Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning
- Deputy Principal - Culture and Development
- Deputy Principal - Pathways & Partnerships
- Business Manager
- Student Support Services - Inclusion
- Junior Schooling
- Science
- English
- VET AND Digital Technology
- Humanities and Languages
- Mathematics
- Creative Industries and Food Studies
- Performing Arts
- Health and Physical Education
- GP Clinic at RVSSC
- Defence News
- Chaplain News
- Canteen News
- Uniform Shop
- Upcoming Events
- Community Notices
Dear Parent/Carer,
Welcome to the new school year and what I hope has been an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas holiday period. It was a pleasure on Monday to officially welcome the many new staff, students and their families to our college. Starting a new year is always a mixture of both excitement and nervousness and it has been pleasing to see students settle in so quickly to our college throughout the week.
This year, like every other year, will present a range of exciting opportunities and challenges for staff and students alike. Many of our Year 11 students embark on new senior subjects as they work towards their ATAR, or participate in school-based traineeships, apprenticeships and vocational training. Our year 10 students begin their senior phase of learning, and also embark on range of new subjects and programs that prepare them for the rigors of year 11 and 12 and the world of work when they graduate. This year we also commence 2 new Academy programs in addition to our existing programs so that as a college we now have Excellence Academies in Football/Futsal, Ignite (Academic), Dance and eSport. These programs developed in partnership with external parties provide a unique opportunity for students to develop and explore areas of specialisation and interest. As our college continues to grow our Academy programs will continue to expand and I look forward to these developments in the future.
This year, with over 800 students enrolled across years 7-11, our building facilities are very tight. However, late last year the State Government announced the commencement of additional buildings in 2023 and this year I look forward to 2 new buildings beginning construction in late Term 1 ready for the start of the 2024 school year. The 2 new buildings will include a purpose built Performing Arts Centre (P.A.C) and General Learning Building which will accommodate our college for up to 1,100 students. Further plans are already in development as we master plan our college for continued growtha nd expansion. I look forward to sharing these building plans and designs with you in our next newsletter.
As we begin to settle into the routines of 2023 I would also encourage any parents/carers to join our active and enthusiastic P & C Association. All people are welcome to attend and the first General meeting and AGM will be held on Thursday the 16th February in the B block community Hub from 6.30pm. Further information is available on the P & C Facebook page and our college website.
Once again, Thank you for your participation and partnership with the college in your child's education and I look forward to an enjoyable 2023.
Yours Sincerely,
Brendan Krueger
Foundation Principal
Assessment Planner
All students will receive a hard copy of their Assessment Planner during Week 4. The Assessment Planner outlines all assignments and exams that are to be completed during Semester One. A new assessment planner is issued each Semester, when students are completing new elective subjects.
I encourage you to put this on the fridge when it comes home and help your child organise themselves during the busy assessment period at the end of Term. Information about individual assessment tasks is available to parents/carers and students via Daymap.
NAPLAN is moving to Term 1!
The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has consulted with the States and Territories and decided to move NAPLAN to Term 1 from 2023.
This means that all students in Years 7 and 9 will be undertaking preparation activities for NAPLAN during Week 4 prior to the NAPLAN tests in Weeks 8 and 9.
Please stay tuned for further information in future newsletters and email communication to parents/carers about these changes to NAPLAN.
If you do not wish for your student to participate in NAPLAN, please contact me at epren3@eq.edu.au or Ms Taletha Champs at tcham22@eq.edu.au
Uniform Expectations
- Hair below shoulder length is to be tied back
- Nails are to be natural colouring and no longer than 5mm
- Bracelets, Bangles, Anklets and Facial Piercings are not permitted
- Earrings must be small studs or sleepers and no more than 2 per ear
Our Year 10 students are looking so grown up in their Senior Uniforms. As it is their first time wearing these uniforms, it is timely to remind you of our expectations:
- The Style One Shirt is worn tucked in and with a belt
- Belts are to be plain black with a silver buckle no wider than 30mm
- Students are to wear the House Uniform on Wednesdays
- House Shirt
- Sports Shorts (Junior Uniform item)
- Navy Socks
- Black Leather Shoes
Welcome back to another wonderful year at Ripley Valley State Secondary College! I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable break, and are excited and energised for the year ahead. To our new Year 7 students, I trust that your transition to High School has not been too daunting and that you are starting to find your place with the College.
