2019 / January 2020 o. 4 December N ; 5 3 e m u u.au Vol s.qld.ed www.rg
7 OP 1s RGS Ends the OP Era With One of its Highest OP1 Percentages
Raising funds for
@RGSRaceDay 1
The Rockhampton Grammar School | Grow in Character and Scholarship
SEE ALL EVENTS, FULL DETAILS AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AT WWW.RGS.QLD.EDU.AU/CALENDAR
What’s coming up at RGS – Highlights New Student Orientation Day 28 January Orientation Day for new students from Prep to Year 12
Meet the Teachers 20 February RGS Secondary School Meet the Teachers function
Primary Formal Assembly 25 March Presentation to Student Leaders, House Captains and Year 6 students
First Day of Term 1 29 January
Swimming Carnival 20 - 21 February
First day of School for Primary and Secondary students
RGS Secondary School Swimming Carnival
Co-Curricular Expo 5 February
Year 12 Formal 28 February
RGS Cross Country 3 April
New Secondary School students discover the range of RGS Co-Curricular sports and activities.
Year 12 Formal Walkthrough and Dinner
Primary and Secondary School Cross Country at RGS Rugby Park
RGS Foundation Day 12 February
Secondary School ID Photos 4 March
Last Day of Term 1 3 April
RGS Foundation Day and Induction of Secondary School Leaders
Student ID photos (Year 7 - Year 12)
RGS Race Day 15 February
Regional Rugby Championships 7 March
RGS Race Day at Callaghan Park
RGS Parent Association Ball 28 March RGS Parent Association Ball at the RGS Rowing Club
Term 1 ends following the Cross Country Carnival
First Day of Term 2 21 April
Regional Rugby Championships at RGS Rugby Park
Thank you RGS Sport sponsors for sharing with us our mission of developing whole people through a balance of academic, sporting, co-curricular and social activities.
From Australian Rules to Water Polo, RGS students compete in approximately 20 sporting activities including Basketball, Golf, Netball, Tennis and more. We encourage students across all year levels to embrace the benefits of joining in. If you would like to join in as a sponsor of RGS Sports or any co-curricular activity such as Music, Show Cattle or Theatre, please contact Todd Wells, Director of Co-curricular on 0488 778 300.
Dr Phillip Moulds Headmaster
As students, parents and staff prepare for another school year we reflect on the year past and gear up for an exciting 2020. At the end of 2019 we farewelled the Class of 2019. Year 12 is a major shared experience between parents and their children. We wish the School’s graduating students, and their families, all the best for the next stage in their lives. Changes in our children’s lives result in changes in our (parents) own. We, as parents, always want to try and do what is best for our children. That is not only reserved for the final year of school. It’s a sense of care that exists from the moment your child starts their education journey and asking yourself whether you are doing the best for your son or daughter at the start of every school year, to help them achieve to the best of their ability – in all aspects of school, not just academic. This care is something that is at the heart of the Grammar experience, with the School always wanting what is best for our students, for them to grow to be good people and good scholars.
This care is something that is at the heart of the Grammar experience
At the Valedictory Dinner I shared a few pieces of advice with the Year 12 students which is also applicable to all RGS students: 1 Don’t feel you have to be the “cool” one – be a warm person, someone people want to gravitate to because you are loyal, caring, kind, supportive, truthful and gracious. That you are not the type of person who will dump someone because a better offer comes along. 2 Be positive – learn to spread optimism on your day the way you might spread honey on a piece of toast. Rather than thinking that you have to do something, be thankful that you get to do it. 3 Ask questions – being interested in another person gives them value and enhances your understanding. 4 Know that you can support yourself and can take care of yourself. You matter not only to you, but to your family and friends. In 2019 we also farewelled pillars of the RGS teaching staff, Denise Wright and Arthur and Aileen Kelly. I think there are good lessons to learn from them about loyalty, hard work and compassion – three characteristics which help to define good leaders, and which define them as people. We look forward to a new chapter in the RGS history books in 2020.
inside in side CQ Volume 35 No. 4 Dec 2019 / Jan 2020
COMMUNITY
2 News
The spirit of giving and taking time to listen to others SCHOLARSHIP
3 OP results
Our last OP students. What were their results? RGS PAST STUDENTS
6 Mixing in Global Circles Taking future agtech thinking to the world CHARACTER AND SCHOLARSHIP
8 A Life Journey
Weighing up the pros and cons of travelling a long way from home SCHOLARSHIP
9 The Love of Learning
RGS Dux James Vandeleur gives an insight into his academic success and life beyond RGS CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY
10 Time Flies
Year 12 students reflect back on their words of wisdom in Year 7 COMMUNITY
11 Farewell Mr Kelly
After 36 years at RGS we farewell retiring Deputy Headmaster Mr Arthur Kelly SPORTS AND AWARDS
16 RGS Sports briefs and Cultural highlights 18 RGS photo album THE LAST WORD
COVER: Renee, Will, Antonio, and Paige celebrate their OP1 Results. Report, page 3.
21 What makes RGS great? Students reflect on their highlights of 2019.
The Rockhampton Grammar School takes seriously the challenge of preparing students for today’s world. We treat each student as a whole person through a balance of academic, sporting, co-curricular and social activities. Our School motto is Macte Virtute et Litteris or Grow in Character and Scholarship. Capricornus Quarterly is published by: The Rockhampton Grammar School Archer Street Rockhampton QLD 4700, Australia www.rgs.qld.edu.au (+61) 07 4936 0600 ISSN 1839-4663 ©2019 The Rockhampton Grammar School CRICOS: 00507F
Dr Phillip Moulds, Headmaster 07 4936 0615 Headmaster@rgs.qld.edu.au Enrolment enquiries 1300 GRAMMAR The Registrar, Mrs Marissa Holloway 1300 GRAMMAR or 07 4936 0700 Fax 07 4936 0701 Registrar@rgs.qld.edu.au
Editorial & Advertising Ms Sue Moloney, Director Development and Communications 07 4936 0668 smoloney@rgs.qld.edu.au
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Mrs Rachael McDonald 07 4936 0776 rmcdonald@rgs.qld.edu.au Mrs Ashleigh Harvey 07 4936 0667 aharvey@rgs.qld.edu.au
Capricornus Quarterly is printed on quality silk art which is 100% recycled (FSC recycled certified SGS-COC-2260; certified carbon neutral and chlorine free) by City Printing Works, Rockhampton.
rgs.qld.edu.au 1
COMMUNITY
The Spirit of Giving It doesn’t take much to provide a small gift or just a smile to lift peoples spirits RGS families had many opportunities throughout Term 4 to do just this – whether it was a group of Year 10 students visiting Bethany, supporting Anglicare at the annual RGS Carols in the Frame or making a gift donation to the annual Salvation Army Christmas Appeal in the RGS Primary School. These opportunities were a fitting end to another year where RGS students and families have supported many charity organisations with a range of needs, including the ongoing drought. Thank you to everyone who has done their bit to help support a charity or local organisation in 2019.
Students tune into raising funds
Silent Decoy band members Harry Rooks, Max McCartney, Kyan Sinclair and Jock Menzies, all in Year 8, were among the performers at the 2019 RGS Carols in the Frame. The evening featured performances from both Primary and Secondary students and was well supported by RGS families. Thank you to the 2019 Year 11 cohort who helped organise this year’s event and were able to donate $550 to Anglicare’s Christmas Hamper Drive.
COMMUNITY
Helping others in need
The RGS Primary School continued its long ongoing support for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. The Salvation Army’s Dale and Roz visited the School at the end of term to collect a range of donated items including food, toys, books and stationery. They had plenty of volunteers to help load up the truck, including Year 6 students Alexander Connell, Chloe Rabbitts-Hick, Kathleen Nguyen, Marlee Chopping and Pippa Reoch.
COMMUNITY
Connecting the generations It doesn’t take much to give some time to others and listen to their stories. Year 10 Form teacher Mr Noel Philips gave his Form students this opportunity when they visited the Bethany Aged Care Facility in Rockhampton.
“Once going they love it, it’s so interesting to hear the life stories of many of these people. Some even have relational ties to Grammar,’’ Mr Philips said.
“Annually I take my Year 10 Form class to Bethany to get the students interacting with the ‘oldies’,’’ Mr Philips said.
“I was so proud of them (the students) all as they all rose to the occasion and visited heaps of residents throughout the facility and brought along a positive attitude and smiling face with their Grammar uniform that visually lifted the residents whilst we were there.
“It takes the students out of their comfort zone and endeavours to brighten the day for someone else, a win-win for all.” The students arrive with presents, cards and flowers to present to their residents of Bethany. Mr Philips said it’s about chatting and finding out about the past lives of our local elderly residents. 2
“It’s such a great experience to witness. There are awesome personal and social outcomes for these young people to take time out for our elderly and appreciate them.”
Bethany also appreciate the Grammar visit, reporting back that the staff loved seeing the residents eyes light up when they welcomed the students. Year 10 student Sally Adamski welcomed the opportunity to visit Bethany. “Many of the residents don’t have family that visit them often, or have no family at all, so a visit by 16 Year 10 students was a welcoming sight,’’ Sally said. “It was a really warming experience to be able to make their day a little bit brighter and to hear their stories. The residents were delighted to talk with us and enjoyed the cards and presents we gave them.” Jo-anna, Shaniqua and Sally organised some vases of flowers and Christmas cards to give to the residents they visited at Bethany.
James
“We had a friendly competition throughout secondary school which helped everyone improve together.”
Antonio
“Study hard but if you can’t get the grade just focus on trying to enter a degree and do as hard as you can to swap over into the course you really want to.”
Harrison
William
Abhinav
“The hard work has paid off.”
“The key to succeeding is keep working hard and keep studying.”
“Everyone has been like my Grammar family. All my teachers helped me get through the tough times and were always there to support me.’’
SCHOLARSHIP
End of an OP era: 7 top scores RGS students secured 7 OP1 scores following their Year 12 studies. RGS OP1 recipients were James Vandeleur (Dux), Antonio Vega Garcia, Harrison Hooper, William Etherington, Abhinav Singh, Renee Sweeney and Paige Baker.
º 30 students, or 31.58%,
In addition, 100% of students attained a Queensland Certificate of Education.
º 88 students, or 92.6% students,
“7 OP-1 results are outstanding for any school,” said RGS Headmaster Dr Phillip Moulds.
º 95.5% of all Year 12 students earned a
“This is one of the School’s best OP1 percentage performances. “Congratulations to all students. Here students excel across a variety of interests and endeavours,” added Dr Moulds. Excellent results are not limited to graduates with the highest results; across the depth and breadth of RGS, students attained their personal best:
ROCKHAMPTON GLADSTONE YEPPOON
4921 0399
www.luptonstewart.com.au
received an OP 1-5.
