RSS Newsletter Issue 3 2023
- From the Principal
- School-led review - Parent Survey
- Head of Department - Curriculum
- Student Council Representatives
- Student Achievements
- Principal Award
- yLead
- Positive Behaviour for Learning
- From the Classroom
- Prep News
- Sport
- School Based Youth Health Nurse, Elle
- Book Fair
- School Photos
- P & C Information
From the Principal
Our Improvement Agenda
2023 is the year of improving literacy outcomes for students at Richmond State School.
Our school staff have all committed to this work and have documented our goals in the Explicit Improvement Agenda (image below).
The document has two distinct sections; the top section outlines our processes and the knowledge building timeline that will be enacted throughout the next 12-18months while the table below outlines our targets.
- Starting Strong - Prep to Year 2
- Building on Foundations - Years 3 to 6
- On Track for Success/Ready for the Future - Years 7 to 10
This improvement agenda has been endorsed through our P and C and with our Assistant Regional Director.
You will see this artefact published throughout the school. Our first stage of work has been to complete professional development in the Simple View of Reading (SVOR) in partnership with the Reading and Writing Centre. We look forward to sharing more information about this with you in coming weeks.
School-led review - Parent Survey
As many parents are aware, we are currently involved in a School-led review which will inform the improvement work for Richmond State School for the next 4 years. We are seeking input from our current parents and community members to support the review.
The QR code above provides access to the survey. A survey link has also been distributed to current parents via Schoolzine on Friday 17/03/2023.
At the time of publication, we have had 7 surveys completed.
If you have any difficulties accessing the survey, please contact the school office.
Kind Regards,
Elizabeth Mayo
Head of Department - Curriculum
Social and Emotional Learning
At Richmond State School, our students in the primary school are learning about self-regulation strategies and identifying emotions in themselves and others through weekly explicit lessons based on an evidence-based program, ‘The Zones of Regulation’. You may begin to hear your child/ren talk about being in different ‘Zones’.
A critical aspect of this curriculum is that all team members know and understand ‘The Zones’ language. This creates a comfortable and supportive environment for the student to practice their self-regulation skills. It also helps the student learn the skills more quickly and be more likely to apply them in many situations. You can support your child/ren during this process by doing the following:
- Use the language and talk about the concepts of The Zones as they apply to you in a variety of environments. Make comments aloud so that your child understands it is natural that we all experience the different Zones and use strategies to control (or regulate) ourselves. For example, “This is really frustrating me and making me go into the Yellow Zone. I need to use a tool to calm down. I will take some deep breaths.”
- Help them gain awareness of their Zones and feelings by pointing out your observations.
- Validate what Zone your child/ren are in and help them brainstorm expected ways to self-regulate so their behaviour is expected for the context.
- Share with your child/ren how their behaviour is affecting the Zone you are in and how you feel.
- Show interest in learning about your child/ren’s triggers and Zones tools. Ask them if they want reminders to use these tools and how you should present these reminders.
- Make sure to positively reinforce your child/ren for recognizing their Zone and managing their behaviours while in it, rather than only pointing out when they are demonstrating unexpected behaviours while in a Zone.
It is important to note that everyone experiences all of the Zones—the Red and Yellow Zones are not the “bad” or “naughty” Zones. All of the Zones are expected at one time or another. The Zones of Regulation is intended to be neutral and not communicate judgment.
If you would like further information about our social and emotional learning program, please see your child/s classroom teacher or a member of the leadership team.
Every day counts!
Your child cannot learn curriculum content if they are not at school. Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance is associated, on average, with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school every day helps children to build social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience.
Under the law, you must make sure your child is enrolled and attends school on all school days unless there is a reasonable excuse. We recognise that with this beautiful wet season that we are having this year that some students have been unable to attend school at times due to roads being cut. Please communicate with the school if you are going to be cut off from town for a period of time so that we can work together to support your child’s learning. Vacations outside of school holidays is discouraged, particularly as the end of term nears as your child misses important assessment opportunities and fun events such as sporting carnivals, PBL reward activities and master classes. Assessment calendars are sent home at the beginning of each term with the Parent Curriculum Overviews.
Student Council Representatives
Student Council class representatives were presented with their badges at our week 7 parade. Well done and congratulations to our 4 student council representatives. We look forward to seeing what wonderful things you achieve during 2023 with our current student leaders.
Student Achievements
Congratulations to all award recipients. You have been recognised for your hard work and dedication to learning & our school.
