Student Leadership

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - STUDENT LEADERSHIP EVENTS - TERM 2

One of the most exciting developments this term has been watching leadership opportunities continue to grow across all year levels at Ripponlea Primary School. Our student leaders have been working alongside their teacher mentors to help promote student voice and leadership opportunities within the junior school.

Over recent weeks, our senior leaders have been helping organise and promote the upcoming Junior SRC and Junior Sustainability Leader voting process. Students have been visiting classes, speaking with younger students about leadership opportunities and encouraging students to put themselves forward to represent their peers and contribute positively to our school community.

This process has already generated enormous excitement amongst our younger students, with many eager to become involved in helping shape school initiatives, support sustainability projects and share ideas that matter to them. These opportunities are an important part of building confidence, responsibility and leadership capacity from an early age.

Since returning from the Year 5/6 Canberra Study Tour, our Student Wellbeing Leaders, House Captains, SRC representatives and Sustainability Leaders have quickly returned to planning an exciting Term 2 calendar of events. Meetings and planning sessions are already in full swing, with students enthusiastically developing activities and initiatives designed to strengthen connection, engagement and school spirit across the community.

Our student leaders would like families to keep an eye out for upcoming events and opportunities throughout the term. They are passionate about ensuring all Rippers feel included, engaged and connected through a variety of wellbeing, sustainability, house and community-focused activities.

We are incredibly proud of the initiative, enthusiasm and sense of responsibility our student leaders continue to demonstrate. Their willingness to contribute to school life and encourage others to become involved reflects the strong community spirit we value so highly at Ripponlea Primary School.

Student Wellbeing Team

Date	Event	Activity
Friday 22 May	IDAHOBIT Day Recognise International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia, an important day that promotes inclusion, respect, belonging and acceptance for all people. IDAHOBIT Day reminds us of the importance of creating safe communities where every person feels valued, respected and able to be themselves. At Ripponlea Primary School, this aligns strongly with our school values and our ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of kindness, inclusion and respect for diversity.	To help celebrate this important day, our Student Wellbeing Team is inviting students to come dressed in rainbow colours or add a small “touch of rainbow” to their school uniform. This might include colourful socks, ribbons, hair accessories, badges or other rainbow-inspired items. Participation is completely optional, but we hope students enjoy the opportunity to show support for inclusion, kindness and belonging within our community.
Monday 22 June	This special day is all about encouraging every student to be proud of who they are to celebrate their strengths, personality, interests, talents and individuality. At Ripponlea, we want every Ripper to know that they are valued for being themselves and that our differences help make our community strong, creative and connected. The message behind Be Yourself Day is simple: Be true to yourself. Love the person you are. Celebrate your strengths, character, interests and talents because no one can dull your bright light. Students are encouraged to express themselves in positive and creative ways, whether through conversations, classroom activities, art, writing or sharing the things they are passionate about. The day will focus on confidence, belonging, kindness and self-acceptance, while also encouraging students to appreciate and celebrate the uniqueness of others. Our Student Wellbeing Leaders have been passionate about developing this initiative because they want all students to feel safe, included and proud of who they are both inside and outside the classroom. More information about Be Yourself Day activities and celebrations will be shared with families soon.	Our Student Wellbeing Leaders have been passionate about developing this initiative because they want all students to feel safe, included and proud of who they are both inside and outside the classroom. More information about Be Yourself Day activities and celebrations will be shared with families soon.

Date

Event

Activity

Friday 22 May

IDAHOBIT Day

Recognise International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia, an important day that promotes inclusion, respect, belonging and acceptance for all people.

IDAHOBIT Day reminds us of the importance of creating safe communities where every person feels valued, respected and able to be themselves.

At Ripponlea Primary School, this aligns strongly with our school values and our ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of kindness, inclusion and respect for diversity.

To help celebrate this important day, our Student Wellbeing Team is inviting students to come dressed in rainbow colours or add a small “touch of rainbow” to their school uniform.

This might include colourful socks, ribbons, hair accessories, badges or other rainbow-inspired items.

Participation is completely optional, but we hope students enjoy the opportunity to show support for inclusion, kindness and belonging within our community.

Monday 22 June

This special day is all about encouraging every student to be proud of who they are to celebrate their strengths, personality, interests, talents and individuality. At Ripponlea, we want every Ripper to know that they are valued for being themselves and that our differences help make our community strong, creative and connected.

The message behind Be Yourself Day is simple:

Be true to yourself. Love the person you are. Celebrate your strengths, character, interests and talents because no one can dull your bright light.

Students are encouraged to express themselves in positive and creative ways, whether through conversations, classroom activities, art, writing or sharing the things they are passionate about. The day will focus on confidence, belonging, kindness and self-acceptance, while also encouraging students to appreciate and celebrate the uniqueness of others.