As ever, the pace of life only seems to quicken, and already we find ourselves in the midst of an eventful calendar. On the first day back, we welcomed all new staff and students into our College Community and inducted all students in The Ripley Way – highlighting our expectations and core values of Respect, Responsibility and Perseverance. Thanks to those parents and special guests who attended and helped celebrate this important event. On Friday of the first week, all students will be involved in House Day, where students develop their sense of belonging and competitive House spirit by participating in a range of events and activities. By the end of the week students will also be introduced to their Year Level Teams, including their Deputy Principal, Heads of Department and Year Level Coordinators – all of whom are keen to meet and greet their new cohorts.
Year 7 Team
Upcoming Events in Term 1
- School Photos: On Friday 10th February all students will have their photos taken in the RaptorDome. Please ensure you are familiar with the uniform, jewellery and make-up policy prior to this day. Further information about this event will be emailed out in the coming weeks.
- Student Leadership Investiture: On Monday 20th February all student leaders will be inducted into their positions as part of our Investiture Ceremony. This will involve House Captains, Junior School Captains and Vice-Captains, Peer Mentors, and all other members of the Student Representative Council (SRC). Year 7 students will be given the opportunity to apply for SRC positions over the next few weeks, and further information will be sent home regarding this process and event.
- End of Term Rewards Day: On the 31st of March (last day of Term 1) students will have the opportunity to participate in the Rewards Trip. In order to qualify students must have maintained:
- 95% Attendance
- No Suspensions and no more than 2 Administrative Detentions
- Completed all assessment
Finally, I wish all students an enjoyable and rewarding start to the year and hope that you are able to achieve you goals and New Year resolutions. I look forward to working with you and your child in 2023 and celebrating their successes throughout the year.
Dear Parent/Carer,
Welcome to the start of 2023 and I hope your holiday season was both enjoyable and relaxing. As our College continues to grow we find ourselves each year looking at the path ahead with excitement and enthusiasm. This year is no different with the introduction of Year 11 and a wide range of subjects to equip and support students to achieve their chosen pathways.
Whether students are on an ATAR pathway, undertaking vocational training at school or with an external provider, participating in our foundation Health Academy or participating in school-based apprenticeships or traineeships, they are afforded opportunities to chase their dreams and passions. Such diverse and varied pathways aren’t possible without the countless hours of work completed by teachers and support staff to plan and prepare these classes. As such, a huge thank you must go to all the teachers and staff who have been involved in planning and preparing for this phase of our students’ educational journey.
As I met with our Year 11 students this week, I encouraged them to look for the small areas in their life they are able to improve by 1%. David Brailsford, past coach of the British Cycling team, calls this strategy the aggregation of marginal gains. His philosophy is that if you break down every aspect of a larger task and improve each part by 1%, when you add them all up, you make a large improvement overall. My encouragement to students was for them to look for areas in their lives where they can improve by 1%. This could be putting their phone in another room while studying, getting better sleep, exercising to reduce stress, reading over notes each day, submitting complete drafts, planning assessment tasks or developing a study plan and so on. Each one in itself is a small change, however the accumulation of all those 1% improvements leads to greater overall improvement. Take the time to sit down with your student and discuss the areas where they have an opportunity to make small changes.
As we head in to 2023, I look forward to continuing to work with the Year 11 students and their families to turn their dreams and aspirations into reality.
Todd Robson
Deputy Principal - Year 11 - Pathways & Partnerships
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.
