Newsletter Term 4 Week 9
From the Acting Principal
2025 School Captains
Runcorn State School Student Leadership Program involves a rigorous selection process each year. Congratulations and thank-you to all students who submitted an application for a leadership position. An extra special thank-you to our Year 5 teachers Mrs McNamara, Mrs Cramb and Ms Smith who worked incredibly hard organising the leadership process and assisting students.
Our outgoing 2024 student leaders have a lot to be proud of. They represented Runcorn with pride and integrity. I would especially like to thank our four school captains who have been positive examples to the rest of our student population.
The 2024 student leaders will officially hand their duties over to our incoming 2025 student leaders on T4W10 Monday Parade 2/12/24. The formal induction ceremony will be conducted January 2025.
End of Year Concert
What an amazing night, music at Runcorn continues to thrive! We are truly fortunate to have such a dedicated music team led by Mrs Hopper. The work put into running a night like this is extraordinary and she did a marvellous job. It was also terrific to see this night so well supported by our school community.
Thanks also to our choir riser spotters, Mr France for coordinating and supervising the sound and lighting, Ms Duffy for putting together the PowerPoint, the P&C and school community for the amazing catering and hampers, staff for last minute transporting our choir risers to the venue and our school leaders for the professional compering of the night. Many hands make light work.
We would also like to thank the Pyo family for their kind donation of flowers.
Week 11 Arrangements
In week 11, from Monday 9/12/24 – Friday 13/12/24, students will be supervised by teachers with alternative activities and not their regular curriculum programs. Students may be combined into groups depending on the number of students who are at school and school uniform must be worn for the week except on Thursday which is celebration day and free dress day.
The Tuckshop will have limited food availability in Week 11:
- Wednesday 11/12/24, limited meals only available
- Thursday 12/12/24, meal deal only available for selected year levels
- Friday 13/12/24 CLOSED for meals and only the last of the frozen ice blocks will be sold at lunch time. No meals will be available on Friday.
Upcoming School Events
T4W10 Student Leader Handover Monday 2/12/24 2.30pm
T4W10 Year 6 Graduation Wednesday 4/12/24 9:30am
T4W10 Junior Swim Carnival Thursday 5/12/24 9:00 - 11.00am
T4W10 Year 6 Big Day Out Aussie World Friday 6/12/24
T4W11 Step Up Session Monday 9/12/24
T4W11 Jabiru 1 Year Anniversary Community BBQ Wednesday 11/12/24 3.00pm
T4W11 Celebration Day Thursday 12/12/24
Roberta Matlock.
From the Acting Deputy Principal
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, it’s a great time to reflect on and celebrate the many achievements and milestones our students have reached this term. It’s been a term full of great effort, learning, and personal growth. Our students have shown incredible resilience and dedication both in and outside the classroom.
Congratulations to everyone for a wonderful End of Year Concert and a big shout out to Ms Hopper and the whole staff in supporting our students.
As we near the end of the year, we look forward to several exciting events, including the handover to our 2025 Student Leaders, Step Up Day, and the Year 6 Graduation. These milestones provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that our students have achieved and to acknowledge their hard work and progress.
Thank you to our families and staff for their continued support as we finish the year strong. We look forward to celebrating these achievements together in the coming weeks.
Cathy Seto-Payne
From the Head of Department - Curriculum
Report Cards
As we approach the end of the school term, teachers are hard at work finalising student report cards. This process is essential for capturing each student's academic progress and overall development.
Creating report cards is a thorough process for teachers, who carefully assess each student’s achievements, areas for improvement, and personal growth. The report cards are not just a collection of grades but also reflect the effort, engagement, and progress a student has made throughout the term.
On Wednesday of Week 10, parents and guardians will receive their child's report card via email. This is a great opportunity to celebrate successes, reflect on areas for improvement, and set goals for the future.
For those with questions or concerns about the reports, it’s always a good idea to reach out to the teacher for a more in-depth discussion. Teachers are available to clarify any feedback and provide guidance on how to best support your student’s continued growth. If you have any questions, please organise a time to speak with your child’s teacher.
Jillian Chittenden
Head of Department - Inclusion
The school holidays are just around the corner, and there’s no better time to explore fun, inclusive activities around Brisbane! Whether you’re looking to get active, be creative, or just have some relaxing family time, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for everyone to enjoy. Best of all, these activities are designed to be inclusive, welcoming kids of all abilities. Here’s a roundup of some paws-itively awesome activities (couldn’t help the Norman reference!) to check out this holiday season!
