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Dear Parent/Carer,
As we approach the end of 2022, I wanted to take a moment to thank the many staff, students and parents who have made our year such a success. Some of the more significant milestones we have achieved this year include:
- Introduction of Year 10 and over 31 new senior subjects
- An additional 4 specialist subjects added to the Year 9 elective subject offerings
- Commencement of Year 7 Football and Ignite Academies in 2022 with 2 more Academies commencing in 2023 for Dance and eSports
- The largest Instrumental program of any high school in the greater Ipswich area with approx 60 students participating
- State champions for the 2nd year running in Premier Coding challenge
- 3 teams making the top 10 in the Australian National Coding challenge
- State winners of the FUSE eSports Cup for the 2nd year in a row and our teams going to present at the upcoming National finals
- Several Yagera sporting teams winning their age/division across numerous sporting codes including volleyball, football, basketball and netball
- Several individual students being selected in their chosen sport to represent at state and national levels
- Increased student academic improvement across our core subjects of English, maths and Science
- Completion of our Stage 2 buildings with Stage 3 due to commence in early 2023
These are just some of the many achievements we have accomplished this year and I look forward to another exciting year in 2023.
Next year our college will expand to over 820 student enrolments across years 7 to 11 and we welcome over 18 new teaching staff. As our college continues to grow and mature, I look forward to building on our strong foundations and a positive culture.
Have a restful and relaxing holiday break and I look forward to working with you again in 2023.
Yours Sincerely,
Brendan Krueger
Foundation Principal
Year 7 Extensions: https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/250
Year 8 Extensions: https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/251
Year 9 Extensions: https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/252
Year 10 Extension: https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/253
Christmas is almost upon us and yet there is still so much to do! With the end of Week 8 we farewell our Year 10 students and prepare for the final weeks of the year. In spite of the festive cheer, there are still plenty of things on, including: Year 8/9 Camp, Transition and Orientation Days, and the End of Year Reward Trip.
Year 8/9 Camp:
The Year 9 Camp will take place next week from Monday 28th November to Thursday 1st December at Emu Gully Adventure Education Group. Busses will depart RVSSC at 9:15am on Monday morning. If your child is going, please ensure they have all necessary clothing and equipment from the ‘Essential Clothing & Equipment List’ emailed earlier this term. If you have any questions or concerns leading up to the Camp, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Lynn at the College on 3819 5333.
Transition and Orientation Days:
Transition Day will be held tomorrow (Friday 25th of November), and is designed to help students with substantial support needs to prepare for High School. Information about this day has been sent to feeder Primary Schools and can be found on our Social Media.
Orientation Day will be held on Friday 2nd December (Week 9). All future Year 7 Students are invited to attend this day and experience a range of activities to help them prepare for High School at RVSSC. Again, information about this event can be found on our Social Media pages and will be sent to all of our feeder Primary Schools.
End of Year Reward Day Trip
Finally, our end of Year Reward Trip to Wet'n'Wild is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the successes of the year and commend those students who have demonstrated the school’s values of perseverance, respect and responsibility. The Schoolzine permission form for the Year 7, 8 and 9 Rewards Day Trip has already been sent to parents of invited students. To ensure your child is able to attend the Rewards Day please ensure this permission form is returned and paid as soon as possible. Unfortunately, due to lack of numbers, we were unable to run the Year 10 Rewards Day Trip that was planned for tomorrow (Friday 25th of November).
Student Awards and Student Leaders in 2023
Earlier in the week, at our Junior Assembly, we were able to celebrate those students who had received a Silver and Bronze Raptor Award for their efforts throughout the year.
We were also able to announce the Junior Student Leaders who will join the Student Representative Council (SRC) in 2023. These students will be officially inducted into the SCR during our Leadership Induction Ceremony which will take place early next year. Congratulations to the following students who were successful in attaining leadership positions in 2023:
- Ethan Baum
- Rihannan McMurdy
- Matt Mante
- Cali Stoddard
- Lucy Day
- Summer Rzeszkowski
- Sereana Valekapa
- Leilia Elms
- Gowrie Menon
- Ellie Eastell
- Isabella Duggan
- Makwei Deng
- Ryrie Johnson
- Zaheer Ali
- Isaac Atabila
- Kripa Fragy
- Adison Bott
- Maiya Dixon
- Jazmine Hart
Student Laptops - end of year break
Students with accounts that have been paid in full, have an acceptable direct debit plan, or are regularly making Centrepay payments, will have access to their computers over the end of year school break.
