Dear Parents/Carers, 

As we approach the end of Term and the middle of our school year, we have much to celebrate and look forward too.  Over the past few weeks in particular, I have enjoyed a number of significant events such as the recent handover of the Performing Arts Centre (PAC), our 100 days till Year 12 graduation and massive Careers expo.  These events and many others remind me daily of the great school we are a part of.

Earlier this term our college hosted a school review team to gather further information into the great things our college currently does and also provide some recommendations for us as we plan for the future.  A copy of this report summary is attached in this newsletter and a copy of both the summary and full report are available on our college website.

As we move into Term 3 it is my plan to co-develop our colleges draft 4 year strategic plan with input from as many interested parties as possible.  To assist in this process if you would like to become involved in this process, please email your expression of interest to me at principal@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au

As we embark on this strategic planning process, I look forward to sharing our progress and plan with you as we prepare for the future.

As always, your involvement and partnership with us is appreciated.

Yours Sincerely,  

Brendan Krueger

Foundation Principal

SRR_Ripley_Valley_State_Secondary_College_Executive_Summary_2024.pdf

SRR_Ripley_Valley_State_Secondary_College_Executive_Summary_2024 _pdf 740.55 KB

Senior Report Cards

Senior Report Cards will be issued via email to all parents/carers on Friday 7th June. These report cards will contain a cumulative result based upon all summative assessment completed across Terms 1 and 2. Teachers will also provide a Behaviour, Effort and Homework result for your student.

These will be sent via an automated email from the information stored on One School. If there have been changes to your active email address, please update your details with our Administration Staff administration@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au to ensure you receive your child's report.

Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions about the Senior Report Card.

QCE Reviews

On Wednesday 12th June, Year 11 students and their parents/carers will be required to participate in a QCE review. During this process students and parents will meet with a member of the College's Leadership team to review their Unit 1 progress and their intended pathway. This meeting is an opportunity for students to identify on areas for improvement, set goals and make adjustments to their pathway if required. These meetings can be booked on Daymap and will be held in the Ripley Valley SSC Performing Arts Centre between 8am and 4.30pm.

Todd Robson

Deputy Principal - Year 11 & Year 12 - Pathways & Partnerships 

trobs20@eq.edu.au

2024 Student Resource Scheme (SRS) - 2nd instalment now overdue

Thank you to those families who have already made payments or set up payment plans. 

For those families who are paying the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) in instalments, the 2nd instalment was due on Friday the 10th of May.

The remaining payment due date is:

• 3rd instalment due Friday 9th August

Statements have been emailed, please note that if you have already made a payment or set up a payment plan through direct debit or Centrepay these statements are for your information only.  Statements will be sent again prior to the final instalment due date.

Any missed payments will be followed up in the coming weeks.

Following are the SRS parent information letters for each year level which outline the inclusions and cost of the 2024 SRS.

Year_7_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information.pdf

Year_7_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information _pdf 465.49 KB

Year_8_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information.pdf

Year_8_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information _pdf 463.89 KB

Year_9_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information.pdf

Year_9_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information _pdf 773.40 KB

Year_10_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information.pdf

Year_10_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information _pdf 759.71 KB

Year_11_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information.pdf

Year_11_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information _pdf 769.64 KB

Year_12_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information.pdf

Year_12_2024_Student_Resource_Scheme_SRS_Parent_Information _pdf 648.80 KB

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.

Phone payments using Credit/Debit card – Call 1300 631 073 Option 2. You will need your Customer Reference Number (CRN) and Invoice Number from the bottom left corner of your invoice.

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).

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 paymentplan@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.

Finally, please note that the Administration Office will be operating under reduced hours Wednesday 24th April 2024.

Michelle Mills

Business Manager

School Laptop Expectations - Being prepared for learning

We are seeing an increased number of students coming to school with laptops that have not been charged. Please ensure you have a system at home to help remind your child to put their laptops on charge each night so that they are prepared for learning each day.

Chargers are NOT allowed at school as they are a safety hazard. Student laptop batteries are made to last all day - and if they are not lasting a school day, they need to visit Tech Support.

