Newsletter Term 1 Week 7
From the Principal
We are well into our term now and it is wonderful to see groups of students working with an adult or working independently and I am encouraged by the language of ‘thinking’ that is being used. Many rooms have a provocation table or board to promote thinking. Provocations stimulate children’s imagination and curiosity, help to generate interest and ensure students want to learn more or to become researchers.
Teaching and learning continue to be strong and engaging and students are settled in classrooms. Learning commences at 8:50am each day. I appreciate how busy mornings can be and thank the parents and family members who are making it a priority to have their child/children at school by 8:40am ready for the day of learning ahead. These routines support student wellbeing and minimise anxiety as students know that they can be ready for the day ahead.
Congratulations Matthew
Having students from our school participate in extra curricula activities is always a source of pride for the Runcorn Community. We would like to send out a huge congratulations to Matthew from 2N for placing third in both the Somerville and Nudgee Chess Tournaments. Fantastic effort Matthew!
P&C News - Runcorn State School P&C is in caretaker mode.
At the P&C AGM on March 4th the existing executive vacated their positions and did not seek re-election. No other P&C members nominated for the vacant P&C positions so the Principal has assumed caretaker mode of the operations of the P&C to ensure that our tuckshop staff and uniform and tuckshop bills continue to be paid.
Tuckshop
While in caretaker mode the tuckshop will continue as normal.
Uniform Shop
Contact: pandc@runcornss.eq.edu.au
Uniforms can be ordered through the online service using the attached order form. As the P&C is in caretaker mode, all other P&C activities are on hold until a community meeting can be organised and a new executive is elected.
Please direct enquiries to pandc@runcornss.eq.edu.au
Meg McClure
From the Deputy Principal
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Primary School Years 3, 5 sit each year and they assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The questions assess content linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
Students in Year 5 will complete all tests online. Students in Year 3 will complete Numeracy, Reading, Language Conventions online and will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper. Online NAPLAN tests are designed to provide precise results and are engaging for students. The tests are tailored (or adaptive) which means that each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. This helps students remain engaged with the assessment. 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.
A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided by your child’s school later in the year.
Roberta Matlock
From the Head of Department - Inclusion
Reading Motivation
Reading is a complex endeavour. We need to build children’s literacy skills but we often forget that developing their will to read and write is just as vital. Research has shown that children who are highly motivated often read more, have larger vocabularies, and make achievement gains beyond their less engaged classmates.
In his widely-cited research, psychologist John Guthrie describes different kinds of motivations for reading, including the following:
Curiosity: the desire to learn about a topic
Aesthetics: the enjoyment of experiencing a literary text
Challenge: learning complex ideas from text
Social: students read in groups during instruction and share texts in many social situations
For younger readers, curiosity, engagement, and relevancy of book choices impact children’s level of curiosity about words and concepts, engagement with text and topics, and belief in themselves as readers, writers, and learners. Read alouds, small group reading materials, classroom libraries, and even phonics readers, should all be viewed as tools to build children’s engagement with text. Choosing text that matches children’s interests and providing opportunities for children to choose the books they read are easy ways to pique engagement.
Jillian Chittenden
Norman's News
Not to bark up the wrong tree, or wag my own tail, but I just wanted to let you know that I completed my re-certification last week when Mrs Schooth and I were visited by the lovely Nikki from Therapy and Support Animals Australia! Nikki was able to observe me interacting with staff and students and see first-hand (or paw) the impact that our therapy dog program has for both students and teachers at Runcorn.
While there is lots of research which indicates that the presence of a furry friend assists in minimizing tension, enhancing attention, stimulating socialization and reinforcing self-confidence among students, Nikki also observed us providing an unconditional listening ear which helps some of our students feel more comfortable while reading aloud and also writing. In the Year 1 setting where we were working, this allowed some students to take their time without feeling rushed or judged by others. Furthermore, having us in the classroom seemed to create an atmosphere of calmness and security which encouraged learning and engagement with material being taught.
Having our re-certification each year also means that I am carefully screened for health and temperament. It also ensures that Mrs Schooth is trained in proper dog handling techniques, including safe interactions between myself and the children. Finally, it also ensures that strict hygiene protocols are followed to safeguard our students, families and staff members. With these precautions in place, we definitely ensure the safety of our Runcorn community.
With all of this in mind, I am so grateful to the support I receive from Paws Only Grooming, Cr Kim Marx, Vetlove Kuraby and our parent community who assist with ensuring our therapy dog work at Runcorn assists students where needed. We also hope that you will join us in celebrating my up-coming birthday with a community picnic later this month! Keep your ears pricked for more information to come!
As always, should you have any comments or questions for me, please do not hesitate to contact me via Mrs Schooth at jscho128@eq.edu.au
Until next time,
Big licks and tail wags,
Norman
Music Matters
Save the date:
String Family Afternoon Concert Term 1 Week 10 Tuesday 26 March
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
Instrumental Music- Karawatha Music Workshop
Notes for the Karawatha Music Workshop week will be going out soon. Please keep an eye out for these when they come home and return paperwork ASAP. The dates are as follows:
16 May- Junior Band and Junior Strings
13 and 14 May- Intermediate Band
13, 14, 15 May- Intermediate Strings and Celtic Strings
There will be an evening concert on Thursday 16th where everyone will be required to attend.
Choir and IM- Formal Uniform
For all Music performances, students in Band, Strings and Choir are required to wear their Formal uniform. Band and Choir have their first performance for Anzac Day on April 24. Please ensure that students involved in these groups have the correct uniform to perform in. These are available from the uniform shop.
