Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning
- Deputy Principal - Pathways & Partnerships
- Deputy Principal - Culture and Development
- Junior Schooling
- Business Manager
- Digital Technology
- Student Support Services - Inclusion
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities and Languages
- Creative Industries and Food Studies
- Health and Physical Education
- Performing Arts
- VET
- School Sports News
- Defence News
- Chaplain News
- Canteen News
- Community Notices
- Uniform Shop
- Upcoming Events
Dear Parents/Carers,
It was a pleasure this week to formally present our student leaders with their badges of office at our annual Investiture ceremony. It was also a pleasure to have so many of our parents and invited guests attend this special occasion as the leaders made their pledges in front of our school community. I especially want to congratulate our Junior College Captains Gowrie Menon and Ellie Eastell who will lead us throughout 2023 and I look forward to announcing our inaugural senior college captains at our annual awards night later this year.
As we enter the middle phase of the school term I am continually impressed with the professionalism and dedication of our staff and the effort and attitudes of our students as they engage in teaching and learning. It is normal at this time of the term for students to feel a little anxious or stressed as they enter the assessment phase of their classes. For our year 7'S commencing high school and our senior students in particular, feelings of increased workload can feel overwhelming at times. I would encourage and student or parent if they have concerns regarding this workload and assessment process to contact the relevant teacher or administration officer so that we can help support your child during this time and adjust to these new expectations. We recognise that all people learn and respond differently to various situations and only by working together and communicating clearly can we develop positive strategies for moving forward.
Once again, I thank you for your ongoing support and partnership with the college and look forward to another great year at Ripley Valley State Secondary College.
Yours Sincerely,
Brendan Krueger
Foundation Principal
- NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. NAPLAN does not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. A child’s teacher will have the best insight into the child’s educational progress. NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.
- NAPLAN questions are directly linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. As such, the best preparation students can do for NAPLAN is to learn what they do in the classroom every day. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.
- The assessments allow parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy, and over time. Along with other school assessment reports, NAPLAN supports parents in discussing their child’s strengths and areas for improvement with teachers.
- NAPLAN results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress.
- NAPLAN can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy.
- Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. Some past NAPLAN papers are also available.
Goal Setting
All year 11 students recently completed a Goal Setting session with Elevate Education. One important piece of information Elevate shared with students was:
- The key to sustaining motivation is to have a clearly defined goal and top performing students have goals which contain the following two characteristics
- firstly they were very precise, specifying an exact ATAR as opposed to more general statements such as aiming to “do well” or get in the “eighties”.
- Secondly, the goals top students set tended to be written down.
Take the time this week to talk to your student about their goals. Help them to write down a clearly defined goal and post it somewhere for them to see it regularly. Once the goal is clearly defined, the next step is to develop the steps to help achieve this goal. As students progress through senior schooling they will have the opportunity to work with a number of staff to help them determine the steps they need in order to achieve their goals.
Senior Subjects
Senior schooling is an exciting time for Queensland students and an important step in preparing for their future. Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority has a large number of resources to support students in their senior subjects and understand the assessment processes. I encourage parents/carers to sit with the child and explore the following links to find out more information.
This section contains:
- links to subject syllabuses and teaching and assessment resources
- information about assessment and results
- information about the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
Student Drivers and Passengers
During the senior years of schooling many of our students become drivers and start driving themselves to school. Whilst this is a significant and exciting time for our young people it is critical that we know who they are.
Therefore, we request that if you have a student driver that you access the Student Driver Permission form and complete with your student and submit as soon as possible. This is to ensure the safety of your student.
It is also important that as parents/guardians you understand that we have a duty of care for all our students and that your son or daughter does not drive other students in their car without the prior appropriate permissions. Once again this is to protect the well-being of all of our students. If your child will be transporting other students, it is important that the Permission to be Transported by a Student Driver form is completed by all passengers and their parents/carers.
We would also like to remind all parents that students are not permitted to leave the school grounds without written permission from parents provided to the administration. It is not acceptable for students to leave the school grounds at any time during the day to get 'things' from their cars.
