Riverside Currents Week 7 Term 2 2025

From the Deputy Principal Ms Mel Gleeson

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Last week, our school community came together to witness an incredible production of The Little Mermaid. It was a truly magical experience that showcased the talent, dedication, and hard work of our students and staff. This year’s production involved 188 students, 1054 tickets sold, 1 camp and 8 performances. I want to take a moment to reflect on the enormous benefits this production provided to our students and our community.

Participating in the school musical has proven to be more than just a performance; it has been an opportunity for our students to forge new friendships and strengthen existing ones. Collaborating with peers in rehearsals and performances has fostered a sense of belonging and camaraderie among our school community. It was heartwarming to see their confidence on and off stage as they embraced their roles, showcasing not only their talents but also their growth as individuals.

The production also offered valuable lessons in problem-solving and responsibility. From managing stage props to navigating the complexities of large group performances, our students learned to think on their feet and work together towards a common goal. These experiences are essential life skills that will serve them well beyond the stage.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our coordinating teachers for their tireless efforts in bringing this production to life. Mrs Young, Mr Young and Ms Wang. Your commitment and enthusiasm have been instrumental in guiding our students through this creative journey. I also want to acknowledge the additional support from teachers who volunteered their time to supervise throughout the performances and our incredible school administration staff who supported the production in many ways.

To our talented students (all 188 of you!), congratulations on your hard work and outstanding performances. You have truly shone bright, and your passion and enthusiasm have left a lasting impression on our community.

I would also like to express our appreciation to the Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association for their support of the event. Your efforts in providing delicious hot chocolate and scrumptious snacks kept everyone warm and energised, creating a welcoming atmosphere for our audience. The P & C also generously contributed funds towards the costumes for the show, which is greatly appreciated.

As we reflect on the success of The Little Mermaid, it is clear that this production has not only enriched our students' confidence and skills but has also boosted our amazing school community. It Is a great privilege to work with staff and students who build such an inclusive environment where everyone works together to achieve something truly special.

Have a fantastic weekend.

Melissa Glesson

Deputy Principal

Parent Teacher Interviews - information update

We are excited to see you all at our upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews. We understand that sometimes things happen and you are unavailable to attend this important event. We also know that you understand that there are certain circumstances that prevent staff attending the evenings - usually, that they don't work on Thursdays or they are unwell. I would like to make clear that it is an expectation that all staff attend if they do not fit into either of these categories. That said, we are also aware that 3.5 hours is not enough to necessarily schedule every parent who would like an interview. This is unfortunate and unavoidable, despite our best efforts to do so.

Please be aware that no teacher will be requested to make phone interviews. If you are unable to attend or schedule an interview with a teacher, we request that you substitute the face-to-face experience with reading your daughter's report. If we have any concerns with your daughter's performance or progress or if your daughter works consistently and contributes positively in lessons, you will hear from us.

Thankyou for understanding that teachers are available to see as many parents as they can over these two very important evenings. And my advice to you, get in early to book your interviews.

Louise McNeil

Principal

Faculty News

PDHPE

Health and Movement Science (HMS)

Year 11 Health and Movement Science (HMS) students are deeply engaged in an exciting and highly practical unit exploring the body’s physiological responses to various types of aerobic exercise. As part of their collaborative research investigations, students are conducting primary studies in the school’s fitness centre, using real-time data collection to analyse how the body responds during physical activity. With the support of our junior students, who have volunteered as test subjects, Year 11 students are gaining valuable experience in planning, testing, observing, and evaluating physical responses under different training conditions.

This immersive, real-world approach is an essential component of the HMS course. It allows students to move beyond the textbook and truly apply their theoretical knowledge in a dynamic, authentic setting. By actively engaging with the content in this way, students develop a deeper understanding of key concepts such as heart rate, ventilation rate, stroke volume and more—all of which are essential to understanding human performance and health.

Not only does this hands-on learning improve their critical thinking and scientific inquiry, but it also builds confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. Students are learning to interpret data, draw conclusions, and present their findings effectively, preparing them for future academic and career pathways in sport science, health, and medical fields. We look forward to their final group presentations and the insights they will share from their research.

Ms Nagle & Ms Nicol

Science in Action

In 7T, we performed an experiment on air resistance. Our aim was to determine the effect of a parachute on the speed of a student sprinter. Our hypothesis was that if the student uses a parachute, her speed will decrease. This is because the parachute has a large surface area that will encounter many air molecules creating more friction that will hold her back. We created a parachute out of a table cloth and string. A cone was placed every five meters in a twenty metre track so that we can see her speed per five metres. First, she ran twenty meters without a parachute, and was recorded. We repeated this three times to find an accurate average. Then, we attached this parachute to the back of the sprinter and she ran the same twenty metres. We accept our hypothesis as her speed decreased by more than a second in the twenty meters. This proves that a parachute increases air resistance while running.

We enjoyed this prac lesson as we got to see the effects of air resistance with a real life example. It was a fun experience to learn about science outside of the classroom.

Emma L, Emily R and Poppy S 7T

Co-curricula Activities

Stage 6 Premier's Debating Challenge (Round 4)

Our Year 11 debaters competed in Round 4 of the Premier’s Debating Challenge’ against CherrybrookTechnology High School

Round 4 topics were based on ‘Environment’ and the topic debated was: That we should cap the number of flights Australians can fly each year, and Riverside Girls debated as the negative.

This was the most challenging debate our senior team has participated in as the model presented was tight and their arguments were well developed and argued along the logic that this cap would benefit Australia’s economy and tourism in the long run.

After one hour of preparation, our girls presented a convincing argument that circulated around the reasoning that implementing a cap would be like cutting off your arm rather than simply treating the infection and would stifle Australia’s economy, workforce, personal choice and technological advancement.

After a complex and nuanced debate the adjudicator ruled a split debate and had to rely on each team’s weighting of their argument. Narrowly and disappointingly Riverside Girls lost.

Congratulations Louisa, Summer, Peggy and Issy on all your hardwork and commitment to debating this year!

Thank you Genevieve in Year 9 for being our chairperson.