Category: Updates from Rose Bay Secondary College

Make Every Day Count is a film competition open to all students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Entries close 28 May, 2021.

Make Every Day Count

The NSW Department of Education is holding a state-wide film competition for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

Schools can participate in the festival as a class entry or submit films created by individual students or groups of students. Schools can submit multiple films.

All films submitted must have the approval of the school principal.

The theme is “make every day count”. Schools and students should explore all the possible reasons why attendance is important and what reasons may cause poor attendance.

Why school attendance?

The overall picture of school attendance in Australia is generally good. Year 1-10 students attend, on average, 92% of ‘available school days’ in Australia.

However, there are areas of concerns, where 25% of Australian school students attend less than 90% of school days. This adds up to 20 or more days absent in a school year.

At this rate, after 13 years of school, it’s equates to more than 260 school days lost or more than 5 terms.

According to the report Attendance matters (PDF), absenteeism can increase social isolation, including alienation and lack of engagement with the school community and peers, leading to emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Schools and students are encouraged to create films that address the issue of attendance in schools and how this can impact the student – socially, academically and personally.

Competition details

Entries close 5pm on 28 May 2021.

All films should be

• 3 minutes or less
• .mp4 format, 1040×1920 screen size and 25fps
• enter through the online submission form.

Budding filmmakers and teachers should read the Information booklet (PDF). Students and their parents and carers will need to sign the consent form enclosed.

The film competition is organised by Film By, established by teachers to recognise and showcase the stories and creativity of students told through digital film media.

Get job-ready this summer with fee-free courses across in-demand industries.

The NSW Government’s Summer Skills program of fee-free short courses is now available to all school leavers aged 16-24.

School leavers can choose from a wide range of vocational courses in booming industries such as hospitality, agriculture, retail, construction, information technology, business and many more.

CTA: Explore courses

Participants can gain training and valuable workplace skills whilst building their CV’s as they explore their interests in growing career sectors.

With courses located across NSW, this summer is an excellent time for NSW school leavers to build their skills and get ahead in 2022.

Registrations for the Summer Skills program with prioviders will close on 28 February 2022.

Explore our course and find out more about the program on our website.

Registrations for the Game Changer Challenge close on Friday, 23 April.

The Game Changer Challenge is back and reinvented for 2021. 

Open to all NSW public schools, the Game Changer Challenge is a student-led, dual-stream design thinking challenge that asks students to tackle real-world problems and explore innovative solutions.

The Game Changer Challenge is a valuable learning opportunity for schools and their students.

This year students will choose to become either a Game Changer or Social Changemaker. They can expect to develop future-focused skills, learn important design thinking processes, engage with their community and have fun with their team along the way. 

Schools can participate by signing up their teams online by Friday 23 April.

Find out more about the challenge, design thinking and how schools can participate on our website.

Earlier this week, the Industrial Relations Commission ordered the NSW Teachers Federation to stop strike action planned for Tuesday, 7 December.

The order extends to any other form of industrial action relating to the Federation’s current wage claims. The Federation has declared it will defy these orders and the strike is likely to go ahead. I want to reassure you that we are doing all we can to ensure teaching and learning continues without disruption – especially given the difficulties and challenges students, parents and families have experienced during the course of this year.

The current Teachers’ Award expires on 31 December 2021 and the department has been negotiating a new Award with the Teachers Federation, with the assistance of the Commission. We have been unable to reach agreement on a final Award and the matter will be arbitrated by a Full Bench of the Commission, scheduled for May 2022.

Rather than wait until the outcome of the arbitration in May, the department has made an application for an interim Award to deliver a 2.5% salary increase for teachers and related employees as soon as the current Award expires. This is the maximum amount allowed per annum under the Industrial Relations Act. It would be effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2022, ensuring our teachers and related employees don’t miss out.

The department is strongly encouraging the Federation and its members to comply with the Commission’s orders. But we are also working to make sure our students and their families are supported should industrial action proceed. We will keep you updated as developments come to hand, both on our website and social channels. Principals will also be in contact about plans for your local school.

Be prepared for the new school year with our back to school tips and tools.  

The start of a new school year can be both an exciting and demanding time for parents and students alike.

Our parents and carers Back to school hub can help you prepare for the year ahead with practical articles, tools, activities, calendars and checklists so you and your child can be ready from day 1, term 1. 

