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Newsletter Term 4 Week 3

From the Principal

Year 4 Camp

How exciting for our Year 4 students who headed off to camp on Wednesday. It is an amazing opportunity for staff to get to know students outside of the normal class routines and see them challenge themselves in new and different ways. We are so fortunate at Runcorn State School to have staff that volunteer their time to support our camp program. A big thank-you to the staff involved for being away from your own families in order to provide this experience for our students and to the staff who welcomed students not attending into their classrooms.

Reading - a top priority

Making reading a priority is a commitment to ensuring that every child at Runcorn State School becomes a confident, capable reader. We believe this paves the way for academic success and a lifelong passion for reading. As parents, your support is invaluable in promoting reading with your child. Here are a few ways you can help:

Read Together: Set aside time each day to read with your child. Modelling a love for reading is a powerful motivator.

Talk About Books: Engage your child in conversations about the books they're reading. Ask questions to help them comprehend and connect with the material.

Visit the Library: Regular trips to the library expose your child to a variety of books and reading experiences.

Together, we can further unlock the power of reading for our children and provide them with a skill that will benefit them for a lifetime.

Confirming Your Intentions for 2024

Are You Returning for 2024? You have received an email asking for your intentions for 2024. We kindly request your prompt response. If you are planning to transfer, move, or expect to return late due to overseas travel, please let us know as soon as possible. This information is invaluable in helping us make accurate staffing predictions for 2024.

State Education Week and World Teacher’s Day

Celebrate State Education Week with us between Monday 23 October and Friday 27 October. State education in Queensland provides the pathway for students to achieve what matters most to them and to create their own stories. This year we celebrate all the great stories that start right here in our school community. On World Teachers’ Day (Friday 27 October) we thank and applaud our teachers for their dedication, hard work and the positive impact they have on our students and community.

Community carparks are now smoke and vape free

Smoking and vaping are already prohibited on school facilities and 5 metres beyond the boundary of the school. New laws extend smoke and vape-free protection to include all carparks provided for school communities, including those on council land. These laws apply to all persons, including organisations using school facilities, and at all times, including outside of school hours.

Meg McClure

From the Deputy Principal

2024 Uniform and Stationery List Information

When purchasing new shoes for your children, please be reminded that the School Uniform Policy requires plain black shoes and plain white or black socks with no colours or logoes permitted.

2024 Stationery Lists have been sent home with students. Our current Stationery Pack supplier, School Stuff provide a lay by option to assist with spreading the total cost burden over a number of payments.

Food Warning

Please check when packing your child's lunchbox and ensure that any of the silica gel dessicant sachets are removed from your child's food or that you show them to your child and teach them that they are not allowed to eat them. We have had a child recently consume one thinking it was part of their lunch.

Roberta Matlock

From the Head of Department - Inclusion

October is ADHD Awareness Month
ADHD Awareness Month occurs annually throughout October and is dedicated to raising awareness of and educating the public about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In raising awareness, the event aims to dismantle any harmful stereotypes or misinformation and spread reliable key facts and information.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes higher than average levels of hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive behaviour. The term ‘neurodevelopmental’ might simply mean that some individuals’ brains develop differently from neurotypical individuals (‘neurotypical’ meaning that they don’t display characteristics of autistic or any other neurodiverse patterns of thought and behaviour).
People with ADHD tend to have trouble focusing their attention on a single task or sitting still for long periods of time.
While it is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviours. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends.
Some characteristics a child with ADHD might present with are:
daydream a lot
forget or lose things a lot
squirm or fidget
talk too much
make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
have a hard time resisting temptation
have trouble taking turns
have difficulty getting along with others

Jillian Chittenden

Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day October 20^th

Developmental language disorder, or DLD, is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with difficulties understanding and using language.

In the past few weeks, teachers and speech pathologists across the state have been discussing and learning about early identification and supports for students with DLD. The sessions prompted many teachers to ask “Do I have a student with DLD in my classroom?”