Students are also required to bring their laptop case to school each day, and have the Ripley Valley sticker on their laptops at all times as it provides extra protection for their device. Cases are $35 to replace, and stickers are $10 to replace. If you have any questions please email:

tech@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au 

Todd Robson

Deputy Principal - Year 11 & Year 12 - Pathways & Partnerships 

trobs20@eq.edu.au

It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the year, and what a busy few weeks we have had!

I would like to firstly congratulate our Year 12 teachers for a very successful first round of Senior English confirmation. This process involves the state-wide confirmation of senior assessment. It is very reassuring to know that our senior English team have successfully had all samples confirmed. Our Year 12 English Essential teachers will complete their state-wide quality assurance early next term.

Our Year 10 and 11 English teachers are also currently assisting the Senior Schooling team to review student achievement and suitability in General and Extension English subjects. The teams will provide recommendations about English subjects and pathways in the coming week as QCE reviews take place.

Further to this, our Year 9 and 10 students are about to undertake the exciting journey of planning out their Senior Schooling journey. Part of this involves selecting their Senior English subjects. In senior, English branches into multiple different subjects and here at the college they are: English Extension (Year 10), General English (Year 10-12), Foundation English (Year 10), Essential English (Year 11-12), Literature (11-12) and Short Course Literacy. Students who intend to continue studies at university will need select one of the following subjects in years 10, and 11 and 12: English Extension (Year 10), General English (Year 10-12), or Literature (11-12). These subjects are rigorous and have a pre-requisite of a minimum achievement of a ‘B’ in year 9 English.

Students who intend to enter the workforce, or continue studies at TAFE can select from Foundation English (Year 10), and Essential English (Year 11-12). These subjects offer the same QCE points as the other English subjects, but do not contribute to ATARs.

If you have any questions about which English subject is right for your child, I encourage you to email your child’s current English teacher, or Head of Department - English, Ms Diesing to discuss.

On Thursday 6^th June, our Junior Readers Cup teams competed in the Brisbane West Years 7/8 Regional Competition. Our teams represented our college brilliantly, demonstrating perseverance when one of their team mates was unable to attend. We are looking forward to receiving the results from the competition very soon as we look forward to next year’s competition when you will compete in the senior competition! Thank you to Mr Shaw for managing our junior teams.

Earlier this term, our year 12 General English classes experienced a unique blend of literature and leisure as their classrooms became pop-up ‘Poetry Café’s. This creative initiative aimed to deepen students' understanding and appreciation of poetry in an engaging and relaxed environment.

As students gathered around tables, and were treated to iced chocolate drinks and an assortment of freshly baked cookies, they digested the poetic works of Maya Angelou and many more.

Discussions flowed freely as students shared their interpretations and personal connections to the poems. The café setting encouraged open dialogue and fostered a deeper appreciation for the nuances and emotional power of poetry. One student remarked, “The Poetry Café made analysing poetry feel more accessible and enjoyable. It was a great way to learn and relax at the same time.”

The success of the Poetry Café has sparked excitement for future events, with plans already underway to make it a regular part of the Year 12 curriculum. By combining the pleasures of good food and drink with the intellectual stimulation of poetry, the Poetry Café has proven to be a delightful and effective method for enriching students’ literary education.

 Thank you to Mr Shaw and Ms Marks for their contributions to this edition. 

Ms Jasmine Diesing

Head Of Department | English | Year 10E to 10G 

jbunt18@eq.edu.au

As we approach the end of Term 2, I would like to commend the effort and perseverance of staff, students and parents/ carers throughout the term but especially during the assessment period. 

I want to acknowledge the effort and professionalism of staff in teaching the content, preparing students for assessments and supporting students through lunch time tutoring. Students have made the most of lunchtime tutoring offered by Mathematics department to improve their understanding of concepts and learning outcomes. 

Students have been actively engaging in the classroom activities and taking onboard the feedback provided by teachers in order to improve their academic outcomes. Students in years 7-10 have exams scheduled in week 9 and are encouraged to revise and give their 100%.