- Brisbane City Council’s Free Holiday Program
The Brisbane City Council is offering a range of free, inclusive programs during the school holidays. From sports clinics to arts and crafts workshops, there's something for every child to enjoy. These programs are designed to be accessible and welcoming, ensuring that all children can participate. Check out https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on-and-events for more information.
- South Bank Parklands – Inclusive Play Spaces
South Bank Parklands is always a great place to spend a day, but during the holidays, it offers even more fun for families. The park features inclusive play spaces like the “Rainforest Walk” and “Adventure Playground” which have sensory-friendly areas to provide a variety of textures, sounds, and interactive elements, perfect for sparking creativity and providing hours of fun for everyone!
- Art Workshops at the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
QAGOMA offers a range of fun and inclusive art workshops for children during the holidays. The workshops are designed to encourage creativity and provide a space for self-expression for all kids. From sculpture-making to painting and drawing, there’s something for every little artist to explore. The gallery is also wheelchair accessible and has sensory-friendly spaces, so every child can enjoy the art world.
- Movie Days at Dendy Cinemas – Sensory-Friendly Screenings
For families looking for a relaxing day out, Dendy Cinemas at Portside and Coorparoo offer sensory-friendly movie screenings. These screenings are adapted to be more inclusive for children with sensory sensitivities, featuring lower sound levels, dimmed lighting, and a more relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch a family-friendly film in a comfortable and welcoming space.
- Storytime and Sensory Play at Brisbane Libraries
Brisbane’s public libraries host inclusive story-time sessions and sensory play activities for children during the school holidays. These activities provide a chance for children of all abilities to engage with books, music, and hands-on activities. Whether it's sensory play for younger kids or storytelling sessions for older ones, the library offers a great environment for learning and play.
https://brisbanekids.com.au/guide/school-holiday-programs/ may also provide some inspiration for your holiday planning!
Julie Schooth
Norman's News
It’s that time of year again—time to “unleash” all the memories, “fetch” our accomplishments, and wag our tails in excitement as we bid adieu to another “pawsome” school year! It’s been a “howling” good time, and I’m here to “paws” and reflect on all the “sniff-tacular” moments we’ve shared.
First, let’s take a “bow-wow” moment to recognize all the hard work we’ve done. From “rolling” over new skills to “chasing” after our best learning, we’ve certainly earned our “bones”! We’ve been on the “leash” of success all year, and now it’s time to “dig” into thoughts of summer fun and frolic in the doggy park of relaxation.
And speaking of “digging”, let’s not forget how much I enjoyed the photos and videos Mrs Schooth shared with me of the fabulous End of Year Concert! Even when the sound system was a little “ruff”, I know all the students tackled this with determination and resilience… and most importantly, the most spectacular smiles!
Thinking about 2024, I also am so grateful for all the friends I’ve made along the way. Whether it was playing “fetch” during lunchtime, “sniffing out” new ideas in class, or simply “paw-tnershiping” through challenges, every day has been a tail-wagging adventure. I’d say we’ve all earned a big paw on the back for making it through the year together!
Now, as we enter the final weeks of this school year, we can all consider a well-deserved break. Time to roll over and let our paws take a rest—well, maybe just until the next fun adventure begins!
So let’s give one last round of applause for all the tail-wagging success we’ve all achieved. I would also like to give a special “tail wag” to Paws Only Grooming, Cr Kim Marx, our wonderful P&C and our awesome Student Council for their ongoing “suppawt” of our therapy dog program this year.
Until next time,
Big licks and tail wags,
Norman
Music Matters
Save the date:
Week 10 Wednesday December 4 9:30am- Year Six Graduation
End of Year Concert!
What a night!!! Students, you were amazing!! Ms Hopper and all your teachers are so proud of how brilliant you were in your performances and also how hard you worked in your rehearsals.
You looked and sounded fantastic!! Congratulations!!! It was such a colourful way to send out the term.
Instrumental Music offers for 2025
Students who are successful in receiving a place in the Strings and Band Programs for 2025 have received their offer letters. There was much interest with not so many places available so we apologise to those who were unsuccessful this time. In 2025 Year 3 will go through the recruitment process to find out who will be in the Band program in Year 4 in 2026. People who did not receive a position may be on the waitlist and will be contacted if a position becomes available.
String family afternoon
Congratulations to our Beginner and Junior String ensembles on their fantastic end of year performance last Tuesday afternoon. It was a fabulous way to end a year of hard working as Strings players.
Ms Mariel Hopper (mxhop2@eq.edu.au)
Sports News
Below is the program for the Junior Swimming Carnival. Just a friendly reminder that the carnival is next in Week 10, Thursday 5th December, from 9.00 am to 11.00 am.
