Hello, and welcome to the thirty-first of my monthly Principal's blogs and my final update for 2022. In this post, I discuss our race toward the end of the year, upcoming performances, and plans for 2023.
Update
We are mid-way through our 10-day intensive swim school and preparing for our inaugural “Celebration Assembly” next Friday, December 9. We are currently recruiting for a full-time Student Learning Support Officer (SLSO) as we farewell Mrs Linda Dolbell, and look forward to our final performance of the year, at the Upper Hunter Christmas Spectacular on Saturday December 10.
Intensive Swim School
As part of the school’s commitment to giving our students the best physical education opportunities as well as a way to teach an important life skill, all students have been offered the opportunity to take part in our Term 4, 10-day, intensive swim school program. The students have loved this change to routine over the last week and we hope that all students will be better prepared for the school holidays by the end of the program, where hot days often means swimming and water play. Thank you to the Muswellbrook Public Pool staff for facilitating this important initiative.
Images: RGS Intensive Swim School Program
Stanmore Festival of Music wrap-up
Thank you to the festival organisers, our Board Members, Reverend Angela Peverell, and Chair Kim Williams AM who came and supported our school, in addition to our lovely families who traveled considerably for the performance. We had a wonderful day and enjoyed performing our program and watching many other performances.
We are so proud to have been included in this year’s festival, which honours Richard, is well supported by his family and friends, and which forms an important part of the school’s legacy and commitment to music education.
Images: Stanmore Festival of Music Excursion
Kindy transition to school
On Monday we commenced our official Transition Program with our 2023 Kindergarten class. It is always a joy to have such young children in our school, so full of optimism and happiness. We thank Miss Presland for the wonderful work she is doing with the children.
We recently held a Family Info Night for our new families, and also for our existing families to meet our new classroom teacher for 2023, Mrs Tara Stanford. We host these events to communicate clearly with our community and provide opportunities for relationships to build and flourish as we support the children in their learning journey at Richard Gill School. Thank you to all who attended as well as the P&F for volunteering their time to put on a sausage sizzle for everyone.
Image: P&F Volunteers at School Transition Info Night.
Other school events
November was an exceptionally busy month, with Richard Gill School hosting a number of special visitors who each gave their time to our children free of charge, including:
Guest musical performances from both Nexas Saxophone Quartet who performed and answered questions for our students on November 9; as well as Mrs Gillian Miles and Clem from the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music who performed on the cello for prepare for Year 3 students who will commence a cello program in 2023.
Images: Musical Performance from UHCM (L), and Nexas Saxophone Quartet (R)
This was followed by our local PowerFM breakfast team of Lachie and Dylan who broadcasted their show live from the school on Thursday November 17. Some of our students even got to speak on the radio and the school sang a song live on air.
Image: Power FM Live Broadcast from RGS
Finally, Surf Lifesavers from the “Beach to Bush” program provided a wonderful safety session for our students as the weather begins to warm. Our students loved getting to use colourful zink to learn the importance of sun safety.
Image: Surf Lifesavers at RGS
It is so wonderful to be able to offer all of these experiences and more to our students and we hope to have many more in 2023.
Upper Hunter Christmas Spectacular – Saturday December 10
Richard Gill School are excited to combine with to our local community youth choir, Upper Hunter Voices for their debut performance at Muswellbrook Showground for the Upper Hunter Christmas Spectacular on Saturday December 10. The school will sing 3 short pieces as RGS at 4:15pm, followed by a combined choral ensemble performing 3 Christmas themed pieces at 4:30pm. We will also take the stage at 7pm for a massed item, “Jingle Bell Rock”, which may even see a VERY special guest arrive by helicopter and take the stage, I wonder who this could be… ? The event is free of charge thanks to incredible local sponsorship and PowerFM, and will commence at 3pm, with fireworks to conclude the evening at approximately 9pm. We hope you can make it!
Please feel free to subscribe Upper Hunter Voices, newsletter for news and updates about the Choir, performances, audition opportunities and more.
Enrolment
Enrolment is open to Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 students in 2023, and a waitlist is in place for Kindergarten 2023. To enrol or join our waitlist, please contact the school.
Enrolments for Richard Gill School are always open. Our prospectus, enrolment form, parent info and fee information can be found here.
As we recharge our batteries over Summer, the next blog post will be at the start of February. On behalf of the staff and Board of Richard Gill School, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Yours in Music,
Chris English – Principal, Richard Gill School