Year 7, Year 8 & Year 9 - The invoices for the 2023 SRS will be emailed to all families by Friday the 3rd February, 2023. These invoices will be for the full amount payable for the year ($675). Payment plans are available (see payment options below) 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 $225 due Friday the 17th February
- 2nd instalment $225 due Friday the 12th May
- 3rd instalment $225 due Friday the 4th of August
Year 10 and Year 11
The invoices for the 2023 SRS will be emailed to all families by Friday the 10th February, 2023. These invoices will be for the SRS base amount of $500. Subject fees will be invoiced seperately for each of the elective subjects that the students have selected. These fees are outlined in the SRS Parent Information letter below. Payment plans are available and will be able to be set up once the invoices have been generated.
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.
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 date you want the payments to start and how often you would like the payments made eg weekly ($27.00 over 25 weeks) or fortnightly ($56.25 over 12 fortnights).
Centrepay Deduction - Payment by Centrepay deduction can also be arranged through Administration.
Booklist for 2023
Refer to the links below for the stationery requirements for 2023.
Michelle Mills
Business Manager
How do we support students?
We operate a Multi-tiered System of Support that promotes success for all students. The graphic below helps to illustrate how this system works.
Our support team work collaboratively with all staff to provide opportunities for all students to improve and reach their goals. For some students, this looks like support in their classroom, delivered by their teachers (Tier 1). For others, this might mean specialised programs delivered in or outside of school hours (Tier 3). We have added a fourth Tier to illustrate the work we do with external agencies to support our students. Every student is unique, as are their needs so we tailor to the individual and collect data on their strategies to make sure they are successful.
As parents and carers, your input on the strategies we make are so important to the success of your child's Personalised Learning Plan. Twice a year, we will send these Personalised Learning Plans home for your input as well as your childs’. We also offer meetings by appointment through Admin at any time to discuss these plans so they reflect the right support for your child.
Reasonable adjustments resourcing (RAR) allocation
Each state school receives a core allocation of resources and funding to support the learning needs of all students. In addition to the core allocation, RAR allocates extra teachers and teacher aides to schools where adjustments are needed for students with disability. The resources are allocated to schools, not individual students.
Under RAR, the resource allocation for each school is based on the level of supports students with disability need to access and participate in education.
Why do we collect Data?
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
- year of schooling
- category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
- level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
This information assists schools to:
- formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
- consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
- develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.
The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).
Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).
How does funding work for students with a disability?
Schools are allocated resources for all students with disability.
The department has engaged the Community Resource Unit (CRU) to support parents of students with disability across Queensland to build self-advocacy skills and to work effectively with schools. CRU holds workshops in communities across Queensland to help families to learn more about inclusive education and how families can develop a collaborative relationship with their child’s school. To register for a workshop or find out more about the supports, visit the CRU website.
We are hear to support so let us know how we can help.
| Head of Department Inclusion | Rhiannon Kemp |
| Guidance Officer | Janet Ingram |
| Speech and Language Pathologist | Nicole Anderson |
| Inclusion Coordinator (Coach) | Tim Barclay & Andria Ballschmeiter |
| 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
Head of Department - Junior Schooling & HPE - Year 7A to 7D
Welcome back to all our RVSSC parents, community members, and students. I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing break and time was spent with loved ones. I’m looking forward to meeting all the students as they return for the year and welcoming the year 7 cohort to the school as they embark on the next phase of their education. I am also looking forward to working with our year 11 students as they commence their senior pathways.
As the school continues to grow we’ve also added a few new staff members to the science faculty this year. I’d like to formally welcome Ms C Newton and Ms T Writer to the Science faculty, as well as Mrs Ellen Grant, who will joining the team in Week 3 as our new Head of Department – Science. I’d also like to thank the continuing staff of Mr S Sogarthur, Miss C McKendry, Ms A Constable, Miss O Roberts, Ms S Wang, Ms K Hansen, and Mrs S Saini for their continuing support to the faculty and helping new staff find their feet so quickly.
This year our focus will continue to be on providing quality and engaging learning opportunities for all students and to help them connect the learning in the classroom to their lives outside of school. Whilst we will focus on particular areas of science knowledge, it is vital that we teach the inquiry skills that underpin science. The beauty of science is the framework of asking questions and then working through a process to determine an answer to that question. We hope this year to light the fire of curiosity and inquisitiveness in students as they interact with the world around them and help them discover the answers to the questions they pose.
