2024 Edition 22 (09-02-2024)

Principal's Message - Mrs Meyrick

Parents, students and staff are invited to provide feedback about the timing and venue of our Passion Project Fairs this year. Passion Projects are the way we do homework at Ripley Central. You can learn more by watching this video and exploring our website. 

Your feedback and input into planning these events are important to us, please click on the link to complete the survey.

Once we have finalised our students, staff and parent's input, we will be in touch with the details of Passion Project Fairs for 2024. 

Mrs Wuanita Meyrick| Principal

Deputy Principal's Message - Ms Yager

Third Party Website Permission

We are pleased to inform you that the permission forms for accessing third-party websites have been distributed. For those of you who are registered on QParents, the forms have been sent electronically. A paper copy has been provided to all other students to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate. These forms are essential for your child’s access to a variety of online learning platforms that are integral to supporting their educational journey in class.

Your cooperation and timely response are greatly appreciated as we strive to leverage digital and make a wide array of educational tools available to our students.

BYOD at Ripley Central

We are thrilled to announce an impressive 99% of student devices in Years 2, 3, and 5 have been successfully onboarded and are now actively used as part of our educational curriculum.

The introduction of personal devices in the classroom has already led to noticeable improvements in student engagement and empowerment. Through the BYOD program, students are not just passive recipients of information but active participants in their learning journey. They are utilising their devices to access a wealth of resources, collaborate more effectively with their peers, and engage with interactive content that enhances their understanding of the curriculum.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all parents for your unwavering support of the BYOD initiative and your child's education. Your involvement and encouragement play a crucial role in the success of our programs and, most importantly, in the academic and personal growth of your children.

As we move forward, we are excited about the opportunity to share some of the amazing projects and achievements our students are accomplishing with the aid of their devices. Stay tuned for updates throughout the year!

Ms Petra Yager |  Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal's Message - Mrs Ward

Breakfast Club

Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day, and for a good reason. It provides necessary fuel to kick-start our bodies and minds, setting the tone for an EPIC day ahead. For our students, breakfast is even more critical, as it supports their growth, development and academic performance.  

We are dedicated to ensure that every child has the opportunity to start their day with a healthy meal, setting them up for an EPIC day at school.

We are currently seeking volunteers to assist with our Breakfast Club between 8:00-8:45am throughout the week. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to volunteers@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au and we will provide more details about Breakfast Club opening days and how you can get involved.

Together, we can ensure that every child at Ripley Central starts their day on the right foot.

Mrs Tammy Ward |  Deputy Principal

Business Manager's Message - Mrs Van Der Zee

2024 BUDGET PLANNING

This week, our team has been immersed in planning the 2024 school budget.  It's a task that requires attention to detail and careful consideration. We're committed to ensuring that our resources are allocated wisely to support the diverse needs of our students and staff.

In light of this, I kindly urge all families to ensure that any outstanding accounts are settled promptly.

MONEY DAYS

In an attempt to streamline our financial processes we have implemented “Money Days” for handling transactions at the office.  Tuesdays and Thursdays are our designated money days.  Here’s what you need to know;

Tuesdays:  On Tuesdays, we will only be accepting payments via eftpos.  This means if you plan to make a payment at the school office on Tuesdays, please ensure you have a card (or phone) available for processing.

Thursdays:  On Thursdays we are able to offer a little more flexibility in payment methods.  On these days we will accept both eftpos payments and cash.  However, its is important to note that cash payments must be the exact amount owed as we do not have change available. 

BORROWED UNIFORMS

I’d like to issue a gentle reminder to those families who have borrowed uniforms from the school.  We currently find ourselves facing a shortage of spare uniforms. Therefore, I kindly ask that any borrowed items be returned to the school at your earliest convenience.

Please note that failure to return borrowed uniforms may result in families being invoiced for the items.  Your co-operation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your attention to these important matters. As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding finances or any other aspect of our school operations, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Mrs Van Der Zee |  Business Manager 

Instrumental Music

This week marks the exciting commencement of our Instrumental Music Program at Ripley Central, under the skilled guidance of Mrs. Rose Salemanesa for the Band and Mrs. Jenna Park for the Strings Orchestra. Both esteemed educators have made their rounds through our Years 3-6 classes, sparking enthusiasm among our students by handing out Expression of Interest forms to those keen on exploring the dynamic world of music.

Our vision for this year is to significantly expand both our band and strings programs. We are committed to nurturing the musical talents of our students, providing them with the opportunity to learn, grow, and express themselves through the universal language of music. The anticipation is building for the magical performances our students will present at upcoming school events, showcasing the culmination of their hard work and dedication.

