From the Principal
Dear Parents/Caregivers, I hope you have had a wonderful week. This newsletter is a Year 10 special. Transition for Success – Year 10 into 11 It was my absolute pleasure to address a gathering of our Year 10 students and parents this week for our annual Subject Selection Information evening. It was an opportunity for Year 10 and their families to be introduced to the rules of the HSC as well as the transition program that Riverside puts together to prepare our students for the rigour and structure of Stage 6 (Year 11 and 12). Our Transition for Success Program takes place during Term 4 Weeks 8 and 9 and includes: Elevate Study Skills session (including parent information session) Writing for Success in the HSC – writing strategies, developing complex sentences, writing a Band 6 response. Subject tasters – students follow a mock Year 11 timetable based on their subject selections The importance of learning collaboratively – boosting group success
Completion of Minimum Standard tests Guest speakers – university early entry, adjustment factors, EAS, scaling, post school options, harnessing leadership potential, microcredentials • Alumnus talks • All My Own Work • Minimum Standard tests The purpose of this program is to consolidate the learning, study, literacy and note taking skills that we have sought to develop and embed in our students since Year 7; however, with increased relevance and focus. Our expectation is that all Year 10 students participate actively to ensure they get the most out of these sessions. It is a wonderful opportunity for Year 10 to walk in the shoes of a senior student and begin to adjust their mindset so that they may spend the Christmas holidays setting their goals and reflecting on areas for growth and improvement in preparation for Year 11. We generally find that students come to school on Day 1 in Year 11 with a new uniform and a new senior attitude, ready to engage and learn. To all parents of Year 10 students, I would encourage that you begin to speak with your daughter about the importance of Year 10 in setting the tone and direction for success in the HSC. It is never too early, or too late, to establish good habits. In addition to Transition for Success, some examples of opportunities that are offered to Year 10 students at Riverside:
- YES Program - Each term; 6-week duration for a day per week including Early Education, Health Services, Fashion Upcycling, Photography, Film Making, Cafe Skills
- Meadowbank TAFE Early Education Taster Days
- Work Experience - some highlights include Pathology, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Physiotherapists, Primary Schools, UTS Medical Science Faculty, Plumbing, Engineering and Real Estate Agencies
- The UTS Start Up Summit - for those budding entrepreneurs
- UTS Dare to Dream STEM Careers Day
- The Style Circle - Sustainable Fashion led by Boomerang Labs Facilitators in Textiles Classes
- Girls In Property (upcoming)
- Girls Can Too! Experience Construction Week (upcoming)
- Western Sydney Careers Expo (upcoming)
- Macquarie University School of International Studies Experience Day (upcoming)
- Macquarie University Experience Engineering Day (upcoming)
- Rural Health Pathways Showcase - Thursday 3 September from 4:00-7:30pm (students encouraged to attend with families)
- University visits (upcoming)
Careers Education at Riverside As Year 10 embark on their very exciting and slightly daunting journey of subject selections for their Preliminary and HSC (Year 11 and 12) courses, I have been reminded of the potentially overwhelming nature of this process; reminded mostly by the students themselves. And, despite our best efforts to prepare students and parents with all of the information and resources that we believe are essential to supporting them through this journey, I have also been reminded that sometimes the message is either not received, not understood or completely missed. We also know that despite our best efforts as a school, with the assortment of communication channels that we exploit, there are some families who, for whatever reason, be it intentional or unintentional, do not take up the opportunity to engage with the information disseminated by our school. Our Careers Advisers, Ms Soares and Ms Lemon, have provided Year 10 with the details of the Careers website and Google Classroom, as well as reinforcing the importance of remaining engaged with their @education emails so that they are sure to receive important, up-to-date careers information; some students are still experiencing confusion and gaps in their knowledge and understanding of UAC processes, university course language and making decisions about post-school pathways, in general; as well as feel underprepared to negotiate the mirky waters of university entry schemes (early entry, adjustment factors and faculty-specific schemes), as well as university or course-specific requirements. The Riverside Careers website (see the link below) includes a regularly updated collection of resources, including dates for University Open Days, opportunities to dial in to university and career webinars, useful links, including to the jobjump website to research future jobs and traineeships, and many other relevant features. Ms Soares and Ms Lemon maintain the Careers webpages, accessible via the homepage of the Riverside website: https://riversideghscareers.com/ I urge that all parents begin, or continue, to have discussions with their daughters about post-school pathways and goals to start to build student confidence and aspiration towards post-school destinations – be they tertiary or vocational. Every goal needs a plan and the sooner the plan is conceived, the longer it has to percolate and the deeper the desire to succeed becomes. All students have the opportunity to connect with our Careers Advisers at any time, in person, via email or via the Careers Classroom. Ignite test Tomorrow is our Ignite test for students who have applied to enter Riverside via the HPGE pathway. I look forward to meeting all of our bright Year 6 buttons in the hall first thing tomorrow morning. The successful candidates will then be invited to interview with a panel to present their skills and achievements and have the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership and critical thinking skills. NSEC I had a very inspiring meeting at Ryde Secondary this morning as part of the Northern Suburbs Entente Cordiale (NSEC) group of schools. Together we plan enriching activities to bump up the opportunities for or students across our schools, including The Forest, Chatswood, Marsden, Hunters Hill, Epping Boys and Ryde Secondary. It is always valuable to spend time with colleagues from a range of school settings to share ideas and initiatives, problem solve and inspire each other to work collaboratively to enhance the opportunities across all of our schools. Initiatives include HSC masterclasses for students, Early Career Teacher conferences, aspiring leader courses, Bangalay Literature Festival and other programs as they emerge. In public education we are always stronger when we work together. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Louise McNeil Principal
Peter Pan Tickets On Sale Now
Tickets are on sale now for Peter Pan - Performances will take place in the Hall at 6:30pm on Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 June. Tickets are $15 (plus booking fee) and available through Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/DLZCT
Second Star to the Right & Straight to Opening Night
Excitement is building as our school production of Peter Pan is preparing to take to the stage next week! After weeks of hard work, rehearsals, singing, prop making and costume preparation, the cast and crew have just completed their final rehearsal and are ready to bring the magic of Neverland to life. This week’s final rehearsal was a dress rehearsal which gave everyone in the cast and crew a chance to experience the production coming together with costumes, transitions, backdrops, sound and lighting. Our talented students have shown incredible dedication and enthusiasm throughout the rehearsal process, and we are so proud of everything they have achieved. The performances will take place next Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 June at 6:30pm in the school hall. We encourage all families and community members to come along and support our students. Tickets are selling quickly. No tickets will be able to be purchased at the door, so be sure to purchase your tickets now. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased through Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1581235?date=2026-06-05 We look forward to seeing you in Neverland!
