of publication.

Hills Zone Sports Association | Weeks 2 & 3 Results

HZSA Cross Country Team

Congratulations to the following students who will represent the College at the Hills Zone Cross Country in Week 5.

• Girls

• Boys

Bill Turner Trophy Football

Our boys faced Patrician Brothers Blacktown in their Round 2 Bill Turner Cup match. It proved to be a challenging contest, with our team not quite getting the better of the 50/50 opportunities but still creating several promising chances throughout the game.

A strong second-half performance kept them in the contest, however the match ended in a 1–3 result. The effort and persistence shown by the team were encouraging, particularly in how they stayed competitive until the final whistle.

Our girls will take on Northmead CAPA this Friday, and we wish them all the very best for their match.

CIS Football

It was a busy week of CIS Cup action, with our boys hosting Norwest Christian College while our girls travelled to Central Coast Sports College.

Our girls knew they were facing a strong opponent in last year’s CIS Cup champions. They showed great determination early, keeping the opposition scoreless for the first 25 minutes. Despite going into halftime 1–3 down, the team continued to compete strongly and maintained their intensity throughout the second half. Their commitment, effort, and willingness to contest every ball were a highlight of the match but in the end our opposition proved too strong ending our time in this competition.

The boys enjoyed a strong performance at home in their Round 2 CIS Plate fixture, securing a 7–3 victory. An early goal from Brayden Thompson set the tone, and the team built momentum to take a 3–1 lead into halftime. They continued to apply pressure in the second half, creating numerous attacking opportunities. A standout moment was a well-executed corner finished with a header from Logan Farmilo. It was a composed and confident team performance across the match. They await the results of other matches to determine our next opponent.

CIS Swimming and Diving

Five students represented the College at the NSW CIS Swimming Championships across Monday and Tuesday, alongside three Year 7 students competing in diving for the first time. Competing against the best independent school athletes in the state, all students demonstrated strong performances and represented the College with pride

Congratulations to all swimmers, and a special mention to Riley, who has qualified for the NSW All Schools Carnival later this term.

In diving, Year 7 students Abbey Lincoln, Blake Read, and Toby Said represented the College for the first time. Each athlete performed multiple dives across different categories, demonstrating both technical skill and courage. Their willingness to take on new challenges and represent the College in this discipline is to be commended.

HZSA Year 7 Touch Football Gala Day

We fielded two teams at the annual Year 7 Touch Football Gala Day, with both teams enjoying a successful and competitive day.

The boys recorded three wins, one draw, and one loss in their pool games. A very tight points table saw them finish just outside the semi-finals on for-and-against, missing out by a single try. They responded well to this disappointment, finishing strongly with a 2–1 win in the 5th/6th playoff.

Our girls remained undefeated through the pool stage with three wins and a draw, progressing to the semi-finals. After a 2–2 draw, they advanced to the final due to scoring first. In a closely contested final, they finished as runners-up to an undefeated Arndell team.

Well done to all players for their effort and sportsmanship. Thank you also to Mr Awraham and Mrs McCabe, along with senior students Grace Bryce-Borthwick, Ana Delana, Levi Said, Francois Janse Van Vuuren, and Flynn Islaub for their support in coaching and refereeing.

Representative Pathways

AICES Basketball
Year 11 student Kiara Forward represented the AICES U19 Girls team at the NSW CIS Championships earlier this term. The team progressed through the tournament undefeated to reach the final, where they narrowly went down 28–32 to ISA. Kiara’s contribution throughout the competition was excellent, helping her team secure a well-earned runner-up finish.

HZSA Netball
Matilda Mangold, Harper Brandes de Roos, and Hayley Compton represented the College in the 15s Girls HZSA Netball team. The team performed strongly in the round stages, finishing with three wins and a draw to set up a final match against HRIS. In a close contest, they finished runners-up with a 23–26 result.

A special congratulations to Harper and Hayley, who have been selected in the AICES team and will compete at the NSW CIS Championships this week. We wish them all the best.

HZSA Rugby Selections

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected in the HZSA 16s and 18s Rugby Union Teams and will compete at the AICES Championships in Week 7.

Representative Sporting Nominations

In addition to the HZSA competition, Senior School students have received a Term 2 calendar outlining all additional representative sporting opportunities available this term. These pathways allow students to compete at higher levels, depending on their experience, skill level and involvement in the sport.

Please note that students nominating to trial for these teams should have significant playing experience. In the case of AICES and CIS trials, students are generally expected to already be playing at a representative level outside of school—such as through local associations, academies or state programs. Some sports, such as cricket, also have specific eligibility requirements that must be met before a nomination can be accepted.

To help students select the most appropriate pathway for their level of experience, the general expectations are outlined below:

Representative Sport Pathways – Eligibility Guide

• HZSA – You should be:

playing at Division 1 club level or higher, or

have previously represented HZSA in this sport.