An important date for next year:
Senior Swimming Carnival – Friday 31st January 2025 – the first Friday back.
Please note, those students wanting to represent the school at the Eastern Taipans Swimming Trials, must attend this carnival.
As always, any questions, please email me at lbrad101@eq.edu.au
Mr Brady
lbrad101@eq.edu.au
Health Happenings
Our assembly award's foci 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 Acting Principal Ms Matlock is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Principal’s Afternoon Tea.
This event is a special occasion where lucky students have the opportunity to attend, based on a draw which occurs during Monday’s assembly. It's an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the selected students, as they'll have the chance to spend some quality time with our principal and engage in discussions and activities during the afternoon tea. This event recognises and rewards students for their achievements, efforts and positive behaviour. Fantastic effort Runcorn!
Sheridan Stirling
sstir16@eq.edu.au
Year 4 Camp
Year 4 had an amazing time ‘Connecting to Country’ on their school camp in Week 7. Read about their invaluable experiences in reflections written by some of the 4K students. You will find out about the activities they participated in, the important lessons they learnt about caring for Country, and some of the really cool people they were fortunate enough to meet! You can also find plenty of photos on the RSS Facebook page.
From the Administration Office
Student Resource Scheme 2025 Update
At Runcorn State School, we strive to achieve the best learning outcomes for all students. Each year, we request a voluntary contribution from parents to support the provision of essential teaching and learning resources.
We are pleased to advise that P&C approved that the SRS fee for 2025 will be $15.00 per student. The Instrumental music levies will remain unchanged in 2025 ($60.00 for own instrument; $100.00 for hired instrument).
Why has it reduced?
Earlier this year, the Department of Education issued a directive to all schools to review school fees in light of the rising cost of living.
A detailed list of what the $15.00 will cover is provided below has been uploaded to our website.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students. If you have any questions please contact the office.
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 can be entered via QParents, text 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).
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.
Medication must be prescribed by a doctor or dentist and can only be administered to students by school staff after a consent form has been signed by a parent. The medication must be 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. 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:- QParents, 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.
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
What an unforgettable night!
A huge thank you to everyone who made our End of Year Concert such a resounding success. To our incredible teachers and school staff—you’re the backbone of this amazing event, and the P&C truly appreciates all the effort and heart you put into making it special for our kids. And to our wonderful students—especially those who helped with the gold coin donations—you’re absolute gems!
A special shoutout to the P&C dream team—Paula, Ella, and Kia Teck—who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to pull this off. Your dedication was admirable.
To the parents—what can we say except wow! From those who signed up early to volunteer to the many who showed up on the night ready to roll up their sleeves even when our list was full—you’re the definition of community spirit. Parents - your energy and willingness to lend a hand made the evening truly magical.
It’s moments like these that remind us what makes Runcorn State School so special. This event wasn’t just about performances, raising funds or selling sausages; it was about coming together as a community, ending the year on a high note (pun intended), and creating fabulous memories for our kids, especially our year sixes.
We would love to give special mention to Seriously Addictive Maths Tutor and Enrichment - Upper Mount Gravatt for their generous donation supporting our BBQ at the Runcorn State School End Of Year Concert!
We are truly grateful for your support towards this spectacular event. Your thoughtfulness and generosity is deeply appreciated by us all!
And guess what? This is just the beginning! We’ve got plenty more cool things planned for 2025, so let’s keep that sizzling community spirit alive and kicking.
Kudos to everyone—teachers, parents, students—we did it legends. We did really well. Looking forward to 2025!
Runcorn State School
P & C President
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.
Expressions of Interest are open! Global Passport: Explore the world in 5 days
The Department of Education International (DEi) in partnership with Griffith University is pleased to offer a 5-day online program during the January school holidays, designed to build global competence and bring the world to Queensland students from the comfort of their home.
Specifically aimed at Years 4 to 6 students in Queensland, this immersive opportunity will provide students with the chance to virtually 'travel' to different countries. Each day, students will experience different cultures through interactive activities, basic language learning, and the exploration of diverse topics, including food, art, daily life, cultural traditions and landmarks.
Program details
Dates: 13-17 January 2025
Years: 4 - 6
Delivery mode: Online via Microsoft Teams
Time: Sessions run for a duration of 1.5 hours daily over 5 consecutive days*
Application closing date: 6 December 2024
Please see the Expression of Interest Form for further information, including eligibility and registration requirements.
Expressions of interest are now open, with the program live on the Global Engagement website. Noting spaces are limited.
Expression of Interest Forms must be submitted to Global Engagement via global.engagement@qed.qld.gov.au
