Dear Parents/Carers, 

As we approach Easter holidays and the end of Term 1, I am amazed at how quickly the year is going and the positive progress our students have made already. Over the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of visiting classrooms and observing first hand the culmination of their learning over the past 8 weeks as students review drafts, apply feedback and put the finishing touches on artwork, projects and presentations. Equally as impressive is the positive behaviour and growth mindset of students as they adjust to new learning and assessment, particularly within Year 11. 

On the 4th March we held our annual Community Open Day and it was a pleasure to welcome over 300 guests into our college as our student tour guides discussed our school and the many opportunities available to them. On the same day we also opened enrolments for 2024 and have updated our school website to include the latest enrolment information and processes for next year. If prospective parents/families have any questions I encourage you to visit our school website or contact the school via phone or email.

In other news, after the Easter holidays I hope to be able to announce the building contractor who will commence works on our Stage 3 building project which will start next term and finish in 2024. As our enrolments continue to grow, so to do our building and infrastructure demands and I look forward to presenting the finalised plans for you to see. At this stage a new Performing Arts building and more classrooms will be provided in this Stage 3 build.

Once again, thank you for a great start to the 2023 school year and your ongoing support of our college. 

Yours Sincerely,

Brendan Krueger

Foundation Principal

QCE updates

Study Habits

As we enter the final few weeks of our first term in year 11 and assessment is upon us, there is an pattern emerging that always appear at the start of year 11. What we notice is that students stress levels start to spike due to the added pressure of managing multiple assessment items and due dates. When this starts to occur students will fall in to one of two categories.

1. The student with a plan – this is the student who has developed a clear study plan, has mapped when their assessment items are due, has written down their other commitments, and has clear deadlines ahead of schedule to ensure they have time to finish their assessment items to the best of their ability.

 

2. The student without a plan – this student knows they have multiple assessment items due however they haven’t determined when they will work on them but hope to have them done in time.

 

As James Clear states in Atomic Habits, “you won’t rise to the level of your goal, but rather fall to the level of your system”. Students will have heard me speak of this principle many times and will invariably hear it many more before they finish year 12. The reason being is that hope is not a strategy. What is important is that students learn from their experiences and look for new ways to improve their habits. From years of experience working with students I have never seen a talented student with no study plan out perform a student who is willing to continually apply themselves and work on improving by 1% each day. The talented student may appear to be doing well to start with, however there is always a point where they reach the limit of their ability and have not learnt how to apply themselves to reach the next step.

When the end of term report card arrives, take the time to sit down with your student/s and review their grades, from this determine not only a goal for improving, but also a study plan on how to improve. This is the key to unlocking sustained improvement rather than hoping for improvement.

Formative vs Summative assessment

Following on from reviewing grades and developing a plan is understanding the importance of continual improvement. There are two important systems involved with the senior years of learning and they are the QCE system and the ATAR. The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) is a measure of a students progress across their senior years and their success at completing their senior subjects to a satisfactory (C or higher) standard or the ability to achieve a VET qualification. Within the QCE system, every unit of work is valuable as it is the accumulation of these unit credits that determines a students ability to achieve their QCE or not.

Within the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) process, only for students who are seeking to go to University, there is both a formative and summative aspect. As Unit 1 and 2 are formattive, they do not count towards the ATAR calculation and as such it is important for students to not only consider how well they have done on their assessment items, but look for opportunities on how they can improve for their summative assessment. Unit 3 and 4 are considered summative as the results from the assessment items of ATAR students is cumulative and adds together to produce their final score for each subject in order to help calculate their ATAR.

Whether a student is only on a QCE pathway or both a QCE and ATAR pathway, it is important that they both look for opportunities for continual improvement. The process of reflection is important to determine what a student may need to work on to improve their results and help develop a study plan as a strategy for that improvement.

QCE review date claimer

At the end of the first unit of year 11 students will be required to participate in a QCE review and parents are encouraged to attend. During this process students and parents will meet with a member of the College’s Leadership team to discuss their progress and their intended pathway. These review meetings will occur in week 9 of term 2 with more information provided during term 2.

As term 1 draws to a close I encourage students to take a break, recharge and come back to term 2 ready to continue to work at their best. Enjoy your holidays!

