Dear Parents/Carers, 

It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through the year.  As our students complete assessment over the coming days and weeks our staff are working diligently to provide feedback, grade final assessment and complete the Semester 1 report cards for distribution before the June/July school holidays. 

On top of all this, we are continuing our strategic work within the senior years to ensure that we provide multiple opportunities and pathways for our students as they enter this important phase of schooling.  As part of this process, parents and students in Year 9 over the past few weeks have been working through the Pathways Preparation Plan (PPP) which is designed to give parents and students a solid understanding of senior schooling at Ripley Valley SSC and the many pathways available to students as they enter Year 10.  Likewise, our Year 10 students and parents have also been embarking on the Senior Education Plan (SET plan) as they finalise plans, pathways and subjects for Year 11 and 12.  These SET plan conversations will continue into Term 3 as students review their Semester 1 results and lock in their plans for Year 11 and 12.

In other news, I will be on leave for the last 2 weeks of this term, starting Monday 13th June.  During this planned absence, Emily Prenzler will be Acting Principal and Todd Robson will step up as Acting Deputy Principal.  Tim Barclay will also step up as Acting HOD Science for the remainder of this Term and for Term 3, as Todd Robson (HOD Science) returns in Semester 2 as the HOD Senior Schooling. Next term I also look forward to announcing the new HOD of Junior Secondary as they look to work with our feeder primary schools and Year 7-9 students.  A number of other staff will also be joining us between now and the start of next term including Amy Linley and Ryley Wilson who will be joining our office administration team, Kay Wilkinson (Librarian), Nathan Meredith as a new Maths/Science teacher and Kara Hansen as a new Math, Science and HPE teacher next term.  

Despite the ever-changing world and environment in which we live, I continue to thank you for you ongoing support and partnership with us.  Your involvement in your child's education and development plays a critical role in their future success and wellbeing.

Yours Sincerely,     

Brendan Krueger

Foundation Principal

2022 Student Resource Scheme (SRS)

Just an early reminder that the third and final payment for 2023 SRS is due Friday 12 August.  

Payment Options

BPOINT – Use the link in the box at the bottom left corner of your invoice, this will take you directly to the payment screen to enter your details.  Paying in instalments? No problem, just enter the instalment amount of $225.00 and then continue.  Instalments will be due 25 February; 6 May and 12 August.

Phone payments using Credit/Debit card – You will need your Customer Reference Number (CRN) and Invoice Number from the bottom left corner of your invoice.  Call 1300 631 073

In person at the office– The payment window will be open for EFTPOS, cash or cheque payments Monday to Friday 8am – 9:30am and 2pm – 3pm (other times by appointment).

Individualised payment plans by Direct Debit - Set and forget.  If you would like to set up a direct debit payment using your bank account or credit card, email bsm@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au with the $ amount you would like to pay, the date you want the payments to start and how often you would like the payments made eg weekly/fortnightly.  As an example – a payment of $27.00 per week commenced on Friday 25 February will pay the SRS in full before the final due date of 12 August.

Centrepay Deduction - Payment by Centrepay deduction can also be arranged through Administration.

If you would like an update on your account or a statement at any time please email the school office admin@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au

 

Michelle Mills

Business Manager

Todd Robson

Head of Department - Technology

Updates for Term 3

Rhiannon Kemp will be on leave for Term 3. Mrs Jamei Perztel will be stepping up as Acting Head of Inclusion. Ms Taletha Champs will be stepping into the Inclusion Coach role behind Jamei. 

Making the most of a young person's NDIS Employment Supports

This event is a part of our School to Work Project which aims to inspire and equip students with disability, through the support of families, to seek meaningful, paid employment in the community.

Do you wonder what the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can offer school students looking for their first job, and in laying the groundwork for their future career?

This webinar provides an overview of NDIS employment related supports and explores creative and strategic ways secondary school students and their families can use NDIS funding to seek, find and maintain meaningful employment.

About the Webinar: 

This interactive webinar will cover:

• Using a vision and goals to identify the employment supports you need
• An overview of NDIS employment supports
• Getting the right supports into your plan – strategies for the planning or review meeting
• Putting the supports in place – creative ways to use your funding

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is for all secondary school students (Year 7 – 12) with disabilities and their families. Supporters and allies are also welcome to attend.