DLD is often invisible and affects up to 2 students in every classroom.

In Metropolitan South region feedback from teachers stated that the information and statistics made them realise how challenging the learning environment is for students with DLD and how this can significantly impact a student’s ability to access the curriculum and lead to student disengagement.

Teachers and speech language pathologists are important professionals in identifying and supporting students with DLD. It is a lifelong condition but with the right adjustments and or focused and individualised supports in place, students can achieve academic and vocational success.

Friday 20^th October 2021 is DLD Awareness Day with the theme DLD around the World.

This year’s campaign is asking teachers to understand that DLD affects students regardless of age, gender, spoken language or ethnicity. Speaking more than one language does not cause DLD. In fact, people with DLD can learn multiple languages. DLD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting how the brain processes language, so it makes sense that we find it in every country and every language.

To continue to shed light on this common but invisible disability, the Story Bridge will shine purple and yellow for DLD day on Friday 20^th October!

Talk your school speech language pathologist or go to https://radld.org/ to learn more about DLD.

Warda Abrahams

Norman's News

Why does Norman like to carry a ball or toy in his mouth?

This is a question that Norman and I are sometimes asked as he walks around the school and playground.

So, as researchers, Norman and I have done a little “digging” and come up with this list of possibilities: -

To keep himself entertained
To show off or show dominance over another animal
To prevent someone from taking away something that belongs to him
As an attention seeking behaviour
Out of instinct or as a source of comfort (almost like a “dummy”)

Which idea do you think is the most likely reason for Norman to carry his ball around Runcorn? Let me know your thoughts at jscho128@eq.edu.au

Until next time, big licks and tail wags,

Norman x

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

Writing at Runcorn – The Big 5 and The Big Write

Throughout 2023 we have continued to focus on the teaching and learning of great writing here at Runcorn. Teachers have been working with students to build strong foundational skills, including the use of individual writing goals to target areas of growth. Part of this process is the use of 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. This week we used the following video as our school wide prompt https://youtu.be/ prfZFyp4XZk - have a try at home and see what you come up with!

If you wish to know what The Big Write looks like in your child’s classroom, or to discuss their writing goal, feel free to contact their classroom teacher. If you wish to discuss writing at Runcorn, or share any Mum, Dad or family Big Writes you worked on at home for our library display board, feel free to contact me at rlasa2@eq.edu.au

Happy Writing!!

Rachel La Sala

Music Matters

Save the date:

Term 4:

Week 6 Friday November 10- Remembrance Day parade- Senior Choir
Week 8 Tuesday November 21- Music and Academic Awards- Senior Choir, Band, Senior strings
Week 8 Tuesday November 21- Strings family afternoon- Beginner and Junior Strings 3-4pm
Week 9 Wednesday November 29- End of Year Concert
Week 9 Friday December 1- Graduation- Year 6 Strings and selected others

Ensemble and Choir Rehearsals

It’s great to see everyone in attendance at rehearsals this week.

Please make sure you keep attending all rehearsals this term for Band, Strings and Choir as there are a number of performances this term with our final concerts in Week 8.

Practice- Instrumental Music

All students in Instrumental Music need to ensure they are practicing a minimum of 100 minutes per week as this is part of the requirement and is part of assessment this term.

Continuing in IM form and Instrument Hire- Year 3 and 4

Continuing in Instrumental Music forms are due back this Friday 20^th October. Please ensure you have returned these so we have accurate numbers for next year.

As we need to allocate instruments to students who begin their Instrumental Music journey in 2024, the students who have been using a school provided instrument in 2023 will need to purchase their own instrument for 2024. The following guide indicates availability of school hire instrument or need to purchase.

A list of preferred suppliers is listed below. See one of the Music team if you require guidance with this.

All school instruments will need be returned by the end of Week 8.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next week.

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

Health Happenings

Our parade award focus this fortnight are the Getting Along Key and the Collaborator Learning Asset.

