Happy holidays! Welcome to my 37th monthly blog post. This blog is coming to you live from sunny Far North Queensland, where my family and I have escaped the Upper Hunter Valley Winter. In this edition, I will be sharing some noteworthy highlights from the recent activities that marked the conclusion of Term 2, announce our achievements at the Muswellbrook Business Awards, and provide important information regarding enrolment and recruitment for the upcoming school year.
It was an eventful final few weeks of the school term, with our Jump Rope for Heart “Jump Off”, NAIDOC Week, a parent assembly featuring our Year 3 cellists’ debut performance, and all whilst our staff juggled report writing and an annual inspection from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
Jump Off
Jump Off Day 2023, Years 2-3
After working on their skipping skills for most of the term not only during Friday sports lessons but at almost each and every break time, on Wednesday, June 14 it was time for the children to showcase their abilities. Every child has improved immensely with their skipping during this time, and our families worked together to raise $2,830 for the Heart Foundation! Well done children for showing exceptional perseverance, many of whom did not even know how to skip prior to deciding to take part.
Jump Off Day 2023, Kindergarten
NAIDOC Week
Uncle Ritchie Didgeridoo Workshop, 2023
With NAIDOC Week technically falling during the school holidays, our staff opted to celebrate this special week prior to the break. This was also an opportunity for us to engage local elder, Uncle Ritchie, to deliver a Welcome to Country and a special yidaki (didgeridoo) performance as we held a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, June 26. Thank you to local grandparent, Rhonda Fry, who delivered numerous learning experiences for our children including learning about Aboriginal symbols, reading a dreamtime story, and contributing to a quilt work on Friday, June 30.
Uncle Ritchie Flag Raising Ceremony, 2023
Parent Assembly and Cello Performance
Year 3 Debut Cello Performance
On Friday, June 30 our parents and carers were invited to the school to celebrate the achievements of the children throughout Term 2. The event began with the recognition of notable accomplishments, including the presentation of awards for the Jump Rope for Heart program, highlighting our students' commitment and hard work. Additionally, we celebrated the recipients of the "Strength Awards," acknowledging their perseverance throughout the term.
One of the highlights of the assembly was the cello performance by three Year 3 students. Guided by Mrs Gillian Miles from the Upper Hunter Conservatorium, they showcased their talent with a debut performance that received warm applause and admiration from the audience.
Parent Assembly, Term 2 Strength Awards
To celebrate NAIDOC week and connect with our cultural heritage, the students performed an indigenous medley of Taba Naba and Sesere Eeye, which incorporated both movement and indigenous lyrics.
We take great pride in the achievements and talents of our students, and the Parent Assemblies provide an excellent opportunity to celebrate their growth and contributions. We extend our congratulations to all the performers and award recipients for their dedication and valuable contributions to our school community.
National Music Teacher Mentoring Program
Our involvement with this supportive program continues, and we thank Dr Sue Lane for working with us again on June 20 and 21. Dr Lane demonstrated numerous music lessons, particularly involving movement and music theory, in addition to working closely with 2 of our generalist staff who are building their skills and confidence in music education. We look forward to the program and Dr Lane returning in Week 9 of Term 3.
Muswellbrook Business Awards
A wonderful night was had at Muswellbrook Business Awards on Friday, June 2, a night filled with excitement and pride for our school community. We are delighted to share that we received a Highly Commended award in the category of "Outstanding Community Organisation." This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and supportive families. We would also like to congratulate our colleagues at the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, who received the top award in the same category. Their commitment to excellence in music education is commendable.
Richard Gill School Muswellbrook Business Awards 2023
Furthermore, we would like to celebrate the Hodder family (Jaxson and Harrison, Peter and Nicole) for winning the Excellence in Micro Business award, as well as the Cameron family (Genevieve, Grace, and Jarrod) for receiving the ‘Outstanding New Member’ award. Their achievements reflect the community spirit and dedication to excelence within our school community.
We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our families and staff who continue to make meaningful contributions to the Muswellbrook community. Together, we strive to create a positive and impactful presence that extends beyond the walls of our school.
Enrolment
We are pleased to announce that round 1 of our Kindergarten 2024 enrolment intake has concluded. In 2024 Enrolment is open to Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 4, with limited spaces in all classes K-3 available in 2023. To request an enrolment interview, please contact the school.
Please check out our website’s enrolment section for more information or to make an enrolment enquiry.
Recruitment
As we look towards the future, I am excited to announce that Richard Gill School is actively preparing for the recruitment of various roles (2024) to accommodate the continued growth of our school. We are committed to providing a nurturing and enriching environment for our students, and that begins with assembling a dedicated and passionate team. If you or someone you know may be interested in working at Richard Gill School, you can register your interest through our website’s employment page to be among the first to know about new opportunities as they arise.
Media
Some interesting articles published in June on Music Education:
It’s in the curriculum, but most teachers don’t expect to ever teach this subject - Nicole Precel, Brisbane Times, June 2023
How does music affect learning? - Shannon Meyerkort, School News Australia, June 2023
Sir Elton John: ‘I never would’ve written these songs without my classical training’ - Maddy Shaw Roberts, Classic FM, June 2023
Donations
Thank you to the following people who have made tax-deductible donations to the school prior to the end of the financial year:
Our Chairman, Kim Williams AM
Hunter Prosigns Pty Ltd
Stephen Abernethy
We look forward to welcoming our students to Term 3 on Tuesday July 18 and hope that everyone is having a wonderful break.
Yours in Music,
Chris English – Principal, Richard Gill School