º 60 students, or 63.16%, received an OP 1-10.
received and OP 1-15.
VET qualification.
All of these results exceed state averages by wide margins. RGS OP-eligible students were among 23,000 students in Queensland who undertook the QCS test for the final time in 2019. After 27 years the State-wide OP score will be replaced in 2020 by subject-specific external exams under ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). “While our staff and students have been looking ahead and preparing for the new ATAR system for several years, we have ensured that this last OP cohort were well prepared and were committed to finishing their studies strongly,’’ Dr Moulds said.
Renee
“I can’t thank [my parents] enough for the support they’ve given me. Just giving me time and space when I needed it. Helping me when I needed it through exams and assignments pressure.”
Paige
“A lot of Grade 12 is based on uncertainties. You’re making plans on things you’re not sure will happen. It’s a big relief to have something concrete to base the rest of your life off.”
“Our students’ achievements and worth are never reduced to just numbers. We’re more concerned about each child’s disposition and their interest in learning. If you have those qualities nurtured in an environment where strong academics and well-rounded development are highly valued, where a partnership exists among students, their parents and teachers, then children are going to do well,” explained Dr Moulds. RGS Director of Teaching and Learning Ms Reniece Carter said the data released is yet another powerful example of our students’ commitment to learning. “It also highlights the commitment of all RGS staff to each and every student,” said Ms Carter. “Our year-on-year results and the 92.16% of students who achieved 1 to 15 Overall Positions today clearly demonstrate the School’s commitment to the best for all students, not just the top performers,” added Dr Moulds. There were 135 RGS Year 12 students issued with a Senior Education Profile this year. 95 were OP or OP-equivalent eligible. Dr Moulds said although a much smaller year group, due to the fact that they were the half Prep cohort in 2007, they have finished School as fine young women and men as well as accomplished learners.
CREATING CONFIDENT SMILES
FOR PATIENTS OF ALL AGES
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COMMUNITY
Leaders look forward to giving back to their community The RGS Secondary School Leaders have been elected for 2020. Captains Natalie Marks and Nicholas Storey, along with Vice-Captains Lillie Bain and Sansuka De Silva all come from different backgrounds and offer different strengths in their ambitions to lead a united school in 2020. Here’s an insight into our Secondary School leaders.
Lillie Bain
Nicholas Storey
Natalie Marks
Sansuka De Silva
Lillie arrived at RGS in Year 6 and has welcomed the “countless opportunities” for students to excel in cultural, sporting and academic areas. Netball has been a strong passion of Lillie’s, playing in the School’s First VII team for the past three years. Lillie’s family lives in Rockhampton. Mum Natalie works in the RGS Kindergarten, dad Peter is a local plumber and younger brother Charlie is in Year 10 (2020).
Nick started at RGS in 2015 as a boarder in Year 7. Nick’s family home is a grain property near Capella, about 50km north of Emerald. The youngest of three children, Nick’s sister Madeleine (RGS 2012) is now a doctor in Rockhampton and Imogen (RGS 2015) is an exercise physiologist. Nick loves his sport enjoying rowing, water polo, cricket and rugby. Away from school he loves water skiing and recently enrolled as a volunteer fire fighter for the Rural Fire Brigade in his local area.
Natalie started boarding at RGS in Year 7, 2015. A five-hour drive from RGS is “Winvic”, Natalie’s home which is a predominantly cattle-based property with a small portion of cropping. She has lived at “Winvic” her whole life with her two sisters (Olivia, RGS 2017) and Amelia (Year 10, 2020). Natalie’s dad also attended RGS along with his siblings.
Starting at RGS in Year 7, Sansuka De Silva has made the most of his pursuits available at the School. Music has been a key passion for the Year 11 Dux, who plays piano, viola and violin, and has particularly enjoyed performing in the RGS Music Festival which represents the progress of each soloist, band and orchestra. Sansuka was born in Singapore but has spent most of his life in Australia while his parents were born in Sri Lanka. His brother Navindu graduated from RGS in 2018.
Vice Captain
“I feel privileged to be given this opportunity to represent my cohort and the School as a whole. I look forward to engaging with all members of the School community in the year to come and hope to find my own way to contribute to the positive culture and values that the School promotes.”
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Captain
“I feel very honoured to be chosen as School Captain. It means I can help others in a way I couldn’t before. Coming from a small country town like Capella, I did not think these opportunities would be available to me. This is why this role is so important to me. It helps me to give back to the community which has already invested so much in me.”
Captain
“Being elected School Captain is a really big and special achievement. My Primary school teacher- Amanda (Lindeman) Burnett who is also my neighbour, was RGS vice-captain in 2000 with her now husband Doug Burnett, also vice-captain of the same year. I have always looked up to Mando and Dougie.” “I’m really looking forward to working with the other captains as an all-inclusive network within the Grammar community.”
Vice Captain
“I have been at Grammar for five years now. Being Vice-Captain is a fitting way for me to repay what my education at the School has done for me. I hope to also be a great role model for all students.”
The RGS Year 5 Music programme has once again provided an opportunity for those students who love music to continue their passion, while for others it’s the chance to try something different. Charlie Ward selected to study the tuba in Year 5, and this will continue into Year 6 in 2020. “I chose the tuba because I thought it would be fun to learn how to play such a big instrument,’’ Charlie said. “I learnt that there are lots of notes to learn and you need to practise a lot.” The Year 5 students performed an end-of-year concert in front of their family, friends and teachers in Term 4. “I enjoyed performing in front of everyone and learning all of the notes to play the songs. The sound of the tuba is so low and it sounds cool.”
SCHOLARSHIP
Music Workshop
Queensland Symphony Orchestra members Warwick Adeney and David Montgomery have an ear for music.
In what might sound amazing to the untrained ear, apparently there is always room for improvement to create the magic of orchestral music. Visiting Rockhampton for a concert with the Rockhampton Symphony Orchestra, Warwick worked with the strings, with members of the RGS Senior String Ensemble, while David worked with the RGS Percussion Ensemble. RGS Acting Head of Music Mrs Rhonda Hite said not only was it an experience for the students to work with professional musicians but they were also given tips and skills to improve their performance pieces for upcoming performances which include Music Workshops in February and March followed by the Mother’s
Day concert, Eisteddfod and the Secondary School Musical – Wicked. “This all happens by the middle of May,’’ Mrs Hite said. It’s a full schedule for RGS musicians. Their 2019 schedule included approximately 19 events across combined music ensembles, bands and orchestras; performing at four formal assemblies, music workshops, ANZAC Day March, Eisteddfod, SHEP Middle School, SHEP Capricornia, Senior Formal, Mother’s Day Concert, RGS Race Day, RGS Music Council recitals, CQU Schools Jazz Festival, Musical, Music Festival, Carols in the Frame, Year 5 classroom concert, Sports Awards, Primary Speech Night and Secondary Speech Day. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
SCHOLARSHIP
PRIMARY DUX
RGS Dux of Primary, Year 6 student Ben Hilber was honoured to finish on top of the “hard-working students” in his grade in 2019. “Before it was announced, I was very nervous because my older sister was Dux runner-up so I was feeling a bit pressured and I wasn’t too confident on how I did in the Dux testing, especially on general knowledge’’ Ben said. “I am very proud on being Dux and that the name Hilber is on the trophy.” Here are some tips on how Ben approaches his days in the classroom: 1
Listen to the teacher;
2 Do my work in class; 3 Do my homework every week. I do a bit every afternoon, so I don’t have to do it all at once; 4
Do some revision before tests – do the revision sheets if the teacher gives them. If the teacher gives you time to revise in class, use that time - don’t waste it! I usually revise a bit at home the night before the test by going through my books to revise what we have done in class.
Find out what it takes to be the Dux of RGS, when CQ caught up with Year 12 graduate James Vandeleur. Report, page 9.
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PAST STUDENTS
PAST STUDENT NEWS Mr Coombe’s children also attended RGS: Ian (RGS 1978), Mark (RGS 1980), Brett (RGS 1980), Geoffrey (RGS 1988) and Susan (RGS 1997) Not only a respected member of the RGS Board of Trustees, Mr Coombe was also widely respected in the cattle industry as a Brahman breeder. Mr Coombe was one of the founders and the original chairman of Beef 88, the inaugural Beef Expo held in Rockhampton.
Ben O’Regan (RGS 2006) married Evgeniya Kaykova in Moscow in August. Ben’s parents James and Carol O’Regan attended the wedding along with Ben’s brother Jack (RGS 2009). Sister Kim (RGS 2007) was unable to travel due to her pregnancy.
Save the Date RGS Reunion Evening
On Friday 14 February RGS past students from the classes of 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 are invited to attend the RGS Reunion Evening at RGS. Visit Trybooking and search for “RGS Reunion Evening” to book your tickets. The evening includes a tour of the School followed by nibbles and drinks.
Born in Victoria, Mr Coombe was the son of a bank manager and his first real exposure to the cattle industry came soon after completing Year 12 and working as a jackaroo near Bingara in NSW.
Vale Ken Coombe OAM Ken Coombe passed away on 13 November, aged 87 years. Many past students would remember the former RGS Board Chairman Ken Coombe. Mr Coombe was Chairman from 1998 to 2001 and previously served as a member on the RGS Board of Trustees from 1978. The Year 11 Boys Boarding House at RGS, Coombe House, was named in his honour of service to the School.
He would later work for 14 years, from 1957, for Fairymead Sugar Co, running its bull breeding operations near Bundaberg. He is best remembered in the cattle industry as the head of bull breeding operations with the AMP Society’s Stanbroke Pastoral Co – at that point the world’s largest cattle enterprise. He spent 21 years, from 1973 to 1994, as general manager of breeding operations based at Stanbroke’s bull breeding headquarters, Waverley Station, near St Lawrence. Mr Coombe also served as secretary and president of the Australian Brahman Breeders Association. Mr Coombe earned an Order of Australia Medal for services to the beef industry in 1990.
RGS Distinguished Past Student Awards Dinner Join us to celebrate our past student achievements at the RGS Distinguished Past Student Awards Dinner in the Memorial Assembly Hall on Saturday, 25 July, 2020. Email paststudents@rgs.qld.edu.au for more information on tickets and to nominate a past student for the 2020 awards visit rgs.qld.edu.au/distinguished before nominations close on 6 March.
