Newsletter Term 1 Week 3

From the Principal

Thank you to all the families who prepared their children so well for the school year with all of the necessary stationery and resources required to start a successful year of schooling. We appreciate you working with us so that your child can make the most of their time here. Runcorn State School has high expectations for our students wearing their uniform correctly and proudly, to show that they are part of our wonderful school community. Being part of such a strong community is a great start. You can help by:

• Ensuring your child to attend school every day - because every day counts
• Supporting your child to wear the full and correct school uniform - a reminder that we have a Uniform Shop onsite if you require any additional uniform items
• Becoming involved in our school community - our community is as strong as your contribution. A great way to be a part of our community is to join the Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association

Thank you for supporting us at our hidden gem of a school.

Day 8 Numbers

Enrolment collections are undertaken by the Department of Education to count the number of students effectively enrolled in Queensland state schools for staff resourcing purposes. At the beginning of the year this is known as Day 8. I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding when we moved from the twenty classes we had planned, to nineteen last week. The decision to move quickly was to ensure students could resume a normal routine as soon as possible and your support during the transition was greatly appreciated.

Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) tender process 2023

Any agreement with an OSHC provider runs for a period of five years, with the potential to extend for another two, two-year terms. The service provision is required to go out to tender every nine years or more frequently if required, with formal reviews undertaken at key junctures.

Runcorn State School will run this process this year as PCYC have been at Runcorn State School for 9 years. This process is under the direction of Procurement Branch of the Department of Education.  The tender process will be discussed at the next P and C meeting on February 20.

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 update, 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.

Meg McClure

From the Deputy Principal

NAPLAN 2023

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)  is the  national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year and assesses the skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

• Your child will do the NAPLAN tests online as Schools have transitioned from paper-based to computer-based assessments. The online assessments are tailored (or adaptive) testing, where the test presents questions which may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. Tailored testing allows a wider range of student abilities to be assessed and measures student achievement more precisely. A student’s overall NAPLAN result is based on both the number and complexity of questions they answer correctly. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway
• All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper  
• A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided by your child’s school later in the year
• The NAPLAN test window starts on Wednesday 15 March and finishes on Monday 27 March 2023
• Please direct any questions about NAPLAN and adjustments that are available for students with disability with your child’s class teacher
• Schools will work with parents/carers and students to identify, on a case-by-case basis, reasonable adjustments required for individual students with disability to access NAPLAN. Adjustments should reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments, so please see your child’s teacher this.
• To find out more about NAPLAN and see the types of questions and tools available in the online NAPLAN assessments parents are invited visit:  https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

Start to the School Day

Whilst it is wonderful to see students keen and ready for the school day before 8:45am, families, please be aware that there is no supervision of students before school.  Students cannot arrive at school before 8am.  Please make alternative arrangements with families or friends or enrol at PCYC Before School Care, if your family's circumstances necessitate this.

  Roberta Matlock

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

Visiting Classrooms

It’s been a joy visiting classrooms over the past fortnight, seeing all the teachers and students settling into their new classrooms and routine.  There is already so much exciting learning happening. I saw so many learners being thinkers, researchers, collaborators, self-managers and communicators. 

The Big Write

The Big Write was introduced at Runcorn Term 4, 2021 and continued throughout 2022.   In 2023 we will continue to use The Big 5 and The Big Write when working on writing.

The Big 5 is a list of writing behaviours that all Runcorn Writers use. These writing behaviours underpin successful writing from Prep to Year 6 and are linked to the Australian Curriculum.  These will be explicitly taught to the students and will link with their individual writing goals.

THE BIG 5

PLAN

Organise our ideas and stick to it!

INTERESTING VOCAB

Use a range of level 1, 2 & 3 words to engage our audience

RANGE OF SENTENCES

Use a range of simple, compound and complex sentences

PUNCTUATION TO ENHANCE MEANING

Choose the best mark to demonstrate your meaning

EDIT TO IMPROVE

Check our work makes sense and matches our plan with correct spelling & punctuation

Every Thursday all students will participate in The Big Write.  The Big Write gives students an opportunity to apply and practice The Big 5 writing skills and get feedback from their teacher.  All classes will use a common stimulus or writing prompt and will have at least 20 minutes to create a piece of writing.  We will be finding many ways to share and celebrate writing throughout our school, including sharing samples from students, teachers and teacher aides and our community in the newsletter and around the school.  I will add our prompts from each Big Write to the newsletter so if any Mums, Dads, Grandparents, or other special adults would like to be part of the Big Write feel free to send your pieces through on email to rlasa2@eq.edu.au .  It would be wonderful to add your writing to our display boards for the students to read or even the newsletter (if you are feeling brave). 

Below are our schoolwide prompts from weeks 2 & 3 – Happy Writing!

Rachel La Sala

Music Matters

Save the date:

Term 2 Week 5 May 15-18th- Karawatha Music Program (Year 4, 5 and 6) Evening concert Thursday 18th 6pm RSHS

Instrumental Music – Band

The Year 5 & 6 Band students started their lessons this week with their new teacher, Miss Amie O’Callaghan. Thank you to everyone for putting in a top effort, you sounded great. Don’t forget: band rehearsals start next week (Mon 13 Feb) at 7:45am – get excited! The Year 4 students are very excited to start their lessons in Week 4 and collect their instruments! Please make sure that any outstanding fees for instrument hire are paid as soon as possible so that your child can practice at home and have lots of fun making lots of noise. Consistent practice equals consistent progress, and they’ll join the band as soon as they’re ready. Have an amazingly musical year, and stay awesome!

