Primary
Stages 1 to 3 – Kindergarten to Year 6
When entering the primary building, the first-time visitor is often struck by the sense of space. When designing these facilities, the decision was made to remove the dividing walls between classes and allow students to learn together in each stage. Kindergarten is Early Stage 1 and has its own learning area. Likewise, years 1 and 2 are Stage 1 and have their learning area. Years 3 & 4 are together in Stage 2 and years 5 & 6 are together in Stage 3. There are two to four classes in each area, sharing 3 to 5 teachers.
This environment allows teachers to collaborate and plan student learning in their stage. Research has identified this dialogue between teachers about student learning as being extremely effective at improving student achievement. As well, the open plan allows teachers to more efficiently cater for the diverse needs of the students, whether through support or extension.
Currently, the primary department is participating in the NSW State Government’s Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan Phase 2. Although the project is focused on Kindergarten through Year 2, all teachers and students in the primary are benefiting from the professional development provided. This is a four-year project that seeks to improve student achievement in the key areas of literacy and numeracy through practices identified by research as being the most effective: explicit direct instruction.
Our school desires to continually improve our practice to ensure optimal student achievement. To realise this, it is necessary for teachers to continually reflect upon their teaching. Another benefit of the open-planned environment is that it assists teachers to observe each other, a practice that is a valued component of our school culture. As well as improving teacher practice, it serves as an example to students of the importance of our peers as a source of feedback in attaining our learning goals.
Within each learning space, students are still members of an individual class group with an assigned teacher. While they may learn from different teachers in writing, reading or Mathematics, they all have a home teacher, with whom they will start and end the day and who meets their pastoral care needs.
In caring for our students, we understand that learning has is by its very nature stressful. For this reason, our school emphasises the social and emotional learning of our students. We teach students skills to help manage their emotions and situations, to keep themselves and others safe – so that they can spend the maximum amount of time on their learning and achieve success. We promote practices that encourage resilience and perseverance.
Our students’ well-being is of crucial importance at our school. We recognise that our well-being begins with our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Every teacher disciples the students in their care through prayer, daily devotions and Bible lessons, teaching and modelling the truth as revealed in Scripture.
In common with all schools in NSW, students study the six Key Learning Areas of English, Mathematics, Human Society and Its Environment, Science & Technology, Creative Arts and Personal Development & Physical Education. Whatever subject is being taught, teachers encourage students to understand that their learning is not separate from Biblical truth but rather fulfilled through it.
Secondary
Stage 4 – Years 7 and 8
Stage 4 provides an excellent grounding for high school. It provides spiritual support and growth for all students. Our dynamic secondary team is committed to professionally developing our staff and growing the students’ capacity and passion for learning.
Stage 5 – Years 9 and 10
Stage 5 is traditionally the time when students and parents begin to choose elective subjects. It is a time when students begin to take greater responsibility for their learning and are able to examine and explore complex ideas and social issues.
The introduction of our new course in Year 9 is aimed at helping young people understand how effective learning occurs, what skills are needed and to be able to set appropriate learning goals. Research shows that the more students are empowered to learn, the better their progress and performance.
Year 9 and 10 electives offered may include:
- Commerce
- Music
- Drama
- Visual Arts
- Design and Technology
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- PASS (Physical Activity and Sports Studies)
- Food Technology
Senior Secondary
Stage 6 – Years 11 and 12
Senior School is a time of personal growth, maturity and preparation for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and transitioning to post-school life. For many students, it is a time when they begin to appreciate their gifts and use them in the school, churches and general community.
The school offers a diverse range of subjects and levels, as well as out of school courses such as Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses.
Subjects may include:
- English (all levels, including extensions)
- Mathematics (all levels, including extensions)
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Science Extension
- Ancient History
- Modern History
- History Extension
- Legal Studies
- Business Studies
- Geography
- Economics
- Studies of Religion 2
- Physical Development, Health and Physical Education
- Community and Family Studies
- Food Technology
- Design and Technology
- Music 1
- Music 2
- Music Extension
- Visual Arts
- Drama
- Photography, Video and Digital Imaging
Learning Support
The WHAT and WHO of Learning Support @ RPCS
What is Learning Support?
Student diversity is valued within our wider community and is most certainly celebrated here at Regents Park Christian School. Each individual student, made in the image of God, is unique! They are unique in personality, appearance, interests, goals, and educational needs. Best practice in education fosters that uniqueness and strives to nurture students at an individual level.
For some students, nurturing at that individual level incorporates the involvement of learning support. Learning support at RPCS specifically works with students with disability, students who are have English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D), and other students with learning concerns. Learning disabilities may include:
- Processing disorders such as Dyslexia or Dysgraphia (now referred to a Specific Learning Disability of …)
- Neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Emotional or behavioural disorders such as Anxiety or Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)
- Physical disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy or Deafness
- Intellectual disabilities, or,
- Other types of learning challenges such as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
In fostering belonging here at RPCS, learning support will be working closely with teachers, families and students to develop individual, strength-based programs designed to empower our students whilst remediating and adjusting for their learning challenges. Learning support is also responsible for disability provisions relating to HSC and NAPLAN, in addition to our requirements under the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).
The ‘Who’ of Learning Support
If you have any questions, concerns or would just like to discuss ‘all things learning support’, please contact us through the school office – 9644 5144.
Camps, Ministries & Missions
Camps, ministries and missions week or CMM as it is known in the school community, is a week the whole secondary is involved in. It is one of the highlights throughout the school year and every year we see lives changed, transformed and most importantly rebirthed in their saviour. It is a joy and honour to see many people used by God and to see His plans unfold in the lives of His children.