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Year 7 |
Our year 7 students start the year with their Chemistry unit, investigating the water cycle, states of matter and the particle model, and separation techniques. This unit develops their experimental and inquiry skills, with multiple lessons dedicated to practising these skills throughout the term. Students will complete an experiment to separate a mixture into clean, reusable water as their assessment. |
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Year 8 |
Year 8 students will be covering their Biology unit on Cells and Reproduction. This unit will focus on human reproduction and physiology, with a particular emphasis on topics such as the menstrual cycle. At all times, this unit is in alignment with the demands of the Australia Curriculum, and will be taught scientifically. As educators, cultural understanding and sensitivity will be held with upmost importance. If there are any queries about the content within this unit or the resources used, please do not hesitate to contact your student’s teacher. Assessment for this term is an exam. |
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Year 9 |
Year 9 students investigate matter as a changing state between solids, liquids and gases. Students investigate how the particles in each state interact and are able to discuss methods of heat transfer including convection, conduction and radiation. Students investigate the wave model to explain how particles move, describe how light travels and how this affects the way we see the world around us. The assessment for this unit sees students design and create a heat shield. |
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Year 10 Foundation |
In Science Foundation, students will look at Science inquiry skills, modelled around the senior Science in Practise subject. Students will explore concepts such as The Big Bang and Evolution. |
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Year 10 Core |
In Science Core, students will investigate the Periodic Table and Ionic compounds, and see how changing temperature, concentration, and surface area effects the rate of reactions. Students will then modify a rates of reaction experiment already conducted previously in class for their assessment to further study variability in experiments. |
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Year 10 Extension |
Students in both Science extension classes will cover content from the year 10 Science curriculum, as well as start to develop senior science technical and inquiry skills. Students will also be exposed to specific senior curriculum and rigour surrounding senior assessment. |
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Year 11 Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Physics |
Year 11 students studying senior Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology will start the term reviewing key concepts and skills before delving into their units. Senior units of work bring a much higher workload, and it is paramount students stay on top of their studies, seeking clarification and assistance as soon as possible. Senior sciences offer a wonderful array of experiments and topics for students to be part of, and it will be exciting to see them grow in their individual pursuits and interests in science. |
As a team, we look forward to another exciting year and wish all our students the best as they get back in to the learning routines within all their classes.
Tim Barclay
Acting Head of Department - Science - Year 8F to 8I
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new, and returning students, and their families. The English faculty staff are looking forward to getting into classrooms and meeting their students.
As our college continues to grow, so are the subjects our faculty is offering this year. 2023 sees the addition of two more English subjects: Year 11 General and Essential English.
With this growth, we also welcome a number of new staff to our very talented and dedicated team.
"At Ripley, I am most looking forward to getting to know the students and igniting their passion for English. If I wasn’t a teacher, I would love to move to Paris and become a writer." - Mr Nick Devin
"At Ripley, I am most looking forward to getting to know my students and contributing to the school’s growing community and curriculum. If I wasn’t a teacher, I would love to move somewhere very cold and work in the editing and/or publishing of novels." - Ms Aly Brown
"At Ripley, I am most looking forward to a new an exciting challenge and getting to teach awesome students! If I wasn’t a teacher, I would love to get paid to travel around the world" - Ms Rizvanovic
We welcome Mr Devin, Ms Brown, and Ms Rizvanovic and are excited by the skills, knowledge and, fresh ideas they each bring to our faculty. Additionally, we welome Mrs Andria Ballschieter to both the English facutly and SSS. Mrs Ballschmieter has a passion for teaching neurodiverse learners and we look forward to benefiting from her vast experience.
I am personally looking forward to getting back into the classroom with our students and working throughout the year with their families to ensure their success in English.