For parents interested in enrolling their child in music lessons, this is a wonderful opportunity to encourage and support your child’s artistic journey.

If you are considering music lessons for your child, we invite you to reach out for more information by emailing DP@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au

EPIC Clubs at Ripley Central

As the vibrant energy of a new school year fills the air at Ripley Central, we are delighted to announce the return of our much-anticipated EPIC Clubs in the coming weeks. Our dedicated staff are currently working diligently behind the scenes, preparing an array of amazing opportunities that promise to enrich our students' educational experience beyond the traditional classroom setting.

We aim to ignite passions, foster new skills, and provide a platform for our students to explore their interests in a supportive and engaging environment. To kickstart this initiative, Expressions of Interest have already been dispatched for Cheer, FISAF Dance and Rock Band via email and Facebook. Please check your inbox to ensure your child does not miss out on the chance to participate in these incredible offerings. These EOI’s will close on Monday 12^th February.

But the excitement doesn't stop here! We encourage you to stay tuned to our Facebook page, newsletter, and your emails for announcements regarding additional clubs set to launch. These include a diverse range of activities such as Chess, Choir, Robotics, Pokémon, Esports, Minecraft, and more!

Each club is designed to cater to a wide array of interests and talents, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage in something they are passionate about. Whether your child is a budding musician, a future engineer, a strategic thinker, or an aspiring gamer, there is something for everyone at Ripley Central's EPIC Clubs.

We are excited to see our students grow, learn, and have fun as part of these clubs. Thank you for your continued support, and here's to a year of exploration, creativity, and community at Ripley Central!

Interested in volunteering your skills for one of our clubs? Email volunteers@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au

Prep C News

Prep C have had a very busy start to the term. In the past few weeks in English, we have been reading the Little Red Hen and Jack and the beanstalk and learning how to retell the story. In Math we have been counting to 10 and linking numbers, words and quantities. In Science we have been learning about living and non-living things and have been growing beans in bags on the window. It only took 2 days for them to start sprouting and over the weekend many have grown 15cm. We have now transferred them to little pots to continue growing. We have also enjoyed lots of craft and hands on activities, making new friends and learning about what it means to be an EPIC Learner.

5A Maths

This is 5A playing games to practise their understanding of probability. The aim is to select the number on the spinner which is more likely to be spun and beat their opponent to clear all their counters off the board.

2024 School Calendar

The Arts

In music our year 4-6 students have been learning chords and changing between chords on the ukulele, while accompanying with the lyrics. Over the next two weeks the students are going to learn more chords and get faster at their transitions.

Our Prep-3 students have been focusing on keeping the beat, following the rhythm, locating the pitch, listening to directions with music and developing a love for music. They have been using instruments and then using different types of elastics to apply their music skills.

HPE News

My name is Madonna Tolhurst and I am one of the HPE teachers at Ripley Central State School. As well as teaching Health and Physical Education, I organise and manage sports outside of the classroom and try to provide as many sporting opportunities to students. This is an outline of different sporting events happening throughout the year but mainly district sports. This has also been emailed.

District Sports – Central Comets

District sport is for those students who want to compete competitively in their chosen sport. They will trial against other schools in the district to make a team who will then compete at the Met West regional trials. Students must be playing the sport at club level for them to be considered. Our district is called Central Comets. Throughout the year there will be trials for each sport and for students aged 10 -13 years. All transport to and from districts will need to be organised by students and carers. To nominate for a district sport please complete the Microsoft form

Calendar Sporting events

This year at RCSS we will be holding a Cross Country (Term 1), Athletics Carnival (Term 2) and a Swimming carnival (Term 4). Students who are aged 10 - 13 are eligible to compete at the district trials by competing at these events.

Run club

Run Club is starting this Thursday. This is for those students who are interested in improving their fitness leading up to the Cross Country. This is for students in years 4 – 6 and will run until the end of term. Students will be expected to run long distances at the training sessions. Spaces are limited. If your child is interested, please send an email to mmars183@eq.edu.au

Gala Day:

In Term 2 and 3 our school will participate in GALA day. Students will be selected to represent RCSS and play against other schools in the area. This will be run over 3 Fridays per term and there is a cost involved to participate. Please click below link register your child's interest.

Athletics training:

I will be offering athletics training in Term 2 for students aged 10 - 13. More information will be given at the end of Term 1.

If you have any question regarding the above, please contact Madonna Tolhurst at mmars183@eq.edu.au

Facility Hire

There are some areas of our school suitable for facilities hire by business and organisations that support our wider community.

Expression of Interest is now open to apply for 2024 hire arrangements. Please see our website for details.

