Newsletter Term 3 Week 7

From the Principal

Outdoor Play Space

The first stage of our new outdoor area will be handed over this week. It is very exciting to see it all coming together and to know how excited the students will be to finally get into it. The space makes the most of the natural features in the school and will provide an opportunity for students to explore, discover and appreciate the natural world, as well as be active, strengthen fine and gross motor movement skills, test physical limits and maybe even get a little messy. The area will be open to students from all year levels. Make sure you check it out the next time you are at the school.  

As a community we are all excited about the opening of our new play spaces. We would like to remind parents that these play spaces, just like our playgrounds, are unsupervised before 8.45am and at the end of the school day, from 3.00pm onwards. It should be noted that community members, parents or guardians cannot provide supervision at these times, even for their own child/children, unless a request to use school facilities has been submitted and approved. This is because PCYC (Before and After School Care) providers have access to our play spaces at this time, supervising the registered students only. We thank you for your cooperation.

Runcorn State School has a Facebook Page

Our school has its very own Facebook page. This page is one of the ways that we are able to communicate with our school community. To keep you updated, please search for us on Facebook under ‘Runcorn State School’ and give us a like to ensure you stay up to date with our school events.

Online Safety & Online Behaviour – Appropriate Technology Use

Technology is everywhere in our homes and parents and carers play an important role in helping children to develop digital intelligence — the social, emotional and practical skills needed to successfully navigate the digital world.

Every family is different, and will have their own ideas around what’s considered ‘normal’ or acceptable use of digital devices. Please ensure you make the time to check in with your children and ensure appropriate security settings are in place. Managing the way your children use digital devices at home is to ensure you are informed and have developed some rules of your own. Here are some tips from Parenting Ideas website - https://www.parentingideas.com.au/blog/9-digital-technology-parenting-guidelines/

Nine Digital Technology Guidelines for Parents

1.  Know what the rules and expectations are at school

Our school digital device policy and guidelines make a great starting point for families. Make sure that you and your child know what the rules are at school. Importantly, support the school and keep your own expectations in line with the schools.

2.  Specify hours for digital use

Set the ground rules for when your children can use their tablets and phones, and when they need to shut them off. It’s just a smart way to build a habit for the whole family so it becomes ingrained and just the way things are done in your home.

3.  Consider a digital device ‘contract’

Clearly set out your digital device usage guidelines, and print them in an agreement that you and your children can both sign. If there are any disputes, then you both have the expectations in writing.

4.  Lay out consequences from the start

Make the consequences clear for breaking the rules, such as taking away the device for a set period of time. But remember, the goal isn’t to punish them, but just to set clear boundaries. You can develop the guidelines together and they should be reasonable rather than excessive.

5.  Talk about respectful relationships, safety and inappropriate websites

Do not let your children loose in the digital world without having several conversations about how to stay safe online, how to show respectful behaviour and be aware of inappropriate websites. Each of these topics is a separate issue on its own, but each is deeply affected by the virtual, boundary-free nature of digital technology.

6.  Be prepared to learn

Be ready to learn about social media, and the different apps and games that your children might be playing.

7.  Change the rules if necessary

Be prepared to keep evolving your rules based on you children’s behaviour, maturity, sleep habits, their tendency to leave homework or chores unfinished, bullying or any number of issues that will invariably crop up to ensure they are clear around your expectations.

8.  Keep digital devices out of the bedroom

This is one rule that you should stay firm on.

9.  Have a ‘digital detox’ one day a week

The only way that this idea will work is if you join them in making one day a week a digital device-free day. They will probably not like it, and neither will you, but the point of having one day off is to prove that they can live without their digital device, and involve them in different forms of communication and entertainment. Click here to view more information: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents.

Meg McClure

From the Deputy Principal

2023 Prep enrolments  - Please enrol now as places are filling

Do you have a child born between 1st July 2017 and 30th June 2018?  Please enrol now for 2023 Prep.   

Your Child’s Development - 3 to 5 years

Your child is now a pre-schooler, who is fascinated by the world around them. They can speak in longer sentences and will start asking lots of ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘why’ questions as they try to understand more about the world.  They enjoy playing with other kids, learning rules and taking turns. And you’ll see them start to form real friendships as they begin to develop their social skills.

The following information has been sourced from the Early Years Learning Framework Developmental Milestones booklet, developed by Community Child Care Co-operative Ltd NSW (CCCC) for the Department of Education. 

