26 March 2015 Issue 8
Principal’s Message
Right Now Is A Good Time
Last Friday Mr Barnett’s Pastoral Care class, Year 11.1 addressed the thought of the week using a variation of this
quote, “The time is always right to do what is right,” by Martin Luther King, Junior. The essence of their message to the
College community is that we all have a moral obligation to do right by others.
The thought of the week, “Right now is a good time’, coincided with a number of significant days of recognition.
Saturday 21 March was the United Nations International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The theme for
2015 was, “Learning from historical tragedies to combat racial discrimination today”. As a College community we are
encouraged to be more informed why racial discrimination exists and to learn to appreciate cultural differences in order
to combat xenophobia, “dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries”, and bigotry, “intolerance towards
those who hold different opinions from oneself”.
Thursday 19 March, was a day of recognition in Australia to acknowledge the objectives of the ‘Close the Gap
Campaign’. Currently in our country, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people statistically suffer poorer health than
the general population with a significantly shorter life expectancy. The objective of the Close the Gap Campaign is by
2030 to make sure that Indigenous Australians have the same opportunity to live a long, healthy and happy life.
In addition, Friday 20 March, was the ‘National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence’. Schools across the country
were encouraged to strongly promote the theme, “Say NO to Bullying.” In responding to this message I shared with the
students that at Rivermount College, every student has a right to feel safe at school. This means that as a community
we should not accept bullying of any form. By definition, “bullying is an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through
repeated verbal, physical or social behaviour that causes physical or psychological harm”.
Whilst incidents of overt bullying are very rare in our community, simply because it is easily seen by others and there
are clear consequences for this type of behaviour, more covert forms of bullying continue to negatively impact on some
members of our community. Covert bullying takes on many forms and includes social exclusion and intimidation. It is
carried out in a variety of ways including, spreading rumours, conducting a malicious social exclusion campaign or
through the use of internet or mobile phone technologies. The covert nature of these activities means that is goes
undetected by staff at the College. “Say No to Bullying”, strongly encourages the bystanders to take measures to
support their peers by reassuring and encouraging them that not everyone accepts what is being said, to not be afraid
to speak up and to let the perpetrator know that their behaviour is negatively effecting others or to simply let someone
who has the power to intervene know.
The final message to the students was that right now is a good time to do right by each other and not accept any form of
bullying in our community and to work together to ensure that every student feels safe at Rivermount College. As a
community we need to support those being bullied and to work closely with the perpetrators to make them aware of the
impact of their behaviour and to provide them with strategies to build positive relationships or to better deal with social
situations.
Richard Young
Principal
College News
Pastoral Care Corner – Character Counts
Do ordinary things with extraordinary love. (Mother Teresa)
Throughout history there have been certain outstanding individuals whose character and personal life stories have
been forever etched into our memories. Mother Teresa is most definitely one of these. She was born on 26 August
1910 in Macedonia, the youngest of three children; her father, a grocer, died when she was about eight years old. In
1928, when she was eighteen, Mother Teresa went to Ireland to join the Sisters of Loreto at the Institute of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, a community of nuns with missions in India. After a brief training period, she travelled to India to
work as a teacher in the order’s school in Calcutta. In 1946 Mother Teresa left the convent in order to devote herself
to caring for the sick and poor, eventually founding the Missionaries of Charity, an organisation dedicated to serving
“the poorest of the poor”, to loving and caring for those that nobody else was prepared to look after. This organisation
quickly spread to other countries. All of this was done with no direct funding, relying on volunteers and donations, and
founded on her faith and devotion. Mother Teresa died on 5 September 1997 in Calcutta, India. At the time of her
death, the Missionaries of Charity had over 4000 sisters and hundreds of thousands of volunteers working in
hundreds of centres around the world. These included homes for orphaned children, homes for people with HIV/
AIDS, leper colonies and hospices for the terminally ill.
In 1979 Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of her work in “bringing help to suffering
humanity, to the plight of children and refugees, for whom she has worked so selflessly for many years.” In her Nobel
Peace Prize acceptance speech, she said, “I think that we, in our family, don’t need bombs and guns to bring peace –
just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home.
And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world. As we have gathered here together to thank God for
the Nobel Peace Prize, I think it will be beautiful that we pray the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.”
Lord, make a channel of Thy peace
that, where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that, where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that, where there is error, I may bring truth;
