HSC 2023

Our Year 12 cohort worked consistently alongside their teachers and focused on achieving their ‘personal best’. Band 6 results were awarded in Physics, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Mathematics Standard 2, Modern History, Biology, Business Studies, Drama, Chemistry, PDHPE and Dance.

Many of our graduates have shared that they have undertaken apprenticeships, secured permanent employment, accepted offers to study at university and have plans to serve, learn and travel. We are proud of their hard work and persistence.

As a cohort, their results yielded:

• The highest average ATAR at RHAC in the history of the College
• The highest performing Top 25% at RHAC in the history of the College
• The highest percentage of ATARs above 90.00 since 2011

Teaching and Learning at RHAC

If you are a regular visitor to our College website you may have noticed that our Teaching and Learning principles are outlined there with a helpful graphic reflecting our key priorities: Explicit Instruction, High Expectations, Relational Teaching, Effective Feedback and Data Informed Practice.

Principal Hartley, Dr Chalwell and I have been writing about our implementation of some of these principles in our newsletter articles throughout 2023, so please stay tuned for some more to come in 2024.

Starting Well

At the beginning of the year, we often talk about ‘starting well’ and in reality, this begins with you at home in the mornings. Thank you for equipping your children with all that they need to get the day under way in a positive manner as this has a flow-on effect in the classroom. We are also grateful for your patience and flexibility as we trial new procedures related to communication and traffic management.

I trust that the year ahead is one where our students and broader community can develop their character, care and courage through Christ. As Philippians 4:13 reminds us: I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me .

From Pre-K to Year 12, teachers at Rouse Hill Anglican College are using 5 Key Learning and Teaching Principles in their classrooms. You may have seen these principles on our College website . These principles of explicit teaching, high expectations, effective feedback, data informed practice and relational teaching guide and direct as our we plan and teach. They work together to ensure that students are growing in their understanding of the skills and knowledge they need to successfully learn.

On their own, each of the 5 principles are valuable, but as a group they have a powerful synergy. Sometimes one is more important than the others, for example, at the beginning of the school year, relational teaching is essential. This is why we are currently spending a lot of time in the Junior School on developing routines and clear expectations with our students. This is the case for both our youngest Pre-K students and our experienced Year 6 students. Our teachers are working hard to create safe, welcoming learning environments where all students know they can try, make mistakes and succeed.

As I walk around our classrooms, it is wonderful to see how these practices are impacting learning for all students. Our students are aware of what they are learning and why. They are learning to review their learning in terms of the learning expectations of the task. They are learning to ask the questions: How am I going? Where do I want to get to in my learning? What do I need to do to get there? Teachers are providing them with the feedback and opportunities to reflect on and improve their learning. Students also know that we have high expectations for them in both their learning and their behaviour.

The learning environment we are creating lasts for the whole day. If you are picking up your Kindergarten to Year 2 child after school, please stay away from the windows and doors of the H and J buildings where classes in Years 3 to 6 do not finish until later. This helps create a quiet space around the classrooms so that students can continue to learn until the end of the day.

I am looking forward to a year of learning where students are given the opportunities they need to succeed. I am also excited that we are extending the Learning Showcases that we trialled during Book Week last year. This year, parents, carers and grandparents will be invited into their children’s classrooms to have an experience of the teaching and learning that happens here. We have spaced these events throughout Term 1 (and again in Term 3), so that you can visit more than one classroom. We have also sent you the dates of these events in the Term Calendar so that you have time to plan for your attendance. I believe that these smaller school visits are an excellent way for parents to see and experience teaching and learning at our school. I hope to see many parents, carers and grandparents there.

The service unfolded with singing and then with prayers, Bible reading and a testimony, all led by selected students. The Most Reverend Kanishka Raffel, Archbishop of Sydney, opened God’s word from Philippians 2:1-11 and spoke to the students about humility in leadership as modelled by Christ. Toward the end of the service, all 33 schools were presented to the archbishop to be commissioned. He asked the students whether they would uphold and fulfil their responsibilities as prefects in their schools, and after they all affirmed this, he prayed for them.

After the break, the archbishop then answered students’ questions about:

1. His journey from Buddhism to Christianity
2. Leading peers
3. Whether he ever got humility wrong and what he learnt from that time that has helped draw him closer to Christ
4. If humility is considering others' needs above your own, where does being successful and looking after your own wellbeing fit in. The students were struck by the Archbishop's genuineness and honesty as he answered each of the questions.

