Newsletter Term 1 Week 5
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
School Priorities and Targets
Based on the Quadrennial School Review conducted in 2019 and the evidence from student learning and wellbeing, the strategic documents for 2022 have been ratified by the School Council and P&C. These plans will be available on the school website. Our priorities for 2022 include:
- Reading and writing within the Australian Curriculum
- Inquiry learning
- Wellbeing
Teddy Bear’s Picnic
If you went down to the Preps last week, you would have had a big surprise…. There were bears and lots of bears of all sizes, colours and shapes. Some bears brought their dinosaur, puppy dog or unicorn friends to the picnic. The Prep students had a lot of fun creating and making, playing and reading. Thank you, teachers!
Three-way sharing
Have you booked your session to meet with the class teachers and share information about your child and his/her learning? If you have not, please head to Schoolzine to book. This partnership is very important for your children. If there are any changes to the COVID restrictions, we will adapt and let you know.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit in May each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students do. This year all schools, including Runcorn will be doing the test on line with an exception of Year 3 writing which is still paper-based. For further details please use this link. https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/naplan-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf
More details about the NAPLAN schedule at Runcorn State School will follow in the weeks to come. In the meantime, the practice that we will be doing will enable the students in Year 3 and 5 to become familiar with the online environment and the format of the tests. This does not replace the day to day teaching in the classrooms.
As this testing is conducted in an online environment, please can you read the information in this link: https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources/naplan-privacy-notice.pdf
COVID Guidelines
Covid restrictions will be changing from 7 March. However, we are still operating under the Back to School guidelines (7 February to 7 March). We will inform the community of any changes that are relevant to Departmental schools, including Runcorn State School. In recent weeks, we have had a few positive cases reported and have notified the community each time. Please remember these key points:
- Parents of Prep, Year 1 and vulnerable students are able to come into the school. We respectfully request that all other parents drop children at the gates and leave.
- At 3.00pm, the gates in front of the office and on Lampson Street are for pedestrians. The two gates near the shelter on Ardargie Street are for pick-up only.
- Adults should be wearing masks. Children from Year 3-6 are encouraged to wear masks but the school will not be mandating this.
- No sick children or adults are to come on to the premises. If a child presents unwell during school time, parents will be contacted to pick up the child and will be given a RAT. School staff will NOT be testing students.
- No visitors to the school unless absolutely necessary.
- No volunteers in classrooms.
For further details, please check the school guidelines that can be found on our website or the ‘Back to School’ plan on the government website.
Mobile Phones
If students bring mobile phones to school, they are to be brought to the office as soon as they arrive at school and be collected at 3.00PM. There should be no phones on the students or in their bags.
Bells
We are reducing the number of bells and duration for which the music plays. Lining up and class times remain the same.
8.15AM 20 seconds Move from B Block
8.45AM 1 minute Line up for class
11.50AM 2 minutes Line up after play
1.50PM 1 minute Line up after eating
3.00PM 20 seconds Home time
We have made these changes to reduce noise pollution as well as reliance on bells/music.
From the Deputy Principal
Three-way Sharing Term 1 Week 7
Mrs D’Netto has outlined the importance of the partnership between parents, children and school. The three-way sharing sessions are an ideal opportunity for parents to meet with class teachers along with their child to share information about your child’s learning. As the school has moved to the Schoolzine platform, this is the only way that bookings can be made. If you are experiencing difficulty making a booking please contact the school Administration on (07) 3323 8777.
To make a booking on Schoolzine please follow this link: https://runcornss.schoolzineplus.com/3WayReporting2022T1
How to book with Schoolzine Session Keeper Guide: https://www.schoolzine.com/sk-booking-guide
Please label all your children’s clothing
With the start of school swimming, a number of items of clothing have been lost or become mixed up with other children’s clothing. To assist us in the process of ensuring everyone has the items that belong to them, please label every piece of school clothing.
The NAPLAN online Public Demonstration site https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site is a space where students, parents and carers are invited to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and related functionalities available in the online NAPLAN assessment including:
- range of question types
- onscreen tools, timers
- range of question formats available.
There are no answer to the demonstration site tests.
Roberta Matlock
From the Head of Department - Curriculum
Writing at Runcorn – The Big 5 and The Big Write
Term 4 in 2021 at Runcorn was all about writing. In 2022 we are continuing to focus on the teaching and learning of great writing here at Runcorn. Teachers have been working and reflecting on our current practice and building a framework to ensure consistency or language and practice across our school. This term we will continue to use The Big 5 and The Big Write when working on writing.