If there is a balance owing on your account, the computers will be collected on Friday 2/12/2022.
Please feel free to email the school office at any time regarding balances on accounts or statements administration@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
2023 Student Resource Scheme (SRS)
Following are the SRS parent information letters for each year level. These letters outline the inclusions and cost of the 2023 SRS.
The invoices for the 2023 SRS will be emailed to all families by Friday the 10th February, 2023. These invoices will be for the full amount payable for the year, payment plans are available and will be able to be set up once the invoices have been generated.
If you have elected to pay in instalments, the 3 payment due dates are:
- 1st instalment due Friday the 17th February
- 2nd instalment due Friday the 12th May
- 3rd instalment due Friday the 4th of August
The booklist for 2023 is now available. Please refer below the links.
Michelle Mills
Business Manager
Departing Families
As we enter the final few weeks of 2022, it is important for any families who aren't returning to the College in 2023 to return all IT equipment by the end of the year. This includes the laptop, charger and case.
- For year 10 students, please return these items by Thursday 24/11 by 2.45pm
- For year 7 - 9 students, please return these items by Friday 2/12 by 2.45pm
These dates are at the conclusion of exams with all assessment having been completed by this point in time.
This instruction applies only to students who are not returning in 2023. Students and families who will be returning to Ripley Valley SSC in 2023 are able to keep their laptop over the holidays as long as SRS payments are up to date.
If you are leaving Ripley Valley SSC at the end of this year and not returning in 2023 we wish you well and thank you for your time and support in partnering with us on your child’s education journey.
Year 9 Laptop Returns
As our year 9 students transition in to their senior education pathway, they will also transition to a new laptop for year 10 in 2023. In order to support students tranistion and be able to use their device immediately in 2023, students will be given their device in week 10 of this term.
In order for students to be eligible to collect their laptop at the end of this year they must:
- Have returned their current laptop, case and charger by the end of week 9
- Be up to date with 2022 SRS payments
Any students who do not return their current laptop, case or charger, or have outstanding SRS payments will be able to collect their device once these have been corrected.
PREMIER’S CODING CHALLENGE
Throughout 2022 we have had a number of students participate in a range of Digital Technologies or eSports competitions.
Recently we received the exciting news that 3 students from Ripley Valley SSC won their respective categories within the 2022 Premier’s Coding Challenge. Congratulations to Isaac, Ella and Isabella in recognition of all their hard work in order to achieve a remarkable result. A huge thank you must also go to Mr Sogathur for the time and dedication he puts in to support students outside of class for these competitions. Well done to all students who have participated in the Premier’s Coding Challenge and we look forward to continued success in 2023.
MICROSOFT ONE DRIVE – BACKING UP FILES
A common occurrence when students bring in their devices for repair is that students files haven’t been saved anywhere other than the laptop hard drive. While this isn’t a problem in itself, it becomes an issue if the hard drive is corrupted as all files are then lost. An easy way for student to avoid this problem, and best practise, is to use Microsoft One Drive to back up their files, and save them to the cloud as well as on their laptop. For more information on how to sync your device to back up to the cloud please follow the link to Microsoft’s support guide.
Todd Robson
Head of Department - Senior Schooling - Technology
- Returned their completed Enrolment Forms (not just the Expression of Interest)
- Attended, or are booked to attend an Enrolment Information Session
- "It was great to gain real life experience in what a plumber does as a job."
- "I loved interacting with people from all different ages who were able to share specific information around why they chose their career."
- "I had a good time at work experience, it was nice to meet new people and engage in something I was interested in outside of school."