We continue to congratulate all our Prefects and look forward to their leadership and service to our community. Please continue to pray throughout the year for our College Captains and Prefects, as they seek to lead and serve the RHAC community, and as they reflect on the message they heard today.

Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Blessings.

The changes were made to try and resolve traffic flow and safety concerns, including the congestion on Worcester and Rouse Roads. The concluding paragraph of Mrs Hogan and Dr Chalwell’s letter to you recognised that this new approach may not be the best long term solution and that we are open to further changes to find the best long term approach to traffic management in and around the College.

The Senior Executive team are currently working on a revised approach based on the well-considered, insightful feedback we have received. However, this will take some time to consider. In the interim, I would greatly appreciate everyone in our community continuing to follow the approach outlined in the link below.

Many thanks,
Brett Hartley
Principal

Monday, 12th February

• JS Leader Induction Service

Tuesday, 13th February

• Swimming Carnival (Y3-6) - Parents invited to attend (10am-12pm)

Wednesday, 14th February

• N/A

Thursday, 15th February

• JS 2024 Launch Night (K-6)

Friday, 16th February

• N/A

Monday, 19th February

• N/A

Tuesday, 20th February

• Y6 Learning Showcase - Y6 Parents invited to attend

Wednesday, 21st February

• N/A

Thursday, 22nd February

• N/A

Friday, 23rd February

• N/A

Monday, 12th February

• Swimming Carnival (Y7-12)

Tuesday, 13th February

• N/A

Wednesday, 14th February

• N/A

Thursday, 15th February

• Y11-12 Drama OnStage Excursion

Friday, 16th February

• N/A

Monday, 19th February

• Y11 Burn Bright
• Y7 Vaccination Program (see details under "Vaccination Program")

Tuesday, 20th February

• Y11 Burn Bright

Wednesday, 21st February

• Y12 Society & Culture C&C in South Africa Incursion

Thursday, 22nd February

• N/A

Friday, 23rd February

• N/A

Ensemble rehearsals

All of our Ensembles have started this week with the exception of Stage 1 Choir and Beginner Band. Stage 1 Choir will commence in Week 4 (Monday 19th February) and Beginner Band will commence in Week 3 (Monday 12th February) .

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.

Audition information for Cantabile and Percussion Ensemble:

Cantabile is an auditioned choir which consists of students from Years 4-6. If your child is interested in auditioning for this group, the auditions will be held during their first two rehearsals on Thursday 15th of February at 8:00 am in the TLC .

For the audition, students are required to prepare a verse or chorus from a song they already know. Please contact Mrs Morris to express your interest or if you have any questions [email protected]

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 do not hear back from us by the end of week 3. 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.

For College Shop trading hours and online shop, please scroll down to 'Important Links and Resources'.

• RHAC’s vision, values and approach to learning
• uniform and stationery requirements
• lost property
• a map of the College
• managing student absences
• student illness and well-being (e.g. caring for students who are sick at school, school counselling and reporting student success)
• extra-curricular opportunities
• technology
• communication - flowcharts are provided to assist parents in knowing who to contact, an explanation on how to make a complaint
• parent involvement and the work of the RHAC P&F
• policies and procedures

Unlike other fundraisers, all proceeds raised for the Hills Relay for Life go directly to programs run by Cancer Council NSW in services for patients, carers and families of those affected by cancer. This includes transport services, counselling, treatment support and, in some cases financial support.

What a great way to serve the community, and to have a lot of fun in the process. For those who have not yet had the privilege of participating in a Relay, there is no need to be on site for the whole 24 hour period, or any need to actually run. The aim is to raise money and to support our community. There will be entertainment throughout the whole event, food stalls, activities and an opportunity to camp overnight if you are so inclined. If you are a survivor or carer, we particularly like to acknowledge you and your achievements with a dedicated first lap of the day and morning tea. Please join us.

The battle against cancer is a cause of immense significance, and this event plays a pivotal role in raising crucial funds to support the Cancer Council in its mission to fund research, offer patient support, and provide carer information, and counselling services, among other essential initiatives. In 2023, our dedicated Hills community contributed over $300,000 to this important cause.

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 updates.

• Registered RHAC Community Team members: 4
• Fundraising Goal: $16,000
• Total Funds Raised: $210.00
• Fundraising Team Member of the Week: Debbie Elliott