As a school we appreciate any support and reinforcement of these expectations from parents/guardians. Thank you for your ongoing support in this area.
If you have any questions about students driving, please contact Mr Todd Robson - Deputy Principal.
Todd Robson
Deputy Principal - Year 11 - Pathways & Partnerships
Term 1 Reflections:
It seems like only yesterday that we were hosting our 2023 Welcome Parade, and here we are already half-way through Term 1. How quickly time flies when you are having fun! I hope the first few weeks have been enjoyable for our students as they get to know their new teachers and settle into their classes. For our Year 7s, I trust the transition to High School has been pleasant, and that you are starting to find your place at Ripley Valley SSC. Please remember that should you need any assistance, you have an amazing team of people to call on, including your Teachers, Year Level Coordinators, Heads of Department, and Deputy Principals. Below is a Quick Reference Guide for the Student Management at the College to help identify the most suitable contact for each year level:
Student Investiture Ceremony:
This week we celebrated the investiture of our new Student Leaders for 2023. Attended by several special guests, parents and members of the school community, our new student leaders were presented with their badges and sworn into their respective offices. Over 60 students graced the stage, including those who had been elected as members of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Peer Mentors, Defence Peer Mentors, House Captains, Junior Captains and Junior Vice-Captains. Congratulation to all of our student leaders. We wish you all the very best in 2023 as you represented the College and our core values of Respect, Responsibility and Perseverance.
Year 7 Leaders: Student Representative Council
Year 8 Leaders: Student Representative Council
Year 9 Leaders: Including Junior Captains, Vice-Captains and Student Representative Council
Year 10 Leaders: Student Representative Council
Year 11 Leaders: Student Representative Council
Peer Mentors
House Captains
Defence Peer Mentors:
Community Open Day:
On Saturday the 4th March, Ripley Valley State Secondary College is hosting a Community Open Day for all members of the public and school community. To assist in the smooth operation and running of this day, we are seeking students who are willing to volunteer their time to assist with school tours and other activities. The guided tours will take place around the College from 9:00am – 11:00am, with gates closing at 12pm sharp. If your child is able and willing to assist on the day, please complete the Schoolzine form that was sent out at the start of the Term.
End of Term Rewards Trip:
On the 31st of March (last day of Term 1) students will have the opportunity to participate in the Rewards Trip to Orion, Springfield. In order to qualify students must have maintained:
- 95% Attendance
- No Suspensions and no more than 2 Administrative Detentions
- Completed all assessment
By Daniel Pym
Deputy Principal for Culture and Development
Head of Department - Junior Schooling & HPE - Year 7A to 7D
2023 Student Resource Scheme (SRS)
Thank you to all families that have already made payments or set up payment plans. If you elected to pay in instalments, the first payment date was due Friday the 17th February. The remaining 2 payment due dates are:
- 2nd instalment $225 due Friday the 12th May
- 3rd instalment $225 due Friday the 4th of August
Any missed payments will be followed up in the coming weeks.
Following are the SRS parent information letters for each year level. These letters outline the inclusions and cost of the 2023 SRS.
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 e.g. 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.
Michelle Mills
Business Manager
We're only a few weeks into the school year but our classrooms are as busy as ever. Starting this year with brand new subjects, including our Year 7 eSports Academy and our senior Year 11 Information Communications & Technology, we also look forward to introducing some of our extra-curricular programs & competitions coming up this year as well.
eSports
This week, our Year 9 & 10 eSports students participated in the first FUSE Cup competition for the year, versing other schools in Smash Bros. Mr Simmons was impressed with all of the participants representing our College and we congratulate Nathan H for coming 3rd on the day. Coming up later this term is the Just Dance competition and there are a number of others coming up throughout 2023. Students interested in participating in eSports competitions are encouraged to nominate via https://forms.office.com/r/4643Rrzn6r for various competitions including Mario Kart, FIFA, NBA, Fortnite, Dota 2, League of Legends, Rocket League, and more.
