Welcome back to school!

You may be aware that in 2024 our teachers undertook professional development in the form of a research project based on our Teaching and Learning Principle of Explicit Instruction. The results of their investigations were showcased on our Staff Days in December, with many teachers indicating that they would be sustaining some new practices in their classrooms for 2025.

This year, our Stage Leaders (JS) and Heads of Faculty (SS) are leading their teams in active educational research based on one of the five Teaching and Learning Principles. As Mr Hartley mentioned in his recent address to the College community, as a whole school we will be focusing on the practice of Relational Teaching in our professional learning this year.

In the Senior School we have started discussing the relational importance of ‘partnership’ in ensuring that our students receive a well-rounded education. We love to engage with parents at many events such as our recent Launch Night, at Parent-Teacher conferences, and informally at sporting days and College exhibitions.

It has been a wonderful start to the year in the Junior School. The students have settled in beautifully to their classes and we have already enjoyed the 2025 Leaders’ Induction Assembly , welcoming parents onsite for the Launch Night, and the 2025 Swimming Carnival .

I am very thankful for Mrs Strong and all the staff who worked together to produce such an excellent day at the swimming pool. It is a big day with many moving parts where competition, fun and safety are our major concerns. The competition was well run, and it was great to see so many students participating. Students also enjoyed racing in the 'Lizard Lane' and their time in the indoor pool. We looked after our students’ safety by ensuring they used sunblock, wore their hats and acted safely around the pool. In addition, the lifeguards were ready for any students who struggled in the water.

It isn’t just at the swimming carnival that we take care with students’ safety. We are careful at the College to ensure that students are safe in their classrooms and in the play areas. One area of concern is the safety of our students during car drop-off and pick-up. Please help us to keep our students safe and to model what safe behaviour looks like by doing the following.

When walking through the carparks:

If this face looks new to you, it probably is. I am the new Head of Christian Education and thought I would introduce myself. My name is Rev. Ivan Harris (Mr Harris for students) and have already worked at the College for 18 months. I have really enjoyed getting to know the students and staff, and loving the College community. I have experience in Christian Education for over 20 years, and worked in schools, churches, and even prison (“Juvy” Chaplain). I am married and have my own 3 teens (16-19 years old), plus 3 dogs and many fish. I enjoy the energy teens have, and their inquisitive nature about life’s big questions. It is an important time of life to have someone to think through life’s big question and that is why I love to teach Christian Education. I also have the privilege to speak often at Chapel.

Speaking of Chapel, our first Chapel service this year was on the topic of Christian Joy. The two Bible readings below were read and reflected upon.

This first passage is the night before Jesus is taken away to be crucified and has a lot of last words to say to his disciples. He wants them to stay connected to him and interestingly he used joy as the emotion that is at the centre of that love relationship.

On Thursday 13th February, the Year 12 Prefects attended the Commissioning Service at St Andrew’s Cathedral with The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney.

The service was enjoyed by the Prefects and emphasised to them the role they have as leaders to model to others the values of the College.

During the service, the Year 12 Prefects heard from the Archbishop about servant hearted leadership where the welfare of others is their priority. Following the service, students took part in a Q&A session with the Archbishop, and enjoyed morning tea while connecting with leaders from other Anglican schools.

For more information or to see events your child is involved in, including rep sport and extra curricular music, please check the Calendar or Events tab on the College App (available from Apple App Store or Google Play ) or Edumate Parent Portal.

For more information or to see events your child is involved in, including rep sport and extra curricular music, please check the Calendar or Events tab on the College App (available from Apple App Store or Google Play ) or Edumate Parent Portal.

The College is concerned about the safety of students in the H Block carpark. This is due to students not using the pedestrian crossing, parents double parking and the necessity of driving out the way that drivers have come in. We have reviewed the H Block parking to make it safer by making it a one way system.

• From Monday 17 February, we will remove the orange cones at the end of the lower H block carpark; however, the chain will remain.
• Enter and leave the H Block carpark through Gate 4.
• Drive in a clockwise direction:
  • Turn left into the lower H block carpark.
  • Turn right at the end of the lower H block carpark (this is where there have been a set of orange cones).
  • Drive up to the top level of the H Block carpark.
  • Stop at the crossing to check for pedestrians every time you drive up to the top level.
  • Turn right and out Gate 4.
• Do not drop your children at the top level of the H Block carpark. Please only park in the lower H block carpark. and walk them into the College.
• Do not park on the grass.

Please read Dr Chalwell's message above on supporting children's safety at school .

Camp documentation - which includes permission note, dietary and medical information - was communicated to families this week. The deadline to complete this is Monday, 17th February 2025 as the camp providers require documentation from the College.

We appreciate your support in completing these in a timely manner and can’t wait to see your child thrive in our camp program towards the end of Term 1.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs Emma Bourke (Head of Years 7-9).

It’s hard to believe we’re already through our first two weeks of the school year! The RHAC P&F Association exists to create a sense of community , develop greater connections between college families and to contribute back to our children’s lives at the college.

I have been privileged to meet many new parents of the College over the past couple of weeks, both on the College grounds, and at the JS and SS Swimming Carnivals that took place this week. Parent support for enriching their time at the College has been an overwhelming topic in our conversations.

Parents and community involvement

The beginning of the year is always a great time to consider your involvement in the P&F and we’ve got multiple ways to get involved based on your capacity. The P&F facilitates several events throughout the year such as Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls and breakfasts, discos, BBQ’s and various other social opportunities and we are looking forward to kicking off 2025.

There are various ways to get involved as a parent volunteer. We have a P&F Executive Committee who meet monthly and contribute toward P&F strategy, planning and execution of our events. Meetings typically occur the first Tuesday of the month. Alternatively, our Volunteer Committee works on an opt-in / opt-out basis based on your own capacity at the time so is highly flexible to be engaged. During March, we will hold our Annual General Meeting where we will invite parents to the college one evening and they can learn more about the P&F and we will induct new members to our P&F Executive Committee. More details on this meeting will follow.

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 .

Every Tuesday afternoon , we will arrive on school grounds to set up an amazing afternoon of sport. As soon as the school bell sounds our team will be waiting with a high-5, big smile and fully planned afternoon of entertainment. This clinic is specially designed for the children of Rouse Hill Anglican College and parents can relax knowing that everything takes place on school grounds. Our event is designed to motiv8, encourage, build resilience and inspire children to be successful. Our clinic represents awesome value and over the course of the program your child will experience: Super Soccer, Ultimate League, Vortex Gridiron, Ballers, Street Hockey, Rope Wars, Bazooka Ball, Flagball, 8-Down, Command-0 and a long list of other cool non-contact sports.

• When: Term 1 – Tuesday (7 weeks) commencing 18 February to 1 April
• Where: RHAC grounds