Newsletter Term 3 Week 5

From the Principal

Prep Enrolments 2025

We have had a number of tours this year. What most impressed us were the questions parents had about how our Runcorn family operates. Our staff are always keen to share what they love about this hidden treasure of a school and we look forward to welcoming you all to our Prep enrolment interviews. If you haven’t picked up your enrolment pack yet they are available at the office.

I ask parents to share the word about our wonderful school with any family, friends and neighbours. If you know someone with a child ready for Prep next year and they’re wanting to know more about our wonderful school, please encourage them to call the office and make an appointment for a school tour and conversation. We are always happy to show off our amazing school and what it can offer to the children of our community.

Community Picnic

What an incredible Community Picnic BBQ the P&C organised on Friday! It was a huge success, filled with laughter, great conversations, and plenty of smiling faces. It was wonderful to see our community checking out the Nature Play and Loose Parts play spaces with their children.

A massive thank you to all of our superstar parents who jumped in to help on the day: Ella, Kia Teck, Paula, Sandy, Henry, Nita, Evelyn and Renae in loose parts play. Your efforts made the event run smoothly and created such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Can you believe they grilled up 600 sausages!

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. https://www.facebook.com/runcornss

School Opinion Survey

Thank you to all of those who have already completed the Parent/Caregiver Survey. If you have not had a chance to complete the survey yet, please note that the online surveys will remain open until Friday, 16 August 2024. This is your opportunity to provide feedback about what our school does well and how we can improve. To have your say, check your email for an invitation from the Department of Education titled School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2024. Can’t find your invitation?  If your family has more than one parent/caregiver, check that they haven’t received the invitation and/or check your junk email folder.

Meg McClure

From the Deputy Principal

School Pickup and drop off zone

One of our biggest challenges as a school is the safety and efficiency of the Drop-Off and Pick-Up procedures for our students. We thank our families for their understanding and adoption of practices currently in place around the school – in particular, before and after school.

Below are listed some reminders for our families at these busy times of the school day:

• The school’s Drop-off and Pick-up Zone is only a 2-minute zone. Please be aware that the purpose of this zone is purely to: “Stop – Drop – Go”. Make sure your child has their bag ready so that they can get out of the car quickly. Stopping to get bags out of the boot, put jackets on and etc., slows the traffic down and adds to congestion.
• During supervised times 3.00pm - 3.30pm, a staff member will direct children exiting the school to the cars.
• It is important not to ‘cut in’ to a space you think is available but wait in the line for cars to move forward. We are aiming to make this a safe area for all families moving in and out of the school.
• Please remember that the Drop and Go Zone is a two-minute zone. Any longer than this and you are likely to be asked by a staff member to move on and re-enter the Pick-up queue.
• During supervised times, parents are asked to move off from the Drop-Off Zone straight away.
• Please do not park in the drop of zone and leave your car. This causes delays and frustrations for other families.
• Please do not wait across driveways whilst in line or double park
• Please remember, NO three point turns from the pick-up line. ​This is extremely dangerous and causes a halt to the collection process.

We are very conscious of the safety of the students and ask that families keep reminding their children that they need to be alert and be thinking of others at these times of the day.

 Roberta Matlock.

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

The Power of Reading with Children: Building Lifelong Skills and Bonds

In our fast-paced digital world, finding time to read with children might seem like a small act, but it carries profound and lasting benefits. Reading together isn’t just about building literacy skills; it’s about nurturing a lifelong love for books and fostering essential emotional connections.

Why Reading with Children Matters

Fostering Literacy Development: Early exposure to books significantly impacts a child’s language development. Reading together helps children build vocabulary, understand sentence structure, and develop comprehension skills. The interactive nature of reading—discussing stories, asking questions, and exploring illustrations—supports their ability to grasp complex ideas and enhances their overall communication skills.

Cultivating a Love for Reading: When reading becomes a regular and enjoyable part of a child's routine, it fosters a lifelong love of books. Children who experience positive reading interactions are more likely to continue reading for pleasure throughout their lives. This love for reading not only enriches their educational experience but also provides them with a valuable tool for personal growth and relaxation.

Encouraging Curiosity and Imagination: Books spark creativity and curiosity in children. They stimulate the imagination, inspire new ideas, and encourage exploration. Through stories, children can envision different worlds, imagine themselves as various characters, and think outside the box, all of which are crucial for their cognitive development.

Tips for Making Reading with Children a Fun and Rewarding Experience

Make It a Routine: Establish a regular reading time that fits your family’s schedule. Whether it’s bedtime or a quiet afternoon, consistency helps build a reading habit and makes it a cherished part of daily life.

Choose Engaging Books: Select books that match your child’s interests and reading level. Let them pick out books occasionally to ensure they’re excited about what they’re reading.

