Newsletter Term 3 Week 9

From the Principal

End of Term

As we near the end of Term 3, it’s pleasing to look back on some of the positive achievements that we’ve made so far this year. Our school has welcomed new staff as well as a number of new students. Thank you for making them feel welcome and including them into the Runcorn family.

We have continued our strong improvement agenda this year based around four major priorities. These are: the teaching of Reading and Writing within the Australian Curriculum, a Culture of Thinking and Inquiry, and a caring positive and inclusive school community. Our school has made some good progress toward the goals that we have set for ourselves this year.

Pleasingly when I walk around the school I see students learning in calm and organised classes and high-quality teaching taking place. Our school has a lot to be proud of regarding the effort that we’re making towards improving student learning outcomes.

Bullying

Bullying can occur face to face or online through social media. It is never okay and it is not a normal part of growing up. It is important to remember that children and young people are still learning and practicing social skills. All adults, including school staff and parents, can model positive upstander behaviour.

There is a new nationally agreed definition of bullying which all Australian schools now use:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Participant roles can include someone who:

• engages in bullying behaviour
• is the target of the bullying behaviour
• assists the bullying and actively joins in
• encourages and gives approval to the bullying; they reinforce it through verbal and non-verbal cues such as smiling, laughing or making comments and signal it is acceptable
• sees or knows about someone being bullied but for a range of reasons is passive and does participate in the bullying or support the target
• is an upstander. An upstander supports the student who is being bullied by getting help from a teacher, distracting the students engaged in bullying behaviour, supporting the student who is being bullied or directly intervening. These students play an important protective role for peers who are experiencing bullying, have greater empathetic skills and are often perceived by peers to be positive role models.

We can use the acronym STOP to help us understand if it is bullying behaviour that is occurring: Several Times On Purpose. Some of the issues that could occur Several Times On Purpose are:

• keeping someone out of a group
• repeatedly acting in an unpleasant way near, towards or about someone
• repeatedly making inappropriate gestures, calling names, being rude and impolite, and constantly negative teasing
• spreading rumours or lies, or misrepresenting someone
• harassing someone based on their race, sex, religion, gender or a disability
• intentionally and repeatedly hurting someone physically

What isn’t bullying?

There are also some behaviours, which, although they might be unpleasant or distressing, are not bullying:

• mutual conflict that involves a disagreement, but not an imbalance of power - unresolved mutual conflict can develop into bullying if one of the parties targets the other repeatedly in retaliation
• single-episode acts of nastiness or physical aggression, or aggression directed towards many different people, is not bullying
• social rejection or dislike is not bullying unless it involves deliberate and repeated attempts to cause distress, exclude or create dislike by others

We take bullying seriously at Runcorn State School and always take immediate steps to respond. It is important that students and families are clear that bullying is not the same as conflict or disagreements between children. Conflict is a normal part of learning getting along skills.  It is vital that adults support children to let others know when they do or say things that they don’t like and if the behaviour is repeated they seek assistance from an adult.

New Signs

You will see our new Department of Education signs appearing on the school fences over the next few days. This may be to replace signs that have deteriorated or may be to ensure that each of our entrance gates alert our community to rules that the Department of Education has in place to protect the students, staff and property of the school. Please ensure you are adhering to the signs as they help clarify and reinforce the standards expected by the Department of Education when entering the grounds.

Meg McClure

From the Deputy Principal

2023 School Stationery Lists 

The stationery lists for 2023 will be sent home with students in Term 4 Week 1. 

It is recommended that families purchase stationery items as early as possible to avoid being caught up in supply issues that occur in January each year.   Schoolstuff.com.au provide a layby facility for all families, so please consider taking advantage of this.

Lost Property

There is a very large amount of un-named lost property under B block.  There are literally piles of jackets and jumpers,   rows of water bottles and lunch boxes, hats, shirts, shorts and track suit pants.

If your children are missing any of their personal school items, please check under B block before the school holidays.  Due to the large number of items, they will be disposed of over the holidays.

Developing Young Children's Skills

Ways that parents / carers can provide experiences to develop children’s  social skills development:

• Enjoys playing with other children – provide your child with opportunities to interact with others through a kindergarten program, early childhood education and care service, playgroup or KindyLinQ service.
• May have a particular friend – encourage friendships with other children by providing opportunities for interactions;
• Shares, smiles and cooperates with peers – encourage your child to interact by role modelling good communication skills; showing your child how to enter social situations e.g. smiling; and discussing social ‘rules’;
• Jointly manipulates objects with one or two other peers – again encourage interaction with others in social and play situations by providing a range of toys and other resources;
• Developing independence and social skills they use for learning and getting on with others at Kindergarten and school – support your child to be independent e.g. opening their own lunchbox; tying their own shoe laces; putting on sunscreen;

Brain development from birth

Essential brain development occurs in the first years of a child's life. When you look at the years in which the main brain development is made and the effect this development has in schooling and later years, the importance of positive experiences in the early years is clear.