Welcome back to an exciting year ahead in our VET & Digital Technologies spaces. Not only do we have the first year of our eSports Academy, we also have a range of new vocational subjects available to our Year 11's as they enter into their final phase of high school.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
It's great to see the number of students getting involved in our Digitech & eSports curriculum's already for 2023! For the first time ever, we have the Year 7 eSports Academy, Year 10 Digital Technologies, and Year 11 Information & Communication Technology (eSports). Mr Sogathur, Mr Simmons & Mr Ezzy have enjoyed their first week back & getting to meet their new students for 2023. We have a range of competitions, clubs & activities being planned for our students in these spaces - stay tuned for updates in the Student Notices and in the newsletters!
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING (VET)
Our VET Trainers have had a great first week back getting to know all their students, and our external partners have been overwhelmed with the number of students enrolling into the various courses on offer.
James Gerchow
Acting Head of Department - VET and Digital Technology - Year 11
The Humanities and Languages Faculty has hit the ground running this year with the introduction of many Senior subjects. We are excited to be offering Modern History, Geography, Legal Studies, Business, Tourism, and Social and Community Studies. We are hoping that we can expand in the future with Ancient History and Japanese. These subjects along with the other ones we offer in Years 7-10 will be the makings of a very busy faculty for 2023 - watch this space for upcoming activities, excursions and events!
Cecilia Hall
Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 9E to 9G
A very warm welcome back to the 2023 school year! This year we are also excited to welcome a number of new staff to our team. Mrs Lisa Shyhun, Mr Brad Perren, Miss Chloe Stanley, Mr Aaron Palmer and Mr Jarrod Harvey.
Over Week 1 and 2 the fortnightly focus is to ensure that students are prepared for learning. With that said, please be aware of the following equipment students will need in Mathematics:
- All students MUST have their own scientific calculator. This is so they can become familiar with how to accurately use their specific device ahead of assessments.
- Notebooks and general stationary will be required every lesson. The nature of writing mathematical formulae mean that laptops are not as suitable as a good old notebook and pen and these will be required every lesson.
- Year 7 Math Enrichment - all Year 7 students must have an additional notebook that they use during Math Enrichment lessons.
- Charged laptops - please support your child/ren to ensure they establish routines for charging their laptop overnight.
Homework Policy
For all students in Year 7 to Year 9, weekly homework sheets will be sent home via Daymap from Week 2 onwards. These homework sheets will not be sent home during times of assessment. It is expected that students will be completing these and returning them to the teacher before or on the homework due date. All of this information will be found within the subject on Daymap and is available for parents to see via the Daymap parent portal. If students need support with these we encourage them to attend mathematics tutoring.
Tutoring
Tutoring will be available for all students on Tuesday's 2nd break and Thursdays 1st break in CG01. All students are welcome!
I wish all of our families a safe, healthy and happy 2023 and we look forward to supporting all students in the Mathematics classrooms.
Tess Reeves
Head of Department - Mathematics - Year 9A to 9D
MEET THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES TEAM
My name is Mrs Ballschmieter, or Mrs B which is easier to pronounce. I'm excited to be joining RVSSC this year. I've been teaching for 11 years, and have three beautiful boys plus a very mischievous puppy to look after in my downtime. I'm really looking forward to getting to know the school community in 2023 while teaching across English and Food Studies.
My name is Rachael Stefanutti and I have been teaching Food Studies and Hospitality for five years. I am very passionate about cooking and am excited to share that with the Ripley Valley students and community.
Head of Department - Creative Industries and Food Studies - Year 8A to 8E
lstil21@eqeduu.au
Welcome back to the Performing Arts for 2023!
As we enter a new schooling year I would like to take the opportunity to re-introduce some staff you may already know and also welcome some new teachers to our team.
Continuing on from 2022:
Dale Ezzy - Music Coordinator, Classroom Music & Instrumental Music
Jason Coles - Music and Drama
Jocelyn McLeod - Drama
Tina Dixon - Dance and Drama
Damika Doorley - Dance and Drama
Tim Barclay - Creative Generation Coordinator
Tommii Keating - Cheer Coach
New staff to join our team this year include:
Dave Turner: Music
Kiera-lee O'Neil: Dance and Music
Joshua Johnstone: Instrumental Music
I have the pleasure of leading this team in the Head of Department of Performing Arts role. My main teaching area is Dance but I have a passion for all of the performing arts subjects and I am particularly passionate about productions that span across the 3 subjects areas.