Year 11 students have now completed their unit 1 assessments and have been provided feedback. Year 12 students have also completed unit 3 and have been working through unit 4 content. 

Australian Mathematics Competition

AMC will be held in term 3. Students from all year levels are welcome to participate in this competition. Students can contact me for more information or registration enquiries. 

General Notices:

• Mathematics tutoring is available every week. Tuesday at 1st break and Thursday at 2nd break in CG01. All students are welcome. 
• All students should be prepared for class, every lesson by bringing a scientific calculator, notebook, stationary and a charged laptop. Please support your students to be prepared for learning to ensure we can maximise our teaching & learning time. 

Haranoop Singh Goraya

Head of Department - Mathematics - Year 10A to 10D

hsgor0@eq.edu.au 

Ellen Grant

Head of Department - Science - Year 9F to 9I 

egran55@eq.edu.au

As we draw the curtains on another semester, it's time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the journey we've undertaken together in the realm of humanities. It's been a semester filled with intellectual exploration, passionate discussions, and profound revelations. As we bid farewell to this chapter, let's take a moment to commemorate the experiences that have shaped us as educators and learners.

Throughout the semester, our classrooms have been vibrant hubs of creativity and critical thinking. From dissecting historical sources to unravelling the complexities of historical events, our students have delved deep into the tapestry of human experiences. Through thought-provoking discussions and engaging activities, we've fostered a community where curiosity thrives and perspectives flourish.

One of the highlights of this semester has been witnessing the evolution of our students' perspectives. Whether it was through analysing primary sources or engaging with contemporary issues, they have demonstrated a remarkable ability to empathise, analyse, and articulate their thoughts. It's truly inspiring to see how the study of humanities has empowered them to become informed, empathetic, and engaged citizens of the world.

Looking ahead, as we prepare to welcome a new semester, let's carry forward the spirit of inquiry, empathy, and collaboration that defines the humanities. Let's continue to inspire our students to ask meaningful questions, challenge conventional wisdom, and embrace the complexities of the human experience. Together, we can cultivate a community where intellectual curiosity knows no bounds and where every voice is valued.

As we say goodbye to this semester, let's celebrate the memories we've created, the knowledge we've imparted, and the connections we've forged. Here's to another semester filled with exploration, enlightenment, and endless possibilities.

Cecilia Hall

Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 7F to 7I

chall213@eq.edu.au

Georgina Wellwood

Japanese Teacher

gawel0@eq.edu.au

 Performing Arts Updates

I am so excited to announce that we officially have our brand-new Performing Arts Centre! The PAC is a purpose-built facility using industry standard gear to house our Dance, Drama, Music and Instrumental classes. Over the coming weeks we are finalising our move into the PAC and the building will be fully online timetabled from Semester 2.

Dance Night

We received the keys to our new building on the 24^th May and put on our first ever event on the 31^st May! The Dance team was delighted to share with you our first ever Dance Night where we were able to showcase the hard work of our students across curriculum classes, academies, squad, cheer and cultural groups. We are so proud of all of those involved and would like to thank all the parents and carers for their on-going support.

Dance Academy

Year 7/8

Our 7/8 Dance Academy students have just submitted their Musical Theatre choreography. In this task they have focused on creating a technically difficult routine including a variety of turns, leaps, kicks and complex phrases whilst linking their actions with the music. This assessment piece wraps up their Musical Theatre unit as next term the class will move onto studying the Jazz style.  In week 9 the team will be competing with their Musical Theatre routine at the Ipswich Junior Dance Eisteddfod and we are looking forward to seeing them up on stage again!

Year 9

Year 9 Dance Academy students have had a fabulous time performing their Fosse inspired routine at Dance Night. They are about to submit their own Jazz routine for their choreography task. This task will finalise the end of their jazz journey and the students are excited to move into Lyrical Dance next semester. In week 9 our year 9 students are joining the 7/8 Dance Academy group at the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod where they will be competing with their jazz routine "Feel it still".

