2024 Edition 26 (22-03-2024)

Principal's Message - Mrs Meyrick

We look forward to seeing many of you at our Know Glow Grow interviews on the evening of 15th April, bookings open now (see email from administration). This is an opportunity for you to check in with your child's class teacher and/or specialist teacher about their progress. We use the Know, Glow, Grow model so you can hear about what your child knows, where they are glowing (enjoying, excelling, passionate about) and where they may still need to grow (improve). Bookings close on Wednesday 27th at 9am, so get in quick. 

End of term - please see Mrs Ward's piece about end of term activities and events. We are excited to share these with you.

Holiday period - over the holiday period we may have workers and staff onsite attending to duties. However, if you observe or hear anything that does not seem right, please do not intervene, instead make a phone call. 

Look, Listen, Report. Call School Watch on 13 17 88.

If you see a crime in progress, call Triple Zero (000).

Wishing all of our families and staff a happy holiday. Take care and we will see you on Monday 15th April ready to commence Term 2. Thank you for your ongoing support of our school.

Mrs Wuanita Meyrick| Principal

Deputy Principal's Message - Ms Yager

Winter Uniforms

While it may not feel like it now, it will very soon be cooler weather when we return from holidays. Our UMS onsite uniform store is open next week Monday 7.30am to 9.30am and Wednesday 2.30pm to 5.30pm. You may like to use this time to get your cooler weather uniform options organised.

Students only wishing to have one jumper that can be worn with all uniform should purchase the formal jumper. It can be worn any day of the week with any information option. 

Hoodies and jackets can only be worn with polo shirts and House shirts. They cannot be worn with our Formal Uniform. 

Other winter options include a school scarf and beanie. These can be worn on any day. We don't wear the beanie in class, but it can be worn at any time outside. Some students even wore them at lunch breaks last year under their hats. Scarfs and beanies must be the school items, not other shop items. 

Those who have not experienced a winter in Ripley before, please be ready for very chilly mornings and cold winds. 

Additional layers can be worn underneath shirts 

* Singlets - not visible

* Skivy long sleeve in Navy 

These items can be purchased from your preferred department retail store.

Students can wear their hoodie or formal jumper under the sports jacket to create additional layers of warmth.

Remember that UMS offers Pay in Four. We also have a small bank of loan jumpers. 

Students who wear incorrect winter options will be asked to remove it, and if needed provided with a loan options from administration from the day. Please take the time now to prepare for upcoming winter months. 

We thank our parents, students and community for continuing to uphold high expectations in the way we present as EPIC Learners. Wearing a uniform correctly helps build a sense of belonging and connection, it is inclusive and it prepares students for other aspects of their lives now and in the future where uniforms are required (eg sports, clubs and employment). 

Ms Petra Yager |  Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal's Message - Mrs Ward

We have many things to look forward to at the end of the term.

Thank you to Mrs Tolhurst and our staff for arranging the Cross Country event this week. Thank you to all of our family members who attended and supported their own children and others. Your cheering was loud and supportive and appreciated. 

We also celebrated Harmony Week and on Thursday wore orange or cultural dress. This was a time for us to learn about us all belonging, about being Inclusive and being EPIC Learners. Thank you to Mrs Poyser and Mrs Edwards who arranged some special learning activities for class. 

Next week we look forward to our Easter Hat Parade (from 2pm in the hall on Thursday). Families are invited to attend and enter through gate 7.

We also have our Passion Project Fair commencing from 12.30pm on Thursday in our classrooms and corridors. Families coming early for the Passion Project Fair and then staying for the Easter Hat Parade are welcome to stay for a picnic with their child/ren. Families having a play and eating time together are asked to play in your child's designated areas with them, but then eat together in the Canteen Undercover and Lazy Space. Your child can show you these places if you are unsure. All other students will eat in their normal eating areas with staff supervision. Families arriving at this time are best to enter at Gazania Street access. We will open the brown gates when we are ready to start. Gate 7 will not open until just beofre the Easter Hat parade at 2pm. 