Students in Year 10 2023 will engage in Work Experience on the following dates:
- Week 10, Term 2, 2023
- Monday - Friday
- 9:00am - 3:00pm (please keep in mind that times may vary depending on requirements of the industry)
2023 Year 10 Work Experience Registration Form here: https://forms.office.com/pages/designpagev2.aspx?lang=en-AU&origin=OfficeDotCom&route=Start&subpage=design&id=xccAZrUWr0uekzI72MAdugdtxc2_el9Cg1mWQTYZ8HhURVBVUThVOU5LQzZVSzBZU0tIRVNTSU9CMC4u
HOD - Junior Schooling
As term 4 draws to a close and the schooling year ends for our year 10 students, I’d like to extend a big thank you to staff, students and parents. It has been a pleasure to work with our year 10 students and parents over this semester as we’ve reviewed career pathways and subject selections for 2023. Thank you to our staff for their continued hard work in not only teaching and supporting students this year, but your tireless efforts in preparing subject offerings for 2023. I wish you all a relaxing and safe holiday period and look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 as we undertake our first cohort entering in to year 11.
Year 11 Subject Selection Changes for 2023
With exams and assessment finishing for our current year 10 students, it is timely for students to review their subject choices and pathways for 2023. If there are any students who have now met prerequisites for year 11 subjects and would like to update their pathway and change subjects, or similarly, if students haven’t done as well as they planned, haven’t enjoyed a subject they’ve completed and wish to make a change, please contact Mr Robson before 9th December.
USI
Students undertaking a VET course in 2023 are required to have a USI (Unique Student Identifier). A USI is an individual’s education number for life and creates an online record of your Australian training achievements. Any students who don’t currently have a USI can apply for one at the Australian Governments USI webpage.
Todd Robson
Head of Department - Senior Schooling - Technology
2022: Highlights
- SSS moved to J Block!
- Lunch time programs to support students with social connections.
- Introduced Maths Intervention Trial in Year 8.
- Expanded on our Reading support in Year 7 and 8.
- Reading Club has had a massive impact on those students attending with grades and confidence improving.
- Homework Club continued to provide support for all students involved.
- Received Positive Feedback from Regional Office around our processes for supporting students and their academic progress.
- Time Out space was introduced to support students with high anxiety.
- Positive feedback around our Transition Program, Personalised Learning Plans and transparency of support for students.
- Introduction of more Inclusion Coaches!
- R U Okay Day!
- Disability Action Week- provided a platform to showcase ability over disability with a wheelchair basketball game of students verse teachers.
Staffing Update:
We say a big farewell to Ms Jamei Pertzel as term four draws to a close, as she will be moving on to new adventures.
We thank her for her dedication and work in the Inclusion space, and wish her all the best for her future.
We welcome Mr Tim Barclay as an addition to our Inclusion team. Tim will be stepping in as an Inclusion Coach and supporting staff with their planning and teaching of students with diverse needs.
Transitions
Children, just like adults, experience feelings as they anticipate or react to transitions. Sometimes children will engage in challenging behaviours as a result of this anticipation. Sometimes they will react excited and others may become anxious and over-whelmed. Every feeling is valid. That is why it is so important that we support our young people, identify their feelings and build resilience in times of transition.
Parents can promote successful transitions by:
- Checking in with their child about their feelings.
- Communicating with the school if they are concerned.
- Creating a predictable routine for school.
- Helping their child/ren feel safe and secure during these times.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Head of Department Inclusion | Rhiannon Kemp |
| Guidance Officer | Janet Ingram |
| Speech and Language Pathologist | Nicole Anderson |
| Inclusion Coordinator (Coach) | Tim Barclay |
| Chaplain | Kristian Atkins |
| Defence School Mentor | Tracy Cooper |
| Youth Support Worker | Alicia Pickerill |
| Support Services Administrator | Rachael Pratt |
| Industry Liasion Officer | Marnie George |
Rhiannon Kemp
Head of Inclusion
2022 has been year of highlights! As our school continues to grow, the English, Humanities and Languages Faculties have grown too; welcoming Mr Shaw, Ms Marks, Ms McLeod, Ms Pertzel and Ms Wilkinson in library, as well as introducing new subjects into the Year 10 curriculum. As the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the year that was…
We have gone global!
Our Year 7 Japanese students are getting used to the exchange lessons with Chiba University Junior High School which are now being held weekly until the March 14th, 2023.
The next exchange will be 22nd, and in this next lesson Kawana-san’s students will give our Ripley students a gesture quiz. The answer includes some Japanese traditional sports or traditional items, such as judo, kendo, and chopsticks. If our students can answer in Japanese, that'll be great. In turn the following week, our Ripley students will create a quiz in English – they will be sharing how to make fairy bread and further planning is ‘on the table’.