• AICES – You should:

have been selected in a representative team for this sport, or

have previously represented AICES.

• CIS – This is an elite pathway, equivalent to competing at a NSW state level.

Some CIS sports include specific eligibility criteria, listed in their nomination Google Forms.

If no criteria are listed, students should be competing at a high representative level, such as Grade Cricket, NPL 1, state programs, or equivalent.

Nomination Guidelines

Important

All nominations must be submitted by the due date listed in the calendar.

Late nominations cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

Incomplete nominations may not be accepted.

How to Nominate

For events with a Google Form link in the calendar:

Click the hyperlink on the nomination date and complete the form before the deadline.

For all other events:

Email your nomination to [email protected] by the due date.

Include the following details in your email:

Parent Email:

Parent First Name:

Parent Surname:

Parent Mobile:

Nominee First Name:

Nominee Surname:

Nominee DOB:

Student year at school:

Preferred playing position (first choice):

Preferred playing position (second choice):

Representative playing/umpiring/refereeing history:

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 note that nominating does not automatically mean that a student will be accepted to trial for a team/event.

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

Hills Zone Sports Association (HZSA): https://hzsa.com.au/

Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (AICES): https://www.aices.com.au/

Combined Independent Schools (CIS): https://cis.nsw.edu.au/home/

Last week, our Junior School leaders traded their traditional classroom setup for a high-energy day of growth during the Aspire leadership training day at Oran Park Anglican College. Facilitated by Unleashing Personal Potential (UPP), the day was designed to shift the conversation around what it truly means to be a "leader" in our school community.

The energy in the room was palpable from the first whistle. Rather than a dry lecture on management, the UPP team delivered a vibrant mix of storytelling and hands-on challenges that kept every student—from our loudest voices to our quietest observers—fully engaged.

A Day of Action and Reflection

The workshop was broken into three distinct phases, each pushing the students to think outside the box:

• Leading Without a Badge: In our first session, students tackled the misconception that leadership requires a title. They explored how small acts of service, consistent kindness, and positive influence are the real hallmarks of a leader. It was a powerful reminder that every student has the capacity to lead by example every single day.
• The EPIC Race: Students were moved into mixed school groupings for session two. Based on the A.S.P.I.R.E. framework, this fast-paced team event required communication and grit. Watching the multi-school groups navigate these interactive tasks was a highlight, as they learned that a team only moves as fast as its ability to listen to one another. Teacher’s became involved, choosing creative groups for points on a leader board.
• Knowing Me, Growing Me: We wrapped up the day with a focus on self-awareness. Students spent time identifying their unique personal strengths and learning how to spot the strengths in their peers. Every participant chosen to publicly give a compliment, chose a student who was not from their school – someone who they had only just met that day. This empathy showed the quality of the people gathered, but also left many of our Junior School leaders feeling more confident in their own skin.

As these students move through their final year of primary school, we look forward to seeing them apply these lessons. Whether they wear a badge or not, we are confident that the seeds of influence and integrity planted during Aspire Higher will continue to grow.

A huge thank you to the UPP team for a great day, and Oran Park Anglican College for hosting us.

We continue to  acknowledge the burdens RHAC families are carrying with rising fuel costs and recognise that this uncertainty continues.

Below is a link to the NSW Fuel Security Toolkit for your reference.

As we head into this weekend, I’d like to take a moment to wish all of the incredible mums, grandmothers, and mother figures in our community a truly wonderful Mother’s Day this Sunday. We hope you feel celebrated, appreciated, and perhaps even a little spoilt for all that you do each and every day. Thank you for the care, support, and dedication you bring to your families and to our school community - it does not go unnoticed.
A heartfelt thank you as well to everyone who attended and supported our Mother’s Day Breakfast. It was a beautiful morning filled with connection, laughter and community spirit. Events like these are only possible благодаря the generosity of our volunteers, so we are especially grateful to those who gave their time to help make the morning so memorable.

Join our vibrant, dynamic, and caring team in a welcoming, friendly, and professional environment.

RHAC welcomes applications from qualified candidates for both teaching and non-teaching positions. Click below to view our current vacancies.

The RHAC Parent and Carer Handbook is designed to provide families with information about the daily operation of the school including:

• Vision, values and approach to learning
• Uniform and stationery requirements by class/year group

• Communication - flowcharts are provided to assist parents in knowing who to contact, an explanation on how to make a complaint

• College map
• Managing student absences
• Managing student illness and wellbeing (e.g. caring for students who are sick at school, school counselling and reporting student success)
• Extra curricular opportunities
• Technology requirements
• Parent involvement and RHAC P&F Association
• College policies and procedures...and much more.

The handbook can also be access via the College mobile app .