Term 1 Week 7
Term 1 Week 8
Term 1 Week 9
Principal Award
Paige and Hollie were awarded special principal awards for spectacular writing & phonics work and incredible writing & justification in health. Well done to you both.
yLead
During week 8 the wonderful team from yLead delivered leadership workshops to the student leadership team, 5/6 and highschool students. It was wonderful to have these amazing young people inspiring our future leaders.
yLead Gallery
Positive Behaviour for Learning
From the Classroom
Science -Year 6 parade
9/10 Electives
In Materials and Technology (formerly known as Manual Arts), the 9/10 students are making a serving tray. We can't wait to highlight the finished results in upcoming newsletters.
Lunch Time With Mr Marshall
Golf
Prep News
Sport
On the 4th and 5th March, Mason and Hollie travelled to Barcaldine to participate in the North West Touch Football trials. They put their best effort in. Congratualtions Mason and Hollie for making the trials and for your incredible attitude on and off the field.
School Based Youth Health Nurse, Elle
Rudeness, Disrespect and Swearing
As teenagers’ transition from childhood to adulthood and navigate the formation of their own identity, it is common for their behaviour to change, but not always in a way we’d hoped. This transition can be upsetting as our teenagers show us less respect and sometimes leads to conflict over ideal behaviours. Most children grow up believing what their parents do is right and that they know everything. As our children become teenagers and have contact with an increasing number of people, this opinion will often change. Access to media and social media platforms can also influence the continual changes in teenage behaviours as it promotes ideals that teenagers find attractive.
Talking to your teen may become more and more difficult, it is normal for them to become moody, irritated and be easily upset if their views are questioned. It is also normal for parents to be exhausted and feel alienated as their teenager changes week to week. Despite how your teenager comes across, they often want to talk to you about what they hear, see and read about. Often rudeness and disrespect occur when a parent doesn’t realise their teen is testing new ideas and opinions and they become frustrated by this. Rudeness and disrespect can also arise when parents directly challenge or make fun of their teenagers’ ideas. Comments such as ‘that’s a stupid idea or ‘you wouldn’t last a day’ will only provoke their behaviours and make them feel dismissed. It is a healthy and normal part of teenage development to want to try new ideas and want to live according to their new beliefs. If the opinions, ideas and beliefs are age appropriate and they are forced to back down or change these, it is common for the teenager to meet parents with feelings of resentment and could cause rebellion.
Swearing often come hand in hand with rudeness and disrespect.
It is unrealistic to expect teenagers to never swear and they will experiment with swear words as they hear others use them. It is important that your teen knows which words are not allowed to be used. If you hear them swear, tell them the problem- “we do not use that language in this house”. If they don’t listen and it is a continual problem, consequences might be needed. If they are swearing around other children, a time of exclusion may be needed- “you are not speaking nicely around others, go and play by yourself for 10 minutes and think about acceptable words to use”. Do not argue or debate the point, and make sure to ignore their protests and complaints. It is important that ahead of time you decide on a reasonable consequence if your teenager is swearing. Appropriate consequences could involve the loss of a privilege or partial or full exclusion from an activity. Consequences may need to be used a number of times before your teenager remembers to use acceptable words and remember to praise your child for using acceptable words.
Encouraging desirable behaviours
- Discuss current events occurring locally, nationally and worldwide
- Take an interest in what your teenager talks about
- Discuss and explore new ideas
- Set a good example and be patient with your teen
- Praise desirable behaviours, set rules and back up rules with consequences
The Raising Children’s Network has great resources on teenager behaviour: https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour
I can also be contacted on ereid123@eq.edu.au if you’d like to receive any more information or have a suggestion for a topic please contact me!
Thanks Elle
Book Fair
Scholastic book fair will be on 2nd -5th May . The school revceives a commision on all sales. In the past we have been able to stock our library with many new titles from bookfair and bookclub sales.
If you are unable to visit the fair and your child/ren bring home a wish list you can pay for the books on line and return the form below with payment details, staff will collect the books and give them to your child/ren. Alternatively contact Julie in the library to make another time to view books.
School Photos
School Photos will be held on Monday 22nd May, 2023. An information flyer has been sent home this week with the oldest child in the family. On this flyer you will find all the details regarding the online platform for ordering student photos including sibling and student leader group photos. Please note that the online platform for sibling photos will close at 10am Friday 19th May.
If you are having trouble accessing the online platform, feel free to see Megan in the office and if she is unable to help, you will need to contact the photographer.
Photos will be held in the morning starting at 8:30am, please schedule this in your calendar to ensure your child/children are at school on time to avoid missing their photos.
P & C Information
