Ruyton School Council During Their Unit on Scientific Method

RUYTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2013 Principal’s Report Our 135th year has been another remarkable year of curriculum is a unique and rich learning experience for outstanding achievement and endeavour. I congratulate our our girls. This year has also seen the third year of our students on their individual and collective achievements in curriculum review cycle, involving external subject experts both curricular and co-curricular activities, but, more and self-studies involving academic staff and student focus importantly, on the way in which they have approached each groups. Humanities, Languages Other Than English and opportunity with great enthusiasm, dedication and support Science have reviewed their programmes this year. for each other. We are an ambitious community and our This ongoing process will support best practice and students constantly exceed expectations collectively and acknowledge both excellence and areas to strengthen. individually. As a community, we embrace our boutique size In addition to these learning areas Expanding Horizons and and use it to achieve excellence and enjoy a strong sense Outdoor Education were also reviewed. The School of connectedness as a community. Executive and Board also reviewed policies and procedures for camps and overseas/ interstate tours. The strength of a Ruyton education is consistently reflected in the results of our Year 12 girls. In 2012 59% of our Year 12s This year we have celebrated the twentieth anniversary of achieved ATAR scores of 90 and above and there were the Ruyton/Trinity Co-ordinate Programme, a unique and eight perfect scores of 50, achieved by Michelle He, Emma successful collaboration, which was recognised officially at Jamieson, Rylie Wallace and Shu Xi Wang in Further joint Assemblies. We take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mathematics, Michelle Hu in Business Management, the outstanding service and contribution to education of Natasha Kotsimbos in Literature, Saskia McEldowney in the retiring headmaster of Trinity, Mr Richard Tudor, and Physical Education, Maddison Nash in Economics, Edward wish him well for the future. Wang from Trinity in Music Performance, and Betty Xiong Ruyton girls have continued our strong tradition of in Mathematical Methods. Natasha Kotsimbos (Dux), Ali academic excellence across the School, reflected in their Bethune, Tallulah Butcher, Jenny Guo, Michelle He, Jenny Li, competition results across many subject areas. Of particular Lucinda Loane, Maddison Nash and Rylie Wallace all achieved note were our Junior School Future Problem Solving ATAR scores over 99, accounting for 12% of our cohort. Teams who represented Ruyton at the national competition Overall Ruyton was placed eighth in the top ten schools in in Perth and won four of the six possible awards in their the state for 2012. All of our girls received a tertiary offer section. We also recognise Janet Davey, Year 12 2013, who and 60% received their first preference. In addition to was one of only 25 students across the nation to receive these outstanding results Premier’s Awards were received a Graham and Louise Tuckwell Foundation Scholarship to by Michelle He (Further Mathematics), Maddison Nash attend the Australian national University commencing in (Economics) and Rylie Wallace (Further Mathematics). 2014. Over 650 students across Australia were considered Natasha Kotsimbos (Dux) was awarded the Australian for this prestigious recognition of academic excellence Student Prize, a highly prestigious award, with only 500 and they took part in a gruelling process as ANU searched prizes awarded nationally each year to Year 12 students. for great thinkers and talented people who want to make As a community we congratulate the 2012 Year 12 students a difference in our community. on their excellent results and acknowledge their hard work and dedication, along with the commitment of our At Ruyton we value the development of the individual, academic staff who guided and supported them focusing on well-being as well as academic opportunities throughout their time at Ruyton. and endeavour. This year saw the introduction of a new staff role, Senior School Leadership Co-ordinator, to develop As a girls’ school recognised for its academic excellence further the leadership training and opportunities for there has been a continued focus on curriculum review students across the Senior School. As a result, a review of to promote reflection and continuous improvement. leadership opportunities across the Senior School has Academic staff have continued to prepare for the been undertaken, which led to a number of areas of focus. introduction of the Australian Curriculum, in addition to We have seen the introduction of an updated Form Captain undertaking Department Learning and Teaching reviews, role description to incorporate leadership of community and developing and implementing action plans. service projects across the year level, along with expanded This ongoing work has involved not only ensuring that leadership opportunities and training. We also saw the we meet national requirements, but also that the Ruyton Annual Report 2013 2 reintroduction of Citizenship Awards in the Senior School, our swimmers finished second in the GSV Division 1 with girls being recognised for their citizenship qualities Championships, our highest-ever placing, and a strong and initiative. reflection of the increasing skill level of our girls and the focused training and coaching programme. To complete Ruyton girls are well known for their high level of a year of Ruyton personal best performances, our rowers engagement in co-curricular activities. This is won their first ever medal at National titles, with a Bronze particularly evident this year in the number of girls medal in the Schoolgirl Coxed Quad Scull, in what can only who have participated in choirs, ensembles, debating, be described as a breathtaking finish. drama performances, and sporting commitments. This engagement strengthens their sense of belonging, In 2012 the Digital Learning Vision and five year Digital individual risk taking and endeavour, and builds Learning Strategy were developed, clearly stating our focus opportunities for friendships across the year levels. to engage, inspire and transform learning and teaching at Ruyton. Four main pillars emerged as the basis of the plan: As a community we respect and value the important role Learning Focus Areas, Key Technologies, Professional of the Arts in educating our girls and young women. Learning, and Management/ Infrastructure. There has been Through the Arts their minds, senses, emotions and their a significant review and overhaul of the network souls are educated and challenged. Ruyton girls have had infrastructure, in order to meet the goal of creating a stable a multitude of opportunities to express themselves and reliable network. This has included an upgrade of all creatively through both the Visual Arts and Performing optical fibre links, a new optical fibre link to the internet via Arts. In November the Annual Muse Art Exhibition AARNet, a new firewall to support the higher speeds now showcased the amazing array of talent across the School available, a replacement of all network switches, an and highlighted exceptional VCE work. upgrade and extension of the server room and more than Junior and Senior School students have had the opportunity doubling the number of wireless access points across the to strengthen their performance skills through a variety campus. As this work was being completed the ICT of student productions, with the highlight being the Committee carried out a Digital Devices Review with professional Ruyton/ Trinity Musical Production of Guys recommendations to the Board. As a result, from the start and Dolls. The annual Performing Arts House Festival of 2014 we will be putting in place a new digital learning (PAHF) was a spectacle of creativity and resourcefulness, environment for students with improved technology emphasising the spirit of Ruyton, the strength of our infrastructure, hardware and devices, teacher training and traditions and the way in which our girls work collaboratively support. This learning environment will be led by the and creatively. Congratulations to all Houses and to the introduction of iPads and MacBook Airs from the start of Year 11 girls for their leadership and co-ordination of this the 2014 academic year. event. Year 9 and 10 girls took part in the Interschool As part of our Professional Learning Programme all staff Theatre Festival. This was organised by Ruyton staff, have explored 21st century learning, the ISTE NETS and the providing an important opportunity for schools to perform Australian Curriculum ICT General Capability. Through the and share their creative thinking processes and production. establishment of the role of Digital Learning Mentor The Ruyton student performance explored the theme of (Senior School and Administration), one-on-one and human greed and consumerism and left a lasting on-demand digital learning support has been available to impression on the audience. Senior School staff throughout the year. A Digital Learning Music is an essential part of the Ruyton experience, as Mentor (ELC and Junior School) has been appointed to featured in Junior and Senior Assembly each week, and commence in 2014. This year Ms Robyn Treyvaud, Digital in the many concerts, soirées and recitals, in addition to the Learning consultant, worked with the Executive and key classroom programme. This year we enjoyed the first ever

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