Category: Updates from Rose Bay Secondary College

A new uniform policy has been introduced for NSW public schools, which for the first time include the option for girls to wear shorts and pants.

The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, and the Minister for Education, Rob Stokes, announced the new “clear and concise” policy today at Condell Park Public School in Sydney.

Ms Berejiklian said the “modern makeover” would ensure that uniforms were practical and comfortable for students and affordable for parents.

The new policy says all students should have the opportunity to access the full range of school activities while wearing a school uniform, including physical activities, and girls must have the option to wear shorts and pants.

For more information, read the media release by the Premier and Minister. The new policy and implementation guidelines (PDF 116.83KB) are available on the department’s website.

The Department of Education supports the wearing of school uniform to promote a sense of belonging for students and create a positive identity for the school community.

Each public school decides on its school uniform in formal consultation with students, school staff, parents and the school community.

The future of education will be showcased in NSW public schools from August 6 – 10 as students, teachers and parents across the state celebrate Education Week 2018.

Education Week kicks off on Monday, August 6, with a simultaneous launch at Parramatta and Kiama public schools livestreamed on YouTube so all government schools and their communities can join in.

This year’s theme, Today’s schools – creating tomorrow’s world, highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

For the first time the Education Week launch will be hosted by primary school students and will feature a dancing robot, student performances and a film highlighting how schools are working with their communities to solve real-world problems.

A highlight of the week is the Game Changer Challenge, in which 16 teams of students from schools across NSW will compete in a three-day design program, working alongside leading industry professionals to create the school of the future.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said today’s students were learning at a time of great change.

“From the far west to our metropolitan hubs and everywhere in between, our state’s schools will celebrate not only what we’ve achieved, but the future we are creating,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We are living in a time when the traditional walls of the classroom are opening up to new worlds of learning, paving the way for students to connect and collaborate with their peers regionally and globally.”

Education Minister Rob Stokes said there had never been a more exciting time to be involved in schools with technology reshaping the way students learn and billions of dollars being invested in new school infrastructure.

“The NSW Department of Education is continually striving for improvement and innovation so that the young people in our care learn in a world-class education system,” Mr Stokes said.

“The NSW Government is supporting that vision through a record $6 billion in funding to build the classrooms and schools of the future.”

The Secretary of the Department of Education Mark Scott said ensuring today’s students had the skills they would need to “not just survive, but thrive” in the future underpinned the department’s evidence-based approach to learning.

“I am incredibly proud of the innovative teaching and learning that is being done across our State’s public schools to ensure that every student can perform to their full potential,” Mr Scott said.

“We don’t know what the future will hold, but we do know that we are focused on equipping today’s students with the skills and knowledge they will need to lead fulfilling lives in the future.”

The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, with (from left): Education Minister Rob Stokes; State Member for Parramatta, Geoff Lee; Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott; student performers and comperes, and the Principal of Parramatta Public School, Gail Charlier (far right).

 

Public education can be the springboard to the top job in New South Wales.

That was the message from the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, as she launched Education Week celebrations today at Parramatta and Kiama public schools.

“I know that all schools across the state today are highlighting and celebrating what we all value in public education – where someone like me who couldn’t speak a word of English when she started school has somehow ended up being the Premier of NSW,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said she had met many possible future leaders during her visit to Parramatta Public School and “couldn’t be prouder, as your Premier, to witness the outstanding achievements of all the students across the state”.

The dual school launch, linked via a live simulcast, focused on the theme of Education Week, Today’s schools – creating tomorrow’s world, which highlights how NSW public schools are equipping young people with the skills and capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

For the first time the launch was hosted entirely by primary school students and featured student performances from Eastwood Public School violinist Justine Zhang, Bossley Park High School soloist Ezra Loau and dancers from Hoxton Park Public School.

Year 8 students from Kiama High School – Alira Morgan, Jannali Morgan and Olivia Talbott – opened the celebration with an Acknowledgement of Country performed in language.

Keynote speeches were delivered from Kiama by Terara Public School Year 6 student Lucy Boundy, Molly Chapman, a Year 8 student at Dapto High School, and Nowra East Public School instructional leader Vishanti Govender.