that, where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that, where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that, where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that, where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,
to understand than to be understood;
to love than to be loved;
for it is by forgetting self that one finds;
it is forgiving that one is forgiven;
it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
St. Francis of Assisi
(http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/social-justice/mother-teresas-nobel-peace-prize-acceptance-speech.html)
A truly remarkable and inspirational woman of faith!
This prayer is also included as part of our Foundation Day Assembly and Speech and Prize Giving Night.
Fran Stuetzel
Dean of Pastoral Care
College News
Performing Arts Tuition
As Term 1 comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and classroom teachers for their
support of the program.
Planning for Term 2 is well underway with timetables for each discipline currently under construction. To this end, if
your child is no longer wishing to continue lessons at the College, please ensure you notify the College in writing
(email is preferred), by Wednesday 1 April. As a matter of courtesy students should also advise their tutor of their
intentions.
Enrolments for Term 2 will be accepted up to and including Wednesday 1 April. This enables timetables to be
finalised over the holiday period with lessons commencing in the first week of Term 2. Students who have had their
applications for enrolment held over from Term 1 are not required to re-submit at this time, however it would be
appreciated if you could advise the College if you no longer wish to have your application processed.
Finally, parents and guardians of students enrolled in PAT Dance lessons (held on Tuesday afternoons) are cordially
invited to view the final lesson of the term on Tuesday 31 March 2015. Please email [email protected] if you
wish to attend.
Darryn Swaby
Performing Arts Tuition Coordinator
Middle and Senior School News
Somerset College Celebration of Literature
On Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March students from the Middle School had the opportunity to visit the Somerset
College Celebration of Literature. The students attended a number of inspiring workshops with renowned children’s
authors.
At the festival, over 30 acclaimed authors from around Australia held interactive sessions and workshops. This year,
the students from our College had the opportunity to interact with a diverse range of authors.
Many of the Year 9 students enjoyed hearing the stories of Clare Atkins. She was the youngest script writer to work
on “Home and Away” and has recently written her first novel – ‘Nona and Me’ based on her experiences of living with
her family in Arnhem Land. They also had the opportunity to hear from James Moloney, an accomplished Brisbane
author whose books we study in Year 10 and Year 12. Their final workshop was with Yvette Poshoglian who has
written successfully for younger students.
The Year 7 students also met a fantastic range of children’s authors. One of their favourites was George Ivanoff who
has written the “You Choose” series. He ran a very interactive session which allowed a large group of students to
create a story outline. Many of the students enjoyed meeting the author and having their books signed. Later in the
day they were silenced by the bugle playing of accomplished author R.A. Spratt who entertained the students with her
tips on writing. Richard Newsome ended the day with some wonderful story telling about mythical cities and his own
journeys through India. He really engaged the students and allowed them to interact in his presentation.
Overall, the experience was very and gave students the opportunity to learn much more about the writing process. It
has also inspired many of them to read new authors. Students may find that their visit to the festival will help them to
improve their own creative writing and give them more confidence to use their imagination.
Gill Morgan
Secondary School Teacher
Rivermount College Year 7
and Year 9 at the Somerset
College Celebration of
Literature
Middle and Senior School News
Year 8 Camp to Moreton Island
On 16 March, the Year 8 cohort travelled to Ben Ewa on Moreton Island for the annual Year 8 Camp. Students
undertook activities such as snorkeling, Aboriginal studies, bush tucker, sand tobogganing, star gazing, bush walking
and beach activities, culminating with the completion of their workbook.
The weather was kind to us again this year with warm days and little rain. Year 12 students Robert Ashworth, Elijah
Bolton-Bijoux and Jessie Cromb accompanied the group as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold campaign and we
thank them for their positive interactions with all students and staff.
The highlight for most students was tackling the challenging climb to the top of Mt Tempest, where they looked
longingly at the ‘mainland’, and looked forward to their first warm shower in a week.
As part of the week’s challenges, each student was required to boil water from a minimum of resources and use the
principles of Physics to best transport a tennis ball from the shore to the water. Most found that a longer, curved path
was better than a steep, straight one.
A big “thank you” is extended to the staff who attended the camp – Mr Hamish Pike, Miss Alex Burrie, Mr Adam
O’Connor and Mr Derek Austin for their organisational skills and care of the students.
Maura Boston
Year 8 Coordinator
Junior School News
Junior School Electives for Term 1
Over the last four weeks on Wednesday afternoons, a large number of Junior School students have participated in
electives. There has been a wide variety of activities offered and the students have thoroughly enjoyed the
opportunity to learn new skills. Thank you to all the instructors and teachers who have given the students such great
opportunities to learn new things and enjoy new experiences.
Marion Fawdon and Shirley Verriest
Electives Coordinators
Junior School Electives
for Term 1
Important Dates to Remember
More information can be obtained from
Parent Lounge and the College App
Friday 27 March

