Dear Parents/Guardians

It has been a positive start to the 2022 school year.  All of our students are wearing school uniform and many of them in Year 7 to 10 have received ‘Riverside Ripper’, awards for displaying the school values of Respect, Aspiration, Courage and Endeavour.  Our school values are taught in Home Group time and guide all our work and interactions and students are regularly recognised for displaying the values both inside and outside of the classroom.

Our whole school and grade assemblies are not able to occur due to the Covid restrictions or school social gatherings and so, unfortunately, we are not able to hold our traditional ‘Grade 7, Meet and Greet BBQ’.  Grade Teams have sent a letter home to all families providing important information and dates which relate specifically to the grade teaching and learning program. Please feel free to contact your child’s Home Group teacher if you have questions or concerns in relation to school. At the end of Term One, all students will be provided with an interim report which gives parents/guardians information on how their child has settled into the school year.

On Tuesday, we presented the Prefects for 2022 with their blazers and badges.  The guest speaker for this special presentation was Toby McKnight who discussed his experience as a Prefect at Riverside High School and his journey to studying at university. In speaking to the student leaders, I highlighted the importance of our school values and the need for our leaders to display them not only in the classroom but in the yard, in their interactions with others and to model them in the community. The school values will guide and underpin the Prefect Board and their work this year. All the sub-committees of the 2022 Prefect Board are connected to the School Improvement Plan priorities.

Information has been sent home with students this week which details the arrangements for the 2022 Swimming Trials for NHSSA and changes to the swimming carnival format due to Covid restrictions. Please read this information carefully. We strongly encourage students who would like to compete in the NHSSA to register for the swimming trials.  Further information is also included in this newsletter.

The school newsletter is published at the end of every second week.  Please take the time to read the newsletter as it contains important dates and messages and it is where we celebrate the achievements of our students.

Swimming Carnival – NHSSA Trials 2022

For 2022, due to Covid restrictions, we have had to change the format of the Riverside High School Swimming Carnival.

In place of the traditional carnival, we will be holding selection races for each year group so that the 2022 Inter-High Team can be chosen.  Students will also have the opportunity to compete against existing school swimming carnival records.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to have parents/guardians attend the trials.

There will be no “Division 2” or “Novelty” events. 

Races will include:

The selection trials will be held at the Riverside Swimming Pool with dates and times listed below.

We are hoping in Term 4 to hold a mini novelty carnival to cater for all swimming abilities.

For those students not wishing to put themselves forward for Inter-High selection, normal classes will be operating at school. 

Students wishing to register, can do so online by scanning the QR code which was included in the letter sent home with students.  Registrations need to be completed by Monday, 7^th March.

Students will be required to wear full school uniform on the day and bring along their bathers and towel as well as sun safe gear (hat, sunscreen and sunglasses), drinks and food.  Please note that students will not be permitted to take their mobile phones to the pool. Students will walk to and from the Riverside Pool with teachers.

Those students competing in the morning will attend their scheduled classes during the afternoon whilst those students participating in the afternoon sessions will be dismissed back at school on the day in time to catch their normal buses home.

We greatly appreciate your support of these new arrangements.

Jeanna Bolton
Acting Principal

This year in Introduction to Sociology and Psychology, students have a fantastic opportunity to learn more about how society functions the way it does and the manner in which our own learned behaviours impact the wider world around us.

Students have started the year by first understanding the human brain and its functions. Students drew and labelled a brain, understanding what each section is responsible for, in preparation for studying some of the key concepts of behavioural learning.

Students will also study a wide range of topics throughout the course such as: personality, sleep, social norms and stereotypes and sub-cultures present in our community. They will learn from famous experiments and observations throughout history about how people learn and interact and, ultimately, they will have a chance to test out some theories of their own.

Students have made a great start to the year, and I look forward to seeing the work they produce going forward.

Sam Parry

During Terms 1 and 4, a group of Grade 9 and 10 students have enrolled in our new Arts: Mixed Media half-year course. This subject looks at a range of media types with the purpose of creating content for others to consume. Some of the key areas students will focus on are: using Adobe Photoshop, producing podcasts and videos using a variety of software, the positive use of social media and understanding audience when creating media. In the first task this term, students are to sell a product by creating a television and radio advertisement, a full-page magazine/newspaper advertisement and a social media post. We look forward to exploring different uses of media in this course with some interesting and engaging content being created.

On behalf of the Prefect Board, we would like to introduce ourselves, our work and congratulate everyone on such a positive start to the year. We are Taj and Tara, your Head Prefects for 2022.

The start of this year has looked different, but it has been great to see how everyone is adapting to change so well. Since assemblies cannot be held at the moment, the Prefects have instead begun to communicate with the student body through fortnightly videos. These have provided a great opportunity for the board to introduce ourselves, our roles and relay information and messages to the school.

The Prefect Board is structured differently this year, being based around teams, instead of partners. These groups cover the areas of:

• Community – focused on building a positive school culture that promotes diversity, student voice and connects students from all grades as well as our wider community.
• Learning – focused on generating an engaging, supportive and creative environment for education and encouraging students to aspire and achieve.
• Wellbeing – focused on making school a positive and safe environment in which everyone feels a sense of belonging and highlighting the importance of health.

These new teams have increased collaboration, flexibility and inclusion within the board, and we are excited to see how these roles will evolve as the year progresses.

We have already begun our planning and work for the year ahead. Last Thursday, the board attended an all-day planning session, where we discussed our mission, vision and legacy. We have also commenced our weekly board meetings, enabling us to exchange, coordinate and collate ideas. We are continuing to work on developing an overview of the events and initiatives we will run this year. Moving forward, we want to be guided by you; your passions and concerns, so please feel free to put forward your thoughts.

The 2022 Prefect Board has commenced the year with enthusiasm and looks forward to the year ahead. Each one of us will strive to represent Riverside High School and our values. To end, here is the 2022 Prefect Board’s Mission Statement and School Pledge. Both were developed during our planning session and outline what we believe encompasses our role as Prefects.

“The Prefect Team is dedicated to forging stronger connections within a safe, supportive school community. We will strive to celebrate the individuality that brings us together. We aim to connect and engage students to their learning through a range of unique opportunities and to prepare students to be active, respectful community members for life is our fundamental purpose.”

PREFECT PLEDGE 2022

Before you stand 20 individuals each with unique backgrounds, beliefs and passions. We are united by our one purpose, to represent you, the staff and students of Riverside High.

Our pledge is to create a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

We pledge to provide new and unique opportunities that cater to everyone’s interests.

By upholding our core values of Courage, Aspiration, Respect and Endeavour, we pledge to build on the great reputation of Riverside High School.

Through valuing individuality and diversity, we pledge to create a sense of belonging for everyone.

To foster an environment that will promote positive relationships with peers, staff and the wider Riverside community.

By providing a stimulating learning experience, we pledge to maximise your learning potential.

To give you the opportunities to make your voice heard and be guided by your opinions, ideas and contributions.

And most importantly, we pledge to develop your Learning, your Wellbeing and our Community.

We are YOUR Prefect Board for 2022.

The NHSSA winter rosters commence on Wednesday, May 11th. 

We are in desperate need for umpires to officiate our matches in football, netball, hockey and soccer.   

If you are free on Wednesday afternoons and believe you are knowledgeable and confident enough, and would like to assist, please, either contact your local high school sports co-ordinator, or the NHSSA Executive Officer on 0419 547 471 (Andrew) or email me at  nhssa@intas.net.au  

The NHSSA will provide all the support you require and renumeration is provided 

Many thanks 

Andrew McCarthy (NHSSA Executive Officer)