We have been innovative in the classroom.
We have invited guest speakers to our classes via Microsoft Teams. We have developed our creative writing skills by writing by the ‘fireplace’, using candles in the dark to develop tension and mood. We have used greenscreen technology to transport our students to Japan. We have developed online exams in Education Perfect.
I want to sincerely thank the team of teachers who continually seek to provide enriching, engaging and innovative lessons – what an amazing team!!
We have been feeding ourselves.
We have tested some ‘foods of the future’. Sampling cheese and bacon flavoured dehydrated mealworms and sour cream and chives flavoured dehydrated crickets. Our students studying Japanese have applied their reading skills to make sushi by following a recipe to make まきずし.
We have been out and about.
Our Year 8 Reader’s Cup team competed in the Qld Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia’s 2022 Readers Cup Challenge at St Mary’s, Woodend and our Japanese students have been out to the Nerima gardens in Ipswich.
We have thought about others.
Our College participated in the Write a book in Day competition raising valuable money for the Kids Cancer Project while learning valuable skills about team work and time management, as well as practicing their narrative writing skills.
We reached our goals.
Last year our Japanese faculty launched the Inaugural Paper Cranes Project with a goal to present our first 1000 cranes to a local charity or organisation in 2022. I am happy to report to that we have exceeded 1000 cranes in 2022 and Ms Wilkinson is in the process of preparing to fly our cranes in the library.
WOW!! What a successful year it has been!
In the new year, we will welcome our first Humanities Head of Department, Ms Cecilia Hall, and I will say ‘farewell’ to the management of Humanities and Languages faculties.
On behalf of the English, Humanities and Languages faculty, thank you for your support throughout the year. Have a safe and restful break – we look forward to working with you in the new year.
It is my absolute pleasure to write my final newsletter article for the year to celebrate the work of our students, staff and wider community. I am so proud of all of our school community in our 3rd year of establishment. This term students continued to connect the learning that occurs within the science classroom to their lives outside of school, and became critical and creative thinkers by utilising their inquiry skills.
Our year 7 students investigated Earth Sciences this term, developing an understanding of the relationships between the Earth, The Moon, and Sun. Students studied how seasons occur, as well as how lunar and solar eclipses happen, and developed their research and inquiry skills, with multiple lessons dedicated to practising these skills throughout the term. For their assessment, students researched key questions and climate data to produce a multi-modal presentation, some of which can be seen below.
Year 8 students covered their Biology unit on Cells and Reproduction. They began the unit by comparing plant and animal cells, with classes making models to represent them. Classes then focused on human reproduction and physiology, with a particular emphasis on topics such as the menstrual cycle. At all times, this unit was in alignment with the demands of the Australia Curriculum, and was taught scientifically. Students finished the unit with an exam covering the unit content, as well as investigating artificial reproductive techniques used in the livestock and dairy industry.
Our year 9 students investigated the Earth’s structure this term by delving into the different layers of Earth, researching and investigating Continental drift and Pangaea, the movement of Tectonic plates, Greenhouse gases and Climate. This unit built on students’ inquiry skills, with multiple lessons focussed toward investigating natural and human impacts on the ecosystem, and on the Earth. Students also sat an exam for their assessment this term. To wrap up the unit, multiple classes looked into natural disasters, in particular, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The year 10 students continued on their varied pathways in this shorter term with both the Psychology and Chemistry classes continuing their semester units, both of which sat an exam during exam block week. The Psychology class delved into Statistics this term, while Chemistry students were introduced to organic chemistry, and the naming conventions used. Our Core science classes investigated motion, calculated speed, velocity, and acceleration, and finished the term with an exam.
The foundation class this term looked at Science inquiry skills, modelled around the senior Science in Practise subject. Students explored concepts such as The Big Bang and Evolution, and were tasked to create a multimodal presentation about their chosen Scientific theory or topic. This culminated in the class holding a Science fair to showcase their ideas, which was used as part of their assessment.
A massive thank you to all parents/caregivers for your ongoing support and encouragement of your child and, most importantly, our students for showing up every day to improve their educational outcomes and strive for excellence! This has been a huge year, I have relished working as the acting Head of Department for Science this semester, and look forward to what next year will bring.
