RSS Newsletter Issue 4 2024
- Principal
- Deputy Principal
- Head of Department - Curriculum
- Guidance Corner
- Head of Special Education
- Student Achievements
- PBL-Golden Ticket Morning Tea
- TFD Talk by Mrs S.
- Cross Country
- Mid-West
- Anzac
- Library
- Homework Centre
- Fruit Break
- Contact Details
- AEDC Update
- Tuckshop
- P&C Information
- Join our team
- Maks' Boxing Gym
Principal
Term Two has begun, and there’s been many events and opportunities for students.
I would like to congratulate the students who have been selected to compete in NW sports teams this year. Well done to Dustin, Hollie and Declan. I am looking forward to hearing about your efforts in the next level of competitions.
Thank you to staff, parents, and students for your contributions to both the school and community ANZAC commemorations. These events are an important reminder of the great history we share, and the importance of community. In the upcoming weeks, there are a number of sporting and arts incursions on offer across the school. With Shake and Stir theatre Co; more NRL opportunities and the National Simultaneous Storytelling Time, there’s a wide variety of options for students at Richmond State School. I know that both Mrs Evans and Mr Smith provide more information further in this newsletter.
Over these first weeks of term, I have increasingly noticed jewellery that is not in line with our Uniform Policy. Please remember that while students are able to wear simple studs, sleepers and religiously affiliated necklaces; there are subjects and learning opportunities where students may be asked to remove these for safety reasons.
Finally, thank you to parents, staff and P&C members for your work and effort to make this year’s Interhouse Cross Country a great success. I was grateful to see the wonderful sportsmanship and respect demonstrated during the running events as well as the games. I was also blown away by the house pride that was demonstrated by students, staff and parents alike! Well done to both houses on a fantastic celebration.
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Cumming
Principal
Deputy Principal
A hive of activity has occurred in recent weeks at Richmond State School with arrange of visiting specialists in our school to assist in delivering exciting learning opportunities. In week 1 we had Game Development Officer, Rhys Bevan from Queensland Touch Football running a skills and drills development session with students in years 5 to 8. This was a great opportunity for students to try a new sport or to improve their skills – especially for students selected in the Mid-West team heading to North West trials for Touch Football or Rugby League.
In week 3 we have had Referee Development Officer, Denise Weir from the National Rugby League Office in Townsville spend a day with year 9 and 10 students as well as a select few year 8’s to complete a Referee development workshop called Beyond the Goal Posts. The program focused on officiating, seeing students achieve their Foundation 1 Refereeing accreditation. Students were provided with all of the necessary knowledge and skills required to try their hand at refereeing, coaching or sports first aid with no need for previous experience or involvement.
Commencing at the end of week 3 students in the year 9 and 10 Food Specialisation Subject will be commencing their work experience placements at local venues in the food service industry. During the Food Specialisation subject this semester, students have been studying online to complete their 'Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety' certification. This is a nationally recognised qualification and industry standard for people working in the food service industry. The purpose of the work experience is for students to demonstrate in a food service workplace, the required hygienic practices and food safety skills under the supervision of an experienced food service industry employee which is also part of the certification practical assessment process.
Whilst the start of the term has been a buzz with activity, we don’t expect this to stop as the term flies by. On the horizon, we have a visiting Drama performance 'Shake and Stir' coming, an NRL Gala day planned, and our school Athletics Carnival on Friday in week 6 to look forward to.
Regards
Chris Smith
Deputy Principal
Weeks 1-3 Activites
Head of Department - Curriculum
What a great start we have had to Term 2 in our school! Not only have we already had an array of extra-curricular activities, but our teaching and learning has started with a bang! New units of work have begun, and semester units of work are continuing with fidelity. This week you would have seen the Parent Curriculum Overviews that are sent home each term. These overviews outline the learning your child will be participating in this term in every learning area, and how and when they will be assessed on their learning. We have also included the teacher’s contact details, should you wish to speak to them about a particular subject. The Parent Curriculum Overviews have also been included in this edition of the newsletter. Please feel free to contact the school office or our teachers directly via email if you have any questions.