All College Charity Event Free Dress for Vanuatu

Principal’s Award Assembly Prep to Year 12 in
The Colin Young Community Centre at 11:55am
Saturday 28 March

TAS GBC Finals at The Springfield Anglican College
Monday 30 March

RMC Netball Academy 30/3 to 7/9 at 6:45am to 8:00am

In2Cricket from 16/2 to 30/3 at 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Tuesday 31 March

GBC TAS Swimming Year 7 to Year 12 at Brisbane
Aquatic Centre from 8:00am to 4:00pm

Year 4 Excursion to Lone Pine
Wednesday 1 April

RMC Netball Academy 1/4 to 11/9 at 6:45am to 8:00am
Thursday 2 April

JTAS Swimming 8:00am to 3:00pm

Easter Assembly Prep to Year 12 at 11:30am to 1:00pm

Viva Soccer from 19/2 to 2/4 at 3:30pm to 4:30pm

End of Term 1
Friday 3 April

Good Friday
Upper Coomera Centre Holiday Program
Gold Coast City Council is presenting a School Holiday Program from
6 April to 10 April and 13 April to 17 April at the Upper Coomera
Centre, 90 Reserve Road, Upper Coomera. The activities are
designed for young people aged between 12 to 17 years old.
All activities are free!. Please contact the Centre as booking is
essential.
For information: email: [email protected] or
phone/text: 0408 734 061.
Absentee Phone Line
(07) 3287 0099
Community News
Surfers Paradise Festival - April 3 to 18
Coming up shortly in Surfers Paradise is our sixth annual
Surfers Paradise Festival! It’s a favourite time of the year
when the fun-loving, care-free buzz of Surfers Paradise is
celebrated with loads of FREE family fun! This year's festival
features food, art, music, and entertainment in the precinct,
with an action-packed program guaranteed to suit the
whole family. Returning to the event will be Festival favourites
– The Australian Street Entertainment Championships,
SIPFest short film festival, and the ever-popular Seafire
Fireworks Challenge, plus a new addition - the Festival
Pavilion. For more information, visit our website
http://www.surfersparadise.com/whats-on/free-events/surfersparadise-festival
Kiah Park - Horse Riding Camps
7 Day Camp Dates on 4 to 11 April and 11 to 18 April
Day trips available on Mondays and Tuesdays
Riding Camps are for children 6 years to teens and all riding
abilities are catered for. Camp includes full accommodation
and each child is given the privilege of caring for, riding,
and getting to know their very own horse. There are arena
lessons, trail rides twice a day, a gymkhana and fun night
activities. Children enjoy a very happy, healthy outdoor
holiday with the opportunity to develop independence
and
create
lifelong
friendships
and
memories.
For more information please contact Kiah Park by phone on:
5486 6166 or email: [email protected] or website:
www.kiahpark.com.au or Facebook: www.facebook.com/
KiahPark1
Two Day Soccer Camp or Two Day Netball Camp
Over the School Holiday David Lawrence Fitness is offering
the opportunity to attend two day camps in the sport of
Soccer or Netball. These camps will be held at St Augustine’s
College, Elanora, Gold Coast on 7 April and 8 April from
8:30am to 3:00pm at a cost of $150.00. For more
information please phone: 0404 082 770 or email:
[email protected] or visit the website:
davidlawrencefitness.com.au
Jacobs Well Family Fun Day - 5 April
This event is held at Jacobs Well Bayside Tavern on Sunday
5 April and is a day where the community can meet and
explore local organisations. The Volunteer Marine Rescue,