XP eSPORTS
We are excited to share that Liam M, Nathan H, and Damian H, three skilled students from our school, will be competing in the XP esports national competition for Rocket League. The competition takes place every Monday at 4:20 pm and is broadcasted live on Twitch at https://twitch.tv/xpesportstv. It's amazing to see our students representing our school at the national level, and we are proud of their hard work and dedication to the game. The competition will be intense, but we have no doubt that Liam, Nathan, and Damian will bring their best and make us proud. We invite all Rocket League and esports fans to tune in and support our students as they compete at the highest level of the sport. Good luck to Liam, Nathan, and Damian - we believe in you!
Coding Squadron
Our highly successful Coding Squadron team started in Week 4 with Mr Sogathur. Registrations are still available for students interested in participating. Training runs on a Monday at 2nd Break and Wednesday after school til 3.30pm. Students involved work to develop realistic computer games & apps and partake in multiple competitions throughout the year. Parental permission is required and students are encouraged to contact Mr Sogathur for more information. Permission can be given via https://ripleyvalleyssc.schoolzineplus.com/form/430
Goodluck to all students participating in our Digitech programs in 2023.
James Gerchow
Acting Head of Department - VET and Digital Technology - Year 11
Midway through Term 1! Our staff have been busy getting to know our new students and catching up with some of our existing students.
Intervention Programs:
Reading Club- Speech and Language Therapy program
Corrective Reading- Direct Instruction Support around early comprehension
Corrective Maths- Direct Instruction Support around basic facts and number sense
These programs are invitation only and are for students who wish to build skills in their areas of difficulties.
There are also plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in lots of programs around the school and work towards their goals. We encourage students to get involved!
Open Day March 4th:
Student Services will be open. Please feel free to come and check us out, say hi to the team (or the fish!) and get a feel for the space.
Staffing Updates:
Rhiannon will be begin maternity leave at the end of next week. Her replacement will be announced soon.
Exam/Assessment Support:
Each Term we offer exam or assessment support to help them demonstrate what they have learnt.
For our Junior Students, this can involve supports such as:
- Speech to text
- Text Readers
- Scribe
- Extra Time (5 minutes for every 30 minutes)
- Rest Breaks
- Assistance
Students' teachers make recommendations based on their observations in class. Some students may require more than 1 support, others may not need to access supports for every class or assessment item.
Senior students requiring support must apply for an AARA:
An outline of what supports are on offer and who can access these can be found here: https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/assessment/aara
NAPLAN
ACARA supports inclusive testing so all students have the opportunity to participate in the national assessment program.
Adjustments are available for students with disability who have diverse functional abilities and needs. Reasonable adjustments required for individual students with disability to access NAPLAN must be signed by a parent/carer. These adjustments should reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments. This is called an Exemption or Adjustment form.
You also have the option to withdraw your child from participating in the NAPLAN test, if you wish. Please let us know if you would like this option and we can send you through the form. Please note, your child can only by withdrawn if that form is completed.
Contact Student Services if you require a copy of the form.
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 | Irene McKay |
| Industry Liasion Officer | Marnie George |
Rhiannon Kemp
Head of Inclusion
It’s hard to believe we are already half way through the term!
Students across the College are busy preparing for assessment across all English subjects. As parents and caregivers, you can support your child by ensuring they are attending as much as possible, getting plenty of rest and nutritious food, and by encouraging them to seek support early.
English Homework Club will open to all students from Monday 27th February and will continue to run until the end of term. Running every first break in J121, students can access support with preparing exam notes, drafting and editing right up until their due dates.
