A clubs and elective activities program operates across the College. Open to students of all ages, this cornerstone of the co-curricular program aims to enhance the holistic nature of a Rivermount College education. The program is designed to offer diverse opportunities to students, and to expose them to new and positive experiences.
A number of activities are an extension of the academic program of the College, such as STEM Club, Environment Club, Debating and Public Speaking. The majority of activities on offer vary across age groups and interest areas.
In 2023, the College will offer the following Clubs and Activities:
In is anticipated that the following clubs and activities will be available to students in 2023. These clubs and activities are subject to staff availability and student interest.
Art Club
Available to students from Year 7 to Year 12. Art Club meets on a nominated lunchtime during a selected school term each year that is determined on timetable suitability. The Art Club gives students the opportunity to develop their artistic skills while collaborating with students from different year levels involved in group and or individual projects, that will visually enhance the College and community. The design and production of murals, sets for the musical and practical workshops will be on offer.
Beenleigh/Yatala Junior Chamber of Commerce
The Junior Chamber of Commerce is open to interested Year 10 to Year 12 students. It involves attending monthly breakfasts at local Secondary Schools and other community venues on Thursday mornings. There is also an opportunity for students to be appointed to the Executive Committee for the Junior Chamber of Commerce. These students will gain additional experience in running meetings and organising the monthly breakfast. They will have the opportunity to meet and work closely with senior students from other schools. The Executive Committee also meet monthly on the Thursday afternoon a week before the next breakfast.
Debating
The College’s secondary students participate in the Gold Coast Debating competition. Which consists of four preliminary debating rounds followed by a finals series (if applicable). These rounds will be held throughout Term 1 and Term 2, usually with the finals held during Term 3. Debates are held at various northern Gold Coast schools.
Usually two of the four rounds are prepared debates, and two are short preparation debates. Prepared debates are scheduled to commence at 6.00pm, whilst in short preparation rounds, students enter their preparation room at 4.15pm, with the actual debate commencing at 6:00pm. During this preparation time, students will receive their previously unknown topic envelope and have one to one and a half hours to prepare their case for the debate (depending on the year level).
Planning, preparation and practice for debating occurs with coaches at lunchtimes and after school as required.
Uniform Requirements for public speaking and debating: Formal College uniform, including stocking for girls, and trousers for boys. Exemplary standards of dress and grooming are expected at all times. Transport Requirements for public speaking and debating: It is the responsibility of the students’ families to arrange transport and prompt attendance at venues.
Chess Club
The Chess Club will be available to students from Year 7 to Year 12. Students involved will have the opportunity to play before school and at lunchtime to further develop their skills. The club is open to Chess players of all abilities from beginners to very strategic talented players. The College will hold an annual chess competition and students will have an opportunity to play for their House in an Inter-house chess competition.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Program
Rivermount College is a licensed operator of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The Award is a leading structured (non-formal education) youth development program, empowering all young Australians aged 14 to 24 to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance. The Award is a fully inclusive program and has no social, political, or religious affiliations.
There are three Award Levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold. When students complete each level of the Award they will receive a certificate and an Award badge. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has recognised the following studies as contributing studies for the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). Gold Award is awarded 2 Credits, Silver Award and Bronze Award are awarded 1 Credit each.
Interested students should contact the College Award Leader, Mr Knapper for more information.
Environment Club
The Primary Environment Club is open to students in Year 5 and Year 6 and meets on a nominated afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in Terms 2 and 3. The Secondary Environment Club is open to students from Year 7 to Year 12 and meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in Term 2.
Students under the direction of teachers are involved in projects which will have a lasting positive effect on the College environment and that of the wider community.
Futsal
To complement students’ experience of futsal in the HPE program, the College enters teams into a variety of tournaments during the year. These events include the: Australian Futsal Schools Championships where students compete during the day and parents will need to provide transport to and from the games.
The College will also run a small number of invitational tournaments in The Colin Young Community Centre. Training takes place during selected lunchtimes. There are opportunities for students to compete in state and national squads from these tournaments, and a number of past students have been very successful in this sport.
Games Club
Available to students from Year 7 to Year 12. Limited places are available. Traditional games are engaging, collaborative, and fun. They have the additional benefit of improving students’ mathematical and thinking skills. Sessions will include some training, although it will prominently be match play. Games Club will run on a Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.30pm in Term 1.
Golf Club
The Golf Club meets every Friday morning (weather permitting) at 7.30am at the rear of The Colin Young Community Centre. Each week students will be presented with various skills:
The Golf Club also incorporates friendly competitions, such as, longest drive, nearest to the pin, draw and fade shots.
Junior Gold Coast City Council
The aim of the Junior Gold Coast City Council is to provide active engagement in civic and community life. The Junior Council was established in 1993 and gives students from Gold Coast High Schools the opportunity to have a voice representing their constituents, the youth of the Gold Coast.
This is the largest Junior Council in Queensland. Representatives of Rivermount College participate in the Junior Council meetings which are held at the Gold Coast City Council Chambers. There is also the opportunity for Rivermount College students to be voted onto the Executive Committee, who run the meetings, which are held approximately five times per year on school days.
The meetings are very interesting and exciting as the students formalise their relationships, listen to the speeches from a variety of business, social and environmental sources, participate in workshops and forums, plan activities for the youth of the Gold Coast and set the agenda items for future activities of interest. Networking between different students during the day is an integral facet of these meetings. Every student that attends the Junior Gold Coast City Council has an opportunity to be a participant in the Gold Coast that they want to create. It is a proactive organisation, fully supported by the Gold Coast City Council which gives students an opportunity to have a voice and instigate positive change.