will bring a boat in for the kids to explore and the Rocky Point
Fire Brigade will bring a fire truck for the kids to use the
equipment. There will be entertainment by a bush poet, face
painting, jumping castle, slide and the Easter Bunny. Many
more attractions. For more information please contact
Rhiannon on 5546 2155 or visit the website:
www.jacobswelltavern.com.au
RIVERMOUNT
Thursday 26 March 2015
FROM THE SPORTS MANAGER
TAS GBC - ROUND 7 RESULTS: Saturday 21 March 2015
Trimester 1 finals will take place this Saturday
28 March at The Springfield Anglican College.
It is pleasing to see that a good number of our
teams will feature in the often dramatic winner
takes all in this finals contest.
Cricket
First XI
Year 9 and 10
Year 7 and 8
Result
RMC 6/126 Plainland 1/127
RMC 2/92 Plainland 7/78
RMC 10/58 Plainland 4/75
Volleyball continues on its successful season,
with RMC teams represented in every final.
The basketball girls have also had a good
season with the Firsts, Seconds, Year 9 and
Year 7 teams making finals. In addition the
RMC tennis girls will feature in the Seconds,
Year 9 and Year 7 finals.
Volleyball
Firsts
Seconds Gold
Seconds Green
Year 9
Year 8
Year 7
Result
Bye
Bye
RMC 1
RMC 3
Bye
Bye
Tennis
Firsts
Seconds
Year 9
Year 8
Year 7
Result
Bye
Plainland Forfiet
RMC 5/32 Plainland 1/14
RMC forfeit
RMC 5/35 Plainland 1/9
Basketball
Firsts Gold
Firsts Green
Seconds Gold
Seconds Green
Year 9 Gold
Year 9 Green
Year 8
Year 7
Result
Bye
RMC 60
Bye
RMC 40
RMC 6
RMC 76
Bye
RMC 29
Well done to all teams that have represented
the College this Trimester and good luck to all
of our teams.
Go RMC!
Yours in sport
Andy Knapper
Director of Sport
Netball Academy
Sheldon 2
Plainland 0
Plainland 10
Plainland 16
RMC Green 76
RMC Gold 6
Plainland 6
TAS GBC - ROUND 7 RESULTS: Saturday 21 March 2015
Date: 23 March to 11 September
Days: Monday, Wednesday and
Friday Mornings
Time: 6:45am to 8:00am
Venue: The Colin Young Community
Centre
Cost to Participant: $50.00
(includes Singlet and Ball)
JTAS HOCKEY
RMC TEAM
SCORE
OPPOSITION
SCORE
Year 4
7
West Moreton Anglican College
5
Year 5
BYE
Year 6 Gold
1
Cannon Hill Anglican College
6
Year 6 Green
2
The Springfield Anglican College
5
JTAS CRICKET
Key Dates Trimester 1
RMC TEAM
SCORE
OPPOSITION
SCORE
28 March
Year 4
4/52
Redeemer Lutheran College
8/55
Year 5
6/72
Ormiston College
8/109
31 March
GBC Finals – The Springfield
Anglican College
GBC Swimming
Championships
Year 6
TAS
Andy Knapper – TAS
Wet Weather: 3287 0080
Mobile: 0408 679 988
Washed out
JTAS
Mario Collavino – JTAS
Wet Weather: 3287 0081
Mobile: 0412 942 095
@rivermountsport
South East Queensland Schools Futsal Titles
The Middle School teams competed in the South East Queensland Schools Futsal Titles on Tuesday 10 March. The players
were all eager to compete after weeks of training. The U15 boys were a great outfit, but with half the players being only 14
they faced a tough competition. The team commenced with a strong start to the day but despite an initial win, they had two
draws and two losses to finish in third place and missed out on the finals.
The enthusiastic U13 boys dominated their day of competition, winning all their round games and finishing with 11 – 0 win
in their playoff to make it to the finals. The U14 girls also had an exciting day, improving steadily and getting four wins, a draw
and just one loss to qualify for the finals.
