On Friday, 16^th May, Riverside High School held its annual House Challenge Day that includes the school cross-country events and challenge activities on the school campus.

Riverside High School sports carnivals continue to provide a valuable opportunity for students to have a go at something that puts them outside of their comfort zone and promotes a connectiveness with peers, teachers, and the school community. Once again, the main emphasis of our House Challenge Day was students participating in cross-country races and novelty activities whilst having lots of fun and building strong connections with their friends and teachers. The cross-country races play an important part of the day as many of our students are serious athletes who are striving to put their name into the RHS record books and represent the school at inter-high carnivals. Another aspect of the day is the House challenges that incorporate activities where students must work together to gain points for their House. These activities were very popular with all grades and ensured our students had a variety of opportunities to participate, regardless of their running ability or fitness levels.

House spirit was displayed proudly throughout the students, with many students dressed in their House colours, painted head-to-toe in their respective colour, and displaying positive support of their peers and teammates. This community spirit and support for others is an important aspect of our school carnivals as it aligns to our school value of Connection. We aim to continue to foster and encourage our students to display this type of behaviour.

There were many students who displayed outstanding effort while participating in their cross-country race. Not only did the placegetters try their best but many students displayed Courage and Growth in reaching their personal best across the course. It was inspiring to witness the aspirational qualities of many students, and some of our school staff, stepping outside their comfort zone to participate in their cross-country race.

A big congratulations goes to the following students who won their respective events and are now the Riverside High School Cross-Country Champions for 2025:

Cross-Country Champions 2025

Congratulations must also go to the following students who crossed the line in second-place in their respective events and are now the Riverside High School Cross-Country runners-up for 2025:

Cross-Country Runners-up 2025

As always, there was a friendly, but fierce, rivalry between the four Houses of Forrest, Kingsford-Smith, Lawson, and Monash. After finishing fourth at last year’s House Challenge, Monash, with the introduction of a strong Grade 7 group, were able to roar up the standings in 2025 to take the overall honour of winning House. After being the winning House in 2024, Lawson made a grand defence of their title, only narrowly being beaten into second place. Forrest and Kingsford-Smith were a very close third and fourth respectively.

Final scores for the 2025 House Challenge Day:

A big thank you to Mrs Elliott and Mr Beardwood for coordinating the event, and to all school staff for your continued support of our school carnivals.

Adam Sanders
AST
HPE Coordinator