The annual Canberra past student breakfast continues to attract past students from across the decades. RGS Headmaster Dr Phillip Moulds once again enjoyed meeting past students who have pursued a range of careers in Canberra. Joining this year’s breakfast were (from left) Alaina Kennedy (nee Alroe, RGS 2001), Michael Baccon (RGS 1987), Emmett Evans (RGS 2017), Alex Hausen (RGS 2000), Darren Wright (RGS 1986), Ted Baker (RGS 1942), Peter Rose (RGS 1964), Hannah Doyle (RGS 2014), Richard Vagg (RGS 1990), Rachel Trump (RGS 1993), Mark Young (RGS 1976), Dr Phillip Moulds and Ashleigh Harvey (nee Norford, RGS 2005).
Global recognition for SwarmFarm Gindie’s Andrew Bate (RGS 1985) is taking his ag-tech farming to the world and the success is swarming in. As the 2018 winner of the Australian Future Agro Challenge, SwamFarm directors Andrew and his wife Jocie headed to Greece for the 2019 Global Ag-Tech Start-Up event where 26 winners from 60 participating countries presented their agriculture technology. SwamFarm placed third from around 2500 competitors worldwide.
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started back in 2012 when they decided they could not continue with larger and more complicated machines. Andrew and Jocie, parents of Jessica in Year 7, started looking at farming in the future. Using their Central Queensland farming operations as a testbed, they started with one prototype and in 2014 the first SwarmBot was built. It was a three-wheeled, single driving machine that weighed 300kg to assist in commercial spraying applications.
The event also provided an opportunity for Andrew and Jocie to build networks in the agtech space.
Modifications have since been made in the continuous pursuit of future farming. Their first commercial delivery took place in 2018.
SwarmFarm works with autonomous crop robotics. The Bates family SwarmFarm journey
Find out more about SwarmFarm at swarmfarm.com
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CHARACTER AND SCHOLARSHIP
A life journey Ella Cekanauskas is more used to being surrounded by her small family so the thought of hitting the road to Canberra with almost 80 Year 6 students was a daunting prospect. The annual 10-day trip travelled south to Moree, and then Dubbo, before returning east towards the much cooler temperatures of the Snowy Mountains and Canberra. The group then hit the road for the long journey north, back to Rockhampton. It’s a journey RGS Year 6 and Year 7 students have travelled for the past 22 years, which coincides with their studies on Government. Away from school, home life for Ella is living with her mum and granny, and some muchloved pets.
“As a teacher, it is a privilege to share all the experiences the Canberra trip provides, with the students,’’ Mr Saunders said. “For many, it is the longest and furthest they have ever been away from their families. “The trip requires the students to develop numerous important life skills such as resilience and they all have to overcome the challenges of being away from home, learning to cope with different personalities and boundaries.”
“Leading into the trip I wasn’t that keen to go, and I knew it was going to be too cold,’’ Ella said.
Ella admits she learnt more about being patient, but also welcomed the opportunity to learn more about different people and enjoy things she hadn’t seen before.
“I had previously been away from my mum for a week and for the first two days into the trip I was fine but when we got closer to Canberra, I thought I’m a bit far from home now.’’
Once into the trip there was no stopping Ella’s enthusiasm being around all her Year 6 classmates and enjoying an amazing educational holiday.
It’s these feelings which challenge some of the students while at the same time also help them learn more about themselves.
Visiting the Australian Institute of Sport, Questacon, the Australian War Memorial and the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, along with seeing snow for the first time at Mt Kosciusko, were among Ella’s highlights.
Ella’s Year 6 teacher Gareth Saunders, who has joined many Canberra trips, said the motto for RGS is to “Grow in Character and Scholarship” and the annual Year 6 trip to Canberra certainly “ticks the box” of helping our Primary students grow in character. 8
“I was shocked seeing snow for the first time. You see it in movies and think is it actually that nice, and it is. I was tired and exhausted (from the cold and windy climb) but it was really fun,’’ Ella said.
Mr Saunders said it was no exaggeration that everywhere they went on camp, they received positive feedback from the public and staff who worked at the places they visited. “They (the students) are a credit to their families and all who have taught them through Primary. They are a wonderful advertisement for our School,’’ Mr Saunders said. Ella’s tips for future RGS Year 6 Canberra travellers – “Take something that you feel like is home so you don’t miss it too much and have fun,’’ Ella said. “Also pack lots of warm clothes (if it’s that cold again), make sure you have proper gloves and not wool ones like I had so I couldn’t have snowball fights.” The first thing Ella looked forward to on her return home – enjoying some quiet time alone and having a good rest. “I was really happy to see my mum,’’ Ella said.
“I’ve expanded my horizons and I’ve been exposed to a lot of things and broken the norm” SCHOLARSHIP
Dux of RGS for 2019
In 2020 James plans to study a Bachelor of Advanced Science at the University of Queensland, majoring in Physics and possibly study areas of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Simply having an interest in school has helped Rockhampton Grammar’s Dux of the School for 2019 James Vandeleur achieve great academic accolades. James has been dux at RGS from Year 8 through to Year 12. So what does it take to win this prized award year-in, year-out? “It takes an interest in school more than anything,’’ James said. “If you enjoy what you’re doing it’s not really work. And then you go sit the exams to tick the boxes. “When I’m studying it’s not about the results. It’s about doing the exams and learning the information. If you have an interest in the subject matter then that makes it easier. “You end up doing your school work as a hobby at home. Then you go to school and you already have a grasp of the work. If you have an interest in the work then you’ll do it anyway and it’s not work.” Although, James admitted he was feeling the pressure to top the cohort after setting the standard throughout his secondary school years. “Each year the tension builds,’’ James said. “I got it (dux) in Year 8, which was a surprise, and then I got it again in Year 9, which was a bigger surprise.
“Then I thought well I’d better get it next year (in Year 10). Every year you get the award there’s more on the line if you don’t.” James started at RGS in Year 1, in 2008. His older twin sisters Elizabeth and Catherine graduated in 2017. “It’s been pretty good (at Grammar). I’ve changed a lot which has been interesting,’’ James said. “I’ve expanded my horizons and I’ve been exposed to a lot of things and broken the norm a lot which is cool. “Secondary school really clicked with me when I came into Year 8 – the freedom to see and experiment.” James has also been an integral part of the School’s music programme during his years at RGS. “You come to RGS and go to the Band Room,’’ James said. “Music is my home away from home and I’ve used the Music Department to dump a lot of stuff over the years.
Always looking ahead, James then hopes to look abroad to complete post graduate work with research groups. “For a long time I was set on following engineering - particularly mechatronics (robotics),’’ James said. “However, after going to the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF), I really fell in love with the idea of pursuing more fundamental research science. I think it seemed to allow me to be closer to the forefront of knowledge.” James said the breadth of opportunities at RGS had been of great assistance in helping him gain experience and interests in many different areas. “In addition to developing my interest and knowledge in the Maths / Science fields I have also been heavily involved in music, another passion area of mine. Every teacher has brought with them their own interests and enthusiasm to encourage me along my journey. “I feel I’ve built good friendships with many people at Grammar and built a really rich network base to go forward with.”
“I will continue to play music for the rest of my life. As for the immediate future, I’ve lined up a Brass Band in Brisbane and hope to find a Big Band to play in at the university.”
THE ROCKHAMPTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL’S PRODUCTION OF
PILBEAM THEATRE
MAY 1ST3RD
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What Walter said in 2014
“When you get homesick, always remember that your friends are there to help you and you are also there for them when they are feeling down.” “Don’t be afraid of coming to boarding because it really is a great time with lots of things to do.” “…if you put it one way, it is just one massive sleep over with all your mates at once.”
What Grace said in 2014
Time flies
“…I had been the only girl in my grade since prep. So needless to say it has been a real eyeopener and a little overwhelming to then be boarding with 50 girls…” … I have many highlights from my first year of boarding at Grammar, but if I had to share one, it is the wonderful new friends I have made along the way, who were strangers to me this time last year.”
COMMUNITY
read their full 2014 letters bit.ly/RGSDEC14
“just enjoy the process”
Graduating Year 12 students Grace Sypher, a boarder from “Karamarra”, Dingo, and Walter Wilson, a boarder from “Banana Station”, Banana, wrote letters for the Capricornus Quarterly in 2014 when they were Year 7 boarders. 2014 was the final year of Year 7 in Primary School in Queensland. In our final Capricornus Quarterly for 2019 we reflect on their thoughts back in 2014 and discover their new insights at the end of their RGS journey. Looking back on each of our journeys through high school it was very similar to a roller-coaster ride. Although we would not change a thing about our boarding experiences, they came with a fair share of highs and lows. So, we have some advice we’d like to share for you, the future boarders of RGS. Make the most of every opportunity given. Just like we did in Year 7, we tried everything, and I mean literally everything. We went to 10
Taekwon-Do but left because we couldn’t break a brick. We went from water polo training to rowing on a Saturday, and every sport in between. You never know what you may like, so give everything a go. Learn from your lows; not everything is going to go to plan but there is always something to learn from every situation, which will help you overcome many more hurdles through boarding. Although it may not seem like it at the time, through facing challenges, we grow as people.
Just enjoy the process. Throughout boarding you are going to make a second family and you will find people that will become lifelong friends and just like a family you will have your ups and downs with each other, but the important thing to remember is to forgive and forget. One of the toughest things about leaving boarding is going to be parting with all the brothers and sisters we have made as well as the staff who have become our second parents. If we were to give our Year 7 selves a piece of advice, it is that it really is true when everyone says that the time flies. It feels like yesterday we were both walking down the hill to Primary towards the Beasley Centre all of those years ago, but here we are now going through all the lasts. The last night in the dorm, the last day at school and the last exams. Even with our last dining hall meal it could be seen as our very own last supper. Make every moment count and just enjoy the ride, don’t wish your time away as we would both have to say that we would gladly relive any day all over again - and that includes some of the harder ones as well. To the future boarders we hope these few little words of wisdom will help create the journey of a lifetime and a high school experience to remember. Grace and Walter (in Year 12)
CHARACTER, SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY
The end of a wonderful journey Retiring Deputy Headmaster Arthur Kelly has been a pillar of the School for the past 36 years. He leaves behind wonderful memories and a strong belief in all that is, The Rockhampton Grammar School. The saying, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life”, is attributed to Mark Twain. I would expand that to, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and a place where you enjoy doing it, and you will never have to work a day in your llife.” You don’t go to a place for three years and stay for thirty-six unless you have found that special place where you can enjoy doing what you love doing! From the moment our family arrived in Rockhampton from South Africa in 1984, teachers at Grammar told us that the students at the school were wonderful to work with. This has certainly been our experience since then and a view still common today among staff members at the School today. I believe there are several factors that contribute to the positive and respectful manner in which students at Grammar engage with their teachers and their learning experiences in general. Firstly, I have learned the vast majority of students really appreciate the sacrifices their families make to send them to the School. During my tutorials with Year 9 classes early in the school year, I ask students to identify someone they admire, and to give a reason why. Invariably they name their parents and express their gratitude for the sacrifices made by their families, to give them the opportunity to attend Grammar. Secondly, almost all students are used to helping with chores at home, often taking on a significant extra workload. Many boarders, for example, return home during holiday periods to work on the property, so it’s no big deal to get stuck in and help here at school when asked. Working with students who have a ‘can do’ attitude when asked to help out with the setting up and restoring of venues for the many academic, cultural and sporting events, among other requests, has been an absolute pleasure. Thirdly, I believe students at Grammar soon become aware that they are surrounded by adults who really like children, and I include all areas of staffing, as all contribute to making this a place where children can learn, live, and grow in a happy, safe and rewarding environment. Over the years, it has been obvious to me that teachers at the School uphold recognised traditional teaching values and practices. That is, believing that teaching involves establishing strong relationships with students, often taking place seven days a week during term time, and sometimes into holiday periods, and providing opportunities for student development and learning both inside and outside the classroom.