I wish you all a wonderful and restful break, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Tim Barclay
Acting Head of Department - Science
What a year 2022 has been! There have been so many wonderful accomplishments I would like to recognise today:
- The work of the Math faculty in developing a Year 10 program of study that is aligned to the senior pathways and further supports student transition into the senior years. A big thank you goes to Miss Mary Mahipus and Mr James Gerchow for the development of the Math Extension and Short Course programs.
- We have continued to refine and improve the Math curriculum in Year 7-9 to ensure clear alignment to the Australian Curriculum.
- We developed a faculty wide approach to Problem Solving that more closely aligns with Senior curriculum and regularly exposes students to problem solving skills.
- We collaborated with the team at University of Queensland on the LYLAC research project. This project involves our team being involved in professional development, co-planning, classroom observation and engaging in feedback/coaching session with the UQ staff. This program is supporting us to incorporate reasonable adjustments into our Mathematics classrooms to further support students with disabilities.
- We have started to develop all artefacts and plans for our first Year 11 cohort. In 2023 we will be introducing Mathematical Methods, General Mathematics and Essential Mathematics into our scope.
- We, again, welcomed many new staff to our faculty who have become such valued members of our team and adapted so well to our positive culture at RVSSC.
- We had 36 students participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition in August. After finally receiving our certificates we have been able to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students. I am very proud to announce that we had 3 students who received a Distinction which put them in the top 20% of all competitors across Australia. Congratulations to Ella (7A), Isaac Atabila and Seth McDonald for this wonderful achievement.
Thank you to the wonderful mathematics team for all of their hard work and dedication. Our staff are always striving for excellence for our students and this hard work is greatly appreciated. Congratulations to all of our students for their perseverance.
Tess Reeves
HoD Mathematics
Corporate vs Poverty
Design Technology
Year 9 Resin Stools, Year 9 Helicars, Year 10 Tambour Box
Food Technologies
Year 8 Pizza Creations, Year 9 Canteen Creations, Year 10 Sugar Cookies
Lorinda Stiles
HoD Creative Industries
lstil21@eqeduu.au
Dance
This term Grade 7 Dance have enjoyed learning some iconic movements from various eras. Through intense research they have collaboratively planned a choreographic routine inspired by the Evolution of Dance stimulus. We can't wait to see the final result of all their hard work!
Grade 9 Dance have finished off the year with some creative performances choreographed by themselves. With a mash up of various musicals, they have got into character and successfully worked collaboratively to convey their ideas. With many challenges came great triumph which is evident in their results.
Year 10 Dance students have officially completed their last piece of assessment for the year. They have finished up with a theory exam where they have had to respond to an unseen stimulus. Students have applied their analytical skills to draw meaning from the contemporary routine. We look forward to many of these students continuing onto our senior dance program next year in grade 11.
Dance Squad finished the year off with a combined pancake breakfast with Dance Troupe before they were off for their final public performance at Orion. After a photo with Santa it was time to pack away the costumes and prep for auditions!
We have had a successful time with auditions for both Junior and Senior Dance Squads for 2023. The talent in the room was at such a high standard, certainly making it a tough decision. If you missed out on auditioning this year, don’t worry! We will be holding another audition early next year.
Congratulations to all of our Dance Troupe students who have had a successful year developing their technical and expressive skills. We look forward to seeing many of these students audition for next year's team and are so impressed with how far they have come this year. Thank you to all of the parents who have supported our extra-curricular dance programs.
This year RVSSC introduced a cheerleading inspired pom team. Students from Dance Troupe and Squad were given the opportunity to audition for the routine performed at 2022 Arts Showcase. Over fourteen weeks, sixteen students learnt how to perform basic stunting, including teddy sit, show-and-go, thigh stands and learned the correct form for performing cheerleading jumps. Students displayed their commitment to the team by attending early Friday morning trainings, and additional lunch trainings (where necessary) and applied significant effort to ensure a clean routine was showcased. The 2022 team inspired many students to audition for the 2023 cheerleading team. Cheerleading is a sport that promotes team building and encourages collaboration across a variety of abilities, year levels and personalities, whilst ensuring the safety of all team members is at the forefront of the team’s priorities. Coach Keating is excited to move up to a level 1/level 2 routine in the new year and incorporating the use of the newly purchased non-spring cheer dead mat.
