Newsletter Term 2 Week 1

From the Principal

Welcome Back

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. We are proud of our staff and the hard work they do every day for every student in our school.  Our teachers work collaboratively to develop and implement a high yield Australian Curriculum. We look forward to sharing our teaching and learning with you throughout the term.

ANZAC Day - school service

The school had a short commemoration on Thursday April 24 at 10.00am to help students remember the sacrifices made for our freedom and our safety. This important national day is commemorated to ensure our students have the opportunity to honour those men and women who fought and continue to fight so bravely to enable us to enjoy our wonderful country. Thank you to the families that joined us.

ANZAC Day - Sunnybank Community March and Service

For a number of years now Runcorn State School has been represented at this community event on 25 April which commemorates all who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. This year, the parade commences at 8.00am with a flypast at 8.31am and the community service following directly after.

If students would like to participate in this, please meet Mrs Schooth and Mrs McNamara at 7.30am on the Sunnybank High School Oval (at the Boorman Street side). The parade will march from Boorman St, on to Lister St and then into Gager Street.

Students will be required to meet with their parents at the conclusion of the march. It will be at parental discretion whether they would like to remain for the community service. Our school leaders will be laying a wreath on behalf of the school at this service.

Students will need to come dressed in full school uniform, including their school hat.

We would love it if you would like to join us – it’s always a special event which has grown significantly over the years and now reflects our diverse community.

Meg McClure

Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Brisbane Pinelands Lions Club

Lions Clubs across Australia have been running for over 75 years and give back through an array of community-based programs and initiatives. They believe in making a difference. They do this by giving people the opportunity to contribute to the causes that matter to them as individuals and their community, as well as working together to take on larger challenges that face us all. Lions club members come in every Friday to support the Junior Mission Possible group here at Runcorn.

If you would like to know more about the work Brisbane Pinelands Lions Club does or are interested in getting involved with a Lions Club, Brisbane Pinelands Lions Club is located at the Pinelands Lions Hall at 21 Nathan Road Runcorn and they can be contacted on: 0418 985 981.

Prep Enrolments 2026

Children born 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021 are eligible for Prep 2026. If you have or know of a child born between these dates, please complete the enrolment forms available from our office or our website. We have already had significant interest for Prep 2026, so we encourage our families and community members to enrol their children as soon as possible. Enrolment forms are also available on our website or you can download it here.

Attendance

Attendance at school is a strong determiner for success. If your child is not at school, they are not learning, and this can have a very negative impact on both their educational and social outcomes. It has been excellent to see that our whole school attendance rate is 93.0% so far this year. If you are having trouble getting your child to school, please contact the office.

 Roberta Matlock

Deputy Principal

From the Head of Department - Curriculum

Cultivating Curiosity  

A large part of our Inquiry Learning here at Runcorn is growing, encouraging and cultivating curiosity.  In classrooms we do this through a range of provocations, question stems and thinking routines. This gives the students an invitation to wonder, be curious and ask questions. 

“The important thing is not to stop questioning.  Curiosity has its own reason for existing” – Albert Einstein

Here are some simple but effective ways you may start cultivating curiosity at home:

• drive away from the city on a clear night and star gaze
• dissect or pull something apart (a flower, an old telephone, a vegetable)
• play in a creek or walk along the beach
• create a famous artist inspired artwork
• cook a recipe from a place you’ve never visited
• go on a hike with binoculars and note down what you spot
• use a magnifying glass to explore the garden
• act out a book you’re reading together
• find the extra in the ordinary

Happy wondering,

Jillian Chittenden

Head Of Curriculum (HOC)

Head of Department - Inclusion

Autism Awareness Month 2025: Embracing Neurodiversity

April is Autism Awareness Month—a time dedicated to fostering understanding, reducing stigma, and building a more inclusive world that truly values neurodiversity. This month is not only about raising awareness; it’s about celebrating differences and encouraging meaningful conversations that break down misconceptions surrounding Autism.

According to Autism Awareness Australia, Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that impacts how individuals perceive the world, communicate, and interact with others. Often referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the term “spectrum” highlights the wide range of experiences and strengths that each Autistic individual may have—no two people are the same.

