Things To 

Know

COMPASS PERMISSIONS & PAYMENT FOR EVENTS REMINDER

At our school, we understand the importance of offering a diverse range of learning experiences that go beyond the standard curriculum. 

To ensure the highest quality of experiential learning, we collaborate with reputable external providers who are experts in their respective fields. These providers offer specialized knowledge and resources that greatly enrich our student's educational journeys. 

While the school does not allocate funds from the regular budget to cover these optional activities, the cost associated with each activity is kept as reasonable as possible to make them accessible to all students.

We understand that each family's financial situation is unique, and no child will be excluded from participating in permissive activities due to financial constraints. If you require assistance or have any questions regarding payments or approvals, please do not hesitate to reach out to our administrative team. 

Thank you for your continued support in making our school a place of enriching learning and growth for our students. 

• House Athletics Carnival Whole School - $35
• Gus Gordon Author Visit - Whole School - $5.50
• Mosaic Artist in Residence Program Year 3/4 Students - $140

These are on QKR for payment and some on COMPASS for permission. 

SCHOOL-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT 

At Ripponlea PS we care about ourselves, others, our learning and our school; we create an environment where we can grow and learn; we connect our actions with outcomes which helps us make good decisions.

Students and staff selected three key values to underpin all the expected positive behaviours we expect to see within our school:

• Respect
• Pride
• Safety

In 2022, we held a school-wide competition to help create our PBS Mascots. The winning designs emphasised our school’s connection to indigenous culture and through the Bunerong Land Council, our animal mascots were officially named. 

The goal of PBS (a shortened abbreviation we have chosen) at Ripponlea PS is to create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment that enhances our school culture and our community. Our approach aligns academic and behavioural systems to create an emphasis on explicitly teaching, monitoring, and acknowledging appropriate behaviour.

PBS provides teachers and students with more time to focus on relationships and classroom instruction. All students, teachers and staff will benefit from:

• increased respectful and positive behaviour;
• increased time focused on instruction;
• improved social-emotional wellbeing;
• positive and respectful relationships among students and staff;
• increased adoption of evidence-based instructional practices; and
• a predictable learning environment with improved perceptions of safety.

The PBS approach is comprised of evidence-based behavioural interventions and practices that can be implemented by staff to effectively address and support the socially and educationally important behavioural needs of students and their families. 

These matrices help to guide students and staff in demonstrating, teaching and rewarding appropriate and expected behaviours.

There are also matrices for all other areas of the school to help our students understand and follow expectations. Please have a look through this Parent/Carers and Student Handbook for further information. 

RPS 'SOFT START' TO SCHOOL ROUTINE  

Do you all remember a time, when our school corridors were buzzing with students and parents all making their way inside our buildings and even our classrooms? This was referred to Ripponlea's Soft Start to School from 8:45 to 9:00 am. Our teachers have been discussing the opportunity to return to this lovely routine as we did pre-COVID. 

Commencing this term, that is exactly what we are going to trial, but would like to remind our students and families regarding the expectations of a soft start routine. 

1. Students may begin entering the school grounds/building only when the teachers on yard duty arrive at 8:45 am.
2. Students may enter any gate they please even the Foundation gates and make their way directly to their classrooms. 
3. Students can also remain to play outdoors supervised by our yard duty staff. 
4. Students who wish to remain outdoors need to take their bags inside and come back outside. 
5. Any family member can walk their child into class if they choose to do so. 
6. For students experiencing separation anxiety, we encourage a quick goodbye or to maintain the current routine on the school grounds or just outside the classroom. 
7. All teachers will be in their classrooms supervising students. 
8. Students can begin some soft start activities provided by the teacher. These include changing take-home books, getting organised, setting up their desks, and practising any skills advised by their teacher.
9. The music will play for students to pack up their soft start activity or to start making their way inside from play. A trip to get a drink or toilet first thing avoids interruptions to learning. 
10. We would love to see parents and carers enter our classrooms and feel connected to our learning communities, but advise that this is not an opportunity to meet with the classroom teacher for any formal discussions about your child. These soft starts are designed to support student and teacher organisation, and preparations and help them ease into the start of the school day. 
11. Please be mindful that some parents and carers across the school have communication plans in place that require a verbal exchange in the mornings, these are agreed upon in Student Support Group meetings and are not a formal discussion with a teacher.
12. Parents and carers will be required to exit as soon as the music begins to play to enable the teachers to begin the first learning session of the day promptly at 9:00 am.