As a parent or guardian, you can support your child's early development by providing a safe and nurturing environment with learning opportunities and minimal stress.

Ante-natal

Your child's brain has already started developing. All 5 senses begin to function before birth. During this time, prenatal sensory experiences help shape the brain and nervous system.

2–6 months

Significant 'wiring' of the brain occurs in the first years of a child's life and your baby's brain is developing as a result of the experiences and relationships they are exposed to each day. Babies learn emotions through observing their parents and caregivers, and how they react to various movements and sounds such as crying, yelling, smiling and cooing.

6–9 months

By 9 months your child's brain has already undergone a rapid growth spurt that helps form connections between what they see, hear, feel and taste. Playtime and interactions with parents and family members provides key learning opportunities for early development.

3 years

By 3 years of age a child's brain has around 1,000 trillion brain connections (synapses). The early years are a rapid period of brain development which can be fostered by positive relationships with parents and optimal community environments for families and children. Engaging with your child and providing a safe environment and physical care to your child has a significant impact on your child's development.

3–5 years

By school, a child's brain development is built upon the now solid foundation created in the first 5 years. It is more difficult for children to take advantage of learning environments, such as school, if they have not had optimal early learning experiences or a nurturing home environment.

Adolescence

When adolescence is reached, brain synapses will number around 500 trillion, a figure that remains relatively steady into adulthood. The brain development prioritises the connections used most often, resulting in 'pruning' of the brain networks and circuits.

English and HASS Excellence Programme

Runcorn State High School (RSHS)  invited some of our high-achieving Yr 4 students to participate in an English and HASS excellence program.  These students explored the local environment and incorporated aspects of this into a short story. Thank you to RSHS for providing the opportunity to our students.  Congratulations to Kouseki, Sarah and Yuna.

Roberta Matlock

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

Premier’s Reading Challenge

This is now complete!  All students who completed the challenge and returned their Third Party Permission forms will receive a signed certificate by the QLD Premier next term.

Book Fair

Thank you to all the families that visited and supported our Book Fair this year.  We were lucky enough to receive some amazing books as a result of all of your sales.  Look for new arrivals on shelves soon…

Music Matters

Save the Date - Term 4:

• Tuesday November 22^nd- Music Awards Parade
• Wednesday November 23^rd- End of Year Concert- Sunnybank SHS

Mariel Hopper - mxhop2@eq.edu.au

MUSIC SHOWCASE CONCERT

Congratulations to all our amazing Instrumental Music and Choir musicians for a wonderful concert last Wednesday night at our Music Showcase. The standard of performances was very high and Mr Biedermann, Mr Schilling and Ms Hopper are very proud of how the students sang and played.

Thank you to all the staff and parents who helped out on the night. Photo credit Mrs Bayle.

SINGFEST
Our Senior Choir went along to Singfest last Thursday at The Old Museum in Bowen Hills. The students and Ms Hopper had been working hard on learning 4 songs throughout the year and this day allowed an opportunity for the songs to be workshopped with choirs from 4 other schools. At the end of the day the schools performed in a mass choir to parents. Our choir had a fabulous time and represented Runcorn SS admirably. Thanks to Mr France for supporting the choir during this wonderful opportunity.

REHEARSALS - ALL GROUPS
Rehearsals are still going ahead for all groups including Senior Choir. We have some very exciting performances coming up in Term 4. 

Congratulations Sports Stars

Congratulations to Riley and Toa for competing in the Regional Trails!

From the Health Teacher

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

• Students having a go at new learning activities and challenges 
• Students using calming strategies when they are in red, yellow or blue zone
• Students exerting self-control and knowing their limits 
• Students learning from their mistakes
• Students not giving up and not giving in
• Students working on things that are in their control
• Students asking for help from their friends, peers, staff and parents.

With only two weeks of the term left and many tired students who are ready for holidays, resilience skills are not often at the front of their mind. Students may need further reminders and guidance during this time to help overcome obstacles that may be in their way. Encourage students to self-reflect and self-regulate with calming strategies to help them bounce back. 

Mrs McClure is excited for the next afternoon tea with those students who have displayed the five skills we have been focussing on this term. Well done to all students at Runcorn SS for working on their organisation, confidence, persistence, getting along and resilience skills.

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 

Norman's News

Oh my dogness! I cannot believe that we are coming to the end of another Term at Runcorn! This past pawtnight has been so full of learning and growing that I feel like I’m dragging my tail a little and wanting to spend a little bit more time in my crate (or on the lounge) each day to rest and recover…

Feeling so tired has made me pawnder if his might actually be the reminder that we all need to take some time out over the coming holidays to rejuvenate?

