Student Opportunities 

Student Opportunities

The College is genuinely focused on providing a Quality Christian Education for your child. At Riverside we understand that all students learn differently and so all subjects, specialised programs and extra-curricular offerings are designed to give our students the opportunity to engage with a range of learning opportunities that meet the needs of the individual as they grow to be active and productive members of the community.

Seeking Opportunity Above Routine (SOAR)

SOAR (Seeking Opportunities Above Routine) is an extension opportunity for Middle College students who excel in a particular area within the curriculum. Invitations are based on diagnostic testing or by audition process only. This program is built into the students pre-existing timetable within normal school hours.

In SOAR classes students complete higher order thinking tasks, guided by an expert in the field and finish the 10 week program with either the creation of a product, a presentation to an authentic audience or present their work at a competition. Currently we have 5 SOAR programs running – a Literature SOAR, a STEM SOAR, an Engineering SOAR, a Performing Arts SOAR and a Music SOAR.

SOAR – Music Program

SOAR (Seeking Opportunities Above Routine) Music is offered to selected students Onsite and in Distance Education. During this program, students come together to rehearse high level music as they learn how to play in an ensemble. Blending sounds and playing together encourages students to listen to music outside their own performance abilities, learning how their part fits in to create the whole song. This is an important part of musicianship and vital to helping our young people grow and mature through adolescence.

Certificate Tasters (Cert-Taster) Year 9

In Year 9 students engage with a range of certificate “taster” courses that allow students to explore Vocational Education and Training opportunities. At Riverside Christian College these tasters focus on Hospitality, Outdoor Education, Agriculture and Construction.

Creative Writing Excellence

The Creative Writing Excellence course is a 10-week program designed to inspire student-writers to embrace their creativity and develop their understanding of narrative. The program equips participants with the fundamentals of creative writing, while developing their analytical and grammar skills. The program is delivered by USC Creative Writing academics.

At the end of the program, student stories are published in an anthology that is published on Schoology.

Riverside Christian College Distance Education – Equestrian Team

Riverside Christian College’s Equestrian Team is open to all enrolled students, both day school and Distance Education. Students have opportunities to compete against riders from other schools in their age group as a horse/rider combination. There are 6 different types of competition offered:

  • Dressage
  • Jumping
  • Eventing
  • Show Horse
  • Showman
  • Combined training

Competitions are generally conducted throughout the year by schools, clubs and EA groups as tag on days and are run under EA rules. If they qualify in their event, then there is a Qld State Championship and a National competition later.

Distance Education – Activity Days

Distance Education Activity Days are a teacher-led day event filled with educational activities and opportunities for social gatherings for students and parent/carers. They are conducted throughout the year, in various regions within Queensland. Selected DE staff attend the one-day event with students and parents who indicate that they would like to participate. The program is often tailored to suit age-appropriate activities and students are grouped by age for rotational activities. Educational themes or projects/activities are the course of the day. With the intent on bringing practical, interesting (fun) elements that students may otherwise not have the opportunity to observe, learn or engage with other students in when learning at home. STEM projects are very popular.

Camps

Riverside Christian College places great value on camping and the benefits of the shared experiences that come from living in community.  Our camps are strategically sequenced to provide students with key experiences that build character, resilience and faith with a strong focus on the College Values.  Students begin their Riverside Camping Journey in grade 4 and it continues each year until they reach Year 11.  Camp experiences range from dorms to cabins to tents with a mix of catered meals and students preparing and cooking their own meals.  All camps activate students to engage with the elements of challenge, community and fun.  The friendships established between students can last a lifetime while staff and students learn more about each other and how best to support each other throughout the rest of their schooling.

4 “Changemaker” – Building Community through Fun
5 “Changemaker” – Building Community through Fun
6 “Courage” – Building Community through Personal Challenge
7 “Squads” – Building Community through Team Challenge
8 “Survivor” – Building Community through Service
9 “Legends” – Building Community through success
10 “GRIT” – Building Community through Perseverance
11 “Citizenship” – Being a Community

Normanton Expedition

Normanton has been a part of Riverside Christian College Missions since 2013 and remains a powerful and life changing experience for staff and students.

Due to the past history of treatment of Indigenous Australians, the word ‘mission’ is not used as it has negative connotations for our first Australians. * note 1 Instead, the trip is described as an ‘expedition’ – a time of exploration and discovery, not only of history and culture, but also of oneself. 

The team consists of approximately 40 Senior College students, volunteers and staff; living together in community for the 12 days of the expedition. 

Why We Go *note 2
The purpose of the Normanton Expedition is Reconciliation – learning from our past and walking together towards our future. Intentionally developing opportunities for strong and life-long relationships to be built with mutual respect, honour and service between each other.  Sharing cultural knowledge across Indigenous/non-Indigenous, as well as urban and remote Australian contexts are some of the key focuses of the program delivered by students, for students, led by student leaders, under the guidance of experienced staff. Riverside has connected with the peoples of Normanton since 2013 and are well known within the community as being one of the few organisations who return every year just to spend time with the young people in the community. 

Key Outcomes

  • Cultural exchange
  • Giving time & respect
  • Communication skills
  • Collaborative development
  • Developing resilience- a never give up attitude
  • Strong respectful relationships
  • Leadership by acts of service
  • Reflective processes- Campfires
  • An ability to look beyond our own needs, to meet the needs of others
  • A deep sense of purpose

Vertical Innovation Program

This is a unique opportunity that is open to Year 6 – 8 students is VIP: Vertical Innovation Program. Each term, teachers select a skills or community activity that they can teach children, for example, we have previously offered; a short course in basics of photography, a short course in AUSLAN, community cooking for groups of need within the community, the basics of car care, orienteering and taekwondo just to name a few. These periods are set aside to engage students in a life skill or interest that they wouldn’t traditionally find inside the four walls of a classroom. These subjects change each term, allowing a wide variety of choice for our students to engage with something fun, interesting, impactful and still educational, in a non-traditional way.