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Term 1 2023
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Congratulations to our students, staff and families for another great start to the Year. And, for the first time in 3 Years, no threat of COVID closing the school. We are still trying to be safe and take precautions because we have had a small number of cases. Luckily, none of this has stopped us getting on with lots of learning and activities as you will read in the rest of this terms Missing Link. On a very positive note, we had a wonderful Excellence Assembly to celebrate 2022 and we published a special Missing Link to recognise the award winners. I would like to make a special mention about the work done by Ms Melissa Scerri and Mrs Janice Stuart, who won the Community Leadership Award for their coordination of the 60th Anniversary program. I would also like to encourage you to read the speech written by our 2022 School Dux, Andrew Doan, who showed us why he was a member of the NSW Debating Team. Since that assembly we have had some serious work and some serious fun, with the swimming carnival, Year 7 Ambassador training, Year 9 Peer Mentor training, lots of sporting teams competing (and many winning), excursions, interesting work and engaging wellbeing programs. In particular students who are participating in the ‘RIOT’ (Resilience in our Teens) program to help them be more resilient and “willing to have a go” in challenging times. Parents received an email, at Parent/Teacher night, parents also received a full colour brochure explaining how they can help. We have also had some challenging times with a small group of students in some Year groups not “coming back well” from the COVID Years. There are some gaps in learning and there are also gaps in some students understanding that they are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others. As a result, as well as resilience (RIOT) training we are also focused on the 4R’s – we want to be respectful, responsible, restorative and resilient. We are doing lots of programs and working in new ways so our students become the best people they can be, do the best work they can do and achieve the best results they can. Nowhere is this more important than in the senior school, with big increase in schoolbased traineeships and offers for university happening based on Year 10 and 11 RoSA grades. All of these opportunities require students to demonstrate self-regulation and high levels of social competency, and active citizenship. We are continuing our work to ensure “student agency” and, at the same time, asking parents to expect high standards of personal and academic behaviour from our students and themselves. For our ANZAC day commemoration on the last Wednesday of the term, and in the Year when the Aboriginal This school has had a very positive reputation for many Years – our legacy depends Voice to Parliament referendum will be held, we recognised on what our students do and how our families support us. Can I extend some particular the service and sacrifice of the Aboriginal community in thanks to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and community. times of war. To go further, RHHS, like all government schools will spend the School Development 1