Dear Parents/Caregivers,
I hope you have had a wonderful week. Week 5 at Riverside has been another outstanding week.
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, do not take up the opportunity to engage with the information disseminated by our school.
To this point, I addressed the assembly this week and asked that the students remind their parents that all school information and permission notes are transmitted via School Bytes, to the email address/es recorded with the school. It is essential that parents remember to check for school emails to ensure that important information or notes are not missed. If you are required to update your contact details, please do so via the Front Office – they will provide you with a change of contact details form. Often, information is missed because the details we have are incorrect.
But back to Year 10 and Careers Education…it was brought to my attention that despite us having already hosted a Year 10 meeting where the students were given a Subject Selection booklet outlining HSC rules, course outlines and details of assessment requirements; parents having attended a Subject Selection Information evening this week; and the Careers Advisers, Ms Soares and Ms Low having 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 Low maintain the Careers website, accessible via the homepage of the Riverside website:
https://riversideg-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/supporting-our-students/careers-transition.html
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.
Student Success
Youth Week 2024 Creative Art Competition
Annabelle T (Year 11 Visual Arts student) placed 2nd in the recent Youth Week Creative Art Competition with her painting, “I am Grateful”. Congratulations to Annabelle for this outstanding achievement. Annabelle is one of our HPGE students who demonstrates talent in more than one domain; intellectual and creative. This is an outstanding achievement for a talented, disciplined student.
I would like to congratulate Lucy H (Year 9) who has been selected as a member of the U15 NSW Metro team to compete at the Emerging Matildas Championships in July. This is the highest level of competition for this age group in Australia. Lucy is one of our HPGE students who demonstrates talent in more than one domain; intellectual and physical. She is a wonderful demonstration of the calibre and quality of students that we have at Riverside, even if we can’t all be future Matildas!
I hope you have bought your tickets for the musical and have a wonderful weekend.
Louise McNeil
Principal
Faculty News
English
Sydney Writer's Festival
Last Friday, a small selection of our junior students had the privilege of attending the Sydney Writer's Festival's Secondary School Day at Town Hall. See what the girls had to say about it.
Sydney Writer's Festival is a great opportunity and a lot of fun. It starts with a speech from most of the authors, then a short break to buy books and get books signed. I bought "Blood Moon Bride" by Demet Divaroren, and came to her book signing line. She talked to me and then wrote in my book. I think that was my highlight.
Olivia S
The Sydney's Writers Festival was very fun and entertaining. I got to sit down and watch four incredible authors speak. ( Mike Lucas, Hayley Lawrence, Demet Divororen and Neal Shusterman). They all had something different to say. Some told stories behind their published books, others told us how to write and publish a book and others told us how we should never let anyone put us down.
There were opportunities to meet authors and get our books signed and also buy books. There was even a special surprise where there were 50 golden tickets under the seats and if you found one you got a free book about AI. Riverside found 25 tickets. Overall the Sydney's Writers Festival was an amazing experience and definitely one I would visit again.
Gwen B-W
I liked when Mike told us how he got into writing horror and when Demet told us about her writing. I also liked it when Mike told us how you start writing and how you keep going to publishers and told us about all the quotes from other authors about the first draft.
Jasmine B
We arrived to the venue by a public bus. We took our seats and it soon started. Three authors spoke then we had a lunch break. The first author told us a bit about himself and his horror stories. The second author told us three emotional stories that inspired her books. The third author told us a bit about herself and we had a mini concert about not letting anyone put us down.
Then the first author announced that there were 50 golden tickets that gave you a free book. We all ate our lunch then started looking for any tickets left behind. We found 25 golden tickets, and almost all of us got a free book! Then lunch was over and the first author spoke about how to start writing a book. Finally, the fourth author spoke about his books. After we headed back to school on the public bus.
Freya B
I found all the authors incredible and great speakers. I loved hearing the backstories to their books and what or who they were based on. There were also 50 golden tickets around the hall and Riverside found around 25 of them! We went around the whole hall when everyone else was at lunch, we were searching around the hall trying to find then all! That was really fun to do.
Emily R
We all walked into Town Hall, assistants and caretakers met us, we saw beautiful decorations then we went inside, there was many, many seats and we sat down. We met the authors, and they talked about the books. Then there was a golden ticket scavenger hunt, our school didn't have any under the seats but our school went everywhere and grabbed tickets and we got 25 TICKETS!!! YYAYYYAYYA
Purvi S J R
Listening to these authors talk about their books were really inspiring because I loved the different ways that they had made their books and what they were inspired by. When we got to lunch Mike Lucas announced that there were Golden Tickets under our seats that would get us a free book.