Lucy told the launch that education was about opportunity: “Opportunity to learn, opportunity to improve and opportunity to make a difference.”

In detailing her early struggles with learning, Molly said a more hands-on approach to study at her high school had a huge impact on her.

“I learn more effectively by seeing and doing things because it gets in my head more easily and pictures are worth a thousand words. Thanks to school, I’m exceeding in almost everything I touch,” she said.

Education Minister Rob Stokes highlighted the “incredible legacy” of public schools on society, a role contemporary education and educators would play in the future.

“We are in a period of vast technological, social and economic change, and with that the role of education becomes more important, even bigger, and the challenge for teachers and students becomes more complex,” he said.

“We need to provide training in those skills that recognise the future is uncertain and to train and encourage young people not just to be ready for the change that is coming but to be excited by it.”

On the back of last weeks news we’re delighted to announce Hugo was also selected for Art Express.  Hugo’s work ‘Omniscience’ will be displayed at The Armory , Sydney Olympic Park and New England Regional Art Museum.

Well done Hugo!

This week 3 of our students attended the UNSW GoIT Challenge Finals. Lili, Lara and Riva were one of five finalists selected out of 80 schools across Australia. They presented their project titled “Rose Bay Routes” on camera to three judges and answered their interview questions clearly and confidently.

On Friday the STEM Girls participated in an Escape Room at school. The mobile version of Dr Disaster by the Enigma Room was set up at school. The girls worked in small groups together and as a whole team to solve puzzles, riddles, codes and follow clues to lead them to cracking a final code collaboratively.  

Comments from Gracie 

“All the girls participated and cooperated really well. We shared knowledge with each other and collaborated ideas and eventually we cracked the code and even beat the record! It was a memorable experience and we all had so much fun.”

Should Randwick Boys High School become co-educational?

The Department of Education is exploring requests to transition Randwick Boys High School into a co-educational high school, and wants to know what you think.

If the decision is made to change Randwick Boys High School into a co-educational comprehensive high school, female students will be enrolled into the school in stages across a number of years.

Find out more and complete the survey at education.nsw.gov.au/randwick-boys-high-school before Friday 15 February 2019. 

You can also send comments to randwick@det.nsw.edu.au or ask specific questions and share your comments at information booths at local shopping centres, and further information will be on display at local libraries during the school holidays.  

The Rose Bay Secondary Collage Visual Arts Faculty are delighted to congratulate both Year 12 2018 students Hugo Odgers and Bryan Lim on their nomination for Art Express. Bryan was also successfully selected to be included in the Art Gallery of New South Wales Art Express exhibition which opens early in February 2019 followed by several New South Wales regional galleries.

Art Express features a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the artmaking component of the HSC examination in Visual Arts.

We have also been notified that Hannah Danon (Year 12 2017) has had her HSC Artwork touring with the Art Express Regional Tour all year. We have just been informed that the CEO of NESA has requested her artwork be displayed on the annual report for NESA and their Christmas cards! 

Recently, nine girls in Yr 10 went to UNSW for the L’Oreal Australia For Girls in Science forum. During the forum we meet four inspiring women with outstanding achievement in their chosen scientific careers.  These included astronomy, engineering and medicine (a skin specialist and a researcher in influenza). During the forum we learnt some fascinating information on each individual scientific field and what those women do in these fields. For example, we learnt that people with diabetes have an increased risk of death from flu. The astronomer was the sole Australian female NASA employee and they just the other day landed InSight on Mars! After the forum we had a small tour around the UNSW campus, guided by current science students and later had lunch.

It was a great day overall, we left feeling very inspired.

We spoke with a group of Kindergarten students to find out what they had to say about going against the herd. They had some wise words for us on how we can care, respect and support each other in our schools.

Let’s start the year off right and prevent student bullying happening in our playgrounds, classrooms and online. If a group of 5-year-olds know the difference between right and wrong, shouldn’t everyone?

Video – Wise at 5

Duration – 1:08