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Newsletter Term 2 Week 9

From the Principal

High Standards for Learning - Sharing Students’ Progress

The next formal opportunity to share your child’s learning and progress is when report cards are released in week ten. If you would like to discuss your child’s report card with their teacher please make an appointment time with them via email. We encourage parents to ensure that they have updated all contact details, especially email addresses, as soon as possible. Our report cards will be sent to parents via email on Friday 23 June.

Every Day Counts

Every day and every minute counts - I remind parents and carers that regular, continual and punctual attendance at school is a significant factor in achieving better academic and social outcomes. New concepts and skills are taught and reinforced each day by teachers. If students miss the introduction or the reinforcement of these concepts and skills, they are likely to have gaps in their learning.

Regular school attendance gives students a better chance at life. Students achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day because:

they have increased access to learning opportunities
they maintain friendships
they stay connected to the curriculum progression
they develop self-efficacy as a learner
they have better long-term life outcomes.

Establishing good routines around school can assist with regular school attendance.

These include:

a set time to go to bed
preparing the uniform and school bag the night before
a set time for starting and finishing breakfast
setting a regular time for daily homework activities
speaking about school positively
sending your child to school every school day, including their birthday

If you are experiencing difficulty in sending your child to school, contact the school for advice and support.

Thank you all

As we move forward towards the end of the semester, I want to express my appreciation for our dedicated teachers, staff, and parent community.

Thank you to our staff, who go above and beyond for our students each and every day. It takes a team to make this such a great school, a team where every member pulls in the same direction. Thank you to our Runcorn Students for your efforts and dedication to your school. Finally, thank you our parent body, community and P&C for your support. I hope all staff, students and parents have a healthy and relaxing break. Enjoy this time with your loved ones and rest up for what will be a busy and exciting Semester Two. Stay safe and see you all back for Term 3 on Monday 10 July 2023.

Keep watch on our school these holidays

With the holidays fast approaching, we are asking you to look out for after-hours crime in our school. If you see anything suspicious, please remember to call the School Watch number – 13 17 88. The School Watch program is a partnership between the Department of Education and Training, the Queensland Police Service and the State Government Protective Security Service. It aims to reduce vandalism, theft and arson in Queensland schools.

Meg McClure

From the Deputy Principal

https://intranet.qed.qld.gov.au/EducationDelivery/Stateschooling/naplan/Documents/naplan-student-report-info-for-parents-carers.pdf

Roberta Matlock

From the Head of Department - Inclusion

DEAR MIND

Wellbeing integrates mental health (mind) and physical health (body) resulting in more holistic approaches to disease prevention and health promotion.

Wellbeing is when you:

feel supported
are healthy and happy
think positively about yourself
are confident in reaching your goals

To help all Queenslanders improve their own mental health and wellbeing, Queensland Health offer their Dear Mind website. Perhaps you have noticed some advertisements on TV. The site has all sorts of ideas and resources; I’d really recommend taking a look. Also, the Benevolent Society have a have a range of resources to help with counselling, referrals and advice to take care of mental health and build resilience. Benevolent Society

Jillian

Norman's News

While it has been a great week at Runcorn for the students and I, and I humbly know the impact that I have in working with staff, students and our community, I came across these 7 interesting facts (courtesy of auroma.com.au ) that you might not know about therapy animals…

Fact #1: Therapy dogs are nothing new

While you may have only heard about therapy animals in recent years, therapy dogs date back to World War II, when they were used to boost the spirits of recovering soldiers with PTSD. The first official therapy dog (on record) was named Smoky: a tiny 1.8kg Yorkshire Terrier who accompanied the nurses at a hospital in New Guinea as they dealt with battlefield casualties. Smoky was so successful she went on to work as a therapy dog for 12 years, even after the war was over.

Fact #2: There’s such a thing as a therapy horse

While therapy dogs spend more time in the spotlight, they are by no means the only type of therapy animal out there. Pot-bellied pigs, horses, cats, birds, guinea pigs, monkeys, llamas, and even rats can be trained as therapy or companion animals.

Fact #3: Animals are good for our minds and bodies

It’s no secret that animals make all of us feel good – but for those with a mental illness like anxiety, depression, or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), animals can actually play a bigger role.A number of recent studies have shown, that being around animals can help reduce anxiety, tension, and stress hormones, and even lower our blood pressure and heart rate. And of course, animals make people feel less isolated an d alone.

Fact #4: Fish tanks in doctors’ offices aren’t just decorative

Ever notice that many doctors’ and dentists’ waiting rooms feature a lovely fish tank? Well, this isn’t just because they look pretty – studies have shown that watching fish can actually also calm people down, slow heart rates, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety and muscle tension.

Fact #5: Animals can help teach kids to read

As far as we know, animals can’t read – but that hasn’t stopped them helping kids to learn how. As is the case at Runcorn, children can often feel self-conscious when learning to read aloud, which hampers their progress. This is where therapy animals come in: a calm, non-judgmental audience that kids can practice reading to.

Fact #6: Some therapy animals start out in prison

In 2002, a program began called “Pups in Prison”, which saw inmates in Australian jails paired up with budding assistance dogs. The idea? That inmates would train these dogs under the guidance of a professional dog trainer – and in doing so, learn skills to assist in their own rehabilitation.Similar programs have since started such as “Dogs for Diggers” at Bathurst Prison, which uses a similar approach to train rescue dogs to support returning veterans with injuries or PTSD. Both programs have been a great success, giving inmates a sense of focus and achievement – and giving the community some wonderful assistance dogs as a result.

Fact #7: Some animals can actually calm us down and keep us safe

Some mental health issues or neurodivergent conditions, such as autism, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, can trigger behaviour that’s potentially harmful. In response, special therapy dogs are trained to actually interrupt this behaviour – whether it means waking someone with PTSD up from a nightmare, using their weight to calm a person having an panic attack (a technique known as ‘deep pressure therapy’), or simply alerting their handler to a subconscious habit that they need to break.

Pretty Pawsome work we do, hey?

Until next time, Big licks and tail wags,

Norman

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

Report Cards

Semester 1 report cards will be distributed in the last week of Term 2.

Distribution of Achievement

A Distribution of Achievement graph will be included on all student’s report card. The graph will show the percentage of students in your child’s cohort that achieved at each reporting level for each Learning Area.

Overall Comments

Overall comments of each student will reflect the individual learning behaviours your child has demonstrated throughout Semester 1. You will notice that the language of The Learning Assets (Collaborator, Communicator, Thinker, Self-Manager & Researcher) have been included to also reflect our use of inquiry teaching and learning throughout the school. If you wish to further discuss your child’s progress in any Learning Area/s, please do not hesitate to contact your classroom teacher and/or sign up for a Three- Way Reporting conversation early in Term 3.

Subjects on Report Card

At the end of 2021, there were changes made to the Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework in relation to the mandatory and recommended time for teaching and assessing each Learning Area. While elements of all Learning Areas are taught every term in every year level, you may notice subjects such as The Arts and Technologies have not been included in your child’s report for Semester 1, they will appear in Semester 2 and vice versa.

Health and Physical Education

All students receive a weekly Health lesson from our specialist Sheridan Stirling and weekly Physical Education from our specialist Michael Kraynik (T1 & T2 only). On report cards the achievement mark is a combination of tasks completed in both Health and Physical Education lessons, however you may only see one of these specialists’ name on your child’s report card.

If you have any further questions regarding academic reporting feel free to contact myself or your child’s classroom teacher.

Rachel La Sala

Music Matters

Save the date:

Week 10 Tuesday June 20th- Strings family afternoon for Year 3 and 4. 3:20-4pm.
Term 3 Week 1 Monday July 10th- Nexus Arts Incursion

Strings news

There will be an afternoon concert for families of the Year 3 and 4 Strings players in Week 10 Tuesday June 20th 3:20-4pm. Please come along and support our young musicians.

Nexus Arts Incursion

We are holding our annual Nexus Arts Incursion to celebrate Naidoc Day. This will be the first day back of Term 3- Monday July 10th. Please ensure you have returned all permission forms and made payment by Tuesday June 20th.

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

Health Happenings

Our assembly awards focus this fortnight are the Confidence Key and the Thinker Learning Asset.

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

Effective Thinkers at Runcorn State School are:

Open minded
Flexible
Persistent

Congratulations to all students who have been acknowledged for demonstrating the above skills and have received tickets and/or awards from staff. Our Principal Ms McClure is very excited for the next Principal’s Afternoon Tea in week 10 with those lucky students whom names will be drawn at next week’s assembly. Good luck to all students!

Sheridan Stirling

Environment Club News

The Environment Club has continued paper and cardboard recycling. This has been happening on a Thursday or Friday. So far, the collection has been going well with most classes remembering to only put paper and cardboard in these bins. Just a reminder that tissues must not be placed in the Recycling Bins.

Collection of plastic bottles, poppers etc for the Containers for Change program is also going well. Year 5/6 students place clear containers in both junior and senior eating areas each day. The large Wave of Change wheely bin is filling up and we are waiting for a replacement. So pleased that Runcorn State School families are accessing the green bins as well. The Runcorn State School Scheme ID is below, if that is easier to use. All funds raised goes towards resources for the school.

We now re-established the Heritage Garden beds by planting tomato and lettuce seedlings kindly donated by Bunnings, Underwood. The 5/6M and Prep C students lovingly planted these seedlings during Buddies last Tuesday and will work together to water and tend to them. Hopefully, we will start supplying salad for the Tuckshop. Lettuce and tomato seedlings are the most frequently used items in the Tuckshop.

Ever heard of GREENWASHING?

Be Inquirers and investigate this concept with your class or families. Another space where we need to be THINKERS!!

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

From the Administration Office

The Runcorn administration office team would like to thank our wonderful students for always demonstrating such a great community spirit. We would like to share with you in each newsletter some of our students who have recently shone the Runcorn Spirit. These following students are this fortnight's Runcorn Success Stars.

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.

DID YOU KNOW?..... that using BPoint is a convenient and secure way to pay for your child's school invoices. BPoint is a user-friendly online payment platform that enables you to pay your school invoices quickly and easily, without having to worry about sending cash or cheques through the mail or visiting the school in person. It can also be done by phoning the school on 3323 8777, choosing Option 2 which will redirect you to the BPoint payment platform.

By using BPoint, you can make payments from the comfort of your home or office at any time, day or night. You can also track your payment history and receive email receipts for each transaction, making it easier to keep track of your expenses.

BPoint offers a secure and reliable payment system, ensuring that your personal and financial information is protected. It also helps reduce administrative costs for the school, which ultimately benefits the entire school community.

We strongly recommend giving BPoint a try for your next school invoice payment. It's an efficient and hassle-free way to pay your school fees.

We have also included some easy to follow instructions. If you still require further assistance with the process please contact our friendly Admin team!

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.

P&C News

P and C General Meeting

The next P&C general meeting will be held in Week 2 of next Term. Mark your calendars for Monday, 17^th July at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held in the Resource Centre/Library. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Loose Change Challenge

We are seeing some healthy competition between classes in our Class Vs Class Loose Change Challenge. Classes are going head to head to see who will be crowned the highest earners in the school.

Classes have done an amazing job decorating their bottles. The five, ‘$10 Golden Bricks’ for Best Decorated bottles went to 3C, 5/6M, 1R and two bricks went to PW. The ‘Best Decorated’ competition was voted on by Mrs McClure, Mrs Chittenden, Ms La Sala, Mrs Seiler and Mrs Schooth.

The winning class will receive a PIZZA PARTY kindly donated by Pizza Hut Stretton and the runner up class will celebrate with a ice block bucket. The Challenge runs until next Wednesday, 21^st June. Class bottles are located in Girrawheen Place every morning for students to place their money into.

Pyjama Day and Picnic

Our Pyjama Picnic is on tomorrow afternoon!

Things to bring:

wear your pyjamas to school.
bring your gold coin to support The Pyjama Foundation – collected by the student council from classrooms.
picnic rug.
afternoon tea/snacks.
money to make your purchases from the coffee van - 'The Story Behind the Coffee’.

Check out our flyer! Hope to see you all there!

State of Origin Meal Deal

Change of Date – Wednesday, 21^st June

Will it be BLUE or MAROON? To coincide with the end of the Loose Change Challenge the Tuckshop will be offering a State of Origin Meal Deal on Wednesday, 21^st June. The meal deal is now available to be ordered via Flexischools.

Tuckshop

Operating Hours

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (8:30am - 1:45pm)
Monday and Tuesday (over the counter sales only, 11:15am – 11:45am)

If you have one or two hours free in the morning to volunteer, we would love to hear from you. Please come and see Jodie or Etsu in the Tuckshop or contact tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au

State of Origin Meal Deal - Wednesday 21st June

Will it be BLUE or MAROON?

To coincide with the end of the Loose Change Challenge the Tuckshop will be offering a State of Origin Meal Deal on Wednesday, 21^st June. The meal deal is now available to be ordered via Flexischools and orders close at 9pm tomorrow night. Get your last minute orders in now.

Tuckshop End of Term

Please be advised of the following:

Wednesday, 21^st June – State of Origin Meal Deal (regular service unavailable).
Thursday, 22^nd – Regular Tuckshop service with a limited menu.
Friday, 23^rd June – Over the counter items only. Closed for normal service.

UNIFORM AND STATIONERY SHOP

rssuniform@outlook.com

The Uniform Shop is currently closed for onsite purchases until the end of this term due to current building works being done in that area.

If you would like to make an order you can do so using our online service.

How do I do that?

Order forms can be found on the school website. Download from here: Uniform Shop Order Form (eq.edu.au)
Email you completed order to rssuniform@outlook.com
Your order will be fulfilled and delivered to your child’s classroom.
If you require an exchange, please advise via email, and send your order back to school with your child to be collected and exchanged.

Contact Us

If you have an enquiry, would like to offer feedback or suggestions or you would like to become a member of the P&C, please reach out using one of the following email addresses:

Vice President – Rachael - rsspcvicepresident@outlook.com
Secretary – Nadera – rsspcsecretary@outlook.com
Treasurer – Zoee – rsspctreasurer@outlook.com
Community Operations Manager – Angela – rsspccom@outlook.com
Events Coordinator – Andrew – rsspcevents@outlook.com
Social Media Coordinator – Rahnia – rsspcfacebook@outlook.com
For any fence advertising enquiries please contact, Zoee – rsspcmarketing@outlook.com