2024 Edition 40 15.11.2024

Principal's Message - Mrs Meyrick

This will be my last week for 2024 as I am then on leave as my family and I travel overseas. During my absence, Ms Yager will be principal and can be contacted on the principal email address principal@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au 

The year 3-6 Deputy Principal for weeks 9,10,11 will be Mrs Ashby. The P-2 Deputy Principal will continue to be Mr Geeling, however he will also be supported by Mr McCarney (in case Mr Geeling's new baby comes along and he takes time to welcome them to the world as a new dad). Our Deputy Principal's can be contacted on DP@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au 

This will be our last newsletter for 2024. We will return to publishing them in 2025. 

There are still 3 weeks left of school after this week. Ms Yager looks forward to leading the school in my absence. I wish you all a happy and safe holidays and I look forward to seeing you all again in 2025. 

Mrs Wuanita Meyrick| Principal 

Deputy Principal's Message - Ms Yager

BYOD Program for Years 2-6 in 2025

As we prepare for the 2025 school year, we are thrilled to announce the continuation of our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program for students in Years 2-6! We encourage families to start looking for the appropriate device to ensure your child is ready to make the most of their learning next year.

Our school website has everything you need to know, including device specifications, onboarding instructions, requirements, and even portals to help with device selection. A key requirement is that devices are onboarded at home, before they are brought to school.

Step-by-step onboarding videos are available below and on our website.

To support parents and carers who may have questions about onboarding, we will host Parent Support Groups in Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 1 in 2025. Dates TBA in coming weeks.

We’re excited to harness the power of technology in 2025, empowering our students with tools that enrich their learning. For any further information not found on our website, please feel free to reach out to us at byod@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au

Ms Petra Yager |  Deputy Principal Year 3-6

The Year 6 Graduation Dinner is quickly approaching, and we are thrilled to invite you to celebrate this special milestone with your child. This will be the only opportunity for our Year 6 students to come together with their families to mark the end of their primary years.

To ensure everyone has the chance to attend, we have a maximum of 4 tickets per family. Please use the link below to complete our new survey and reserve your tickets:

Year 6 Graduation Dinner Ticket Reservation - see link below.

Please note: Ticket reservations are due by Monday, 18th November, and invoices will be sent to families on Tuesday, 19th November.

Join us at Brothers League Club, Ipswich, for a memorable evening of celebration with dancing, a photobooth, and plenty of joy as we honour your child’s primary education journey.

We look forward to celebrating with you and your family!

HOD Curriculum - Mrs Ward

Celebrating our Year 5 and 6 students: Young Entrepreneurs in action!

We are excited to celebrate the EPIC work of our Year 5 and 6 students who embarked on a unique learning journey that blends our Australian Curriculum with real-world experience. This term, our students have engaged in a dynamic unit in HASS that is designed to EMPOWER them as informed, ethical, and innovative participants in our community.

In this HASS unit, students explored the fundamentals of business and economics. By transitioning from passive consumers to active creators and decision-makers, they gained a powerful set of skills to navigate and positively influence the world around them. They have explored resource allocation and consumer choices, learning to interpret data and spot trends that inform smart decision-making.

The pinnacle of this unit was their Ripley Markets showcase, where they stepped into the shoes of mini entrepreneurs. With a blend of creativity, analytical thinking, and a commitment to our community, they launched their business to the wider Ripley community.

A huge thank you to all the students who came along and to their families for supporting their efforts and hard work! We also extend our gratitude to all the customers who supported our young entrepreneurs, showing patience as our students honed their math and EFTPOS skills. Your support means a lot to our EPIC learners, helping them bring classroom learning to life.

We couldn’t be prouder of our students. Those who attended the market showed they were EMPOWERED, POLITE, INCLUSIVE and CAREFUL as they connected to our community, proudly showcasing our school.

Thank you kindly,

Tammy Ward | HOD Curriculum

Head of Inclusion - Ms Walas

Transition into 2025

As we begin to approach the end of the school year, we are beginning to prepare for students who are transitioning up year levels. Our Year 6 students are moving on to high school, and will have upcoming transitions days at their chosen high school, please make sure you read your emails. For some students this marks an exciting opportunity for change and growth, however, for others it can be a daunting thought, which can create a lot of worry and or apprehension.

Over the remainder of this term, the Inclusion Team members will be working with teachers to identify students that may need extra support to help prepare them for this change and ensure it is as smooth as possible for these identified students.

For those families with children in Year 6, if you have not yet enrolled your child, please contact your chosen high school as soon as possible to ensure your child is on their books and can be a part of the transition days, these days are a great opportunity to support your child’s success in transitioning to high school.

The inclusion team will be supporting identified students in Prep to Year 5, to develop an understanding of any differences in playgrounds, eating areas, toilets and year level areas. 

Ms Kylie Walas |  Head of Inclusion

Business Manager - Ms Mitchell

Thank you to all the families who have paid all their outstanding SRS payments.  Your support has enabled us to provide resources to enhance your child’s EPIC Learning experience.

If your payment is still outstanding, we require this to be finalised by Friday 22nd November 2024.

Reminder to families of our School bell times and gate opening times and our late arrival and early departure procedures that is advertised on our website.

8.20am Gates Open

8.45am School Commences

2.30pm Gates open

2.45pm Students are released from class, Prep children are only released to a known adult, responsible sibling, or OSHC staff (if applicable).

Late Arrivals – Children who arrive before 9am are quickly sent to class for roll marking.  Children who arrive after 9am require a late slip before going to class.  When children are late, parents are unable to walk them to class, if assistance is required a staff member will assist.

Early Departures – Early departures prior to 2.30pm require an adult to present to the office and your child is called from class to meet you at the office. Early departures are not processed after 2.30pm unless there is an emergency.