Year 7 English students are developing their creative writing skills in preparation for the creation of an engaging memoir this term. They have been working on their descriptive writing skills and building their vocabulary. For this particular activity, students were learning how to write descriptively using the senses. They were given a bag of goodies that could only be felt and then a corresponding description of this sensory experience was written. This same process was repeated with sight, smell and finally everyone’s favourite, taste! Ms McLeod’s class have been working on their descriptive writing skills by building their vocabulary. Ms McLeod identified basic words that, if changed could significantly improve student work. Students were then given 5 puzzle pieces with sophisticated vocabulary terms and had to work out what basic, or over-used word (e.g. Small) they had synonyms for and take it to the correct table. The words puzzles were completed and are now on display in the classroom, creating a bank of sophisticated adjectives that students can refer back to during their assessment planning. How lucky are our students to have such a hands on approach to learning?
These activities not only generate some excellent description using the senses, but also produced wonderful peer discussion and laughter as a result. We can’t wait to read the excellent description in your memoirs, Year 7!
Ms Diesing's Year 10 English Extension class have been preparing for their assessment by eating in class!! Students took a deep dive into the cognitive verbs required in their first unit: identify, describe, and compare. Using Skittles and M&M's, students identified key features of each. The most popular key feature seemed to be taste! Students the used this information to describe the tasty treats in sentence form. Lastly, students wrote paragraphs that compared the two demonstrating their ability to work at all three levels of cognition. In the coming weeks, students will use these levels of cognition to compare the representations of war and conflict in poetry.
Welcome to Week 5! It is a pleasure to write to you at the half way mark of the term. The mathematics faculty and all mathematics classes have been busy as we are preparing for or beginning our first round of assessments for the year. It has been great to see lots of students reviewing and consolidating their learning through a range of online platforms, rotation activities in class, group work and with quiet individual study.
All students across Y7-10 classes, the first round of assessment for the year is an examination. All exam dates can be found within their Daymap accounts and on their Assessent schedules that have recently been sent home. Any changes to exam dates will be reflected on Daymap. Our Y11 classes have recently started, or will soon be embarking, on their first attempt at a Problem Solving and Modelling Task as part of Unit 1 in their senior subjects. As much as possible, students have been provided with exemplars and writing templates to support in writing these reports. We encourage all Y11 students to make the most of this formative assessment opportunity to better support their attempt at this task in Y12. Some ways that students can better engage with the feedback cycle is to ensure they are providing a complete draft on the draft due date, be sure to review all teacher feedback on the final submission and seek lots of teacher feedback in class or at tutoring.
Some general notices:
- In Y7-9 classes students should be coming home with a homework task each week. These are to support further revision and consolidation of the topics. Students who need additional help are encouraged to attend tutoring. Please contact your child's mathematics teacher if you need any support or have any questions.
- All students MUST bring a scientific calculator to class every lesson and will require this for the exam.
- Mathematics tutoring is on every Tuesday (1st break) and Thursday (2nd break) in CG01. All are encouraged and welcome to attend.
Tess Reeves
Head of Department - Mathematics - Year 9A to 9D
I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself to the Ripley Valley State Secondary College community. My name is Ellen Grant and I have been appointed as Head of Department for Science and Year 8F to I for 2023. My speciality is in teaching Chemistry and I am passionate about helping students explore the world around them through scientific phenomena. I have come from another school district working as the Head of Science and Health for the past eight years and am very much looking forward to meeting all the students at RVSSC as we learn together in 2023.
The Science department has been busy this term already, with some exciting learning experiences on offer for our students. With the introduction of senior Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology in Year 11 classes, students are being challenged with new skills fundamental to the specific Science disciplines they have chosen to study. These include structures and types of cells, limiting factors and analytical techniques, nuclear decay and the brain. Senior students will all be starting work towards their first assessment tasks and should utilise the tutorial sessions offered by their teachers to seek support with their learning if they would like to.
The Junior Science students have been exploring various topics across Years 7 to 10 including Separation Techniques (Year 7), Reproductive System and Cell Structures (Year 8), Heat and Sound Energy (Year 9) and Rates of Reaction (Year 10). Students will be provided with their assessment schedules in Access classes this week. The next few weeks begin to be very busy with assignment and exam preparation. A reminder to utilise the school diary to keep track of important dates. This supports the learning goal of “I am responsible for my own learning”.
