From the Principal's Desk

Welcome to Week 10, Term 2!

As we move into our final fortnight of the term, we reflect on the wonderful work and achievements of all students across our school. Thank you to all families for your unwavering support for our staff in enriching the lives of your children each and every day whilst on their learning journey at Rocky River. We are sad to farewell Jayde and Xavier who will be moving to another school next term, but are very grateful to have enjoyed this semester creating friendships and getting to know both students which we will always cherish. Best of luck to both students and thank you to Jayde who will still be representing Rocky River at the UNESAP Let's Hang It! art exhibition at NERAM on Friday 24th July (Week 1, Term 3). Check out the latest edition of the Uralla Wordsworth to read a full article on Jayde's artwork! 

Chanse’s Dance Workshop Experience

Chanse had the exciting opportunity to participate in a prestigious 4-day dance workshop hosted by The Arts Unit of the NSW Department of Education at Armidale Secondary College. Aimed for students from Years 5 to 12, the workshop enables regional and rural students to connect, collaborate, and learn from professional dancers and choreographers. Chanse shone as part of both the New England intermediate and junior dance ensembles, impressing instructors with his natural talent and dedication. We commend Chanse for embracing this extracurricular challenge with enthusiasm and thank Miss Miller for facilitating his involvement. Well done, Chanse! Be sure to check out his own report of his experience published in the Whole School Activities section of this Newsletter.

Beautifying Our School with Helen’s Flower Pots

Helen Hine is spearheading a wonderful initiative to enhance our school’s appearance with plants that can be easily transferred to the new building once ready. She is seeking donations of approximately six large, sturdy pots to plant small trees or flowers at key school entry points including the end of the white pathway, the COLA, and the office entry. If you have any suitable pots to donate, your support would be greatly appreciated. Helen plans to involve interested students in caring for the plants, fostering community spirit and responsibility for our school environment.

New Building Progress Update

We have received an encouraging update from NSW Infrastructure about the progress of our new building. The construction team hopes to complete the project by the end of this year, weather permitting. We share the excitement about this development and look forward to a detailed progress report following the upcoming monthly review meeting with the project manager and contractors. In the meantime, we ask everyone to remain cautious around the site, especially near large vehicles that often park across the school grounds to optimise space.

The department can be contacted by phone on 1300 482 651 or by email schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au

Curriculum Policy Monitoring (CPM) 

On Monday 22nd June, Miss Miller and I participated in the CPM meeting process at the Armidale Education Office. This meeting welcomed us, in collaboration with Woolbrook Public School, to share evidence and reflections on the implementation of the HSIE Syllabus across our unique, small school settings. Mr Hobbs (Director of Educational Leadership, Armidale Network) attended, and alongside the panel, provided us with encouraging feedback around the curriculum delivery at Rocky River, and the hard work and attention to detail which is applied in planning for the individual needs of all of our students, each and every day. It was an excellent opportunity for professional discourse and reflection within the school excellence cycle, as we continue to refine and enhance our teaching and learning programs on the path for continuous improvement. 

NAIDOC Day Celebration at Uralla Central School

We are pleased to join Uralla Central School in hosting a NAIDOC Day celebration on the last Wednesday of this term. Along with the Thunderbolt Alliance of small schools and Chandler Public School, we will come together to honour this year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly.” This event promises to be a meaningful day of cultural celebration, and we look forward to participating with students and staff. Please remember, drop off and pick up will be at Uralla Central School, with full supervision provided by Rocky River staff from 8:30am until 3:30pm. Please ensure you have read the information note sent out on SchoolBytes to understand arrangements for the day, as there will be no staff at Rocky River this day.

100 Days of School Celebration

On Friday, 24th July (the first Friday of Term 3) we will celebrate the milestone of 100 days of school for 2026. To celebrate, all students are encouraged to dress up as an “older person,” symbolising the knowledge and growth acquired since the year began. It will be a fun and memorable day recognising the progress each student has made so far this year. Of course, students can attend in regular mufti if they prefer, as this is an out of uniform day. 

New England Sings Participation

We are excited to announce that Rocky River will once again take part in New England Sings, an event held biennially and organised by NECOM. This mass choir concert in early Term 4 offers our students in Years K-6 a wonderful opportunity to perform together. Students will prepare through weekly music sessions with Jess and two outreach visits by conductors next term. Participation in the concert on Saturday, 1st November, is optional, but all students will benefit from the vibrant musical experience. We are proud we be involved in this wonderful program again this year! 

Semester One Reports

Student Semester One reports (Term 1 and 2) will be ready by Week 11. We are aiming to share these with families electronically on Monday 29th June via School Bytes, as done so previously. The reports provide an overview of your child's progress throughout the semester and insights into their next steps in learning. We look forward to sharing these reports with you at the end of the term. 

School Rules and Student Code of Conduct

Finally, we would like to acknowledge the fantastic effort shown by our students in understanding and embracing our three school rules and code of conduct. Our focus has been on unpacking what it means to be respectful and considerate members of our community. Congratulations to all students for demonstrating these important values every day.

Gabi Gabun Play Sessions

We love seeing little ones aged 0-5 attending the Gabi Gabun service at our school. Sessions are held on even weeks next term on Wednesdays between 10am-12pm. The resources from Gubi Gabun are wonderful, we encourage all to take up this enriching and FREE service to all! Please spread the word to ensure everyone can make the most of this fantastic offering!

Attendance

Please ensure your child's absences reasons are logged with the school. It is important that this communication comes through to the school via the correct channels:

• Absence submission through the School Bytes app (preferred method)
• Phone call to the school office: (02) 6778 4122
• Email to the school email address: rockyriver-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au 

Extended leave

Please remember to complete the extended leave or travel form if you are planning to take your children on holidays during the school terms. This must be completed prior to the planned travel.

Enrolling Now for 2027

We are enrolling now for our 2027 Kindergarten intake. Please contact the school office to chat with Anne or myself or visit our website to complete an online enrolment application https://rockyriver-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ 

Kindest regards,

Dani Clyde-Smith

Principal