Special Interest Activities
For further information, click on a Special Interest Activity:
Cadets
In New South Wales, an estimated one quarter of the 7000 cadets in the Australia Army Cadets are female, including its two most senior cadets. It is no surprise therefore, that the interest amongst teenage girls to join cadets has risen greatly in the last few years.
Ravenswood is the first girls’ school on the North Shore of Sydney to offer Cadets to its students from Years 8–12. Girls can join the E Company in Term 4 of Year 8 and continue with the programme until Year 12.
Joining forces with the Cadet Unit at Knox Grammar School, Ravenswood can maintain the integrity of a girls’ school and continue to advocate girls’ education in a single-sex school, but at the same time give scope outside the classroom to develop social skills with boys, social service skills and outdoor skills.
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Chess Club
Chess Club is open to all girls in the school. The emphasis is on friendly competition and improving play.
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Community Involvement
The Year 11 Community Involvement group is committed to giving service. Activities include assisting those in need in a practical way, raising awareness of issues within the community and raising funds where appropriate. Some of the charities supported are Red Shield Appeal, Red Cross Calling, Legacy, Daffodil Day or the Cancer Council, Wesley Mission Food Drive, World Vision, Salvation Army Christmas Appeal and a group of girls form close bonds with the children at Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School by visiting regularly. Community Involvement is voluntary and yet it is embraced by the whole group. In every activity the students are showing initiative, helping others and developing their leadership skills.
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Community Problem Solving
A programme where students working with a teacher/coach apply the problem solving process they have learned to real-life problems within a community. Reports of problem solving projects are evaluated and the top 15% are invited to the Finals. After extensive team interviews, winners of different age divisions receive invitations to attend the International FPS Conference.
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Community Service
In Year 10, students voluntarily undergo a programme to seek out opportunities to serve the community. Starting at the end of Term 1, students identify areas in which they feel they are suited to serve, aided by a presentation from the Centre for Volunteering. The commitment involves a minimum of five visits. Their progress is monitored throughout Terms 2 and 3 by their Mentors and concludes with a debrief session.
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Crusaders
Crusaders is the Christian group which meets for bible study, discussion, reflection, prayer, music, food, art, craft and games. Two groups meet within the School – one in K-6, which is teacher-led, and another in Years 7-12, which is led by Senior School students with guidance and support from committed teachers.
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Debating
Debating has a long tradition at Ravenswood. It is important in developing the skills of logical thinking and reasoned argument. Girls have an opportunity to participate at either competitive or social levels and develop lifelong skills. Ravenswood competes in two prestigious, inter-school debating competitions: the Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA) and the Schools Debating Network (SDN). Coaching of teams is provided by Old Girls experienced in debating competitions and coaches from various University debating societies. House Debating is an additional opportunity for enjoyable debating challenges and involves a strong sense of House spirit.
Ravenswood provides coaches to assist girls in developing and enhancing their debating skills. Girls from Years 4-12 are eligible to represent Ravenswood in the Independent Schools Debating Association and Schools Debating Network Competitions.
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Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme inspires many students from the age of 14 to step out of their comfort zone and discover their potential. Students are introduced to the rigours and expectations of planning and participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition at the Year 9 Camp. As well as the expeditions, students can choose from a huge variety of skills, physical activities and community service to fulfil all four sections of the award.
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Future Problem Solving
Future Problem Solving is an international educational programme that aims to develop critical, creative and futuristic thinking skills. It challenges students to apply their imagination and thinking skills to some of the significant issues facing both the world of today, and the future, equipping them with the skills and vision needed to anticipate, comprehend and solve problems associated with these issues.
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Language Clubs
The Junior School Mandarin Club for K-6 girls runs every Thursday morning. The DELF club for Middle School students of French meets fortnightly Tuesday lunchtime to prepare for the external DELF examinations, held in May and October at the Alliance Française. All Years 8-12 students studying French, German, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish are eligible for After School Conversation Classes (subject to availability), for half an hour a week with a native speaker. For more information, contact bcalcraft@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au
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Model UN (MUNA)
MUNA is an interactive and fun opportunity for students to debate global issues and to develop and use skills of research and public speaking. There are opportunities to participate with schools from around Sydney, Australia and the world in a simulated environment that mirrors the great debates of the United Nations General Assembly. Students debate global issues from the perspectives of the nations they are representing, respecting and tolerating differences of race, religion and nationalism whilst retaining their own individualism and the best of their national traditions.
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Ravenswood Environmental Protection Agency (REPA)
A direct initiative of the SRC was to form the Ravenswood Environment Protection Agency at the start of 2010.
The aim of REPA is to raise awareness of environmental issues and to foster the realisation that each of us is able to make a positive impact on the environment through our day-to-day actions.
REPA has student representatives from Years 2-12 who meet fortnightly to discuss, plan and organise initiatives within the Ravenswood community.
Some initiatives of REPA include a regular ‘power off’ period in the school timetable and the promotion of plastic-free lunches.
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Ravenswood Legal Association (RLA)
The Legal Studies Association is a group of Senior School students who are interested in legal issues and how they affect individuals and the community. They seek to engage with the legal profession to bring some of these issues to life for school-aged students, by inviting into the school, lawyers, barristers, judges and representatives of NGOs who share their experiences. The girls learn that it is not all as it seems on popular television shows! Many of the students involved in the Association have gone on to pursue a legal career.
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Social Justice Team
The Year 9 Social Justice team places a focus on issues of oppression, privilege and social inequalities. It involves promoting access and equity to ensure full participation in the life of a society.
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Student Representative Council (SRC)
The Student Representative Council (SRC) is the voice of the students.
Students from Years 5-11 volunteer to represent their Year group at regular SRC meetings which are held with members of the school’s Senior Leadership Team.
The Council raises issues that are of concern to the students and discusses ways in which these issues can be addressed.
New play areas for the girls, more seating in the common areas and a handball court introduced to the Senior Courtyard are just a few of the areas of the school that have been enhanced due to the work of the SRC.
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Visual Arts Tuition
Private tuition is offered in the following curriculum related subjects:
Photography, Computer Imaging and Ceramics: These courses for Years 7-12 are popular and rewarding. The focus of each class is to establish skills in these specialised media areas whilst enabling students to learn in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Over the past four years, specialist advanced skills classes have been established in both photography and computer imaging. In this way, classes are able to cater for the more specific needs of students who have undertaken the courses over a period of years.
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