Finally, you should have received an email with the 2023 Science Experiments Permission Form. This contains information related to the safety measures that teachers use to minimise risk for students while completing their practical experiment lessons. This includes measures such as having hair tied up and safe use of Bunsen burners for example. If you could please sign and have your student sign to acknowledge these safety measures it would be greatly appreciated. Teachers will be reminding individual classes as well.
I look forward to the remainder of Term 1.
Ellen Grant
Head of Department - Science - Year 8F to 8I
Time has flown fast in the first few weeks of 2023! It has been a smooth start to the year, with students across the year levels in the Humanities and Languages subjects highly engaged in their learning. Our Year 7 Geography students are settling in very nicely and looking at the ways we consume and conserve water. Our Years 8, 9 and 10 History students are immersing themselves into the Medieval World, the Industrial Revolution and WWII respectively. Our Legal Studies students in Year 10 are looking at the Foundations of Laws and the important role they play in our society, whole Year 10 Business students are looking at the impact Tourism has on the Economy of a country.
Our Year 11 students are also immersed in their various areas of study: Geography, Modern History, Legal Studies, Business, Tourism and Social and Community Studies. All of these students will have assessment soon, so please keep an eye on the assessment calendar for these dates.
Cecilia Hall
Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 9E to 9G
Japanese
Irasshaimase!
Welcome back to all classes in Japanese and we extend a very warm welcome to Year 7 at Ripley Valley State Secondary College. The Year 7s’ Japanese first lesson was a bilingual Kahoot lesson about introductions with students in Japan via a Zoom lesson. Because it was real world and highly successful, the international classes have collaboratively created two more Kahoot lessons. The topics included hobbies, national sports colours for the two countries and their favourite activities. The online lessons with our sister school occur every Tuesday. The class of Year 8 have started their year dynamically in their verbal interactions with each other while learning new vocabulary for their unit around daily routines. This is a very positive start while students build rapport and confidence with each other. Eight new students joined Year 9 Japanese and are working hastily to learn the scripts of hiragana and katakana. Parents and families of the Japanese learners are invited to drop into the classroom for an ocha (green tea) on Saturday, 4th March which is our school Community Day, to meet me and see the classroom. I am contactable at any time via email or phone.
Georgina Wellwood
Japanese Teacher
Visual Arts
In year 11 Art, students worked on their collaborative drawing skills to create a large-scaled drawing of various personal objects that had sentimental emotions attached to them. Students worked as a team to draw each of their objects from a range of angles and points of view that created a culmination of interesting shapes, colours and implied textures.
In year 10 Art, students have had fun experimenting mixing paints to create a range of colour schemes, creating intricate tessellations designs and understanding how to draw facial features. Students will use this knowledge to design and create their own self-portrait painting that incorporates these visual elements. Stay tuned for updates on their progress throughout the term.
In year 9 Media, students are already out and about filming a short video sequence after analysing the film techniques used by cinematographer, Zach King. Students will spend the next few weeks applying their knowledge on camera angles, shots and editing techniques to create a short 6-10 second magic edit video.
In year 8 Art, students have been learning all about the colour wheel, mixing and identifying different types of colour schemes. Students will be applying their new knowledge to create landscape paintings with a twist!Year 8 Media - Photographers in training
This week in year 8 Media, students began learning how to use our Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras.
They practiced taking photos from all angles and distances, making sure their images were in focus. This was great preparation for their upcoming stop animation and movie poster assessments.
Year 11 Film, TV and New Media, and Media Arts in Practice
The past few weeks Senior Film, Television and New Media have been exploring Alfred Hitchcock films to understand symbolic and technical codes. While our Media Arts in Practice students have examined persuasive techniques in advertising, while enhancing their skills on photoshop.
This week they will begin their assessment task. FTM students will do a case study on a film competition anaylsing and apprasing an entry. MAP students will plan a persasive design pitch, apprasing the techniques they have used.