Instrumental Music – Strings

Thank you everyone for a great first week of Strings lessons- for being prepared and organised with instruments and resources. String rehearsals will start next week, Week 4. Rehearsals will be in Ms Hoppers Music room.

Senior Strings- 7:30am

Junior Strings- 3-4pm

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 by this time will result in your child missing out on performing with their ensemble and being withdrawn from the program. School instruments will not be issued until this payment is made.

Senior Choir

Senior Choir is open to all students in Years 4-6 and are held in the Music Room every Wednesday at 8am. Rehearsals started this week and it was a great turn out. We welcomed our accompanist, Mrs Paula Wong, back with us this year and we are already preparing for and looking forward to our first performance at the Anzac Day ceremony in Term 2.

Ms Mariel Hopper (mxhop2@eq.edu.au)

From the Japanese Teacher

New school year has started well for you.   I would like to share some of what students have been doing in Japanese classes.

Year 4 students have learnt about Setsubun which is a Japanese traditional event in February. 4A is going to share about this during a Parade next Monday.

Year 5 students have learnt about 3 different Japanese writings, and they have started to practise writing hiragana. They had fun writing outside as well!

Year 6 students are learning about school life in Japan. 

Nagashima Sensei

Teacher of Japanese

Environment Club News

The Environment Club will resume paper and cardboard recycling in the next couple of weeks. Somewhere in your child’s classroom, there will be paper recycling bins like the ones pictured below. Year 4 and 5 students will quietly collect these bins and return it empty. This will usually happen on a Thursday or Friday. Please talk to your child about ONLY paper and cardboard going into these bins. In 2022, some classes found placing this bin separate to the general waste bin helped students to remember.

Collection of plastic bottles, poppers etc for the Containers for Change program will also resume. Year 5/6 students will place clear containers in both junior and senior eating areas each day. We raised $250 worth of much need funds for the school in 2022 and hoping to raise more in 2023. We now have the Wave of Change wheely bins in the school (pictured), and hoping all Runcorn State School families will access the green bins as well. We have also left the Runcorn State School Scheme ID if that is easier to use.

Looking forward to working alongside everyone to make a difference to the thinking around the Environment and Sustainability within Runcorn State School.

The Environment Club

Mrs McNamara and Mrs Anglim

jmcna155@eq.edu.au         sangl1@eq.edu.au    

Norman's News

It has been another busy fortnight at Runcorn as I have had many “oppawtunities” to see the students settle into their classrooms and take on the challenges of learning with such enthusiasm! I always feel so “dog-gone” blessed when I enter a classroom and witness thinkers, communicators, self-managers, researchers and collaborators in action. This seems to carry over to the playground at lunchtime too – where I have been such a “lucky dog” joining in with some construction in the Quiet Play area. It really has been a “pawfect” start to the year.

It was also a “pawsitive” experience for me to see many parents attending the Parent Information Sessions this week. I was able to make a few new “furiends” and share information with families around the Therapy Dog Program that I’m a part of.    

A big bark out to Mrs Ridgway, Mrs Bayle’s very talented mum, who kindly drew a portrait of me for Mrs Schooth to put up in her room. I honestly am so flattered – and amazed at just how handsome I am!!

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 SRS provides students with cost-effective resources.  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

School Childrens crossing are identified by children crossing flags, which are displayed near crossings before and after school hours.

When the crossing is supervised, motorists 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, motorists 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

Our first meeting of the year is Monday, 20th February 2023 at 6:30pm in the school library/resource centre. This is our last meeting before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, 20th March at 6:30pm. The AGM is the meeting where all executive and support positions become vacant, and each role is open for nominations. Some current Executives will not be renominating, so for the P&C to continue to function we need parent/carer support.  You can do this by considering 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.  All positions, except President, have the option of having an assistant. Why not team up with a friend to lighten the load? Being a member of the P&C is a great way to meet new friends, it allows you to know what is happening within the school and contributes to your child’s education.

Our current Executive Team would be happy to discuss what’s involved. Contact them at rsspcsecretary@outlook.com or rsspctreasurer@outlook.com. You can also contact our Community Operations Manager, Angela, rsspccom@outlook.com, for further information.

Roles to be filled:

Executive positions – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer.

Support positions – Social media/Fence coordinator, Uniform Shop Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, Grant Coordinator.

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 pop in on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Jobs include putting order stickers on bags, food preparation, baking, packing orders. No experience is necessary. The Tuckshop is also fully AIR CONDITIONED.

NEW MENU ITEM

Teriyaki Chicken Don is NOW available to order every Thursday. Limited quantities available.

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

Did you know the Uniform Shop also stocks second hand items? Drop in and see if you can pick up a bargain. Thank you to those families who have donated their uniforms. If you would like to donate your second-hand uniforms or any stationery items 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.

Can’t get in during opening hours? Orders can 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)

Thank you to those community members who have reached out to Volunteer already. 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