RSS Newsletter Issue 7 2022
From the Principal
ARD Visit & Student Learning
We have been recently had the Assistant Regional Director visit, Mr Phil Sweeny visit our school. Phil is an experienced Principal who supports myself and our school. During his recent visit he asked a number of students the 5 Questions for Students:
- What are you learning?
- How are you going?
- How do you know?
- Where do you go for help?
Students demonstrated clarity of their learning and how they were being assessed on their learning and reference the learning walls as a support to help them. This is very positive as our staff have been working hard on ensuring 'Assessment Literate Learners'. Specific mention of the 'ships on the learning walls in Year 3/4, were a highlight', have you seen them?
Congress Meeting
I 'virtually attended' the Principal Congress on Monday 8th August during which time we discussed a range of key topics that are facing schools and the implications throughout Queensland. Principal Congress is chaired by the Deputy-Director General – State Schooling and provides an insight into the system wide innovations and policies that may be implemented throughout the state. During this consultative meeting, I am able to ensure I continue advocating for the students and staff learning and teaching in Rural and Remote Schools within Queensland, most importantly @ Richmond State School.
Principal Business Days
During Week 7, 24th & 25th August, I will be in Townsville to attend the North Queensland Principal Business Days. As a Princial Group we will be collaborating about what strategies we are implementing in our schools to ensure teaching and learning excellence and reviewing the research published about school discipline.
I look forward to providing further updates upon return.
Career Fair
On Saturday 3rd September I will be engaging in the North Queensland Careers Fair at the Brisbane Convention Centre with the aim to attract and recruit staff to Richmond State School for 2023 and beyond.
Warm Regards,
Mrs Elizabeth Mayo
Principal
NCCD
Attached is an article with information about NCCD. If you have any questions please contact the school for more information.
RSS Improvement Agenda
Head of Department - Curriculum
As we near the end of term 3 please be aware that some year levels will be undertaking assessment tasks of varying types and at various times. Check the Parent Curriculum Overview sent home for your child’s year level that details what task will be required to demonstrate their learning and when this will need to be completed by.
Updated Australian Curriculum
Version 9.0 of the Prep to Year 10 Australian Curriculum has been released. Implementation of this version will be staged starting in 2024, yes two years away, with English and Mathematics. The remaining learning areas will be rolled out during 2025 with full implementation expected by 2026. If you would like to peek at or follow the implementation, please visit the website v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au. Staff at Richmond State School will be considering ways of implementation to best suit our students with a continuous ‘flow on’ in learning.
Homework
It is really important to your child’s learning habits to establish a ‘homework’ routine from an early age. Homework should involve consolidating, expanding and or preparing for classroom learning. This could range from reading a home reader, practising sight words to drafting assignments, seeking extra problems to practise or going over new learning from the day’s lessons. A homework routine will help your son/daughter to become independent learners into their adult years. How can you help?
- setting a time for your younger children, to complete homework
- finding a space that is free of distractions
- encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning and time management with older children
- supporting them to complete tasks by discussing key questions and directing them to helpful and appropriate resources – look in their exercise books
- reading and playing games with them – encouraging appropriate oral language
- involving them in tasks; including shopping and cooking
- encouraging them to read and to take an interest in and discuss local, national and international events
If you have any homework concerns, please discuss them with your child’s teacher. Homework should not be a burden on families. If getting homework done is a challenge with the ‘busy-ness’ of families these days, please consider sending them to homework club if they do not already attend. Spaces will be available in term 4.
Homework Club – Learning beyond the bell
Please advise the office if your child/children will not be attending a homework club session or if you have decided to withdraw your child from the program. We are required to follow up on absentees for each session and having your assistance in notifying the school of any absences would be greatly appreciated.
2023 Prep Information
Student Achievements
Congratulations to all award recipients. You have been recognised for your hard work and dedication to learning and our school.
Weeks 4,5 & 6
Principal Award
Congratulations on receiving a Principal Award!
Positive Behaviour
The following students enjoyed Golden Ticket Morning Tea, on 11th August .