Primary School Electives Program
The Primary School Electives program is available to students in the Primary School from Year 1 to Year 6. The electives program is held on four Wednesday afternoons 3.30pm to 4.30pm during Terms 1 and 3.
A wide variety of electives, including sport, craft, cooking, games, languages, singing etc. may be offered as part of the program. Parents are always welcome to participate in the elective program by offering to assist with an activity.
Public Speaking
Competitions are suitable for students from Year 7 to Year 12. A variety of competitions may be held throughout the year. Events include The Legacy Public Speaking Competition, The Plain English Speaking Competition, A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition, Lions’ Youth of the Year Competition and Young Voice of Forde Competition. Competitions are of various formats including a combination of the following - prepared speeches (may be a choice from topics provided, or free student selection), impromptu speeches, current affairs questions and personal interviews.
Planning, preparation and practices usually occur at lunchtimes, depending upon various competition requirements. Competitions are held during Terms 1, 2 and 3 on evenings and/or Saturdays.
Uniform Requirements for public speaking and debating: Formal College uniform, including stocking for girls, and trousers for boys. Exemplary standards of dress and grooming are expected at all times.
Transport Requirements for public speaking and debating: It is the responsibility of the students’ families to arrange transport and prompt attendance at venues.
RMC TV
Available for students in Year 9 to Year 12, and will run Tuesday afternoons from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Production schedules for larger projects may include some lunchtime and holiday commitments (negotiated on a per-project basis).
RMC TV is an exciting opportunity for students to take on and contribute to various projects and events throughout the school year, from Term 1 to Term 4. RMC TV will give students the opportunity to develop their skills in every stage of the production process, including:
Concept development
Through their involvement in RMC TV, students will develop their project management skills, building on their ability to work in a team in a creative environment. Students will meet weekly to develop and work on projects such as documentaries, short-films and filming College events to create RMC TV stories for publication.
Rivermount Racing Club
Available to all Engineering students through a selection process. Limited places are available.
Rivermount Racing Club is offered to Engineering students who have a passion for motorsport and racing go-karts. In this club, students will learn the fundamentals of go-kart racing and assemble a racing go-kart. Under the direct supervision of a Technology teacher, students will complete a safety induction and work in a race team to assemble all components of a race kart with the intention of driving it.
Rivermount Racing Club is offered in Term 2 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and is held in T4 classroom. Expressions of interest to be emailed to Mr Matthew Orth (Head of Technology).
Running Club
The Running Club is for students in Year 7 to Year 12. The club commences in Week 1, Term 1 and finishes Week 8, Term 4. The training days are Tuesday afternoons from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and Thursday mornings from 7.15am to 8.00am, meeting at The Colin Young Community Centre. It is recommended the runners attend at least one of the two weekly sessions.
All runners are to bring a water bottle, Rivermount Sports cap and a spare pair of socks (wet grass in the mornings). The running courses change throughout the year. This activity is fun and creative, combining interval, distance, sprinting, team and tag running.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Club
The STEM Club is open to Year 7 to Year 12 students with an interest in Science. The STEM Club encourages success and the development of skills and processes by allowing students to undertake project based learning along a particular theme chosen for the year.
Students undertake real-life open-ended Science and Technology research projects which involve three elements: creativity, perseverance and application. Students undertake group work that involves using STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) to solve a real world issue.
The club meets Monday afternoons at 3.30pm to 4.30pm in the Science Block during Terms 2, 3 and 4.
Swimming Squad Training
Swimming Squad Training is held in Terms 1 and 4 for students in Year 3 to Year 12. The squad will train three times per week. Training includes two mornings sessions and one afternoon session. Days will be confirmed early in 2023 via the College App.
There are many advantages to participating in the swimming squad training. These benefits include development of stroke capabilities, building fitness and improving competition preparation (Age Champion/GBC Carnivals)
All students are to be competent swimmers at 25 metres and in all strokes. Information regarding the Swimming Squad Training sessions will be advertised via the College App.
Technology Club
Available to students from Year 7 to Year 12. Limited places are available.
Technology Club seeks to explore to use of rapid prototyping equipment including CAD, Laser cutting, 3D printing and vacuuming forming to design and manufacture fun projects. Under the supervision of a Technology teacher, club members will engage with this equipment to learn safe operating procedures and manufacture products whilst developing or improving design and engineering skills.
Technology Club is offered in Term 2 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm and is held in T4 classroom. Expressions of interest to be emailed to Mr Matthew Orth (Head of Technology).
Triathlon
Open to students in Year 3 to Year 12 with an interest in running, swimming, cycling or all of the above. It encourages self-discipline and dedicated training year-round.
There will be between four and five official Rivermount Triathlon events per year, where the College Triathlon Club attend. These will be external competitions, held predominantly at the Gold Coast and at Raby Bay over the warmer months (September to April) every year. Students may attend further events at their own discretion.
The club will occur in Terms 3 and 4. A variety of sessions will be provided each week. Running will be done on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with the Running Club. Swimming will be done with the Swimming Squad on mornings to be advised. Cycling and transitions training will be arranged depending on the needs of the club and its individual participant requirements, being at least once per week. Occasional Saturday mornings may be used as practice for events and will include a swim, bike and run practice event, held at the College.