Year 7 Dance

Year 7 Dance are wrapping up their final assessment task and have submitted their choreography draft. Their creativity shines as they integrated iconic movements from various eras many before their years. With their final assessment due next week, this sadly brings Year 7 dance to an end for 7B, 7E, 7H and 7F. We hope to see them selecting the subject in Year 9 and can't wait to meet our next bunch of grade 7's next term!

Year 10 Dance

Year 10 Dance students recently performed the opening dance number in our first ever RVSSC Dance Night. They demonstrated high energy, big faces and really entertained the audience. In class, students have been working on their group choreographic task where they are creating a Hip-Hop routine based on a school theme/context. 

Year 11 Dance

Year 11 Dance have recently completed their first senior unit, ending with individual choreography in the style of contemporary dance. In unit 2, students explore how physical and virtual environments have an impact on the choreographer’s creative process and selection of dance concepts, and the performer’s use of the dance skills to communicate meaning. Students synthesise their knowledge and understanding of the conventions of each environment and analyse, interpret and evaluate dance, justifying the manipulation of movement through the application of dance concepts and skills to communicate meaning. Students develop their knowledge and understanding of dance concepts and skills through a study of various physical and virtual dance environments. These concepts, skills and environments are those used by choreographers and performers in Australia.

Year 12 Dance

Year 12 Dance students have just completed their IA2 choreography tasks and they did a fantastic job at creatively expressing socio-political issues through contemporary dance. As students move into their final unit, they are exploring self-expression through their own style of fusion dance, combining two or more dance genres together. This is an opportunity for them to share something from their personal experiences and to celebrate the ending of their dance journey in high school.

Year 8 Drama

After writing their own Children's Theatre script based on a children's story or folktale, Year 8 Drama students will now bring their creativity to life as the student-devised scripts are transformed into live productions. With fractured fairy tales and modernised adaptations full of humour and enthusiasm, the Drama team can’t wait to see the final performances. We are hopeful that these performances can strengthen our community partnerships as some of our students may be able to showcase their fantastic skills by presenting their Children's Theatre pieces for younger students.  

Year 9 Drama

Year 9 students are getting ready for their final performance of the year! They have explored the concept of risk taking amongst young people through the play, Juice. Students have refined their acting skills in the style of Realism and developed confidence and team work skills in the process, so all that is left is for them to present a fantastic performance! This semester has provided a platform for students explore the depths of human emotion, creativity and self-expression, and it has been a pleasure to watch their skills flourish. Ms McLeod can’t wait to see them all challenging their creativity, communication and collaboration in Year 10 Drama next year!   

Year 12 Drama

Year 12 Drama students have just completed their most recent project, creating a piece of Theatre for Social Change. The maturity and depth of meaning communicated in their concepts was phenomenal and it has been a pleasure to watch their creativity over the past term. Now that we have moved into the PAC (and what an exciting move it was!), we will delve into the contrasting worlds of Greek Tragedies and Contemporary Theatre, as Year 12 Drama students explore the transformative power of performance. Combining styles like Visual Theatre, Cinematic Theatre and using hybridity, students will create their own dynamic directorial vision of how the heritage text of Medea could best communicate meaning for modern audiences. With their most in-depth assessment just around the corner, Ms McLeod is so excited to see the incredible directorial visions and acting performances that these students create!  

Year 12 Drama in Practice

Year 12 Drama in Practice students are examining how theatre can have the power to bring communities together and share voices that have previously been unheard. The students will choose a specific community group, spend interviewing them and hearing their stories, before using their words to create an engaging script. From there, a student-devised script will be cast, rehearsed and refined ready to be performed for community members. It will be so incredible for the class to experience the creation of a performance from concept to complete performance and Ms McLeod has no doubt they will do an exceptional job!

Cheer

The Raptors had an extremely successful first performance at Dance Night on Friday 31st of May. The athletes pushed themselves through a significant amount of training to be ready for the performance. There was some anxiety but a lot of excitement heading into the evening, as the team got to wear their uniform and bows for the first time. This opportunity was a chance for the team to come together and meet the expectations required of them for their competitions later this year. The cheerleaders will now begin working towards their first competition.

