RSS Newsletter Issue 5 2024
Principal
Week 5's Community Breakfast
Thank you to the parents and staff who attended the special Breakfast Club on Friday last week. While I had a ripper of a time making affogatos for the parents and community members who were willing to give them a go; I saw the students enjoyed their special breakfasts too. It was a great way to celebrate the halfway mark of this term.
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate the end of term with another special community breakfast on Friday of Week 10. (If you’re brave enough for an affogato – let me know before Week 9 and the Field Days!)
Volunteer Week
This week we celebrate the volunteers who help our school to run effortlessly. At Richmond State School, the members and executive of the P&C are our main supports for ensuring that learning is engaging, exciting and often tasty. We also have parent and community helpers who join our classes and add value to the learning experiences for our students. Taking time from busy schedules to help our school function is no easy task, and for that we say thank you to all the volunteers who help at Richmond State School.
Lifelong Learning Starts Here
This week we have had many visitors to our school to contribute to the learning of students. From performance arts workshops to STEM and robotics as well as different sports; there’s been some fantastic opportunities to ignite in all our students a love of learning that will set the stage for a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and exploration. When a child discovers the joy of learning, they become active participants in their own education, eagerly seeking out new knowledge and opportunities for growth. This intrinsic motivation not only leads to academic success but also fosters resilience, problem-solving abilities, and a sense of self-confidence. It’s a foundation upon which lives are built.
Our LED sign and Facebook page have lots of information about upcoming events and activities (and sometimes even celebrations of learning) so please keep your eyes peeled as you walk in our school gate or while on the internet!
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Cumming
Principal
Deputy Principal
Week 6 of the term has been one of the most exciting weeks of the term so far with a range of exciting activities taking place. For starters, Book Fair kicked off this week and the library has been decked out in all its splendour of decorations and new books for purchase.
On Monday morning the Red Dirt Robotics troop carrier and trailer rolled into our school. Red Dirt Robotics is a regional and remote outreach program facilitated by Royal Robotics Founder Jameson Harvey. In 2022, Jameson packed up his trusty old troopy and hit the road to take his love of robotics into the Outback and has since impacted over 900 young engineers across the Northern end of the country. For our students in Years 5-8, they were taught how to use computer-aided design software to create a 3D printed key ring or bag tag. Students excelled in the digital design process and marvelled at the speed at which the 3D printers were able to build their creations in the classroom.
On Wednesday we were visited by Shake and Stir, one of the country's leading contemporary theatre companies touring Australia. They presented a stage adaptation of ‘The Twits’ by Roald Dahl, which was a particular treat for our Grade 3/4 students that studied the novel in Term 1. With much laughter and applause, it’s fair to say that our students were thrilled with the show. After the performance, our Year 3-6 students participated in a Masterclass with the performers and engaged in a range of drama games and activities. We are so lucky to have these opportunities for our students
On Thursday our students participated in the Rugby League Gala Day with game development officer Sean Kaufman from the NRL running skills and drills sessions with students in Prep to Year Six. This was a great opportunity for our students to try a new sport or to improve their skills in the games of rugby league and touch football. Concluding our awesome week is the school Athletics Carnival which is sure to be a spectacle of competition between the Flinders and Mitchell Sports Houses.
In further positive news for our school, with the support of our fantastic P&C, we are endeavouring to promote recycling by collecting drink containers from school lunches. To facilitate this, students are now using a specially marked bin to deposit their recycled beverage containers to be exchanged for funds donated to the P&C through ‘Containers for Change’.
Finally, as the end of the term draws ever closer, we look to plan for Semester 2. Learning Beyond the Bell, also known as Homework Club, is planned to continue, however we are reviewing the program to further enhance its success. More information about changes to how this will operate and invitations to express an interest in attending will be shared in the next newsletter and via letters home to all students. It is also important to remind parents and students currently signed onto Homework Club remember that where students are not planning to attend, they need to notify the school or the Teacher Aides at the Library staffing the program. Attendance (or non-attendance) at this semester’s Homework Club will be taken into consideration when allocating places for Semester 2.
Regards
Chris Smith
Deputy Principal
Red Dirt Robotics
Shake and Stir
NRL Gala Day
Head of Department - Curriculum
All of a sudden we find ourselves more than halfway through Term 2!
Under 8’s Day
This term Richmond State School will be hosting our Under 8’s Day event on Friday 31st May from 8:30am – 10:30am. We invite parents and carers of students in Prep – Year 2 to join us for a morning of activities. All children aged 8 and under are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian.
Report Cards
Our classrooms have been hives of activity over the last few weeks as students continue their studies in various units of work across all learning areas. Our teachers are constantly monitoring and assessing students’ abilities, providing feedback and support for students to achieve success. As we near the end of the first semester of learning, teachers are beginning to compile student achievements results to compose report cards. Report Cards are a formal method of communication provided to parents at the end of each semester of learning. In these report cards, teachers will comment on a student’s achievement, effort and behaviour in each learning area. Each year level’s report card may look slightly different and we’ll provide a more in-depth explanation of report cards in the next newsletter. This semester we will trial emailing report cards home to parents as well as posting them in the mail. It’s a timely reminder that if your contact details have changed (including residential/postal address, phone number and email address) it is important to contact the school office with these details as soon as possible. If you have any questions regarding your child’s achievement, effort, behaviour or want to discuss report cards further, please contact the relevant teacher.
