2023 Edition 2 - 10-2-23

Principal's Message - Mrs Meyrick

Another fortnight has quickly passed us by. This fortnight, we will establish our routines for assembly and we cannot wait until we have our Gumtree Hall and can invite you all too. 

Thank you to families who added to our ideas whiteboard for how we could celebrate and recognise our EPIC Leaners. If you have ideas you would like considered, please email principal@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au We will be unveiling our processes soon and have enjoyed having all stakeholders (staff, students and families) involved.

Our extra-curricular clubs have commenced, with more planned for Term 2 and beyond. It is important to our staff that we offer a wide variety of options for our students to be involved in our culture that promotes learning. I thank our staff for volunteering their lunch breaks and after school sessions to provide these opportunities for our students. So far we have Choir, eSports, Cheer and FISAF. Still to come this year are Japanese Language and Culture, Readers Cup, Gardening Club, Koala Kitchen little chefs, Recycling Club and more. 

This coming fortnight we will launch our Passion Projects. This shapes our Homework Policy. We are excited to offer this to our students, families and community. You can learn more by reading our Homework Policy. We will also upload our launch video to our website and Facebook page. 

We plan to have access to more spaces in our school soon. When we do, some classes may move upstairs, in particular 5/6A, 4A and 3A. We will also have space for our specialist classes for AUSLAN, Health (as part of HPE) and Music upstairs until our final handover where we have purpose built spaces for these. 

Enjoy the next fortnight!

Mrs Wuanita Meyrick | Foundation Principal

Deputy Principal's Message - Ms Yager

We would love your help! Our Breakfast Club still needs a few more volunteers. If you are able to assist before school from 8am-9am, please email volunteers@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au 

Our students are loving their breakfast, including cereal, toast, crumpets and milo. 

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers that are helping us. We really appreciate your help. Thank you also to YMCA for supporting our breakfast club, supplying the food and essentials. 

Ms Petra Yager | Foundation Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal's Message - Ms Swadling

Attendance at school every day is important for your child's academic growth, their social interactions, and their wellbeing. However, there are times when children need to be absent for approved reasons. If you child is absent from school, please contact our school to advise of the date and reason. 

You can do this by

- emailing admin_@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au

- phoning 3819 5777

While you may inform your child's class teacher, to ensure roll marking accuracy, please also always inform our administration. 

If your child requires more than 10 school days absent, for any reason, please contact our administration for an Application for Exemption from Schooling. 

We are here to support you and your family. If your child is displaying behaviours of school refusal, please make an appointment with your child's class teacher or contact DP@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au 

Our school attendance target is 95%. Help us to reach our target by having your children at school everyday, unless they are unwell. 

Ms Fiona Swadling | Foundation Deputy Principal

Business Manager's Message - Mrs Van Der Zee

SRS Payment

Please note that students cannot take part in any extra-curricular activities until the SRS payment is made.  Should you require assistance with payment, please contact me.

Mrs Danielle Van Der Zee | Foundation Business Manager

Tour & Talk with our Principal

Families who live in catchment (or are about to move into catchment) and are considering enrolling in 2023 or 2024 are invited to join Mrs Meyrick for a Tour & Talk. Meet near administration (via Gazania Street, at 5.30pm on Thursday 23rd February. Mrs Meyrick will provide a tour of our areas and classrooms, answer any questions and discuss enrolment processes. This is a group tour and will conclude by 6pm. You can check your address at the Ed Map website https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/maps/edmap/ 

Parent and Community Code of Conduct

Our Parent and Community Code of Conduct supports learning, wellbeing and safety in our school. It outlines expectations for our parents and community members for communication, collaboration and school culture. 

We thank our school community for upholding this level of respect with our school staff. 

Food Allergies

As sent via email to families, we offer the chance for families to send cupcakes (with listed ingredients) to school on the day of your child's birthday. Please do not send any lolly bags, ice-creams, donuts, toys, lollies or balloons. Just cupcakes please and preferably small in size. The listed ingredients are an important aspect as we require this to support any child with a food allergy.
Families who have a child with an allergy are welcome to supply a small serving of cupcakes that we can freeze and then serve for your child when needed. 

Our school is not nut free. However, given some people have severe allergies to nuts, it is preferred that children do not bring nut items to school. While this is not mandatory, it is part of our EPIC Values. We are Careful, we make careful and considered choices. Children with an allergy to nuts have a specialised health plan and we work with families for the best outcome for their child. 

Instrumental Music

Instrumental Music lesson enrolment for 2023 is opens on Tuesday! 

Ripley Central State School will proudly deliver the Department of Education's Instrumental Music Curriculum and will offer both a strings and concert band program. Students who participate will receive a group lesson once a week during class time. Lessons rotate to ensure that learning in other learning areas is not negatively impacted. In addition to these group lessons, students will also be required to be part of a string ensemble or concert band.  These ensembles will not begin until students can competently play their first 5 notes. 

Statistics show that learning an instrument benefits children in many ways and can enhance academic ability and boost confidents and emotional well being. 

On Tuesday, students in Years 3 to 5 will be introduced to the instruments in our school music program through a demonstration session run by our instrumental teachers. Year 6 students who already have an instrument and have previously played are also invited to apply. Students will  bring home an application form with further information about our Instrumental Program on Monday. We look forward to receiving your applications. 

Community News

Ripley Valley State Secondary College News

Ripley Valley State Secondary College is holding its annual Community Open Day for all Year 4-6 students and parents on Saturday 4^th March from 9.00am – 12noon . 

The College Tours will operate from 9.00am to 11.00am.  This gives future students and their families an opportunity to view the College facilities and ask any questions on the day. 

An Expression of Interest for 2024 enrolment will be available online from Saturday 4^th March to coincide with the Community Open Day.  At that time, Year 7, 2024 families can either download and print directly from our website homepage ‘Enrol Here’ or collect a paper copy at the Community Open Day from the Enrolment stand.

How to contact us and how we contact you

Our school phoneline for outgoing calls will come up on your phone as No caller ID, or Private number. We are unable to change this at this point as our phone lines are being diverted until telstra connection occurs for our standard landline. You can call us on 07 3819 5777  phof if you need to contact us.

Email – admin_@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au  OR for all enrolment matters please email enrolments@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au 

Phone - 07 3819 5777  (between 8.20am-3.15pm Monday to Friday - or school days)