Principal's Message

RPS SPIRIT SHINES

With less than two weeks to go, we know that the uncertainty we are all facing as a country, state and community has placed a dark cloud over so many positive aspects of the year so far, but the resilience, optimism and spirit of our students, staff and families is constantly shining through.

We spent last Friday thinking about other communities who suffered far worse over the Christmas holidays. Thank you to our wonderful Year 5 Student Councillors together with Lenny N and Archie P in Year 3, who decided to hold a free dress day and raise funds for the CFA volunteers who played such a critical role during the bushfires in protecting large communities and wildlife. Students were able to raise $421. 

We loved the sea of colour that casual clothing brings, but more so witnessing the unique personalities and characters of our students. This was definitely a fun day for everyone including those students who took the opportunity to decorate their bikes and scooters and celebrate Ripponlea’s own RIDE 2 SCHOOL Day. A big shout out to our student leaders for organising all lunchtime activities and events of the day. 

SKATEBOARDING INCURSION

The day turned out to be a very unique experience for our Year 3 students. Did any of you ever imagine that on the grounds of RPS, our Year 3 students would be spending the day looking ever so cool? They looked so gnarly on their decks doing flips, ollies and going frontside!

MARIE CURIE STEAM PARTY - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

When Principal Helene Hiotis of Bentleigh Secondary College invited us to her school, we were so grateful for the opportunity to visit and inspire our Year 4 and Year 5 girls in all things STEAM.  The Marie Curie STEAM Party was in celebration of International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the achievements of women.

Our girls watched a play about women, participated in some hands-on science activities and played footy supported by AFLW. The IWD 2020 campaign theme was drawn from a notion of 'Collective Individualism'. We are all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, conversations, behaviours and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society. Collectively, we can make change happen. Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world.

WORKING BEE – THANK YOU

The list was endless and the weather was beautiful on the weekend. There was so many familiar faces and so much was achieved despite media reports and lots of conversations happening in our community about COVID-19. We deeply thank the following volunteers for coming to the school and lending a hand.

All this was made possible due to the hard work of our amazing volunteers:

• Weeding the Italian Garden and Productive Garden
• Fixing all the palings on the front fence  
• Re-filling the sandpit
• Sweeping, pruning and general clean up
• Vacuuming the synthetic oval
• Mowing the nature strip and back of the school
• Killing all the weeds in the playground

We ended the day with a lovely sausage sizzle lunch, treats for the kids and a satisfying feeling when looking around the whole school at what we had achieved. We thank Port Melbourne Bunnings activities coordinator Linda and Port Melbourne Bunnings who donated over $450 worth of supplies to support our working bee efforts.

WELLBEING SUPPORT

Sadly we were recently contacted by DBT in Schools that they can no longer assist our school with providing student counselling. The good news, however, is that we have reached out to OzChild, an organisation which specialises in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. Through OzChild's 'Shine Assist' programme, we can accommodate counselling on-site at Ripponlea for students who may be experiencing difficulties for a range of reasons. Their website https://www.ozchild.org.au/service/shine-assist/ may be of assistance to see if this service could be the right fit for your child. If you are interested in this service, please contact Jess Grey.

BULLYING – NO WAY CAMPAIGN LETS ALL TAKE ACTION TOGETHER - FRIDAY 20th MARCH

On Friday 20 March, our school will stand together against bullying and violence to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key anti-bullying event for schools. It is a positive day of action which strengthens our everyday message that bullying and violence have no place at Ripponlea Primary School. 

As a proud NDA school, we are encouraging all parents and carers to get involved. You are an important part of our work to prevent bullying and to respond effectively if it happens.  Stopping bullying involves everyone.

As a PBS school we have a range of strategies in place to address bullying, but misunderstandings about what bullying is and is not amongst our students and families can have detrimental impact on

students ability to talk about bullying and finding workable solutions to address it together.

Parents and carers are encouraged to visit the Bullying. No Way! website (www.bullyingnoway.gov.au)

 for advice and useful information

Here are some great article's and resources to use with your child/children in conversations.

For children under 8 great apps and videos: 

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/ForKids/Pages/Kids-under-8.aspx 

CONGRATULATIONS MS ABI WRIGHT

Little Miss Romy 

Born on March 1st at 2:20pm (just missing out on being a leap year baby)

Weighing a healthy 3.6kg.

Miss Abi, Will and Romy are home, happy and exhausted though totally besotted. 

PARENT PAYMENTS & FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Thank you to all the parents who’ve made payments and significant voluntary financial contributions to both the school’s building and library fund. Last year with the support of our community we were able to collect over 80% of our fees, which together with fundraising helped us to complete many large scale projects and we hope we can achieve to do the same this year.

As a small school every contribution helps to ensure our students have the quality education and resourcing that they fully deserve and an environment that they can learn, play and grow in such as well-resourced classrooms and lovely play spaces across the school.

Essential Education items are very important to the school and ensure that every student can receive their stationery requisites including student and class consumable that supplement our education programs. These are not fully funded by the Department of Education. Families who do not have an immediate capacity to pay are able to enter into an alternative and confidential payment arrangement with the school. Please contact Rachel Helyer to make these arrangements or speak to Natalie Rose.

As a result of the generosity of the building fund we have changed the worn carpet on the stairs leading to the mezzanine. This stairwell had presented potential slip hazards due to wear and tear. 

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS 2019 - HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR

This award is open to ACHPER members who are current practicing primary or secondary teachers in Victorian schools within ACHPER’s areas of focus. Winners have demonstrated excellence in relation to their professional knowledge, practice, innovation and engagement in the teaching of physical education, health education, and / or outdoor education.

Health and Physical Education Primary Teacher of the Year

Joanne Ritson | Ripponlea Primary School

Jo builds exceptional relationships and inspires motivation with all her students. She makes each lesson something students can reach at their own level and gradually builds their skills one step at a time. She has extensive knowledge of the Victorian Curriculum, embeds differentiation practices driven by unique formative and summative assessment practices which capture student agency and uses continuous data tracking and monitoring to inform her planning and teaching. Jo supports, guides, encourages and inspires her students to achieve their personal best whatever that may look like. The result is increased participation, skills, health and overall mental health and wellbeing.

SCHOOL COUNCIL - UPDATE

I would like to take this opportunity to update you on our nominated School Council members.

On Thursday 26th March we will hold our Annual General Meeting to elect specific positions on the council. We have one more position for a co-opted community member. One of the most important aspects we will be looking in a co-opted position is financial background to fill a treasurer’s role in the coming year. If any member of our community has this knowledge base and would like to join, please come and speak to either Natalie Rose or Michael Kent our current treasurer.

HARMONY WEEK AT RPS

Over the week we celebrated Harmony Week with activities organised by our student leaders. Harmony Day is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home - from the traditional owners of this land to those who have come from many countries around the world. By participating in Harmony Week activities, we can learn and understand how all Australians from diverse backgrounds equally belong to this nation and enrich it.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN THE INTEREST OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING

The following events have been cancelled:

1. Curriculum Information Evening & Welcome Picnic
2. House Athletics 
3. Friday's Assembly - 20th March 
4. House Cross Country 
5. Summer Round Robin Year 5/6

Until next week ... 

                                                    Natalie Rose                                        Jess Grey

                                                          Principal                                     Assistant Principal