Todd Robson

Deputy Principal - Year 11 - Pathways & Partnerships

trobs20@eq.edu.au

Upcoming at RVSSC in the Junior Secondary World are a number of key events. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, we have three key events that are happening around the College - these are:

Excellence Academy - Trial Day 1:

The upcoming trial day will occur on Friday 24th March (Week 9). Applications have now closed to register your interest for this first round of trials.  The registration for the second round of trials on Friday 9th June will open early in Term 2.  All interested students, parents and carers need to complete the EOI link at that time and provide key information that is stipulated on the registration from.

As part of the process you must also complete the Expression of Interest 2024 for enrolment.

Rewards Day:

On the 31st of March (last day of Term 1) approved students will have the oppportunity to participate in the Rewards Trip. In order to be an "approved student" or to quality, students must maintain the following criteria: 

- 95% attendance

- no more than (2) or more administration detentions

- all assessment submitted by due date (unless extension has been approved)

- no suspensions

If you have any questions, please reach out.

Head of Department - Junior Schooling & HPE - Year 7A to 7D

jdunn232@eq.edu.au 

Emergency Contact Information

Attached is a Student Details Form, please take a moment to fill in the form to make sure the school has the correct details and emergency contact information, please note that the school cannot release students to someone who is not listed as an emergency contact.  Taking the time now will assist to save time in the event of an emergency.

Send completed forms to administration@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au

Change_of_Details_Form.pdf

Change_of_Details_Form _pdf 410.88 KB

2023 Student Resource Scheme (SRS)

Thank you to those families who have already made payments or set up payment plans. Statements have been emailed this week for your records.  

If you have elected to pay in instalments, the 3 payment due dates are:

• 1st instalment $225                due now – overdue payments will be followed up starting from next week.
• 2nd instalment $225 due          Friday the 12th May
• 3rd instalment $225 due           Friday the 4th of August

 Year 10 and Year 11 – Subject Fees

The Elective Subject Fees for Year 10 and Year 11 students have now been invoiced and emailed to families. These invoices are due within 30 days from the date of the invoice or are able to be added to your payment plan if required.

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 – 12pm (other times by appointment only).

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

Share the Dignity

Ripley Valley SSC was the beneficiary of a Share the Dignity Vending Machine.  This is an exciting resource for our school.  The Dignity Vending machine dispenses a sanitary pack containing six tampons and two pads at the push of a button.   Each vending machine has a delivery delay of 3 minutes to ensure products are not wasted.  Share the Dignity is a charity which was founded in 2015 to provide girls and women with free sanitary products and education to end period poverty.   Period poverty refers to the social, economic, political, and cultural barriers to females accessing menstrual products. The Share the Dignity in Queensland schools initiative is proudly sponsored by the Queensland Government to help end period poverty so students should not feel shame about requesting sanitary products or avoid school because their families cannot afford to provide sanitary products.  The Dignity vending machine is located in the unisex student toilet in the School Support Services building in J block. 

More information about this initiative can be found at https:/wwwwsharethedignityyorgg.au/end-period-poverty/dignity-vending-machinesqlddgovtt

Student Support Services – Personal Development Programs on offer Term 2, 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 skills to build 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.  

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 7 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 4 T’s Anger Cycle
• Healthy Expressions of Anger
• Getting Through the Guilt of Anger

If your child is in Years 7 to 9 and you would like your child to participate in this program in the future, please contact Alicia on  apick125@eq.edu.au

Resilient Adolescent Program (RAP)

One of the personal development programs on offer is The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP). RAP is a resilience-building program that aims to prevent the development of depression and other emotional problems in teenagers. RAP is strength-based and positively focussed, and has been developed to be relevant to all teenagers. It engages participants to think about what it means to be resourceful, as well as develop new strategies that will build their resilience. RAP empowers teenagers to effectively deal with stress, conflict, and other difficulties, both now and in the future. The program addresses issues such as managing stress, managing emotions, building self esteem, promoting family harmony, and keeping the peace with others.

Further information about the program can be found by visiting https:/www.rapqutteduu.au/programs/rap-a-for-adolescents.

The 70 minute program commences on Wednesday the 3rd of May 2023 and will run for six weeks every Wednesday during Period 4.

If you would like to refer your child, please contact Kristian on katki121@eq.edu.au.

Janet Ingram

Guidance Officer

studentservices@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au 

• 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

jgerc6@eq.du.au

I want to start by commending all students on their efforts this term as we finalise our first round of assessments. By now the majority of Mathematics classes will have completed their Term 1 assessment and teachers are in the busy phase of marking and moderating these results. We were very impressed by the resilience and perseverance students demonstrated in preparing for these assessments. Keep an eye on Daymap as your child's results will be published here before the end of the term. 