During the week we have the following events happen:
Year 7, 8 and 9 Camp:
We run our three school camps at the same time, in fact although we run three different camps with three different speakers and camp directors, we run them not only at the same time but at the same place. We spend the day in our year groups with guest speaker sessions and run our own activities such as Wake boarding at Cables, trampolining at Flip Out, riding in the dodgem cars we hire or swimming on the water slide. Then at night we all come together to for a combined night rally with our guest speakers. It is a time of reflection and growth in our Lord God.
Mission Trips:
We are also aware of the opportunity to take students on mission trips at the same time as our junior high is on camp. Some year 10 and 11 students will go to different locations and partner with local churches, schools or organisations in the hope of glorifying God.
In the past we have sent teams to the Solomon Islands, Cherbourg (QLD), Dubbo (NSW) and Sydney City (homeless focus). All our students will return with a fresh sense of appreciation of what they have been blessed with and a new passion to see those less fortunate to find hope in Christ Jesus.
Ministries:
We have three ministries that will serve the community in the week.
- Creative ministry, this is for students to use their God given creative ideas in a project that will be used in the school.Art works, videos and thankyou cards are placed around the school for future generations, while we have also worked with nursing homes and hospitals to do art works and portraits for patients.
- Excellence ministry, this team of dedicated students make the school and local churches excellent. They use their hands-on skills to fix things, make things and generally improve communities.
- Primary ministry, this is for students to re-invest into the generations below them. It is a great ministry that cares and nurtures the primary students of the school. They partner with the primary teachers and build lifelong friendships with the students they minister to.
Work experience:
Students are also encouraged to participate in work experience during this week. For some students they need a taste of the field of work they would like to one day do, so the school offers an opportunity to for this during the CMM week.
Year 12:
While the school is at its quietest, we bring the year 12 students back for their half yearly exams. This week provides the best opportunity for the students to sit exams without the stress of play ground noise, bells ringing and many of the other different distractions students can face when sitting and exam. We have staff that will provide support in the library and pray for students also as they work through this week.
GATEway
GATE stands for Gifted And Talented Education. Our Gifted and Talented Program has been titled GATEway as we believe the symbolism in the image of a gateway reflects the uniqueness of opportunities presented in this program.
It represents the truth that, within the context of Christian education, learning is a journey focused on transformation. Romans 12:1-2 expresses that God’s desire for us is to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is reinforced in our school’s motto Grow Up Into Christ.
The GATEway program seeks to help students:
- Identify their gifts
- Set challenging goals
- Work collaboratively with other students who are gifted
- Engage in projects that encourage students to utilise higher order thinking skills
- Develop and present projects that demonstrate gifted education
- Develop resilience and optimism
- Develop an understanding of their gifts in terms of God’s calling on their life
- Develop a servant heart and passionate faith
The GATEway Program focuses on Years 5 – 8 which we might describe as the middle school years. During this formative stage of students’ development, students typically begin to cement conceptual understanding, developing the ability to apply their learning in a variety of contexts. What happens in the middle school years also prepares students for learning in Senior School but, even more, for post-school education.
The GATEway Program seeks to emphasise 21st Century learning. This type of learning focuses on the five Cs: collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, cooperation, and communication.
Year 7 2021 GATEway Scholarship applications are now open. More information Click here
Download application HERE
Sport at RPCS
At Regents Park Christian School we offer a wide range of sporting opportunities for our students from elite inter-school competitions to more recreational pursuits. We not only encourage a healthy, active lifestyle but we celebrate our students participation and success both within the school program and any out of school accomplishments.
The RPCS sporting program encourages the demonstration of good sportsmanship, new friendships, team work and leadership, whilst giving students an understanding of good health and fitness and providing a platform to display their God given gifts and talents.
Some of the many sporting teams we have on offer in 2019 include Touch Football, Volleyball, Netball, Football (Soccer), Rugby League and Union and Basketball as well as regular carnivals of Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country. We participate in the Christian Schools Sports Association (CSSA) and Combined Independent Schools (CIS) sports association in combination with a number of local and state-wide gala days to provide our students with the most varied, challenging and enjoyable sporting experience possible.
BYOD
BRING-YOUR-OWN-DEVICE
Technology plays a large role in our students’ lives. Personal computing devices can enhance and enrich learning opportunities both at home and at school. In an information and technology-driven age, our students must be well prepared to take their place in workplaces of the future where technology will increasingly become an essential component. Successful tertiary study also requires a high degree of proficiency in using technology for learning, communication, research and presentation.
RPCS is committed to allowing responsible, learning-centred use of personal devices at school so as to provide as many pathways to understanding as possible for our students. To this end, various types of devices are available for use by students.
- The early years of Primary have iPads provided for shared use in the classroom.
- Stage 2 and 3 have Windows based laptops provided for shared use in the classroom.
- At the start of Secondary, each year 7 student is provided with a high specification windows tablet computer and attached keyboard, for use at home and school each day. The cost of this device is subsidised by the school and the remainder billed to parents with school fees over 3 years. This device should last through to the end of year 9.
- In years 10, 11 and 12, students must bring a device to school each day. This may be the device from year 7-9 provided through the school, or a different device of any platform with at least a 7 inch screen.
These devices are for educational use in class as directed by the teacher. Students will have internet and network access through the school network and WiFi. The school will give guidance as to an appropriate device if needed. Phones may not be in place of a classroom device.
In cases of hardship, the school is normally able to provide a refurbished device to senior secondary students at a nominal charge.
To view our school BYOD Policy click here.
At RPCS we receive several requests each year for recommendations regarding devices. So in order to make choosing a device that meets all the school’s technology requirements simpler for our School families. We have provided a link below that will take you to an order portal where you can purchase a School Recommended device from a reliable seller. If you have any further questions please check the BYOD FAQs in the first instance if there are further questions beyond this please do contact the school.
https://rpcs.orderportal.com.au/