Attendance
At the last P&C meeting, our principal Ms Cumming shared our latest attendance data, which showed an average attendance of 89.1% out of a possible 100%. This term we have noticed a decline in attendance levels and wanted to remind our families the importance of attending school every day. In this newsletter we have included a fact sheet from the Queensland Government with answers to frequently asked questions about attendance. If you are having issues getting your child/ren to school, please contact the school office. We are here to support all our students and this starts with having them attend school every day.
Rachel Evans
Head of Curriculum
Rachel Evans
Head of Department (Curriculum)
Head of Special Education
A few weeks ago, I visited Richmond State School and was simply blown away by the warm welcome I received. Thank you everyone. I can honestly say, your school is a true jewel of the North-West. Great students, wonderful staff and absolutely amazing facilities.
I enjoyed my visit, and especially loved meeting the children. While handball will forever be a favourite, I did enjoy my time in the library. The children were so proud of their school and spent considerable time introducing me to their favourite things.
One early morning, I took this photograph while exploring your outdoor spaces. Upon reflection, it makes me think, the sun shines brightly on Richmond State School.
I will be back at school in Week 9 and look forward to meeting more students and families. If you missed the school newsletter last time, my name is Libby Mathews and I have joined your school community, as the Western Cluster, Head of Special Education. When you see me around, please say hello? I am happy to discuss how I can support your child in their classes or at school in general.
I encourage parents to email me directly if you would like to make a time to speak to me about your child. My email details are below.
See you in Week 9 and 10.
Kind regards,
Libby Mathews
Email: lmath35@eq.edu.au
Medication at school.
With the cooler weather approaching it is a great time to review the process for medication being administered at school.
If your child needs to take medication at school, please provide the office staff with:
- a completed and signed Consent to administer medication form;
- the medication in its original container; and
- medical authorisation (e.g. the pharmacy label, or a letter from the doctor, or a completed and signed health action plan).
Please remember that any medication must be brought into Administration. If you have any queries, please contact the office.
Student Achievements
Weeks 4 , 5 and 6
PBL
Golden Ticket Winners
9-10 English with Mr Theodore
In 9-10 English, students have been practising with poetic techniques. As a different strategy this year, students were encouraged to compose a poem about any topic that popped into their mind. Rather than try to write about a theme given to them - which may be extremely difficult - this allowed them to develop skills in rhyme scheme, syllable structure and stanzas, without trying to learn an unfamiliar topic. The results have been interesting and entertaining.
The storm that’s in my bum
Thy toilet is full
Thy stretched stomach is fuller
The angry poop pushes still further
I believe the stool is the size of a bull
Thy bog is tempty
Thy bowels feel like a big knot
Soon the porcelain throne will be shot
Please, the cubicle I pray will be empty
Purrrrrrrt, my bowels are spent
A drop of hard-earned sweet glent
I was over the porcelain bent
The aching in my behind will not relent
Off to hell I strole
For pain has taken my whole
Pain that’s been given to the white bowl
The demon in my guts hurts my soul
I have left my mark
There may have been a slight spark
Oh how I love thy lovey toilet
Oh how much it must hate that I have spoiled it
Rick
Athletics Carnival
Go Flinders! GO Mitchell!
Thankyou to all our voluteers, Moonrock cafe for the lovely food, P&C , student council, staff, parents and volunteers. A massive shout out to Miss Murray and Mr Evans for all the hard work they have put in to make today as amazing as it was. Alot of work goes on behind the scenes for many weeks to make an event like this come together.
Lastly thank you to our students who once again made us proud with your sportmanship and effort.
Age Champions for 2024
9 years
Girls - Billie Boys - Colt
10 years
Girls -Fallon Boys - Luca
11 years
Girls - Lacie Boys - Mason
12 Years
Girls -Luciara Boys - Dustin
13 years Plus
Girls - Baylie Boys - Devon
Winning house for 2024
Flinders
Time to rest up, Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday.
Athletics Carnival
Library
The book fair was an astouding success. A massive thanks to the staff that helped transform our space into a wonderland of flowers. Each dollar spent gives the library a credit to spend on books, this year we were able to purchase just over three hundred dollars of exciting new titles. Once they have been processed they will be available for students to borrow. Remember you can check what titles we have by logging on to :
https://richmondss.softlinkhosting.com.au/oliver/junior.do?corporation=RichmondState
Ms Schimpf read this years NSS title 'Bowerbird Blues' written by Aura Parker.
A lovely text that was informative as well a being entertaining. We can't wait for next year to see what exciting text will be on offer to read.
BowerBird Blues was one of six books shortlisted in the CBCA picture book category. We will have to wait until bookweek to find out if it takes the title of picture book of 2024.
Bookweek is in term 3 week 7, the theme for this year is Reading Is Magic. 12 weeks to get our thinking caps on for the costume parade. This will be held on Friday 23rd August. The library is full of inspiration,come in and look around.
Book Fair
Fruit Break
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.