Here in the Performing Arts we offer Dance, Drama, Music and Instrumental Music as a part of our curriculum. I am very excited to announce that this year we are launching our Dance Excellence Academy. This curriculum class will be made up on year 7 and 8 students who have been through a rigorous trial and audition process to be a part of this group. The Dance Excellence Academy has been designed to challenge students with a learning experience in dance that focuses on technique and performance.
Of course this year we will also be offering a variety of Extra-curricular opportunities for your children. These include:
DANCE
Junior Dance Squad
Senior Dance Squad
Cheer
Creative Generation
DRAMA
Drama Troupe
MUSIC
Vocal Ensemble
Stage Band
Concert Band
Drumline
Percussion Ensemble
If your child is interested in getting involved in one of our extra-curricular programs then please ensure they listen out to student notices in week one to find out how they can join one of these groups. Some of our representative teams use an audition based process to select students while other groups are an open invitation.
We look forward to working with you and your child this year as we continue to deliver programs of excellence in the Performing Arts.
Jessica Starkey
Head of Department - Performing Arts - Year 7E to 7H
Welcome back to Ripley Valley SSC and a brand new schooling year in 2023! The HPE Department hopes all our students, staff, parents/carers and wider Ripley community members had a safe and prosperous break.
With every year the school grows, we continue to grow as a Department, and I would like to re-introduce existing and new staff members to our wonderful HPE Team. I’d formally like to welcome Ms. Larisa Rizvanovic, Mr. Brett Phillip and Mr. Harvey to the HPE faculty who join us from their respective schools. I would like to thank the continuing staff of Mr. Ben Sharma, Mr. Justin Clifford, Ms. Christie McKendry and Ms. Kara Hansen.
As a faculty we are looking forward to developing an even bigger focus on the importance of Health and Physical Education and Sport. The College does offer a wide range of opportunities for extra-curricular activity so please be on the lookout for any updates via Daymap or the school socials. Mr. Justin Clifford is the best person to contact regarding Sport at the College – please contact him on jclif117@eq.edu.au for any sporting questions.
HPE Specific Equipment:
When HPE lessons are conducted on the oval, students ARE required to wear a hat, as per RVSSC’s sun safety policy; this is a part of the student uniform and all students should have a hat available. Students are allowed to bring their sport shoes to wear ONLY during HPE lessons. Students will need to change into these shoes at the beginning of the lesson and change into their regular black school shoes at the conclusion. We encourage all our students to also bring a water bottle to remain hydrated throughout the day and most importantly during the hot Ipswich climate.
All Term 1 Assessment:
During HPE in Term 1, all year levels will be assessed for both a theoretical and practical component throughout the term (minus Health). We are conscious that a lot of our students are either practically or theoretically talented, and in some cases, a combination of both. Therefore, in saying this, we are making sure we are providing an opportunity to demonstrate these skills to be successful. All assessment information is now available via Daymap and available to all students via their personal Daymap profiles. A reminder that if your student is absent during a timetabled assessment lesson, please follow the extension request that can be found in the student diary.
Benefits of Physically Activity:
As HPE Teachers we often talk about the importance of being Physically Active. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Everyone can experience the health benefits of physical activity – age, abilities, ethnicity, shape, or size do not matter. Below is some benefits of physical activity:
If you have any questions, please reach out to me via email, and for any sport related questions to email Mr. Justin Clifford on the email address found above.
GPs in Schools Pilot program
Ripley Valley State Secondary College was selected to participate in the GPs in Schools Pilot. The Pilot is part of the Queensland Government's Student Well-being Package, an initiative which makes it easier for all Ripley Valley SSC students and students in Year 6 at Ripley Valley SS to access the healthcare they need.
The Pilot has allowed our school to set up a fit-for-purpose GP clinic in our B block, community hub which already houses a community midwife clinic. This clinic provides students with access to a GP each Friday during school terms.