School finishes at 2.45pm on Thursday and we return on Monday 15th April. Enjoy your Easter vacation with your family. 

Mrs Tammy Ward |  Deputy Principal

Business Manager's Message - Mrs Van Der Zee

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

To ensure all students have equal opportunities for online learning, the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) is providing free internet access for eligible families with school-aged children and no current internet access.

To find out more, call the National Referral Centre (Monday to Friday) 1800 954 610 or head to 🔗 

Mrs Van Der Zee |  Business Manager 

🎮 Calling All Adventurous Builders! Join Our Minecraft Club! 🎮

Are you ready to embark on epic adventures, construct magnificent structures, and mine for precious resources? Look no further! Ripley Central State School is thrilled to announce the launch of our Minecraft Club!

What’s the Buzz?

When: Every Tuesday morning at first break.

Where: The Gaming Lab > The Curiosity Centre.

Who: Open to all students who love gaming, creativity, and teamwork.

What: Dive into the blocky world of Minecraft, learn coding skills, and collaborate with fellow miners.

Why Join?

1. Empowered Creativity Unleashed: Design your dream castle, build roller coasters, or create pixel art—it’s all up to you!
2. Polite Play: In Minecraft Education, we follow agreed-upon rules and treat each other with kindness.
3. Inclusive Teamwork Wins: Collaborate with friends on exciting projects and learn from each other.
4. Careful Coding Challenges: Sharpen your coding skills through fun challenges and mini-games.

How to Get Started?

1. Sign Up: Visit the Curiosity Centre to register.
2. Bring Your Imagination: Pack your creativity, enthusiasm, and a pinch of pixie dust.
3. Meet Fellow Miners: Make new friends who share your passion for blocks and adventures.

Important Notes:

You do not need to bring your school iPad to Minecraft Club. We promise—no real lava pits in our Minecraft world! So, grab your pickaxe, don your diamond armour, and let’s dig into the fun!

See you at the Minecraft Club every Tuesday morning!

Choir

Choir - Open to students in Years 4-6 via audition

Students will learn to sing in harmony as they explore a range of classic and modern songs. Students will perform throughout the year both in school and in local competitions once they are performance ready. Follow the link to express your interest for your child to audition for the choir

What's happening inside the classroom?

Prep C

As the first term of school comes to an end for us, Prep C have been looking back at all the great things they have achieved this term-

• Writing our own names
• Growing bean plants
• Learning about being EPIC
• Subitising to 10, making patterns and collections of objects
• Retelling stories
• Making new friends
• Running in cross country

The list goes on and on. We are so excited for all the fun of term 2, but for now we are enjoying a little bit of Easter. Please see our wonderful funky bunnies and our first ever directed drawing of an Easter chick.

Happy Easter Ripley Central Families!

Auslan News

This term Year five and six Auslan students have been learning about the use of Depicting Signs (D.S.) and non manual features (NMF). This entails using body language and facial expressions to enhance signed communication. Students watched examples of short stories being signed in Auslan and analysised them for their effective use of DS and NMF. Recently students presented a folk tale or nursery rhyme to the class using their newly acquired skills of non manual features and depicting signs.  It has been great to watch students grown in their knowledge of skills and confidence in presenting to others.

Mrs Belinda Tolete

Auslan teacher

P&C News

Easter Raffle

The P&C will be running a free Easter raffle where every child will have the chance to win.

We are calling for voluntary donations of any Easter Products big or small to help support this event. Donated items can be dropped into the basket at the admin building. All donated items are greatly appreciated. The raffle will be drawn during the end of term festivities on Thursday 28^th March. Your child must be at school on the day to win.

The Entertainment App

Looking to save money while still having fun these school holidays, then maybe the entertainment app is for you!