Instrumental Music Levy
Instrumental Music- please ensure that your IM Levy (fees) are paid by the end of the week as there will be no lessons next week for those who have not paid. Thank you.
Concert Band
Make sure you are practicing your music for the Anzac Day performance so you sound amazing!
String Family Afternoon Concert
There will be a concert for families of Strings students on Tuesday 26 March in Girrawheen Place starting at 3:20pm. Year 3s and Junior Strings will perform along with Senior Strings. Students will meet Mr Biedermann and Ms Hopper after school at 3pm. We look forward to seeing families there!
Ms Mariel Hopper (mxhop2@eq.edu.au)
Sports News
I would like to start by saying thank you to those parents who attended our whole school cross country last Friday. I am really proud of our students for their commitment to competing against each other in such humid conditions especially when you consider they were also trying to navigate a new track as well. I appreciate their efforts and look forward to announcing the Runcorn State School Team who will represent us at the Eastern Taipans Cross Country carnival early next term. Please see the photos that display the champion students from the upper school and the year level champions from the junior school.
I have also included a photo of our current district representatives for Term 1. We may be adding to this group with a number of students competing at trials in the coming weeks.
For those that aren’t sure what district trials are, district trials are an opportunity to provide students turning 10 to 19 years old, entry into the representative school sport pathway.
This pathway begins with making the school team, followed by making the district team (Eastern Taipans), then students have the opportunity to make the regional team (Met West). Students who make the Met West team are then given the opportunity to trial for the state team. Successful state team trialists then move on to national competitions. For some sports, there are international competitions as well!
For those interested in starting their journey into representative sport and would like to trial for a district team, please click on the link below as it displays the 2024 district/regional calendar.
Please note that green font is district trials while blue font is regional trials and red font is state trials.
As always, any questions please email me (lbrad101@eq.edu.au) and I’ll do my best to reply within 24 hours.
Have a great day!
Mr Brady
Health Happenings
Health Happenings…
Our focus at Runcorn State School this fortnight are the Resilience Key and Communicator Learning Asset.
Resilience at Runcorn State School looks like:
- Students bouncing back from daily challenges
- Students adopting a Growth Mindset and thinking positively
- Students working independently and/or together to solve problems
- Students using strategies to help keep them calm and focussed
Effective Communicators at Runcorn State School are:
- Confident
- Responsive
- Respectful
Staff across Runcorn State School will be actively looking for students displaying communication and resilience skills. Over the next fortnight, one student per class will be awarded with a certificate to acknowledge their dedication to consistently displaying these skills.
Sheridan Stirling
EAL/D News
Chihiro Wooler
Environment Club News
Dear Runcorn Community,
Welcome back to school in 2024 and thankyou to all the families that have supported the Environment Club in the past. We are hoping to continue the enthusiasm throughout the year. We will start with some old favourites – paper recycling and Containers for Change. Throughout the year we will also have some other collections to try and make a difference. If there are any families who could support the Environment Club in any way, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Jenni McNamara on the email below.
PAPER RECYCLING
The Environment Club has resumed paper and cardboard recycling last week. Somewhere in your child’s classroom, there will be paper recycling bin like the ones pictured below. To support the HASS curriculum, Year 4 students will quietly collect these bins and recycle the paper and cardboard in the appropriate yellow bins. This will usually happen on a Thursday or Friday. Please talk to your child about ONLY paper and cardboard going into these bins. In 2023, some classes found placing this bin separate to the general waste bin helped students to remember.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IP0Ch1Va44&t=20s
Above is a cute video for Prep to Year 2 families that is about paper recycling. It could be a discussion starter to help your child to understand why the bin is in the classroom. There are plenty of other types of videos available for upper school students that are worth a look as well. Just head to Youtube.
CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE
Collection of plastic bottles, poppers etc for the Containers for Change program will also resume. Year 5/6M students will place clear containers in both junior and senior eating areas each day. We raised much need funds for the school in 2023 and hoping to raise more in 2024. We still have the Wave of Change wheely bins in the school (pictured), and hoping all Runcorn State School families will access the green bins appropriately as well. We have also left the Runcorn State School Scheme ID if that is easier for families to use. There is also a picture of the type of containers that are accepted in the green bins.
Please remember NO STRAWS, LIQUID and LIDS can be put in the recycle bins.
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 and Mrs Jenni McNamara
From the Administration Office
Student Resource Scheme
We would like to thank all of our families for supporting our Student Resource Scheme. The monies raised helps purchase learning materials used in each of our classrooms and specialist lessons. Your assistance enhances our student's learning outcomes.
Attendance
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 9.00 am 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.
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.
Community News
Jabiru offers before and after school care and vacation care at Runcorn State School. Our team includes a range of friendly people who are into craft, sport and outdoor exploration, so there’s something for everyone at Jabiru Runcorn.
Bush Kindy is back
Tailored for young adventurers, kids can experience nature first-hand at Bush Kindy sessions at our 3 environment centres. Each session is crafted to immerse kids in the wonders of the natural world, foster new friendships, and ignite their curiosity.
Sessions begin at 10am during school terms and promise 30-45 minutes of nature-based fun.
https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on-and-events/search?parent=7155&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Council-school-programs-and-resources-Feb-2024&utm_content=Find+events&utm_source=enews.mailer.brisbane.qld.gov.au