Our school clinic staff – Rachael Pratt (GP Administrator); Janet Ingram (Guidance Officer and program lead); Brendan Krueger (Principal); Dr Dushyant Singh (GP); and Daniel Pym (Deputy Principal and program lead).
Parents/Guardians and Students are able to book an appointment with the School GP by:
Email: GPbookings@ripleyvalleySSC.com.au
Phone: (07) 3819 5333
Students may also book an appointment by speaking directly with the GP Administrator at the main office.
If you would like support duing the process, you can also visit Student Support Services (J Block).
A first-time user of the clinic? If yes, please register you (student) or your child’s details using this link:
https://urgentcarebne.snapforms.com.au/form/student-registration-form---ripley-school-
This will register your medicare number, but the booking must be made via the options given above (email, phone or in person at Student Support Services).
What services will the GP provide?
Our school GP clinic will offer secondary students the majority of services that young people are able to access from GPs in the community, including management of physical health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health issues. The school GP clinic is not a vaccination centre.
Will there be a cost for students to see the GP?
All visits to the 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 students bring their Medicare card (or their Medicare number) with them to their appointment.
Dr Dushyant Singh, General Practitioner (GP) and Director of Urgent care Brisbane.
Dr Dushyant Singh was born in Amritsar, India, famous for Golden Temple. Dr Dushyant always wanted to be a doctor and worked diligently to enter medical school. He is an excellent footballer and at one point he represented his school at national level. After finishing Medicine, he worked in GP and Emergency. In Australia, he completed his fellowship General Practice and continued to practice as a GP with emergency skills while in Australia. Dr Singh is now director of Urgent Care Brisbane, a medical practice which treats walk in emergency appointments. Dr Singh’s passion for the adolescent health is evident. He states, “It comes with many challenges, and I still study and keep myself updated. I have always found adolescent Medicine very interesting and have developed skills of instant rapport building, a highly essential skill in consulting with adolescents! All doctors at Urgent care Brisbane are highly passionate and are welcoming of the state government initiative of GP in schools pilot program.”
Janet Ingram
Guidance Officer
And just like that 2023 is under way and it looks like it is shaping up to be another busy year.
I would like to extend a big welcome to all of our new ADF families.
Our Defence community continues to grow at Ripley Valley SSC, with 35 new ADF students and their families joining our College community. While most of our new students are from the local area, I would like to acknowledge those families who have just posted in from other states of Australia and overseas. This is an EXTREMELY busy time for you and your families. Settling into a new area, new schools and new routines can be a long and often frustrating process. That being said, the Defence School Mentor Program aims to help relieve some of the stresses that come with posting, at least where your children are concerned.
The Defence School Mentor Program
Defence recognises that the Defence lifestyle has a unique effect on the families (comprising parents, partners, children, etc) whose lives are impacted by their relationship to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) member, despite they themselves not being part of the ADF. Defence also acknowledges that the impact of the Defence lifestyle on children is a major challenge for Defence members and their families.
A ‘Defence family’ is defined as the immediate family of a serving Defence member, meaning their spouse or interdependent partner, and any children who normally live with the Defence member. Other dependents as nominated by a Defence member can also fall under their immediate family (for example, any children they are a guardian for).
Defence School Mentors are allocated to schools to help lessen the impact to education that the military lifestyle can have due to mobility, either of the families as they post from location to location or to the Defence member through deployments or other service related absences.
Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS)
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.
If you would like to know more about DMFS and its resources, head to:
https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families
The Defence Member and Family Helpline
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
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 - 1400hrs
Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au
Phone : 3819 5333
Tracey Cooper
Defence School Mentor
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Welcome back to a new school year It was great to see many new faces. I am looking forward to getting to know each new student throughout the year
For those who don't know, my name is Kristian Atkins, and I have the privilege to serve the community of RVSSC as the school chaplain. I am available at RVSSC Monday afternoons, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Friday Mornings.