Drama
Year 8 Drama are finishing up their final assessment task where they have stepped into the shoes of a director! For this task they have been using the play text Honey Spot which is in the genre of Australian Theatre. They have been busy writing directors statements, drawing costume and set designs and evaluating their progress as they go.
Year 9 Drama students have just submitted their theory assessment where they have linked modern comedy to Commedia dell'arte conventions and characters. Commedia dell’arte is a crucial convention of stock characters psychological characteristics, lazzi, and characters battle for status is heavily influenced by current comedies to this day. Despite the fact that this style was developed many years ago, its primary stylistics rules were so beneficial in crafting comedic pieces that they are being utilized in many modern comedies today. Commedia dell’arte relies extensively on two dimensional, or often stereotypical, characters, similar to those found in many current comedies. An effective application makes use of dramatic elements and conventions such as role, relationship, lazzi, and tone which can be seen through the American animated television series “The Simpsons.” The uses of stock characters such as Colombina, Arlecchino and Pulcinella conducts different relationship statuses, along with conventions of stereotyping characters to successfully form a piece of Commedia Dell’ Arte. The theatrical norms and features clearly indicate how this styles heritage underlie todays current comedies.
Year 10 Drama students have finished up for the year with their final assessment in exam block. Next year we will be offering both ATAR Drama and Drama in Practice for students to continue their studies.
Congratulations to our Drama Troupe on completing their first year at our college. We have been so excited to offer extra-curricular Drama to our community. For those students who are interested in being part of this group next year we will have information out early Term 1 on how you can be part of this team.
Music
Year 7 Music students are finishing up on their composing task which has been an exciting opportunity for them to create their own song and work with music editing programs. These students will then be able to select Music as an elective again when they are in year 9.
Year 10 Music students have finished up for this year with their final composition task which was due this week during their exam session. Next year for year 11 we will be offering both general and applied syllabuses for students to continue their Music studies.
This year our school vocal group has slowly grown throughout the year, culminating in our performances at Showcase. Their vocal coach, Mr Barclay, is very proud of their commitment and growth, and looks forward to continuing to work with them next year. For students who are interested in joining next year, communications will come out early next year.
Creative Generation 2023
C-Gen nominations have been sent in! We thank all students who have signed up and can't wait for auditions next year!
Jessica Starkey
HOD - Performing Arts
We are approaching the end of the schooling year and the Christmas festivities will soon begin!
All our classes are in the drafting and/or final stages of their assessment period. A reminder for all our students for their final assessment to be completed and submitted via Daymap under their "current tasks" tab. An example can be seen below:
If your child is in need of submitting an extension request please locate the RVSSC Student page by clicking the link below:
You will then need to click your child's year level and complete the attached form. Example seen below:
Thank you for allowing us to teach your student in the 2022 Schooling Calendar Year. We wish all our RVSSC Families a safe and wonderful Christmas/New Year.
See you all in 2023.
Yours in sport,
Welcome back Sports Fans,
CONGRATULATIONS -Ayden Ottley
Last week Ayden Ottley (7G) competed in the Australian National Gasshuku in Canberra.
Gasshuku is a form of Japanese martial arts and after a fantastic run of fights, he managed to place 3rd overall in the Kumite Division. Congratulations on your achievement, Ayden!
As always, any questions related to sport please contact the sports coordinator Mr Justin Clifford (jclif117@eq.edu.au)
Justin Clifford
Sports Co-ordination
Student Support Services – personal development programs on offer Semester 1, 2023
The Student Support Services staff at Ripley Valley State Secondary College, are committed to helping young people develop the skills they will need to be effective citizens. We will be offering students opportunities to take part in a range of personal development programs aimed to assist in building resilience, problem-solving, social and communication skills. The skills learnt in the small group programs are above and beyond what is offered in the Positive Behaviour for Learning Curriculum for all students. If you feel your child needs building resilience or a boost to their social and emotional wellbeing, please get in contact with the relevant staff member below. Participation in the programs is voluntary.
