At Ravenswood, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant sense of community spirit and leadership among our students.
Our House system is a testament to this commitment and supports our School’s culture.
The House system is a proud tradition at Ravenswood that creates a sense of enthusiasm and excitement and fosters a sense of belonging and participation. There are four houses at Ravenswood: Stuart and Tudor were both established in 1930, followed by Windsor in 1944 and York in 1967.
We also cultivate an environment where every student has the opportunity to discover and nurture their leadership potential.
Within and beyond the classroom, we believe in providing diverse avenues for students to develop essential leadership skills that will serve them throughout life.
Houses
The House system at Ravenswood is a cherished tradition that fosters a strong sense of community and camaraderie among our students.
Upon enrolment, each student becomes part of a supportive and spirited House family. Often, students are assigned a House that will see them follow in the footsteps of family members who have attended Ravenswood. There are four distinguished Houses – Stuart, Tudor, Windsor and York.
Throughout the year, students participate in various House competitions, fostering teamwork and friendly rivalry as they vie for the coveted House Shield, presented at the Senior School Presentation ceremony.
School Leadership Opportunities
In Years 7 to 12, the skills and understanding that leadership opportunities develop are integral to each student’s experience of the Senior School.
Whether it is leading a chapel service, captaining a sports team, raising money for a charity or forming a band to perform at a lunchtime concert, there are a myriad of leadership opportunities available that are supported and encouraged by both students and staff.
Student Representative Council
The Student Representative Council (SRC), comprising peer-elected representatives from Years 3 to 12, is a powerful platform for student advocacy and governance. Here, student voices actively shape the policies and decisions that affect our School community. Representatives meet regularly to discuss issues and work with the School on matters of interest to students. The Chairpersons are the School’s Vice Captains.
All representatives are actively involved in the many aspects of the SRC. As the student voice, the representatives may present information at their weekly Year Group meetings, collect ideas and provide feedback to their peers. They also have the opportunity to present information at assemblies and represent the School at significant events.
The SRC fundraises throughout the year and monies raised are directed towards projects and programs chosen by the students.
In the past, this has included purchasing new equipment, organising social events, purchasing a School mascot, supporting charities and promoting the School.
The SRC also works with and supports other student bodies and groups, including the Prefects, the Green Team, the Social Justice Team and the Ravenswood Parents’ Association.
The SRC Chairpersons organise and lead the meetings, using an agenda and preparing minutes. They also mentor the other SRC representatives.
Co-curricular Leadership Opportunities
Co-curricular activities, such as Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA), the Green Team and Cadets, to name just a few, provide further opportunities for students to take on leadership roles.
School Leadership Roles
From the start of their education at Ravenswood, students are encouraged to identify their strengths then work to enhance them in pursuit of their personal best.
Students can apply for a variety of commissioned student leadership positions in the final semester of Year 11. If successful, students have the opportunity to serve their School community as School Captain, Vice Captain or Prefect, or as Captain of a portfolio such as Sport, Performing Arts, Community and Wellbeing, to name just a few.
There are also opportunities for students to take on leadership roles within and across Year Groups with our Peer Support program.
Green Team
With increasing evidence of climate change around the world, environmental protection has become a strong focus for many individuals and organisations.
The student body recognised the need for action and established the Green Team in 2010.
The Green Team is student-elected and composed of representatives from Years 1 to 11, with Year 6 Sustainability Captains taking leadership responsibility in the Junior School and Year 11 Chairpersons in the Senior School. The group meets regularly under the guidance of a teacher–mentor to discuss, plan and organise initiatives that support environmental sustainability.
The Green Team’s mission is to highlight each student’s capacity to help protect the environment through small, manageable acts, and to generally raise awareness of environmental concerns. Their initiatives provide the School and the wider community with opportunities to be involved in environmentally sustainable projects, focusing on reducing waste, promoting sustainable practices for the future and encouraging active participation in local, national and international environmental initiatives.