Drama Troupe

The Drama Troupe have been refining their performance skills through working on manipulating their vocality and physicality to portray realistic characters. Now that we have made the exciting move into the PAC, the opportunities feel endless! So, we are now able to begin introducing Magical Realism and the concept of beauty in moments when our reality and our dreams collide. As the students explore different characters, they are gaining confidence in their movement, voice and ability to portray a wide range of roles. These practices help students with other useful core skills such as, communication, teamwork, adaptability, self-confidence and active listening. The group has made incredible improvements in their performances in the last few weeks and we couldn’t be more excited as we begin working on pieces for our Annual Arts Showcase.

Grade 7 Music:

It's music to our ears as our Grade 7 students wrap up their elective rotation in the music program! From learning the basics of rhythm and melody to exploring different instruments, they've embarked on a melodious journey that's been nothing short of inspiring. Now, as they put the finishing touches on their final performances, we're eagerly anticipating the culmination of their hard work and dedication.

Grade 9 Music:

In Music, the Year 9’s are working hard on their Music assessments, where they are using SoundTrap (an online audio workstation) to create compositions based on mood and emotion. Students are experimenting with various instruments and compositional techniques to create songs that influence their audience’s emotions.

Grade 10 Music:

Our students are not just tuning in, they're turning up the volume on their creativity! As they put the final touches on their "radio projects," crafting one-of-a-kind compositions, they're not only making music, they're also learning valuable lessons about copyright law and ethical use of digital audio workstations and samples.

With a clear understanding of copyright and ethical practices, our musicians are not only creating great tunes but also setting a high standard for integrity in their work. Let's give them a round of applause for their dedication to both musical excellence and ethical principles.

Grade 12 Music: 

As our seniors enter the final phase of their high school journey, they are diving headfirst into preparations for both IA3 and unit 4 assessments. It's been incredibly inspiring to witness their enthusiasm and dedication as they tackle these tasks.

Under the guidance of Mr. Ezzy, our students have been impressing us all with their skill and commitment to excellence. Despite the assessments not being due until week 4 of term 3, many students have already begun booking rehearsal spaces to ensure they have ample time to practice and refine their performances, compositions and musicology.

We commend our seniors for their proactive approach and commendable work ethic. It's a testament to their passion for music and their determination to succeed.

Instrumental Music:

We are thrilled to share some exciting updates from our instrumental music program! Our students have been diligently honing their craft, and we're delighted to see them evolving into more nuanced musicians. They're not just playing the notes anymore; they're infusing their performances with a depth of sensitivity and expression that is truly impressive. In addition, our senior students are embarking on an exciting journey as they develop their final projects. These projects will be unveiled at the showcase in term 4, and we can't wait to see the culmination of their hard work and talent. It promises to be a showcase of extraordinary skill and creativity.

As we approach the end of term, we want to remind everyone that instrumental music will continue in weeks 9 and 10, despite the cold weather and the wrapping up of the term. We appreciate everyone's dedication and commitment to the program, and we encourage all students to keep attending rehearsals and giving their best effort.Thank you for your ongoing support of our instrumental music program and our students achieving excellence together. 

Grade 12 Student Neve Conducting the Concert Band.

Vocal Ensemble:

Our vocalists are hitting all the right notes as they prepare for their first community performance. With rehearsals in full swing, they're fine-tuning their melodies and perfecting their harmonies, and let me tell you, they're sounding fantastic!

From powerful ballads to upbeat anthems, our vocalists are showcasing their talent and dedication to their craft. We can't wait to see them take the stage and share their voices with the community.

Jessica Starkey

Head of Department - Performing Arts - Year 8E - 8H

jxsta12@eq.edu.au

James Gerchow

Head of Department - VET & Digital Technology - Year 11 & Year 12

jgerc6@eq.du.au

Janet Ingram

Guidance Officer - Years 10, 11, 12

studentservices@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au 

Managing Stress while Studying

With assessment period in full swing - it's very important to stay mentally and emotionally healthy while you are studying, so that you will have the best learning experience, and make the most of your abilities. 