P&C News

Trivia Night

Save the date for our very first adults only Gatsby themed trivia night on Friday the 8^th March.

Grab some family and friends, dress up and have some fun away from the kids!

More details to come but if you would like to express your interest in participating in this event please feel free to contact the P&C via pandc@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au.

Meetings

Our first Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday 27^th February at 4:30pm in classroom 6A. All staff, parents and citizens of the Ripley community are invited to attend.

At the AGM there will be a call for memberships for this year, the endorsement of the 2023 Auditors Report as well as nominations and elections of the 2024 Executive Committee positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.    

There is no expectation that everyone who attends the AGM will then join as a member. If you are interested in observing what happens at a P&C meeting, please come along.

The next monthly meeting of the P&C will follow directly after the AGM commencing at 5pm and concluding by 6pm. All families and community members are welcome and new memberships are encouraged. Children are welcome; parents please bring something quiet for them to do during the time. Parking will be available in the Gazania Street carpark.

Stay up to date with P&C messages, celebrations and reminders, by liking our Facebook page by clicking this link: Ripley Central State School P&C.

If you require any further information about the P&C please contact us at pandc@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au

We look forward to hearing from you and meeting many more of you throughout the year.

Containers for Change

The P&C are proud to announce our next fundraising initiative in partnership with Containers for Change QLD. This initiative will enable us to role model responsible behavior and educate on sustainability whilst raising money for our P&C goals.

Our first goal is $250 which equates to just over 10 cans or bottles per student.

All you need to do is use our membership number C11219614 at a local collection location when recycling your bottles. Alternatively you scan the barcode below or download our membership number to your digital wallet.

DSM News (Defence School Mentor)

Welcome back to the 2024 school year. We have had some new Defence families join us this year and I look forward to welcoming you to our RCSS community. 

If you are a Defence family (full-time service or full-time continuous service reservist) enrolled at RCSS that has not been identified as such at the time of enrolment, please contact myself to register your interest in the Defence School Mentor Program. I can be contacted by emailing DSM@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au to initiate the relevant onboarding process.

The Defence School Mentor Program is delivered in partnership with schools to support the wellbeing of children of ADF members. The program connects children with their school community and enhances the schools ability to address the impacts of the military lifestyle. 

The DSMP has 4 objectives:

• Provide families with information about the school environment and the support available relevant to their child's development needs.
• Support children to access school based social and emotional support, aligned to school policies.
• Facilitate opportunities for children to build relationships and connections through events and other initiatives.
• Raise awareness amongst the school community about the impacts of the Defence lifestyle on children and families. 

I will be holding a Defence family morning tea this month. I encourage our Defence families to check their email inboxes for their invitation. This event provides a fantastic opportunity for new and existing Defence families to come together to build connections, receive valuable information on available support avenues as well as ask any questions in relation to the Defence School Mentor Program. Plenty of take-home resources will be available. I look forward to meeting more of our Defence families in person and welcoming them to explore the spaces available to their children. 

Koala Club will continue to operate on a Monday during first break playtime (11.15am-11.45am). This club is open to all RCSS students and allows children to build connections whilst undertaking a simple activity.

Defence student drop-in session is available to our Defence students requiring more individual support each Wednesday during first break playtime (11.15am-11.45am).

The Defence Member and Family Helpline is available 24/7 and is the first point of call for Defence families seeking support, information or connection with their community. Contact can be made by calling 1800 624 608. 

A range of services and support for ADF members and their families can also be accessed at https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/family-programs-services

I am available each Monday and Wednesday between 9am-1pm. Emails are sent regularly to our Defence community, please see your DSM emails to keep up to date with upcoming events and information.  

Community News

🚨 URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT 🚨

We are urgently seeking information about four children aged between 2 and 13, who were observed playing with a bat near the Queens Park Nature Centre in Ipswich on Saturday February 3, around 10 am.

Recently there has been several bats in this area that have tested positive to Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), and witnesses have reported that the bat was behaving in an abnormal manner.

ABLV is a serious and potentially fatal virus.

If you or your child had any contact with the bat, immediate action is necessary, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

Symptoms can appear from 5 days to several years (most commonly 5 to 8 weeks).

If you are concerned that your child may have been exposed to a bat, please contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

Further information on ABLV➡️ https://www.health.qld.gov.au/disease-control/conditions/australian-bat-lyssavirus

Contacting our School

You can call us on 07 3819 5777   if you need to contact us. Please save the number to your mobile so you know if we are calling you. 

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) 

Please no longer use the mobile number -  please delete it from your contacts in your phone.