Respectful Relationships Education
One learning area important to note, is the Respectful Relationships Education that is incorporated into our Health subject area. Respectful Relationships Education aims to teach students how to develop behaviours and attitudes that promote healthy, safe and respectful relationships. Everyone has the right to be respected, feel valued and be treated equally. We all have a role to play in fostering respect and this starts from the beginning.
The department’s Prep to Year 12 Respect program is aligned with the Australian Curriculum and provides teachers with age-appropriate teaching and learning resources to support students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to build and maintain healthy, positive relationships. This Term Ms Smith will be teaching Respectful Relationships as part of Health. You can see the RRE topics covered on the ‘Health’ section of the Parent Curriculum Overviews.
Prep Phonics & Reading - Parent Information Night
Next Wednesday 8th May, we invite our Prep parents to attend an information session all about Phonics & Reading – how your child is taught to read in Prep, and how you can help at home. This session will take place in the library and we are offering 2 session times, 2:30pm and 5:30pm, so more of our parents are able to attend. Please note, these sessions will be the same so you only need to attend one. These sessions will be delivered by our Prep teacher Mrs. Hayley Ybema and supported by our Head of Curriculum Mrs. Rachel Evans.
During this session we will cover the following topics:
- What is ‘phonics’?
- How are students taught to read?
- What does a reading session look like?
- What can I do as a parent to help my child read at home?
We are excited about involving our Prep parents in their child’s reading journey. See you there!
Staffing news
We have had some changes to our staffing team this term. We farewelled Ms Jana Grobler at the end of last term and wish her all the best in her new role with NAB. As a result, we have welcomed Miss Anastacia Chappell to our Teacher Aide team. Anastacia will be mostly working with Mrs Ybema in our Prep class. We also have Ms Verona Reynolds working with us five days a week this term. It is wonderful to have her back as she has a long history with Richmond SS and we are grateful for the knowledge and skills she brings to our team.
This week we welcomed two Pre-Service Teachers to our school – Miss Cook in 5/6P with Mrs Pattel and Miss McIntosh in high school with Mr Theodore. We hope Miss Cook & Miss McIntosh have enjoyed their time with us at Richmond and we look forward to seeing them again in Term 3 when they return for the next part of their placement.
This week the ‘Key Dates’ Term Calendar was also sent home, with a magnet on the back so you can pop it on the fridge. There is a lot happening at Richmond State School this term, and we encourage all of our students and families to get involved as much as you can.
Rachel Evans
Head of Department (Curriculum)
Guidance Corner
Celebrating Guidance Officer Week Monday 29th April to Friday 3rd May 2024.
About Guidance Officers
Guidance officers are specialist teachers who deliver a broad range of services to school community members. They contribute to the development of a comprehensive student support and wellbeing program that is responsive to the needs of the school community.
Guidance officers may work directly with students in addition to working with a student's teachers, school support personnel, family, other specialists or external support providers.
Support offered by guidance officers includes providing advice and counselling on educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family and mental health & wellbeing issues.
About Richmond State School Guidance Officer Bernadette:
How long have you been a teacher? I began teaching at Cairns West in 1981
How long have you been a guidance officer? I began guidance work in 2003
Where are you currently working? I work at Cleveland Education and Training Centre and Richmond State School
What made you become a Guidance officer? I enjoy working with children and teens and have a passion for wellbeing. Supporting students, as they journey through life, helping them build capacity for self-care and assisting them to achieve their educational goals is my motivation.
Tell us a fun fact about you - My husband and I are currently renovating a Queenslander and I’m not sure if I’m enjoying the experience. It is a journey of a thousand decisions, many of which I know nothing about.
What can you help with? Support with education, personal concerns – friends, family, home life, mental health or general wellbeing. Contact can be made through the school office.
Head of Special Education
Hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you all. My name is Libby Mathews and I have joined your school this term as the Western Cluster, Head of Special Education. Often, this name is shortened and the role referred to by its acronym - HoSES.