Our Student Wellbeing Leaders have been passionate about developing this initiative because they want all students to feel safe, included and proud of who they are both inside and outside the classroom.

More information about Be Yourself Day activities and celebrations will be shared with families soon.

House Captains

Date	Event	Activity
Friday 15 May	Active Paths Project Launch We are incredibly excited to officially launch our new Active Paths initiative on Friday 15th May. Active Paths are for safe, fun and community-focused walking and riding routes designed to encourage students and families to actively travel to school. The project has been developed through a wonderful partnership between our student leaders, staff, local council and Bicycle Network, with students playing an important role in helping identify routes that are safe, accessible and enjoyable for families. You may have already noticed some of the colourful ActivePaths markings appearing around the school, including near the Foundation gates and basketball entrance. These visual markers help guide students and families along the recommended routes while also promoting road safety, physical activity and community connection. To celebrate the launch, school staff and representatives from Bicycle Network will lead students and families along each of the four ActivePaths routes on the morning of Friday 15th May.	Families are invited to join the walking or riding group of their choice, with all groups meeting at their designated starting point at 8:10am and departing promptly at 8:15am to travel together to school. This initiative is about much more than simply getting to school. Active travel helps students arrive feeling energised, connected and ready for learning, while also supporting wellbeing, independence and environmental sustainability. We look forward to seeing many of our Rippers walking, riding and travelling together as part of this exciting new initiative. We also have a special assmebly presentation.

Date

Event

Activity

Friday 15 May

Active Paths Project Launch

We are incredibly excited to officially launch our new Active Paths initiative on Friday 15th May.

Active Paths are for safe, fun and community-focused walking and riding routes designed to encourage students and families to actively travel to school. The project has been developed through a wonderful partnership between our student leaders, staff, local council and Bicycle Network, with students playing an important role in helping identify routes that are safe, accessible and enjoyable for families.

You may have already noticed some of the colourful ActivePaths markings appearing around the school, including near the Foundation gates and basketball entrance. These visual markers help guide students and families along the recommended routes while also promoting road safety, physical activity and community connection.

To celebrate the launch, school staff and representatives from Bicycle Network will lead students and families along each of the four ActivePaths routes on the morning of Friday 15th May.

Families are invited to join the walking or riding group of their choice, with all groups meeting at their designated starting point at 8:10am and departing promptly at 8:15am to travel together to school.

This initiative is about much more than simply getting to school. Active travel helps students arrive feeling energised, connected and ready for learning, while also supporting wellbeing, independence and environmental sustainability.

We look forward to seeing many of our Rippers walking, riding and travelling together as part of this exciting new initiative.

We also have a special assmebly presentation.

Student Representative Council

Date	Event	Activity
	Our SRC Team has been busy planning a fun-filled Pyjama Day for students, along with a very special Book Sale that we know many students and families will be excited about. While final details and dates are still being confirmed, we wanted to give families an early sneak peek so everyone can stay tuned for further announcements over the coming weeks. These events are being organised to help build community connection, student engagement and a love of reading across the school while also creating some extra fun during the term. Keep an eye on Compass and future newsletters for official dates, details and ways to get involved. Our student leaders cannot wait to share more with you soon!

Date

Event

Activity

Our SRC Team has been busy planning a fun-filled Pyjama Day for students, along with a very special Book Sale that we know many students and families will be excited about.

While final details and dates are still being confirmed, we wanted to give families an early sneak peek so everyone can stay tuned for further announcements over the coming weeks.

These events are being organised to help build community connection, student engagement and a love of reading across the school while also creating some extra fun during the term.

Keep an eye on Compass and future newsletters for official dates, details and ways to get involved. Our student leaders cannot wait to share more with you soon!

Student Sustainability Team

Date

Event

Activity

Friday 5 June

World Environment Day

As part of our continued commitment to sustainability and caring for our environment, Ripponlea Primary School is excited to celebrate World Environment Day this term.

Our Sustainability Leaders and students have already started preparing for a large community planting day across our school gardens and outdoor spaces. Students are eager to help revitalise garden areas, plant new greenery and continue building beautiful outdoor environments that support biodiversity, learning and wellbeing throughout the school.

The planting day will provide students with a hands-on opportunity to connect with nature, learn about environmental responsibility and contribute positively to the school grounds they enjoy every day. More details, dates and ways families may be able to support will be shared soon so stay tuned!

There is also excitement building around another much-loved Ripponlea tradition the harvesting of our school olives. Students will soon have the opportunity to help collect olives from our trees and learn more about sustainable food production and the journey from garden to table.

These experiences are an important part of helping students develop environmental awareness, responsibility and pride in caring for their school and community. We cannot wait to share more of these exciting sustainability initiatives with our families throughout the term.