RICHMOND CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

TIDINGS - Term 1 Week 1 . 2025

Welcome to 2025!

It is wonderful to return and see the familiar faces and welcome the new into our community. It is our prayer that you are able to connect and be supported as you begin your educational journey with us.

A massive congratulations to our graduating class of 2024! Your hard work, persistence and resilience has truly led to a brilliant set of results. A special congratulations to those students who have made the HSC Distinguished Achievers Honour Roll and to Issy, Jas and Sam (2025 Dux of RCC) who all received ATARs well into the 90s. We pray that God grants you your heart’s desire and the resilience and joy to strive towards all He has for you.

For those who were not able to attend this year’s Commencement Ceremony, I have included in this week’s Tidings the script from my address to the school.

We are excited to partner with you this year in the education of your children, helping take the steps they need towards becoming the person God wants them to be and fulfilling their God-given dreams.


As I was considering everyone coming back, I did wonder what dreams of greatness you may have been dreaming over the holidays? I wondered if while you were out in the surf some of you dreamed of getting on the ‘dream tour’, or while you were watching the Aussie men’s and women cricket teams dominate the summer you thought, I could be a cricketer, I want to do that. Maybe some of you when reading a book (tell me that still happens) thought I would love to write one of these. Maybe some of you while playing the console or device of your choice thought world champion is within my grasp. Maybe some of you whilst listening to some lazy tunes in the sun dreamt of others enjoying your tunes too… Some of you, I hope, may have dreamed of studying hard and blitzing your HSC! 

I had a dream over the holidays too, you know… it was a grand dream.  I dreamed that one day I would ski. Not just normal skiing, but I would carve through fresh powder leaving others in awe, the wind in my face. I dreamed I would ski for days and have the most fun. I dreamed that I would be so good my kids would want to be like me. Man did I dream. And then a funny thing started to happen. The dream started to become a possibility. We went on a holiday to the snow, and it started to snow and there was so much snow and fresh powder and steep slopes and then I put on skis and then very quickly the dream died. And I mean died. I crashed and crashed hard. I panicked, I freaked out, there was even one time where the instructor had to go in front of me so I could get down the hill! Needless to say, I returned my skis after one day. The only thing people were in awe of, and my kids admired was how hard I crashed and how much people laughed at me.

As I sat on top of the hill overlooking the fresh powder, icing my wounds and bruised ego, I realised that the point for me was not whether I achieved or gave up on my dreams but that I didn’t stop chasing it and gave myself every chance. I realised that often it is very hard and we will need help to achieve our dreams. At the end of the day, as I sat in the lift going down though I realised that dreams may come and go, and maybe it is not so much the achieving of the dream that is the most important, but the person I was as I strove for the dream and after the opportunity.  

You see I do believe that God has plans for us, He has planned great things for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), He has formed us intentionally and given us dreams and desires, put them in our heart (Ps 139:13-14). I believe that he is with us and wants to give us an abundant life that knows Him, loves Him and enjoys all that He has made for us (John 10:10). 

At RCC we have dreams for you to, we want to help you achieve all that God has for you – the hope and dreams, the things and places, the characters and qualities, we want to help you become lifelong learners, joyful individuals, positive contributors and faithful disciples. 

I know this sounds great and suggests that life is going to be great; you are going to be great. However, sometimes, getting to these places of enjoyment and fulfilment and abundance takes a lot of hard work. Sometimes we feel like it will never happen. Sometimes we want to give up. 

I too have felt this way. As I have gotten older, I have achieved some dreams and found others a little beyond my reach. And, each time, God reminds me of two things that keep me going. Two things I want to encourage you with today. 

The first is that Jesus understands – he understands the trouble and the trials we will face and tells us to take courage because just as he overcame, by faith in Him, we too will eventually overcome (John 16:33 and 1 John 5). He says that those with faith will overcome. It is faith in Him that is the key to get us through, when it is too hard, and when all is going well. Thankfully he also says that he will help us have the faith we need (Hebrews 12:2), because even that is hard. I am so thankful that God understands what we need.

Which brings me to the second thing he reminds me of. Not only are you not alone because God is with you, but you are not alone because we are with you. As you start a new year and look around you, you see a community that is on your side; a community that is unique in the way it wants to help and support and encourage and empower you. 

So this year, as you strive toward your dreams, as you work toward that elusive goal, whether you achieve it or not, I want to encourage you to remember in the hard times that God has not only created you with dreams and the talent to achieve them, He gives you the faith to keep going and the community to continue to lift you up and encourage you to do the same. 