I am always reminding Mrs Schooth (and the kids in my family) that even if I spend my day just eating, sleeping, looking at birds flying over, or barking at other dogs that pass by, these are examples of living the simple life and focusing on the things that matter. At the same time, flashing my puppy dog eyes and insisting that I have a walk every day to get out and about in my community is my other recommendation for self-care. You could try this too for a trip to the park, a walk around the block, or for a dinner and a movie! Sometimes the best way to pamper yourself is some fresh air and some good eats and treats. Don't hesitate to let yourself off the leash and have a good time. But don't stay out too long — you will still have plenty more naps you need to accomplish!

I’d love to hear how you take care of yourself over the break! Please feel free to send through any of your holiday happy snaps to jscho128@eq.edu.au so that I don’t miss you too much!

With big licks and tail wags,

Norman

Environment Club News

New lettuce seedlings have been planted in the Heritage Garden for Term 4 Tuckshop meals. Looking forward to being able to support the Tuckshop with fresh salad vegetables to finish off the year. Year 5 students have also helped P&C with adding more features to the Heritage Garden.

Thanks to all the classes who are accessing the Subpods around the school. The lid on the Prep Subpod has been replaced and now closes more effectively. Don’t forget to empty the fruit scraps into the Subpods regularly. 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 now in its last week. The last three official WONDER boxes will be sent back to Redcycle by the 9^th September. We have already been allocated 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. Let me know if there is any sporting equipment you would like to added to the list. One box is still in the front office for the collection of both bread bags and wrap bags from any bread company, not just Wonder. Keep encouraging students to recycle plastics at any Redcycle outlet after the collection is completed. They can be easily found outside most supermarkets.

Environment Club has now established the collection 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 $70 worth of much need funds for the school. Any staff 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). Thanks again to the Anitema family with helping out with the drop off of containers collected by the school.

The Environment Club is now working towards encouraging the whole school community with paper and cardboard recycling starting Term 4. Some classrooms have the original paper recycling boxes, but for those classes without, new boxes with labels will be available. After an announcement on Thursdays, just place this bin outside your classroom door. Year 4 and 5 students will collect and empty the paper waste which will be placed in a well identified yellow bin exclusively for paper and cardboard. This bin will stay under A block. I will clarify details further in this week’s Staff Meeting.

Again, thank you for all your support with these ventures.  Environment Club is open to all year levels and will be held:

Tuesday lunchtime 11:30am

Thank you to the Runcorn community for the support with collecting of bread/wrap bags and also a big thank you for encouraging students to use the Containers for Change tubs. Now we are hoping to make a difference to paper waste throughout the school.  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

BILLY G COOKIE DOUGH FUNDRAISER

Thank you to everyone who supported our Billy G Cookie Dough Fundraiser.  We made a total profit of $780.  Our highest individual fundraiser was Addison who wins a Tuckshop voucher and our highest class fundraiser was 3K who will enjoy a celebration ice block bucket.

Delivery is scheduled for Thursday, 15 September.  Orders can be collected from 3pm.  The cookie dough is a frozen product so will need to be refrigerated/frozen. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for any updates

FATHER’S DAY STALL

Our annual Father’s Day Stall was held last Wednesday.  It is always wonderful to see our students think carefully about what items they will purchase for that someone special.  Our stall would not have been so successful without the support of the community and for those who volunteered their time to help the students with their selections.  Once again, we put the call out for help, and we were overwhelmed with the amount of people who put their hand up.  The stall made a profit of approximately $750.  To all those who celebrated Father’s Day on Sunday, we hope you had a wonderful day.

THANK YOU MORRIS BROTHERS MUSIC STORE

We were lucky to be able to receive a $30 voucher from Morris Brothers that was to be raffled at the Instrumental Music Night last Wednesday.  Unfortunately, we were unable to receive the voucher in time to do this.  This will now be used as part of our End of Year Concert Raffles.  Keep an eye out for this great opportunity to win this voucher.  If you are looking for a great music store, please have a look online at what Morris Brothers offers.  They are a Brisbane based, family-owned store that has been servicing the community for over 50 years.

P&C Meeting

The next P&C Meeting will be held on Monday 17th October 2022 at 6:30pm in the Resource Centre. We hope to see you there.

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.

Jobs include putting order stickers on bags, food preparation, baking, packing orders. No experience is necessary.  Everyone welcome.

Sushi has now been added to our menu.  This is only available on Thursdays and numbers are limited.  We recommend ordering early so you don’t miss out. Orders must be placed via Flexischools.

Don’t forget Warm Milos and Cheese Toasties are 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.

Did you know you can order for your Term 4 birthday? 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 Mondays or Tuesdays.  Please use the QR code to book an appointment now. Normal trading hours will return in Term 4.

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

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our ‘Suggestions Box’.  All feedback is read and discussed at our monthly P&C meetings. The ‘Suggestions’ box is located outside the office and feedback can be made anonymously.  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