The Entertainment App is an easy-to-use platform packed with incredible savings of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers, so you can save on takeaway, dining, shopping, groceries, gift cards, activities and more! 20% of all sales go directly to our P&C.

To find out more click the link below to be taken to our schools fundraising page and follow the prompts for purchasing. You can even share the link with family and friends!

https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/9692r73?fbclid=IwAR2ZjtlfM_0BCscDTAG1SEkHu50xOP1MeTWNGQBoRbJCd-gdYvDHPrpP3qc

Events

The P&C would like to express our gratitude to the Brothers Leagues Club and Vanya from Ray White Real Estate for their generosity and support of our very first trivia night. It was a fantastic night, with over $4600 being raised. Due to the success of the night we hope to make this an annual event!

To everyone who has donated their time and or donated goods to our fundraising events during Term 1 we thank you for your kindness and support.

Term 2 upcoming events include a Mother’s Day Stall and Cookie Dough, so stay tuned for further information.

Meetings

The P&C currently has a vacant position on the executive committee for Treasurer.  If this is a role you are interested in please feel free to contact the P&C via email or come along to our next meeting.

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Tuesday 26^th March in classroom 6A 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.

DSM News (Defence School Mentor)

With Anzac Day approaching, RCSS will be taking part in the Postcards of Honour initiative through the RSL Ipswich Sub Branch. Information was sent out to our families this week and we have had a fantastic response! This activity  was open to all students and provides a meaningful and purposeful way for our students to show their support to our veterans by decorating and writing a message on a postcard that will be given to a veteran in our community by the RSL on Anzac Day. For further information please visit Postcards of Honour | ANZAC Day | What's On | RSL Queensland (rslqld.org). All postcard packs have now been claimed. Please return completed postcards as soon as possible to administration. Thank you to all who responded and I look forward to seeing the completed postcards on return.

On Wednesday 14/3 Defence families were invited to attend a morning tea to receive information, connect and further explore the Defence School Mentor Program at RCSS. It was lovely to meet some more of our Defence families and share some common experiences. A catch up session was also held for our Defence students on this day and it was encouraging to see new introductions and meaningful conversations whilst having some fun. 

RCSS will be holding our Anzac Day assembly on Monday 22^nd April in week 2 of term 2 commencing at 9.15am on the school oval. Further information will be sent out via email. We warmly welcome all RCSS families to attend. 

The next DMFS coffee connections is scheduled for 18^th April. For tickets please visit DMFS Amberley Coffee Connections Tickets, Thu, Apr 18, 2024 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite

Defence student drop-in sessions are currently available to our Defence students requiring more individual support each Monday and Wednesday during first break playtime (11.15am-11.45am). Defence students wishing to attend are welcome to drop into the DSM office space at anytime during this timeframe. Donations of any unwanted games and craft supplies are always welcome and appreciated. 

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 DSM@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au to register your interest in the Defence School Mentor Program.

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 during school term. Emails are sent regularly to our Defence community, please see your DSM emails to keep up to date with upcoming events and information.  

I wish our RCSS community an enjoyable term break.

Mrs Kylie Pendergast

Community News

Life Without Barriers in the Child, Youth and Family program

My name is Bec, and I work for Life Without Barriers in the Child, Youth and Family program in Ipswich. We are a leading not-for-profit organisation supporting more than 23,000 people in more than 530 diverse communities across Australia.

As the need for family-based placements for children increase across Queensland we are reaching out to you to help us look for compassionate individuals, couples, and families to care for and support vulnerable children and young people. Care can be for short or long periods, including respite options, with a commitment as small as one weekend a month.

We would love your help in finding more Carers in your community. You could help us by sharing the attached image in your school newsletter.

If there is a strong interest in your community, we are happy to come out in person and have an information session for your staff and community to learn more.

If you have any questions or suggestions of other ways that you can help us with this important task, please feel free to contact me anytime.

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.