* It will be recorded and available to view for 7 days after the event to registered participants.

What do I need to participate?

We will be using the video meeting platform Zoom to host the webinar.

You will need access to:
• a computer or iPad/tablet or smart phone with internet access;
• speakers/sound

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your ability to participate.

This webinar is fully subsidised as part of the Community Inclusion Capacity Development program through the Department of Social Services.

*Please advise if you are unable to attend as we may have a wait-list.

About the Presenters: 

Gina Barwell-Pickup started at CRU in August 2020 as a consultant in the ‘School to Work’ project. Since studying business at university, Gina has held a broad range of roles in a variety of industries including hotels, education and in State government and small business. Additional experience in recruitment will equip her well to assist students to get ready for work. Gina is passionate about the value of employment for people with disability and is currently supporting her own teenager on this journey.

Casey Northam is a Community Resource Facilitator with CRU. Casey has worked in community development and social justice focused roles and is an experienced group facilitator and trainer. After a brief stint as a Local Area Coordinator, Casey worked with individuals with disability and families and facilitated the co-design of information and resources by and for LGBTIQAP+ people with intellectual disability. Casey is passionate about all people having what they need to pursue a meaningful life as determined by them.

About CRU:

For over 30 years, Community Resource Unit has been working across Queensland to help people with disability take control of their lives and take their place in their community.

CRU (QLD), Resourcing Inclusive Communities, an initiative of Family Advocacy (NSW) and Imagine More (ACT) will work together on a new 3 year project called ‘School to Work’.

'School to Work’ aims to inspire, increase confidence and motivate students with disability to seek and find meaningful employment with the help and support of their family and community.

The project is being provided as part of the Community Inclusion Capacity Development program through The Department of Social Services.

https://events.humanitix.com/ndis-plans-young-persons-employment-supports-21jun22

In Support Services you will find:

Head of Department Inclusion	Rhiannon Kemp
Guidance Officer	Janet Ingram
Speech and Language Pathologist	Nicole Anderson
Inclusion Coordinator (Coach)	Jamei Pertzel
Chaplain	Kristian Atkins
Defence School Mentor	Tracy Cooper
Youth Support Worker	Alicia Pickerill
Support Services Administrator	Rachael Pratt
Industry Liasion Officer	Marnie George

If you need us, email:  studentservices@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au 

We look forward to supporting you.

Rhiannon Kemp

Head of Inclusion

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear shares the story of the British cycling team and their transformation from ordinary athletes to world champions. They were a team where top bike manufacturers wouldn’t sell them their bikes out of fear that their performance would damage the brands image however this team transformed themselves into one of the most successful teams in cycling history. Within four years the British cycling team were turned from ordinary athletes into world champions who over a 10-year period won 178 world championships, 66 Olympic of Paralympic gold medals and captured 5 Tour de France victories.

How did they transform themselves? By a method called “the aggregation of marginal gains” which is the idea that if you break down a task and improve each aspect of the process by 1% then you will get a significant improvement when you put all those parts together.

As students end week 8 and enter the end of the semester we see the importance of this method. It is not about making big changes in the pursuit of improvement but rather looking at making each part 1% better. This could be seen by doing a few more revision questions, seeing a teacher for help at lunch or reading over the feedback they have received and incorporating it. The significance of this strategy is that by continuing to improve by 1% students will compound their improvement. What might be a small change now will be a large difference by the end of the year. When talking with your child over this next week, encourage them to look for areas where they can improve by 1% within their study habits.

If you ever have any questions around what is happening within your child’s Science classes, please don’t hesitate to contact me or their classroom teacher.

Todd Robson

HoD Science 

trobs20@eq.edu.au 

It is great to be able to write to you all at this busy time of term. The Mathematics department has been full steam ahead as students have completed two assessment tasks this term. The end of Term 2 and into Term 3 is a really exciting time as we witness our Year 9 and Year 10 cohorts making decisions around their senior pathways. It was so great to be able to speak with lots of parents at our PPP information evening last week. If you were able to make it or still have some questions I wanted to include a brief overview of our Mathematics Pathways:

The orange pathway is suitable for students who wish to undertake a pathway that would support them towards university. Within this pathway Year 9 students can choose General Maths or Maths Extension for Year 10. If students don't wish to move towards a university pathway they can choose the applied pathway and select Foundation Mathematics for Year 10. We also offer Short Course Numeracy in Semester 2 of Year 10 that supports students who don't wish to study Maths in senior but need to complete the numeracy requirements of the QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education). 

