RSS Newsletter Issue 10 2023
From the Principal
Welcome back to Term 4 - we have already surpassed 1/3 of Term 4. Congratulations to those students who have had a positive start to the term with both their learning and their commitment to attendance.
Attendance
I am pleased to report that our attendance rate is holding at 91%. Our goal is to ensure our whole school attendance remains above 90% for 2023. I am confident that through our collaborative work we can still achieve this. As a staff, we thank you for your dedication to attendance to support your child's learning.
Let's make Every Day Count @ RSS!
Marker Students - Focussed and Intensive Support
This fornight, all teachers have worked with leadership to identify a 'marker student' within their class to receive targeted support to ensure success in their indivdiual improvement. Focus areas may include attendance, seeking help during class, improving reading comprehension skills or improving their written responses to questions by referring to source information. Teacher then track student improvement using a range of data tools and celebrate their ongoing improvement.
Staffing Update - Leadership
This week, we have welcomed Mr Chris Smith as our Deputy Principal for Term 4, 2023. We are very exciting that he has chosen to join our team and look forward to welcoming to both the school and community in coming weeks.
We are currently running a statewide recruitment process for a 12month contract for the Deputy Principal for 2024.
Miss Tanya Sinden, will be taking maternity leave in 2024 which has resulted in a 12 month contract for a Head of Department being advertised. This advertisement is a statewide recruitment process which will be undertaken in coming weeks.
I will update the community once the recruitment processes have commenced.
Current daily attendance statistics for RSS.
Deputy Principal
Thank you to the Richmond State School staff, students and community for the warm and friendly welcome I have received. Having grown up in in St George, I am used to the hot dry season we are moving into and I am acclimatising to weather well. The town and school have impressed me with the quality of the facilities and the opportunities to thrive here.
Moving towards the middle of the term students are engaging in a range of learning and assessment that is keeping them busy on all fronts. It is important to support students at home by making sure they are completing any homework set and checking this work for completion.
Throughout my first week here at the school I have had the opportunity to attend the fantastic assembly hosted by the grade 2 students and I have taught some classes. Meeting the students and observing how engaged they are in their learning has been a pleasure. I look forward to continuing working here at the school, learning more about this wonderful town and its people.
Chris Smith
Acting Deputy Principal
Head of Department - Curriculum
Accessibility for all at Richmond State School
Since Mrs Mayo and I arrived at Richmond State School, we have been advocating to improve the accessibility of our school for our students and community. We have made some progress, with obviously a lot more work to be done. You will have noticed that there is currently a lot of work occurring at the School with bright blue fencing erected to keep students out of work spaces and safe. The initial stages have begun for the installation of a lift to C Block, covered access to C Block, and a concrete path to the multipurpose area. This is a huge win for accessibility for our school! We are very excited to soon be able to ensure access for all students to general learning classrooms, our science lab and computer lab and play areas. We will continue to keep the school community informed on works occurring to the school to improve accessibility for all students.
Every Day Counts!
39.5 school days left for 2023… and so much to jam pack into that time! Every day counts, especially when there are only 39.5 days of learning left. While having a day off is sometimes unavoidable, we encourage families to try and keep days absent from school to a minimum as it really does affect your child’s learning and their ability and opportunities to demonstrate their learning. Please work with us to support your child’s learning for the remainder of the year. If you have any concerns please make a time to discuss these with your child’s classroom teacher.
Along with our learning we also have our Swimming Carnival, Year 6 & 10 Graduation, End of Year Awards Night, Blue Light Disco, move up a class session, PBL rewards activities AND SO MUCH MORE to fit in. Please ensure that you are keeping up to date with school events and activities through our school facebook page, notes that are sent home and SchoolZine.
Parent Curriculum Overviews
Term 4 Parent Curriculum Overviews were sent home with students last week. Please check their bag or contact your child’s teacher if you require another copy. Attached to the back of the Curriculum Overviews is an Assessment Calendar. Please take the time to read both of these documents so that we can work together to support your child education. If your child is going to be absent when assessment is due please make a time to discuss this with your child’s teacher.
Student Achievements
Congratulations to all award recipients. You have been recognised for your hard work and dedication to learning & our school.
Term 3 Week 10
Term 4 Week 3
Positive Behaviour for Learning
It is Week Three already and the students and staff have worked together over the past two weeks to create this term’s classroom expectations and reward menus. Teachers will be sharing this document with parents and carers shortly. As a whole school, students are working together to reach 60, 000 Happy Vouchers by the end of the term, they are already 19% of the way there. If they reach this goal, students will have earnt the reward of free dress. This reward will occur on the last day of term, Friday of Week 9. As always appropriate, sun safe clothing must be worn.
The PBL team are currently working on ways to support parents and careers through evidenced based support programs. As a parent or carer, you have a role in teaching your child the importance of respect and how to build the skills they need to establish safe and healthy relationships. While the PBL team is working hard on this project, I have included a list of contacts and resources that parents, and carers can access for free.
Library
Week 2 of Term 4, the library hosted buy one get one free book fair. Thank you to eveyone who supported the fair. It was lovely to see students walking out with lots of books. Our next bookfair will be in term 2 2024.
Issue 7 bookclub has closed, there is only one bookclub left for 2023, Issue 8 is usally packed full of Christmas specials. Orders can be done online using the loop parent portal or from the brouchure. if you need help please contact Julie
School News
Parents and Citizens
Thank you everyone that has ordered Mangoes from our latest Fundraiser. There is still time to place an order.
Community news
Term 4 Specials
