RSS Newsletter Issue 1 2022
From the Principal
It is with great excitement that we bring our first newsletter to you for the 2022 school year! It has been a 'different' start to the year for all however it has once again reinforced the resilience of our students, families and staff, whilst also reminding us all of the strength we can find in supporting each other in times of adversity.
Thankyou to all of our families who so conscientiously followed the applicable mandates regarding masks and social distancing to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff was not compromised. We are continuing to monitor current cases in Richmond to keep our school safe.
Our 2022 Improvement Agenda
Creating Numerate Learners from Prep to Year 10
Numeracy: What is it?
The Australian Curriculum states, ‘numeracy encompasses the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need to use mathematics in a wide range of situations. It involves students recognising and understanding the role of mathematics in the world and having the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully.’
There are 6 core actions that are involved in our Improvement Agenda - they are captured in the visual below. Myself and the staff will be working collaboratively throughout 2022 to achieve our improvement agenda.
We will be utilising the P-10 Numeracy Continuum to monitor and track student progress throughout the year. I encourage you to stay in regular contact with your child's teacher regarding their progression of learning.
I will share more information about our Improvement Agenda in future newsletter editions.
#CreatingNumerateLearners
Access & Parking
We are passionate about ensuring an inclusive and accessible school for ALL children and community members. You may have noticed that in recent months there has been works completed at the front of school to improve access.
In addition to the concrete access ways, two car parks have now been designated as 'Disabled Parking' spaces. One in front of the main school entrance and one outside of the High School entrance. Please respect these spaces and ensure they are available for use for those who require them.
Richmond State School would like to thank the Richmond Shire Council for their work and continuing support of our school and community.
Head of Department - Curriculum
Where has the term gone? Feels like we just returned to school for 2022 and yet we only have three more weeks until Easter break.
Assessment
Most students are engaging with assessment tasks over the coming weeks. Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. Students’ demonstration of learning provides staff with information on your child regarding further instructional needs and or advancement. For teachers, it inspires us to reflect on the curriculum and our teaching, are we teaching what we think we are teaching? Staff at Richmond State School , along with visiting support staff review student’s work to make sure all students have access to and participate in quality learning opportunities that focus on their individual needs and enhance student’s learning outcomes.
Support & Specialist Staff
Recently, we were privileged to have visits from numerous specialist support staff from the Department of Education. Occupational Therapist (OT) Nathan, Physiotherapist (PT) Allie, Speech Language Therapist (SLT) Yaddy and Guidance Officer (GO) Drew.
There is a lot of support available and many super keen people working together, to ensure your son/daughter develops, learns and becomes the best they can be while at Richmond State School. If you have any concerns about your child’s learning, please make a time to talk to their teacher. And remember everyday is a learning day at school. Help your child make every day count.
NAPLAN in 2022
NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine how well young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. Only years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students participate in NAPLAN tests. More information about the NAPLAN tests will be distributed during the coming weeks and posted on SchoolZine
NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for and students are not expected to do so.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.
This year, students will be moving to an online NAPLAN platform.
- NAPLAN Online provides a better assessment and more precise results.
- One of the main benefits of NAPLAN Online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, giving them more opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do.
- Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging.
Students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 at Richmond State School, will participate in a practice NAPLAN online test on Thursday 24th March 2022.
Between 9th and 20th May 2022, year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will be undertaking the four NAPLAN Online tests.
Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN Online can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website
https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
Newsletter Survey
We are seeking your feedback to help up improve our newsletter and therefore our communication with families. Please take 2 minutes to share your thoughts by accessing the link or QR Code below.
Student Achievements
Richmond State School takes great pride in showcasing the achievements of their students.
Each week on parade students who have demonstrated excellence in their work and positive behaviour choices are highligted with awards.
Students are reguarly sent to Mrs Mayo to show work, that their teachers feel they have excelled in.
Recent Award Recipients
From our Classrooms
Snippets from The Arts
All students are undertaking Visual Arts this semester. Students are learning a diverse range of skills and using a variety of medium to express their creativity.
They are happy to share the following images and snippets from the past few weeks.
Mrs Stainkey
Year 7/8 Lino Cutting & Printing
Mrs Hayley Ybema
We welcome Miss Ybema to our teaching staff in 2022. Miss Ybema is teaching 1/2Y.
Miss Lucie Kirk
We welcome Miss Kirk to our teaching staff in 2022. Miss Kirk is teaching HASS in Prep - Year 10.
Mrs Julia Burge
Mrs Burge has joined our Administration Team to assist in the daily operations of our School.
Chappy Charlie
I’m Charlie Chamberlin. Known by many as Chappy Charlie.
Here's a brief intro of myself until I get the opportunity to meet you in person.
On the family front I am husband to Wendy, who is the Director of the Calvary Early Learning Centre in Townsville and on the executive team of Calvary Christian College. I am a father of three, all adults, living far away with their respective spouses at the Sunshine Coast and Sydney, but no grandchildren as yet. I just turned 57 years old and I’m really tech savvy, but I don’t go much for social media.
On the experience front I’ve been there, done that. I’ve spent time in education, the building industry, entertainment, computers, business, radio, sports, church work, overseas missions and lots of music. You could say a jack of all trades, master of none.
My chaplaincy experience starts back in the late 80s as a high school chaplain in Toowoomba. Since then I’ve been a university chaplain, primary school chaplain, Head of Chaplaincy at a Christian school, trainer and mentor of new chaplains, and most recently a Special school chaplain. I just love seeing young people helped and encouraged to be the best they can be.
My interests are spending time with my lovely wife and our Labrador dog- Teddy; music- mainly playing drums, guitar and vocals; fishing, billiards, archery and amateur acting.
I bring all of my experience and ability to Richmond State School in the hope that I can be a very positive influence in the whole school community.
Chaplaincy is all about supporting whole school communities in whatever way we can and I am honoured with the opportunity to do that here in Richmond.
Sport
On Wednesday 2nd March students aged 10yrs+ travelled to Julia Creek to participate in the Touch Football, Netball & Rugby League Mid West trials. Our students showed excellent sportsmanship and behaviour while representing Richmond State School.
They were accompianed by Miss Oliver and Mrs Burge.
Touch Football, Netball & Rugby League Trials
School Information
REMINDER
At Richmond State School we have been busily planning programs for our Students as you would be aware, due to the number of notes that have bent sent home over the past weeks. To ensure your child/ren don’t miss out on any of these programs, please have notes returned by the due date. Returning notes by the due date allows our wonderful team to allocate students to programs on offer, when notes are received past the due date we may not always be able to allocate them to a program.
P & C Updates
Welcome back to 2022. We will again be working tirelessly this year to raise funds to support students at Richmond State School.
Our major fundraiser in 2021 was the Slime Spectacular held in the last week of Term 4. To be honest, we are not sure who had more fun; students, parents or staff. One thing we can agree on, is everyone had a slimy time. This year we will be having another fantastic fundraiser.
The P&C is not just about raising money for the school, it's also about having a say on decisions that involve the school.
If you think you would like to be involved in this great organisation, please come along to our meetings or contact the committee for more inormation.
Community Information