Be Interactive: Engage with the story by asking questions, making predictions, and discussing characters and plot. Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the book.

Create a Cozy Reading Space: Set up a comfortable and inviting reading nook. A special place dedicated to reading can make the experience more enjoyable and something your child looks forward to.

Reading with children is more than an educational activity; it’s an investment in their future and a way to build meaningful connections. By sharing stories and exploring new worlds together, you’re not only helping them develop essential skills but also creating a foundation for a lifelong love of learning. So, grab a book, find a cozy spot, and enjoy the magical journey of reading together.

Jillian Chittenden

Head of Department - Inclusion

As I recently observed students playing within our Loose Parts Play Area, I have been reflecting on the importance of friendships among our children. Friendships formed during these formative years are more than just playmates; they are vital to emotional development, social skills, and overall well-being.

Why Do Friendships Matter?

1. Social Skills Development: Friendships help children develop essential social skills such as communication, empathy, and cooperation. Through interactions with peers, children learn to navigate social norms, resolve conflicts, and work as a team.
2. Emotional Support: Friends provide a crucial support system, offering comfort and understanding during challenging times. These early relationships help children build resilience and a sense of security.
3. Self-Esteem Boost: Positive interactions with friends contribute to a child’s self-esteem and sense of belonging. Feeling accepted and valued by peers reinforces a child’s confidence and encourages them to engage more fully in school and other activities.

How Can We Support Healthy Friendships?

1. Encourage Inclusivity: Teach children the importance of inclusivity and kindness. Encourage them to include others in their activities and to reach out to new or shy classmates.
2. Model Positive Behaviour: Children often mimic the behaviour of adults. Demonstrating positive social interactions, empathy, and conflict resolution in your own relationships provides a valuable example for them to follow.
3. Facilitate Social Opportunities: Organize playdates, group activities, or community events to give your child opportunities to interact with their peers outside of the classroom. These experiences can strengthen existing friendships and help forge new ones.
4. Open Communication: Encourage your child to talk about their friendships and any concerns they might have. Be a supportive listener and provide guidance when needed, helping them navigate their social world with confidence.

How Can We Address Challenges?

Friendships can sometimes bring challenges, such as conflicts or feelings of exclusion. It’s important to approach these situations with understanding and patience. Guide your child through problem-solving strategies and help them express their feelings constructively.

By talking with our children about their friendships, we lay the groundwork for their social and emotional development, helping them understand and value relationships which can add so much to their school experiences.

.

Julie Schooth

Norman's News

Norman’s News

Another “pawsome” fortnight of activities in and around Runcorn. I have been really enjoying cheering on all of the wonderful athletes who are competing at the Olympics; I’ve been going for drives with my family; looking after my dental hygiene with some juicy bones; spending time with our beautiful students during their outdoor learning time; and I have been in “paw” of the way in which the Prep students are able to retell some of our their favourite stories, including “The Three Little Pigs”. The highlight of my week, however, was definitely today when the Driver of the bus that was taking the Year 3 students to the Planetarium suggested that I could drive. Imagine that?!?

I truly am so grateful for all of the experiences that I share in each and every day 😊

Until next time,

Big licks and tail wags,

Norman

Annual Science Expo

Resource Centre News

Book Week is coming

This year’s Children’s Book Week is from 17-23^rd August with the theme of “Reading is Magic”.  The shortlisted books are on display in the library for everyone to browse. 

Tuesday 20^th August is “Dress up Day” where students and staff come dressed as their favourite book character.  It is always a fun-filled, exciting day so put your thinking caps on and raid your dress-up boxes. 

We can’t wait to see your creativity and smiling faces at our annual book character parade. Families are welcome to join us at the parade to celebrate all things books and the magic of reading.

Book Character Dress up Parade

Tuesday 20th August 9:00-9:30am on the Basketball Court.

Music Matters

Save the date:

T3 W6- Thursday August 15^th- Instrumental Music Information Evening- at Runcorn Heights State School
T3 W7- Wednesday August 21^st- Singfest (Senior Choir)
T3 W9 Tuesday September 3^rd- Music Showcase Concert Sunnybank SHS (Band, Strings, Choirs)

Instrumental Music and Choir rehearsals

Thank you to everyone who is attending rehearsals regularly and being consistent in their practice. Great job!!

Everyone in Senior Choir and Instrumental Music, please ensure you are in attendance at all rehearsals this term. With the Music Showcase in Week 9 and Singfest in Week 7 it is important that everyone is in attendance.

Instrumental Music Recruitment- Expression of Interest

An Expression of Interest (EOI) form has been distributed to all Year 2 students and all Year 3s who don’t already do strings. If you wish to be considered for the IM program this form will need to be returned by next Tuesday 13^th August. Students who do not submit a EOI will be unlikely to be considered. For more information contact Ms Hopper- mxhop2@eq.edu.au

Instrumental Music Information Evening- Thursday 15^th August

If you are interested in being a part of the Strings or Band program in 2025, an information evening will be held at Runcorn Heights State School in Week 6, Thursday August 15th at 6pm. It is highly recommended that you attend this information evening as all information about recruitment will be covered along with opportunities for meeting the teachers and asking questions.