How can you encourage your child’s learning?

• Encourage them to play outdoors
• Open them up to more experiences by taking them to different places e.g. wildlife park, museum, playgroup, aquarium, library
• Be creative in setting up play activities e.g. painting, music, arts and craft
• Build their self-esteem by involving them in your everyday activities and giving them simple helping tasks e.g. help setting the table for dinner
• Be interested in their questions and take the time to reply
• Show enjoyment in their success e.g. when they read a word correctly

What are some of the different developmental milestones you can observe?

• dresses and undresses with little help
• hops, jumps and runs with ease
• climbs steps with alternating feet
• gallops and skips by leading with one foot
• transfers weight forward to throw ball
• attempts to catch ball with hands
• climbs playground equipment with increasing agility
• holds crayon/pencil etc. between thumb and first two fingers
• exhibits hand preference
• imitates a variety of shapes when drawing, e.g. circles
• independently cuts paper with scissors
• can use the toilet themselves
• feeds self with minimum spills
• walks and runs more smoothly
• enjoys learning simple rhythm and movement routines
• develops ability to toilet train at night

Roberta Matlock

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

The Big Write

The Big Write has continued into Term 3 with some amazing results from all of our authors here at Runcorn.  Below is a piece of poetry written by Sophia in 4R using last weeks prompt ‘Sunshine’. 

SUNSHINE

A flood of marvellous light is cast on our miniature planet

Dancing, swirling, beaming under the clear, azure sky

It soars and leaps and smiles and flies

Wrapping a blanket of bright, yellow warmth around us

I, I have great pleasure in watching planets orbit me,

Roaming the vast, empty, black vacuum of space

On a shivering cold rainy day

I am hidden behind angry, black storm clouds,

My happy light dimmed and shaded.

We, we weak little Earthlings

Without you we could never live a single minute,

Oh! Thank you, thank you, sunshine perfecting our dreary lives,

The sunshine twists heat, beating on our backs

A breath-taking band of vibrant colours,

It lightens up our day,

Goodbye sun, hello starts,

It’s time for night

Book Week

Finally Book Week is here!  Wednesday saw us all dress up as our favourite book character - there was lots of fun had at our costume parade where everyone had the chance to show off their character creations in front of the whole school.  Thank you to all the adults at home that helped prepare, find, make and buy costumes for this special celebration. 

There were so many entrants into the Book Week Drawing Competition it made it very hard for the judges to decide winners for each year level.  A range of entries will be on display in the Resource Centre over the next week.  Congratulations to:

Music Matters

Save the Date:

• Music Showcase Concert at Sunnybank SHS- Senior and Year 3 Choirs, Strings and Band- Week 8 Wednesday 31^st August 6pm
• Singfest- Senior Choir: Week 8 Thursday 1^st September
  

Mariel Hopper - mxhop2@eq.edu.au

From the Resource Centre - Book Week 2022

Our Scholastic Book Fair is now open. The Book Fair is a reading event that brings a range of fantastic books to school that every student wants to read. There’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for all reading levels. 

What is happening in Japanese?

Year 6 Japanese Exchange Program

Year 6 students received letters from Kokubunji Daijuu Elementary School in Tokyo. Every student has been writing a letter back to their penpals.

Year 5 Learning Japanese Symbols

They are using QUIZIZZ to challenge hiragana recognition. If your child have not passed White & Yellow belt yet, they should keep trying till get 100% before deadline. Details will be up on their MS Teams page.

Year 4 - Colours

Year 4 students learnt colours in Japanese. Some students worked on the door decorations for Book week!

Nagashima Sensei

From the Health Teacher

Our focus this fortnight is the Confidence Key.  Confidence at Runcorn State School looks like:-

• Students striving to do their best  
• Students not feeling afraid to make mistakes 
• Students willing to try new things
• Students actively communicating their feelings, thoughts and ideas in and out of the classroom
• Students showing independence in different activities 
• Students taking pride in themselves, their learning, and products of their learning.

Well done to all students who have been acknowledged for demonstrating skills of organisation, getting along, resilience, persistence, and confidence and have received tickets and/or awards from staff. Students are placing their tickets in their year level container. 