Getting Along at Runcorn State School looks like:

Students working cooperatively with each other in and out of the classroom
Students solving/resolving problems in a calm and friendly manner
Students making responsible choices
Students being friendly and patient to those around them
Students listening while others are speaking
Students helping those in need

Effective Collaborators at Runcorn State School are:

Empathic
Compassionate
Reliable

Staff across Runcorn State School will be actively looking for students displaying skills of getting along and collaboration. Congratulations to all students who have been acknowledged so far! Getting along and collaboration makes Runcorn State School a better place to learn and grow.

Sheridan Stirling

Wellbeing Social Worker

HI Everyone,

With the beautiful weather we are having at the moment, it’s a great time to get outside. Whether it is a walk to the park or around the backyard, there is a way to make the time outside more enjoyable for children of all ages. A nature or scensory scavenger hunt with your children and family members provides a purpose and some fun in the fresh air outside. All you need is a list of things to hunt for, such as leaves, sticks, flowers, bugs, birds. A sensory scavenger hunt list might include listening for a bird whistle, feeling the soil in the garden or smelling the wet grass after rain. Spending time outdoors is good for our mental health, especially sharing the time with family and friends. I’ve attached some Outdoor and Sensory Scavenger Sheets to the newsletter, to make it easy to get outside at the end of the day or on the weekend.

Take Care,
Sheena Cranwell

Sports News

Please find our term 4 swimming timetable below.

All students must bring the following items:

A swimming cap (preferably not blue in colour)
A one-piece swim suit or shorts and a long sleeve sun safe shirt (not singlet)
A towel
Thongs or sandals for walking to and from the pool
SPF 30+ broad spectum sunscreen
swimming goggles are optional
Students with open or infected sores or abrasions are not able to swim in the pool. Bandaids and dressings can't be worn in the pool.
Jewelry is not permitted including any earings

Luke Brady

Bandanna Day

October 27 is Bandanna Day and Wear Red for Daniel Day. The student council will be raising funds for Canteen, a group that supports families living with cancer by selling $5 bandannas. These will be available for purchase outside of the tuckshop before school from Monday, October 23.

Students are also encouraged to wear red in support of Day for Daniel, a program that emphasises the 3 R’s – Recognise, React and Report when students are faced with uncomfortable situations. There is a awareness day and does not require a gold coin donation to wear red.

Student Council

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.

We have 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 and will work together to water and tend to them. Hopefully, we will start supplying salad for the Tuckshop. Lettuce and tomato 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

Parent reminder: Check and make sure that we have your most current and correct email address on file. This will ensure that you receive your child’s report card at the end of the term. Contact the front office to make any changes.

Students leaving at the end of 2023:

Planning is well on the way for establishing class placements for the 2024 school year. To ensure that we allocate placements as equitably as possible, we kindly request your assistance in informing us of your intentions regarding your child's enrolment status for next year.

If you are definitely leaving Runcorn State School at the end of the 2023 school year, can you please email office@runcornss.eq.edu.au with the following details:

Name of Student:
Current Class:
Name of school your child will be attending in 2024:

If you are unsure about your plans for next year, please let us know your current status, and you can update us as soon as you make a decision.

Student Resource Scheme (SRS) 2024

The school will be submitting its report on the 2023 SRS at next Monday’s P&C meeting.

Our final P&C meeting for the year will be held in the library on Monday 13^th November at the 6.30pm.

At this meeting the Student Resource Scheme(SRS) for 2024 will be discussed. All parents and carers are welcome to attend.

First Aid Processes

If children are injured or become ill at school they will receive treatment within the classroom or in the Health Room. Parents/Carers will be contacted if necessary. Please note that staff must give Parents and Carers a courtesy contact home for all head related injuries (no matter how minor).

When a student is considered too unwell to remain at school, parents will be contacted to collect in a timely manner. If a student's condition deteriorates while waiting to be collected an ambulance may be called if deemed necessary.