The Big 5 is a list of writing behaviours that all Runcorn Writers use. These writing behaviours underpin successful writing from Prep to Year 6 and are linked to the Australian Curriculum. These will be explicitly taught to the students and will link with their individual writing goals.
THE BIG 5
PLAN
Organise our ideas and stick to it!
INTERESTING VOCAB
Use a range of level 1, 2 & 3 words to engage our audience
RANGE OF SENTENCES
Use a range of simple, compound and complex sentences
PUNCTUATION TO ENHANCE MEANING
Choose the best mark to demonstrate your meaning
EDIT TO IMPROVE
Check our work makes sense and matches our plan with correct spelling & punctuation
Every Thursday all students will participate in The Big Write. The Big Write gives students an opportunity to apply and practice The Big 5 writing skills and get feedback from their teacher. All classes will use a common stimulus or writing prompt and will have at least 20 minutes to create a piece of writing. We will be finding many ways to share and celebrate writing throughout our school, including sharing samples from students, teachers and teacher aides and our community in the newsletter and around the school. I will add our prompts from each Big Write to the newsletter so if any Mums, Dads, Grandparents, or other special adults would like to be part of the Big Write feel free to send your pieces through on email to rlasa2@eq.edu.au
Happy Writing!!
Rachel La Sala
Prep 2023 - Key Dates
Sporting News
School Swimming for Year 1 to Year 6
Swimming has started. It was great to see all the children swimming again. Some children forgot to bring items last week. Children need a swim shirt with sleeves that go past their shoulder to be sun smart.
They need their own swim cap. Goggles are optional & must be provided by parents if required..
No swimming cap & swim shirt = no swimming
Caps can be purchased from the school tuckshop or local shops like Kmart and Big W.
All jewellery must be removed before swimming or taped over if unable to be removed. This is to prevent injuries.
Please name all school uniforms, underwear, socks & shoes, swimmers, towels, caps & goggles. Items can get mixed up or left behind. We cannot return lost property if no names are on them.
Gala Days
Year 5 and Year 6 will be trialling for Soccer & Basketball teams Friday last session. Permission slips will be coming home soon.
Our first Gala Day will be in Week 7, Friday 11 March 2022.
Years 3 to Year 6 School Cross Country
Our school cross country is on Friday 4 March 2022. Please make sure your children apply sunscreen before leaving home. They can wear their house colour T-shirts to support their house. Due to current Covid-19 guidelines we will not be able to have parents on school grounds. Get in early and stake your claim for the best spots outside the school fence.
Music Matters
Senior ChoirChoir has started this week. Years 4-6, if you wish to join please return your note to the office and attend next weeks rehearsal- Wednesday 2nd March 8am.
IM Music Messages
Strings – Mr Biedermann (abied1@eq.edu.au)
String lesson and rehearsal dates:
- Lessons – Tuesday 1st and 8th March
- Rehearsals – 1st and 8th March
Thank you to all Year 4 to 6 String students for attending their 1st rehearsal this week. It was impressive that everyone was so organised and we were playing by 7:40am!
Rehearsals are held in the Instrumental Music Room in B block. String lessons will be held in the Science Lab. Please remember to bring your instrument, equipment, Essential Elements book and your Black folder to lessons and rehearsals.
String Students should be proud of their achievements over the last 2 weeks especially being organised and prepared for lessons. Congratulations and well done!
Band- Mr Schilling nschi37@eq.edu.au
Band lesson and rehearsal dates:
- Lessons – Monday 28 Feb and 7 March
- Rehearsals – Monday 28 Feb and 7 March
School Council
The School Council is currently seeking a parent representative.
At Runcorn State School, the School Council is responsible for the strategic direction of our school, ensuring that the policies and procedures involved in this planning are discussed and reviewed by both members of staff and the parent community.
Our School Council meets once per term, on a Monday at 3:15pm.
If you would like any further information regarding this role, please email Jasmin Stewart (jstew445@eq.edu.au).
Norman's News
I hope that everyone has settled back into the school year and that you have been having a “pawsome” time learning and growing!
While I thought that I had “hit the ground running” I actually had to have some time off work last week as I had an ear infection which made me feel a little “ruff”. The lovely staff at VETLOVE KURABY prescribed me some medication and I am much happier now! I missed your pats and chats while I was away but I know how important it is to look after yourself and to stay at home if you are feeling unwell.