Rock & Water
One of the personal development programs on offer is the Rock & Water Program and we will be offering this to students in Grades 8 and 9 in term 1. Rock and Water is a program that decreases bullying and depressive feelings, and increases self-esteem, self-regulation and social acceptance. It also builds self-confidence, self-respect and self-reflection through psychophysical training.
Further information about the program can be found by visiting www.rockandwater.com.au/
Participation in the program is voluntary.
If you would like more information or believe your child would benefit, please contact the Chaplain Kristian Atkins on katki121@eq.edu.au or (07) 3819 5333.
Girls’ Group
Top of Form
During this term 1, 2023 we will be running a girls’ group for Year 8 students within the junior school. This program will be developed and facilitated by the Youth Support Coordinator (YSC), Alicia Pickerill, and has been designed to offer a fun and engaging way for young girls to explore a range of topics including; self-esteem, confidence, friendships, body image, self-care, mindfulness and goal setting. Throughout the program, students will utilize arts and crafts to create and develop their own reflective journal that they can keep and reflect back on as needed. If your daughter is in Years 7 to 9 and you would like your daughter to participate in this program in the future, please contact Alicia on apick125@eq.edu
RAGE
A new addition to our personal development suite for students is the RAGE program. RAGE is a six-week anger management course for adolescents running in Term 2 for students in grade 8 to 9. RAGE is a strength-based solution focused program that is hands on, practical and also fun for kids. Parents, teachers, carers and the like have commented on how this course has helped them and their children deal with the most misunderstood human emotion, anger.
The Session themes are:
- The Many Faces of Anger
- The 4T’s Anger Cycle
- Healthy Expressions of Anger
- Getting Through the Guilt of Anger
If your son/daughter is in Years 7 to 9 and you would like your daughter to participate in this program in the future, please contact Alicia on apick125@eq.edu
Janet Ingram
Guidance Officer
The last few weeks of the term are always busy, and this is also true for our ADF student community and their families. Families posting in and out of our College are now fully ensconced in the logistical nightmare that comes with the upheaval of families at this time of the year, as their Defence member embarks on new roles in new locations.
To all of our departing ADF Families, I would like to personally wish you all the very best in your new jobs, homes and schools, and on behalf of Ripley Valley State Secondary College (RVSSC), we wish nothing but the best for our students who are moving on to new schools. Please remember that, change is not an ending, but an opportunity to grow as an individual, a friend and as a student.
On the 7th November RVSSC commemorated Remembrance Day.
In preparedness for the commemoration, some ADF students and I embarked on a Working Bee at ANZAC way. Volunteers were students Sebastian, Aurora, Tayla and Lachlan.
The Cenotaph, statues, seating and railings were all washed clean and pathways and sandstones were swept free of debris.
Theirs was an outstanding effort, and I was very proud at the immaculate results. Well done everyone!
RVSSC commemorated Remembrance Day with a whole school assembly followed by a morning tea for invited guests to the college.
A heartfelt thank you to Paul Rogers (Ipswich RSL Sub Branch President), Padre Stephen Thomas (Regional Support Command Chaplain HQ Forces Command, Brisbane), representatives from the Ipswich Council and RVSSC ADF parents (Kathleen Sheen and Leslee Duggan) Piper Adam Regnart, Defence Affiliated Staff (Mr Lynn and Mr Clarke) who participated in our commemoration by reciting poems and prayer or laying wreaths.
Of special mention was the participation of students of the school, who performed their roles with the respect and stoicism befitting the occasion. A big thank you to Lucy (Flanders Field) Jackson, Defence Peer Mentor (The Ode), Addison (Navy Cadets), Seth (Air Force Cadets), Lorelei and Isabel (Wreath Layers) for helping to make Remembrance Day as special as it was.
Our new silhouette for ANZAC way was also unveiled, thanks to the metal cutting and welding talents of RVSSC Industrial Design Guru, Mr Clarke. Our new silhouette now stands proudly at the front of our College.
On the 11th November, RVSSC representatives attended the Remembrance Day Service at the Ipswich RSL Sub Branch. Our College was represented by Mr Pym, (Deputy Principal), Jayla and myself. It is always an honour to be invited to these important Military events, as they not only honour those who have served, but those in the ADF who are currently serving.
