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productions, such as Year 5’s
Revolting Rhymes
, Year 6’s
Dorothy inWonderland
, Years 3 and 4
From Now To Then and
Back Again
and the Prep to Year 2
Race to Save Lolly Land
.
The Senior School treated audiences to a wonderful array of
co-productions with Trinity and Scotch College. The Trinity
Senior School Play,
Metamorphosis
, provided students with
a challenging script and the girls embraced their roles with
a focus and commitment beyond their years.
Sweet Charity,
the Ruyton/Trinity musical, successfully nominated for
many Lyrebird Awards and the Scotch/Ruyton Middle
School Play
The 39 Steps
was a superb showcase for
students’ skills of characterisation and comedic timing.
Year 7 embraced conventions of non-naturalism in their
performance of Mr David Holman’s
NoWorries
and Year 8
interwove complex narrative structures in their Soap Opera
satire. It was affirming to see the Interschool Theatre
Festival initiative launched by Ruyton last year continued
on in 2014, with Lauriston hosting this year’s festival. A
memorable moment, also, was the inclusion in the
Masterclass programme of the VCE Drama class ensemble
based on the issue of Asylum Seekers. Students produced a
highly sophisticated and moving response to the issue,
which was praised by guest, Mr Julian Burnside AO QC.
Congratulations to OliviaWeatherson on her enthusiastic
leadership as Ruyton’s Drama Captain. Her positive
contribution to all areas of the Department was invaluable.
In addition, the many and varied endeavours of the Ruyton
Drama Department would not be feasible without the
tireless support of our FORDA Members. My thanks to all
students, staff and parents who have supported our work in
the Performing Arts Department so generously this year.
Mr Paul Smith,
Director of Performing Arts
Ruyton Student Council
The Ruyton Student Council (RSC) again proved to be an
effective representative body for the Senior School students
this year. Ably led by Annabel Loane, RSC Captain, the girls
met fortnightly to discuss a range of issues arising from
student suggestions/requests. These included such items
as microwaves in the Courtyard Cafe to rubbish bins and
uniforms.With the temporary loss of space in Hiscock Court
due to the building work, one of the biggest challenges in
2014 was to find suitable areas for students to eat lunch,
but this was duly overcome. The RSC-ledWalk 4Women
was organised again in conjunction with students from
Melbourne and Trinity Grammar Schools. TheWalk around
the Tan attracted students from over ten secondary schools,
and culminated in a BBQ at Melbourne Grammar.
Approximately $3500 was raised and donated to UN
Women Australia. The RSC also organised the annual Girls
Night In Movie Night at Ruyton. This year, the film was
Ten
Things I Hate About You
inspiring the theme of Warrior
Women. Over one hundred girls from Years 7-12
participated, consequently supporting one of Ruyton’s key
strengths - a genuine sense of community. Thank you to
everyone who assisted us in our endeavours this year.
Ms Julie Hoskins,
Co-ordinator of Special
Programmes
Science
‘The best scientist is open to experience and begins with
romance - the idea that anything is possible.’
Ray Bradbury
This year has been a year of change and new experiences
in many different areas of Science at Ruyton. During Term 1
staff and students prepared for the move out of the
Margaret McRae building, as the first phase for the
construction of the new cutting-edge science facilities
began. Many hours have been dedicated to researching
laboratory design and how this can integrate and support
innovative teaching practice and digital learning.
Spaces have been designed to permit a variety of learning
activities, and allow for a multitude of configurations.
The temporary classrooms have been set up with Apple TVs
and this has provided staff and students with new ways to
explore and engage with science. The move to MacBooks
and iPads has opened up a vast array of new resources,
which have been eagerly explored by students and
teachers. There are many apps that allow for consolidation
of knowledge and also provide opportunities for
enrichment, supporting our philosophy of personalised
learning. The introduction of iBooks allows students to
personalise resources to cater for their individual learning
styles. The expansion of digital learning resources is a
continuing priority for the Science Department.
2014 has also marked some changes in curriculum for
Science. Psychology has always attracted strong student
numbers and in order to cater for student interest, a Year
9/10 Psychology elective has been introduced. This elective
Annual Report 2014
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