2025 Edition 56 24.10.2025

Principal's Message - Mrs Meyrick

Day for Daniel

On Friday 31st October students are invited to wear a red shirt or a red hair accessory in memory of Daniel Morcombe and to raise child safety awareness.

There is no cost. This is not a free dress day. School shorts/skirts should still be worn and students not participating should be in full school uniform please. 

New Enrolments and Prep enrolments 2026

Our school is growing very quickly as the houses in our estates are completed and new families move it. It is very important for our current families ot assist us by completing Prep enrolments for 2026. This will help us form classes, ensure we have enough teachers to start the year and plan for our new prep cohort. 

Mrs Wuanita Meyrick| Principal (and Year 2)

Deputy Principal's Message - Ms Yager

Thank you to our community for sharing your thoughts in our recent Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) survey.

We recently sought feedback from parents across Years 1-6, staff, and students across Years 2-6, and we value the time you took to contribute.

Survey Highlights

• Parents: Most respondents would like to keep BYOD across Years 2–6, with strong recognition of how devices support learning.
• Teachers: Reported high confidence and positive impacts on student engagement and creativity.
• Students: Expressed strong enjoyment and described using devices for research, collaboration, and creative tasks.

Key Updates

• Device Choice in Upper Years: While BYOD will remain available from Years 2–6, the shift to a laptop in Years 5–6 is optional. Students may continue using their iPad through to the end of Year 6.
• Equity Support: Our school equity bank has grown. Families can apply once a year for a 6-month loan to ensure every student can participate.
• Information Access: We are updating our school website to include student-made videos that show how devices are used at each year level and provide clear guidance on screen time.
• Parent Sessions: In addition to our annual Term 4 information session, we will now offer BYOD sessions every term to better support new enrolments.

Your feedback helps us strengthen our approach and ensure technology use at Ripley Central remains purposeful, balanced, and inclusive.

Ms Petra Yager | Deputy Principal Year 3-6

Deputy Principal's Message - Mr Geeling

Over the past few months, Mrs Twiner and I have enjoyed visiting several of our local kindergartens, where we have had the pleasure of meeting and engaging with many of our future Prep students. During our visits, we shared stories, explored school uniforms, tried on school bags, practiced packing and unpacking lunchboxes, and spoke about all things Ripley Central. We look forward to welcoming our enrolled 2026 Prep students to our upcoming Koala Joeys transition program. Further information on these sessions can be found on our school website.

As we approach the end of the school year, current Prep families are encouraged to begin preparing for Year 1. All students in Years 1–6 are required to wear the formal uniform each Monday. The uniform shop is currently well stocked with smaller sizes, making now an ideal time to purchase items ahead of the new school year.

A reminder to Prep parents regarding drop-off and pick-up times: Prep students are to be dropped off at their classroom at 8:45am and collected from their classroom at 2:45pm. Our Prep students should not be dropped at the before-school supervision area. We appreciate your support in helping ensure our youngest students are safe and supervised.

Mr Alex Geeling |  Deputy Principal Year P-1

HOD Student Engagement - Ms Ashby

Getting Ready for High School

The move from primary to high school is a big milestone for our students and their families too. It’s an exciting time filled with new experiences, new teachers, and new routines, but it can also bring a few nerves along the way.

The Queensland Department of Education has created a helpful guide called Preparing your child for high school that’s full of practical tips to make the transition a little smoother. It includes ideas for building your child’s confidence, encouraging independence, getting organised for new routines, and supporting them if they start to feel a bit overwhelmed.

It’s a great read for any parent or carer wanting to help their child start high school feeling calm, capable, and ready for success.

Drum Corps Beat

Students are nailing fresh rhythms with call-and-response. They’re building teamwork, confidence, and persistence while having a heap of fun.

Beyond the beats, students are strengthening teamwork listening across the line, locking in the tempo, and encouraging each other through tricky passages. We’ve talked about persistence (keep counting!), being inclusive (every drummer matters), and celebrating small wins (that first clean accent line!). The result? Great rhythm, growing confidence, and lots of proud smiles.

Any questions or queries please contact Kirsten Ashby on HODSE@ripleycentralss.eq.edu.au 

Mrs Kirsten Ashby| HOD Student Engagement

Head of Department - Curriculum - Mrs Ward

Year 5 and 6 Market stall and the Ripley Markets

Our Year 5 and 6 learners have been busy stepping into the shoes of young entrepreneurs this term!

In HASS, students have been exploring what it takes to turn an idea into a real-world business – from dreaming up creative products to planning, budgeting, and marking smart decisions.

