1

River City Christian College Term 02, Week 11

rccc.vic.edu.au Monday, June 22, 2020

In this issue

From Peter Nelson 1

Prayer Points 2

School News 2-6

Calendar of Events 7

Seasons

There was a conversation in the staff room last week about us

fast approaching the shortest day of the year. In fact, I sensed

a degree of excitement about the fact as people seemingly

longed for the warmer, extended days to come. Standing

outside for our Assembly on Friday morning a week ago, on

what was a rather frosty start to the day, certainly prompted

many of us to long for something a little warmer! However,

the seasons of the year are a wonderful thing and I certainly

find something in each one of them to enjoy, in fact revel in.

What’s it like for you?

The time we’re in at this moment is what’s called the winter

solstice for us who are in the southern hemisphere. It’s like a

reference point for the seasons of the year, a time when the

Sun is at its lowest angle compared to the equator; if I

understand that correctly. The sun appears to stand still for a

moment before it rises again toward the summer solstice,

which for us is in December when we have our longest day.

With all that’s happening in the world, God’s design for the

universe silently goes on; season following season, day

following night.

Most people would consider that there’s been a lot

happening in our “worlds” over this last term; at home, at

school, in the local community and beyond. In such an

environment, and in fact at all times and seasons, it would be

wise for us to get things in perspective with God’s bigger

story. “We are the people of his pasture, the flock under his

care” as Psalm 95 reminds us. “Let us kneel before the Lord

our Maker; Come, let us bow down in worship, for he is our

God”.

As we come to the end of this Term, as the winter solstice is

upon us, the challenge is for us to take some time aside, to

almost “stand still” for a while to consider all we have come

through together since the end of last term and:

Thank God for His faithfulness and His provision

Consider what God may be calling us to be and do

differently

Seek His strength to move forward, increasingly being

conformed to His image.

I pray that you may know God’s increasing presence, grace,

peace and refreshment as we take this Term break and make

ready for how God will lead us together in Term 3 and

beyond.

Yours faithfully, Peter Nelson

The Coming Term Break and the Commencement of Term 3

With the Term Break commencing at the end of this week, the School Office will be closed from Monday June 29th to Friday July 3rd

inclusive. It will then be open the week commencing Monday July 6th from 9am to 4pm until students return on Wednesday July 15th

at 8.55am when office hour will revert to 8am to 4.30pm.

All staff will be back at school on Monday & Tuesday July 13th & 14th for planning and staff development, including the updating of our

First Aid training.

2

Prayer Points

As Peter Nelson encourages through his article on

the front page of this Newsletter:

• Thanks to God for His faithfulness and His

provision over this term

• Welcoming what God may be calling us to

do differently as we ponder the events of

this term

• Seeking His strength to move forward,

increasingly being conformed to His image.

• Gratefulness for the coming term break and

opportunity for a little rest and refreshment

in various ways.

While prayer can be at anytime and anywhere,

parents and friends are also welcome to unite in

prayer at home or at school each Monday during the

school term, 8.50am to 9.10am. If at school, this will

be in the Library for now.

Class of the week is Ovens

Well done to the amazing students in Years 9-10

End of Term Accounts Finalisation

A reminder that we would like all term fees finalised by

the end of term unless other arrangements have been

made.

Merit Award Winners for Term 2 week 10

Billye Sinapius - for her great listening skills

and for 50 nights reading award

Jaidah Spiteri for settling back into school

well after a long time away

Charlotte Attwell for her enthusiasm

towards learning and always aiming to do

her best

Millie Tucker for her confidence and

maturity in her return to school

Harmony Rose for her great effort in

Maths, Science and cooking classes

Congratulations everyone!

Mid Year Reports

Our plan is to have these reports in a sealed envelope

addressed to parents and ready to be brought home on

Friday June 26th by the eldest child at RCCC from each

family. Your questions and comments are welcome at

any time but Parent Teacher meetings are scheduled

for after school on Wednesday July 29th and

information about those meetings will be provided

early next term.

School Photo Day—July 21

Envelopes for each child have gone home today. If

there are two or more children in your family there is a

family envelope to have your children photographed

together if you would like this.

If your child is in SRC an extra envelope is enclosed if

you would like to have a special group photo.

We are sending these home earlier than usual to allow

for budgeting and an offer from the photographers to

give them a call to make any arrangements for

payment. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call if we

can help in any way.

The last day of this term is Friday June 26th

This will be a casual clothes day and as usual,

please ensure clothing is modest, practical, safe,

and solid closed in shoes are worn. The school day

concludes at 2.15pm on this occasion so please

ensure your pick-up arrangements match in with

this.

Also, on this day of this term we will continue our

tradition of bringing along donations of non-

perishable food to assist those families in our wider

community who are struggling in one way or

another. Please send along what you are able and

we will now be delivering these gifts to the local

Salvation Army for the relief service they offer to

locals.

Water bottles

As previously advised, it’s important that each

student has a solid water bottle with them at

school each day to enable them to remain suitably

hydrated, especially during this time when our

bubble taps are turned off for hygiene reasons.

It seems a number of students leave their drink

bottles at home too frequently so please assist in

making this an every day thing. One way to do

this could be to have a suitable water bottle, with

your child’s name on it, remaining at school.