At the beginning of Week 5, two tickets from each year level were randomly selected. Our Principal, Mrs McClure, celebrated with those students at a special afternoon tea. The next afternoon tea with Mrs McClure will be held at the end of Week 10. 

Ms Daryau

From the Administration Office

Incursion/Excursion/Camp Payments

Runcorn State School is now a cashless school.  Thank you for continuing to pay for your children's incursions/excursions/camp payments via our preferred methods:-  BPoint and EFTPOS.  If you require any assistance paying via BPoint, please contact the school office.  Unfortunately we are unable to accept payments over the phone.

No Smoking

Please note that smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes, is prohibited in the following areas:-

• at public or private schools or within 5 metres beyond their boundaries
• at early childhood education and care facilities or within 5 metres beyond their boundaries, including kindergartens, childcare centres, day care providers and after school hours care.

For more information, please click on this link on the Queensland Health website:- https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/smoke-free-schools-resources/resource/b17491c6-401f-49df-a1ea-776bb54a6e49

Parking

Please see below a friendly reminder from the Department of Transport and Main Roads regarding parking safely around our school.  For more information, please click on this link www.tmr.qld.gov.au. 

Runcorn Reading Club

Runcorn Reading Club  

When: Wednesday morning before school 8:15am  

Where: outside 2IH classroom, D Block  

The Runcorn State School little library book exchange trolley is out and available for all students to enjoy during reading club. It is loaded with beautiful books donated by Runcorn families.  

How it works:  

Take a book - If children see a book they’d like to read they can take it with them to read at home or in class. Once they have finished with it they can return it to the trolley.  

Give a book - if children would like to keep the book. They can bring one from home to leave on the trolley in it’s place.  

Happy Reading!  

Mrs Irons 

School Photos - 7th and 8th September 2022

Norman's News

Quit “hounding” me! I have had a bit of a “ruff” week trying to decide which book character best sums me up so that I can dress up for our Runcorn Book Week celebrations. With all of the amazing reading that I hear from Runcorn students it has been “im-pawsible” to choose. There are just so many wonderful “tails” to sniff out and adventures to escape to when you are listening to or reading a story, I have been “sitting” here all day trying to decide.

Now you would be “barking up the wrong tree” if you think Hairy McClary, Clifford, or Scooby Doo are characters that I might identify with… we all know that I do not consider myself to be a mere pooch! My next tactic was to look at some authors for inspiration. William “Shakes-paw”, “Bark Twain” and “JK Growling” sprang to mind immediately but I wasn’t sure the students would “apawd” my efforts.

And then it hit me. I should “stick” to a character near and dear to my heart. A character who puts their best paw forward and is motivated by food. A character who eats their way through the week and enjoys apples, pears, plums, strawberries, oranges, chocolate cake, ice cream cones, pickles, slices of swiss cheese, salami, lollipops, cherry pie, sausage, cupcakes and watermelon! Can you guess who I decided to dress as?

I hope that everyone had as much fun as I did, dressing up and celebrating all that is wonderful about a world with books!  Until next time, what’s another one of my favourite books?  Harry Pawter and the Philosopher’s Bone!

Much love and tail wags,

Norman

Environment Club News

The plants in the Heritage Garden are thriving. Many of the lettuces and herbs are ready to be picked and are being used in the tuckshop. We are hoping to plant new seedlings Term 4.

Lots of classes are accessing the Subpods around the school. The lid on the Prep Subpod has been replaced and now closes more effectively. Hoping the worms will do their job in the holidays and make room for the Term 4 scraps. Thankfully, the MAZE Compost caddies in the classrooms aren’t as smelly as the clear containers.

The collection of BREAD BAGS and WRAP BAGS is going very well. Two of the official WONDER boxes have been sent back to Redcycle and we awaiting allocation of 1000 points. We can potentially acquire up to 2500 points for the school. Once we have sent all 5 boxes and receive the total points, we will be able to swap these points for sporting equipment. One box is still in the front office and one is in the PCYC front entrance for the collection of both bread bags and wrap bags from any bread company, not just Wonder. The deadline is the 9^th September, 2022. After this date, families can keep recycling plastics at any Redcycle outlet. They can be easily found outside most supermarkets.