We have now reached the end of yet another challenging year. The ADF students at RVSSC have worked hard, some have made new friends, some have contributed to mentoring their peers and others are preparing to begin another chapter in their lives in a new location. All have earned a well-earned rest over the holiday season.
On behalf of all of the ADF students, and from my family to yours, I wish you all a safe, peaceful, and restful break over the Christmas holidays. Merry Christmas everyone.
Defence School Mentor
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
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:
Wednesday and Friday 0800 - 1400hrs
Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au
Phone : 0436 944 525
Tracey Cooper
Defence School Mentor
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Dear Parents/Carers,
We have hit the end of 2022 and what a year it has been! I've enjoyed working alongside the staff and students of this amazing college and am looking forward to what 2023 will bring.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club has finished for the year, but will recommence early in term one of the new year.
Rock & Water
I'm planning Rock & Water for 2023. If your child has been selected for the program, keep a look out for the parental permission form in the near future.
2023 Peer Mentors
Our 2023 Peer Mentors have been selected and will undergo a 2-day training on Monday the 5th and Tuesday the 6th of December. It'll be great to have our new Peer Mentors join the team next year.
I want to take this time to thank this year’s Peer Mentors. They have all worked incredibly hard developing what a Peer Mentor is and I look forward to working alongside them in the future.
Spiritual Support
One of my roles as Chaplain is to provide spiritual support, and a way I can 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 local to you.
Chaplaincy Committee
The Local Chaplaincy Committee is the supporting and guiding body behind the Chaplaincy Service helping to shape it to meet the wellbeing of the school community at both here at RVSSC & at the Primary School. If you would like to attend and be a part of the committee, we have our next meeting on Thursday the 16th of February 2023 at 4pm. If you want more information about this, feel free to contact me.
SU Camps
Scripture Union Australia, the organisation that employs the chaplains here in Ripley Valley and in hundreds of schools across the country, is also a camping organisation. If you are looking for something for your child to do over the holidays, please follow the following link. https://sucamps.org.au/?season=summer
I wish you all a great and safe Christmas Holiday break and look forward to seeing you in 2023.
Online orders CLOSED FOR THE YEAR on Friday 25th November
Students will not be able to place online orders for the last two weeks of term. This is to ensure we can run down current stock so we are not holding perishable food over the Christmas holidays.
The canteen will be open as normal, and students will be able to purchase food each day, just no pre orders.
CANTEEN LAST DAY OF OPERATION FOR YEAR - Thursday 8th December
Students will need to bring lunch on Friday the 9th of December
REWARDS DAY LUNCH PACKS PRE ORDER
Lunch packs can be ordered and paid for at the canteen anytime before Wednesday 30th November.
Two types of lunch packs are available for rewards day.
- Scroll box (ham and cheese scroll, bottle of water, frozen juice box, muffin & packed of chips)
- Wrap box (chicken Caesar wrap, bottle of water, frozen juice box, muffin and packet of chips)
Vegetarian option available on request
Boxes are $10, to be paid when ordering.
Pick up will be from the canteen first thing in the morning before bus leaves for rewards day on the 5th Dec
CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 2023
Our students number continue to grow so the canteen would LOVE some extra help, any day, any time between the hours of 8.30am to 2.00pm.
RVSSC canteen is a fun, friendly environment and we need your help!
Your children will love seeing you volunteer too!
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Term 4 |
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Monday 28 November - Thursday 1 December |
Year 8 & 9 Camp |
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Tuesday 29 November |
Enrolment Information Sessions - 3:30pm and 5:00pm RaptorDome |
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Friday 2 December |
Year 7 2023 Orientation Day Semester 2 Reports issued |
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Monday 5 December |
Year 7-9 Students Rewards Day Wet N Wild |
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Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 December |
Peer Skills Training for selected students |
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Wednesday 7 - Friday 9 December |
Alternate Program for Years 7-9 Students |
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Friday 9 December |
Last Day for 2022 - Years 7-9 |
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Please use the QR code below to book an appointment.
We all deserve respectful, safe and non-violent environments, so aggression and harassment of any kind—physical, verbal or otherwise—isn't acceptable.
When you interact with school staff, remember we're all on the same team to support your child. We all have your child's best interests at heart, and the best way to achieve a positive learning experience is to work together.