Fourthly, an appreciation of the School’s ongoing commitment to providing outstanding physical resources to facilitate learning. There is no doubt the School offers wonderful facilities for staff members and students and, certainly in my time here, has always strived to keep our students ahead of the competition. In 1984, a network of 32 BBC microcomputers was installed at the School. At the time one of the biggest systems in the country, according to the 1984 Capricornus. All teaching staff underwent a six-week introductory course to become familiar with the system and were encouraged to use it in everyday teaching. Motivation to engage this new technology was high especially after the Headmaster’s comment that, in his view, teachers who did not use computers would be unemployable within a few years. Prophetic words from Mr Butler! In the same year, the Space Frame was completed. A much-needed gathering place, perfect in our climate for formal and informal gatherings, social and sporting. Recent projects such as the Dance and Musical Theatre Academy and Rugby Park development, and future ones including the Leadership Institute and The Rockhampton English Language Academy are clear indication that the trend to keep ahead of the competition continues. Finally, I believe the School’s commitment to having an equal and substantial focus on programmes, which facilitate growth in character and scholarship, providing our students with a well-balanced view of what is required for success in the post-secondary years, enhances engagement and fosters strong relationships between teachers and students. I commenced teaching as a secondary school mathematics teacher in South Africa in 1973. However, as the years progressed, and opportunities for career advancement in education came my way, I found myself changing my perspective from being a teacher of mathematics, to a teacher of children. I still really enjoy teaching mathematics on the odd occasion when opportunities arise, however, in more recent years, my pastoral role at Grammar has taken me down another most rewarding pathway; working more closely with students in the middle years (Year 7-9), and focusing on programmes that facilitate character development.
In my view, the middle years, can be some of the most confusing years for teens, caught between childhood and adulthood. A time when teens strive for independence but often without having fully developed the associated and necessary traits of responsibility and maturity. With this in mind, the Middle School Team, Mrs Rundle, Mr Crossland and I, designed a threeyear pastoral programme for students in Years 7, 8 and 9, culminating in the Year 9 What About Me programme based on a rite of passage. Most cultures celebrate several rites of passage, including one that marks the transition from childhood to young adulthood. In many traditional cultures, this is one of the most important rituals. It is symbolic of the death of a child’s dependent stage of life and their rebirth as a strong and capable young adult. At this time, young people are given a new role and greater responsibility. It has given me great satisfaction, witnessing the steady growth in maturity and character in our students as they pass through the middle years and, in my view, becoming well prepared, not only for the senior years of schooling, but hopefully for life in general. As I look back on my years at Grammar, I am overwhelmed by an amazing collection of wonderful memories; of the children I have had the pleasure of teaching, some now in their early 50s, of the colleagues I have worked alongside, and of Headmasters who have given me much guidance, support and encouragement. When I arrived, I did so believing I had much to give, and to teach; little did I realise how much I still had to learn and receive from this nurturing community. As teachers, we get glimpses of the future, of younger generations who will be responsible for the world they inherit from us. A pessimistic view of the future might focus on the challenges associated with changing weather patterns, non-biodegradable products, renewable energy issues and the like, all worthy challenges. However, having had a glimpse of the future in my classroom, I leave Grammar with a very optimistic view, confident that the next generation is in safe hands and that it will be more than up to the challenges future years may bring.
“…I found myself changing my perspective from being a teacher of mathematics, to a teacher of children.”
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SCHOLARSHIP & COMMUNITY
Preparing for 2020 and beyond With the arrival of 2020 The Rockhampton Grammar School is preparing to implement a number of changes and new initiatives. RGS Headmaster Dr Phillip Moulds, provides an insight into some of these changes. Leadership update
Mr Bruce Saxby has been appointed as the Acting Deputy Headmaster. Mr Saxby is a past student of the School, and Vice-Captain, and his brother and father also attended our School. Mr Saxby [pictured right] has most recently been a long serving Principal at Bremer State High School in Ipswich. Earlier in his education career he had postings throughout Central Queensland, including as Principal of Moura State High School, Head of Department Curriculum at Longreach State High School, and has taught Economics, History and English at State High Schools in Rockhampton and Blackwater. The Deputy Headmaster role is an operational role, which has a strong focus on enhancing the School’s culture and plays a critical role in fostering positive student engagement within the School. We welcome Mr Saxby back to The Rockhampton Grammar School, this time as a member of staff.
Secondary school
With the arrival of the new ATAR system the School needs to ensure coherence, alignment and seamless development for students from Year 7 through to Year 12. To support this, the Secondary School will take on a new format in 2020 with the previous Senior and Middle School sections operating as a seamless Secondary School unit.
Your child’s Head of Year will be the first point of contact for a student related matter. If the matter is subject-related, then you can contact either the relevant classroom teacher or the Head of Department. The pastoral needs of students will continue to be catered for through the Heads of Year, where each Head of Year level will focus deliberately and explicitly on the needs of the students in that cohort.
In 2020, The Rockhampton Grammar School will launch the School’s Leadership Institute. The Institute will provide a vehicle for the deliberate development of leadership capability for students, staff and parents. The Institute will commence with a specific renovation and further development of the Personal Development Programme from Prep through to Year 12. This will include a leadership survey conducted in partnership with the Centre for Creative Leadership involving students, staff and parents in Term 1 2020. The Leadership Institute is one of the critical projects identified for RGS in 2020. Other critical projects include: •
ffectively implement processes E associated with the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), and Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance (SATE) system as well as ensuring regular and informative communication is provided to all RGS stakeholders;
•
onducting a review and evolving the C School’s student welfare and wellbeing practices and positive education processes;
•
ompleting the design and funding C applications for upgrading Boarding facilities at RGS;
•
pgrading the School’s ICT U infrastructure to cater for teaching and learning needs now and into the future; and
•
ursuing strategies to enhance the P School’s international engagement.
I am pleased to advise of the following leadership appointments in the Secondary School: Ms Reniece Carter - Head of Secondary School (Academic) Mrs Alison Wright - Head of Secondary School (Students) The Heads of Year for 2020 are: Year 7 Mrs Michelle Rundle Year 8 Mr John Crossland Year 9 Mr Rod Peckett Year 10 Mr Jonathan Burr Year 11 Mrs Persephone Cook Year 12 Mr Nick Blevin
Leadership Institute and strategic projects
Our approach to leadership at RGS is about developing a student’s character throughout their School journey and providing students with the opportunity to display and develop leadership capability through a wide range of means throughout their time at RGS.
As always, I welcome your feedback and thoughts on these initiatives and look forward to providing updates on our progress throughout the year.
Meet the 2020 secondary team Head of Secondary School (Students) Mrs Alison Wright awright@rgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Secondary School (Academics) Ms Reniece Carter rcarter@rgs.qld.edu.au
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Head of Year 7 Mrs Michelle Rundle
Head of Year 10 Mr Jonathan Burr
mrundle@rgs.qld.edu.au
jburr@rgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Year 8 Mr John Crossland
Head of Year 11 Mrs Persephone Cook
jcrossland@rgs.qld.edu.au
pcook@rgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Year 9 Mr Rod Peckett
Head of Year 12 Mr Nick Blevin
rpeckett@rgs.qld.edu.au
nblevin@rgs.qld.edu.au
Head of Vocational Education Mr Stephen Brady stephen.brady@rgs.qld. edu.au
Careers Advisor Mrs Pam Hadwen phadwen@rgs.qld.edu.au
SCHOLARSHIP
Creating global citizens through education
Education is always evolving to keep up with the changing work place. Ms Reniece Carter, Head of Secondary School (Academics) in 2020, provides an update on the new Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance System (SATE). As part of the monumental change which commenced in all Queensland schools at the start of this year, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) identified and defined a set of 21st century skills that all students will need in order to be global citizens. Based on national and international research, these skills aim to ensure students are able to develop the knowledge, abilities and confidence to equip them in a rapidly-changing world (QCAA, 2017). The School’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Reniece Carter, states ‘the inclusion of critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration and teamwork, and personal and social skills highlights the necessity for Grammar students to be active and engaged learners.’
As she explains ‘the necessity for such skill development is supported by the 2018 Gonski Report, Through Growth to Achievement, which declared that education must prepare students for a complex and rapidly-changing world, particularly given routine manual and administrative activities are increasingly being automated. Gonski highlights that jobs will require a higher skill level and in particular “skills that are not easily replicated by machines such as problem solving, interactive and social skills, and critical and creative thinking” (pg. ix). Since the then Queensland Minister of Education, the Honourable Kate Jones MP, announced on 25 August 2015 that a new Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance (SATE) system would be introduced in Queensland, the School has actively sought to keep abreast of changes and ensure all stakeholders are regularly updated on key decisions and developments.
Reniece Carter states ‘there is no denying then that students in the 21st century will need more than content knowledge in order to be able to interact on a social, personal, community and economic level. Thus, the nature and quality of interactions between teachers and students is essential to student engagement and motivation.’ As part of the new system, it is important that teachers understand curriculum and assessment requirements and how to fully develop students’ cognitive skills. Reniece Carter further explains that, ‘in order to successfully answer external examination questions, RGS students must be well versed in the cognitive verbs which underpin the senior syllabuses. As such, all secondary teachers from Years 7 to 11 have been incorporating the verbs in class work as well as on assessment items.’ The current Dean of Studies, Debbie Moulds will be focussing on assessment preparation in 2020 to further ensure RGS students are appropriately prepared for the pending changes.
More than 17,200 assessment instruments were reviewed by approximately 900 QCAAtrained assessors over two days. All RGS instruments were endorsed in early Term 4. These items will be implemented with students in 2020.