The theme for Autism Acceptance Month 2025 is “Show Your True Colours.” This theme encourages us to recognise and honour the unique perspectives, talents, and experiences that individuals with autism bring to our society. Embracing these differences enriches our communities and fosters a more inclusive world.

Promoting awareness and acceptance is essential to creating a society that is not only more empathetic but also more supportive and inclusive. But Autism Awareness Month goes beyond support—it’s also about recognising and celebrating the unique abilities, talents, and perspectives that Autistic individuals bring to our communities.

One of the most impactful ways to participate is by educating yourself and others. Learning about Autism—through resources from organisations like Autism Awareness Australia—is a simple yet powerful step toward greater empathy and understanding. After all, knowledge fosters compassion, and compassion leads to lasting change.

Let’s use this month as an opportunity to listen, learn, and celebrate the richness that diversity brings to our lives.

Julie Schooth

Head of Department (HOD) - Inclusion

Norman's News

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope that you had a wonderful holiday and that you are feeling ready for an amazing term ahead. It’s been fantastic being in classrooms this week and hearing about everyone’s holiday adventures. I thought I would share mine here!

While my humans jetted off to the Philippines to swim with whale sharks (yes, the really big fish), snorkel with turtles, and fling themselves down waterfalls on a canyoneering adventure, I stayed home and indulged in some much-needed R&R. Honestly, I think I got the better deal!

While they were out dodging jungle vines and chasing adrenaline, I was living the good life. Picture this: warm sunbeams on the living room rug, a rotating menu of gourmet kibble, and uninterrupted naps- on the bed (don’t tell Mrs Schooth)!

Let’s just say I didn't have to wrestle any sea creatures or leap off cliffs to feel alive. My daily thrills came from chasing birds in the yard, sniffing every inch of the neighbourhood on long walks, and binge-watching Bluey (okay, I may have dozed off, but it counts).

Still, when I saw the photos — my humans floating beside gentle whale sharks and grinning under waterfalls — my tail couldn’t help but wag. I’m so proud of their adventurous spirit! But now that the gang’s back together, I'm soaking up the cuddles and listening to their wild travel stories.

As your official school therapy dog, I'm here for all the re-entry stress relief for you too— one nose boop at a time. Feel free to share your adventures from the holidays – I’m always “all ears”!

Big licks and tail wags,

Norman

Music Matters

Save the date:

Karawatha Music Program is in Term 2 Week 5 - from 19 - 22 May and is for all Band and Strings students.

Instrumental Music- Karawatha Music Workshop

Karawatha is coming up for Band and Strings students in Week 5. A reminder that students need to be dropped at Runcorn State High School in the mornings and not at Runcorn State School. Also, please do not bring Music stands along to Karawatha as they will be provided.

String Family Afternoon Concert

Congratulations to our amazing Year 3 and 4 Strings students for a wonderful concert in Week 10 of last term. You sounded fabulous and it was great to see all your hard work paying off with this performance.

Year 5 Music

The Year 5 classes are learning to play the ukulele in Music lessons this semester. Students began with arpeggios and are now working on playing 4 chord songs, gradually moving from simple down strums to more advanced strumming patterns. “Just the way you are” (Bruno Mars) and “Riptide” (Vance Joy) are two of our favourite song choices for ukulele playing.

Alison Murray

Music Teacher

amurr51@eq.edu.au

Sports News

Welcome back to another exciting term of sport here at Runcorn State School.

We have another busy term planned with both the senior and junior athletics carnivals occurring this term.  Please mark the below dates in your calendar if you wish to come and support your child/ren on these day/s.  

• Senior sports carnival for Years 3 to 6 will be in Week 9 on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June 
• Prep to Year 2 junior carnival will be in Week 10 on Tuesday 24 June

We will be spending the term preparing the students in all activities that they will compete in on the day.  These include;

• sprints (short distance)
• shot put
• long jump
• high jump
• discus
• javelin 

We will also be working with the Prep to Year 3 classes during their gross/fine motor lessons on several ball games.  These include such games as:

• over/under ball
• captain ball
• tunnel ball
• egg and spoon races
• sack races

Just before the holidays, I had the delight of presenting the age champion medals to our 2025 Cross Country Age Champions.  Unfortunately, not all our age champions were at school that day but below are the photos of those that were. 