More information about pathways will be further discussed with all Year 9 students at their PPP meeting, however if you have any Maths specific questions, please feel free to email me anytime. 

For all other year levels, just a reminder to please keep an eye on parent and student Daymap accounts to check for upcoming due dates and/or exams. Please ensure that if you child is absent on the day of an exam, this must be an approved absence (parent/guardian must contact the College to confirm absence). If you ever have questions or concerns about these assessments or extensions, please feel free to reach out to your childs' teacher, Year Level HOD or contact me for further information. 

Tess Reeves

HoD Mathematics

tsmur0@eq.edu.au 

Senior Pathways for Creative Industries 

With subject selection for our Year 9 students going into Year 10 and our Year 10 students going into their senior years of high school, examining pathways from creative education to work, and preparation for these pathways is always a hard decision. 

The subjects we offer at Ripley Valley SSC in Creative Industries provides a creative launch of experiences, destinations, and contributions of students emerging into an enormously diverse and heterogeneous creative workforce.

Pathways include:

Performing Arts:- 

• Music
• Dance 
• Drama

As people are asked to think innovatively and differently, unconventionally and from new perspectives, the role of ‘the creative’ across many workplaces is increasingly in demand. Diverse pathways may include fields such as psychology, social work, counselling, law, journalism and human relations. Or more conventional pathways may include arts administration and management, communication, education or public relations. 

For more questions about performing arts subjects for Year 10-12 please contact Miss Starkey jxsta12@eq.edu.au

Practical Arts:- 

• Media Arts (Year 10)
• Film, TV and New Media (Year 11 & 12)
• Visual Arts 

Almost any career pathway benefits from the study of film and media because media literacy (like the original literacy) is applicable to a vast range of life situations. Digital media literacy is an important skill in the twenty-first century.  

These subjects teach you production and literacy skills that are applicable in fields as widely divergent as the sciences, social sciences, languages, education, the arts and industrial design. It is difficult to think of a field where these skills are not useful to some degree. Students may be interested in a career in any of the Creative Industries such as Design (graphic, digital, industrial) Photography, Visual Arts, Media production and possible careers in business, marketing and branding. 

Design Technologies:- 

• Design Technologies (Year 10)
• Design Engineering (Year 10)
• Design (General Year 11 & 12)
• Industrial Technologies (Applied Year 11 & 12)
• Certificate I Construction (VET Year 11 & 12)
• Certificate II Engineering Pathways (VET Year 11 & 12)

Students experiencing schooling right now will be entering a world subject to extreme change. In this world, creativity, innovation and thinking outside the square will be key survival tools. Design technologies subjects equip creative students with new ways of looking at and thinking about the world. Our curriculum focused on the future, using the best models in creative problem solving and design education to provide students with skills and knowledge in responses to future challenges. Students experience advance manufacturing technologies and new technologies to prepare them in pathways for trade or university.  

Food Technologies:-

• Food Technologies (year 10)
• Certificate II Hospitality (Year 11 & 12)

Hospitality is a growth area for employment and the Certificate II provides students with a nationally recognised qualification and contributes to QCE points. It is preferred that students entering this subject commence at the beginning of Year 11 as all competencies must be completed to attain the certificate. 

The course structure consists of 12 units of competency including:

• Work effectively with others
• Source and use information on the Hospitality industry
• Use Hospitality skills effectively
• Interactation with customers
• Show social & cultural sensitivity
• Participate in safe work practices
• Use hygienic practices for food safety
• Provide visitor information
• Provide responsible service of alcohol
• Communicate in the workplace
• Clean kitchen premises and equipment
• Participate in safe food handling practices. 

The career pathways that students undertaking this subject will engage with expand across Australia and overseas. You can work in a range of different types of venues in the hospitality industry, including restaurants, cafes, clubs, pubs and taverns, resorts, hotels and catering in a variety of different roles. Careers vary from hands on house-keeping to front office or alternatively food & beverage attendants in contact with customers as well as kitchen hands and chefs working back of house away from the general public. This course may also lead to a traineeship or apprenticeship for chefs at TAFE or Registered Training Organisation. Students may also go on to complete tertiary study in Hospitality Management at university. Additionally, they may work casually in the hospitality industry to wait tables or undertake bar work whilst studying at university.  