Take the time to plan

• Prepare a study plan for the day, keeping in mind your weekly goal/s. Make sure it realistically reflects what needs to be done, and is balanced with other important things in your life (such as work, fun, entertainment, and social activities) - that way it will be easier to stick to.
  
  
• Be flexible with your study plan by allocating extra time to catch-up on any incomplete study or tasks – sometimes things will come up unexpectedly or take longer than you thought they would. Building a study plan that works for you can take some trial and error.
  
  
• Make sure to include regular breaks in your planning, even if it’s just 5-10 minutes to stretch or grab a snack.
  
  
• Create a study space that is comfortable, well lit, organised, and fits your needs to help you focus. Make sure you have everything you need for each study session as this can help you to feel more prepared and organised.
  
  
• It could be helpful to use a timetable to map out what’s coming up and start to prioritise from there.

Look after yourself and take breaks when you need to

Self-care doesn’t need to be fancy or complicated, it can be anything that helps your mental or physical wellbeing – and it’s especially important in helping you recharge during stressful times.

• Organise activities that you enjoy into your study plan as this will help refresh your mind after a long study session.
  
  
• When you eat things that fuel your body, it helps your mind too. Consider grabbing some healthy snacks to get you through your study period.
  
  
• Staying active can also help you to keep focused and energetic. For example, you could try going for walks, organising a gym session (possibly with friends) or stretching.
  
  
• Don't study for too long without a short break. 40-60 minutes of study then taking a 5–10-minute break is a good place to start but play around with these timeframes and see what works best for you.

Emily Leschke

Guidance Officer - Years 7, 8, 9

Defence Student Parental Absence and Posting Workshop

This term has seen the introduction of the Defence Student Parental Absence and Posting workshop, ‘Go with The Flow’ 

The workshop aims to help Defence students to recognise the challenges that being part of a Defence family poses, and the possible impacts, both positive and negative, these challenges have on their education.

Through student led conversations, activities, and a sharing of their own personal experiences, students are provided with strategies and access to support within the college. This support can help them to cope with the absences their Defence parents are frequently subjected to, as part of their service.

Feedback from the workshop will also raise awareness and build capacity among the colleges’ staff to respond to the social and emotional needs of students from Defence Families.

As the DSM, I was heartened by the honesty and the willingness of the students to share their experiences with each other. Giving a voice to their feelings is an important step in the process of accepting situations which are out of their control (postings, deployments, frequent changes to schools, homes, friends etc) so that they can find constructive ways to respond in a positive manner.

I am looking forward to providing more workshops in the future. 

Coffee and Chat

Week 7 was the RVSSC Defence parent coffee catch up, held at The Little Piggy Café.  It was lovely to see parents come together for a hot drink and a chin wag.

Our college Senior Guidance Officer, Janet Ingram, attended the catch and was able to meet some of our parents, and to answer any questions around student support at RVSSC.

Kelly Keats, from Mates4Mates. also popped in.   Mate4Mates is an organisation that helps current and ex-serving Defence Force members who have been impacted by their military service.  Their areas of support are physical and mental injury, and social disconnection.  The Mates4Mates membership (which is free) has recently undergone some changes in response to member feedback, which now makes it easier to access their support.

Kelly will be our guest speaker in the Term 3 Coffee& Chat.

For more information about Mates4Mates, you can go to their website, https://mates4mates.org/whom-we-are/our-locations/online-services or better yet, come along to our next Coffee & Chat in Term 3, where you can have all of your questions answered in person.

D Day 80th Anniversary

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D–Day landings in Normandy (Operation Neptune), France, on 6 June 1944. D–Day and the battle of Normandy marked the first step in the Allied liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation during the Second World War. 

Australians played a small but important role in the large Allied forces that participated in D–Day.

