Welcome back to the start of Term 4! I hope all students were able to enjoy the break and have returned revitalised and ready for the final stretch before Christmas.  Before we make it to the festive season - there are several key events in our school calendar which we are looking forward to celebrating throughout the Term. These include:

Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW):

QMHW takes place in Week 2 and provides an opportunity for all Queenslanders to consider and connect with the people and communities that they rely on to help them be mentally healthy, through a range of events and activities. This Year at Ripley Valley SSC we will celebrate Queensland Mental Health Week with a range of events including workshops with the Brisbane Bullets and our Wellbeing Expo - featuring a range of external providers including USQ Radio. More information about these events will be shared through Daymap Messages.

Year 8 Subject Selections:

In the coming weeks students in Year 8 will complete their subject selections for Year 9 in 2025. Students will be asked to select two elective subjects for Semester 1, and two elective subjects for Semester 2. Students and parents will have the Subject Selection Handbook provided to them electronically from next week to assist in making these decisions. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to make contact with Mr James Dunn – HOD Junior Secondary.

RVSSC Showcase:

Final arrangements are being made for the RVSSC Showcase which will take place on Friday 11^th and Saturday 12^th of October and promises to be an incredible evening of student (and staff) performances.  Doors open at 5:30pm for a 6pm start.  

Awards Evening:

Preparations continue for the Annual Awards Evening, which will take place on Wednesday 16^th of October from 6:30pm (Week 3) in the RaptorDome. A core component of this event includes the presentation of the: Raptor Awards, Special Awards, Subject Awards and celebration of elected school leaders for 2025.  Invitations for this event have been sent out this week to the families of those students who will be receiving an award on the evening.

Remembrance Day Service:

This year the College will be holding our Remembrance Day Service on Friday 8^th November from 8:45am in the RaptorDome. RVSSC will also be participating in the Remembrance Day Service at the Ipswich RSL Ipswich on the 11^th of November.   Our two Defence Peer Mentors will be laying a wreath at the Honour Stone as a mark of respect and remembrance to all those who have fought and died across so many conflicts.

Year 8 Camp:

The Year 8 Camp will take place at Emu Gully Adventure Centre from Tuesday 26th to Friday 29^th of November (Week 9). Initial deposits for the camp were due last Term with final payments due later this month. If your child will not be attending camp, they will be expected to participate in an alternate program conducted at the school. 

End of Term Rewards Trip:

At the end of this Term students in Years 7 – 9 will have the opportunity to attend the Rewards Trip to Wet‘n’Wild on Monday 9^th December. To attend this event students will need to complete a Microsoft Forms application which will be send out later in the Term.

As part of the application process students must acknowledge the following:

• My current approved attendance is over 95% (see Daymap Profile for details)
• I have not received more than 2 Administrative Detentions this Term
• I have not received a suspension this Term
• I have completed all assessment, drafts and exams to date
• I wish to attend to all Ripley Rewards Trips throughout the year
• My parents/carers give permission for me to attend the RVSSC Reward Trips

Further information about this event will be made available throughout the Term.

I wish all students a successful final Term, and look forward to celebrating their achievements on Awards Night.