Pastoral Care
As a school chaplain, my role is to provide emotional, spiritual and social support to the students and wider school community. One of the ways I provide support is with one-on-one pastoral care conversations. If you would like me to provide support for your child, please email me at katki121@eq.edu.au.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club, one of the extra-curricular programs of the school will start up again on Tuesday the 7th of February. Breakfast Club runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:15-8:45 am. 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. If your child wants to help out, they can do that by filling out the form that is in the school notices in Daymap.
Peer Mentors
A Peer Mentor is someone willing to serve the school in any way, shape or form but focuses on the wellbeing of students. Some students may not be comfortable talking to an adult about what is going on in their world. A Peer Mentor can step into that gap and connect the students with a trusted staff member in the school.
At the end of last year, Mrs Ingram the College’s Guidance Officer and myself trained many new Peer Mentors for 2023.
I want to congratulate each one of these students for their training, I am looking forward to working alongside them this year.
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 this sounds like something you would like to attend, our next meeting on Thursday the 6th of February. Please get in touch if you'd like additional information.
Rock & Water
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.
During Week 3-6 this term, I will be running Rock & Water with select students from year 8, 9 & 10 on Thursdays.
If you think this is something that your child could benefit from, please email me.
Year 11 Leadership Course
During Week 3-6 this term Mr Pym, Mr Lynn and myself will be running a Leadership Course for any year 11 students during Period 4 on Wednesdays. This program aims to build your child's leadership skills and capacities by examining:
- Who I am as a person
- Who I am as a leader
- The values, skills and character of a leader
If you haven’t received an permission form for it, please contact me.
I'm looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
Take care
REMINDER - OUR CANTEEN IS CASHLESS!!!
Online Ordering System for the Canteen
From Monday 30th January the canteen will be cashless starting . Ordering can be done online.
How to:
- Order from the menu on the MSA ordering system (see link below)
- Top up your students card so they purchase at the canteen directly, using their barcode in their diary.
Your MSA ordering system can:
- Monitor purchases
- Set spending limits
- Inform of allergy alerts
- Check balances
- Top up student accounts
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 1 |
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Tuesday 31 January |
Junior Dance Squad Auditions - 7:00am J Block |
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| Wednesday 1 February |
Senior Dance Squad Auditions - 7:00am J Block |
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Tuesday 7 February |
Central Comets Swimming |
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Friday 10 February |
School Photo Day |
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Saturday 11 February |
Dance Squad Rehearsals |
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Wednesday 15 February |
Yagera Gala Day (Futsal) Year 7 NAPLAN Practice (Period 4) |
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Thursday 16 February |
School Photo Catch Up Day P&C Meeting - AGM 6:30pm Community Hub P&C General Meeting 7:00pm Community Hub |
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Friday 17 February |
Yagera Gala Day (Volleyball) SRS Payment Due Year 9 NAPLAN Practice (Period 4) |
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Monday 20 February |
Yagera Gala Day (Touch Football) Student Investiture 8:45am RaptorDome |
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Tuesday 21 February |
Yagera Gala Day (Rugby League) |
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Wednesday 22 February |
QFSL Competition (Football Academy) |
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Thursday 23 February |
Yagera Gala Day (Basketball) |
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Friday 24 February |
Yagera Gala Day (Touch Football) |
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Monday 27 February |
QFSL Competition (Football Academy) QUT Young Accelerators STEM Workshop (IGNITE Academy) |
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Friday 3 March |
Fuse Cup (eSports Academy) Shave for a Cure - Second Break, Cafe Courtyard |
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Saturday 4 March |
Community Open Day 9:00am - 11:00am |
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Wednesday 8 March |
SEQ School Futsal Titles |
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Friday 10 March |
Fuse Cup (eSports Academy) |
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Wednesday 15 - Tuesday 21 March |
NAPLAN |
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Thursday 16 March |
P&C Meeting 7:00pm Community Hub |
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Friday 17 March - Monday 20 March |
SEQ School Futsal Titles |
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Friday 24 March |
2024 Year 7 Excellence Academies Trial Day 1 |
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Thursday 30 March |
Interhouse Cross Country |
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Friday 31 March |
Student Rewards Day Term 1 Report Cards issued Last Day Term 1 |
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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.