What has been happening in the classroom? 

Dance

Our Year 10 Dance students have been working on their "school yard" themed Hip Hop Choreography task. The task requires them to get creative and incorporate the use of a set in their routines. We look forward to them submitting their tasks during their exam block session.

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Drama

Drama Troupe had a slightly extended hiatus thanks to public holidays at the start of term. However, it has been excellent to see students back in the Drama studio, flexing their creative muscles. Building on improvisation skills gained last term, students have delved into the world of character, developing specificity in their manipulation of language and movement. Tasked with forming unique characterisation, students have been learning monologue pieces with characters who are very different from themselves. Characterisation is a cornerstone of acting skills and these exercises will prepare the Troupe for our most thrilling adventure yet, performing at Showcase later in the year! The end of Term 2 will see Drama Troupe students become acquainted with our Showcase performance piece and begin refining their characterisation skills for their newest acting challenge. We can’t wait to get started and to share our creation with you!

Media

This Term in Year 8 Media Studies students have been busy creating their animations they planned in Term 1. This has either been in the form of stop motion animation (where they use physical objects like Plasticine and take photos while moving it slightly) or using Adobe Animate (draw an image and move it slightly as they move along a timeline). 

It is coming to an end quickly as they begin to edit their productions together into video files with sounds and effects. Ready to be handed in on the 10^th of June.

Design Technology

The Year 10 Design Technology students have been demonstrating problem solving and creative thinking skills to create and design a skateboard deck.

In Design Engineering the students are building a tower that can hold 50kg.

We are looking forward to seeing the results this week for the strongest tower design and the final design for the skate decks next week. Here are some sneak peak photos of the progress.

Lorinda Stiles

HoD Creative Industries
lstil21@eqeduu.au

We are almost at the end of the tunnel, and holidays are near. Our students are well and truly in their assessment phase and I bet a lot of them are looking forward to the holidays. 

This Term has seen our students involved in numerous amounts of theoretical and practical experiences within their Health and Physical Education classes. 

A highlight in particular for HPE this Term is the Year 10 Health classes curriculum taught by Miss McKendry and Mrs Nugent. There was a lot of planning and preparation that saw the Year 10 Health classes conduct a Health Expo! All staff and students were invited to come down and explore the incidence of smoking amongst the local community of Ipswich and the states and territories of Australia. Focusing specifically on short and long term effects of smoking and promoting Health and Wellbeing.

All assessment information can be found within Daymap and it is important that students, staff and parents/caregivers stay on top of assessment expectations (producing quality drafts), reminding them of due dates and where/how to upload assessment. If your student cannot submit their assessment or cannot be present during a set exam lesson, your child will need to apply for an extension (link can be found on the student Sharepoint). This will then be directed to your student's Head of Year who will make contact with the student and parent/caregiver to advise of the outcome.

A reminder that if students are out on the oval during their practical session, they are expected to be wearing the College Hat. If a student does not have a hat, they will not be able to participate in the lesson. Their Teacher will provide written work to complete during that lesson. If a student is refusing to participate in practical lessons advising they "won't wear a hat" this will then be referred to their Head of Year for further escalation of consequences.

At the end of this Term students in Year 7 and 8 will lose their HPE line and will be transitioning into Humanities. Current students who are studying Humanities will then be participating in HPE until the end of year.

If you have any questions regarding what is happening within your child's HPE class, please make contact with their Teacher:-

Year 7 HPE Curriculum Co-ordinator: Mr. Ben Sharma (bkshak0@eq.edu.au) & Miss. Christie McKendry (clmck1@eq.edu.au) 

Year 8 HPE Curriculum Co-ordinator: Mrs. Keesha Nugent (klnug1@eq.edu.au)

Year 9 HPE Curriculum Co-ordinator: Mr. Justin Clifford (jclif117@eq.edu.au) 

Year 9 HSE Curriculum Co-ordinator: Mr. James Dunn (jdunn232@eq.edu.au)

Year 10 Sport and Rec Curriculum Co-ordinator: Mr. James Dunn (jdunn232@eq.edu.au)

Year 10 Health Curriculum Co-ordinator: Miss. Christie McKendry (clmck1@eq.edu.au) 

Thank you once again for a very busy Term and I look forward to meeting all parents/guardians at upcoming events.