Some general notices:

• Outside of assessment weeks, all Year 7 to Year 9 students should be coming home with a homework task. 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.

I wish you all a restful and enjoyable Easter breaks with the family!

Tess Reeves

Head of Department - Mathematics - Year 9A to 9D

tsmur0@eq.edu.au 

Ellen Grant

Head of Department - Science - Year 8F to 8I 

egran55@eq.edu.au

Junior Humanities

Our classes are now entering the assessment phase of the term, with all year levels and subjects submitting assignments or sitting exams. Year 7's have just finished their ‘Water in the World’ exam for Geography, and are now completing a project based on water consumption in the home. In History, Year 8's are about to move into and exam phase next week, looking at Japan during the Middle Ages. Year 9's have just finished their exam on the impact of the Industrial Revolution.

Senior Humanities

Our Year 10's have been studying very diverse topics according to their subjects, however all are important and relevant. The History class has completed their exam on the Second World War, looking at both the European and Pacific theatres, as well as the impact of the Holocaust during Hitler’s reign. Our Year 10 Economics and Business students have completed their investigation and examination looking at the impacts of COVID-19 on the Australian and Global Tourism Industry, while Legal Studies students have just finished looking at the foundation of Law and the reasons why we have them.

The Year 11 students are also entering the assessment phase, with students either submitting assessment or sitting exams this week and next. These tasks are extremely important for students as the skills learned and assessed this year will become the foundation for learning in Year 12 and then onto further education or other pathways.

Archaeology Club

This year at Ripley, Ms Andrea Everitt has started an archaeology club. It meets during lunchtimes on a Wednesday and students are engaging in activities similar to what an archaeologist may do for their job. Over the last few weeks, students have used tooth picks to extract chocolate chips from a cookie in order to show how delicate excavation can be; carved soap ‘stone’ tools in a process called knapping (shaping or fracturing) to make objects such as scrapers and spear heads. This week students looked at a pottery assemblage to answer questions about the purpose, use and manufacture of these objects in order to learn about their original owners. These activities not only give students hands-on skills and experience as young archaeologists, they also show the importance studying artefacts from History, and the many tales these artefacts can teach us!

Cecilia Hall

Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 9E to 9G

chall213@eq.edu.au

Japanese

Dozo yoroshiku! Japan Trip 2025.

The whole school effort for Ripley’s senbazuru or 1000 paper cranes are hanging in our school library. In Japan, not only is the mythological tsuru revered as the bird of happiness, but it is also considered to live for a thousand years. When students go past the cranes above the Rewards Vault in the library, they are invited to make a wish. A wish from the Japanese learners is ‘peace, health and longevity for international students and exchanges.’

Year 7 have participated in an exchange online via zoom to Japan.  This has provided a real-life platform for our students to introduce themselves in Japanese as well as teach the Japanese students in Chiba about school life in Australia. Students learnt the story of Momotaro. Year 8's have finished their speaking assessment and all students passed with flying iro. Year 9 continue to develop their listening and speaking skills. All students have sipped on ocha which has been a relief in the midst of students completing their assessments.

The school is planning a cultural trip to Japan during March/April 2025 for students who are in Years 9-12. Expression of interest opportunities will be available during Term 2, with the estimated cost per student to be $5000. For further enquiries please contact the Language Coordinator, Georgina Wellwood.

 

Georgina Wellwood

Japanese Teacher

gawel0@eq.edu.au

What a great term we've had in Digitech so far! Our Year 7's are showing great interest in their program, many of whom are studying Digitech for the first time in their schooling career. We also have new programs running in Year 9 and 10 Digitech and am hearing of the many successes amongst our students in these elective programs.

This term we introduction the Year 7 eSports Academy and Year 11 Information & Communication Technologies programs. Students are excelling through these courses and are continuing to develop new skills and techniques.

We continue to have great success in our eSports challenges this Term at the various FUSE Cup competitions. We still have many more competitions organised throughout the remainder of 2023. I congratulate all who have participated so far and invite any other students with skills in various games to contact Mr Simmons to express their interest.