Attending professional development is vital in ensuring the School is as well prepared as possible for the system. As such, secondary teachers and members of the School’s Leadership body have actively participated in all available opportunities. The School’s current Director of Teaching and Learning, Reniece Carter and Head of Senior School, Alison Wright continue to regularly update parents as well as the wider school community. It is vital parents are well equipped to not only support their child but understand the new system, given its significant differences to the OP system. To aid this, the School hosted Years 10 and 11 Parent Information nights each term during 2019 and these sessions will be on offer again in 2020.
In order to support schools, two sample external assessments were developed and released by QCAA for General senior syllabuses and the common internal assessments for Essential English and Essential Mathematics. For each subject, there is a public sample on the QCAA website and a ‘mock’ assessment for school use only. Discussions are currently occurring with the Director of Teaching and Learning, Reniece Carter; Dean of Studies, Debbie Moulds; and Head of Senior School, Alison Wright regarding the most effective way to use mock assessment items. Student results on these items will guide the School’s Term 4 revision plans. As previously advised, students will sit mock assessment from 7 September, 2020 to 18 September, 2020.
The Rockhampton Grammar School’s Year 11 students and Year 10 students undertaking variable progression completed Units 1 and 2 for all General and Applied syllabuses at the end of Term 3. Teachers have completed reflective exercises to ensure appropriate and necessary changes are made for 2020. As part of the new system all assessment must be reviewed and approved prior to use as part of process called endorsement. The first endorsement meeting was held in Brisbane by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) in August, 2019. This was a world first, and a significant milestone in the implementation of the new QCE system.
Next year, schools will be required to submit student scripts for review under the new system. This process is known as confirmation and will be an annual quality assurance process for all General and General (Extension) subjects. Its purpose is to examine the accuracy and consistency of teachers’ judgments about students’ responses to ensure the comparability of internal assessment results across Queensland. QCAA assessors will review a selected sample of student responses to quality assure the application of the instrument-specific marking guide (ISMG) by all Queensland schools. At this stage, the Rockhampton Grammar School has approximately twenty staff who have applied for this critical role.
As evidenced by the above update, RGS continues to be well placed in regards to the new QCE/SATE system. Parents are reminded that if they have any questions they can email the 2020, Head of Secondary School (Academics), Ms Reniece Carter on rcarter@rgs.qld.edu.au
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Scott Millar
Scott Millar is a 19-year-old who is the CEO and Founder of his own business BOP Industries.
A self-confessed “total STEAM nerd”, Scott was a key presenter at the RGS Term 4 STEAM Starter Day. His introduction to the business world started as a 14-year-old selling keyrings at a local market as part of his Year 9 Business project. “I wasn’t your typical science and tech student at school. I was into performing arts, I loved drama and music, I loved sport, I swam and I ran. I loved science. Chemistry was where it’s at for me,’’ Scott said. It is these collective interests which have Scott excited about the future of technology and he loves sharing this passion with today’s students, the “Digital Natives”. Here is Scott’s story:
STEA M SCHOLARSHIP
Collaboration uncovers development potential
RGS Year 7 and Year 8 students went outside of their comfort zone to collaboratively work on STEAM projects in Term 4. The tasks opened their eyes to new surroundings and a different perspective on earth science studies, and helped shape creative, innovative problemsolvers.
Year 7 Project
The Year 7 students began their STEAM project with a starter day, which introduced their project challenge. Students started to explore the process through the key speaker Scott Millar, from BOP Industries, and local community presenters. Students were also introduced to specific skills on the day to use throughout the learning journey. The STEAM problem required students to develop a possible solution to improve their break time spaces and include a sustainable environmental element of recycle, reuse or reduce. At the end of the project, each group was given the opportunity to pitch their possible solutions during a Showcase afternoon to parents, staff and fellow students. Among the interested onlookers, and contributors, was RGS Facilities Manager Mr Darrin Spark who explained to students the key constraints to consider before viewing the end concept designs. Potential site redevelopment ideas Mr Spark observed included zip lines, slides, basketball/ netball hopes, grass or fake turf areas, active zones with strength and play-based equipment, more shade and seating areas. Vertical gardens
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and “chill out” areas were also popular options while many groups incorporated art work on the walls and more colour. RGS STEAM Leader Mrs Alana Mikkelsen said it was an excellent experience for the students to have an industry connection within the School and be able to access their wealth of knowledge during the project.
Year 8 Project
In Year 8, the groups generated engaging multimedia presentations using various interactive tools to creatively demonstrate a learning objective of the earth science content.
Each team shared their end product with the entire cohort in the final week of term and students voted for the most engaging and entertaining presentation that demonstrated the desired outcome. Connor Leeson, Max McCartney and Harry Rooks, in Mrs Hunt’s class, creative video about a father and son travelling through the layers of the Earth was among the top votes along with the team of Ben Reid, Oliver Muir and Tom Arber, in Mr HardyJohnson’s class. Ben, Oliver and Tom presented a humorous interpretation of the chemical and physical weathering processes in the Grand Canyon. All participating students were surveyed and key points identified included: students appreciated having choice in their learning; over 70% of students enjoyed learning and using technology in new ways; Year 7 students valued making community connections during the Starter Day; and students saw value in prototyping a product for a purpose.
Our students today are part of a generation unlike any that we have ever seen before. Generation Z, students born after the year 1995, have grown up in a world surrounded by technology and because of this have earnt the nickname the ‘Digital Natives’. With wifi coming out before the majority of this generation had even started primary school, our students today don’t know a world without touch screen devices and social media and it’s because of this that we don’t think twice about being able to contact anyone in the world at any time at the click of a button. Whilst the positives and negatives of this digital world sparks debates in our society from dinner to boardroom tables, we need to ensure that we are all working to prepare our young people for a world that is only going to get more digital, meaning that students need to not just be digitally literate, but digitally confident. As students enter the workforce, this generation are going to be working with advanced technologies regardless of their industry or profession. Whether it is nurses working with advanced patient management software, teachers working with emerging technologies to enhance student learning, or even a real estate agent developing a website and social media presence to promote their business; professions across every industry are now listing technological capability as a must-have for employees. With this increase of technology in our homes, our workplaces and our cities we are entering an exciting time where the attention is back on the human as we look at how we work with technology to make our lives easier, more efficient and more enjoyable. Instead of data entry, or manual labour, mundane tasks, we’re using technology to help us do more of the things that we’re good at and that we enjoy. This is why we’re seeing an increased focus on the importance of soft skills (communication skills, critical/creative thinking, etc.), entrepreneurial skills, and creative skills when it comes to preparing our students for the workforce. One of the best examples of the development of these skills in our schools is happening in the STEAM space. STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) sees students using a diverse range of skills from across subject areas as they work on realworld projects and challenges. Educators and industry leaders around the world are praising STEAM projects in schools and we’re already seeing the increased demand by employers for STEAM skills in the workforce.
McArthur Family 2020: Andrew, Year 12; Lachlan, Year 9; Hamish, Year 7
Lynch Family 2020: Sophie, Year 10; Joelle, Year 11; Jack, Year 8; Ty, Year 5
Daniel Pincombe 2020, Year 2
COMMUNITY
Back to school tips Parents’ heads can be spinning when it’s time to organise all things “Back to School”. Some get in early, at the end of the school year, to stock up on books and new uniforms. For others it can be a lastminute rush in January. For some RGS parents it’s a quick trip to the shop while for others distance can provide different challenges. The Capricornus Quarterly caught up with some RGS parents to find out how they best prepare for a new school year! Cara Pincombe
Cathy Rowland
2020: DANIEL, YEAR 2
2020: TOBY, YEAR 7, RUBY, YEAR 5
“We find dropping our booklist into a supplier prior to Christmas to be prepared is the best option for us. After the festive season settles, collecting our supplies, checking everything off and packing our bag nice and early gets Daniel excited for back to school and highlights any last-minute forgotten items.
“Put your book list in early. It doesn’t matter if you don’t collect it straight away as long as it’s there. Get book covers rather than contact.”
“Being able to drop supplies into school a day or two before the first day is extremely helpful and gives both Daniel and I the chance to become familiar with where his new classroom is and avoids any first day stress. It also provides the opportunity for a quick “hello” with our new teacher.”
Kelly McAlister
2020: ETHAN, YEAR 7, AND BEN, YEAR 5
“Buy school labels on special. Sort through your uniforms at the end of the year and work out what can still be used next year. You’ll know exactly what you need before school goes back. Donate smaller sized older uniforms to prep or grade 1 as they need plenty of spares, or send anything the kids have grown out of and still in good condition back to the Red and Black shop for consignment. See what supplies the kids bought home at the end of the year and reuse what you can, book covers, glue, rulers etc. Wash the backpacks, hats etc at the end of the school year, get them out of the way and ready for next year.”
Kelly McAlister, Cathy Rowland and Deann Muir
Deann Muir
Ainsley McArthur
2020: ANDREW, YEAR 12; LACHLAN, YEAR 9; HAMISH, YEAR 7
Make the most of the school holidays as a family. Reflect, plan, replenish and renew for the school year ahead and don’t leave sewing on name tags until the 11th hour! Experience has taught me that they will indeed successfully manage all the things I worried about, like laundry, packing their own port, organising their books, being in the right place at the right time, signing up for co-curricular, going shopping, catching buses, phone habits and managing money. They really don’t have to do it alone, there’s a whole village of people who will make the transition to boarding quite seamless.
Sue-Ellen Lynch
2020: JOELLE, YEAR 11; SOPHIE, YEAR 10; JACK, YEAR 8; TY, YEAR 5
2020: OLIVER, YEAR 9, AND LOLA, YEAR 7
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“Invest in a good labeller and a rubba-dubdub laundry pen and label everything. Book covers are awesome because you can also recycle them the following year. Colour code an organisational chart. And one more tip for home! Create a functional entry space to store and hide gear using baskets and hooks.”
2 Check if you can sell any of your old text books.
Claire Mactaggart
2020: ANNA, YEAR 11, AND ELIZA, YEAR 10
Go through all the books and stationary that has just come home before doing any shopping.
3 Shop early to beat the rush, avoid traveling to more than one store so I usually put the booklist into one of the resource suppliers for all the text books etc. (put booklist in early).
“We find it useful to keep a google calendar (or similar) to keep track of school and our daughters’ individual events which everyone can add into.”
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For the high school students let them pick what they want as we never get it right!
Mactaggart Family 2020: Anna, Year 11; Eliza, Year 10
6 Go through the wardrobe to check on uniforms, shoes etc. so you can do it all in one shop if you require new ones.
5 Primary students let them pick own pencil case etc. so they feel a part of the process.
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Fill out forms early so it’s not a mad rush just before school starts. Save the generic form filled out on the computer for each student so you don’t have to keep filling it out every time.