HOD - Pathways & Partnerships 

jdunn232@eq.edu.au 

GP clinic opens TERM 3!

We are taking bookings for our student GP service which starts on Friday 15^th July.  If you would like to book an appointment for your child, please either:

• email GPbookings@ripleyvalleySSC.com.au 
• call 3819 5321

If you have questions or concerns about the service, we encourage you to read the fact sheet below.

Helping students access the health care they need 

Starting from Friday 15^th July 2022 secondary students at Ripley Valley State Secondary College will have access to a free GP clinic at school.   Our visiting doctor is Dr Dushyant Singh and his base practice is at Urgent Care Brisbane. 

What services will the GP be providing?

The doctor will provide students with the majority of the same services that GP's in the community do, including management of physical health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health issues. Only secondary students enrolled at Ripley Valley State Secondary College will be able to access healthcare in our school’s clinic.

How can my child make an appointment with the GP?

Our school’s GP clinic will be open one day a week on a Friday morning.  Initially appointments will be available from 9.00 am to 12:30 pm during class and break times.  

Appointments to see the school GP can be made either in person by seeing Mrs Pratt in the Student Services building, located in J Block or in the GP clinic on clinic days.  Alternatively you can email GPbookings@ripleyvalleySSC.com.au 

Alternative Student Support Services on 38195321

You will be advised of an appointment via text/email. A booking flow chart is shown at the end of this article.   

How much will it cost for my child to see the GP at school?

All visits with the school GP will be provided at no cost to students or their families. The GP will bulk-bill all appointments through Medicare, so it is important that your child brings their Medicare card or number with them to their appointment.

When can a young person get their own Medicare card?

Young people can apply for their own Medicare card when they turn 15 years of age. They will need to complete an application process through Services Australia. The GP can help your child with this process.

Where will my child’s medical records be kept?

The medical records will belong to the GP’s base clinic, Bremer Medical Centre where they will be securely stored. The school will not be able to access your child’s medical records.

Can my child consent (agree) to their own medical treatment?
In Queensland, young people under the age of 18 can consent to their own medical treatment if they are determined to be a mature minor. Young people who are not deemed to be a mature minor cannot give consent to their own medical treatment and consent will be sought from parents/carers.

What does “mature minor” mean?

Mature minors are young people under the age of 18 years who are determined by a medical professional to be capable of providing informed consent for treatment of a particular health issue without having the permission of a parent or carer. 

How will the school GP decide whether a young person is a mature minor?

To decide whether a young person is a mature minor and can consent to their own medical treatment, the GP will consider a range of factors, including:

• the young person’s age;
• maturity in other areas of the young person’s life;
• independence – whether they live at home with a parent or carer, or support themselves;
• how serious the treatment is; and
• if the young person understands what their health issue is, why treatment is needed, what the treatment involves, what other options they have, things that might go wrong (like side effects from drugs, or other complications), and what happens if there is no treatment.

Any student at Ripley Valley State Secondary College who wants to make an appointment with the school GP can do so. The GP will then determine if the student is a mature minor for the health issue for which they are seeking treatment.

It is important to understand that this is the same process that would occur if your child were to see a doctor in any GP clinic in the community.

What if my child is not a mature minor?

The decision about whether a young person is a mature minor might be different depending on the nature of the health issue. If the GP decides your child is not a mature minor, they must get your consent before any medical treatment is provided.

What if my child already has a GP?

If your child already has a GP but would like to see the GP at school, your child’s medical records can be transferred. This is what happens in GP clinics in the community. This sharing of records is important and encouraged so that all health providers your child sees have up-to-date information. 

If your child is a mature minor, they can consent to the transfer of their own medical records. If your child is not a mature minor, consent to the transfer their medical records must be provided by their parent or carer.

Can I come to the appointment with my child?

Yes, if your child would like you to. Parent/carer involvement is encouraged.  We recognise that parents and carers can be an important source of support and information for young people in managing their health and wellbeing.

If your child is not a mature minor, then it is up to you as the parent/carer whether you wish to accompany your child to their GP appointment.

Will the GP involve me?

There will be many circumstances in which it will be helpful or necessary for you to be involved.

