Welcome to the Richard Gill School Blog for the month of October. It’s been a vibrant month here, filled with music, community, and the excitement of new beginnings.
Early Childhood Music Classes – A Celebration of Sound
We were thrilled to launch our free early childhood music classes on the 21st of October, a wonderful new offering that embodies the Richard Gill School's commitment to music education starting at the earliest possible age.
Earlier this year, I completed Musica Viva's Music Education Skills for the Primary Classroom course which focused on engaging children in the creativity and joy that music naturally provides while providing practical ideas and skills for teaching music. I am excited to be leading this program, re-engaging my early childhood education skills and sharing some of the wonderful new activities I’ve learned. So far, our youngest musicians have been singing songs about the rain, exploring the rich timbres of drums and shakers, and keeping the beat with their whole bodies.
If you have a child aged 3–5 years and are interested in experiencing these foundational music classes, we encourage you to register your interest online or by phoning the school.
Muswellbrook Meets Korea at the Hunter Regional Conservatorium
Our students were fortunate to immerse themselves in different musical traditions this month. On Friday 17th of October, we travelled to the Hunter Regional Conservatorium for the "Muswellbrook Meets Korea" workshop. This hands-on experience allowed students to explore Korea’s vibrant traditional music—from the heart-pounding rhythms of Pungmulnori to the fun and lively melodies of Korean traditional singing. It was fantastic to see our students enthusiastically joining in with the drumming.
Musica Viva at RGS
We were excited to welcome the Musica Viva group Water Rhythms to the school on the 23rd of October. We were again joined for lunch and the performance by students from Pacific Brook Christian School. Our students always enjoy the opportunity to be welcoming hosts, showing others around our beautiful playground and learning environment.
Community & Connection
In Week 2, we held a special assembly to celebrate our grandparents. Kindergarten proudly hosted the event, and all classes performed pieces dedicated to their much-loved grandparents. It was a beautiful occasion that reinforced our strong school community, concluding with a lovely afternoon tea shared by students, staff and families.
Focus on Movement and Skill
Our commitment to holistic education continues through our physical activity programs. Our Year 3/4/5 students have been enthusiastically participating in AFL coaching lessons each Friday, funded by a Sporting Schools Grant. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to practise core skills like ball throwing and kicking while developing their teamwork and fundamental movement skills through a new and engaging sport.
Looking Ahead: Welcoming Our Newest Cohort
Finally, we are in the exciting process of holding our Kindergarten Orientation Days over the next three Fridays. Our older students have been wonderful mentors, eagerly showing our prospective new students around and helping them feel comfortable and excited as they prepare for the start of 'big school' in 2026.
Enrolments for K-6 in 2026 are open now. If you’d like to book a school tour, please fill out the expression of interest form and we will be in touch.
Thank you,
Tara Stanford