1

River City Christian College Term 02, Week 04

rccc.vic.edu.au Monday, May 4, 2020

In this issue

From Peter Nelson 1

Prayer Points 2

School News 2-4

Calendar of Events 5

Be careful what you say about yourself because you

may become what you say you are!

I’m not sure I totally believe the above statement

but, as a heading on an article, it caught my

attention. The heading of another article stated

“Yes, Language Does Shape Culture!” and went on

to say that “the languages we speak not only reflect

or express our thoughts, but also shape the very

thoughts we wish to express. The structures that

exist in our languages profoundly shape how we

construct reality …”.

I recently commented in a RCCC Newsletter

regarding the language that is developing around

COVID-19 with words like “unprecedented”, which

is quite an overstatement. Since then I have been

struggling with the phrase “social distancing” and

trying to work out if that is an accurate or a helpful

phrase to use. It was my “mate” Macca one Sunday

morning (Ian McNamara, ABC radio - Australia All

Over) who sorted me out on that one when he

stated emphatically that he was “physical

distancing” and not having anything to do with this

“social distancing” thing!

You see, if we say something long enough like “I’m

social distancing”, we can start to believe that’s

what we have to do when in reality the need for

“physical distancing” is, for many people, the

opportunity to find innovative ways to get closer

together socially and I want to really encourage

that.

We need to watch our language and make sure that

we “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of

your mouths, but only what is helpful for building

others up according to their needs, that it may

benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Following that theme, I further recall in Philippians

4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is

pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if

anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about

such things”. And so, it follows in Jesus’ own words

(Luke 6) “For the mouth speaks what the heart is

full of.”

Let’s continually pray along with King David that

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation

of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my

Rock and my Redeemer.” Let us be culture shapers

by our good thoughts, words and deeds.

Peter Nelson

2

Prayer Points

• For the mums in our lives.

• Gratefulness to God for the privilege of living in this land of plenty and generosity to share what

we have.

• God’s daily grace for believers to tangibly demonstrate the love of Christ around them.

• For supernatural wisdom and perseverance for those seeking solution and caring for the sick.

• Just as the RCCC pioneers were moved by God to consider a different way for their children’s

education almost 40 years ago, as we approach and move beyond this significant milestone, please

continue in prayer and listening for what God now wants us to be and to do as a school

community.

Q: There is a head and there is a tail but no body – what is it? …..(Answer on page 5)

RCCC Inc. AGM

River City Christian College Incorporated is the

formal name for the registered Association that

operates the school. The Association is generally

made up of people who have been involved with

the school in the past or present and there is a

simple but formal process for becoming a

member. It’s the Association members who elect

the school Board and Peter Costello is the Board

Chairman who can be contacted where needed

via the school office or myself. The RCCC Inc.

Annual General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm

on Wednesday May 27th this year where reports

will be received from the Chairman, Treasurer

(including audited financials) and the Principal.

Current parents in the school are also welcome to

come to the AGM as non-voting visitors and

applications for membership of RCCC Inc. are

welcome at any time. However, as this year’s

AGM will be held via video conference, if you

would like to attend as a non-voting visitor,

please let me know and I’ll advise you of the

arrangements.

Peter Nelson

Friday Themes

Next Friday, May 8th, we will be having a mask

day in our morning Zoom meetings. Just like last

Friday’s Crazy Hats (thanks for your work with

those), we’re asking students to create a mask

during the coming week and appear with it on

Zoom next Friday morning. In last Friday’s

delivery we have provided a paper plate as a base

for this but the design is up to you! Please ensure

it is respectful and reflects our Christian

community, while also displaying your flair and

passions. You could add rubber bands to hold it

to your face, a paddle pop stick to hold it up or

simply hold onto it. Whatever you create, we

look forward to seeing them on Friday this week!

Open Day

During May each year is Education Week and a

time when many schools have an open day,

welcoming people into their schools and

classrooms to build the existing community and

to encourage enrolments for future years. We are

continuing with the promotion of the school in

the local press during this time but not proceeding

with an Open Day as such. None-the-less, we are

very keen to talk to people about how we at

RCCC can support the education of their child,

providing them with a prospectus and welcoming

them to make a suitable appointment to show

them around the school. If you know of anyone

likely to need to enrol their child in school for

next year or even earlier, please encourage them

to contact us.

3

Remote Learning

In the Swan Class

Back in 1985 when I graduated from university, I would

never have imagined myself teaching students whilst

standing in an empty classroom. But here I am, using

Zoom to reach out to my beautiful students and

packaging lessons and resources to send home. It has

been a challenging time, but seeing the faces of 16

amazing girls and boys each day on my laptop, inspires

me immensely and reminds me of why I love teaching.

Thank you to all parents and carers for the amazing job

you are doing at home. Teachers, parents and students

working together has never been so evident in my

career. Well done everyone! The Swan students would

like to share a few photos and thoughts about their

home schooling. Take care, Helen Coughlin.

Home schooling is fun and

difficult. It’s fun because we

get our work finished early and

then we get to build a wooden

seat. By Charlea Tate.

Home school is bad as

bad as tears.

By Levi Pichler

Oliver Borg, working hard at

his dad’s house. He is

learning about climate zones.

Good job Oliver!

Here is Miley Wiltshire

enjoying fresh air and

sunshine as she works.

4

(Right) Remote

learning at the

Attwell’s farm

looks amazing.

After the school

work is done, it’s

time for looking

after chickens

and playing on

go-karts. Even

Jeremiah is keen

to try out school

at home. Well

done!

(Above) I like doing

school at home,

because I get to milk

with Pa in the

afternoon.

By Jack Johnstone.

Millie and Abigail Tucker enjoy art

and working on Zoom during their

home schooling. Abigail proudly

wears her decorated headband at

last Friday’s crazy hat day. It is

great to see such effort being

placed into home schooling (right).

Georgia Wiltshire (above) is Swan’s

budding ukulele player and she

also enjoys working in the

sunshine.

5

Contact Us: Phone: 03 5482 4594

Website: www.rccc.vic.edu.au

Email: reception@rccc.vic.edu.au

BSB: 063 511 Account: 1005 5226

River City

Christian College

School Calendar of Events

A: A coin

(Unless we hear

otherwise, this is the last

Newsletter “joke” for a

while)

May

2020

4 Staff

Development Day.

Chapel only for

students. Week 4

5

6 7

8

9

10 Mother’s Day

11 Beacon

Interview

Technique

session?

12 13

14 15

16

17

18 Week 6 19

20 21

22

23

24

25 Beacon Mock

Interviews? Week 7

26

27

RCCC Inc AGM

28

29

30

31

Jun

2020

1 Week 8

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 Queen’s Birthday

Public Holiday Week 9

9

10

11

12

13

14

15 Week 10

16

17

18 ?WCC arrive

19 ?WCC @

RCCC

20 ?WCC depart

21

22 ?Yr 10 work

experience Week 11

23 ?Yr 10 work

experience

24 ?Yr 10 work

experience

25 ?Yr 10 work

experience

26 ?Yr 10 work

experience. BUPA - Last day Term 2

2.15pm dismissal

27 Holidays

28 Holidays

29 Holidays

30 Holidays

1 Holidays

2 Holidays

3 Holidays

4 Holidays

5 Holidays