The next venture that Environment Club has now launched this Term has been the collecting of plastic bottles, poppers etc for the Containers for Change program. Clear containers are now positioned in both eating areas and the 5M students are responsible for them each day. In the last month, we have raised $50 worth of much need funds for the school. Any community member keen to contribute to this project can deposit their glass, plastic and cans in the TOMRA Reverse Vending Machine near Macgregor State Primary School (pictured) or at the Return-It Centre at 137 Ingram Road, Acacia Ridge (using the Scheme ID number below). Thank you very much to one Runcorn family with helping out with the drop off of containers collected by the school.

Thanks for all your support with these ventures.

Please remind students that Environment Club is open to all year levels and will be held:

Tuesday lunchtime 11:30am – Ms Daglish (children need to listen for the announcement)

Thank you to the Runcorn community for the support with collecting of bread/wrap bags and also a big thank you for encouraging the use of Containers for Change tubs at the disco.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

The Environment Club

jmcna155@eq.edu.au               mdagl3@eq.edu.au

P&C News

TO OUR RUNCORN COMMUNITY

DISCO

Thank you to everyone who came and supported the Fluro-tastic Disco last Friday.  We had an overwhelming response to our volunteer call out so thank you to all those people who came and helped set up and made the night run as smooth as possible.  We made a profit of approximately $2200.  If you have any feedback from the night, we would love to hear from you.  Please contact Angela at rsspccom@outlook.com.

BILLY G COOKIE DOUGH FUNDRAISER

There are only a few more days left to order your cookie dough tubs.  It is not too late to jump online and set up a profile.

Cookie dough orders must be placed using the online platform. Create your child’s profile by visiting australianfundraising.com.au, and follow the instructions in the order form. Your profile can also be shared with family and friends to increase your tub sales.  Cookie Tubs will be delivered on the 12September, in time for school holiday baking. Our highest individual fundraiser will receive a Tuckshop voucher and the highest class fundraiser with receive a celebration ice block bucket for the whole class to share.  Get fundraising!

FATHER’S DAY STALL – NEXT WEEK

If you can spare some time on this day to help, please contact rsspcevents@outlook.com or rsspccom@outlook.com. Duties include, helping students make selections, replenishing stock, wrapping gifts and pack up.

TUCKSHOP

Operating Hours

• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (8:15am - 1:45pm)
• Monday and Tuesday (over the counter sales only, 11:15 – 11:45)

If you would like to Volunteer at the Tuckshop, please contact Jodie or Angela at tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au.  Please ensure you sign in at the Tuckshop when you start your volunteer shift.

Warm Milos and Cheese Toasties are now available for purchase before school via Flexischools, under the ‘Before School’ tab. Available on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings for pickup from 8:30 am. No over the counter orders available currently.

Is your child’s birthday in Term 3? Don’t forget Cupcakes and Ice Block Buckets are available to order via Flexischools. Get in early and secure your spot so you don’t miss out. (Cupcakes only available Wednesday-Friday).

UNIFORM SHOP

Operating Hours

For the remainder of Term 3 the Uniform Shop will only open by appointment. Appointments will be available on Monday’s or Tuesday’s.  Please use the QR code to book an appointment now.

Alternatively, you can still email orders to rssuniform@outlook.com. These orders will be fulfilled and delivered to your child’s classroom as soon as possible. Order forms are available from the website Uniform shop (eq.edu.au)

If you have any uniforms that you would like to donate, please send them in with you child. Please let us know at rssuniform@outlook.com so we can arrange collection from your child’s classroom.

FEEDBACK

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our ‘Suggestions Box’ thus far.  All feedback is read and discussed at our monthly P&C meetings. The ‘SUGGESTIONS’ box can be found outside the office. Feedback can be made anonymously via this box.  Alternatively, you can email the P&C Executive at pandc@runcornss.eq.edu.au or Angela at rsspccom@outlook.com.

Year Level Facebook Groups. Press on the link to join now!

Prep -  RSS - Prep 2022 | Facebook

Year 1 – RSS - Grade 1 2022 | Facebook

Year 2 - RSS - Grade 2 2022 | Facebook

Year 3 – RSS - Grade 3 2022 | Facebook

Year 4 - RSS - Grade 4 2022 | Facebook

Year 5 – RSS - Grade 5 2022 | Facebook

Year 6 – RSS - Grade 6 2022 | Facebook

Prep 2023 - RSS - Prep 2023 | Facebook

TO KEEP UP TO DATE – FIND US ON FACEBOOK at Runcorn State School P&C Association | Facebook

Community News