When everyone had left for lunch our school walked around Town Hall and found 25 out of 50 golden tickets left over because other students hadn't looked so hard. These were my highlights of the day!✨
Claire W
The most memorable takeaway from this experience was finding numerous golden tickets. At the break, we found out that there were golden tickets under the audience’s chairs. When you retrieved a golden ticket, you received a free book. Once all the other schools had left the hall, our school set to work looking under all the chairs. Overall, we found around 25 out of the 50 tickets. It was amazing to see how passionate we were about getting the free books.
Emma L
The Sydney Writer's Festival was an amazing experience. It was so special listening to the authors speak about their experiences and how they wrote their stories. It was especially rewarding to find gold ticket and win a free book. Overall, a fun, exiting and must-have experience for all secondary- schoolers.
Suzie Y
Science
Making Sedimentary Rocks
7E and 7K science classes engaged in modelling the formation of Sedimentary rocks by using non-toxic materials such as caster sugar and food colouring. The students thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activity which reinforced the concept of natural geological processes involved in the formation of these rocks - processes such as weathering and erosion creating loose sediment, its transportation, layering, compacting and cementation eventuating in the rock formation. The activity not only enabled the students to gain a deep understanding of the various processes, it also enhanced their vocabulary.
Ms A Misra
Co-curricula Activities
The Little Mermaid Week 5 Rehearsal
Our rehearsal on Thursday saw the cast, crew and orchestra come together for a run through of most of the show. After weeks of hard work, the school hall was transformed into an underwater wonderland as students rehearsed in their costumes, tested out prop and lighting cues, and played the musical score with enthusiasm.
It was wonderful to bring so many elements of the production together in this rehearsal. All students involved in the production are to be commended on their dedication, enthusiasm and talent.
With opening night just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your tickets! The Little Mermaid will run on Wednesday 4th , Thursday 5th and Friday 6th June at 6:30pm. Tickets are $25 (plus booking fee) for adults and $15 (plus booking fee) for students and children.
Tickets are selling fast, so don’t wait to buy yours! Visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1397612?date=2025-06-06 to purchase yours today.
Dive under the sea with us and be part of something magical!
Here are some behind the scenes photos of the dress rehearsal.
The Little Mermaid - Parent Volunteers Needed
The P & C will be selling refreshments at The Little Mermaid Production on 4, 5 and 6 June, before the show and during interval. If you can help out please complete the google form below to indicate your availability or contact Zoe on 0405 917 933 to volunteer.
2025 Pulse Far West Tours
In the past two weeks, two of our outstanding Riverside Girls' vocalists who represented at this year's Pulse Alive concerts took part in the Pulse Far West Tours. Freya N (Year 12) travelled to Moree and Kiana K (Year 11) travelled to Broken Hill with a creative team of vocalists, dancers and show band students to work closely with primary and secondary school students in rural areas. It was a valuable experience for both, as they had the opportunity to lead students in music workshops, engaging them in exciting repertoire which culminated in a combined performance at the end.
Ms C Wang
UN Youth Evatt Competition
Caitlin B and Yehansa D of Year 12 represented Denmark at the UN Youth Evatt Competition at UTS last Saturday.
They debated issues of conscription, child soldiers and overfishing in a simulation of the operations of the UN Security Council. Congratulations to Yehansa and Caitlin for their commitment to making the world a better place, now and in the future.
North Sydney Kids Musical Theatre Production
Last weekend, two Riverside students, Grace G (Year 7) and Alena B (Year 8), performed in the North Sydney Kids Musical Theatre production of Legally Blonde Jr - Grace in the roles of Sabrina, a Delta Nu and a Featured Dancer, and Alena in the role of a Delta Nu and a Featured Dancer. Both girls were amazing up on stage in each of their four performances across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Stage 6 Debating - Round 3
Our Year 11 debaters competed in Round 3 of the Premier’s Debating Challenge’ against Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.
Round 3 topics were based on ‘Health’ and the topic debated was: That bystanders to medical emergencies should be punished if they fail to intervene or assist, and Riverside Girls debated as the affirmative.
This was a very exciting experience for the team who have not yet had an opportunity to present a model and control the direction of the debate!
After one hour of preparation, our girls presented a convincing argument that circulated around the reasoning that whilst people are good not everyone is, and enforcing a consequence will ensure the ongoing safety of society during an emergency situation.
After a rigorous, and at times heated debate, Riverside Girls won and were awarded the debate! They will now progress to Round 4: Environment.
Congratulations Louisa, Summer, Peggy and Issy!
Thank you Hedieh in Year 9 for being our chairperson.
Ms M Purisima
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 Low and Ms T Soares
Dates for the diary
P&C
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