Approximately 3,200 Australians participated in the D–Day landings on 6 June. Thousands more would serve during the Normandy campaign and beyond. In the fleet some 500 members of the Royal Australian Navy served on attachment with the Royal Navy. A small number of Australian soldiers also served on the ground with the British Army. Our nation’s main contribution came in the air, where approximately 1,000 Australian airmen flew with Royal Australian Air Force squadrons, and a further 1,800 operated on attachment to the Royal Air Force. On top of this, 10,000 Australians waited in training and reserve pools, ready to join operational squadrons as the campaign’s casualties mounted. Thirteen Australians were killed on 6 June in Operation Overlord, and hundreds more were killed over the course of the campaign while flying in support of the ground forces in Normandy. In fact, in terms of total casualties June 1944 was the worst month in the history of the Royal Australian Air Force.

If you would like to learn more about D Day and Australia’s involvement, you can head to The Australian War Memorial website

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/D-day

DMFS SUPPORT INFORMATION

Defence Member and Family Hotline - 1800 624 608

DMFS https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/family-programs-services

To contact the Defence School Mentor: Tracey Cooper

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 0800 - 1430hrs

Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au

Phone : 3819 5333

Tracey Cooper

Defence School Mentor

Ripley Valley State Secondary College

Hi Sports fans!

We are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after the busyness of term 1 & 2. Most district sport Is completed and students are competing for Met West & State teams. If you have competed in any sport so far this year this will appear the end of semester report cards and sport awards will be distributed early next term. But there’s still a lot going on in the sport scene at Ripley this term and early next term!

Yagera

The winter season of Yagera sport is coming up at the start of term 3. This season the following teams were offered:

Most of these teams have now been finalised and students have been training hard. Invoicing & permission will go out in week 10.

Athletics

Athletics is fast approaching with our annual carnival being held on Thursday & Friday of week 9. The events that are run at this carnival include:

The theme this year is Western! Students can come in their best western hat. As always clothing choices must be sun safe and appropriate. Student athletes are not obligated to dress up if they don’t want to. I understand that it is hard to compete in a western outfit. Spikes/boots are allowed. However, if students are wearing metal spikes these will need to be removed immediately after their event. The teachers will not allow students to be walking around with studs/spikes as it is a safety hazard.

This year we are asking that if students are arriving at school after 8:50am that they immediately sign in at the office. If they miss the roll call it becomes an issue of students missing/parents getting texts from admin when their child is at school but wasn’t marked on the roll. So, we just ask your support in reminding students to sign in if they are late.

Parents are welcome to attend the athletics carnival. We ask that if you’re coming to spectate the carnival that you park at the Raptordome and sign in at the sign in desk at the entry to the oval. The gate connecting the oval to the front carpark will remain locked to restrict student access. The schedule for the day is:

The Thursday carnival is for nominations only. The events being run on this day include Javelin, Discus, 400m, 800m & 1500m. Students must nominate to attend this carnival. Any student not on the list will be sent back to class. Nominations have been on Daymap for the past two weeks, however if your student still hasn’t nominated you can nominate by completing the following link:

Nomination Form

Nominations will be closed on Monday 9am week 9.

The school tuckshop will be closed on this day and operating out of the kiosk at the Raptordome. They will have an adjusted menu that you can check out below. The SRC will also be running their annual sausage sizzle for students to buy from. They will be accepting Eftpos & cash payments at this carnival.

Vicki Wilson

On the 4^th of June our Junior & Senior netball teams competed at Western Netball Association for the development Vicki Wilson competition. Both teams did very well with our Juniors walking away in 1^st Place! Our first ever major sporting competition win. Our seniors also have done amazing, finishing the competition in 3^rd Place after coming in last place last year. The development of these students has been amazing and we can’t wait to see how we go next year when we take on the competitive cup.

A BIG thank you to Ms Ivanko, Ms Robson & Ms Coles who have all given up their free time to coach the girls. We all appreciate everything you have done for the girls in the lead up to this event. 

All Schools Touch Football

After many years of trying to get into the All-Schools Touch Football Competition, we have finally been accepted with a 15 Boys & a 15 Girls team. The trials are now in the final processes and few positions are left. If your child would like to be involved in this competition, please send me an email. The boys train Wednesday & Thursday afternoon from 3pm – 4pm.

The Girls team has been put on the back burner at the moment with their coach out due to injury. When she returns the girls will also return training Thursday afternoon 3pm – 4pm.  

Ripley Athlete Development