From the Principal's Desk
Welcome to Week 3, Term 3
We have started Term 3 strong; with high attendance, engagement and positive behaviour across all learning spaces! I spent some time last week at the School Leadership Institute's Principal Induction Conference, held at the NSW Department of Education Head Office in Parramatta. I felt very privileged to be in the room with Murat Dizdar; Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, and the Hon. Prue Carr; Minister for Education and Early Learning, as well as many newly appointed principals across the state. Murat and the Hon. Prue Carr both shared their passion for public education and the significance of equity and excellence to ensure every student learns, grows, and belongs. I had the chance to share the wonderful work we are doing at Rocky River with new principal colleagues and am reinvigorated to continue striving for excellence in our beautiful school.
Public Education Week Awards
Each year schools are invited to present three awards to members of our school community for their hard work and commitment towards achieving excellence in public Education. At a special presentation on Tuesday, held at Sandon Public School, I was pleased to announce the following award winners:
Outstanding Staff Member - Leah Miller
Outstanding Student - Ivory Nathan
Outstanding Community Member - Mima Dave Widders
I look forward to receiving the official photography taken on the day to share more broadly across our community.
Annual Travel Mode Survey
Rocky River Public School has been selected for the second round of the annual travel mode survey, which collects data on how staff and students travel to and from school. The purpose of this survey is to inform department infrastructure projects and transport strategies and services.
The survey does not identify individual students or staff, and information will be managed in accordance with departmental privacy requirements.
The survey will be conducted between 17th and 28th of August.
More information is available via the link below.
NCCD
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) takes place every year. The NCCD is a collection that counts:
• the number of school students receiving an adjustment or ‘help’ due to disability
• the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.
Students are counted in the NCCD if they receive ongoing adjustments at school due to disability. This ‘help’ allows them to access education on the same basis as a child without disability. The NCCD uses the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. This is an annual process all schools complete. Please see the attached letter for more information.
Personalised Learning Plans
Over the next fortnight, teachers will be sending home a copy of each student's Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) for Semester 2, 2026. Plans have been co-constructed with students, with English and Mathematics goals informed by the Semester 1 2026 reports, and student input driving their own personal goals for the remainder of the year. We encourage parents to read through their child's plan with them at home, to help understand areas of focus for the semester. Returning a signed copy of the plan will allow us to keep this in your child's learning portfolio, use it as a point of reference for student learning reflection throughout the semester, and confirm that you have had the chance to see their plan. We thank all parents for their time and interest in their child's learning, and look forward to a successful semester of learning ahead!
Counsellor Allocation Change
A recent change in our school counselling staffing has meant we have farewelled the wonderful Doug Watts who worked with many of our students this year. Doug's proactive approach and friendly demeanor will be missed onsite every second Monday! We now have David Lawrence supporting assessments required for students through referral via correspondence on a needs basis. This shift in counselling support means we will draw on external providers where possible, and advocate to ensure the work we need for our students is being done to the expected standard. Thank you for your support with this unexpected change.
Next Assembly - Week 4 Friday 14th August
Our students attended NAIDOC Week celebrations at Uralla Central School in Week 11, Term 2. With permission, Miss Miller taught all students the choreography to Taba Naba which was learnt at the Aboriginal Dance Workshop in Glen Innes and we were invited to present this at Uralla Central’s assembly. This item will be performed at our regular school assembly on Friday of Week 4 (14th August 2026) at 2pm, for the Rocky River School Community to see and enjoy, alongside many other exciting showcases of learning. We look forward to seeing you there!
Book Week Dress Up
This years Book Week Dress up parade will occur at our second assembly of Term 3, in Week 9. This will ensure warmer weather and the potential to hold this in conjunction with hosting the Diggings RFS Get Ready Weekend, as we did last year. We look forward to seeing everyone's exciting costumes!
2026 NRL & NRLW Grand Final Raffle
Here's your chance to win 2 tickets to the 2026 NRL & NRLW Grand Final while supporting the Rocky River School P&C's fundraising for our new school playground.
A huge thank you to Brendan Moylan MP and the NRL for generously donating this fantastic prize, and to Peta Swilks for organising it.
Prize
- 2 x tickets to the 2026 NRL & NRLW Grand Final
Sunday, 4 October 2026
Ticket prices
- 1 ticket – $10
- 3 tickets – $25
10 tickets – $70
The more tickets you buy, the better your value and your chances of winning!
Tickets are available online through RaffleLink.
Raffle details
- Ticket sales close at 10:00 am on Friday, 4 September 2026.
The raffle will be drawn at 2:00 pm on Friday, 4 September 2026 at Rocky River School.
The draw will be conducted by school staff with student representatives assisting. To ensure the draw is fair and transparent, it will be filmed and shared on our school Facebook page. All funds raised will go towards our new school playground, which will be built once our new school building project is complete. Thank you for supporting the Rocky River school community. Every ticket purchased helps us create an exciting new play space for our students. Good luck, and thank you for your support - please check the P&C section of this newsletter for information on how to enter!
P&C Pie Drive Order Pick Up
Our wonderful P&C Pie Drive fundraiser orders will be ready for pick up at Rocky River Public School tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 3pm-4pm). If you can please bring a bag with you to carry your order in, especially for larger orders, this would be appreciated! We will have some spare bags available on the day. Thank you for your support and enjoy your pies!
Building Project Update
An official project update was published and shared via our communication channels in June. I am attending monthly meetings with NSW Infrastructure Project Manager Peter Richardson and the contracting team. All progress is going to schedule at this point in time. When the next set of communications are received, I will share with the community.
The department can be contacted by phone on 1300 482 651 or by email schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au
New School Fencing Upgrade
I am pleased to announce that we have been successful in our endeavor to secure a boundary fence upgrade, to complement the new school build, ensuring safety and security for all students. Whilst the works were not yet scheduled to commence, some early activity has started. The back and side perimeter fencing of the school will be upgraded from farm fencing to current standard safety fencing, with the duration of the upgrade expected to take approximately two weeks.
In early 2027, when the new school building is established, the final phase of the upgrade will go ahead, when the front fence is to be completed. The front fence design will thoughtfully welcome members of the public to our front office, rather than restricting access to our school. This is a really exciting upgrade for Rocky River Public School, and I am very proud to welcome this infrastructure upgrade during a time where thought and consideration into the physical environment can be actioned, to better support the safety and learning needs of our students for decades to come.
GABC Excursion
Thank you to the generous Rocky River P&C for agreeing to support $100 financial contribution per student to reduce the cost of the GABC in Week 8 this term. With the school also financially supporting $100 per students, the final cost comes down to $275 for parents. Final payment for the excursion is due 28th August. Information has gone out on School Bytes and students received an information booklet about camp today. We look forward to this exciting experience together.
Rocky River Aboriginal Mural
We are beyond thrilled to invite all community members to our next consultation meeting for the Aboriginal mural design to be displayed at the front of the new school building. Mima Dave Widders and his daughter Narmi are currently working on the artwork, incorporating themes and ideas from our initial community consultation meeting held in Term 1. We are looking forward to Mima Dave presenting the design on Monday of Week 7, 31st August 2026 at 4pm (before the P&C meeting at 5pm). We will host the gathering in the bottom classroom again, and look forward to welcoming members of the Uralla AECG, senior Anaiwan elders and Anaiwan community peoples as well as interested students and parents.
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 this 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/
Dani Clyde-Smith
Principal