Firstly, I would like to welcome a number of new students and parents who have joined our school community in recent weeks.  It is always a pleasure to have new families join our school community and I look forward to working with you both now and well into the future.   This year, has seen a number of "firsts" for our school, and Term 2 has been no exception.  The advent of learning from home and social distancing restrictions have not been without their challenges, but as a school I have been extremely proud of your response to these challenges.   In particular, your ongoing support, patience and encouragement for the staff, school and your child's learning during this time has been exceptional.  Without your support and understanding we would not have come through this situation as well as what we have.  So once again, thank you!  

At this stage, the government plans for all students to resume schooling on Monday 25th May.  As a school we are looking forward to the return of normal schooling but have updated a range of school practices to ensure that high levels of hygiene and safety precautions have been implemented to minimise the risks associated with COVID-19.  In particular, additional cleaning will be conducted during school hours in "high touch" and traffic areas and hand sanitizer available in all learning spaces.  We will continue to monitor departmental and health recommendations over the coming weeks to ensure that all staff and students are afforded the best in both hygiene and education.  

On Friday 1st May, the final buildings of our Stage 1 works were handed over by WATPAC.  The Sports Hall and underground car park are now complete and students will enjoy using these new facilities throughout this term.   When restrictions are lifted in the future I plan to invite the school community to view this great facility that I hope will be used by sport and community groups in the future.  To provide some perspective of this magnificent resource, the indoor sports hall could accommodate 77 council buses end to end and side by side, with approximately 1 1/2 acres of court space with the combined inside and outside sport courts.  This combined with over 280 car spaces will make a school and community resource that will serve the Ripley community well into the future.

On Wednesday 22nd April, our school held our first ANZAC day ceremony with the service live streamed on our Facebook page.   This solemn ceremony included the planting of a Lone Pine tree from the P & C Association in our front garden and a plaque has been arranged to mark this significant event in our school's history.   As part of our school's commitment to the ANZAC tradition we are looking to dedicate a large portion of land at the front of our school as a school and community ANZAC Place.  A masterplan has been created for the re-development of this area to include a cenotaph, sculptures and seat of remembrance to honour the service and sacrifice of our defence service men and women.  A copy of the proposed ANZAC Place plan is available in this newsletter and on our school's website.  I encourage any feedback and comments on this initiative and welcome any financial or in-kind support that may assist us in realising this masterplan.  

As school, work and and life slowly returns to "normal" we are already planning for the 2021 school year.  This term we have contacted local primary schools to let them know families can enrol for the 2021 school year now.  We already have a growing waiting list of people wanting to enrol in our school for next year and by having these forms in early it assists us in our planning and transition programs which we hope to roll out in the second half of this year.   If you have a child who you are planning to enrol at Ripley Valley State Secondary College in 2021 I would encourage you to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form located on our website and return to our administration office as soon as possible.  The below link will provide you with the necessary information and if you require further information please contact the school office via email at admin@ripleyvaleyssc.eq.edu.au or phone 3819 5333.

https://ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au/enrolments

Once again, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and partnership with us as a school and I look forward to continuing to work with you into the future.

Brendan Krueger

Foundation Principal