Rocky River Public School Newsletter

Whole School Activities

Book Week Parade Assembly

Last Friday we held our belated Book Week Parade! It was exciting to dress up as our favourite characters and show off some dance moves in our costumes. The entire day was so much more exciting as students moved around in character. We love reading at Rocky River and enjoyed celebrating this special event with such festivities.

 

Congratulations to all of our merit certificate recipients for Term 3 accomplishments as well as our PSSA Zone high achievers who were recognised with ribbons and a medal. It was an honour to present these to students for their personal growth and achievements. Thank you to the large number of families and friends who attended the assembly. It was a joy to share our wonderful showcase of learning with the school community.

 

McMaugh Gardens Visit

Students from Rocky River have been visiting McMaugh Gardens to spend time with the residents there each term this year. For this visit, the Rocky River school band played a number of songs followed by a solo piano piece performed by Henry and to finish the Tilbuster Wind Ensemble played some upbeat pieces. Students and residents then shared morning tea together before spending some time catching up and learning more about each other. Our thanks to Paul Marshall from NECOM for making the special effort to support our students and to the staff of McMaugh Gardens for hosting us.

 

NERAM Visit

Rocky River students visited NERAM last Friday, where we enoyed seeing the Hinton collection and were guided through the works by Education Officer Anne Blair-Hickman. We enjoyed some custom colouring in on a template based on an artwork from the collection that they got to see in person later, and all students appreciated seeing the artworks on display.

 

Museum of Education Visit

After our visit to NERAM, we made the short walk to the neighboring Museum of Education where we got to see what schools were like in the past. The lack of windows and the dark nature of the rooms surprised some students - however the desks were suprisingly popular - though perhaps in small doses only. Our thanks to Graham Wilson for hosting us and for making our visit informative and enjoyable.

 

Sport

Recent sunny weather has been taken advantage of by our students, who have been getting out and about playing a variety of sports. Hula hoops, frisbees and soccer games have been enjoyed by the whole school which has been lovely to see.

 

Veggie Garden

We are continuing to see produce from our winter crops, with an oversize radish and some carrots being harvested last week. After being cleaned, these were sliced up and enjoyed straight away by students. At the start of next term we will replant for the summer and look forward to enjoying more fresh produce.

 

Visual Arts | Lego Printing

We were thrilled to welcome NERAM Education Officer Anne Blair-Hickman to our school for an engaging Lego printing art lesson. During the session, students explored key elements of art including shape, texture, colour, and pattern. They used their fine motor skills carefully to place small pieces of Lego onto the mats with precision, developing hand-eye coordination and dexterity.

 

The creative process began with students arranging the Lego pieces on the mats to create unique designs. Next, they painted over the Lego patterns using a painting roller, ensuring even coverage. Finally, they placed a sheet of coloured paper on top and pressed down to ‘stamp’ their Lego prints, revealing vibrant and textured artworks.

 

This hands-on activity not only encouraged artistic expression but also strengthened students’ fine motor abilities and understanding of artistic concepts in a fun and interactive way.

 

Stage 2 | English | Ned Kelly Expositions

Students have been engaged in a thought-provoking writing unit using the mentor text Ned Kelly and The Green Sash to explore the question: Is Ned Kelly a criminal or a hero? Through this unit, students have examined key textual concepts such as argument and authority, learning how to structure their writing to present a clear and persuasive exposition.

 

With a strong emphasis on using persuasive devices, students have developed their skills in convincing their audience by incorporating evidence directly from the mentor text. This focus on supporting their viewpoints with textual references has deepened their understanding of how to craft effective arguments and strengthened their analytical skills.

 

The activity has encouraged critical thinking and helped students appreciate multiple perspectives on historical figures, while honing their ability to communicate ideas confidently and convincingly.

 

 

Check-in Assessment

Last week, all students in Years 3 to 6 completed the New South Wales Department of Education’s Check-In Assessments. These assessments included both numeracy and reading components, which help guide teaching and learning by identifying areas of strength and where additional support may be needed, ensuring every student receives targeted assistance to achieve their best.

 

In addition, Year 6 students also participated in a writing assessment, allowing teachers to gather important information about their writing abilities and development. We used this assessment as an opportunity for students to immediately self-reflect and revise some simple spelling, grammar and punctuation rules which were easy to remedy for future pieces of writing.

 

Stage 3 | Podcasts

Stage 3 students have been creatively engaging with their focus English unit by producing podcasts that explore a topic of personal interest. This exciting project has allowed students to develop their speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills as they analyse and discuss a personal point of view.

 

Through the process of planning, scripting, and recording their podcasts, students have deepened their understanding of evidence-informed content, whilst practising effective communication and collaboration. The podcasts provide a platform for students to express their interpretations and connect with their audience in a meaningful way.

 

This innovative approach to learning not only enhances literacy skills but also fosters creativity and confidence, making the study of English both dynamic and relevant. 

 

Podcast files will be uploaded to the student's Teams class channel next term as files were too large to upload to the newsletter. Enjoy some of the snippets below taken from the visual film footage captured during the podcast recording.

 

Stage 3 | Premier's Debating Challenge

Our Year 5 and 6 students have enthusiastically embarked on the Premier’s Debating Challenge 2025. The journey began with dedicated training and learning sessions held at Armidale City Public School, where students developed essential debating skills such as constructing arguments, public speaking, active listening, and teamwork.

 

Armed with these skills, our students progressed into the competitive rounds of debating, confidently presenting their ideas and responding thoughtfully to opposing viewpoints. This experience is not only sharpening their critical thinking and communication abilities but also building their confidence and resilience as they argue, refute and communicate their point of view under pressure.

 

We are proud to see our students embracing this opportunity to engage in respectful dialogue and deepen their understanding of important issues. All Stage 3 participants were presented with their official certificates at a recent morning assembly. We look forward to their continued growth and success in future debating challenges.

 

CANBERRA | Stage 3 Student Camp

Our Stage 3 students are currently on an exciting excursion to Canberra. Although the bus trip was long, it was certainly worth the journey for the incredible learning opportunities ahead.

 

Our first stop was Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre, where students engaged with hands-on exhibits and interactive displays that sparked their curiosity and deepened their understanding of science concepts. The experience was both educational and entertaining, providing a fantastic start to the excursion.

 

We have since visited the following venues:

  • Museum of Australian Democracy (& Old Parliament House)
  • National Film & Sound Archive
  • Royal Australian Mint
  • Mount Ainslie Lookout
  • Australian War Memorial
  • Anzac Parade Exhibition
  • National Museum of Australia
  • National Zoo & Aquarium
  • Acton Ambulance and Fire Station
  • Parliament House
  • National Electoral Education Centre
  • National Portrait Gallery

  • National Arboretum

     

We travel back home tomorrow and look forward to using the holidays to reflect, rest and reset for the term ahead, with lots of post-excursion learning to happen in the classroom in the coming months.