Despite university having already commenced, a large number of students were able to join us for this special assembly. The 2023 HSC cohort achieved very pleasing results including the highest average ATAR in over 15 years, the highest performing Top 25% in over 15 years, and the highest percentage of ATARs >90 since 2011. The College is immensely proud of all the students.

Kyrillos was awarded the Dux of 2023, achieving the highest ATAR in the cohort of 97.95. At the celebration assembly, Kyrillos spoke about his Year 12 journey and the strategies and techniques he used to great effect in his studies. Kyrillos is undertaking a pharmaceutical degree and plans to work in that industry in the future.

We wish Kyrillos and all the 2023 HSC graduates the best of luck for their future endeavours.

• Year 1 and 2 - 9:30am
• Kindergarten - 10:30am

There will be a parent race at the end of each session. If you would like to join, please wait until parents are called to the start line.

Important note:

• Please do not park in the K Block carpark until 9:15am.
• If you would like to volunteer to help on the morning please email [email protected]
• Parents are welcome to bring a chair to sit on to watch the races.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Until 3:20pm, we are asking our K-2 students to listen carefully to their teachers either as they wait for the car pick-up or as they listen to stories in their classrooms.

Until 3:20pm, Year 3 to Year 6 children are learning in their classrooms. We have set aside time every afternoon for teachers to read all kinds of literature to their students. This reading is deliberately pitched at a slightly higher level than students can read on their own. Books and other reading material is chosen to help students develop a love for reading, a deeper vocabulary, and new understanding about our world. Listening takes concentration and application, and it is important that students can do this without distractions.

If you park and come into the school to collect your children, we love to see you and are thankful that you support student learning by not congregating near classroom windows or doors until 3:20 pm. You are welcome to sit at the seats outside the H and J block, but if you do sit there, please do not engage in conversations. If you have younger children with you, please keep them quietly near you. If you are picking up your children through the car pick up, please remember that pick up of K-2 with no older siblings starts at 3:15pm and all other pick up starts at 3:25pm.

Thank you for all those parents who are considerate of the learning that takes place. We all appreciate what you are doing to help us make the most of the school day. When you help us in this way, you help us to squeeze out every moment we can for students to learn. And I know that is what we all want.

A quick summary of afternoon pickup:

• Dismissal is at 3:20pm.
• K-2 students without siblings who are picked up by car are lined up and waiting at 3:15pm.
• If you are parking and walking into pick up K-6 children, your child/ren will be dismissed at 3:20pm.
• Please be quiet near classrooms while you are waiting to pick up your child/ren as we want learning to continue until 3:20pm.
• If you are picking up K-2 students with older siblings or year 3-6 students, the gate opens at 3:25pm.

The email below was sent to Pre-K families this morning, Friday 1st March.

Picking up your PreK child in the afternoon

When you sign out your child after school, please remember that Kindergarten classes are continuing beyond 3:00pm. It can be quite distracting for Kindergarten students if they can hear parents talking or younger children playing outside. Could you please move to the side of the building or supervise your child playing on the Kindergarten grass.

I am thankful for the feedback from a PreK parent for the following change. If you also have a Kindergarten to Year 2 child to pick up, rather than walking down to the H-J Quad, please wait for your older child in the area where children wait for the car pick up. Please remember to be quiet and to keep your PreK child quiet, or watch them playing on the grass area, so that Kindergarten students can continue working, and when they are waiting to be picked up they can hear their name being called.

Parent/Teacher interviews

The College closes on the 27th of March for Parent/Teacher interviews. This is an excellent opportunity for parents to talk with their child’s teacher about how everything is going. To accommodate this day, there are no classes. If your child is in the 3-day program, you will need to make other arrangements for their care on the 27th of March. More information about booking into meet your child’s teacher will be sent to you closer to the time.

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.

Vaccination dates:

• Monday, 19th February – Year 7
• Monday, 4th March – Year 10
• Tuesday, 9th April – Year 7 and 10 Vaccination catch-up (only for students who missed out)

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.

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.

Your invitation to the Hills Relay for Life Masquerade Gala Ball
The Hills Relay Organising Committee are hosting a Gala Ball on Saturday, 13th April. Tickets range from $150.00 each to $1,500.00 for a table of 10. Bookings close at 11:59pm on Sunday, 31st March.

If you wish to reserve a table or tickets, please click on the link below.

Please Note: “The website charges a % fee to all credit card transactions. Therefore, we want to ensure the full ticket prices are donated to the Cancer Council. If you have a concern about paying via Credit Card, please let us know and we can send you the Bank account details to pay by EFT.”

Bookings will close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 31st March, 2024.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] or click on the link below.

Join the Hills Relay RHAC-Coca Cola team. We need your support.

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-Coca Cola Community Team members: 15
• Fundraising Goal: $16,000
• Total Funds Raised: $519.00
• Fundraising Team Member of the Week: Mr. Jeff Forward

This is a big year for the P&F with our bi-annual Spring Fair held in September. As the saying goes: many hands make light work. If you’ve been considering how you can get involved, this is your opportunity. All parents/carers are welcome to attend, regardless of your involvement in the committee.

• Date: Wednesday, 20th March
• Location: Tiered Learning Centre (TLC)
• Time: Arrive from 6:30pm for 7:00pm start

The TLC is located in between the Main College Reception (Clock Tower) and the Auditorium. Arrive from 6:30pm where snacks and refreshments will be provided whilst you get to know each other – meeting commences 7:00pm.

Nominations for the Executive Committee & P&F Volunteers are open now

There are two ways you can get involved in the P&F Association, depending on your ability and commitment to support.

Read below for different ways to get involved.

Member of the Executive Committee

• You are an active member of the P&F Executive Committee.
• You meet monthly with fellow Committee Members.
• You play an active role in helping to shape P&F activities, functions, social gatherings, etc.
• You are committed to attend meetings and be available and able to support with key events.
• You can Chair or be involved in sub-committees, fundraising activities, etc.

Member of the P&F Volunteer Group

• You are able to support as part of key events or initiatives ad-hoc.
• You are able to opt-in and opt-out of what you are and are not involved with, based on your availability.
• You have a commitment to community and connection with other families around the College.
• You can be involved in sub-committees and key working groups chaired by a member of the Executive.

What the P&F is NOT

• The P&F is not a function to voice concerns or issues about the College.
• It is not an appropriate forum to create change of curriculum or education.

We look forward to seeing you at the AGM.

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

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 in September , 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]