Newsletter Term 1 Week 1
From the Principal
I would like to use the first newsletter of the year as an opportunity to extend a warm welcome back to the 2023 school year to all of our staff, parents and students. It was great to catch up with many of you at the book drop off and sausage sizzle on Friday. It was lovely to see the smiling faces of our returning families and the excitement evident on the faces of our new families.
The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time as students meet their new teacher and commence learning with their new curriculum. However, the start of the new year can be also be an unsettling time as students adjust to new expectations and routines, particularly for students who are new to our school. Our staff are aware of this and we aim to work quickly to ensure that all students feel welcome and settled.
As the Principal of the school, I am blessed to have a team that are committed to achieving for all students. This is done by setting high expectations and developing an understanding of each child. I look forward to seeing all the students at school every day and encourage parents/caregivers to connect with your child’s teacher so that your child can see a strong partnership between home and school. The strength in this partnership can only result in positive learning outcomes for your child.
In the first couple of weeks of school I would suggest ensuring students are well rested to help ease some of the nervous energy they bring to school. Another suggestion is to discuss how your child’s day has been and talk through their day with them.
In true Brisbane style, the weather is always hot at the beginning of the school year. Pleasingly all classrooms in our school are now air-conditioned. As a reminder, I would suggest all students ensure they stay well hydrated and make sure they drink plenty of water in the first few weeks of school. Also, our school has a strict no hat – no play policy so it’s necessary for all students to wear their Runcorn hat to school.
Our Year level teams are currently in the process of sending out newsletters about the upcoming term. The newsletters will be emailed out through Schoolzine. Please read through this information carefully to ensure you stay abreast of the things the important information about your child’s class. This is an exciting year for our school and we look forward to developing strong partnerships with you to ensure your child experiences positive growth in their education.
I look forward to using the newsletter each fortnight to keep you up to date with the things that are happening around the school.
Our 2023 Annual Implementation Plan
Each year our school leadership team develops the Runcorn State School – Annual Implementation Plan (AIP). The plan outlines the strategies and actions that we will implement over the course of 2023 to improve outcomes for our students. The strategies have been drawn from the core school priorities outlined in our School Strategic Plan 2020 - 2023 and are the broad, long-term goals of our school.
Our strategy will be to implement an Explicit Improvement Agenda designed around the four key pillars of our School Strategic Plan 2020 - 2023:
- Successful Learners
- Supported Wellbeing
- Continuous Improvement
- Engaged Partners
Our full AIP document can be found on our website in the very near future. Please read through this plan to learn about what’s in store for our school in the year ahead. If you have any questions about this information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Welcome to our New Staff
Please welcome to our school community our new team members who have joined our 2023 team: Prep - Miss Perera (PA) and Mrs Cox (PC), Year 1 - Mrs Roddy (1R), Year 4 - Miss Smith (4S), Health - Mrs Stirling, Instrumental Music (Band) - Ms O'Callaghan and Front Office - Mrs Hedley.
Morning Messages
Each school day will start in Girraween Place at 8:45am for all Year levels. Here, quick morning messages will be delivered before teachers lead their class to the classroom. Each Class Teacher has talked through with their class what will happen of a morning. Students were shown where to sit at our first parade, which was held on Monday.
School Uniform
Our school community supports our students in wearing the full school uniform, including shoes. It’s a proud moment when I see so many students wearing the school colours. The school uniform is worn each and every day as it’s an important part of our school culture. The uniform is endorsed by our parents and citizens association. As a reminder, our uniforms can be purchased though the P&C Uniform Shop.
Attendance
At the start of each year, our teachers invest a lot of time in building relationships with their students and teaching the routines and expectations for their class. This is vital to ensure that all students feel safe and supported in their classroom and school environment. It provides the foundations for us to achieve our vision of teaching and helping every child every day to be their best. To assist your child’s success at school, it is beneficial to have established routines at home. Bed times, chores, homework, meals and play times are all significant parts of a child’s day and a balanced, consistent routine will help them to grow to their fullest potential. If your child is experiencing difficulties in coming to school, please see their teacher or make an appointment at the office to seek assistance.
Updating Contact Details
If you have changed addresses or changed your phone contact details, please contact our office to make sure your details are updated. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Meg McClure
From the Deputy Principal
Welcome to the 2023 school year, I look forward to another year of working to prepare every child for a successful future through creative thinking and the joy of learning.