If your child is not a mature minor, the GP will always seek to involve you. If your child is deemed to be a mature minor by the GP, the GP may see them alone if that is what your child wants. However, the GP will often encourage your child to involve you in their care.

Can the GP refer (send) my child to other health services if needed?

Yes. In most instances, the doctor will encourage your child to include you in these referrals.

What if I don’t want my child to see a GP?

Firstly, you should talk about this with your child.  Secondly, discuss the matter with the school.  Generally, all secondary students will be considered mature enough to decide to see the GP on their own. The GP will then determine if your child is a mature minor for the reason they are visiting the clinic. This approach is the same for GP clinics in the community. 

Would I ever find out about my child’s GP visit?

If the GP decides that your child is a mature minor, their health information cannot be discussed with you or anyone else unless your child says it is OK to share, or the sharing of the information is permitted or required by law. This is called confidentiality.

The following are examples of when the sharing of health information is permitted or required by law:

• Your child consents to sharing the information.
• Sharing information is necessary to prevent a serious threat to public health, safety or welfare – e.g. your child has an illness that must be notified to the Department of Health.
• Sharing information is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious and imminent threat to any person’s health, safety or welfare. 

If your child is a mature minor, to maintain confidentiality, school staff are not able tell you when your child has seen the GP unless your child agrees, or the sharing of information is permitted or required by law.

Can the GP see other family members?

At this point in time, the GP can only treat students at Ripley Valley State Secondary College.   

What if my child is not eligible for a Medicare card?

The intention of providing a GP clinic at Ripley Valley State Secondary College is to provide students with free access to a GP, to make it easier for students to access the healthcare they need.

In rare situations if your child is not eligible for a Medicare card, they are still able to access the school GP free of charge and the school pays for this.  Use of the medicare card or number is expected in the majority of cases. 

In matters have not been clarified in the above information, please contact the program leads:

1. Janet Ingram (Guidance Officer) on jingr34@eq.edu.au 
2. Daniel Pym (Deputy Principal) on dpym1@eq.edu.au

Janet Ingram

Guidance Officer

Chaplain News

I personally can't believe that we are close to the end of Term 2, it feels like only yesterday that we started Term 2 and were enjoying all the public holidays this term had to offer.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been checking in with as many Year 10's as I can as they head into their first ever exam block. These times can be stressful but as a Chaplain I am here to support your child through these stressful periods. I do this by simply listening to their concerns and making sure they are looking after themselves and doing things they enjoy as well as studying. As a parent it is important that your child has oppurtunities to disconnect from study for periods of time so they can look after their own wellbeing.

If you want me to check in with your child in relation to stress around school work or anything else that is happening in their lives, please email me at katki121@eq.edu.au. I will be more than happy to check in with your child.

Chappy Week

On the 22nd to the 29th of May School Chaplains all across Queensland celebrated Chappy Week. The purpose of Chappy Week is to spread awareness of the work Chaplains do in schools. I want to thank everyone for their support during that week and I also want to thank you for allowing me to be your child's chaplain. I honeslty love what I do and I love helping the school community of Ripley Valley State Secondary College.

I also want to congratulate Gracelyn for winning the dad joke competition I held during the week.

Love Bites

Both our Youth Worker, Alicia and myself will be delivering the Love Bites program to selected students in Week 9 & 10 of Term 3 and Week 1 & 3 of Term 4.

What is Love Bites?

Love Bites is a highly regarded program that aims to provide young people with a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful relationships. The Program takes a strengths-based approach and views young people as active participants who are able to make choices for themselves and their relationships when supported with information and opportunity for skill development.

Love Bites education is focused on three critical areas for learning; knowledge (youth-led collaborative learning, attitudes (critical thinking and decision-making) and behaviours (problem solving and communication skills). The overall aim of this program is to equip young people with the knowledge needed to have respectful relationships, encourage and develop their skills in critical thinking and assist them in being able to problem solve and communicate effectively. When equipped in these areas, we believe that young people can make the right choices for themselves and their relationships that are free from violence and abuse.

Alicia and myself will be the facilitators of the sessions and have received specialised training in the Love Bites program. Alicia and I will also be available to provide support and assistance to students before, during and after each session if required.