Head of Department - Creative Industries and Food Studies - Year 8A to 8E
lstil21@eqeduu.au
We have approached the mid-term milestone, and this see's a number of our HPE students knee-deep in their theoretical and practical studies. Below is a re-cap on what our students in HPE are studying and preparing for their upcoming assessment block.
Year 7 HPE students are in the process of learning about their Personal Identity in theory and Minor/Cultural games in prac. Their upcoming exam will take place in Week 8/9 this term within their timetabled class.
Year 8 HPE students are in the process of learning about Decision Making in theory and European Handball in prac. Their upcoming exam will take place in Week 8/9 this term within their timetabled class.
Year 9 HPE students are in the process of learning about Sport Ethics & Diversity in Theory and Volleyball & Athletics in prac. Their exam will take place in Week 6.
Year 9 HSE students are in the process of learning about First Aid & CPR in theory and Touch Football in Prac. Their exam will take place in Week 8.
Year 10 Health students are in the process of learning about PERMA+. Their draft will be due in Week 8, with final due in Week 9.
Year 10 Sport and Rec students are in the process of organising basketball tournaments and conducting/convening these. Students will be responsible for running a 30-minute tournament in pairs/triples.
Year 11 Health students are learning about Resilience and will create a podcast/written reflection on this topic. They will also conduct an interview with 1-3 adults and explore resilience and challenges we face as adults.
Year 11 Certficiate II in Sport and Rec students are planning and conducting sports coaching sessions with their peer students, preparing themselves for delivering these to younger year level HPE classes at the College.
A reminder that the school hat is a part of our school uniform. All students who participate in HPE should have a school hat when participating in HPE practical activity on the oval or outdoor courts.
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.
Dance Academy
11 Drama
7 Music
In 7A Music, students have been busy working on their analysis and evaluation of pop music. We have worked on this through a range of practical activities, including laying out the structure of a pop song, and organising our analysis in poster format. Students are enjoying learning about how to break down popular music in order to study it! In 7B Music, students have been eagerly learning how to play guitar and sing together, whilst also learning several popular songs. Students have learnt six chords, and have begun to form groups for their performances in the coming weeks. On Friday last week, a small group from the class shows amazing confidence by showcasing their learning through a short performance to a 8F Science - a massive thank you to Ms Constable and her class for being our amazing audience!
11 Music
Year 11 music have now begun their first performance task! Students demonstrating how music can communicate ideas through the manipulation of the Music Elements. This task focuses on the student’s ability to learn music proficiently and communicate effectively with audiences. To help visualise this our grade 11s communicated ideas and concepts through the manipulation of building blocks to represent the elements of music.
Instrumental music is back in full swing with all ensembles receiving their first pieces and settling into routines. The difficulty and quantity of pieces are increasing each year and students have been enthusiastically practicing and rehearsing before school. Many of our beginners will be entering rehearsals in week 8 so please keep an eye on emails to see if your child may have some extra commitments. With the increase in repertoire and challenge all instrumental students will need to begin practicing at home within a regular schedule. Please continuing to support our developing musicians and their outstanding dedication.
Drama Troupe
Ripley Valley State Secondary College’s Drama Troupe is up and running for 2023 with gusto! It has been great to see the creativity and collaboration in our rehearsal room already and it looks as though we are gearing up for a fantastic year ahead. Students have started the term working on focus, stagecraft and ensemble skills before delving into the wild world of improvisation. Quick thinking, flexibility and collaboration are cornerstones of this style of Drama where students develop roles, relationships and situations in an instant. Ms O’Neill and Ms McLeod are enjoying getting to know the students in Drama Troupe and we can’t wait to see where their ingenuity takes us!
Jessica Starkey
Head of Department - Performing Arts
Head of Year 7E to 7H
A list of events currently arranged are as follows with more to follow throughout the year:
- White Card Training - Monday 27th March
- Interview to Impress - Thursday 20th April
- RSA Training - Thursday 11th May
- Big Trucks Show - Thursday 18th May
- Brisbane Careers Expo with ADF - Friday 26th May
James Gerchow
Acting Head of Department - VET and Digital Technology - Year 11
Hi Sports Fans,
District Sports
Congratulations to all our students who have made it through to the Met West Trials so far this Term and good luck to all those still awaiting their trials.
