At our recent 2026 Welcome Evening for parents, I mentioned that a staff team, led by Mr Luke Adams, is investigating character education this year. Many RHAC parents rightly talk about the importance of Christian values for their children. While values are undoubtedly important, I particularly like the word “character” because it captures a child's whole identity, not just appropriate behaviours and attitudes.

In my last newsletter article , I mentioned that research from the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues demonstrates that intentional character education leads to improved student well-being, stronger relationships and better academic outcomes.

The Jubilee Centre very helpfully identifies four virtues that influence a child's character:

• Moral virtues, e.g. Honesty and Kindness
• Civic virtues, e.g. Perseverance and Confidence
• Performance virtues, e.g. Service
• Intellectual virtues, e.g. Remembering and Thinking critically

I'm sure we could all list many words to describe moral virtues. However, thinking more deeply, who determines what constitutes a moral virtue? As a Christian, I am convicted that God determines moral virtues and reveals them to us in the Bible.

For example, Galatians 5:22,23 says:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I encourage parents and carers to read the Bible because not only does it list key moral virtues, it teaches us how to live out these virtues in our lives.

During the week, our Junior School Christian Education teacher, Mrs Karin Stace, led a parent prayer group. It was a great blessing that some parents came along to pray for our students and the needs of the college.

Praying that God will help us to live a virtuous moral life that pleases Him is important. Simply praying that God would help us to live according to the fruit of the Spirit (the bible verse above) is a powerful prayer.

As the leader of the school, my thoughts, speech and actions influence others. Therefore, it is important that I pray frequently that God will help me to live as he expects. A prayer written by a retired Anglican minister from Melbourne, Peter Adam, is particularly helpful for me. I encourage you to reflect on the words and perhaps pray this prayer yourself.

…….. Renew my inner nature day by day by your Spirit. Help me to pour out my heart to you when I am distressed, stressed, disappointed, hurt, or depressed, and to find your compassion and comfort in times of trouble. Give me self-discipline in eating, drinking, sleeping, reading, working, and exercising. Please help me to grow in patience, wisdom, humility, grace, love, trust, and openness. Please rid me of jealousy, bad temper, self-pity and constant regrets. You have made me your own in Christ. Help me to trust you for every aspect of my life, past, present, and future……

In the rush of school runs, heavy schedules, and the pressure to set our children up for success, it’s easy to inadvertently build our family’s security on "sand" - things like academic results, extracurricular achievements, or financial stability. While these aren't bad, Matthew 7:24–29 warns that they cannot hold the weight of a life when the storms hit.

In senior school Chapel this week, we looked at how Jesus teaches that the only foundation capable of weathering the rains of hardship and the winds of doubt is the Rock - Jesus Himself. Building on this Rock isn’t just about following "good advice" or being a moral person; it’s about anchoring your life to a Person.

Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is the only constant in a changing world. As parents, our primary "work" isn't just doing more for our kids; as John 6:29 says, the work God requires is simply to believe in the One He sent. When we build on Jesus - His perfect life, His sacrificial death, and His resurrection - we are preparing our families not just for this life, but for eternal life.

But how do we actually take that first step onto the Rock? Jesus shows us the way in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee stood confidently on the "sand" of his own achievements and felt secure, but he left unjustified (not right with God). The Tax Collector, however, understood that a solid foundation begins with humility. He didn't bring a list of successes to God; he simply cried out, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

The first step in trusting Jesus as your foundation is acknowledging that you cannot build a secure life on your own merits. It means stopping the exhausting attempt to be "enough" and instead relying on the fact that Jesus is enough. We move from the shifting sands of self-sufficiency to the solid ground of God’s grace (His kindness to underserving people).

Lord, I admit that I cannot hold my life or my family together on my own. I stop trying to build on my own strength and instead reach out for Your mercy. Thank You for being my Rock. Be the foundation of my life and my home, today and forever. Amen.

Parent–teacher interviews for Prep to Year 12 will take place across the following dates. We encourage all families to mark these in your calendars.

Whole school interview day

(Including Pre‑Kindergarten 3‑Day Program)
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
9:00am – 8:00pm

Pre‑Kindergarten (2‑day program) interviews

Thursday, 23 April 2026
9:00am – 5:00pm

Senior School interview evening

Tuesday, 28 April 2026
4:15pm – 8:00pm

More information, including booking instructions, will be emailed to all parents in the coming weeks.

