Welcome back to Term 2! It is shaping up to be a busy term!
ANZAC Day
On Thursday the 20th April, Ripley Valley SSC commemorated ANZAC Day with a full school assembly. Students, staff and invited dignitaries from the Ipswich Council along with representatives from the Ipswich RSL Sub Branch and the RAAF Base Amberley Chaplain attended the service.
ANZAC Day is arguably one of the most important dates on the military calendar and is a time for Australians to reflect on the freedoms afforded to us by those who have, and continue to sacrifice to ensure those freedoms. It is also a time to consider the values of the ANZAC spirit. Values such as camaraderie, mateship, selflessness, courage and respect are as relevant today as they were on the shores of Gallipoli all those years ago. ANZAC Day serves to remind us of how we can never take for granted the way of life we enjoy, that so many Australian and New Zealand soldiers died for on the other side of the world.
Defence Club
Defence Club will be operating from Week 2, every Monday at second break in J2.07. The Defence room (The Drop Zone) provides a space for students of Defence families to come together and form a community of their own. It is a space where friendships are made and they are able support each other through the extra challenges Defence kids face, such as changing schools on a regular basis or dealing with the extended absences of a parent or guardian.
Defence Week
In Term 3, I will be organising Defence Week. The aim of Defence Week is to highlight aspects of military life in the Australian Defence Force to the broader school community.
This year, Defence Week will focus not only on the diversity of roles in the Australian Defence Force, but more importantly, the diversity of our Defence members. Our ADF personnel come from many cultures, religions and ethnicities. The ADF exemplifies that by embracing our diversity, we build stronger relationships and societies so that we can achieve common goals.
This term, I will be asking ADF parents of the school for some assistance in collating information and items to create a display for our students and to organise some military based activities.
I am really excited to show our students the important role diversity plays in the ADF.
Coffee & Chat
The Coffee and Chat Defence parent get together will be held mid term. The theme will be 'Appreciating our Defence Families', recognising the sacrifices that are made everyday to support our Defence family members in their roles. Further details will be made available closer to the date.
THE DEFENCE MEMBER AND FAMILY HOTLINE
1800 624 608
This is the first point of call for Defence families seeking support, information or connection with their community.
The Helpline can provide assessment, assistance, advice or referral depending on the family's needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information on the Defence School Mentor Program at RVSSC, please contact Tracey Cooper at tcoop203@eq.edu.au or call 3819 5333
DMFS SUPPORT
Defence Member and Family Support is a sector of the Australian Defence Force that provides Defence families with numerous programs and activities with an aim to support them as they face the unique challenges of being a Defence family.
For more information on the Defence School Mentor Program you can head to:
https://defence.gov.au/members-families/Family/kids/education.asp
To contact the Defence School Mentor:
Monday and Wednesday 0800 - 1430hrs
Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au
Phone : 3819 5333
