RSS Newsletter Issue 11 2024
Principal
An Update on our Explicit Improvement Agenda
If you’ve been in classrooms this year, you’d see the learning walls that change with the student learning. This has been a key part of our school improvement journey this year, as we explore ways to explicitly teach key vocabulary, and use them to engage and connect students with their learning.
The key vocabulary, or RVI words that your students are learning are chosen specifically from the unit of learning to ensure that students learn technical words, but also get an opportunity to understand them with student friendly definitions. As students move through high school, this includes learning the meanings of word parts.
If you’d like to know more about our Robust Vocabulary Instruction, please reach out to your classroom teachers.
Behaviour Reports:
Our written report cards are changing in response to feedback from parents and staff. In our trial this semester we will be using our PBL matrix to form most of the Behaviour comments you will read. In primary reports, this will still be a separate section. For secondary reports, however, these comments will be written into each learning area. We will be seeking feedback about the trialed reporting comments, as we undertake some information sessions about the changes to our reporting expectations for 2025. Please keep an eye out for more information.
2025 School Leader Interviews
Congratulations to the 10 School Leader nominees. Mrs Evans and I are looking forward to hearing you in interview next week, and the school and community will be excited to hear your speeches at parade on the 18th. Good luck through this process!
Kind Regards,
Liz
Head of Department - Curriculum
Pre-Prep Transition Sessions
Our 2025 Prep students have been enjoying their transition sessions with our existing Prep students, Teacher Aides Miss Anastascia & Ms Nerina and Teacher Mrs Ybema. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow each time they visit. I have no doubt they will be ready for ‘big school’ by the time January 28th occurs!
On Tuesday 5th November, we held our 2025 Prep Parent Information Session. Thank you to those parents that were able to attend. A recording of the presentation will be emailed to all 2025 Prep parents, and we will start to organise Enrolment Interviews over the coming weeks. Enrolment paperwork needs to be returned to the office at your earliest convenience.
This is an exciting time for our new students and their families, and we are so grateful for the supportive relationships that are already forming. A special mention must go to Richmond Early Education Centre for escorting the Kindy children to our school for our transition sessions and for supporting our future families.
2025 QLD School Calendar
In this edition of the newsletter, you will find the 2025 Queensland School Calendar. We encourage all families to review the 2025 QLD school calendar so you are aware of Student Free Days, school holidays and most importantly - term dates! We want our students at school all day every day, so please avoid planning holidays or unnecessary absences during the school terms. It’s also important to take note of Student Free Days as school is closed to students on these days.
2025 Enrolment Indication
Last week a note went home with the youngest student in each family asking for an indication of 2025 enrolment – whether your children will be continuing at Richmond State School or moving on to other education centres. We ask that this indication please be returned to the school office, so we are able to begin planning for approximate student numbers and composite class structures for 2025. A copy of both the primary enrolment indication and secondary enrolment indication are included in this edition of the newsletter. Please return this to the office by Friday 15th November. If you would like to discuss your child’s enrolment with our Principal or Head of Curriculum, please make an appointment through the office.
Attendance
As the term progresses, we have noticed an increase in student absences. Students should be attending school all day, every day unless they are sick, have a family emergency or an unavoidable absence. Our teachers carefully plan out learning for the term that maximises each lesson of learning time. It is an important time of the term and year as most classes are in the middle of final assessments. Unnecessary absences can impact your child’s learning and their final academic results, as well as their resilience, perseverance and self-regulation. Children thrive on routine, and having this disrupted can impact them in various ways.
If your child is absent from school, please notify the school office on 47 686 333. It is also helpful to contact their class teacher regarding absences and how they can catch up on learning that is missed.
Term 4 Events
The end of Term 4 is always packed full of events, and it can be hard to remember when everything is happening. We have included a handy visual calendar in this newsletter that highlights some key dates coming up. Contact the office on 47 686 333 or admin@richmondss.eq.edu.au if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Rachel Evans
REMINDER:
Early arrival to school
It is part way through the term, we would like to remind parents and carers that students should not be arriving before 8:00am. We understand that families have different work and care arrangements within their households, however, students are unable to be supervised at school prior to 8:00am due to staff not commencing their duty of care until this time.