8 Get back into a sleep routine about 2 weeks before school starts.
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EQUESTRIAN
SWIMMING
RGS Year 9 student Holly Tomkins won the Children’s Division Australian Showjumping Championship in Victoria during Term 4. Next year Holly steps up to the Junior Division. Holly, riding Princess Annie, finished on top of both rounds before again impressing in the final.
The annual RGS Primary School Swimming Carnival was held in Term 4 in the RGS Pool. Wheatley House won a tight battle in the pool. The carnival win also helped them claim the overall champion sporting house for Primary in 2019.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Primary Swimming Age Champions
Primary Swimming Carnival Age Champions (Girl/Boy) 6 years Aria Caton/ Luke Gibbs
7 years Mackenzie Geddes/ Alexander White 8 years Keely Newell/ Edward Roche 9 years Gabrielle Stewart/ Sid Ward
10 years Evelyn Hallett/ Ty Lynch 11 years Layne Hodgetts/ Peyten Goudie 12 years Marlee Chopping/ Koda Crear Open 100m freestyle Taylor Brock/ Koda Crear Pictured with the winning shield are Wheatley Primary Captains Declan Steinhardt and Charlotte Wright.
SPORT
Around the Grounds CAMPDRAFT
CRICKET
The RGS campdraft team returned home from Pittsworth with the Percentile Interschool Campdraft trophy for the second year running. Competing over three days, all members of the team contributed to the overall points tally. Lucy Prentice, Year 9, scored a 23 in the cut out for round 1 and qualified for the final where she placed second. Ayrton Smith, Jayde Curr, Amelia Baker and Rohan Fenlon also reached finals. Thanks to coach Peter Hill and manager Sammy Cobon along with major sponsors Ariat Australia and Lemontree Feedlot.
RGS won the Peter Bugler Shield Day/ Night Primary School Cricket Grand Final at the Rockhampton Cricket Grounds in Term 4, a trophy the RGS Year 6 cricketers have claimed since 2016. RGS also had success in Friday Sport Cricket winning the 6A and 5A competitions.
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RGS rugby league players had the opportunity to work with North Queensland Cowboys development coaching staff Liam Bartlett and Gavin Lloyd at RGS late in Term 4. Liam and Gavin worked with players from Year 7 to Year 9 working through a series of drills aimed at getting the basics right. It was a great opportunity for the boys to work on some skills during the off-season. The North Queensland Cowboys are a valued Development Partner with RGS. TOUCH FOOTBALL
RGS students Sophie Smith (Year 9) and Cane Comiskey (Year 12) represented respective 15 years and 18 years Queensland schools touch teams at the nationals in Term 4. Also in Term 4, RGS touch teams competed in the Queensland All Schools competition, a touch carnival hosting over 450 teams and more than 6000 students. The Open boys finished in the top eight with the U13 boys, U15 boys and Open girls all making the top 16 teams in their respective divisions.
RUGBY UNION
Qld Reds rugby union players Seru Uru and Ilaisa held skills sessions with Years 7 to 9, and Primary School students at RGS in Term 4. As part of the Reds to Region visit in Central Queensland, the players also conducted a gym session. In Term 4 RGS boys and girls rugby players also travelled to Emerald for the annual Western Sevens. The Under-15 boys won their division while all other RGS teams qualified for finals.
WATER POLO
RGS won the Senior Boys division in the Rockhampton Secondary Schools Water Polo Term 4 competition. Played at the RGS Pool, RGS Rams won their final against St Brendan’s College while in the Senior Girls final RGS finished runners-up to St Ursula’s. In the Junior Mixed division RGS teams placed third and fourth. A new Secondary School water polo competition starts in Term 1 2020.
AWARDS
Sports Awards Senior School Sportsman of the Year
Senior School Sportswoman of the Year
Middle School Sportsman of the Year
Jayden Mills Athletics
Grace Sypher Rowing
Jayden was a silver medallist in the 2000m Steeplechase at the Queensland School Sport Championships. Jayden was also an Australian Regional Representative at the Oceania Track & Field Championships, winning a bronze medal in the 2000m Steeplechase.
Grace was the Queensland Schools Open Schoolgirls Single Sculling Champion and also an Australian Schoolgirls Single Sculling Champion at the National Schools Rowing Championships. Grace was also a Queensland U19 Pathway Eight Representative.
Cooper McInnerney Athletics and Rugby League Cooper won a gold medal with the 12 years boys 4 x 100m relay team and bronze in the 12 years boys 100m final at the National School Sport Australia Athletics Championships. Cooper also represented the 12 years boys Queensland (White) Rugby League team at the National School Sport Australia Rugby League Championships. The team was joint national premiership winners.
The depth of sporting talent among the students at RGS is evident every year. At the 2019 RGS Sports Presentation Dinner, held on 1 November in the RGS Spaceframe, this was again evident with students excelling across a variety of sports.
Middle School Sportswoman of the Year
Middle School Non-Core Sportsperson of the Year
Senior School Non-Core Sportsperson of the Year
Taryn Roberts Swimming
Layney Deguara Rodeo
Grace Humphries Gymnastics
Taryn won three gold medals at the National School Sport Australia Swimming Championships in the 100m and 200m breaststroke and the 400m individual medley. Taryn is ranked 14th in Australia for 800m.
Layney was an Australian High Schools Rodeo Association representative competing in the High Schools Finals in the USA, where she placed 68th in Breakaway Roping and 88th in Barrell Racing.
Grace is an Australian Level 10 Representative in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics winning a bronze medal on Level 10 Beam competing in New Zealand.
AWARDS
Cultural Awards
RGS students continue to produce excellence in Cultural activities. At the School’s annual Cultural Presentation Awards afternoon students were recognised for their achievements across Music, Musical, Public Speaking, Chess, Mooting, Hospitality and Opti-MINDS. Among the 2019 outstanding award winners were: top row James Vandeleur (Music), Ella Plumb and Wesley Muir (Musical), Lachlan Dunn (Chess), bottom row Sithmi Konara (Public Speaking), Lauren Galloway (Mooting), Ben McMurtrie (Hospitality) and Thasuni Puhule Gamayalage (Opti-MINDS). 17
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Top row: Bennett Riley (Year 5) hits the right percussion notes; Year 2’s Annabelle Fink is all smiles after her dash across the pool; Lewis French, Year 11, prepares for his abseil descent down the Birkbeck Building;
2nd row: Year 12’s Harrison Green secures possession of the netball over Lucy Kinsella; Year 2’s Sasha Durga Shaji and Shukita Devaraj soak up the Christmas spirit at Carols in the Frame; Charlotte Hart (Year 11), produces a powerful drama performance in the RGS Theatre; 3rd row: Prep’s Luke Mosby, Harry Francis and Oliver Mullen bake up a treat for their families; Chad Willett (Year 9) looks for the pass in his water polo game against St Brendan’s. 18
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Top row: Year 6 students Kathleen Nguyen and Annie Morrison were among the prize winners at Primary Speech Night; Year 8’s Zavier Wedel makes a break in the rugby game against Marist Emerald; Year 8 Masterchefs Mathew He, Reagan Leighton and Samanta Rimmington created a gingerbread house masterpiece. 2nd row: Lucy Duncan (Year 2) keeps an eye on Christmas decoration sales; Harshitha (Year 10) and Prahas (Year 4) Peddireddy made a great team at the swimming carnival; Lara Roopnarinesingh and Isabella Shute (Year 12) assist with hospitality duties;
3rd row: Year 6’s Toby Rowland and Seth Holgate prepare to bat in Friday afternoon sport; Finn McCosker enjoys the annual Year 6 walkthrough; Year 12’s Abhinav Singh and Caitlin Spence lead the Jardine Dancefest routine. 4th row: Year 9’s Lily Gray, Giselle Mirosch and Ella Milfull delve into the future of business. Departing Year 12 music students with RGS Music teacher Mrs Rhonda Hite: from left Edwin Chang, Josh Kent, Victor Churilov, Isabella Hanson, James Vandeleur, Rhonda Hite, Ned Peters, Jack Moran, Lachlan Moulds, Wesley Muir, Harrison Hooper.
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The Final Word
Samuel Cappellone Prep
SAMUEL HAS FINISHED HIS FIRST YEAR AT THE ROCKHAMPTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND THIS IS WHY HE LOVED PREP: “I loved going to cooking each week and making things; I loved learning nursery rhymes and making bubble blowing sheep and I also liked doing painting. I painted a raindrop. I also liked having the Year 5 buddy class come and help us make things. I also liked play time. I liked playing tiggy with my friends.” SAMUEL ALSO LOVED GOING ON EXCURSIONS. “I liked the crocodile farm. It wasn’t scary. I got to hold a crocodile and it felt squishy.” AND SAMUEL’S TIPS FOR THE 2020 PREPS: “You don’t have to be scared. And you need to learn to dress yourself (in your uniform).”
Aditi Menon Year 5
ADITI MENON ARRIVED AT RGS FOUR YEARS AGO AND HAS HAD A GREAT TIME IN YEAR 5: “I especially enjoyed Super Chef. Me and my friend Sophie made a chocolate milkshake and it was really delicious. I also enjoyed doing Mad Scientist where we got to do different experiments. Mine was called Lemon Fizz which was like a lemon volcano.
Every student at RGS takes away their own unique memories following another year of school. Here’s a snapshot of some students memories across the Primary and Secondary schools in 2019.
Camp was also really fun (at North Keppel Island). I did hurt my finger but it was still fun. We went into the sea and did snorkelling and got to see lots of different coral, and I think I saw a stingray.”
I had to take on more responsibility, be on time to classes and just make sure I was doing everything. I’ve loved meeting new people, I really like boarding and all the new opportunities.
WHAT DOES ADITI LOVE ABOUT RGS:
I’ve also loved playing footy. I think I’m more responsible and trustworthy than I was at the start of the year. I’m looking forward to Year 8. There will be different subjects, like electives, which I’m really looking forward to.”
The teachers make learning really, really fun. “The teachers make learning really, really fun. The teachers here really care about you. If you have trouble with something they take time in helping you learn it. They are really nice and friendly.” LOOKING AHEAD TO YEAR 6 2020: “It’s the last year of Primary which is weird. I’m looking forward to everything next year and I’m especially looking forward to Day of Notables, but I’m not sure what I’m going to be.”
Riley Sullivan
Year 7
RILEY SULLIVAN HAS FINISHED HIS FIRST YEAR OF SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND HIS FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL AT RGS: “It was different coming from a small school (Riley’s family property is 50km out of Springsure).
ANY ADVICE FOR THE 2020 YEAR 7 COHORT? “Be prepared for opportunities, work hard and find a good balance between sport and school work.”
