Principal's Report 

We have once again had a busy two weeks of learning, engagement and fun at Rangeview! This fortnight has seen the Level 1 & 2 complete their intensive swimming program at Aquanation, Foundation celebrated Peter Puppy Pyjama Day, the Fathering Project, and Parents & Friends Committee ran the Election Day BBQ, Rangeview ran the District Cross Country at Ruffey Park, Level 1 & 2 continued their Basketball Clinics, we celebrated National Simultaneous Story Time, Level 4 went to Scienceworks, we acknowledged Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day, and we celebrated Education Week - 150 years in Public Education. 

Staff at Rangeview

We are currently running the recruitment round for our substantive Assistant Principal position – Wellbeing and Engagement. This role will be interviewed in Week 8 and will commence at the start of Term 3. 

Kate McLeod our Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning, is taking some leave for the remainder of this term and the first few weeks of Term 3. This is for a family holiday – long planned – and some surgery. April Warfield has successfully applied for the Acting Assistant Principal position for this period. Congratulations to April! 

Colleen Stavrakis our Business Manager is taking leave this year for Terms 3 and 4. We have this week advertised the replacement Business Manager position as a 6 month contract. We look forward to welcoming Colleen back in Term 1 of 2023. 

We have employed a new teacher into 5/6M – Brooke McKee for the remainder of the year. This is to replace Romy Magdis. There have been some teacher changes in this grade which has been unfortunate but unavoidable. We employed a teacher short term to replace Romy Magdis while we advertised the position, however she became unwell and we had to replace her also. We hope that the grade will now move forward with Brooke McKee & Melissa O'Brian for the remainder of the year. 

We are in the process of employing a full time aide – classroom support – to assist in our Foundation Grades for the remainder of the year. We have seen a large number of enrolments since the beginning of the year due to new families moving into our zone. With larger class sizes we wish to ensure additional support is in place. 

Peter Puppy Pyjama Day

On Wednesday 18th May Foundation celebrated Peter Puppy Pyjama Day. This day focuses the students on the letter P and sound 'p'. It was gorgeous to see our littlest learners at school in their PJs and there was a special visitor who also starts with a P! 

District Cross Country

District Cross Country was held at Ruffey Lake Park on Monday 23rd May and Mitch Clarke ran this event on behalf of Rangeview. Wearing new tops (also organised by Mitch and Lisa) our students won the day and we look forward to supporting those that now go onto Division! The increasing profile of sports and PE at Rangeview is a credit to Mitch and Lisa - we are so proud of the positive effect this is having on the students' engagement and the bringing together of our community. 

Election BBQ

The Fathering Project and our Parents and Friends Committee ran the Election BBQ at the school on Saturday 21st May. A huge thank you to Chris Roche one of the Fathering Project leaders who ran the event, and to Noel Jones Mitcham who paid for a coffee cart. A huge thank you also, to all of the wonderful Rangeview family members who volunteered their time to run the stall. The fundraiser was a big success and there were volunteer helpers from 7am right through to 3pm. We will be looking at either upgrades to the bike shed or a built in BBQ on the new Library deck with these funds. 

Pupil Free Days

We have one further ‘Pupil Free Day’ this term on Tuesday 14th June which follows the Queens Birthday Public Holiday. This is a Professional Practice Day for our teachers and many will use it for report writing. Our OSHClub will be operating for families on that day. 

Open Afternoon

We have postponed our Open Afternoon to Wednesday 20th July (TBC) due to staff and student absence at the current time. We were disappointed to have to do this as the staff had all worked so hard to prepare classrooms, displays and musical performances for our current and future families. We look forward to holding this Open Afternoon in Term 3.  

Resilience and eSmart Day

Our whole school celebration day this term will be the Superhero Day which is for Resilience and eSmart. This event is running on the last day of term – Friday 24th June. We encourage students (and staff) to come in a costume as their hero – this could be Marvel or DC – or could be a cultural or historical hero. We are also encouraging students to consider our everyday heroes such as the emergency services personnel. We will have a police officer and a fire fighter present at the morning assembly. Students will have a chance to parade their costumes and then participate in buddy grades for the day doing Resilience and eSmart activities.

Facilities Update

Rangeview received three grants in 2021 for the purpose of Grounds and Facilities upgrades in 2022. Any project with a total cost of over $200 000 must be project managed and overseen by the Department of Education. 

Grant 1

Rangeview received a $400 000 grant from the Department of Education for the purpose of an amenities upgrade – senior block. We will meet the successful tenderer this week to discuss a start date. 

Grant 2

Rangeview received a $200 000 grant from the Department of Education for the construction of an Inclusive Playground constructed on the banks of the oval. This was to incorporate an open air classroom – amphitheatre style, a Snakes and Ladders play space – with ground level curved slides, and a maze and sensory garden. Designs have now been finalised and sadly the entirety of the grant will be required to construct the Snakes and Ladders play space. This play space is now out for tender and we await the initial meetings with the successful builders. 

Grant 3

Rangeview received a $25 000 grant from the Department of Education to construct a new shade sail over the Library deck. The plan for this space is the creation of an outdoor classroom which can be used across the school in varied weather. We are awaiting the steel at this time and expect commencement on this project in Term 3.  

COVID Update

Rapid Antigen Testing kits are still being distributed to families fortnightly however the requirement to test twice a week is no longer in place. Families are being asked to test if their child has symptoms or if there is a Family Contact at home and the child is attending school. This is in place for teaching staff also. These tests need to happen each day for the 5 days the family contact comes to school. 

We are seeing a rise in covid cases at school – in both staff and students. We are also now seeing a number of influenza cases which is contributing to absences. We have so far managed to cover most staff and run classes as normal, there may be a need to start ‘splitting grades’ in the coming weeks as finding replacement staff becomes more challenging. Our neighbouring schools are doing this already. We are again encouraging staff to wear masks inside at school – this is not a DET requirement but a local precaution. 

Marika Ferguson

Principal