From the Principal's Desk
Rocky River Public School
Welcome to Week 4, Term 4!
It has been a busy and exciting start to the term at Rocky River Public School! Construction around the school is well under way, our calendar is full of extracurricular events, and our classrooms are buzzing with hands-on, engaging learning. Last Friday we celebrated World Teachers’ Day, a chance to recognise the passion, care and hard work our teachers bring to their students every day. To our wonderful teachers: thank you for everything you do, both in the classroom and beyond. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our parents and P&C, who organised special tokens of appreciation for our staff. It was not expected but was truly appreciated, and it reflects the warm, supportive community we are so lucky to have.
The Thunderbolts Festival Street Parade
The Rocky River Disco Bus rolled into town for another successful street parade at the Uralla Thunderbolts Festival! Thank you to all the students, parents and staff who came along and put so much time and effort into preparing costumes and decorations. Everyone looked fabulous in their disco attire, and the energy and school spirit on display made us very proud. A big thank you also to our P&C for running the sausage sizzle, drinks and baked goods stall at Alma Park, and to everyone who stopped by to support it. All money raised goes directly towards giving our students the very best resources and experiences every day.
New England Sings!
What a magnificent performance! Ten of our students from both Lower and Upper Division took part in this year’s New England Sings! concert, joining schools from across the region on stage.
Their dedication was on show from the very beginning, through outreach rehearsals and the combined rehearsal at Lazenby Hall. At our final outreach rehearsal last Thursday, conductor Ian Jefferson commended our students on the quality of their performance, which was a wonderful acknowledgement of how hard they had worked.
On concert day, they sang with confidence, joy and real polish. Congratulations to all our performers, and thank you to the families who supported them along the way. Attending New England Sings is a huge comittment across the weekend, and I thank staff for offering their time to ensure our students could be involved in this special event.
School Rebuild - Project Update
- The project continues to progress well, with the structural steel now in place and roof installation scheduled to commence over the next two weeks.
- The project was originally scheduled for completion in time for Day 1, Term 1, 2027. However, recent wet weather has impacted the construction program, resulting in some small delays. Completion is now anticipated in the early stages of Term 1, 2027.
- The project team continues to work towards achieving the earliest possible completion date, while ensuring the works are delivered safely and to the required standard.
- Further updates will be provided as the construction program progresses by December 2026.
During this construction, NSW Education asks all staff, students and community members to follow the signage that will be located outside the temporary fencing.
The department can be contacted by phone on 1300 482 651 or by email schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au. Thank you for your cooperation during this important work.
P&C Meeting Location Change
To ensure the safety of all parents and students whilst our school rebuild is occuring, P&C meetings will be held offsite, including the upcoming AGM on Monday 23rd November 2026. The P&C will confirm the agreed location in Uralla, and this will be communicated in all regular communication channels to ensure all families are made aware of this change. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our community.
Congratulations, Finn!
A huge congratulations to Finn, who placed 6th in the State Championships in the Intermediate Pre-Junior Division of FreeG, held in Sydney over the weekend. Competing at state level is a remarkable achievement that takes dedication, hard work and plenty of courage. We are so proud of you, Finn!
Icy Pole Sales
It's that time of year again! Our Year 6 students will be selling icy poles each day after eating time at lunch. Icy poles (Berri Quelch Fruit Juice Icy Tubes) are $1 each, and all money raised will go towards the Year 6 gift to the school. It’s a great way to cool down on a warm day and support our senior students at the same time!
Aboriginal Mural: Final Community Consultation Meeting
We warmly invite all families and community members to our final community consultation meeting for the Aboriginal mural project on Monday 9th November at 4pm, at Rocky River Public School. Mima Dave will share the final mural design, which has taken shape through the ideas, stories and feedback shared at our earlier consultations. This is the last opportunity for community input before the design is finalised, so we encourage everyone to come along and share their thoughts. The mural will be a lasting and meaningful part of our school, celebrating the culture, Country and connections that make our community so special. We are grateful to Mima Dave for guiding this project with such care, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Kindergarten Transition - The Rocky River Rockets!
Our Kindergarten transition program for students starting in 2027 is off to a soaring start! Miss Burton is running hands-on activities with our Rocky River Rockets, who are learning new routines and growing more comfortable in our school space as they prepare to start next year. It has been a joy to see their confidence build each week. There is still room for more students, so if you know a family with a child starting school in 2027, please encourage them to contact the school office to find out more!
You can enrol your child online now: https://rockyriver-p.schools.nsw.gov.au
Our Next Assembly
Our next assembly is on this Friday, 6 November, from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. It will be our last regular assembly before Presentation Day, so it’s a lovely chance to come together as a school community. Students will be sharing their learning and we look forward to celebrating our merit ceritifcate recipients. Families and friends are warmly invited to join us, and we hope to see you there!
Save the Date: Presentation Day 2026
Our Presentation Day will be held at the Uralla Central School Hall, on Friday 11th December from
9am-11am (Week 9, Term 4). We will host Rocky River’s Got Talent from 11:30am-12:30pm. We hope you can be there for this special celebration of learning!
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.
Dani Clyde-Smith
Principal