Mr Sogathur has also been working hard with our Coding Squadron this Term, with a record number of students signing up for the program. The passion of the students in these programs is evident and it is great to see the teamwork and individual skills they all bring to the program.

I look forward to the continued success fo our students across the Digital Technologies programs at Ripley Valley SSC and thank all students involved for their contribution to the curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

James Gerchow

Acting Head of Department - VET and Digital Technology - Year 11

jgerc6@eq.du.au

Jessica Starkey

Head of Department - Performing Arts

Head of Year 7E to 7H

jxsta12@eq.edu.au

Food Studies

Some very excited students continued their food specialisations journey this Term, with Year 8’s looking at hygiene and basic safety in the kitchen, Year 9’s beginning to understand more about what makes food ‘healthy’, and Year 10’s travelling around the world, experiencing foods that have an impact on what we eat in Australia today.

For assessment, Year 8’s have been busy completing a ‘Mystery Cook’ where they are given a mystery recipe and they need to decipher and cook a mystery item, using only the provided ingredients and a workplan with instructions. This has been an exciting experience where we have put our theory and knowledge learnt to the test!

Year 9’s have been busy making gourmet burgers and lots of discussions have been had about what ingredients should and shouldn’t be on a burger!

Over the term, the Year 10 Food Studies classes have been exploring different cuisines and their key flavourings. As part of their assessment, they presented in an International Cooking Show, and created a dish in teams. While it can be a nerve-racking experience to present, students did a great job demonstrating different cookery techniques and flavourings of their chosen culture. 

All in all, work in Food Studies has been not only fun, but we have learnt a lot about fabulous food and how to make healthy foods fun!

Design Technologies 

This term in the Technology faculty the students have been working on developing their skills across a number of different areas.

The Year 7 DAT students have been learning how to safely utilise different tools and equipment in the production of a timber truck. Students use these skills learnt during the lessons to produce different components and consolidate their learning in a practical environment.

Year 9 DAT Students have created a Sheet Metal tool box. This metal introduction project focuses on correctly measuring and marking out and understanding the properties of metal.

Year 9 TES students have been exploring aerodynamics to create a Helicar and test the principals of aerodynamics. They have used the plastic forming machine and modelling skills to create working prototypes of their designs. 

In Year 10 Engineering, students have been utilising CAD (Computer Aided Design) to produce a 3 dimensional Dragon using interconnecting components that demonstrate different ranges of movement and forces applied to different parts.

Our Year 10 Design and Technology students have been using skills learnt on more advance tools and equipment to develop their Tambour box production. Students have been using our CNC router to produce some of the pieces for the Tambour box and using more traditional tooling for other components.

Our Year 11 ISK students have been busy developing their skills in woodworking by producing a Timber mallet for their first of many projects in this unit of study. The mallets were produced from exotic materials that were sourced from excess and offcuts from furniture manufactures around the local area. Students had the opportunity to introduced a sustainability aspect into their work and use materials such as American Oak, Walnut, Redgum, Victorian Ash and native Black Butt. Students saw first hand the different working and finishing qualities of the different timbers.

Year 11 Design Students have been working through the fundamentals of design, looking at sketching skills and how to generate ideas using divergent and convergent thinking. They have begun to explore different design styles and how that has impacted designs through products, graphics and architecture.

Head of Department - Creative Industries and Food Studies - Year 8A to 8E
lstil21@eqeduu.au

Thanks!

Hi Sports Fans,

As we round off our first term of sport in 2023, I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of the sporting culture at our College. Our coaches, who give up their free time to train our student athletes. To our parents who have been super supportive getting our students to and from events this year and cheering us on from the sidelines.  Finally, to our students, for helping to build this positive sports culture at the College.

Looking back at this term, I would like to celebrate some of our many successes and look forward to what is to come in Term 2. 

District Sports

In Term 1 we had 49 students participate in District trials with 16 making the Central Comets teams. Four of those students: Nathan and Damian Hill, Dakota Gillespie & Jamal Keith were successful in the Comets trial and have or will trial for the Met West team. Overall, a successful year so far in the district space.

Yagera Sports

In Term 1 we competed in the summer season of Yagera sports. This season 161 students participated across 5 sports: Basketball, Futsal, Touch Football, Volleyball & Rugby League. All our students competed well and embodied our College values whilst off campus.

A special Congratulations to the Year 7/8 Girls Futsal & Year 7/8 Girls Basketball who took out their competition, placing first.

