Cura Personalis – Care of the Individual

“Jesuit education insists on individual care and concern for each person” (The Characteristics of Jesuit Education)

At Riverview teachers and administrators, both Jesuit and lay, are more than just academic guides. They are involved in the lives of the students, taking a personal interest in their intellectual, affective, moral and spiritual development, helping each one to develop a sense of self-worth and to become a responsible individual within the community.

While they respect the privacy of students, they are ready to listen to their cares and concerns about the meaning of life, to share their joys and sorrows, to help them with personal growth and interpersonal relationships. In these and other ways, the adult members of the educational community guide students in their development of a set of values leading to life decisions that go beyond ‘self’ that include a concern for the needs of others. They try to live in a way that offers an example to the students, and they are willing to share their own life experiences. 

In Years 5 and 6 the Homeroom teacher is the ‘significant’ adult in the boy’s life. Boys in Years 7 to 12 are part of the House System.

Health Centre

Our practice and procedures are reviewed annually in order to maintain the highest standards of treatment. The knowledge and application of the latest medical trends is maintained as a result of our close liaison with various professional medical bodies.

Our facilities include 17 beds, bedside nurse call system, wheelchair facilities, portable bedside phone, ice making machine, physiotherapy equipment, plastering facilities, suturing equipment, glucometer, venipuncture services and resuscitation equipment. 

The Health Centre is staffed 24 hours per day to care for in-patients.

DOCTORS

Currently doctors attend a clinic Monday to Friday at lunchtimes. Nursing staff are in constant liaison with our supporting medical practice. At the discretion of the registered nurse on duty, doctors are available to attend the Health Centre on a 24 hour, seven day a week basis.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapy treatment clinics occur twice a week. Students will be charged a discounted physiotherapy fee for this service. Every Saturday during winter sport pre-match taping is available from a physiotherapist at no charge. 

PODIATRY

Podiatry clinics are held fortnightly.

DENTAL

We have the services of dental practices in Lane Cove and orthodontic practices in Lane Cove and Chatswood.

MASSAGE

Massage is available from our qualified Massage Therapist on parent request. Written consent is required.

Counselling Services

The College’s Counselling team, who are all qualified in psychology or social work, works collaboratively with other members of the Riverview Pastoral Care System. They provide specialised assistance with regards to individual counselling, psycho-educational assessments, liaison and case management, referrals to external professionals and agencies and may provide advice and resources for parents. They can be contacted via the Student Office on +61 2 9882 8222 or studentoffice@riverview.nsw.edu.au

There are 16 Houses in the College, each House containing approximately 85 boys from Years 7 to 12. Boys remain in the same House during their entire time at the College and often develop a special identity with that House.

The role of the Head of House

Heads of House hold the primary responsibility for supervising the whole education of each student in their care. They ensure that each student’s experiences embrace one of the central ideals of Jesuit education: the well-rounded person. By knowing their students, Heads of House will help them discern their special talents, rejoice in them, develop them and put them at the service of others in a community of faith on a journey towards God.

Heads of House work in partnership with the range of staff at the College, all of whom unite in the spirit of Ignatian formation to put the student’s welfare above institutional boundaries. They also work in partnership with the student’s Mentor, meeting regularly with them to discuss the progress of students in each Mentor Group. Heads of House also assist and encourage Mentors to develop new and appropriate strategies for Mentor Group meetings. 

MENTOR GROUPS

Within the House, each boy belongs to a Mentor Group. Each House Mentor participates in the formation of each boy. This smaller group enables boys to meet informally and gives them the opportunity to develop leadership skills. 

The Mentor will interview each boy in his or her Mentor Group at least once a Semester. The Head of House will interview each boy in the House on a one to one basis each Term. It is also made clear to the boys that Heads of House and Mentors are always available for help in academic progress and subject choices, co-curricular involvement, and spiritual development.

HOUSE MEETINGS

House Meetings are significant educative events in our students’ formation. There is a short meeting of 15 minutes three times per week for the Mentor Group to meet the Mentor, while a longer meeting is held three to four times a Term. 

HOUSE CRESTS

Young men of competence, conscience and compassion, striving always for excellence in all they do

At Riverview we have developed an academic program and pastoral care system which enable a boy to reach his full potential as a person of faith, created and loved by God, and as a result provide a number of student leadership opportunities.

Captains

A College Captain and two Vice Captains—a Captain of Day Boys and a Captain of Boarding—are elected in Term 3 of each year. In addition a House Captain and two Vice Captains are appointed to each of the 16 Houses every year.

Leadership in Boarding

The Boarding House has its own student leaders known as Proctors. A Proctor is a Boarding Prefect, elected by his peers, who assists in maintaining order in the Dining Rooms, organising some social events and acting as a Buddy to the younger boarders. A Proctor serves from Term 3 in Year 11 until his Trial Examinations commence in Year 12. Boarders are asked to nominate themselves for these positions by applying in writing to the Director of Boarding outlining what talents they would bring to this position and why they would like the role.  A vote by the senior boarders of those nominated follows.  Up to 20 Proctors may be appointed in a year.

The Proctors elect a Beadle (an Ignatian name for Assistant to the Teacher) who acts as the deputy to the Captain of Boarders and is the chief organiser among the Proctors.  The Head Sacristan, nominated by the Proctors, assists in coordinating boarders’ liturgies.

The College actively commits to redressing the inequalities of access and educational outcomes by supporting First Nations students to their highest potential through the First Nations Program. Specialised members of staff, led by our First Nations Co-ordinator Mr. Kaleb Taylor, provide holistic support and community involvement at all levels. The College acknowledges and embraces the depth of culture and identity brought to us by the First Nations students and their families.

There are 36 First Nations students at the College, financially supported by their families, the Riverview Bursary Program, and organisations such as Yalari and AIEF, coming mainly from regional NSW, but as afar afield as Broome, Darwin and Cairns.  Through the support of individual adult Mentors (drawn from Old Boys and current parents), of two dedicated Learning Enrichment staff, of Cultural Support Tutors and Volunteer Academic Tutors, we aim to fulfil the aspirations of First Nations students to go on to university and careers.

Our First Nations students contribute so much to the richness of our diverse cultural fabric at Riverview.  They ground us in this ancient land and allow us to walk together into a more united, more just society.