Riverside Rap - Riverside Christian College

Debating Team proves confidence is biggest issue.It is said that the most feared thing is ‘public speaking’yet it was 2 teams of Grade 8’s who rose to thechallenge of their first debate of the Apex DebatingCompetition held at St Mary’s College Maryborough onWednesday night against some more experiencedGrade 10 debaters.Connor Slater, Ryan McPhail and Sam Ryan spoke forthe negative side of the topic ‘That School Sport shouldbe compulsory’. Connor led the team with a pleasanteasy manner, Ryan discovered how quickly you canspeak under pressure but still impressed the audienceproving how competitive school sport could be andshould be a free choice and finally Sam had theaudience laughing with him about backyard cricket andhow lunchbox police would solve obesity rather thancompulsory sport.Now the second team after watching this debate hadto wait until 8.00pm to start but instead of an attack ofthe nerves, Connor once again led with a differentperspective on the same topic (well done Connor – twodifferent debates on the same night – awesome!)Sarah Black spoke convincingly and calmly even afterdropping a palm card and Charlotte McSweeneyrebutted confidently keeping the audience’s attentionthroughout her entire speech.Mrs Slater and Ms Stevens were very proud toaccompany our young people to this event and lookforward to the next knockout round at Xavier’s Collegeat Hervey Bay where we will argue the affirmative caseof ‘Youth Wages are Unfair’.Compassion Day – students will be participating inCompassion Day again this year. Several students fromYears 8 and 9 will be on Rhema FM as part of thebroadcast encouraging people to sign up as a sponsor.The goal this year is to have 1600 sponsors in 16 hours.For more details on how to sign up as a Compassionchild sponsor go to www.compassion.com.au. To listen tothe broadcast tune into the 105.1FM or listen to the livestreaming at www.rhemawidebay.com.Real GeographyYear 8 students spent some time in Term 1 learning aboutgeography. They then had the opportunity to try their handat doing some geography research and fieldwork. Their hardwork culminated in a display for their peers on the lastday of term. It was great to see the creative ways thatthe students demonstrated what they had learnt.MIDDLE COLLEGE NewsMiddleCollegeNews4HALOGEN YOUNG LEADERSThere were thousands of students there ‐ theyfilled up the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.There was a succession of really inspirationalspeakers:“My favourite part of the day was when I waslistening to Pat Flynn (tennis player andauthor), and how he never gave up. I enjoyedthe guy who used wind power (land kite surferbuggies) to cross the Sahara desert. Marake(Australia's most successful Paralympicswimmer) had a good message to keep ontrying your best..” JadeWhat did the students take home from it?“That you can be a leader and you might noteven know that you are leading others. To helpand lead others ‐ to do the right thing.” JadeRwandan Survivor—Speaks with studentsYannick Tona is a young Rwandan man who survived thehorrors of genocide in 1994. At just 4 years old he walkedwith his disabled mother for three weeks, without food orwater, to escape being slaughtered. Many of his familymembers were among the thousands killed. The Middle andSenior students had the privilege of having Yannick come toshare some of his story with them. He not only shared aboutthe tragedy but he told the students of the hope he has. Asan ambassador for Aegis Students Rwanda he is helping toeducate and speak up for others to help create peace. Heencouraged the students to realise the potential they haveto make a positive impact in not only their school and communitybut in the world as well. For those interested to findout more about Aegis and the work they do log on to theirwebsite www.aegisstudents.org.Taste & SeeSince the time of Chris t (literally), Christians have taken pa rtin a ritual we know as communion. Just before the termbreak the Year 8 students were able to visit St Paul’sAnglican Church to view and participate in a communionservice. They learnt about the history and meaning behindthe symbols and practices and its significance especially atEaster. Thankyou to Mrs T ricia Wilkinson and Father JimMcPherson for their time and effort in providing thisexperience for us.Pictures can be found in our special insert.On Wednesday 21st April staff celebratedAdministrative & Professiona ls Day