Before School Care
In the interest of safety, families are remindered that if children need to be dropped at school before 8.00am then they should be enrolled at the PCYC Outside School Hours Care (OSHC).
Organised, Responsible Students
A routine for back to school is very important. Please support your children to have an organised school week. This includes good bedtime routine with lots of sleep, before and after school routines that include organising personal items, noting school events on a calendar and arriving at school by 8:40am every morning for an organised and calm start to the day.
Roberta Matlock
From the Head of Department - Curriculum
Welcome back
Welcome back to the 2023 academic school year to our new and returning families! It was so wonderful so see you all back at Runcorn after the holiday period. I hope you have all had a wonderful break. 2023 will be a fantastic year of learning here at Runcorn, we will be continuing to focus on improvements in literacy and further imbedding inquiry into our classrooms.
***THE BIG WRITE IS RETURNING!
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION IN OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER***
Rachel La Sala
Music Matters
Welcome back to the 2023 school year. This year will be an exciting year of new learning, thinking, fun and thrilling performances and lessons for Music at Runcorn State School. Whether you have a child who is beginning Music for the first year or your child is continuing in the program, the Music Team look forward to working with each and every student in 2023.
Instrumental Music – Band and Strings
All Instrumental Music students will commence lessons in Week 3 (6 or 7 February). Ensemble rehearsals will commence in Week 4 (13 or 14 February) for all continuing students from 2022. New students who are loaning a school instrument will have their instrument issued to them in Week 4 (13 or 14 February) if the Instrumental Music Payment has been completed.
Instrumental Music Resource Payment
Parents are asked to pay a music resource payment each year, which covers costs such as sheet music, photocopying, competition fees and maintenance of instruments. The amount you are asked to pay will vary according to whether you are hiring an instrument from the school or have purchased your own instrument. These costs have changed from previous years to create consistency and fairness with other schools in our immediate area. Costs for 2023 are as follows:
Music Resource Payment IF NOT borrowing an instrument from the school - $50.00
Music Resource Payment IF borrowing an instrument from the school - $90.00
The Music Resource Payment must be paid in full no later than the 20th February, 2023. Failure to pay the Music Resource Payment may impinge on your child's participation. School instruments will not be issued until this payment is made.
SENIOR CHOIR
Senior Choir is open to all students in Years 4-6. Rehearsals will start in Week 3 and are held in the Music Room on Wednesdays 8am.
A note will be distributed to interested students and these need to be returned to the office or Ms Hopper.
Senior Choir is a fabulous opportunity for students to be part of a team that sings together and has an important role in the school. They perform at events such as Anzac Day and Remembrance along with other occasions through the year.
The Music Team are really looking forward to working with all Runcorn Students Families in 2023!
Ms Mariel Hopper
mxhop2@eq.edu.au
Norman's News
A huge welcome back to Runcorn State School to all my “fur-iends” who I missed so much over the holidays! Also a big hello to our new families who have joined us this year! I hope that you all had a restful and enjoyable holiday. I made the most of the “op-paw-tunity” to spend time with my family and enjoyed time relaxing at home, going on big walks through the bush and at the beach, and also indulged in some delicious frozen doggy desserts – “pup-sicles”!
This week, my tail has just not stopped wagging with excitement for the start of another “pawsome” year of learning. I have really enjoyed being in classrooms and listening to the “mutt-ers” of “paw-sion” as students engage as thinkers, communicators, self-managers, researchers and collaborators. Thank you to everyone who has remembered the rules when I am nearby, and for asking Mrs Schooth if it is ok to pat me. I am always learning and your help in my training is so valuable.
If you have any questions for me, or for my handler, Mrs Schooth, please do not hesitate to reach out at jscho128@eq.edu.au.
Until next time,
Big licks and tail wags,
Norman
From the Administration Office
Student Resource Scheme (SRS)
The aim of Runcorn State School is to achieve the best learning outcomes for all students. Each year, the school asks parents to contribute to the payment for classroom consumables and other resource items as deemed necessary by the teacher and school.
It was unanimously agreed at the P&C Meeting on 20 November 2022 that the cost of the SRS Scheme for 2023 will be a flat fee of $40.00 per student with no family discount as per departmental guidelines. This is a reduction of $20.00 from the 2022 SRS fee. Forms and invoices will be sent to parents at the commencement of the 2023 school year.
