From the Principal's Desk
Welcome Back!
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2024. We will publish a newsletter using this online format every second Wednesday on even school weeks. This is Week 2. If you have anything you would like to include, such as community notices, please send the information through to Anne. We are always happy to promote events in our community.
Swimming Carnival This Friday
We will join with our Thunderbolt’s School Alliance for our swimming carnival this Friday. This will be held at the Monckton Aquatic Centre in Armidale. Please note, parents need to organise transport for their children to and from the event. Students can arrive from 9.30am and must be collected from 2.00-2.30pm.
Please ensure you have returned your child's permission note. Here is another one if you need one.
Please also find attached a copy of the program for the day:
The Zone PSSA Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 22nd February and the North West Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday 11th March, both at the Monckton Aquatic Centre, Armidale.
Welcome to Big School - Kindergarten 2024
Welcome to our five new students Mekenzie-May, Reagan, Mason, Waivou and Edwin to Big School! All 5 students commenced school today. We trust they all had a great day! Please see some photos in the Lower Division class report.
Thanks Izzy, Dean and Bec
Thank you to Izzy and her family for taking care of the school chickens over the summer break. We really appreciate your help.
NECOM Music Programs at Rocky River
We will once again have our regular class music programs in 2024. Mrs Jess Miller from the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM ) will be providing music lessons for both classes each Thursday, commencing next week. I also have secured us a place in a NECOM small schools orchestra program where we will invite students to learn an orchestral instrument and use these skills to form a Rocky River School Orchestra. This will commence on Friday 16th February.
Art Classes with Mrs Schaeffer
For term 1, Mrs Schaeffer will be providing art lessons for our students, in both classrooms, every second Wednesday commencing today. Mrs Schaeffer brings a wealth of experience and talent. Welcome back Mrs Schaeffer!
Return and Earn - Our P&C is Registered
Did you know that our school P&C is registered with the NSW Government's Return and Earn program? When you drop off your bottles, cans and plastic bottles to any recycling centre in NSW, you can elect to donate your funds to the Rocky River Public School P&C. There is a station outside the Uralla Bowling Club, however this can be done at any station in NSW if you are able to help.
Uralla Show Success
Students from Rocky River School continued to achieve amazing results at the Uralla Show last weekend. Our students entered a range of art works created last year, along with their own personal entries of cooking, lego, sewing etc. Please see just a few of the many entries on display last weekend. PS: Rocky River was awarded the Champion School - Again!
NAPLAN Dates for 2024
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards.
IN 2024, the NAPLAN assessments will commence on Wednesday 13th March and will conclude on Monday 25th March.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.
Once again, NAPLAN tests will be conducted online, except for the Year 3 writing task. If you have any questions regarding our participation in NAPLAN this year, please contact me at the school.
Safer Internet Day
Our students in Upper Division joined thousands of other students from across the nation on Tuesday in the E-Safety Commissioner's Safer Internet Day activities. The workshops were conducted online and were specifically designed for students in Years 3 and 4 or Years 5 and 6. I congratulate our students on their sensible approach to our discussions. I encourage you to speak with your child about the information they have learnt.
Calendar for Term 1
We published a Term 1 Calendar and attached it to last week's welcome back pack. Please find attached another copy if you need one.
Canteen
Our Canteen will commence operation again tomorrow and will be available for students every Thursday. Please ensure that orders are placed in a clearly marked bag with the correct money.
The menu is published in the P&C section of this newsletter and a copy has been sent home with students this week.
The P&C are in need of volunteers to help run the canteen so if you are able to spare an hour or so to assist on any Thursday please contact Erica on 0422 054 475.
New Department of Education Behaviour Policy
The NSW Department of Education's revised Student Behaviour Policy and new Suspension and Expulsion Procedures, came into effect at the start of Term 1 2024. The policy and procedures support an inclusive and safe learning environment for your child, staff and every child in NSW public schools.
With the revisions to the policy, we now have clarity and consistency of how we manage disruptive and challenging student behaviour in the classroom, so our teachers can teach, and our students can learn.
The guidelines allow us to work closer together with you to support your child to behave positively and respectfully and when developing individual plans with clear expectations, so they can achieve their best.
We have many practices in place to help our students engage respectfully with each other and their learning. You can find out more about these and advice and support strategies to help you work with their us to achieve positive outcomes for your child through the department’s Behaviour Support Toolkit.
Violence in our schools is never acceptable. Suspension is a critical safeguard for ensuring the safety of our students, teachers and staff.
The staff and I are reviewing our current approach in line with the revised policy and procedures and will share any changes we believe need to be made with you this term.
Parents and carers play an important role in the school community. We will continue to engage and communicate with you around our School Behaviour Support and Management Plan that outlines our school processes and practices moving forward.
Our school already takes a very strong, positive, student-centred approach, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with you and all our families to maintaining a safe learning environment so our students can thrive.
If you have any questions about the revised policy and procedures, please contact me at the school.
Have a great fortnight!
Brad Hunt
Principal