If you wish for your child to attend these workshops please send an email myself or Alicia (apick125@uq.edu.au). Once we have received your email we will be in touch with further information and a permission form.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club, one of the extra-curricular programs is still operating on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:15-8:45 am and it is entirely free. This is an excellent way for the students to engage with one another over food or milo and doesn't cost them anything. If you want to volunteer for this, please feel free to email me. I also want to take this time to thank Andrew Waddell the youth pastor at City Hope Church for coming in nearly every week to help and serve food. I also want to thank all the students who also help make this happen.

As we are moving into the cooler months, starting next week hot milo will be served!

Mentoring Program

A program that the Chaplaincy Service is looking to start up this year is the mentoring program. The mentoring program will include community people who will spend 1 hour a week, 1 on 1 with a student within our community in an open space on the college grounds. The mentor is a life mentor and will undergo child safety training by the College as well as SU. The mentor must be over 21 years of age and have a blue card to participate. 

This is a great way for the wider Ripley Community to be involved with the college and to help support students. If you want to be a mentor or if your child is someone who you think would benefit from this program, please contact me.

Chaplaincy Committee

The Local Chaplaincy Committee is the supporting and guiding body behind the Chaplaincy Service helping shape it to meet the wellbeing of the school community here at RVSSC. If you would like to attend and be a part of the committee, we have our next meeting on Thursday the 11th of August at 4 pm here at the College.

Spiritual Support

One of my roles as Chaplain is to provide spiritual support. One of the ways I do this is to connect students to a local youth group. If you feel as a parent that this is something your child needs, please contact me and I will find local youth groups that are around where you reside.

SU Camps

Scripture Union Australia, the organisation that employs the chaplains here in Ripley Valley and in hundreds of schools across Australia is also a camping organisation. If you are looking for something for your child to do over the holidays, please follow the link. https://sucamps.org.au/?season=winter 

Take care and enjoy the winter holidays

Welcome back sports fans,

We are midway through one of the busiest seasons in sport and I am very proud of all our students who have participated in the trials for one or more of our sporting teams this year. This year our sporting participation has increased significantly. Just a reminder that if an athlete is unable to make a training session, it is an expectation that they email their coaches at least 12 hours prior to the session.

Sporting Achievements

We have had a number of sporting achievements over the past few weeks. The following athletes have achieved success in their chosen sports both representing in the school setting and externally. If you have any good news for sports we would love to hear about it. Congratulations to the following students:

Max Backwell successfully competed in the Central Comets district cross country and will now compete for the Met West team. Max was also successful in making the 10-12 Years Met West football team.

Damian Hill has successfully made the 14 years Australian Softball team. Congratulations and good luck Damian!

Amelie Graham has placed 3rd in Australia for the Under 15’s & under 17’s, 45kg female weightlifting competition at 13 years of age. Congratulations Amelie!

Congratulations to all our athletes who competed for the Central Comets teams so far this year. Successful or not it is exciting to see more and more of our athletes achieve success each year.

Athletics Day

Throughout the next two weeks students at Ripley will be competing in a number of athletic events for our annual athletics carnival. Although our main focus for our athletics carnival is to get student nominations for the district athletics carnival, our focus is on participation and building a positive sporting culture at Ripley Valley SSC. In order to make the next few days run as smooth as possible I am asking all students to nominate for events. All students have been spoken to last week on assembly or in access class about the nomination process and it has also been emailed to them and placed on Daymap. In order to nominate, please click the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/KzPY29A0rq

Nominations close on Friday 10th June at 3pm – however late nominations will be accepted until Sunday 12th June at 6pm. In order to participate in the pre-events (Javelin, discuss, 1500m & 800m) students must nominate. Students are not required to nominate for the actual athletics carnival but it is recommended. The timetable for the events are below. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Justin Clifford.

Vicki Wilson Cup

A huge congratulations to our first ever Vicki Wilson netball team. The girls competed in the senior competition against grade 10, 11 and 12 girls. Despite the age difference the girls came away with two wins. We are super excited to continue developing this team moving forward. A huge thank you to Mr Coles and Ms Stiles for training these girls over the last term and for taking the girls to the competition.

Ripley Athlete Development Program (RAD)

RAD is continuing this term in the gym, which is located next to the oval storeroom. RAD is held Wednesday afternoon from 3pm and Friday morning from 7:15am.  If you have any fitness equipment that you would like to donate to the school, please contact Justin Clifford (jclif117@eq.edu.au) or James Dunn (jdunn232@eq.edu.au).

