From the Principal's Desk
Welcome to Week 6, Term 3!
We have had another busy fortnight at Rocky River with auditions kicking off for our end of year Alice in Wonderland musical. As preparations for this magnificent performance are underway, the students are growing more and more excited about their characters of choice on the cast list!!
No hat? Play in the shade
As the weather warms up I would like to remind students about the importance of wearing hats when outside. This includes P.E. lessons, recess, lunch and any other outside-of-class activities. Without a hat, students must play in the shade. There will be no exception to this rule, to ensure we maintain a safe play environment for our students. Hats are available to purchase for $10 at the front office.
EV Submission
I was pleased to complete our External Validation submission last Tuesday which is the product of deep reflection and analysis of our school's operations, through the lens of the School Excellence Framework. Lots of work, from not only myself, but our entire teaching team has gone into this submission. In Week 7, I will participate in a panel discussion about our school which will inform future directions and next steps in our school planning process. This has been an invaluable opportunity for our staff to deeply explore how our school operates in all areas, and to consider how we can work towards excelling in the domains of learning, teaching and leading.
Check-in Assessment
This week, all students in Years 3-6 completed a reading and numeracy check-in assessment. In addition to this, Year 6 (only) will complete a writing assessment. This is an online assessment which all NSW Department of Education schools participate in. The check-in assessment is used to provide teachers with up-to-date data of a student's performance at a moment in time, to support data-driven teaching and learning in classrooms. Unlike NAPLAN, check-in assessments are not for the purpose of direct reporting to parents, and are utilised by the teachers to inform future teaching and support individualised learning goals for students.
Child Protection Lessons
This week marks National Child Protection Week and the beginning of Child Protection lessons in both the Lower and Upper Division classrooms at our school. It is mandatory to teach child protection education in every Stage of learning from Kindergarten to Year 10 as part of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) K-10 Syllabus.
This education aims to assist students in:
- developing skills in recognising and responding to unsafe situations
- seeking assistance effectively
- establishing and maintaining respectful and equal relationships
- strengthening attitudes and values related to equality, respect and responsibility.
Uralla Historical Society: Street Name Competition
I would like to commend all of our students who participated in the Street Name Competition, held by the Uralla Historical Society. Student entries were on display at McCrossin's Mill last week and a gathering was held on Saturday morning, announcing the winners. Congratulations to Naomi for receiving equal second place for her submission, and Henry and Harrison C who received a consolation prize for their efforts.
Tillbuster Wind Ensemble
On Saturday, Naomi, Phoebe, Anna, Henry and Harrison C, all took time out of their weekend to perform with the Tilbuster Wind Ensemble for residents of Ken Thompson Lodge in Armidale. Earlier last week, the group performed their first piece on Tuesday night at NECOM. We are so proud of the dedication of these students. Mr Hunt was present at both events and commended our students on their fantastic performances.
Opera Australia's La Boheme
Naomi was one of only 20 local Armidale children chosen to sing in the Childs Choras sections of the opera, held last week in front of a sold-out concert of 500 people at Lazenby Hall. After a couple of months of rehearsals this was an amazing experience for Naomi, singing with some of Australia’s best opera singers.
Naomi shared the following reflection with us after the event: "I'm happy that I got the chance to do this and meet amazing singers and perform with them."
Book Week Parade & Assembly
This Friday is our first Term 3 assembly where we will get to parade our book week costumes! Our Upper Division orchestra will also be presenting their first ever performance as a combined group for the audience! We look forward to seeing you all there at 2:15pm. Parents and carers are also welcome to dress as their favourite character if they so wish to do so!!
Meetings with staff
As we trudge through another busy term, I would like to remind parents that we value the opportunity to work together with you. If you need to meet with your child's teacher or myself regarding your child or a school-related matter (which is more than a quick touch-base), please contact the school to negotiate a suitable meeting time. This will ensure you are provided with the time and attention your matter requires.
Missing School
Every Day Matters for your child’s learning
Attending school every day allows your child to get the most out of their learning and improve their career and life options. This includes attending school on rainy days, sports carnivals, Fridays, birthdays and the list goes on. Regular school attendance can help expand your child’s learning and create positive relationships with their peers. It's important to support and encourage healthy daily routines which encourage your child's attendance such as a wind-down routine at night, and a reasonable bed time for the necessary rest children need.
If you require support in getting your child ready and motivated for school, please reach out to us. Read more about the benefits of regular attendance on the department website.
Enjoy the beautiful sunshine and stay safe.
Kindest regards,
Dani Clyde-Smith
Principal