As part of their “crafting a business plan” project, each student has designed their own small business. They’ve considered target audiences, pricing, marketing, and sustainability – all while learning valuable life skills such as team work, problem-solving, and financial literacy.

It's almost time to bring those business dreams to life!

On Saturday the 8^th of November, our budding business owners will be setting up their stalls at the Ripley Markets for a special Market Day showcase. Students will have the chance to sell their handmade creations for value-added products to our community.

We’d love for you to come along, explore their stall, and support our EPIC students as they take on this challenge. This authentic learning experience is more than just a fun day out – it’s an opportunity for our students to develop confidence, communication, and creativity while discovering what it means to be part of a thriving local community.

So mark your calendars, bring your market bags, and get ready to shop local at the Ripley Markets with our EPIC entrepreneurs!

Mrs Tammy Ward  | HOD - Curriculum 

EPIC Lesson Spotlight: Bullying & What to do

What is bullying?
Over the next two weeks students will be exploring what bullying is and isn’t. Bullying is an ongoing, deliberate misuse of power through repeated behaviour that intends to cause harm. Single incidents, accidents, or one-off disagreements are not bullying. Bullying might involve one person or a group intending to use their power to hurt someone.

We will look at the four main types:

• Physical: hitting, pushing, damaging belongings
• Verbal: name-calling, threats, put-downs
• Social/Relational: excluding, rumours, whispering campaigns
• Cyber: nasty posts or messages, repeated online targeting

Being Polite and Careful helps us choose respectful words and safe actions, and being Empowered and Inclusive helps us speak up and include others.

Strategies to respond and report
Students will learn practical, age-appropriate strategies to stay safe and get help:

• Ignore & Exit: if safe, walk away and don’t fuel it.
• Use Your Words: calm, clear statements “Stop. That’s not OK.”
• Find a Safe Space/Person: move to a supervised area or sit near a trusted peer/adult.
• Report Early: tell a teacher or staff member; keep reporting if it continues.
• Be an EPIC Upstander: include others, invite them to play, and report what you see.

How families can help at home

• Practise calm “stop” statements and walking away.
• Role-play how to report to an adult (who, where, when).
• Reinforce that reporting is helping, not dobbing.
• Monitor online activity and set clear, kind communication rules.
• Ask daily: “Did you include someone today?” “Who showed EPIC behaviour?”

Together, we’ll use our EPIC approach—Empowered, Polite, Inclusive, Careful—to keep every learner safe and supported.

Colleagues who play sport together - Hockey Superstars!

Mrs Ellison and Mrs Wood before their grand final match. The grand final match was a battle. We really had our rivals rattled. It was a very close game, with no points scored until the last quarter when our opposition team scored against us. However, we were quick to retaliate with an amazing goal from our winger. With only minutes to go before the final buzzer Thistles were awarded a penalty stroke and were lucky to score a goal from it giving them the win.

Our team was very proud of how we played. It was our best game against them yet. We look forward to redeeming ourselves next season. 

HPE News

PE Reminder
This term, some classes will be participating in PE lessons outdoors. Please ensure your child brings and wears a hat for every lesson, as sun safety is a key priority. Sunscreen is available for students who wish to use it, but wearing a hat is essential for protection during outdoor activities.

Congratulations, Macy!
Macy recently competed at the State Swimming Titles, bringing home an impressive four medals! She will now represent at the National Championships next week in Victoria — an outstanding achievement. Best of luck, Macy! We’re all cheering for you.

AFL Auskick is Back!
AFL Auskick kicks off next Wednesday, 29th October, from 7:30am to 8:30am on the school oval. Families interested in having their child participate can find all the details on the flyer below. Entry will be via the Binnies Road car park, and registration can be completed by scanning the QR code on the flyer.

What is on in October?

Upcoming School Events

Community News

🎶✨ COUNTRY LINE DANCING CLASSES with ZARA! ✨🎶

🤠 Learn, Laugh & Line Dance! 💃

📅 Starting:

Wednesday, 29th October and 

Thursday, 30th October

📍 Ripley Central State School

🕠 Time: 5:30 - 6.30 PM

👢 Class: Ultra Beginner — absolutely perfect for first-timers!

🎵 No experience needed — just bring your smile and your dancing feet!

💫 Come for the fun, stay for the friendship and the music!

Limited Numbers! Bookings Essential.

Cosmic Country Line Dancing.

0410614445

Enrol now for Prep 2026

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.

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). This is our school's preferred method of reporting absences. 
* 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. This inconveniences you, and also increases our staff workload.  

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)