Yagera Sport Winter Season

Yagera sport is a competitive competition played in our district over a range of sports. All the teams have been selected for this competition and placed on Daymap. If your child participated in the trials but doesn’t know their outcome please contact Justin Clifford to clarify. If your student didn’t make the team, encourage them to continue participating in sport and to try again next year. As sport continues to grow at our college, so will the opportunities to participate in their favourite sports.  

The dates for the events are:

22^nd of July – Boys Volleyball & Boys and Girls Soccer

5^th of August – Boys Rugby League, Boys Basketball and Girls Netball.

Training will continue next term. If we do not get enough students attending training, the teams will be at risk of being removed from the competition. It is important that students are wearing the correct gear when training for these sports. For example, Rugby League players must have a mouth guard and football boots. Our current training schedule is:

As always, any questions related to sport please contact the sports coordinator Mr Justin Clifford (jclif117@eq.edu.au)

Monday  8.00am to 10.30am

Tuesday 2.30pm to 5.00pm

Thursday 2.30pm to 5.00pm      

The end of Term 2 is rapidly approaching and so is winter! The cooler weather has seen more Defence students attend Defence Club activities, due mostly to the fact that the Drop Zone is nice and warm.

I have been able to meet ADF students who have not previously attended the clubs which has been lovely. 

DEFENCE PEER MENTOR

I would like to introduce our first Defence Peer Mentor, Jackson Sheen. Jackson is a Year 10 student who is currently undergoing Peer Mentoring training. Jackson's role is to offer an extra tier of support for our ADF students.  He has experienced many parental absences with his parent ADF member. He can offer unique support from a peer level for other ADF students who might be facing similar experiences.

Jackson has a strong family military history, is an Army Cadet and is undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award.  He is also quite the trombone player playing the Last Post at our ANZAC and Remembrance Day school services.

COFFEE AND CHAT

Last week saw our second DSM/Parent catch up at the Providence Splash and Play for 2022. ADF Parents new to RVSSC were able to enjoy a free coffee while meeting parents of existing families, sharing experiences of postings and deployments, making new connections within the school, DMFS support services, the Family Liaison Officer and myself.  Ripley Valley SSC's Principal, Brendan Krueger; Deputy Principal Daniel Pym and our illustrious Chaplain, Kristian Atkins also attended the morning tea.

Parent Coffee and Catch coffee mornings are held once a term. I look forward to hosting the next ADF parent catch up in Term 3.

DEFENCE WEEK

RVSSC has a significant ADF student presence with 50 families and nearly 70 ADF students. That is approximately 10% of the school population.

In week 3 of Term 3, RVSSC will highlight the ADF lifestyle with DEFENCE WEEK. The focus of Defence Week will be how the military lifestyle impacts Defence families. A presentation from an ADF member at a whole school assembly and a display in the Library are currently being planned.

Defence Students are subject to frequent moves, extended parental absences, isolation from extended family networks and operational deployments.

These disruptions are hard for all members of a Defence family, however at a time of social and emotional development, teenagers find these experience’s particularly challenging.

Some of our ADF students have been to several schools by the time they get to high school while others are already at their 2^nd or 3^rd high school. 

The objective of Defence week is to educate those outside of Defence to the challenges faced by ADF families. The Defence School Mentor Program aims to create an environment that can be understanding and supportive to ADF students when they post in or out of our College or in times of separation from their loved ones.

We live in uncertain times. The constant, up to the minute, sometimes exaggerated or misleading information that pours out from television and social media can be overwhelming for anyone, but can be source of extra anxiety for students who have loved ones in the ADF.

DMFS SUPPORT

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:

Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au

Phone : 0436 944 525

I wish everyone a safe enjoyable winter school holiday. 

Tracey Cooper

Defence School Mentor

Ripley Valley State Secondary College

REMINDER - THE CANTEEN IS CASHLESS TERM 2!!!

Online Ordering System for the Canteen 

Just a reminder that the canteen is now cashless.  Ordering can be done online.  You can order from the menu on the MSA ordering system or top up your students card so they purchase at the canteen directly, using their barcode in their diary.  Please see link below to access the MSA ordering system.