I have around 30 years’ experience with Education Queensland and have been working specifically in Student Support for the past two years. In this role I have worked consistently with teachers, to support students and their families. I am a proud North Queenslander and look forward to getting to know you and your school community in the months ahead. Please say hello when you see me around.
Student Achievements
Term 2, Week 2
Term 2, Week 3
PBL-Golden Ticket Morning Tea
Each Monday morning at parade, students with the most Happy Vouchers for the past week are awarded a golden ticket. The winners are invited to enjoy morning tea with the principal.
Congratulations to all the winners of the first golden ticket morning tea for term 2.
TFD Talk by Mrs S.
This semester, the majority of 9/10 students are undertaking to complete a Nationally Accredited Food Handler’s certificate course as part of their TFD subject. The students completed the online component in Term 1 whilst also learning how to operate safely in a kitchen and produce baked goods during the practical lesson aptly titled Baking Basics. The students produced a variety of biscuits, cakes, quiches and scones which were sampled and critiqued by students and staff. They supplied morning tea for both our Easter Bonnet parade and our ANZAC commemoration ceremony. Their baked goods were given rave review on both occasions.
This term our unit is titled Tuckshop Tucker. We started with an excursion to the Moonrock Café to learn the major factors that govern the success of a food provider. Kerri and Renee were extremely efficient and explained, in detail, many of the most pertinent facts that need to be taken into consideration to ensure the safe, efficient, economic production of food. Our task is to generate an idea, market, trial, adjust, evaluate and perfect, then produce a suitable item to be included in our tuckshop menu. Naturally, Government and Associations guidelines will need to be adhered to.
In the Kitchen
Cross Country
After wet weather washed out our first attempt at running the cross country, the second attempt looked doubtful, Mother Nature was kind and the event was held on the first Thursday of term 2. Mitchell and Flinders battled it out to see which team would come out on top with Flinders taking out the title.
Thank you to the P&C for ensuring we were all well fed and given the opportunity to purschase some yummy home baked goods. Huge shout out to all the staff at RSS for organising our 2024 Cross Country, we appreciate all the hard work and effort you put in to making this event happen.
Cross Country
Mid-West
Students travelled to Mount Isa and Cloncurry for the North West Touch Football and Rugby Leauge trials on 16th and 20th April. We are very proud of all students who participated in these trials. Dustin was selected as a shadow for the North West Touch Football team. Hollie was selected to attend the North Qld Girls Rugby League Trials. Declan will be part of the first ever North West Basketball team, he will be travelling to Rockhampton for the State Trials.
We wish you all the best of luck competing for the North West.
Touch and League
Anzac
Mrs S and our High School Students officiated our School ANZAC Service on Wednesday 24th April. We saw a number of families and community members join us for the service, which was followed by a morning tea.
On ANZAC Day, we had staff and students attend our Community ANZAC Day Service. Our Student Leaders - Jaydon, Dustin and Mason all took part in the ANZAC Service. They all did a wonderful job reading 'In Flanders Field by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae (1915), the Resolutions and the ODE.
Library
We have exciting times ahead in the library, with our Book Fair confirmed for Week 6. Children will have the chance to win a voucher to spend at the bookfair, by participating in the class colouring-in and book review competition. Children will have the opportunity to complete these in the Library or in their own time. We ask that students please hand back their colouring-in and book reviews to the library before Monday 20th May. Judging will take place Monday afternoon to give our winners a chance to choose a book before the end of our Book Fair.
On Wednesday of Week 6 we will have the Annual National Simultaneous Storytime reading take place. Ms Schimpf will be reading the story at second break for students. As part of our NSS activity, we ask students to bring along something blue to add to our bowerbird nest.
This Years title is 'Bowerbird Blues' written by Aura Parker.
Aura Parker is an award-winning illustrator, writer and designer. Her picture books are joyful with a playful sense of humour, brimming with details to explore. Aura Parker’s storytelling through words and pictures inspires imagination, courage and confidence in young readers as well as a love, curiosity and passion for nature.
