RIPPONLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Principal's Message

What a lovely way to start the week, with Tuesday being a public holiday.

I think we all needed the break to get ready for some of our special events this week.

 

Thursday

F-2 Athletics Carnival

   Foundation Transition Session 2

 

Friday

Remembrance Day Assembly at 12:00pm – no afternoon whole school assembly.

                  Twilight Market – 5pm – 9pm

UNIFORM SHOP UPDATE

We thank our community for embracing the new changes to the uniform supplies at RPS. We also wanted to clarify a few things and provide further information on a new exciting SMS system to avoid loss of your child’s uniform pieces and address the school’s excessive amounts of lost property.

 

Please note the following:

1. The uniform shop will remain open every Friday morning for all uniform fittings. We have every size and item available for your child to try.

2. Our “Second Hand Uniform” sales will also continue every Friday.

3. Our flash sales are continuing to occur with many items at reduced prices.

4. Please go onto QKR! to buy existing stock. If the size is sold out then simply go online to eduThreads – https://eduthreads.com.au/collections/ripponlea-primary-school

5. We have introduced the RagTagd technology to our items such as the Bomber Jacket, Polar Fleece Jacket and Hoodies, so now you have an opportunity to put this on any item of clothing you desire, to prevent loss. A two pack of tags costs $5.50.

 

What is it?

RagTagd is exciting new technology that will help you keep track of uniform items and help put an end to lost property! A small Smart Tag label is sewn into the uniform items. Smart Shelf is set up at the school to easily manage the process. RagTagd is only available on Spartan garments.

 

How does it work?

When an item of clothing passes into lost property, the Smart Tag label is read by the sensor on the rack.You receive a text message to alert you that the item has been placed in lost property.The Smart Tags can be re-programmed to a new owner if the uniform pieces are sold or passed on.

 

6. Simply log onto eduThreads and buy the tags for yourself and sew them to your item of clothing. But that is not enough! The only way this is going to work is that you MUST register the item with its unique code. View the video online to learn more:

https://eduthreads.com.au/collections/ripponlea-primary-school/products/ragtagd-packs

7. Come and check out our newer items such as the Poly Yolk Skirt, Ankle Zip Track Pant & Polar Fleece Jacket. We have also selected two sizes for our school bags.

8. When you order your item of clothing it is dispatched on the same day or next day. A very quick and easy system. 

PARENT OPINION SURVEYS - RESULTS

We have recently received the results of our Parent Opinion Survey. Our response rate was 52% of the 99 parents who were randomly selected.  This survey sought parent opinion on measures of school climate, student engagement and effective teaching practice known to influence and improve student outcomes. We thank all families who responded to the survey and hope more families take this opportunity in the future.

 

Our Leadership team, School Community Partnerships committee and School Council had the opportunity to discuss the results we obtained. We had a spread of results to discuss and consider, to help inform our future planning and address some of our parental feedback. Below we have highlighted some of the areas rated positively overall by our parent community and the highest responses from some questions across the surveys.  

Areas for additional focus:

  • Respondents indicated that they would value increased communication with teachers about their child’s progress
  • Respondents indicated that we should continue to increase academic standards, respond to individual student needs and provide adequate challenge for all learners
  • Survey respondents indicated the need for increased opportunities of student voice and agency
  • For the school to continue to be focussed on key improvement strategies
  • For the school to continue to address behaviours in a positive way, and with effective strategies to address bullying behaviours
  • Survey respondents indicated a preference for the teaching of organisational skills to help some students manage schoolwork and home learning tasks
  • Respondents wanted the school to continue to support children’s transitional pathways to, from and throughout the school

We are more than happy to receive further feedback on any of the particular areas mentioned to help improve our practices. Please email the school on ripponlea.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au with the title – Parent Opinion Survey feedback.

TWILIGHT MARKET

A reminder to all families that this Friday 9th November, we hold our Annual Twilight Market. This is a very exciting evening for our whole school community, and we warmly invite everyone to come along and join us for some dinner and perhaps some early Christmas shopping.

We have sent a special letter via Compass informing you of all changes to ROSH and student collection at the end of the day. Please remember to collect your child at the back oval. No access will be available at the front of the school or through the main building.

PLANNING & PREPARATION FOR 2019

After reviewing current enrolments and future enrolments across the school, our grade structures will remain similar in 2019. We continue to increase our enrolments in the Early Years - Foundation to Year 2. I will be able to provide approximate averages to class sizes, once we enter into the last few weeks of the term.

 

At this stage in 2019 we will have 13 Classes in total with a predicted enrolment of 285 students across the school:

STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS

Many families would remember that at the end of 2017, there was a large proportion of staff who left Ripponlea Primary School for various reasons. When teachers leave a school the perceptions of families might not necessarily match the reality of each staff member’s personal situation. Teachers often seek a range of opportunities over their careers, depending on their individual aspirations and needs.

 

Experiencing a new school setting allows teachers to expand their collegial networks, enhance their teaching capabilities and gain new knowledge and professional learning centred on each school’s priorities. Each school is very different and often these opportunities really broaden and enrich a teacher’s professional capacity. Everyone in their career seeks permanency and security and so do teachers. Some teacher commute from far distances, whilst others reside more locally.

 

Over the last few months I have been informed of some staffing changes that have and will impact on our school in the near future.

 

The following staff from 2017 will not be returning to Ripponlea Primary School:

Ms Katrina Pantzopoulos will remain teaching at Ardeer Primary School. Mr Tom Scott will continue in his position at Parktone Primary School. We wish them both all the success in their future teaching careers at these schools.

 

Ms Caroline Vinecombe has officially resigned from her position. Caroline and her family live in Geelong and we wish her and the family all the very best. Caroline will continue to work as one of our regular casual relief staff.  

 

Ms Wendy Bennett has officially commenced her maternity leave and any day soon, she will be expecting her first baby. Wendy will commence her family leave in 2019. Ms Emma Draper one of our other staff members continues in the same position and is not anticipated to return until 2020.

 

Given these current staffing updates I can officially congratulate and let our community know that the following staff will continue working at Ripponlea in 2019: Mr Braden Leech, Ms Jo Ritson, Ms Lucy Clover and Ms Dominique Wimpole.

 

We will continue to stabilise our workforce over the next few weeks, with further positions being advertised. We have also officially advertised our Assistant Principal position.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS

Thank you to our students, staff and families for embracing the fun spirit of Halloween at RPS. It was wonderful to see all the students dress up and enjoy the whole school parade on Wednesday morning. We noticed some fantastic costumes particularly home-made designs. We thank Lee (mother of Reid) & Louisa (mother of Clea) once again for their creations for our raffle winners. I hear they have a lot of cake to get through.

OUTDOOR LEARNING DAY

This was a very unique experience for our students as we celebrated Outdoor Learning Day 2019 and launched the Learning Arbour. 

Thank you to one of our parents Robyn (mum of Archie) who brought this to our attention and we were very pleased that Ms Alexandra Beamont was able to organise all aspects of the day. Despite the afternoon heat, our students thoroughly enjoyed making mandalas, kites, navigated obstacle courses, completed geometrical math challenges and much more. Thank you to Ms Alex and all the staff.

Until next fortnight!      

    Natalie Rose                        Jess Grey

                              Principal               Acting Assistant Principal