Welcome back to another wonderful Term at Ripley Valley SSC! As we pass the halfway mark of the year, it is important to both reflect on how far we have come, and to look forward to the challenges ahead. In reflecting on the achievements of Semester 1, I was greatly pleased to see the collective efforts of our students across the board in regard to their Semester 1 Report Cards. Particularly commendable was the overall Effort and Behaviour marks students demonstrated in their classrooms - with over 90% of students achieving an A – C in these categories!
School Opinion Survey
The annual suite of School Opinion Surveys will be conducted in Term 3 and will close on 18 August 2023. All families, school staff and students in Year 8's and Year 11 will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what our school does well, and how we can improve.
An invitation to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey will be emailed to one parent/caregiver per family in the week beginning 17 July. The invitation will be sent from the Department of Education, not the school, and it will have the subject line School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2023. Check your junk email folders if you can’t find it. The survey can be completed as soon as the invitation is received and will take approximately 5 minutes using a computer, tablet or smart phone.
Urban xTreme - Term 2 Rewards Day
At the end of Term 2, students who have upheld our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Perseverance through exemplary behaviour, engagement and attendance were invited to attend our coveted Rewards Trip. This term’s Rewards Trip saw students swing, climb and jump through an exciting day at Urban Xtreme in Brisbane. Our students enjoyed an exhilarating range of activities including a ninja warrior course, parkour course, dodge-ball, trampolining, launch jump and laser tag. While it was wonderful to see the excitement and joy on so many faces during the day, it was also heart-warming to hear the praise from Urban Xtreme staff, who were delighted to host such an enthusiastic and respectful school group. Needless to say, this adrenaline-packed day will be one to remember for all those who attended!
In looking ahead, the next 6 months offer an incredible number of key events and opportunities for our students. Some of these include:
Awards Evening:
Planning has commenced for the Annual Awards Evening, which will take place in Week 3 of Term 4 on Wednesday 18th of October. This special event provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the academic, sporting and cultural achievements of our students. In preparation for this event, students will be given the opportunity later this Term to apply for several special awards, including:
- P&C Citizenship Award (Senior and Junior)
- College Culture Award (Senior and Junior)
- Leadership Award (Senior and Junior)
- Innovation Award (Junior)
- College Wellbeing Award (Senior and Junior)
- Long Tan Award (Year 10)
- Excellence in Sports Award
Further information around the criteria for these awards will be made available later in the Term.
Student Leadership Nominations:
Student Leadership nominations for 2024 will open in Week 3 of this Term. This will include nominations for the following roles:
- School Captain (Year 12)
- School Vice-Captain (Year 12)
- House Captains (Year 12)
- Student Representative Council (SRC) (Years 7 – 11)
Again, further information around this nomination process will be made available later in the Term.
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year the College is celebrating NAIDOC Week in Week 2 of Term 3 though a range of events and activities that are open to all students. Keep an eye on Daymap messages for updates regarding the schedule of activities for this important event in our school’s calendar.