The finals day was a great experience for the U13 boys and U14 girls, having made it to the top 16 out of around 60 teams in
their age group.
Once again Rivermount College teams were able to be competitive against a range of state and independent schools and were
great ambassadors for the College.
Cornubia Futsal
A team of boys from Rivermount have been competing in the Club Futsal Competition at Cornubia Insports since October last
year and have shown admirable commitment to their sport. Playing in an 18 years competition with ten teams they were very
competitive making it to the finals. Playing against a team that won the state title last year they went close but finally went
down 4 - 6 and were presented with the runner-up medals.
Cornubia Futsal Season
A new season of Futsal starts at Cornubia next term. Any players interested in forming a team please contact Mr Perry ASAP
or alternatively contact Dawn at Australian Futsal on 0448176191 or [email protected].
David Perry
Coach
Year 5 Cricket
On Saturday 21 March, Year 5 travelled to Ormiston College to play in the final match of
the season. The game came down to the last over, with Rivermount needing only one more
wicket to take the game. The final score was Ormiston 8/108 and Rivermount 6/72.
Rivermount showed the best fielding of the season, with four brilliant catches and two run
outs. This was backed up by some really good bowling with Darcy Hudson and Evan
Mitchell both taking wickets.
Thank you to Mr Tinson and Mr Docherty for all their help with umpiring this season, and
thank you to all the boys for all the hard work they put in at training and games. You should
all be proud of how much you have improved. Congratulations on a
great season!
Melissa Coutts
Coach
Year 4 Cricket
On Saturday 21 March, the Year 4 Cricket team ended the season with a very exciting win against Redeemer Lutheran College
with the final score Rivermount 4/52 to Redeemer 8/55. The boys endured the hot and steamy conditions and fielded
impressively, with accurate throws to stumps resulting in 6 run outs, and our first catch of the season (bowled Kobe Johnson,
caught Jack Johnson). Great job, boys! Well done on a great season of JTAS cricket.
Thank you to the parents who assisted the team in various ways during the season, particularly Mr Tiley, Mr Vincent and
Mr Chambers, for your help at training and on game days.
Kath Kirkpatrick
Coach
SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2015
TAS GBC Finals at The Springfield Anglican College and State Tennis Centre
RIVERMOUNT
VOLLEYBALL
VENUE
OPPOSITION
TIME
Firsts
TSAC MulƟpurpose Courts
TSAC
10:00am
Seconds RMC Gold
TSAC MulƟpurpose Courts
9:00am
Year 9
TSAC MulƟpurpose Courts
Sheldon
College
TSAC
8:00am
TSAC Astro Court
TSAC Astro Court
VENUE
CHAC
CHAC
OPPOSITION
9:00am
8:00am
TIME
State Tennis Centre
Tennyson
State Tennis Centre
Tennyson
VENUE
TSAC
Redlands
TSAC
8:00am
8:00am
8:00am
OPPOSITION
TIME
TSAC MulƟpurpose Courts
TSAC
11:00am
TSAC MulƟpurpose Courts
Redlands
10:00am
TSAC MulƟpurpose Courts
Sheldon
College
TSAC
9:00am
Year 8
Year 7
RIVERMOUNT
TENNIS
Seconds
Year 9
Year 7
RIVERMOUNT
BASKETBALL
Firsts RMC
Green
Seconds RMC
Green
Year 9
Green
Year 7
TSAC Astro Court
8:00am
Address Details:
State Tennis Centre, 190 King Arthur Terrace, Tennyson
The Springfield Anglican College, 63 Springfield Greenbank
Arterial, Springfield
@rivermountsport
TAS CONTACT: Andy Knapper
Wet Weather: 3287 0080 / Mobile: 0408 679 988