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 2024 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 fortunate 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 have sent out newsletters about the upcoming term. The newsletters were emailed out through Schoolzine as they can then be translated if required. Hard copies will also be available at the ‘Snag and a Chin Wag’ parent afternoon coming up on February 6. Please read through the newsletters carefully to ensure you stay abreast of 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.

Welcome to our new staff

Please welcome to our school community our new team members who have joined our 2024 team:

Year 1 - Mrs Tew (1T), Year 2 - Miss McIntyre (2M) and Guidance Officer - Mrs Atkin

Morning Messages

Each school day will start in Girraween Place for all Year levels. Here, quick morning messages will be delivered before teachers lead their class to the classroom.

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 uniform can be purchased through 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

A very warm welcome to the 2024 school year.  The children are very settled in the first week back.  

Name all Personal Items

Please ensure that all clothing including swimming gear, lunch boxes and water bottles are all named.  This will help ensure that all lost property can be returned. 

Before and After School Care

Children are not to arrive at school before 8.00am.  If children need care before 8.00am please make arrangements with Jabiru Outside School Hours Care. If parents/carers are unable to pick up their children at 3.00pm please make arrangements with Jabiru Outside School Hours Care.  The office is not able to care for children after 3.00pm except in emergencies. 

Stationery

Please ensure that you have purchased the stationery items as per the book list that was sent home at the end of 2023.  These are available on the website and for collection from the front office.  It is important that your children have the essential stationery for their learning. 

Roberta Matlock

From the Head of Department - Inclusion

Welcome Back 

The start of the school year can bring about many emotions in our young people. To help transition them to the new school year please keep us up to date if there are any concerns or issues your little one may be having so we can best support them. This week our support teachers have been busy settling children into their new classes and helping look after our new Preps.  Everyone seems to have had a great start to the year. 

Also, during the school holidays some of our children may have had specialist appointments. Can I please ask that if there are any new reports you share them with your class teacher so we are able to review them and determine how we can continue to support your children in our school based on their recommendations.

Jillian Chittenden

Norman's News

A huge welcome back to my Runcorn State School “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 relaxing and restorative holiday.

I made the most of “op-paw-tunities” away from the school routine to spend time with my friends and family and enjoyed time going on big walks through Karawatha, playing in my pool, relaxing at home, and also checking out the new facilities at Paws Only Grooming where they now offer Doggy Daycare!

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. It always amazes me how much everyone grows over the holidays, and how wide your smiles are when you see me in classrooms and in the playground.

Thank you to students and families who have remembered the rules when I am nearby, and for asking Mrs Schooth if it is ok to pat me. I am always learning, and particularly after a big break over the holidays, 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 Head of Department - Curriculum

Welcome back to the 2024 academic school year to our new and returning families! I hope you have all had a wonderful break.

Please send in a book bag or any shopping bag with your child to school for library borrowing. We have lots of fantastic books ready to be borrowed and enjoyed!

Farah Anderson

Music Matters

Save the date:

Anzac Day Ceremony Term 2 Week 2 24 April – Band and Choir

Karawatha Music Program Term 2 Week 5- 13-16 May – All Band and Strings students

Welcome back to every student. We hope that you had a restful and recharging holiday break. The Music program is up and running but will gain more momentum in the coming weeks. The Music team are looking forward to a fantastic year with all of our Runcorn students.

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

Health Happenings

Welcome back to our wonderful Runcorn Community. I trust that you had a relaxing holiday and that the students are ready to tackle the new term. Our focus at Runcorn State School this fortnight are the Organisation Key and Self-Manager Learning Asset.

Organisation at Runcorn State School looks like:

• Students having all supplies ready to do school work

• Students safely and quickly lining up in their correct area after the music plays in the morning and break times
• Students ensuring necessary stationery and belongings (including books, pencils, hats and water bottles) are ready every day and for each lesson
• Students ensuring bathroom breaks occur before school and during break times
• Students ensuring library books are returned to school on time
• All learning tasks are completed in a timely manner both in and out of school

Effective Self-Managers at Runcorn State School are:

• Resilient
• Responsible
• Reflective

Staff across Runcorn State School will be actively looking for students displaying organisation and self-management skills. Each week, one student per class will be awarded with a certificate to acknowledge their dedication to consistently displaying these skills. 

