RICHMOND CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

This week I have had the privilege of interviewing our candidates for the 2025 RCC Student Leadership team. It has been a wonderful reminder of how great our students are and how important they are to RCC as keepers of our culture that seeks to create a safe place so that everyone can belong and contribute courageously to their world.

As we sit in my office and chat about their passion for leadership, they share their dreams for making sure their peers feel safe or their voices can be heard. They speak of desires to create moments that allow everyone to contribute according to their passion, and of course they mention lowering canteen prices!

So, I thought for this week’s Tidings, rather than hear from me, I would let you read the devotion our Middle School Captain, Eli, shared with the Middle School this week at their assembly.

I pray you are encouraged by this like we were. I hope it gives you a glimpse of the safe hands we are in at RCC as our leaders pave the way for their peers to be all the person God created them to be... and maybe even be a little challenged yourself. 

Good Tidings!

 Jonno

Good morning, Middle School…

What is the purpose of a ladder? We climb up it to get to the top, right?

The ladder I'm talking about this morning, this ladder is like our life and popularity. Often we find ourselves trying to climb this ladder. We try to be the most popular. Do you know what happens when we try to climb this ladder? We feel empty and worthless the second we do something wrong, or someone is better than us.

We're going to consider a scenario.

Let's say I'm Eli and there's three other boys in this story: Reuben, Joe and Jacob. These boys aren't really my friends because they're higher up than me on the ladder.

So, I start my day maybe at the bottom of the ladder. I don't feel very secure in myself. My hair isn't perfect, and everything isn't going great.  I'm walking to put my bag down and I put out my hand to high five Jacob who is so cool and he high fives me.

I get a bit of a smile and I take a step up the ladder and you know what, I'm a bit more confident. I'm feeling good so I tell my friends about what just happened to make them jealous and use them to step up on them to get higher on the ladder.

So, I just used my friends to get higher on the ladder. That's not great but at least I'm higher on the ladder, right?

Then I get my stuff and I walk to class but I don't have any friends in that class so I try to sit with Joe who is at the top of the ladder and he says sure, so I sit with him and we get to talking and he tells me I should spread this rumour about Reuben and then me and Joe can be friends.

So, I do this and spread the rumour and Joe and I are now friends but I feel guilty for spreading this rumour. At least I’m on the top of the ladder, right? But to walk up that ladder I had to step on Reuben to get there.

Later on Reuben finds out I spread this rumour about him and when he comes to talk to me, Joe abandons me. Eventually everyone knows that I made up this lie and I fall down to the floor.

I'm not even on the ladder anymore. 

Throughout the day I'm searching to climb the ladder by stepping on others to get myself higher up. I end up feeling worthless and use other people and hurt them all just so I could be higher on the ladder.

Instead, what should I do? Instead, we should listen to 2 Corinthians 10:12:

"For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

This is basically saying that we don't need the ladder. The ladder is absolutely useless because we are all equals and shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to others and trying to get our self-worth from others. We should be finding our worth in God and knowing that God loves us and will be here for us. God knows how incredible you are and that you don't need to try to climb that ladder.

The ladder is flat lying on the ground because we are all equals.

2025 Year 7 Experience Day #3

Wednesday 4 September  - 8.50am - 2.55pm

Year 12 Retreat

Monday 23 September 2024

Year 7 & 10 Vaccinations

Tuesday 24 September 2024

Year 12 Graduation

Friday 27 September 2024 @ 9am

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RCC PRAYER GROUP

Mondays at 2pm. 

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LAST DAY OF TERM 3 2024

Friday 27 September 2024

FIRST DAY OF TERM 4 2024

Tuesday 15 October 2024

Are you a parent or carer navigating the challenges of raising children in the digital age? Do you have questions about screen-time limits, social media, phones, and other aspects of digital parenting?

In today's world, technology is central to our children’s lives, offering both opportunities and challenges. It’s crucial to approach digital parenting with intentionality, guiding our children in faith-filled ways. As such, we’re introducing an online course for parents called "Raising Tech-Healthy Humans," in partnership with Daniel Sih from Spacemakers.

Daniel Sih is an award-winning parenting author and TEDx speaker, providing valuable insights for parents with younger children to pre-teens, helping them make wise tech decisions. “Raising Tech-Healthy Humans” is offered complimentary to families at Richmond Christian College. There are fifteen short, interesting videos covering a range of tech-healthy parenting topics such as:

• How do I encourage healthy screen-time limits?
• What is the impact of interactive media on my child's developing brain?
• When and how should I give my child a smartphone?
• How is our technology use a discipleship issue?
• What is the impact of social media on a child’s mental health?
• How do I engage in relationship-forming tech-conversations?
• What can I do to get my kids outdoors to have fun?
• How do we support each other to make healthy tech-decisions as a community?

Each video includes discussion questions for parents to explore together, along with supportive resources such as digital contracts, infographics, and parenting checklists. As this is typically a paid course, Daniel Sih has asked that we refrain from sharing the sign-up link on public social media platforms. However, feel free to invite friends within your relational circles to benefit from these resources. www.raisinghumans.au/cen

Jye competed in the Inter-School Chess Competition and came 3rd in the individual event. Well done Jye!

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... At School Music Tuition is available with Ben for all levels of guitar (acoustic and electric) and for beginner/intermediate piano. 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 and after school hours. Lessons are $40+GST per half hour. Please make enquiries with Ben at benjaminwhitwood@gmail.com.

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)

Racecourse Café provides a lunch canteen Monday to Friday.

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.