About the NSS
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
By facilitating NSS we aim to:
- promote the value of reading and literacy,
- promote the value and fun of books,
- promote an Australian writer and publisher,
- celebrate and promote storytime activities in public libraries, school libraries, classrooms and communities around the country,
- and provide opportunities to involve parents, caregivers, the media, and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.
NSS receives positive media coverage and generates a great deal of community interest. 2023 was our biggest and most successful NSS to date with over 2.3 million participants at over 59,000 locations!
Homework Centre
Richmond State School is 1 of 120 schools that were successful in receiving funding to run a Homework Centre. Our Homework Centre is twice per week with students being able to attend 1 day per week - student numbers are capped for each session. Homework Centre spots are only per semester, we will re-offer the 2 days again at the end of Term 2, 2024 in preparation for Semester 2.
Homework is an important part of every child's education. To assist families with completing homework, students are to bring their homework to their allocated day to complete with the support of Teacher Aides.
Fruit Break
Contact Details
At the beginning of the year we send home an 'Update your Details' form which you can return with information regarding your contact details, emergency contacts for your child/ren, medical details and participation in Religous Instruction.
As we begin our preparation for sending home Report Cards at the end of this term, we thought it would be the perfect time to check in again with parents regarding contact details as Report Cards will be posted home.
If you are unsure what address you have on file and would like to confirm or update it, you can either:
- Phone - 47 686 333
- Email - admin@richmondss.eq.edu.au
- Send a note with your child
AEDC Update
Building a national picture of child health
From May 2024, our school, along with thousands of others across the country, will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).
The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.
The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and is completed nationally every three years.
Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information.
The data collected through the AEDC is used by schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need.
AEDC data is reported at a school, community, state/territory and national level. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.
Some teachers have found that completing the AEDC made them more aware of the needs of individual children and their class, and that the data was useful for planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing programs.
Participation in the AEDC is voluntary, however the AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.
To find out more about the AEDC and how it is being used to help children and families visit: www.aedc.gov.au.
If you have any questions, you can contact Elizabeth Cumming on 47 686 333 or via email principal@richmondss.eq.edu.au
Tuckshop
Term 2 Specials
P&C Information
Join our team
Please see the below advertisement for an opportunity to join the Richmond State School Team. We are seeking a dedicated and hardworking individual to join our cleaning team.
Please make time to contact the school office if you have any questions.
Maks' Boxing Gym
The last week of the school holidays two grade 9 students, Rick and June joined a boxing program at Fortitude Boxing right in the heart of Brisbane. The Program was run by Justin Hodges former Brisbane Broncos captain and Steve Deller Fortitude Boxing Gym owner. The boys trained twice daily with 16 other young men and women, they trained with very experienced trainers at the gym. They also participated in a cultural program highlighting First Nations peoples, traditions and cultures. At the weeks end the boys participated in competition sparring in the City vs Bush fight night. June also had a fight on the all stars boxing show Saturday in Brisbanes North, he didn't win but was a very close and good fight. Both boys did extremely well and the way they carried themselves was a credit to Richmond and the community.
June will be heading off to the North Queensland games to put his skills to work, we wish you all the best.
Student Reviews
The program held by Justin Hodges, Steve Deller and Eric “The Viking” Sokolov in Brisbane was certainly a really rare and fun experience for people at remote areas like some of the gyms that are invited e.g., Derricks Boxing, Curry Heat Boxing Club, and Maks Boxing Gym in addition we got to meet some really supportive and nice people from the boxing community in Brisbane. It was certainly a short but fun week. If this opportunity was offered again, I would certainly go again. I would like to thank my coach to for accepting this offer and taking me and my friend to the program.
June Domondon
When I went to Brisbane I was nervous, but when I got there I made so many friends and all that nervousness went to excitement, not only for the boxing aspect, but also learning about Aboriginal Culture. It was a great time and I would love to do it again and thank Maks for taking us and all the wonderful people at Fortitude Boxing for making all this happen.
Rick McCosker
My New Gallery