A reminder also, that from 2021, the Participant Agreement Form that Parents/Caregivers sign are valid for the duration of your child's enrolment at Runcorn State School unless Parents/Caregivers inform the school otherwise by completing a new Participation Form.
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.
Newsletters
Don't forget that you can always collect a hard copy of the current newsletter from the office. You can also view/download it from our website: https://runcornss.schoolzineplus.com/enews?nid=23 You can also download the Schoolzine App from your App Store. Once downloaded, search for Runcorn State School and use password 4109, when prompted. Happy reading.
School Zone Safety - Advice for Motorists
It's a timely reminder to drivers to slow down in school zones and pay attention at children’s crossings.
Coming back after holidays it can be easy to forget what to look out for. School zone signs are displayed as you approach the school and shows both the speed limit and the times you need to reduce your speed around the school. Childrens crossing are identified by children crossing flags, which are displayed near crossings before and after school hours.
When the crossing is supervised, you as a motorist must:
- wait until all pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath
- abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.
If the crossing is unsupervised, you as a motorist must:
- give way to pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders on or entering a children’s, pedestrian or marked foot crossings
- give way to pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders on or entering a road you’re turning into
- give way to pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders on a slip lane
- give way to pedestrians in a share zone
- travel at a speed allowing you to stop safely at a crossing if needed
As a driver, it's important to make sure you give way to all pedestrians, bicycle or personal mobility device riders such as skateboards, e-scooters. You must also give way to pedestrians using a motorised mobility device such as a motorised wheelchair or a mobility scooter.
Some of our most vulnerable road users are children getting to and from school, so it’s important to slow down and abide by the crossing rules, as it won’t make much difference to the trip time, but it could very well save lives.
Visit the Street Smarts website to find more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.
P&C News
Welcome back to all our old and new families alike! We hope everyone is settling back into the school routine. The P&C are busily preparing for another year of fundraising. If there is something you would like to see in the P&C calendar, please email rsspccom@outlook.com.
MEETING
Our first meeting of the year is Monday, 20th February 2023 at 6:30pm in the school library/resource centre. Everyone welcome!
Our Annual General Meeting is on Monday, 20th March at 6:30pm. This is the meeting where all executive positions will be vacated, and nominations and voting will be done for this year. If you are keen to get on board and make a difference to our school, please think about becoming a member or nominating and taking up a position. Some positions only require a few hours of work per month, while others are a little more involved. Many of our executive have been in their positions for several years and would be happy to discuss what’s involved. If you have any questions about any of the roles please contact our Community Operations Manager, Angela, rsspccom@outlook.com
TUCKSHOP
Operating Hours
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (8:30am - 1:45pm)
- Monday and Tuesday (over the counter sales only, 11:15 – 11:45)
We love to welcome volunteers at the Tuckshop. Please contact, Jodie or Angela at tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au or simply pop your head in on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
Jobs include putting order stickers on bags, food preparation, baking, packing orders. No experience is necessary.
Did you know you can order for your child's Term 1 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 AND STATIONERY SHOP
Operating Hours
Monday 2:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Tuesday 8:15 am – 8:45 am
The Uniform Shop will re-open next week (Week 2) for regular trading. Orders can also be emailed to rssuniform@outlook.com and we will deliver your order to your child’s classroom as soon as we can. Order forms are available from the website Uniform shop (eq.edu.au)
If you have any old uniforms or stationery items you would like to donate please send them in with your child and let us know via email (rssuniform@outlook.com) and we will collect from their classroom. They can also be dropped to the Uniform Shop during opening hours.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact rssuniform@outlook.com or rsspccom@outlook.com.
Year Level Facebook Groups. Press on the link to join now!
Prep 2023 - (1) RSS - Prep 2023 | Facebook
Year 1 - (1) RSS - Grade 1 2023 | Facebook
Year 2 – (1) RSS - Grade 2 2023 | Facebook
Year 3 - (1) RSS - Grade 3 2023 | Facebook
Year 4 – (1) RSS - Grade 4 2023 | Facebook
Year 5 - (1) RSS - Grade 5 2023 | Facebook
Year 6 – (1) RSS - Grade 6 2023 | Facebook
TO KEEP UP TO DATE – FIND US ON FACEBOOK at Runcorn State School P&C Association | Facebook
Community News