A gentle reminder that only students who receive the paperwork from Mr Clifford are permitted to attend the trials.
Yagera Sports
The Yagera Sport competition has completed three of it's five days to date. All students have participated well and represented our College with pride. We have had a mixture of results this year.
Some of the scheduled competitions have been rescheduled due to predicted weather forecasts. The Basketball is rescheduled to Wednesday the 1st of March and the Boys Touch Football on Friday the 3rd of March. Please remind students to monitor Daymap for any changes.
Premier Sports Ipswich (IPS)
The next round of IPS is being held on Monday 27th February. The following teams are playing:
Touch Football
7/8 Boys – Home Game (Oval)
9/10 Girls – Home Game (Oval)
Futsal
7/8 Boys A - Home Game (Raptor Dome)
7/8 Boys B – Away game (Westside Christian College senior campus)
9/10 Girls – Home Game (Raptor Dome)
QSFL
Round 1 of QFSL took place this week where our football students competed against Varsity College. The junior boys pulled off the win with our other teams unfortunately going down. Round 2 will take place in Week 10 against Loganlea.
Street Smart AFL
The trials for the street-smart AFL tournament will be held next week on Thursday at second break. All student must meet the coaches in front of the gym on the hill. We are looking to complete teams for the following teams:
- Junior Boys (Grades 7, 8 & 9)
- Senior Boys (Grades 10 & 11)
- Junior Girls (Grades 7, 8 & 9)
- Senior Girls (Grades 10 & 11)
Vicki Wilson Netball
Vicki Wilson netball trials are going to be held in Week 7 with Mr Coles and Ms Stiles. Please keep an eye on Daymap for more information.
Cross Country
Cross Country is fast approaching in Week 10 on Thursday 30th of March. We hold cross country training Wednesday afternoons at the school gym 3pm – 4pm.
Justin Clifford
Sports Co-ordinator
We are now nearing the halfway point of term one and our new ADF students are beginning to settle into the college and adjust to their new surroundings.
DEFENCE CLUB
Part of the Defence School Mentor program is to provide a space where Defence kids, especially those who have posted into the Ripley area, are able to meet other Defence students, and offer an opportunity to develop new friendships, in an effort to minimise the impact moving and service- related parental absences can have on learning, especially in these teenage years.
ADF students, new and existing are embracing the Defence Club. With students from both the senior and junior school attending, and becoming familiar with each other, they are forming a network of their own in the wider school. This is beneficial to all students. Our youngster students feel supported by our seniors, and our seniors have an opportunity to act as role models to the younger students.
Defence Club runs every Monday at second break at the Drop Zone in J Block, just above the library. All Defence students are welcome to pop in as they wish. Games and some art supplies are available, and students are welcome to bring in their laptops and snacks if they chose.
COFFEE & CHAT
On Wednesday 8th March, I will be holding a Welcome Morning Tea for all ADF parents, existing and new at the Providence Splash and Play, beginning at 0900 hours.
Every term, I host a ‘COFFEE AND CHAT’, which allows ADF parents to:
- Meet other ADF parents of RVSSC (a great opportunity if you have just posted in)
- Discuss any issues the Defence lifestyle may be having on their child’s education
- Meet leadership and support staff of the College
- Meet Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Staff, including the Education Officer and the Family Liaison Officer
- Be informed on all support that DMFS and the Defence School Mentor Program offer.
- 1st Coffee is on me!
If you would like to attend, you can RSVP me via email at tcoop23@eq.edu.au
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.
Welcome to Brisbane
Saturday 25 March from 10am
Join DMFS for our Welcome Event at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Free entry will enable a fun day out in nature, enjoying the Australian wildlife.