Najwa Adams
Year 11
NAJWA STARTED BOARDING AT RGS IN 2019, ARRIVING FROM MOURA STATE HIGH SCHOOL, AND WAS ELECTED A STUDENT PREFECT FOR 2020 WHILE ALSO CONTINUING HER PASSION FOR DANCE WITH THE RGS DANCE AND MUSICAL THEATRE ACADEMY (DMTA). “One of the things that has made my first year at Grammar so memorable, and just overall great, is the number of opportunities given to the students. These opportunities are so diverse. Academic, extra-curricular and even sporting opportunities help bring each and every individual to reach their potential. Taking these opportunities that are provided is so beneficial to all the students. You get to develop essential team-building skills as well as developing good communication skills between your peers. It is also very helpful to the individuals as it creates a sense of belonging, friendship and passion towards these extracurricular activities. 2019 WAS A GREAT START SO WHAT IS NAJWA LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2020? I am very excited to meet all the new students who will be joining the Grammarian cohort, both new boarders and new day students. I am looking forward to assisting my peers and becoming more involved with the student body. I am very excited to create a lasting legacy and inspire future students to do the same here at the Rockhampton Grammar School. From top left Samuel Cappellone (Prep) Aditi Menon (Year 5), Riley Sullivan (Year 7), bottom left Najwa Adams (Year 11) 21
YEAR 7 Art Maggie Tapp Business Enterprise and Management Martha Dingle Design and Workshop Abenaya Suntharavadivel Digital Technology Quinn Malone Drama Millie O’Brien English Trinity Hutt Geography Martha Dingle Health & Physical Education Martha Dingle History Martha Dingle Japanese Savir Singh Mathematics Isabella Yore Music Arianna Hanson Textile and Food Technology Quinn Malone Science Martha Dingle The Mace Family Shield for Most Improved Year 7 Riley Sullivan Outstanding Boy Boarder in Year 7 Riley Sullivan Outstanding Girl Boarder in Year 7 Brooke Hutson General Proficiency Mohid Khalil Adi Verma Alayna Lekha The Rockhampton Grammar School Habits & Values Award Sophie Ramsay Alice McDonald Adi Verma Hallie Cooper Katelyn Hill Trinity Hutt The Rockhampton Grammar School Past Students’ Association Prize for First in Year 7 Martha Dingle
YEAR 8 Agriculture Gabby Sypher Visual Arts Knox Burnham Business Enterprise and Management Benjamin Woods Food Technology Knox Burnham Design (Eggleshaw Trophy) Keira Lowe Digital Technology Jack Cooper Drama Mikaela Hilber English Mahjuba Kohinoor Geography Ava Tregea Health & Physical Education Gabby Macrae History Kaviya Vignarajah Japanese (Eggleshaw Trophy) Kaviya Vignarajah Mathematics (The Westpac Banking Corporation Award) Mikaela Hilber Music Mikaela Hilber Science (The Westpac Banking Corporation Award) Ava Tregea Health, Sport and Exercise Science Benjamin Woods Workshop Nicholas McMurtrie Outstanding Boy Boarder in Year 8 (The School Prize) Knox Burnham Outstanding Girl Boarder in Year 8 (Colin and Pauline Ash Trophy) Savannah Fletcher General Improvement Cooper Mackenzie General Proficiency Danielle Clark Ella McCauley Brooke Peckett
The Rockhampton Grammar School Habits & Values Award Alice Humphries Gerard Moretti Alice Saunders Samanta Rimmington Amelie Tripet Knox Burnham The Rockhampton Grammar School Past Students’ Association Prize for First in Year 8 Ava Tregea YEAR 9 Agriculture (Wealwandangie Cup) Megan Adamski Visual Arts Kiana Mueller Business Enterprise and Management Lily Roopnarinesingh Food Technology Ella Giles Design Harrison Rogers Digital Technology Alexia Syson Drama (T. W. Conaghan Family Trophy) Shannon Smith English (Peter and Nina Vamvakaris Trophy) Paarbon Siddiqui Geography George Plumb Health and Physical Education Megan Adamski History Ella Milfull Japanese (Eggleshaw Trophy) Vaishnavee Chipiri Marine Operations Mackenzie Winter Advanced Mathematics (David and Trevor Patterson Memorial Trophy) Millicent Rayner Mathematics Chloe Norris Music Millicent Rayner Advanced Science (The South Family Prize) George Plumb Science Justin Besch
SPEECH NIGHT/DAY AWARDS
Health, Sport and Exercise Science Nicola Scarpelli Workshop Mikayla Flannery Outstanding Boy Boarder in Year 9 (The School Prize) Bob Frame Outstanding Girl Boarder in Year 9 (Colin and Pauline Ash Trophy) Lucy Chay The C.C. Boland Prize for General Improvement Jack Weston MacFarlane Prize for Leadership and Service Henry Dingle General Proficiency India Iwers Dominique Sleaford Jacqueline Sleaford The Rockhampton Grammar School Habits & Values Award India Iwers Ella Giles Megan Adamski Bradley Taylor Shannon Smith Jett Grundy The Rockhampton Grammar School Past Students’ Association Prize for First in Year 9 Millicent Rayner YEAR 10 Introduction to Senior Art Siyumi Dissanayake Introduction to Senior Business Arnika Forrest Introduction to Digital Solutions (Advertising Planning & Promotions Award) Lachlan Dunn Introduction to Industry Thomas Matsen English (Mrs J. Wheatcroft Memorial Prize) Harshitha Peddireddy Essential English Cameron Mortimer Global Studies Harshitha Peddireddy The Arthur Butler P&F Geography Prize Sally Adamski
Health and Physical Education Maddison Acton Interest and Aptitude in Computing (Chevron Dry Cleaners Senior Prize) Lachlan Dunn Introduction to Senior Music Lily Morrison The Robert Mackay Brown History Prize Grace Garraway Japanese Harshitha Peddireddy Leadership & Service Harshitha Peddireddy Marine Operations Hannah Johnson Advanced Mathematics (Theodore Kingel Prize) Cathleen Han Essential Mathematics Callan Childs General Mathematics (Annette and Darryl Daley Rockhampton Trophy Centre Award) Casey Hafey Science (The South Family Prize) Harshitha Peddireddy Essential Science Lahra Matukin Introduction to Senior Philosophy, Reasoning and Psychology Harshitha Peddireddy Introduction to Senior Agriculture (Donald Fraser Memorial Prize) Miranda Luck Year 11 Dance Peyton Cordell Introduction to Senior Design Jo-anna Baillie Introduction to Senior Health and Physical Education Breannah Mackenzie The C.C. Boland Prize for General Improvement Breannah Mackenzie The E.W. Luck Cup for Character Development Riley Godwin Gloria and Peter Hansen Memorial Trophy for Character Development Ama Puhule Gamayalage
Australian Defence Force 2019 Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Awards Jeremy Lupton Outstanding Boy Boarder in Year 10 (The School Prize) Riley Godwin Outstanding Girl Boarder in Year 10 (Colin and Pauline Ash Trophy) Arnika Forrest C.A.R. Luck Prize Sumeet Prasad Round Square – King Constantine Medal for Service Claire Moulds Peter and Nina Vamvakaris Trophy for General Proficiency Declan Bird Jane Brighton Ama Puhule Gamayalage Margil Rajaji The Rockhampton Grammar School Past Students’ Association Prize for First in Year 10 Harshitha Peddireddy YEAR 11 Accounting (Birkbeck & Associates Award) Sansuka De Silva Agricultural Science (Jeffrey Reid Memorial Prize: Outstanding Achievement in Agricultural Science) Taylor O’Toole Aquatic Practices Lucas Johnson Biology Lillie Bain Business Aditya Bajaj Business Studies (The John Carkeek Cup) Peter New Chemistry Sansuka De Silva Drama (The A. Palmer Trophy) Olivia Offord English (The Morning Bulletin Prize) Lillie Bain Essential English Benjamin Hinman
Literature Sansuka De Silva English as an Additional Language Chenjun Ma Geography Rowan Nicholls Design Lydia Hayes Health Education Genavieve Cooling Japanese Hasee Weerasinghe Meegahawattage Legal Studies (The South Geldard Lawyers Award) Freya Jemmett Gavel General Mathematics Rohan Mace Mathematical Methods (Annette and Darryl Daley Rockhampton Trophy Centre Award) Sansuka De Silva Specialist Mathematics Sansuka De Silva Essential Mathematics Lara Woodrow Ancient History Benjamin Scott Physical Education Patrick Chay Physics Sansuka De Silva Psychology Charlotte Inglis Industrial Technology Skills Peter Glasson Visual Arts Benjamin Scott Visual Art in Practice Alex Matheson A.T. Clarke Cup for Character Development Andrew McArthur Fitzroy Jardine Memorial Prize Sansuka De Silva Chris and Mitchell Petersen Prize Rory Minty The John and Linda Crossland Prize for the Best Boy Boarder in Year 11 Nicholas Storey
Outstanding Girl Boarder in Year 11 (Colin and Pauline Ash Trophy) Kasey Frame The John and Ruth Bath Prize for General Improvement Nancy Duong Peter and Nina Vamvakaris Trophy for General Proficiency Joel Brighton Hayden Brown Liam Petersen Eliza Cowan Molly McGrail Davis White Mikealy Ryan Best Two Year 10 Passes in 2018 (John and Elizabeth Blair Memorial Prize) Sansuka De Silva Hasee Weerasinghe Meegahawattage The Rockhampton Grammar School Past Students’ Association Prize for First in Year 11 Sansuka De Silva YEAR 12 Accounting (City Printing Works Award) Prue Pidgeon Agricultural Science (Ian R. Millroy Memorial Trophy) Mackenzie Leeson Aquatic Practices Kirrili Schimpf Biology William Etherington Business Management (The CQUniversity Prize and The Paul Palmer Cup) Caitlin Spence Business Studies John Carkeek Cup for Business Studies (Hightest Business student across all Business subjects) Caitlin Spence Chemistry James Vandeleur The Argus Trophy for Greatest Contribution to Drama Wesley Muir English (Kellow Memorial Prize) Paige Baker
English Communication Thomas Sparrow English Extension (Volck Family Prize) Paige Baker Proficiency in English (Florence & William Thomson Memorial Prize) Harrison Hooper Geography (Peter and Nina Vamvakaris Trophy) Isabella Hanson Graphics (The Andrews and Girle Architect Prize) Georgie Keating Health Education Kennedy McDonald Information Processing and Technology (The CQUniversity Prize) James Vandeleur Japanese (The CQUniversity Prize) Antonio Vega-Garcia Legal Studies (The CQUniversity Prize and The South Geldard Lawyers Award) Caitlin Spence The Volck Family Prize for 1st in Mathematics A Grace Weston Mathematics B (C.C. Boland Prize) James Vandeleur Mathematics C (C.C. Boland Prize) James Vandeleur Pre-Vocational Mathematics Jack Harris Modern History Darcy Milfull Music (RGS Music Council Award) Harrison Hooper Music Extension (Performance) (RGS Music Council Award) James Vandeleur Physical Education (The Antill Wills Memorial Trophy) Hayden Richardson Physics James Vandeleur Technology Studies Ned Peters
Visual Arts (Mark Coombe Outback Art Award) Madelyn Sparrow Nicolas K Fitzgerald Yewdale Memorial Prize (Passionate Music Endeavours and Humanitarian Ideals) Lachlan Moulds The C.C. Boland Prize for General Improvement Amy Neaton Gladstone Ports Corporation Student of the Year 2019 Lachlan Moulds Peter and Nina Vamvakaris Trophy for General Proficiency Geneva Cocks Jack Moran Abhinav Singh Mackenzie Wood Renee Sweeney Peter Leslie Foot Quiet Achiever Memorial Trophy Harrison Hooper Coningham Memorial Cup for Character Development in the Senior Form Buhuni Gunasinghe Outstanding Boy Boarder (Coombe Trophy) Edwin Chang Outstanding Girl Boarder (Roxborough Trophy) Toni Lamb Best Two Year 10 Passes in 2017 (John and Elizabeth Blair Memorial Prize) James Vandeleur Abhinav Singh Athletic Prowess (The C.C. Boland Cup) Grace Sypher Interest in Physical Development and Athletic Proficiency (Sylvia Dixon Trophy) Sean McDonald Inter-house MacKenzie Shield Jardine House (Captains -Caitlyn Goudie and Jayden Mills)
Australian Defence Force 2019 Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Awards Paige Baker The Rockhampton Grammar School Community Service Award Olivia Leighton R. H. McKenzie Cup (Interest and Service Out of School) Caitlyn Goudie Ramm Trophy for Outstanding Achievement and School Spirit William Etherington Pierre de Coubertin Award Jayden Mills The Malan Family Trophy and Caltex Best All-Rounder Award William Etherington 2014 Seniors’ Prize for Service and Spirit Toni Lamb Headmaster’s Cup for Leadership and Service Paige Baker Cane Comiskey John Wheatcroft Cup for Best Exemplar of the School Motto Macte Virtute et Litteris Olivia Maynard Sean McDonald The Wilson Family Trophy for Most Outstanding VET Student Anna Eyles CQUniversity Associate Vice Chancellor’s Award for VET Joseph Olive The R. J. Macfarlane Cup (Highest Average in the Secondary School) James Vandeleur Dux of the School (Trustees’ Prize, The Rockhampton Grammar School Past Students’ Association Prize and Deputy Headmaster’s Cup for Best Average in the Senior Form) James Vandeleur
Congratulations students on all of your 2019 Academic and Co-curricular pursuits. You have grown in Character and Scholarship.