My New Gallery

Next Wednesday 30 April, 6 of our age champion students will join 24 of their classmates to represent Runcorn State School at the Eastern Taipans District Cross Country carnival.  We wish you every success and I am sure you will do both yourself and the school proud. 

Luke Brady

Sports Teacher

lbrad101@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 schoolwork
• Students safely and quickly lining up in their correct area after the music plays in the morning and after 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

Health Teacher

sstir16@eq.edu.au

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 unforeseen 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

What is the P&C?

The Runcorn State School Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) is the charitable organisation involved with community-building, fundraising, and business operations that support our school.

How the P&C has made a difference at our school:

• Hosting various fun events and fundraisers through the year.
• Providing a forum for members of the school community to share their concerns, and collaborate on ideas and actions for the betterment of students.
• Generous subsidising of incursions and excursions for all our students.
• Funding upgrades of facilities including resources in the classrooms, library, outdoor learning spaces, and the Heritage Garden.
• Supporting fundraising to commence and sustain our therapy dog program
• And more!

As a community, we can all do ‘Just One Thing’ to help achieve great outcomes for our school. Please take a few minutes to complete the following questionnaire:

Alternative hyperlink:  'Just One Thing' volunteer questionnaire

P&C Meetings

Our next P&C General Meeting will be held on Monday 28 April at 4.00pm in the school Resource Centre/Library. This is your chance to stay informed, have your say, and be part of the decisions that help shape our school community!

Everyone is welcome, and we would love to see as many parents and caregivers there as possible. Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first meeting, come along, get involved, and help make a difference! If you have any questions, please contact Nadera at rsspcsecretary@outlook.com

We also appreciate feedback about P&C meeting – please complete the ‘Just One Thing’ poll above to let us know if the current time or if another time may work better for you to attend meetings. Our meetings usually occur on the Monday afternoons in Weeks 2 and 7 of each school term.

Important Event Dates for Term 2

Election Day BBQ

We will be cooking up a storm with a delicious BBQ and serving drinks. We are looking for volunteers to support us during this time. Please jump onto the sign up link below and register to help for an hour or more with:

• cooking the BBQ
• taking payments
• serving the BBQ and drinks.

VolunteerSignup - Election Day BBQ - Saturday 3rd May 2025

Mother’s Day Stall

Students will be able to purchase something for their mothers, aunties, grandmothers, or other maternal figure. Allocated class times for the Mother’s Day Stall are yet to be confirmed.

Can you help? Please get in contact with Paula at rsspcevents@outlook.com 

Uniform Shop

Winter sale on now! Please check website for instore for more details.

Tuckshop

Contact: Sally - tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au

Opening hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (8.30am to 1.45pm)

How to order:

1. Via Flexischools (see image below), or
2. Over-the-counter purchases can only be made Wednesday to Friday where students can bring cash.

Birthday orders: Don’t forget that cupcakes and ice blocks (Zooper Doopers) can be ordered via Flexischools. Please note that these are only available Wednesday to Friday, and all birthday orders must be placed at least two days prior.

Volunteers Needed in the Tuckshop!

You don’t need cooking or kitchen experience to help in the Tuckshop! Under the guidance of our friendly Tuckshop Convenor Sally, you can help in one or more of the following ways:

• Putting sticker labels on bags
• Sorting bags into categories (Hot Food, Sandwiches etc.)
• Filling drink orders
• Preparing and heating up food
• Making salads and sandwiches
• Peeling apples (and even using the slinky machine!)
• Baking
• Placing hot food items (e.g. potato gems, chicken nuggets) in bags, ready to pack into orders
• Placing hot meals (e.g. lasagne, spaghetti, fried rice, pizzas) into bags, ready for sorting into delivery boxes
• Placing orders into class tuckshop delivery boxes
• Washing up

It’s an excellent way to help out in your community by providing an important service to students and staff. To volunteer: email tuckshop@runcornss.eq.edu.au

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO KEEP UP TO DATE:

Runcorn State School P&C Association | Facebook

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.