Sheridan Stirling

Book Club

Book Club is coming! Look out for your copy of Book Club coming home in your child's schoolbag soon. It's packed with hundreds of books from just $3 to help you on your child's reading journey. More information to come!

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

Runcorn State School's Admin team are available between 8.00am and 3.30pm each school day. You can contact us on 3323 8777 if you have any queries.   Student absence texts can be sent to 0429 928 611 or a voice message can be left on 3323 8777 and press option 1.

If students arrive to school from 9am onwards they are to present to the office to collect a late slip.  This ensures that our rolls are marked correctly and prevents parents from receiving incorrect absence texts. 

Annual parent information letters and persission slips will be sent home with your student next week.  Please keep an eye out for these forms and promptly return them to the school.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.  

Student Resource Scheme (General)  2024

​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 held on 13 November 2023 that the cost of the SRS Scheme for 2024 will be a flat fee of $40.00 per student with no family discount as per departmental guidelines. This remains the same amount as this year.  Invoices will be sent to parents in the coming weeks.

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.

Student Resource Scheme (Instrumental Music)  2024

The SRS for Instrumental Music was also tabled at the P&C meeting on 13^th November 2023.

It was unanimously agreed that the IM SRS levy for students with their OWN instruments be increased to $60.00 per student and students with a SCHOOL OWNED instrument be increased to $100.00

Please DO NOT send any money for these schemes. You will be invoiced in the coming weeks.

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

Welcome back to both our new and returning families. We look forward to your ongoing support in 2024. What is the P&C?  You!  Our school community. ‘P&C’ stands for Parents and Citizens –anyone who has an interest in the wellbeing of the school and its students, and working towards improving and developing our school.

What does the P&C do?

We are involved in a range of activities and operations including:
• Hosting events including movie nights, discos, arts fairs, community picnics/BBQs, NAPLAN breakfasts, and more.
• Fundraising including exciting raffles, and fundraising drives including our annual mango fundraiser
• Completing funding submissions
• Operating much-needed services to the school including the Uniform Shop and Tuckshop

We spend the funds raised on improving a range of school facilities and resources for the benefit of students.  The P&C has also generously approved to pay for all Runcorn State School students to attend this year’s Nexus Arts Incursion.

Who is on the P&C Committee?

A range of members from our school community including parents and teaching staff volunteer on the P&C committee. All our committee members have other day jobs and still actively support the P&C. But we cannot do it alone, and welcome the help of others in our wonderful community. Together, we are even better!

What is involved in becoming a member?

It is FREE to join by completing a 2024 membership form. If you have any further questions, please contact Nadera (Secretary) at rsspcsecretary@outlook.com.

EVENTS Watch this space – exciting things will be coming up this year! If you have any suggestions for events or fundraisers, please contact Andrew (Events Coordinator) at rsspcevents@outlook.com.

P&C Meetings

Our first meeting of the year is next Monday 29th January at 6:30pm in the school library/resource centre. Everyone is welcome. Our meetings are usually held in weeks 2 and 7 of each school term. If you have any queries, please contact Nadera (Secretary) at rsspcsecretary@outlook.com. Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 4th 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, whilst others are a little more involved. Some of our Executive Committee 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 involved, please contact Rachael (Vice President) at rsscpcvicepresident@outlook.com.

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

• Volunteer 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
• An excellent way to help out in your community by providing an important service to students and staff

How to sign up to volunteer :

Email tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au with your preferred days and times that you can assist. 

UNIFORM AND STATIONERY SHOP

Contact: rssuniform@outlook.com
Operating Hours: Monday (2:45pm–3:15pm) & Tuesday (8:15am–8:45am)

Stationery

The Uniform Shop has a small amount of stationery for sale.

Volunteers Needed in the Uniform Shop! You can help in one or more of the following ways:

Making sales
Cash handling (not necessarily expected)
Assisting families to select and/or try on appropriate sizes
Retrieving stock from the shelves If you are able to assist, please contact Zoee (Uniform Shop Coordinator) at rssuniform@outlook.com.

P&C WISHLIST 2024

Back to School Road Safety

School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers

With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours. 

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, 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.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

Community News