If a student presents to the health room with a suspected allergic reaction, parents/carers will be contacted. As per Education Queensland policy, if a student requires an EpiPen to be administered parents will be notified. An ambulance must be called and student will be transported to hospital for further treatment. Children with known allergies will have their own school based EpiPen. We also hold a school EpiPen for any unforseen emergencies.

Medication must be prescribed by a doctor or dentist and may only be administered to students by school staff. The medication must be taken to the school office in its prescription container and administered according to the doctor’s instructions.

Non prescribed oral medication such as Panadol and cough mixtures can only be administered by school staff with a pharmacy label and medical aurthorisation. Education Queensland prohibits students from carrying their own medication to school and requires Parents/Carers to deliver the prescribed medication to the office and collect after school or before weekends as needed. A school register of all medicines administered is kept.

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

EVENTS

School Disco

Thank you to all who volunteered and contributed to the success of the Halloween themed disco last Friday! It was a great display of the community coming together to make a memorable, fun-filled event for the students! We made a $1,492.41 profit! If you have any feedback on the event, please contact our Vice President, Rachael at rsspcvicepresident@outlook.com

Our current fundraiser is the mango fundraiser.

Information and order forms were sent home at the end of week 2. If you are interested and have not received a form, please collect one from the school office. Please ensure that your orders are made and paid by Tuesday 24th October.

P&C General Meeting

The final P&C meeting of the year is being held in Week 7 on Monday, 13^th November at 6:30pm in the Resource Centre/Library. This is a great opportunity to find out what is happening at the school, including planning for our community events and fundraising, as well as the best avenue to raise any suggestions. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Volunteers needed for Events!

The P&C still have several exciting events and delicious fundraisers planned for Term 4 but will need volunteers to make them a success. Please see the calendar above. Further details to follow in the coming weeks.

TUCKSHOP

Contact: tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au

Operating Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (8:30am - 1:45pm)

How to order from the Tuckshop:

Register with Flexischools (see graphic below)
All orders must be placed online via Flexischools

The Tuckshop also offers over-the-counter purchases Wednesday to Friday where students can bring cash to purchase ice blocks, drinks, and slushies.

Birthday Orders

Don’t forget that Cupcakes and Ice Block Buckets are available to order via Flexischools. Get in early and secure your order so you don’t miss out (Please note that cupcakes are only available Wednesday to Friday). All birthday orders must be placed at least two days prior.

Volunteers Needed in the Tuckshop!

You can help in one or more of the following ways:

Putting labels on bags
Filling drink orders
Preparing food
Baking
Washing up
Placing orders into bags, and allocating to class tuckshop delivery boxes

You will be volunteering under the guidance of the Tuckshop Convenor (Wednesdays to Fridays from 8:30am) - no experience is necessary. All volunteers who work a two-hour shift receive a complimentary lunch from the menu. Please let us know via email, tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au or follow the instructions below to sign up online:

Click this link to see how to register on SignUp: https://signup.com/go/iBhmPbC
Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.

Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact us via email so we can manually add you.

UNIFORM AND STATIONERY SHOP

Contact: rssuniform@outlook.com

Operating Hours: Monday (2:45pm–3:15pm) & Tuesday (8:15am–8:45am)

Booklists

The 2024 booklists have been sent home. The uniform shop has a small amount of stationery for sale.

Uniforms for Pre-Preps

The Uniform Shop will be opening on Thursday 26^th October and Thursday 9^th November at 8:30am-9:30am on both days for the Prep 2024 students to trial and purchase their uniforms prior to the Pre-Prep Sessions. The Uniform Shop will also be open on the Orientation Day (Thursday 16^th November) from 8:30am to 11:30am. Volunteers are urgently needed for these days to happen – please contact Zoee at rssuniform@outlook.com

Volunteers Needed in the Uniform Shop!

You can help in one or more of the following ways: