Principal's Message
END OF TERM 2
Here we are in our final week of the term and what a mixed bag of emotions we must be all experiencing. To think only eleven weeks ago our students transitioned to remote learning, most families and staff were working from home and we were all waiting in anticipation for news that the spread of the virus was finally slowing down due to our collective efforts.
Thankfully this occurred and we were able to return to school and this has been such a positive transition for everyone. Now more than ever we need to continue this course of action and continue to keep our community safe. With restrictions easing we have seen a natural spike in cases and now some restrictions are reverting back.
We wanted to personally thank our community for taking all precautions to ensure that students DO NOT come to school when unwell or presenting with any symptoms. Whether COVID-19 symptoms or illness such as coughs, colds, fevers and runny nose these can be devastating for other children, families and teachers alike. If one child comes to school unwell, this quickly spreads to others. We know many families and staff over the last few weeks have taken extra measures to ensure the safety of our little community and we are so blessed to have such genuine care, respect and continued vigilance.
End of Term - Important Information
Virtual School Assembly @ 12:00
School Dismissal
Year 1/2 – 2:15pm
Foundation – 2:30pm
Year 3-6 – 2:30pm
Term 3 Begins – Monday 13th July
ALL TOGETHER AGAIN
The transition to on-site schooling has been extremely successful and our students have returned with wonderful experiences to share and celebrate. Reuniting with friends, class peers and teachers has increased everyone’s mental health and wellbeing. Connectedness in a face to face experience can never be underestimated. In all honesty, we anticipated some levels of anxiety and stress from students and feared that they would be out of routine or have regressed considerably. What we discovered was so very different. We can only speculate, but we do feel that credit is due to the way our staff, families and students managed the remote and flexible learning experience, ultimately impacting on how our students returned to school once again.
One of the key elements of an effective school is its ability to create an orderly and safe learning and nurturing environment. We truly believe this is something Ripponlea students have felt returning to school, despite all the COVID-19 measures and restrictions.
Teachers and students alike have shared personal moments and have built deeper connections. Each has shared their personal lives and given a little of themselves in unprecedented times. Returning to school has only strengthened these relationships further.
Students know that there are many staff at RPS that genuinely know them and care about them and would help them at any point in time. This not only refers to teachers but to all staff.
There is a common set of values reflected in the behaviours and actions of all in our community and so returning to these is like bringing the calm to the chaos, the known to the unknown. For both staff and students, this return creates a sense of predictability and reassurance in the everyday.
There is tolerance, understanding and respect for each other throughout the school and a common set of expectations that we all follow. Students have instantaneously started to display these qualities, seeking positive reinforcement and feedback from their teachers and peers.
Teachers have spent time rearranging and freshening up the classrooms to welcome students back, making these environments more comfortable and cheerful with lots of positivity. There is no denying that everyone is happy to be back despite what is still occurring in the world around us.
One family in particular couldn't wait to come out of isolation has shared the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgX6pWqQ7JU
STUDENT LEADERS
It didn’t take very long for our student leaders to start thinking about how they could enact their leadership skills, demonstrate their creativity, open-mindedness and adaptability to bring the community together once again and reignite the joyous atmosphere we are all used to here at RPS. Collectively gathering with Miss Jo and Mrs Howell they were able to organise our first ever virtual assembly as well as set the theme for two casual free dress days.
Last Friday we all reminisced over our days in ISO and came dressed in all sorts of outfits. Our leaders have met with David Southwick local MP to work together on a special community based project.
This Friday 26th June our leaders set the following themes for each year level, including our teachers. Please remember dressing up is optional.
FREE DRESS DAY THEMES - FRIDAY 26th JUNE
FOUNDATION STUDENTS – Dress in your pyjamas
YEAR 1/2 STUDENTS – Dress in an outfit that represents who you would like to be when you grow up
YEAR 3/4 STUDENTS – Its DISCO party time, dress in your DISCO outfits
YEAR 5/6 STUDENTS – Dress as your favourite character from a movie or TV show
TEACHERS – Your challenge is to go back in time and become students for the day.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
From the commencement of Term 3 we kindly remind all families to remember to please ensure children come to school dressed in the appropriate school approved uniform items.
Eduthreads is the school's online supplier of school uniform. The school only stocks second hand items and some stock left over from the old uniform shop (sizes on QKR). These items are usually managed by parent volunteers. At this stage we cannot open our second hand uniform shop or QKR sales as we cannot have volunteers or additional adults on site.
At the last School Council meeting, we approved the return of the two toned speciality top. This is now available for pre-purchase via the Eduthreads website:
Long Sleeve:
Short sleeve:
LOST PROPERTY
All lost clothing, lunch boxes and water bottles are collected from the school yard on a daily basis by our wonderful Year 5/6 student volunteers. If your child’s name appears on the item, it will be returned to them as soon as possible. Students are able to search through the lost property tubs located at the entrance of the school from the basketball courts.
Each junior class has a special lunch box and lost items baskets. These allow students to store their items safely whilst playing outside and ensures their safe return to the classroom. Students are encouraged to check their basket on a daily basis. For any missing items, there is a likelihood that another student has accidently taken the item home and these take a while to return.
To avoid your child’s clothing ending up in the second hand uniform items after several weeks, please LABEL ALL CLOTHING. The school has a special RagTag cupboard which scans all lost items each day and sends an SMS alert to a registered mobile number. We are finding an excessive number of unnamed items which are impossible to return to students.
SCHOOL CAMPS
The Chief Medical Officer has announced the recommencement of school camps from 21st June, aligned with the opening of holiday accommodation communal facilities including shared kitchens and bathrooms. This is very exciting news for our Year 3-6 students who will now be able to attend both camps later this year.
Our Year 5/6 students will now be going to Camp Manyung from September 9th - 11th and in Terrm 4 the Year 3/4 students will be attending Camp Oasis, Mt Everlyn from October 12th - 14th. Our Year 1 students will be able to enjoy their “Big Night in” and our Year 2s will still be able to have their “Sleepover” at the school. All school camps and activities have been approved by School Council.
SCHOOL COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Our committees are looking for wonderful parent volunteers who would like to get involved and contribute to making the school the best it can be for our students. Committees serve as advisory bodies to the School Council and assist Council with their activities. Committees regularly report at School Council meetings to provide advice and make recommendations, however School Council has the final responsibility for decisions. Committees are open to non-School Council members and provide members of the school community an opportunity to become involved in school planning, projects and events.
Committees usually meet between regular School Council meetings. This allows time for consideration of their particular area of responsibility and to decide on any necessary actions or follow up.
The following meeting schedule allows community members to attend meetings. These dates are also on the COMPASS calendar. At this point in time all meetings are held virtually via Zoom.
The following committees are eager for your involvement, you can attend all or some meetings. Your time and commitment is very much appreciated by all members.
1-Facilities & Environment - consult on matters relating to maintenance, school gardens together with immediate and future plans to improve the school’s grounds and buildings. Much of the grounds maintenance carried out around the school are carried out at community working bees. These scheduled events are held on Sundays and a BBQ lunch may be provided for the families attending. Together with maintaining the school building and grounds, these events provide opportunity for informal social gathering, for parents and children alike.
SAVE THE DATE: TERM 3 WORKING BEE - SUNDAY 9th AUGUST
Contact: Colin Smith for further details at: Colin.Smith@wgpsn.melbournewater.com.au
2- Governance - is responsible for the ongoing development and oversight of school policies, including new policies and policy review. The committee is keen to have parent input and consultation in all policy development. The Governance sub-committee reports to the Ripponlea Primary School Council with insight and informed policy development that supports the daily routines of our school and its community and ensures adherence to legal requirements and policies from local, state and federal government.
Please contact – Braden Leech at: braden.leech@education.vic.gov.au
3-School & Community Partnerships - play an essential role in engaging our school community. It is responsible for fundraising within the school, as well as the coordination and oversight of school events working closely with Ripper Families.
Please contact – Robyn Cooney at rcooney@y7mail.com
SAVE THE DATE – ANNUAL REPORT - VIRTUAL PRESENTATION TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY
The Annual Report is a public document which reflect the school’s financial activities and the school strategic plan. Its publication provides an opportunity to communicate and publicise the achievements and longer-term directions of our school.
The annual report provides an opportunity for our school council, leadership team, staff and students to share and with all members of the school community the successful improvement strategies implemented in 2019 as well as determine how the allocation of resources informed planning for improvement in the following year. The completion of the annual report is required under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 and to meet Commonwealth requirements.
The annual report was officially endorsed at our school council meeting in March. Due to COVID-19 the school was unable to have a special public presentation of this report. We invite all members of the school community to join us for a presentation of the 2019 Annual Report held on Tuesday 18th August at 6:00pm before our School Council meeting.
SEMESTER ONE REPORTS
The Department of Education and Training has adjusted the expectations of Student Reports for Semester 1 in recognition of the transition to remote and flexible learning during Term 2. While our school has continued to deliver its teaching and learning program and monitor the achievement and progress of each student, there have been some unprecedented changes to our usual program, therefore we will not be including teacher judgements or a five point scale during this reporting cycle.
Student reports will go live via the COMPASS communication portal on Thursday afternoon 25th June. Parent/Carer and Teacher virtual meetings are scheduled to take place in Term 3.
Tue 28th & Wed 29th - F-2 Parent Teacher virtual meetings @2 - 6pm
Tue 11th & Wed 12th - Year 3-6 Parent Teacher virtual meetings @2 - 6pm
Families will receive up to date reporting on their child’s progress and will have the opportunity to review and discuss their child’s identified goals. Detailed information will be provided in Term 3.
End of year reports will thoroughly detail progress over Semester 2. This period of time has offered the school an opportunity to review its current reporting template and seek parental input and feedback. The school will consult with parents, staff and students in developing its new report format.
TERM 3 UPDATE
At this stage we have received no further updates from the Department of Education and Training (DET) regarding changes to current school operations. At this stage the guidelines we sent to families at the start of onsite schooling will remain in place. The school will continue to operate the staggered school starts and end of day dismissals. The practice of high levels of hygiene, adult physical distancing and limiting additional adults onsite unless essential to school operations will continue. Students will also continue to be dropped off and collected at the school gate.
The school has been contacted by Beaver’s Tail who have negotiated to support families of the school and to begin lunch service delivery from Term 3. Beaver’s Tail have implemented further food handling measures. For further information please contact Beavers Tail at http://beaverstail.com.au/#Contact
It is likely that this Friday 26th of June or sometime during the holiday period further updates will be released by the DET and Chief Health Officer – Brett Sutton. We will inform our community as soon as any changes occur. We apologise in advance as these updates might need to come out during the holiday break.
FAREWELL & BEST WISHES TO DONIKA OUR COORDINATOR FROM THEIRCARE
Donika our coordinator from TheirCare has ceased her position. Donika has made a significant contribution to the smooth transition of OSHC service from Camp Australia to TheirCare in 2020. The community, students and staff of Ripponlea will hold many fond memories of Donika and the nurturing care she provided in her time at the school.
The service has a new coordinator, Nancy. Nancy has 2 Bachelors in Education, one from China and one from RMIT. She has experience in long day care as well as vacation care. Nancy is also a qualified personal trainer, has a diploma of yoga teaching and has been a junior gymnastics coach at YMCA. Please welcome Nancy to Ripponlea and say hello when you get a chance.
PBS AWARDS
As part of our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework, Ripponlea Primary School has a focus on teaching appropriate behaviours to all students and developing a consistent approach to managing inappropriate behaviours. All members of the school community (staff, students, parents and visitors) are expected to model appropriate behaviours as set out in our PBS Matrix & Statement of Values.
At Ripponlea behavioural expectations (social skills) are defined, taught, acknowledged and corrected positively. Ripponlea has a clear structure of positive reinforcements, which includes our PBS acknowledgments through student raffle tickets which are essential in complementing and encouraging appropriate behavior as well as preventing inappropriate behavior. We place emphasis on what children are getting right rather than wrong and teach them if they don’t know.
We believe that positive relationships are imperative in creating successful learning environments and communities. The three core values across the matrix include respect, pride and safety for all members of our community.
Now we must all take the time to rest up and prepare for the start of Term 3. We are very hopeful that further lifting of restrictions will allow our community to come together sometime in the latter part of this year. In the meantime we truly thank our teachers, families and students for steering a course of patience, understanding, vigilance and resilience. Stay safe and well – happy holidays to all.
Until next term......
Natalie Rose Jess Grey
Principal Assistant Principal