Ripple Study Mentor Program
We're launching something new for our Year 7 and 8 students: the Ripple Study Mentor Program. This isn't about catching up. It's for students who want to become stronger, more independent learners. It's for students who are willing to sit with hard work, ask better questions, and grow. Sessions run every Tuesday after school from 3:10–4:00 PM, starting Week 6. Places are limited, so please complete the Google Form on Sentral and register your interest. 📚 Become a Better Learner.
Mindfulness Mondays
Faculty News
Science
Year 8 Science: Designing a Colony on Another Planet
This term, Year 8 students took on one of Science’s biggest challenges: imagining and designing a fully functioning human colony on another planet. The results were outstanding, and it was wonderful to see just how much fun students had along the way.
Students were asked to think like real scientists and engineers. How would colonists breathe? Where would their food come from? What materials could survive extreme temperatures? These are the exact questions that space agencies around the world are working on right now, and our Year 8 students threw themselves into finding answers with enthusiasm and creativity.
The variety of approaches on display was impressive. Some students built detailed physical models by hand, crafting domes, tunnels, and habitat structures. Other groups used digital 3D design tools to map out their colonies with precision. A number of groups even designed and built their colonies inside Minecraft, using the game as a serious tool for spatial planning and systems thinking. What stood out most was not just the creativity, but the scientific reasoning behind every decision. Students debated energy sources, considered how plants might grow in lower gravity, and argued over the best way to protect a community from radiation. Science was not just a subject this term; it was a problem to get excited about. We are proud of every Year 8 student for the effort, curiosity, and imagination they brought to this project. Keep asking big questions. Ms J Wang
Co-curricula Activities
Beach Volleyball Schools Cup Tournament (Seniors)
Riverside’s Beach Volleyball Senior teams (Years 10-12) competed last Wednesday at the Schools Cup Tournament at Blacktown Beach City Courts, showcasing outstanding teamwork, determination and sportsmanship throughout the day. All teams played fantastically, with every match demonstrating resilience, skill and encouragement towards one another.
One of the highlights of the day was an excruciatingly close gold medal match, with the lead constantly swinging back and forth right until the final points.
Another memorable moment came during the semi-finals, where Riverside faced Riverside in a competitive match, while another Riverside team had to referee the game - a true display of the positive culture and camaraderie within our teams.
Congratulations to Leanne C & Jasmine L, Nina T & Grace L (Bronze), April S & Marissa M, Skyler S and Hana L (Silver) for their excellent efforts and representation of Riverside. As always, the girls were supported by their wonderful coach Jeremy - a huge thank you to him for his constant support, encouragement and guidance throughout the competition.
We look forward to our upcoming Indoor Volleyball tournaments for all years in a few weeks!
Plain English Speaking Award
I had the opportunity to represent Riverside Girls High School in the Plain English Speaking Award competition alongside 12 other competitors from a variety of schools. It was no easy feat, requiring extensive prior preparation with Ms Purisima. I delivered an 8 minute prepared speech entitled ‘A Lesson in Inequality’ and discussed how gender inequality is so entrenched in the systems of today’s society and that stronger edification is required to teach young women how to overcome it. Other competitors spoke on similar themes, overall presenting a variety of engaging and thought provoking speeches.
Following a brief lunchbreak - which created a great opportunity for me to extend my friendships with fellow competitors - we progressed onto the impromptu section of the competition. We had three minutes to prepare a three minute speech on the unseen topic of “Full circle moment”. There was a diverse range of responses from discussions on bravery to life and death, all of which engaged our wonderful audience of various English classes from across grades in the school. Overall it was an incredible experience which I am grateful to have had the opportunity to partake in, thank you to everyone who came to support me including family and teachers. A special thanks to the year 10 debating team who helped facilitate the hosting of the event.
Written by public speaking competitor Arianna S. (Year 11)
Careers
Please visit https://riversideghscareers.com/ for the latest information on careers and life beyond school. You can use this site to locate universities, TAFE and any other type of course across Australia, information about the HSC and job vacancies. Feel free to drop into the Careers office if you have any questions.
Ms J Lemon and Ms T Soares
Dates for the diary
P&C
Parent Volunteers Needed for Peter Pan The P & C will be selling refreshments over the three evenings of the school production of Peter Pan, Wednesday 3rd June, Thursday 4th June and Friday 5th June. We are looking for 8 to 10 parents to help each night from 5pm to 9pm. For more information and to let us know your availability please complete this google form and we be in contact with more details. https://forms.gle/PEmcr9w9RR33vrj5A
If you would like to volunteer for various P&C activities, please sign up via the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHE1OojbX6yWoo85D7kbRofz_1TmQOixDenmj-b-AkkxoJ4Q/viewform