Singfest- Senior Choir

Singfest is Week 7, Wednesday 21^st August for Senior Choir members.

Music Showcase Concert

Our Music Showcase Concert will be held at Sunnybank State High School in Week 9, Tuesday 3^rd September at 6:30pm. Performing at this event will be all Band students, all Strings students, Senior Choir and Year 3 Choir (all Year 3 students). More information will be provided closer to the date for all students.

Classroom Music- Year 6 and 5/6M

Year 6 and 5/6M are doing a unit focusing on creating compositions on Garageband for iPad. Their compositions are inspired by a chosen image in which the students decide a mood or story for their image and portray this by manipulating the musical elements. This unit compliments the Year 6 technology unit they are doing at the moment. Students are coming up with some brilliant work already.

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

Sports News

Welcome to the third newsletter for Term 3. 

You may recall from my previous newsletter that we had some amazing results from our students at the recent Eastern Taipans Track and Field Carnival.  Well, I am pleased to announce that three of our athletes have made the team! Congratulations to Toa, Riley and Kai.

Toa will be representing Eastern Taipans in Shot Put, Riley in Discus and Kai in the 800m and 1500m running events.  All three students will be competing at QSAC during the Met West Regional Athletics Carnival held over two days, 27^th and 28^th August.  

We wish all three of you the best and we hope you enjoy the experience.

As always, any questions please email me.

Mr Brady
lbrad101@eq.edu.au 

Health Happenings

Our assembly awards focus this fortnight are the Persistence Key and the Researcher Learning Asset.

Persistence at Runcorn State School looks like:

• Students trying their best when completing challenging tasks
• Students finishing their work on time
• Students avoiding distractions when completing learning activities

Effective Researchers at Runcorn State School are:

• Curious
• Courageous
• Resourceful

At the beginning of Week 5, two tickets from each year level were randomly selected. Our Principal, Mrs McClure, celebrated with those students at a special afternoon tea. The next afternoon tea with Mrs McClure will be held at the end of Week 10. 

Sheridan Stirling
sstir16@eq.edu.au

Japanese News

Year 5

As a part of “What builds a good team” unit, students explored a Japanese traditional wooden toy called Kendama. They used Japanese phrases to cheer/ praise their friends and also to take turns. Kendama is not easy. Students showed their perseverance and a big smile on their faces when they finally accomplished.

Nagashima sensei
Japanese Teacher

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 their student 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 the 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 authorisation. 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 Association

Community BBQ Day: A Sizzling Success!

Our Community Picnic BBQ was a resounding success, bringing together families, friends, and neighbours for an afternoon of fun, food, and fantastic conversations. The event, held under perfect skies, saw a wonderful turnout, with plenty of smiling faces and lively interactions.

Highlights of the Day:

• We served up a whopping 600 sausages, ensuring no one left hungry. The grill was busy all afternoon, thanks to our parent volunteers.
• The loose parts play space was a hit among the kids, who enjoyed the opportunity to explore and create in this innovative and engaging environment.
• It was heartwarming to see so many community members taking the time to chat, share stories, and build connections. The positive energy was palpable.

Special Thanks:

Super shoutout to Andrew the groundsman for his enormous help in the preparation for the community day and a heartfelt thank you to our superstar parent volunteers who made the day run smoothly: Ella, Kia Teck, Paula, Sandy, Henry, Nita, and Evelyn. Your efforts and enthusiasm were crucial to the event's success.  

The community spirit was truly alive, and we couldn't have asked for a better day. Your support and participation are what make our school community so special.

Missed out on the community day?

Mark your calendars for a dad-tastic afternoon on 29th August (3pm to 5pm) as we come together to celebrate the amazing dads in our community! The Girraween Place will be buzzing with laughter, delicious food, and mini stalls where you can pick up the perfect gift for your dad. Come hungry and bring some small changes, as we’ll be serving up a sizzling sausage sizzle and refreshing drinks. After all, what did the dad say at the BBQ? This is the wurst.

Don’t miss the mini stalls where you can find unique gifts and treats – because what’s a better way to say “I love you, Dad” than with something special? We promise it’ll be a day full of great conversations, plenty of smiles, and maybe even a dad joke or two. 

What did the father tomato say to the baby tomato?  ~ “Catch up, son”.  Join us for an unforgettable celebration and let’s make this Father’s Day truly special. See you on 29th August!

Our online ordering platform is  https://runcorn-state-school-parents-citizens-association.square.site 

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.