Good Tidings,

Jonno

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Swimming Carnival

Tuesday 11 February 2025

Meet the Teacher Parent Information Evening

Thursday 13 February 2025 5-7pm

RCC Prayer Group

Mondays @ 2pm

Last Day of Term 1 Friday 11 April 2025

LEARNING THE RCC WAY

Congratulations to Oscar Levack

During the summer school holidays, Oscar Levack from Year 7 competed at the NSW Country Championships and the NSW State Regional Championships. From those events, Oscar:

  • qualified for the Athletics Australia National Junior Championships in Perth (to be held in April) in the 400m;
  • qualified for the NSW State Championships in Sydney (to be held in March) in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 200m hurdles; and
  • broke the Region 1 NSW record for his region (includes the Northern Rivers/ Mid North Coast and New England) in the 400m with a time of 59.07s, which was also a personal best.

He is so excited to have the chance to compete at National and State Levels and looks forward to the school athletics season later in the year. 

Alysha Miller CIS Award Ceremony

Year 7 student Alysha Miller has been selected to receive an award at the Annual New South Wales Combined Independent Schools Sports Council (CIS) 2024 Awards Ceremony to be held on Friday 28th February 2025 at Commbank Stadium for her contribution in hockey. 

The CIS Awards Ceremony honours the achievements of students from independent schools across the state that have represented CIS at the highest level either as an individual or as part of a team. 

Congratulations Alysha!

2025 Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year

Congratulations to former student (and brother of Jane & Eve), Zeke Knight who was recently awarded Citizen of the Year at the Ballina Shire Council Australia Day Awards.

Zeke has been a dedicated member of the Ballina SES unit for eight years and started with the SES through their local cadet program while still a student at RCC.  

Zeke is now a driving force behind the ongoing success of Ballina SES young volunteers program (YETI's). He actively mentors younger volunteers, helping them build skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose.

Whether it is responding to rescues, mentoring younger students, or leading training and development, his enthusiasm and leadership inspire others to get involved, making a positive impact on those around him.

Well done Zeke!

MUSIC TUTORS AT RCC

Grace Brown Music Tutor

Grace is a 26 y/o local performing musician and songwriter with over 7 years of tutoring experience across a wide range of genres, abilities and demographics. She has 2 years of experience working as a support for NDIS and has used music as a support and learning tool for children with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Music (JMC Academy Sydney 2017) and tutors vocals (all levels), guitar (electric, acoustic, beginner-intermediate), ukulele and keys (beginner). Additionally, Grace has completed a graduate diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy and is in her final year of her Master of Gestalt Psychotherapy (Gestalt Therapy Brisbane). She is incredibly passionate about pairing her knowledge of music with psychotherapy, where appropriate and wanted, to improve creative confidence and self-expression. She is available on Wednesdays 10am - 2.30pm for tutor sessions at School.  Please contact Grace on 0435 129 675 for more details.

Music with Ben

Music with Ben... At School Music Tuition is available with Ben for all levels of guitar (acoustic and electric). Music theory, songwriting and music appreciation is built into lessons. Ben also incorporates singing into lessons for students who also want to sing. Ben has a Bachelor of Music Composition & Production and has played and been involved with music for many years. He is keen to have fun and work with students who love music expression and can be diligent with their practice. Lessons available on Tuesdays at Richmond Christian College during school hours. Please make enquiries with Ben at benjaminwhitwood@gmail.com.

Sonya Lopes Music Tutor

Sonya Lopes has been a professional musician since 2001 with vast experience around the world.

Sonya is a multi-instrumental music teacher, freelance musician and conductor.  She has conducted the Lismore Symphony Orchestra for 7 seasons over the past 10 years and has also enjoyed playing in worship at a number of churches over the past 15 years.  She is excited to foster an interest in instrumental music at Richmond Christian College and is offering lessons on Trumpet, Trombone and Flute.  She is available on Mondays between 9 and 3 for private tuition.  She is willing to prepare students who wish to sit exams as well as developing students to play in the Chapel Band. 

Feel free to look at her website or email her with any questions regarding lessons.  (sonyalopes1978@gmail.com)

CANTEEN

CANTEEN MENU

Racecourse Café provides a lunch canteen Monday to Friday.

Bring your orders into the School Office before school or by 10.30am.Please write the name and order on a bag or envelope and enclose the exact money. 

Note: No Change will be given as orders go straight to the Racecourse Café.  Also, if you make payment over the phone, Racecourse Café will charge an extra 50c.

COMMUNITY NOTICES