Principal Team Message

LEARNING DECK UPDATE

We have all been waiting patiently and have finally received news from the VSBA that administering our 'Inclusive School' fund project  (learning/play deck) will be Bush Projects (specialists in landscape architecture).

Next week the project team will be on-site for a walkthrough and we should have some ideas on when the works begin.

CROSS COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS

2023 RIPPONLEA PS HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY OVERALL COMBINED RESULTS F-6

We were blessed with a beautiful Autumn day for our House Cross County event at Caulfield Grammar last Thursday. Our Foundation students did themselves proud at the first big sporting event of their school life, with everyone giving it a go and completing a lap with their Buddy. It was wonderful to see all students looking after each other and encouraging their peers, following school expectations, and caring for the grounds that had been lent to us for the day. 

A big shout out to all students who placed within the top four runners adding significant points to their house and contributing to the overall results of the 2023 RPS House Cross Country Carnival. 

• Bemin – Ring-tailed possum (formerly Furneaux) pronounced Bem - in
• Warren–Wombat (formerly Orrong) pronounced Wa – reen
• Booring – Bandicoot (formerly Loch) pronounced Boo – ring
• Tunparrim – Lizard (formerly Carrington) pronounced Tun- parrum

Foundation 

Year 1

Year 2

9/10-Year-Olds

11 Year-Olds

12/13- Year-Olds

We have 38 finalists across the school competing in different age groups at Balaclava District Cross Country Carnival today. Best of luck to all! 

EDUCATION SUPPORT WEEK

This week we acknowledge our wonderful Education Support Team. Every day these important staff members keep our school running efficiently, and support our students to learn and our teachers to teach. The focus of ESP Day yesterday was to let them know how much they are appreciated, highlight the value of their work and ensure they feel gratitude from all members of our community. 

In our office, Jac and Kate are always on hand with friendly smiles and are very helpful to all families and visitors. Their roles are endless and without their commitment, positivity, and hard work we would be at a loss.

We then take the time to appreciate the care and support our integration aides provide to so many students across the school. Josie, Natalie, Mark , Janine, Fiona, Rachel and Emily are so nurturing and genuinely strive to ensure every student can meet their goals in the classroom, out in the playground socially or in our special literacy intervention program. 

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL DAY - MONDAY 5th JUNE

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June.

These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

27 May 1967 On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.

3 June 1992  On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our whole school Indigenous Cultural Day is the perfect introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Students will develop an understanding of the rich and ancient traditions of Australia’s first inhabitants. This highly interactive program enables students to explore different cultural aspects including Dance and Digeridoo, Symbolic Art, Indigenous artefacts and storytelling. 

Families have received notification of this event via COMPAS. This program was included as a part of the 2023 Financial Contributions. Please contact Kate Crawford for any queries regarding this payment. 

 NAPLAN UPDATES & REFORMS

There are some important updates to the way NAPLAN results will be reported this year. On Friday 10 February, Education Ministers agreed to proceed with a set of reforms for NAPLAN 2023. These include resetting the NAPLAN scale and time series to align with the completion of the online transition in 2022, and to improve the accuracy of results. 

In addition, a set of four achievement levels (proficiency standards) will be introduced to replace the existing 10 bands and the National Minimum Standard used for NAPLAN reporting between 2008 and 2022. 

This change will provide schools, parents, and carers with clearer information that details student achievement against new proficiency standards. The standards for NAPLAN 2023 and for all testing moving forward are as follows: 

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support. 

These standards will represent a challenging but reasonable expectation of what students at each year level know and can do at the time of NAPLAN testing.   

Why are proficiency standards being introduced?

Ministers agreed in 2019 through the National School Reform Agreement to introduce proficiency standards for NAPLAN. With the transition to online testing completed last year, it is now possible to proceed with implementing these reporting changes. 

From 2023, NAPLAN reports will more accurately reflect the personalised (adaptive) online tests that students undertake, and will facilitate the provision of timely, more precise reporting on the foundational skills of literacy and numeracy.

The new standards will provide simple and clear information for parents and carers about whether their child is where they need to be in relation to the development of their literacy and numeracy skills, and if not, they will indicate to the school that interventions and learning supports may need to be put in place for those students who may be at risk of falling behind. 

The new standards and reporting design were developed with input from all education authorities and sectors, as well as parents, through independent focus groups and national peak parent organisations. 

How will NAPLAN results be provided to students, parents, and carers?

Hard copies of student reports will continue to be distributed to all students who completed the NAPLAN 2023 tests. The individual reports will incorporate the four new proficiency standards, along with instructions for how to interpret the new achievement scale and student performance. The report will continue to show the national average and the range of achievement for the middle 60 per cent of students in their year level, allowing comparison of a child’s achievement against these measures.

When are NAPLAN results expected to be released?

In Victoria, NAPLAN 2023 school and individual student results are expected to be released by mid-late July 2023. 

STUDENT VOICE - ATTITUDES TO SCHOOL SURVEY YEARS 4-6

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, well-being and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of their school. 

The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experiences of school. 

Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general. 

This year, the AtoSS will be conducted at our school from Monday 22nd May to Monday 6th June. 

The benefit is our young people enjoy having a say! This survey has been running for nearly 20 years and is invaluable in helping schools understand student views to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. The survey responses also help the Department of Education understand how student’s learning experiences can be improved.

PREMIERS' READING CHALLENGE - RIPPERS LET'S GET READING

Message from the Premier

I’m pleased to let you know that the 2023 Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge has started. The Premiers’ Reading Challenge will take you on a journey where you can discover new people, places, and things in every story. Let your imagination run wild as you pick up each book; you’ll also gain important literacy skills and knowledge. This year, while you take part in the Challenge, I encourage you to challenge yourself. Read a book you wouldn’t normally read and, you never know, it might be your new favourite. Once you get started on the Challenge, you’ll be as wild about reading as I am. Don’t forget to tell your friends about your favourite books too!

The Hon Dan Andrews MP Premier of Victoria

Students from Foundation to Year 2 are challenged to read or experience 30 books. For students from Year 3 to Year 10, the challenge is to read 15 books. There are thousands of books for your child to choose from on the Premiers’ Reading Challenge book list, to suit their interests. There are also many ways that children of all abilities can participate in the Challenge. 

Mrs Rose can register your child through the school or you can set up an account at home. 

Until next fortnight.........

Natalie Rose             &                        Marta Campbell 

             Principal                                    Acting  Assistant Principal