A special congratulations to the Dux of the School
James Vandeleur
and all of our prize winners
PRIMARY YEAR 3L English Jordan Hodgetts Mathematics Tosaron Adegbija English Elyse Rea Science Jake Hodgetts Physical Education Max Cottam General Effort Olivia Rundle Humanities & Social Sciences Rasheed Warraich Technology Naija Abbott Art, General Effort Chloe Mullen Mathematics, Music Prahas Peddireddy Mathematics, Cooking Megan Nguyen English, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Edward Roche
YEAR 3T Humanities & Social Sciences Wraith Lawrence Humanities & Social Sciences Lilly Hancock Art Eliana Matson General Effort Sienna Caton General Effort Pramoth Vasudevan English, Music Nathan Treacy English, Mathematics Hatcher Cook Mathematics, Science, Technology Amelia Nicholas English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Cooking, Science Hollie Richmond
YEAR 4G English Ekamjot Singh Mathematics Joshua Walsh Art Harley Aitchison Music Hannah Davis Humanities & Social Sciences Nash Mahon Science Edward Newell Physical Education Sid Ward General Effort Benjamin Bahnisch General Effort Hayley McCamley English, Mathematics, Science Vidath Wedisinghe English, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Technology Peter Vanderheld
YEAR 4S Mathematics Noah Vella Humanities & Social Sciences Lara Ho Music Magnus Connell Physical Education William Goudie General Effort Madeleine Tzioutzias General Effort Felicity Donovan English, Science Riya Chakravarthy English, Mathematics, Art, Technology Jacob Tripet English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities & Social Sciences Emma Hilber
YEAR 4W English Kitty Flenady General Effort Mela Cooper General Effort Archie Clifford Technology Ethan Mikkelsen Art Hayley Olive Music Snigdha Koduri Mathematics, Science Lara Farmer Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences Sanula Mudalige English, Mathematics, Physical Education Ashton Rodgers English, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Sascha Thomas
YEAR 5K English Rini Clayton Humanities & Social Sciences Fiza Kaushal General Effort Tonina Nezic Moon General Effort George Tucker Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Kallan Parker Art, Music Kalani Williams Mathematics, Physical Education Lawson James English, Mathematics, Science Anya Broadbent English, Mathematics, Technology, Japanese Ziran Lekha
YEAR 5M General Effort Abigail Fink Technology Patrick Robertson Science Jason Maveza Art Madeleine Green Mathematics Vikram Chauhan Mathematics Harry Wright Music Cooper Newell Physical Education Kurt Lynch English Layne Hodgetts General Effort, Japanese Electra Cox English, Humanities & Social Sciences George Pentecost English, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Sophie Wright
YEAR 5R English Aditi Menon Mathematics Siyuan Liu Physical Education Peyten Goudie General Effort Darcy Malone Technology Risham Sandha General Effort Sophie Land Music Eric John Dennis Art Sewmini Chandrarathne Science Shyam Ashokumar Mathematics, Science Neal Dhamsania English, Humanities & Social Sciences Bhavik Bhardwaj English, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Japanese Tosibiletu Adegbija
YEAR 6P Physical Edcation Koda Crear Art Chloe McAlister General Effort Anthony Le English Sharvani Ashokumar Mathematics Taylor Brock General Effort, Music Amna Nadeem Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences Toby Rowland Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences Alessandra Williams English, Science, Japanese Sharika Ashokuma English, Science, Technology Deepanshu Bhowmik
YEAR 6R Japanese Emerald Maddy English Ava Roche Art Holly Kitchen Music Eliza Irvine General Effort Lily Cooling Physical Education Riley McDonald General Effort Maddison Anderson English, Technology Alexander Connell Mathematics, Science Patrick Thomas Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Lavin Deveraj English, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences Joshua Peckett
YEAR 6S Mathematics Toby Comollatti Mathematics Senitha Jayasekara General Effort James Rayner Music Lalita Roopnarinsingh General Effort Ella Doyle Physical Education Mitch Carr Art, Japanese Alexis Rogers English, Humanities & Social Sciences, Science Kathleen Nguyen English, Mathematics, Humanities & Social Sciences Anabel Morrison English, Science, Technology Ben Hilber
CO-CURRICULAR PENNANTS Football Lola Muir Football Ben Mosby Rugby League, Cricket, AFL Joshua Peckett Rugby League, Cricket Oscar Donovan Netball Pippa Reoch Netball, Senior Vocal Choir, Signing Choir Taylor Brock
Hockey Jaxon Price Hockey Jack Vanderheld Tennis Neal Dhamsania Tennis Sharvani Ashokumar Softball Alexis Rogers Softball, Signing Choir Lily Cooling Basketball Lawson James
Basketball Hiroto Yokoyama AFL Ryan Skuthorp Oz Tag Hudson Bryant Oz Tag Katie Cooper Golf Daracy Malone Chess Eric John Dennis Senior Vocal Choir Emerald Maddy
Primary Concert Band Caden Mahon Tae Kwon Do Ruby Rowland Primary Jazz Band Alessandra Wiliams Primary Woodwind Ensemble Toby Rowland Primary Beginner Band Layne Hodgetts Primary Strings Senitha Jayasekara Beginner Strings Shyam Ashokumar
Primary Rock Band Lennox MacleanBooysen
Preparatory School Cup (Girls’ Athletics) Sophie Wright Baxter Trophy (Best Cross Country Performance) Sophie Wright T & M Moore Trophy – Softballer of the Year Kellen Crouch Sally Gartside Perpetual Trophy (Netballer of the Year) Katie Cooper F.M. Dowie Cup (Boys’ Athletics) Kurt Lynch
Becker Family Trophy – Rugby League Player of the Year Kurt Lynch The Thompson Family Trophy – Rugby Union Player of the Year Lachlan O’Rourke The Barrett Cup – Cricketer of the Year Riley McDonald Rockhampton & District Primary School Cricket Award (donated by Mr Robert Schwarten) Riley McDonald
Becker Family Trophy – Most Valuable Hockey Player Lawson James Prep Tennis Shield Alexander Connell Peter Moodie Trophy – Touch Football Player of the Year Kalani Williams Richards Family Trophy – Best Overall Basketball Player Pippa Reoch
Philip Bauman Memorial Shield (Primary School Equestrian) Innes Brennan SACANATAB Shield – Overall House Champion Wheatley Honour Colours Athletics & Cross Country Sophie Wright Westpac Shield for Significant Contribution to the Arts Emerald Maddy
Edwards’ Trophy for Learning Acceleration Mya Nolan Shane Priddy Memorial Trophy (Year 5 Citizenship) Layne Hodgetts RGS Red & Black Association (Ladies Auxiliary) Lachlan Kavanagh The Merrick Family Shield (Most Improved Year 6) Chloe McAlister
1990 Seniors Trophy (Citizenship) Toby Rowland 1990 Staff Trophy (Effort & Excellence) Sharika Ashokumar Kate Wilson Cup for Academic Excellence Joshua Peckett Board of Trustees Trophy (DUX OF PRIMARY) R.G.S. Past Students’ Association Prize Ben Hilber
PRIMARY TROPHIES K.W. Green Trophy (Girls’ Swimming) Taylor Brock Jones’ Cup (Boys’ Swimming) Koda Crear Ford Family Trophy – AFL Most Valuable Player Kate Penrose Archer Street Childcare Soccer Trophy Tosibiletu Adegbija
The Rockhampton Grammar School is grateful to everyone who shared with us this year the challenge of preparing students for today’s world by treating each student as a whole person through a balance of academic, sporting, Co-curricular and social activities. We look forward to learning with you in 2020. Macte Virtute et Litteris. Grow in Character and Scholarship.