There will be an opportunity to meet your local support organisations who can provide a wealth of information on services available to you in the Brisbane region to assist with managing the Defence lifestyle.
Explore our partner employment and education opportunities, finance and health services, local sporting and recreational groups and more. Food may be purchased from the onsite café, or you can bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the grounds.
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/an-adf-family-event-welcome-to-brisbane-tickets-46813838350
THE DEFENCE MEMBER AND FAMILY HOTLINE
1800 624 608
This is the first point of call for Defence families seeking support, information or connection with their community.
The Helpline can provide assessment, assistance, advice or referral depending on the family's needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more information on the Defence School Mentor Program at RVSSC, please contact Tracey Cooper at tcoop203@eq.edu.au or call 3819 5333
DMFS SUPPORT
Defence Member and Family Support is a sector of the Australian Defence Force that provides Defence families with numerous programs and activities with an aim to support them as they face the unique challenges of being a Defence family.
For more information on the Defence School Mentor Program you can head to:
https://defence.gov.au/members-families/Family/kids/education.asp
To contact the Defence School Mentor:
Monday and Wednesday 0800 - 1400hrs
Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au
Phone : 3819 5333
Tracey Cooper
Defence School Mentor
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
The year is well under way, and it has been great to see all of our new students settling into the college. So far my main focus of the term has been the Peer Mentors, Year 11 Leadership Course, Rock and Water, and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the term.
Pastoral Care
My role as School Chaplin 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, has kicked off the year and it is amazing to see many students having a free breakfas,t but also hanging out with one another before school. Breakfast Club will continue to operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:15-8:45 am. If you want to volunteer for this, please feel free to email me. Thank you to all of those who have volunteered thus far.
Peer Mentors
At the start of the week the college had its Student Investiture Ceremony. During that ceremony, the Peer Mentors were formally inducted into their role. I want to congratulate all the students for their position and look forward to working with them this year.
If your child wants to become a Peer Mentor, Application for 2024 will open in Term 4.
Chaplaincy Committee
The Local Chaplaincy Committee is the supporting and guiding body behind the Chaplaincy Service helping to shape it to meet the well-being 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 18th of May at 4pm. If you want any more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Rock and Water
Rock and Water is well under way. So far, the students in year 8-10 have learnt about their body language and how people perceive them, personal space, and boundaries as well as how other people think and act. They have learnt the importance of responding to every situation and how they should take a water approach so that things don’t escalate. We have just one more week to go!
If you think your child will be interested in doing this program in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Year 11 Leadership Course
The year 11 Leadership Course is well under way with only 1 week remaining. The students have learnt so far who they are as a person, as a leader as well as different styles of leadership and the character, skills and values of a leader.
REMINDER - OUR CANTEEN IS CASHLESS!!!
Online Ordering System for the Canteen
The canteen is a cashless facility, with online ordering available.
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
RVSSC canteen is a fun, friendly environment and we need your help!
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.
Your children will love seeing you volunteer too!
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.
|
Term 1 |
||
|
Monday 27 February |
QFSL Competition (Football Academy) QUT Young Accelerators STEM Workshop (IGNITE Academy) |
|
|
Friday 3 March |
Fuse Cup (eSports Academy) Shave for a Cure - Second Break, Cafe Courtyard |
|
|
Saturday 4 March |
Community Open Day 9:00am - 11:00am |
|
|
Wednesday 8 March |
SEQ School Futsal Titles |
|
|
Friday 10 March |
Fuse Cup (eSports Academy) |
|
|
Wednesday 15 - Tuesday 21 March |
NAPLAN |
|
|
Thursday 16 March |
P&C Meeting 7:00pm Community Hub |
|
|
Friday 17 March - Monday 20 March |
SEQ School Futsal Titles |
|
|
Friday 24 March |
2024 Year 7 Excellence Academies Trial Day 1 |
|
|
Thursday 30 March |
Interhouse Cross Country |
|
|
Friday 31 March |
Student Rewards Day Term 1 Report Cards issued Last Day Term 1 |
|