I would also like to say a big thank you to the Waldie family for their creativity and thoughtfulness in recycling an old Runcorn uniform. Both girls seemed so pleased to present me with a new badge that I can wear to important events at school! It’s absolutely “a – paw- able”!
Now, speaking of “im-paw-tant” Runcorn events, I’m excited to let you know about an event that is being planned at the moment… MY FIRST BIRTHDAY PAWTY! Yes! That’s right, in March I will be turning ONE and to celebrate I would love it if staff, students and families of Runcorn could join me for “walkies”!
The event will take place after school on Tuesday 29th March, from 3:15-4:15pm. I’ll be leading the way through our school, sniffing out a trail of fun while chatting and getting some exercise with you all! Now, because I am already quite spoilt, I am asking that instead of presents, that you bring along a gold coin donation and this money will be given to one of my favourite charities at the conclusion of the day! I couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate (other than eating cake!) so please mark it in your diaries so you can join in the fun – and keep your noses out for your invitations and more information which will be coming soon!
Please remember if you have any questions, comments or suggestions for me, please let Mrs Schooth know. Her email address is jscho128@eq.edu.au
Until next time, big hugs and tail wags,
Norman
P&C News
We Need Your Help
To be able to continue to offer the services at the tuckshop and uniform shop onsite and run events that bring joy to our children, we need more volunteers. The P&C exec are a group of hard-working parents who volunteer their time and would like to rely on other parents stepping forward.
You know the saying, many hands make light work.
Come to a meeting or help in just one way - it makes the load lighter for everyone. Bring a friend and make it fun and lighten the load again! 😊
Our AGM will be held on 21 March, followed by our General Meeting. Our AGM 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 nominating and taking up a position. Some positions only require a few hours of work per month, while others are a little more involved. Many of our executive have been in their positions for a number of years and would be happy to discuss what’s involved if you would like further information. For further information on these roles please email rsspcpresident@outlook.com
What can you contribute? Come and see one of our current, friendly, hard-working P&C members.
Operations Manager
At our last meeting it was voted in favour of advertising and employing an Operations Manager for 12 hours per week on a temporary basis until the end of the 2022 school year. A position description will be sent out next week. Please keep an eye out if you are interested in applying. If you would like any further information on this please contact Debbie via email – rsspcpresident@outlook.com
TUCKSHOP
Cupcakes
Don’t forget the Tuckshop still offers cupcakes or ice blocks for any special celebration. These can be ordered on Flexi schools and must be ordered at least 2 days in advance. Please see the birthday option in the Flexi schools app. No over the phone or over the counter orders can be taken.
Flexi Schools
Please remember our Tuckshop is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We look forward to your continued support of our tuckshop.
The Tuckshop will continue to provide online orders only. We will continue to provide over the counter ice blocks, ice creams and other frozen treats sales at first break only. We strongly encourage you to order afternoon tea online, as afternoon tea over the counter sales are dependent on having volunteers to serve. Ice blocks can continue to be ordered online and picked up by your child from the tuckshop. Please refer to flexi schools for more information.
Have you checked out our new menu! Have a look here https://runcornss.eq.edu.au/SupportAndResources/FormsAndDocuments/Documents/2022/2022%20Tuckshop%20Menu.pdf we welcome your feedback!
Uniform Shop
The uniform shop will remain open by appointment only, please use the QR code below to make an appointment. In the meantime, you can order via email rssuniform@outlook.com and we will deliver your order to your child’s classroom as soon as we can.
If you have any old uniforms that you would like to donate please send them in with your child and let us know via email (rssuniform@outlook.com) and we will collect from their classroom.
Are you a Recycling Warrior?
Did you know that you can support the P&C Association and in turn contribute to improving the school and your child’s education? All whilst helping the environment. All you have to do is use our scheme ID (C10025917) when making a deposit of cans, poppers or bottles at any recycling centre. All proceeds come back to the P&C Association.
You can, we can, we all can!!! make a change.
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook Runcorn State School P&C Association to stay up to date on everything!!
Community Events
PCYC
Our vacation care program is out! Spots are filling fast. Come join us for a fun filled nine days with three incursions.
Mansfield State High School French Immersion Program Open Days 22 and 23 March 2022
For further information, please contact:
Ms Allison Peel, Head of Department (Languages)
Mansfield State High School
Phone – 07 3452 5356
School website: www.mansfieldshs@eq.edu.au