Thank you for your support.

Ms Karen Mitchell |  Business Manager

PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEW CANTEEN CONVENYOR! – MARIA

Maria will be operating from the 2 December this year for two weeks, Week 10 and Week 11 for Monday Wednesday and Friday Only.

Menu will be available on Flexischools.

Exciting News! – New Canteen provider for 2025

Have your say on the menu by doing the survey

EPIC Lessons this week

Empowering Our Students to Be Upstanders

At Ripley Central State School we are committed to fostering our EPIC values across our school community. One way we can uphold these values is by teaching our students how to respond in situations where they see others being treated unkindly. By helping students understand the difference between being a bystander and an upstander, we empower them to act with courage, kindness, and respect.

What is a Bystander?

A bystander is someone who witnesses something but doesn’t take action. Sometimes, children might feel unsure about stepping in, so they remain silent. While it’s natural to feel uncertain, being a bystander can sometimes unintentionally contribute to the problem.

The Power of Being an Upstander

An upstander, on the other hand, is someone who chooses to act when they see someone in need. Upstanders are empowered to be kind, inclusive, and careful in their response, always keeping politeness and safety in mind. By assisting others, upstanders help build a culture of politeness and inclusion at our school.

Ways to Be an Upstander

Here are some ways we’re encouraging students to practice empowered upstander behaviour:

• Be inclusive: Reach out to classmates who might be left out. Inviting someone to join a game or sit together shows that everyone is valued.
• Stay polite and calm: Speaking kindly to someone who might need support or simply offering words like, “Are you okay?” can make a big difference.
• Carefully assess the situation: If a student feels uncomfortable or unsure, we encourage them to seek help from an adult. Being an upstander doesn’t mean handling things alone; it means knowing when to ask for assistance.
• Empower others: Supporting others to be upstanders too helps create a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered.

By encouraging our students to be polite, careful, and inclusive upstanders, we build a stronger, kinder school environment. Thank you for reinforcing these values at home and for your support in helping our children grow into EPIC individuals.

2025 Meet your Teacher

As our school processes a large number of enrolments at the end of the year and start of the year ready for 2025, we are unable to announce classes until just before school returns. We look forward to welcoming you to our Meet the Teacher open classrooms on Friday 24th January from 1.30-2.15pm. This is a designated time to visit our school, look at class lists and walk to classes to drop off books and say hi to your child's new teacher. 

In years to come, when we are managing normal enrolment growth, we look forward to offering alternative plans in the last week of school prior to the children going on holidays. Until then, we look forward to supporting you on the day prior to school commencing. 

Families unable to attend during this time are able to view the board on the morning of the first day of school and walk their child to class. 

Uniform Reminder - Current Prep Families

As our prep students start their final term, a reminder to prep families that your child will need a formal uniform for next year. Year 1-6 students wear their formal uniforms on Mondays. Our onsite uniform shop is open on Mondays 7.30am-9.30am and then again on Wednesdays 2.30pm-5.30pm. Get in early to avoid the back to school rush. 

We offer an onsite, retail store, near our administration building. You can also purchase online. 

Online ordering password has been emailed home to all prep families. Please contact administration if you are unable to locate the code.

Second Hand Uniforms

As children grow, or families move from the area, families have the opportunity to sell their second-hand uniforms via a Facebook page created by our P&C. You can join via Facebook on the below link.

  You are also welcome to donate any uniform items to our school and we support families who are in need.

Instrumental Music Program – Expressions of Interest Now Open!

We are excited to announce that expressions of interest are now open for our 2025 Instrumental Music Program for students in Years 2-5 (Strings Ensemble) and Years 3-5 (Band) this year. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn how to read and play music, with lessons held once a week during class time.

We are thrilled to welcome back Jenna Park, our talented Strings teacher, who will continue with us into 2025. We also warmly welcome Mr. Caleb Hodgkinson, our new Band teacher, who joins the Ripley Central team this term and will remain with us next year as well.

For an EOI form, please see our administration team or email dp@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au.

Let’s make music together!

Found watch

At the P&C Disco we have found a children’s watch that appears to be special and expensive. If you are able to describe this watch to administration staff we will happily return it to you.

Date Claimers

School Return 2025

School returns on Tuesday 28^th January in 2025. Our administration will open from 12 noon on  Tuesday 21^st January and then follow normal administration business hours (8.20am – 3.15pm). To secure your child’s application and first day of school start, your application will need to be complete and confirmed by 3.15pm on Wednesday 22^nd January. Enrolments received after this date may have a later commencement date. You are encouraged to send your application via email now for Prep to Year 6 enrolments for 2025.

Student Departure

If your family is leaving our school, please email admin@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au with departure date and new destination school. This allows our administration staff to commence processes to support your departure. This includes ensuring books and musical instruments are returned, checking your family’s financial status with the school and also updating your child’s class teacher so they can prepare to send home their books and belongings. While we are sorry to see you go, we also want to help make the process smooth for you.

Reporting Student Absences

Please be reminded that the way to report student absences is 
* by phone 3819 5777 (you can do this before office hours and leave a message).
* via QParents (if you have not yet registered for QParents, please contact administration).
* in person at administration (especially if you know a date in advance). 
Please do not email absence notifications. Our school receives a large volume of emails and your message may be missed as we process absences each morning. You may then receive a text message that you will need to respond to. 

Community News

Year 7 2025 enrolments

All year 6 families should be actively involved in enrolling their child for year 7 in 2025 at high school. Important information sessions, enrolment interviews and tours are all taking place at our local high schools, and you don't want your child to be disadvantaged in their transition. 

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.