From the Principal's Desk

Welcome to Week 9, Term 1!

Over the past fortnight, our students have engaged in a wide range of enriching learning experiences. High-quality lessons continue to take place in our classrooms, complemented by a variety of extracurricular activities that support the growth and development of every student.

Amidst these everyday achievements, the most significant event has undoubtedly been the demolition of the old school building. While this was not the original school structure (the charming little blue brick building that still proudly stands behind the old teacher’s house), the building taken down has served our community since 1942. It has been the backdrop for countless fond memories shared by generations of students and families connected to Rocky River.

As we say goodbye to this familiar landmark, we are excited to look forward to the future. The new brick and mortar building will provide state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure that truly reflect the quality learning environment we strive to deliver every day, giving us better facilities than we've ever had before. These modern spaces will ensure our students continue to thrive and be well catered for into the future.

We sincerely thank our community for their ongoing support throughout this process, and we deeply appreciate everyone who contributed by submitting entries to the parent design competition. Together, we are building a strong foundation for the next chapter of Rocky River.

Parent Teacher Interviews

On Monday 30th March (Week 10), we will hosting parent/teacher/student interviews to discuss personalised learning plans. Timeslots were opened and shared with parents through the School Bytes app, with K-2 students also having Tuesday afternoon timeslots to ensure enough space for all. Please have a look at the instructions Anne has provided via the app or call the school for assistance to book in for a meeting. We would love to see as many parents as possible to discuss Semester 1 learning goals for your child.

Next Assembly & Easter Hat Parade

Our next assembly will be next Wednesday (Week 10) at 2:15pm. This assembly will include our Easter Hat parade where students will wear and showcase their Easter Hats! Students are welcome to make something at home if they wish, however, we are making hats in class and do not expect families to spend any money on purchasing items for the hat parade. The P&C will run their annual Easter Egg hunt at the end of the assembly. We are looking forward to a fun afternoon celebrating with our students and school community.

Thank you to Annabelle and Alahna (our "Canva queens") for making the poster we have sent home to families this week.

Small Schools Cross Country

Next Thursday 2nd of April will be our Small Schools Cross Country Carnival. The carnival will be held at the Uralla Golf Course again this year. As always the UGC were very accommodating and have moved their competition start time to assist us to run this event - we are very grateful for this and thank the UGC for their ongoing support to our schools. We look forward to students competing and trying their best - they have trained all term for this event and we know it will be a wonderful day. Information will be sent to parents via School Bytes soon - the carnival will commence at 9:15am. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Preschool Buddy Reading Program

On Friday of Week 7, our wonderful Stage 3 leaders had the pleasure of visiting Uralla Preschool for their very first buddy reading session. This special initiative is a shining example of the strong community partnerships we cherish and nurture within our school. Bringing together our older students and the youngest learners in our community fosters a wonderful sense of connection and belonging.

It was heartwarming to witness our Stage 3 students engage with the preschoolers, sharing their love of reading and helping to build confidence in both groups. The joy and enthusiasm were palpable as stories were read aloud, smiles were shared, and new friendships blossomed. Our leaders returned with bright smiles and stories of their new little friends, who eagerly waved goodbye – a touching moment that speaks volumes about the positive impact of our buddy program.

This program not only encourages a lifelong passion for reading but also strengthens social skills, empathy, and community spirit among our students. We look forward to many more visits and shared learning experiences as we work with Uralla Preschool to make this a regular program in Term 2.

World Down Syndrome Day

Today we celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly coloured socks to school! We discussed the purpose of World Down Syndrome day and how raising awareness and funds supports people with Down Syndrome and the foundation. This year's theme is around inclusion, and how isolated people may feel with elements of this condition without the right people and support around them. We celebrated how inclusive and accepting everyone is at our school and how we have the privilege of truly celebrating everyone's individuality. We raised $30 for the Down Syndrome NSW Foundation today. 

Inclusive Sport Opportunities

We are pleased to share information regarding Representative School Sport Pathway for Students with Disability. This initiative provides fantastic opportunities for our students with disability to participate in competitive sport through multi-class events at various levels—from Zone carnivals right through to national championships.

The flyer below explains the Multi-Class classification process required to ensure fair and equitable competition and guides families through how to access eligibility information and application forms. We encourage parents and carers of students with disability who are interested in pursuing representative sport to read the flyer carefully and reach out for more information.

Our school is committed to fostering an inclusive sporting environment where every student can shine and enjoy the benefits of physical activity, teamwork, and community connection. Let’s celebrate and support all our students as they explore these exciting pathways in sport! If you have any questions about this pathway please contact myself or Anne and we can assist you.

ANZAC Day March - Saturday 25th April

As we approach ANZAC Day, our school is proud to encourage participation in the local commemorative events that honour the bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen and women. Please find below important details regarding the ANZAC Day march in Uralla, as provided in the recent letter from the RSL:

The main ANZAC Day march will begin forming up at 09:30am at Thunderbolt’s Statue on the corner of Bridge and Salisbury Streets, Uralla, flowing back up the hill towards the Anglican Church for a 10:00am start. Please look out for the markers on the road for your position in the parade. The route will be north along Bridge St, then left into Hill Street then right into Queen St with wreath laying at the Korean Memorial and the Vietnam Plaque before the main service conducted by our President, Russ French, commences at approximately 10:30am at the Alma Park Soldiers Memorial Gates.

We encourage students and families to join this meaningful community event and support our young people as they participate in or observe the ceremonies. It is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the profound contributions of those who have served our country. All students K-6 are welcome to march in full school uniform, and our Year 6 Leaders will lay a wreath on behalf of the school.

If your child will be involved in the march ANZAC activities, please ensure you are aware of the above time and location. Should you have any questions or require further information, feel free to contact the school.

Let us come together as a community to respectfully commemorate ANZAC Day

Building A Project Update

This coming Monday, NSW infrastructure will provide us with an update on the project. I will deliver this at the P&C Meeting which is also our AGM. I look forward to seeing many parents there if you can make it!

Gabi Gabun 2026 

The Gabi Gabun team are running play sessions at our school fortnightly on Wednesdays 10am-12pm, of odd weeks. We'd love to see more little ones ages 0-5, join in on the session. The resources from Gubi Gabun are wonderful, we encourage all to take up this enriching and FREE service to all!

THANK YOU to the Gubi team who left a card from the little ones to our school, yesterday. We are so lucky to be able to share our space with this service.

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/ 

Holidays

The last day of Term 1 is Thursday 2nd April. Staff will return on Monday 20th April and Tuesday 21st April for School Development Days (teachers only). We look forward to welcoming back all students on Wednesday 22nd April for another wonderful Term.

Kindest regards,

Dani Clyde-Smith

Principal