Congratulations to the following students who were named Player of the Day for each team:

Premier Sports Ipswich

Unfortunately, due to the lack of numbers showing up each week, we made the tough decision to pull out of the Premier Sports Ipswich (PSI) in the sports of Touch Football and Futsal.

In Term 2 the PSI sports being played are Basketball and Volleyball as follows:

• Junior Boys (Grades 7/8)
• Junior Girls (Grades 7/8)
• Intermediate Boys (Grade 9/10)
• Intermediate Girls (Grade 9/10)
• Senior Boys (Grade 11)
• Senior Girls (Grade 11)

If students haven’t already done so they can nominate for these teams via the following links:

Basketball: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xccAZrUWr0uekzI72MAdujIShDJlOPVBvxeZkA1kn5pUMkJISFdUUkpBNTFOR1pXVFo2MjlRRzc4WS4u

Volleyball:  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xccAZrUWr0uekzI72MAdujIShDJlOPVBvxeZkA1kn5pUQzcwRzRUTk9IVENXOE5WMFI3MkY1NE9PNy4u

Games will commence Term 2, Week 4 on Tuesday afternoons. Junior Volleyball will take place on Monday afternoons. A draw with locations will be sent out when it becomes available. Students will need to find their own way to the event, carpooling is recommended.

Major Sports

Schools Cup AFL

Schools Cup AFL is the first AFL tournament the school has participated in. The tournament is being held in Springfield on the 6^th of June for Juniors and the 13^th of June for Seniors. The competition include:

• Junior Boys (Grade 7, 8 & 9)
• Junior Girls (Grade 7, 8 & 9)
• Senior Boys (Grade 10 & 11)
• Senior Girls (Grade 10 & 11)

If you’re interested in being a part of these teams please contact:

Ms Mckendry via clmck1@eq.edu.au

Mr Harvey via jharv178@eq.edu.au

Vicki Wilson Netball

The first trial was held for the Vicki Wilson Cup teams last week. The junior teams will have a second trial, with training dates and times being announced in Term 2 on Daymap.

The tournament will be held at Western Districts Netball Association on Tuesday 6^th June.

If you have any questions about this competition please email the coaches:

Junior: Mr Coles via jcole338@eq.edu.au

Senior: Ms Newton via cnewt71@eq.edu.au

CBSQ Basketball

CBSQ Basketball is a competition where teams play against other schools from all  around QLD. This event is being held at the Coomera Sports Complex on the 14^th – 17^th September (Senior) & 26^th – 29^th October (Junior).

This year we are nominating 3 teams:

• Junior Girls (Grade 7/8)
• Junior Boys (Grade 7/8)
• Senior Boys (Grade 10/11)

Trials for these teams will be held in Week 10 after the nominations have been collected. Please see the Premier Sports Ipswich section for nomination forms. 

For further information regarding these teams please contact:

Ms Rizvanonic via lxriz0@eq.edu.au

Mr Shaw via cshaw158@eq.edu.au

VQ Cup Volleyball

The VQ Cup will be held on 4^th – 6^th August (Senior) & 20^th – 22^nd October (Junior). Trials have already been conducted for this competition and training is being held on Tuesday mornings in the gym & Thursday mornings in the Raptor Dome. This year we have nominated the following teams:

• Junior Girls (Grade 7 & 8)
• Senior Girls (Grades 10 & 11)

For more information please contact the following coaches:

Juniors: Mr Simmons via csimm87@eq.edu.au

Senior: Mr Dunn via jdunn232@eq.edu.au

Cross Country

Cross Country is fast approaching in Week 10 Thursday 30^th of March. The event schedule can be found below. Parents are welcome to spectate however we request that you stay in the grandstand area.

The theme for the carnival is Heroes & Villains. Student are encouraged to match the theme with their house colours. For example: Perry house might come as the Flash. School dress guidelines still apply. Students must not wear anything that is inappropriate and must be wearing enclosed shoes at all times.

Students will be given the chance to walk the course on Wednesday Week 9.

In Week 9 and Week 10, the Tuesday morning RAD session will also have a practice run of the course. All students are welcome to attend.