Mikayla, Dustin, Bailey, Mason, Torah, Rylann, Lara, Luca, Scarlett, Daniel, Rick, Corbin & Lucian
Science Week - Week 6
Monday
The Prep to Year 3 students investigated how materials change when exposed to heat, just like how sand is turned into glass when super heat. Mr Theodore and the students transformed sugar into an edible ‘glass like’ substance, yum!
Tuesday
The Year 4 to 5 students investigated how glass allows us to see the microscopic world. Mr Marshall led today’s investigation of using a range of microscopes to view biological material.
Wednesday
The Year 6 to 10 students created hot glue fibres to investigate how optical fibres can be used to send light signals. Students investigated how hot glue’s viscosity changes with temperature. It has a glass transition temperature of approximately 100 °C. As it cools, it can be manipulated to form long plastic fibre that act like glass optic fibres which are used as communication technology. To make long fibres without defects, scientists must use the right temperature for the chemical composition of the glass.
Thursday
The Year 3 to 6 students experimented with using light boxes. The light box and optical set are useful in reflection and refraction demonstrations. The light box can create a single light beam or a few parallel light beams. The single beam can be useful for reflection and refraction measurements while the multiple beams can be used to view focal points and measure focal lengths of light.
Friday
Selected students were invited to attend the ‘Make a light bulb’ experiment. This experiment demonstrates how old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs convert electrical energy into heat and light. These students learnt about electricity and circuits, the chemical reaction of heat and substances, and the role of glass in incandescent light bulbs.
Science Week
Book Reviews
Book Review
This newsletter we have a review from Cooper.
The Magic Finger By Roald Dahl
Is about a girl with a magic finger. She doesn't like people hunting for fun, so this makes her angry.
I liked this book.
Cooper
School Based Youth Health Nurse
Let’s CONVERSE WITH OUR SCHOOL NURSE
Energy drinks are not new in Australia, being introduced to the domestic market in 1999. The drinks are promoted to increase mental and physical stimulation, utilising marketing terms such as ‘energy’ and ‘sports performance’. The ingredients include sugar, caffeine, amino acids, herbs, and carbonated water. So why have some European countries banned sales of the drinks to youth under 18 years of age? Well, it’s not the fact that most of these drinks contain large amounts of sugar. A 500mL can of energy drink contains 21 teaspoons of sugar. The World Health Organisation recommends school age children should consume no more than 7 teaspoons of ‘free sugar’ per day. Free sugars are sugars added to foods, not the sugars naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables, and milk. As we all know, excessive sugar consumption is linked to obesity. Obesity increases the risk of many debilitating disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Unfortunately, overweight and obesity will shortly overtake tobacco as the leading cause of preventable disease burden in Australia. Furthermore, energy drinks are not being banned in some countries because excessive caffeine consumption causes sleep problems, anxiety, increased risk-taking behaviour and digestive problems in some people. Similarly, energy drinks are not primarily being banned in some countries because of the alarming relationship between excessive caffeine intake and sudden cardiac (heart) death among young people unaware they have a pre-existing heart condition. Just one energy drink can result in a life-threatening blood pressure increase, cardiac disturbance, or death. Caffeine is also associated with long term damage to the developing cardiovascular system of a child.
In short, energy drinks are being banned in some countries due to the combined risks the beverages pose to young people. Drink water instead! Australian tap water is the ultimate choice to stay on top of life’s challenges.
Book Week 2022
Book week is fast approaching, it will be here before we know it.
Book week is from 20-26 August and this year asks your children to embrace the theme “Dreaming with Eyes Open”. This opens a world full of possibilities when it comes to kids book week costume ideas. This is an opportunity to escape into another world where your child can choose just about any costume for book week, that embraces Australia , its culture, animals,landscape and anything thier dreams desire.
Dreaming with Eyes Open is about stepping into your own story. It invokes thoughts of ancient times, and of listening to Country as the first storyteller. You can, of course, adapt it to your own dreams and future ambitions.
Staff are already planning ideas for costumes, looks like some fantastic ideas are being hatched.
How is everyone going getting their costumes ready? Here are some links to costume ideas to help you along your way.
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pagingfunmums/book-week-costumes/
https://www.familiesmagazine.com.au/childrens-book-week-costume-ideas/