Find out about what your child will learn in high school, how to support their health and wellbeing, and help them make decisions about their future.

There’s also a dedicated section for students starting Year 7 and Year 11 & 12 where you’ll find tips for a smooth transition into high school, and pathways for students after school.

Video – #FirstDay2021

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Have your say. A short survey for parents and carers is now open to help the Department strengthen consent education for students.

Students from across the state, both past and present, have this year called for improved consent education.

This was sparked by a petition by former Sydney student Chanel Contos, which led to thousands of young people sharing their stories of witnessing or experiencing, sexual harassment, abuse and violence amongst young people.

In response to the voices of young people, the heads of the three education sectors signed a Statement of Intent. In this Statement, the NSW Department of Education committed to a number of actions – including partnering with parents and carers to improve consent education.

There is now an opportunity for parents and carers to have their say by completing a short survey.

This anonymous survey is available in 10 languages other than English and will take less than 10 minutes to complete.

It is part of a collaboration between the NSW Department of Education and the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW (P&C) to strengthen students’ understanding of consent and prevent sexual violence among young people.

The results will be shared through NSW Department of Education and P&C websites.

They will help the Department plan how we can better support consent education at school and at home, and understand the kinds of resources parents and carers would find helpful in having important conversations with their children.

Visit the Department’s webpage for frequently asked questions (FAQs) and to find out more about the Statement of Intent or how consent education is taught in NSW Public Schools today.

 

Public school students have again dominated the HSC honours securing 71 of the 126 First in Course awards announced today.

Among the high achievers, Sariena Ye from James Ruse Agricultural High School became only the fourth person since 1991 to secure first place in both Chemistry and Physics – and the first female in 27 years to top both subjects.

NSW Education Secretary Mark Scott congratulated the winners and also paid tribute to every student that had completed their HSC in 2020.

“Those students who received a First in Course – and their families – should be rightly proud of their achievements,” Mr Scott said.

“Considering the particular challenges of 2020, we are extremely proud of every student that has shown the determination and resilience to achieve their best and finish their HSC.

“They now leave school with the skills to embark upon a successful life, no matter what they choose next.”

Public school students secured First in Course across a range of subject areas including, among others, three of the five mathematics and English courses, chemistry and physics, science extension, Aboriginal studies, economics, ancient history, languages and visual arts.

Mr Scott said the diversity of subjects topped by public school students showed NSW Education was committed to quality education across all fields of endeavour.

“Our success in the HSC is also a tribute to the quality of teaching and dedication of staff in supporting our students during their final year of schooling.”

The First in Course winners this year came from a wider selection of schools with James Ruse Agricultural High School the most successful school overall, securing six First in Course positions.

VFest 2021

V-FEST 2021 is premireing on YOUTUBE next Monday 29 November AT 7:00PM.

Here is the link: V-FEST 2021

Relive memorable acts and performances from the past four years in a special televised Schools Spectacular event.

The annual Schools Spectacular, cancelled this year due to the pandemic, will entertain audiences with a special television broadcast next week.

The Schools Spectacular 2020 Remixed will air on Channel 7 on Saturday 5 December at 7pm.

The two-hour broadcast will feature memorable acts and spectacular moments from the past four years.

The show will also feature a surprise digital performance from this year’s graduating Class of 2020 with the Year 12 students sharing their passion and talents while celebrating with NSW Education for one last time.

This technical feat aims to inspire audiences as more than 70 dancers, singers, instrumental musicians and signing performers from across NSW assemble virtually for the performance.

Mark Scott, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, said this event is an opportunity to revisit memories of past performances and celebrate the talents of students in NSW public schools.

“Schools Spectacular 2020 Remixed will be an extraordinary broadcast and a unique opportunity to look back at some of the many achievements of our talented performing arts students and their hard working and committed teachers from the past four years,” he said.

Audiences can also share their own memories and see highlights from past Schools Spectacular performances on the Schools Spectacular Facebook page.

Schools Spectacular Remixed 2020 is produced by the NSW Department of Education and proudly supported by Presenting Partners, Telstra and the NSW Teachers Federation, and Segment Partner, RØDE Microphones.

Celebrate Schools Spectacular 2020 Remixed on Saturday 5 December at 7pm                    on Channel 7.

 

The Hardy Street Harvest garden designed and run by the IEF fell into disrepair during Covid lockdowns and the extreme rain fall.