3

You Can Now Browse the RCCC Library

Catalogue Via Our Website!

Please follow the link on the RCCC website

contact page to explore our school library

catalogue and even send a request if you find

something you would like to have set aside for

you. We hope you will find this of use but if you

would like to chat about a broader Library

resource matter, please contact the school and

leave a message for Mrs. Karen Mills or Mrs.

Lyndell Nelson.

Camps, Sports, Excursion Fund

We have been made aware of the extended date

to make a claim for the CSEF. Please let us know

by the end of the first week of term 3 (17th July) if

you need a claim form.

To be eligible you must be an eligible beneficiary

of a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession

Card and be a parent or legal guardian of a

primary or secondary school student at the start

of Term 1 or Term 2.

If you believe this applies to you please let us

know and we can give you a claim form. If your

circumstances have changed it may be worthwhile

trying again.

Wearing Jackets at School

These recent cold mornings have certainly caused

some of us to wear an extra layer or two and if

you decide that a jacket is going to be one of

those, the uniform code you need to follow at

school is this:

• A navy blue jacket over the top of your full

uniform is fine but it needs to be either one

of our current RCCC sports jackets or a plain

navy blue jacket.

• Except for the day of the week when you’re

timetabled to wear your sports uniform, the

jackets are not to be worn inside classrooms.

If you need extra warmth while you’re

inside, your standard blue vee neck school

jumper needs to be worn.

• Other types of hoodies, windcheaters and the

like are not to be worn at school.

Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

Please consider supporting the upcoming Red Shield

Appeal. There are a number of ways you could do this

but one would be to donate online to https://

digitaldoorknock.salvationarmy.org.au/t/echuca-

moama-salvos

Money given in this way goes to welfare needs in the

Echuca Moama region and while the

annual appeal was last weekend,

donations can be made anytime.

Their mission is to live, love and

fight for everyone in need and they

are experiencing that need to be

greater now than ever.

Playground Roster

Since returning to classroom learning, we have

been supporting students’ use of the grounds at

recess and lunchtime. Part of this was to initially

have the playground equipment unavailable and

then rostering the Mitchell and Swan classes, with

one class using it at recess and the other at

lunchtime.

We have been monitoring this and the Primary

students will now be able to use the equipment

when they choose but cleaning of the equipment

twice a day will continue for now.

The School Board

The school Board met last week for its scheduled

June meeting. Amongst other things, and following

our recent AGM, it was agreed that all Office

Bearers for the Board would continue in the same

roles. That is, Peter Costello as Chairperson, Ruth

Broad as Vice-Chairperson, Glenn Mackenzie as

Treasurer (also Public Officer for our incorporated

association), and Christine Smith as Board Meeting

Secretary. In addition to routine reviews of various

school operational matters at last week’s meeting,

further consideration was given to recognising the

school’s upcoming 40th anniversary. The next

meeting of the Board is scheduled for Wednesday

evening July 15th.

4

Psalm 95:1 “Come let us sing for Joy

to the LORD”

The Mitchell class have been learning about different types

of texts in the Bible. The Psalms are a collection of

Poems and are often associated with Music. Corbz found a song for us to sing in Chapel to help us remember this particular Psalm, and we have begun illustrating the verses. Check out what we

have been doing!

5

Ovens Class Mock Interviews

This year, despite the COVID-19 situation, the dedicated Beacon Foundation team

continued to provide a highly valuable Interview Technique Session via Zoom on

Mon, 25th May. All our Year 9 and 10 students received an Employability Skills and

Interview Technique Workbook to work on.

In English class, Mrs. Wells taught the Year 9 and 10 students to write both their

cover letters and resumes for a job advertisement according to their unique interests.

Following that, all the Year 9 and 10 students worked very hard to prepare for the

online Mock Interview organised by the Beacon Foundation team on Wed, 17 June

via Zoom.

We are very privileged to have Cameron Moss from

Community Living and Respite Services and Lynda

Magill from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships as our

Interviewers.

Finally, all students received lots of constructive

comments and positive individual feedback regarding

their future career paths from their interviewers.

Sincere gratitude for everyone who facilitated this

career building opportunity for our students.

Mrs. Schuller

6

Ovens Small Business Project Update #3

Last Friday was the big demo day for our Ovens Class two car washing businesses, Keep it Clean

& Wishy Washy Charity Car Wash. Both teams did a great job on Mr. Schuller’s and Mr. Nelson’s

cars, with some students even benefiting from the hot drink service offered by one of the

businesses. Well done to all the students involved and to Mrs. Wells who led the class for this

activity – we may even have a further update on the project in the Newsletter when we come

back in Term 3.

7

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

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 Beacon Mock

Interviews

18 Yr 10

Immunisations

19

20

21

22 Week 11

23

24

25

26 BUPA - Ovens 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

Jul 2020

6 Holidays

7 Holidays

8 Holidays

9 Holidays

10 Holidays

11 Holidays

12 Holidays

13 Staff Planning. No students Week 1

14 Staff Planning. No students

15 1st day for

students Term 3

16

17

18

19

20 Week 2

21 School Photos

22

23

24 BUPA

25

26

27 Week 3

28

29 Parent-Teacher

Meetings

30

31 School tree day

1

2

The next issue of this school Newsletter will be published on Wednesday July 15th