RAD

RAD is a general fitness program that we run at the College. Although it is open to all students, this is a gentle reminder that students may be asked to leave or be banned from RAD if they are not following teacher instructions.  RAD continues to run three sessions a week:

• Tuesday morning 7:15am – 8:10am
• Wednesday afternoon 3pm – 4pm
• Thursday afternoon 3pm – 4pm

Please note, if students are part of a major sport, it is expected they train twice a week. One of these sessions may be a RAD session. If the team coach has outlined that RAD is one of the sessions, students must get their name marked off by the teacher on duty to inform the coach.

If you have any question about the above please contact Justin Clifford at jclif117@eq.edu.au or contact the front office.

Thanks,

Justin Clifford

Sports Co-ordinator

jcliff117@eq.edu.au 

As Term 1 draws to a close and we prepare for the cooler months of Autumn, I find myself reflecting on the arrival of all the new ADF students and their families who have joined our College this year. RVSSC now has 74 families of full time Defence force personnel and 8 transitioning families.

I am slowly starting to recognise the new faces in the sea of blue uniforms around the school, while getting to know others at the Defence Club.

DEFENCE CLUB

Defence students new to the College are encouraged to pop in at the Drop Zone to meet other Defence students and form a supportive network of their own.

The ‘Drop Zone’ is open every Monday at second break. It provides a space where ADF students, especially those who have posted into the Ripley area or those with parents away for long periods of time, can form new friendships or seek support from those who have had similar experiences.

Our more senior ADF students regularly visit the ‘Drop Zone’, which gives younger students an opportunity to become familiar with, and seek support from, older students with a little more life experience.

                                           

                        Defence students painting a wooden Soldier silhouette for our Library's ANZAC Display

COFFEE AND CHAT

Last week saw the first Coffee and Chat for the year, held for Defence parents of the school.

It was an opportunity for new Defence parents of the College to meet the DSM, existing Defence parents, Defence Member and Family Support staff, our College Chaplain and Deputy Principal. 

In the relaxing surrounds of the Providence Splash and Play, our Defence parents were able to enjoy a cuppa, meet new people, share stories and gather information about support they can access through the Australian Defence Force, that is specific to the needs of military families.  

The Family Liaison Officer, Nikki Ralph, provides information for ADF parents from the Defence Member and Family Support Branch

It is always a privilege to meet new parents and be able to offer support, should they require it.

RIPLEY SCOUTS

Enquire about being a Section Leader with Ripley Scout Group. 

Learn new skills, enjoy adventure and meet new friends while making a difference to young people in your local community!

As a Leader you can gain formal leadership qualifications, develop programs, work with like-minded individuals, and teach young people life lessons through offering them the experiences of a lifetime. You don’t need to have any Scouting experience, but you may need to keep up with some adventurous people and their adrenaline-packed adventures!

ARE YOUR KIDS LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE? ARE YOU KEEN FOR THEM TO LEARN LEADERSHIP, LIFE SKILLS & VALUES THAT WILL LAST THEM A LIFETIME? 

At Ripley Scout Group, we provide opportunities to youth members aged between 5 - 25 years old.

The purpose of Scouting is to encourage the physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development of young people for them to take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens and members of their communities.   

Instead of learning in a formal way, Scouts get ‘hands on’, tackling projects in small groups or teams – we call them patrols. Youth members are engaged and getting involved while making decisions.

Learning from mistakes, ‘learn by doing’, our youth members are guided and advised by our trained Adults Leaders.

Our youth leading, adults supporting model, ensures our members develop into active citizens with all the skills and experience required to achieve in their future personal and professional lives. 

For more information: gl@ripley.scoutsqld.com

Proudly supported by Defence Member Family and Support (DMFS),

Ipswich RSL Sub Branch, Young Veterans & Rotary Club of Greater Springfield 

DEFENCE PEER MENTORS 

This Term saw the Defence Peer Mentor (DPM) leadership role officially recognised. 

A big congratulations goes to Ben Coop (Year 10) and Jackson Sheen (Year 11) who are our two Defence Peer Mentors (DPM’s) for 2023. 

Jackson initiated the Defence Peer Mentor Leadership role in 2023 and together we have worked to provide mentors specifically catering to the unique challenges Defence students face.

Along with carrying out duties to assist the Defence School Mentor, our DPM’s primary role will be to offer support, at a peer level, to ADF students during times of postings and extended parental absences, (e.g., Deployments). They make themselves available for support both at Defence Club and in the school yard during break times.

Our DPM’s have completed Peer Mentoring training along with our other Peer Mentors, and I am looking forward to working with Ben and Jackson through the year. 

 

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

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.