It’s that time of year again. Our Year 3 and Year 5 students are preparing to participate in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy). While these assessments provide a helpful snapshot of student progress, we want to ensure our students approach the week with confidence and a calm mind.

The most important thing to remember? There is no need for extra "prep" or late-night study sessions at home. Our wonderful teachers have been supporting the students in class, and they are well-prepared to handle everything on the day.

How you can help at home

To help your child feel their best, we ask parents to focus on the "Big Four" basics:

• Early to bed: A well-rested brain is a sharp brain.
• A healthy breakfast: A nutritious meal in the morning helps with focus and stamina.
• Perfect attendance: Being at school on time helps students settle in and avoid the stress of catch-up sessions.
• The right gear: Ensure your child has all their required equipment (like headphones or pencils) ready to go in their bag.

Please join us as we pray that our students approach these days with confidence and feel proud of all their hard work.

HZSA Swimming Carnival

On Monday, a team of 22 RHAC swimmers took to the pool at the HZSA Swimming Carnival, ready to challenge the best in our Association. While our team was smaller than usual, thanks to the competitors-only school carnival, there was absolutely no shortage of quality. RHAC was constantly over the loudspeaker, picking up places event after event.

When the final points were tallied, RHAC finished 2nd overall in Champion School standings, an outstanding achievement and a testament to the character shown by our swimmers, many of whom tackled multiple events across a huge day.

An extra congratulations to our newly crowned HZSA Age Champions:

• Giselle Barker
• Riley Welch
• Zahli Perry
• Hanna Lewis
• James Dodds

A special shout-out to Hanna Lewis, who smashed the 17 Years Girls 50m Freestyle record with a blistering 27.99. Incredible!

Hills Zone Sports Association (HZSA) Swimming Carnival
On Monday, 27 enthusiastic swimmers represented our College at the Hills Zone Sports Association (HZSA) Swimming Carnival, competing alongside students from 11 other schools. Our team showed tremendous determination and school spirit from start to finish.

A special thank‑you to our wonderful parent supporters, who filled the stands with encouragement and warm smiles. Their presence made a world of difference to our swimmers and helped create a supportive atmosphere on the day.

A big thank you to our Senior School students who assisted our Junior School team. Their leadership, kindness and calm reassurance helped settle nerves and boosted the confidence of our younger competitors. Seeing our older students model such encouragement and care was a true highlight of the carnival.

Mrs Spackman and l are incredibly proud of every swimmer who represented our College. Congratulations to the whole team on a fantastic effort!

Hills Zone Spots Association (HZSA) Afternoon Sport
Last week we began our weekly sports competition, our Stage 3 teams had three wins, while unfortunately our Stage 2 teams were washed out.

P&F Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 11 March 2026 | 7:00pm | TLC

On behalf of the P&F, I warmly invite all parents and friends of the College to attend our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 7:00pm in the TLC.

The AGM is a wonderful opportunity to hear about the valuable work of our P&F community, as well as upcoming events, initiatives and ways you can get involved throughout the year. During the formal part of the evening, we will present our 2025 Annual Report and hear from our Principal, who will share updates and insights about what’s happening around the College.

Our P&F plays an important role in building connection, fostering community spirit and supporting the College. Whether you are new to the College or have been part of the community for many years, we would love to see you there.

The AGM is open to all parents and friends of the College. If you’re interested in joining the committee or volunteering, we warmly encourage you to submit your nomination in advance via this link . Your involvement helps make our college community stronger, more connected and full of opportunities for everyone.

We look forward to welcoming you and working together to make 2026 another wonderful year for our college community.

Junior School Disco – Friday 27 March 2026
The Junior School Afternoon Disco is back and we can’t wait for a fun-filled afternoon of music, dancing and laughter!
Friday, 27 March 2026
K-2 Disco 3.30 - 4.30
Y3-6 Disco 4.45 - 6.15

Tickets: Tickets are now on sale! Secure your spot here: https://www.trybooking.com/DKHLM
Pizza: Thank you to everyone for your patience while we trialled the pizza run at last year’s Term 4 Disco. We learned a lot from the experience and are working to improve the process and trial a few new systems this year, so we appreciate your continued understanding. The P&F Pizza run will be available on the day for those wishing to enjoy a meal. Pizza is limited, so please pre-book to avoid disappointment.

Volunteers: Parent support is essential to make this event a success. If you are able to help for a timeslot, please click this link to volunteer. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

We look forward to a wonderful afternoon celebrating our Junior School community.

Warm regards,
Sneha Pandey

President, RHAC P&F

E: [email protected]

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 .