If child/ren are late to school, please remind them to go to the office to get a late slip processed. This will avoid unnecessary calls home from Administration.
P.E. REMINDER:
- A water bottle should be brought by each student to school. Particularly with the current climate, a water bottle will support continual hydration throughout the day.
- Sunscreen. Sunscreen is offered to students at the commencement of each PE lesson when outside. If your child has sensitive skin or allergies, it is highly recommended that they bring their own sunscreen into school when they have PE.
- Sandshoes/Joggers are an important safety consideration when students are participating in PE lessons. Merrels or slide on type shoes do not offer ankle support for students or support for growing bones when running around. Whether you call them sandshoes, joggers, runners or trainers, a sturdy, well-built sports shoe is key to seeing your kid enjoy PE lessons and physical activity at school. Investing in quality shoes is not only the ideal way to support your child’s growth, but it ensures that the shoe will weather the wear and tear that comes hand in hand with PE lessons. From athletics to team sports and cross-country events, PE lessons will have your kids trying out a range of sports that will push their bodies throughout their schooling years. Supportive sports shoes help prevent injuries while encouraging movement. You want your kid’s shoes to adjust to each activity and provide support for their growing feet.
Student Achievements-Award winners Week 4, 5 & 6
Positive Behaviour for Learning
We recently held an important assembly for the staff and students of Richmond State School. As a whole, we reviewed and re-examined the commitments we make, by working and learning here, to the 4 expectations in our school. We discussed the importance that applying all of the expectations in our matrix has on improving our school day. Teachers and students were reminded that while we do have a fortnightly focus, which is decided by our PBL data, the other aspects of our expectations are still important. It is important to note that a copy of the 2024 Expectations Matrix is attached, is included in student diaries in high school, and they are also on display in classrooms and in key areas around our school.
While the focus changes every fortnight; the other aspects of our Expectation Matrix still have an impact our school day. Students were also reminded that each of our key learning and play areas have copies of the specific expectations of each area. Students have been reminded to check the signs for the playgrounds, library and handball courts, as the signs remind all members of our school of the expectations we are committed to.
It was also a moment to remember that staff prompt, redirect, and re-teach expectations as one of many logical consequences for different behaviours. The importance of reporting to teachers on duty to make sure we’re capturing the events and support required was explained. Teachers are reminded of their processes for responding to student reports, as well as their data entry expectations. More information about what that might look like is available on our school website in the PBL folder: https://richmondss.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/forms-and-documents/documents
If you have any further queries about our PBL processes, please reach out, and organise a time to discuss this with the Principal.
TFD with Mrs S
Year 9 & 10 students have been studying different cuisines this term. Part of their task was to discerningly (makes thoughtful choices) evaluate recipe designs for their appropriateness.
Homemade flour tortillas
- Mainstay for many Central American recipes
- Economical – basic ingredients found in most kitchens
- Can be made with gluten-free flour if necessary
- Can be successfully frozen
2025 North West School Sports Update
For 2025, North Western School Sports are moving to the direct online vendor supply of sports uniforms and apparel. There will be more information posted on the North Western School Sport website in the coming weeks.
The website will also undergo a content refresh throughout Term 4 and will be regularly updated, this should be the first point of call for information, event updates, calendars etc.
Please visit the new site to see the achievements of North Western students, staff and volunteers:
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Chewsday Lunches
Chewsday Update
Our School food program has gotten off to a great start! Our Teacher Aides are using this term to explore the opportunities and options that are available for delicious, but healthy menus. In line with the expectations of the program, our Chewsday lunches are in line with the Smart choices strategy.
Please be aware that while the program does not require the coordinators to have food handling qualifications, our staff have undertaken the food safety training recommended by the Department of Education.
If you’d like more information about the school food program or the Smart Choices Strategy, please email admin@richmondss.eq.edu.au
All items are subject to change.
Awards Presentation Evening
Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Term 4 Calendar
2025
Richmond State School P&C
Tuckshop
Lunch Specials
