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Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome to Term 4 and what I know will be a very busy and exciting term for our college. This year we celebrate the gradation of our first ever Year 12 cohort. Over the past 5 years these young adults have proven themselves to be a credit to the school and themselves. This is not just reflected in their outstanding academic results and admirable personal qualities but more importantly in the way they have grown and matured into the young people they are today. They have been the leaders in our college since 2020 and have demonstrated our school values of respect, responsibility and perseverance. They have embraced our college motto of "Achieving excellence together" and shown the following grades what it means to be a student at Ripley. As we count down to their graduation, I want to personally thank the Year 12 cohort and their families for their invaluable partnership with our college.
In addition to our first graduating cohort of Year 12's, I am also looking forward to our annual awards evening to be held on Wednesday the 16th October. This will be our biggest awards night to date with over 230 students receiving awards for their academic, sporting and cultural achievements. This year I am also looking forward to presenting a number of new awards to our senior and junior students as our students continue to achieve well above other schools in our region and state.
As we countdown to these significant events I look forward to catching up with many of you and celebrating together the remarkable success of our students and college.
Yours Sincerely,
Brendan Krueger
Foundation Principal
If you have not received your student's Report Card, please email administration@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au and a copy will be issued. Please remember to check your Spam inbox as the Reports are issued automatically from One School.
Welcome back to the start of Term 4! I hope all students were able to enjoy the break and have returned revitalised and ready for the final stretch before Christmas. Before we make it to the festive season - there are several key events in our school calendar which we are looking forward to celebrating throughout the Term. These include:
Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW):
QMHW takes place in Week 2 and provides an opportunity for all Queenslanders to consider and connect with the people and communities that they rely on to help them be mentally healthy, through a range of events and activities. This Year at Ripley Valley SSC we will celebrate Queensland Mental Health Week with a range of events including workshops with the Brisbane Bullets and our Wellbeing Expo - featuring a range of external providers including USQ Radio. More information about these events will be shared through Daymap Messages.
Year 8 Subject Selections:
In the coming weeks students in Year 8 will complete their subject selections for Year 9 in 2025. Students will be asked to select two elective subjects for Semester 1, and two elective subjects for Semester 2. Students and parents will have the Subject Selection Handbook provided to them electronically from next week to assist in making these decisions. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to make contact with Mr James Dunn – HOD Junior Secondary.
RVSSC Showcase:
Final arrangements are being made for the RVSSC Showcase which will take place on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of October and promises to be an incredible evening of student (and staff) performances. Doors open at 5:30pm for a 6pm start.
Awards Evening:
Preparations continue for the Annual Awards Evening, which will take place on Wednesday 16th of October from 6:30pm (Week 3) in the RaptorDome. A core component of this event includes the presentation of the: Raptor Awards, Special Awards, Subject Awards and celebration of elected school leaders for 2025. Invitations for this event have been sent out this week to the families of those students who will be receiving an award on the evening.
Remembrance Day Service:
This year the College will be holding our Remembrance Day Service on Friday 8th November from 8:45am in the RaptorDome. RVSSC will also be participating in the Remembrance Day Service at the Ipswich RSL Ipswich on the 11th of November. Our two Defence Peer Mentors will be laying a wreath at the Honour Stone as a mark of respect and remembrance to all those who have fought and died across so many conflicts.
Year 8 Camp:
The Year 8 Camp will take place at Emu Gully Adventure Centre from Tuesday 26th to Friday 29th of November (Week 9). Initial deposits for the camp were due last Term with final payments due later this month. If your child will not be attending camp, they will be expected to participate in an alternate program conducted at the school.
End of Term Rewards Trip:
At the end of this Term students in Years 7 – 9 will have the opportunity to attend the Rewards Trip to Wet‘n’Wild on Monday 9th December. To attend this event students will need to complete a Microsoft Forms application which will be send out later in the Term.
As part of the application process students must acknowledge the following:
- My current approved attendance is over 95% (see Daymap Profile for details)
- I have not received more than 2 Administrative Detentions this Term
- I have not received a suspension this Term
- I have completed all assessment, drafts and exams to date
- I wish to attend to all Ripley Rewards Trips throughout the year
- My parents/carers give permission for me to attend the RVSSC Reward Trips
Further information about this event will be made available throughout the Term.
Welcome back to Term 4! I hope all our students and families had a relaxing and restful break and are ready for the final term of the year.
As we approach the end of the year, it is important to remind ourselves of the goals we have set along the way. Holidays are a great opportunity to reflect and reset before getting back in to the swing of things. I encourage all students to take the opportunity to remind themselves of not only their short-term goals (Term 4 results) but also their long term goals (what they want to achieve by the end of year 12) and continue to work towards these. As you reflect on your recent results, determine the steps you need to take to help you move from where you are to where you want to be. Author of Atomic Habits, James Clear, provides the following insight in order to keep ourselves focussed on our goals.
"When you're doing something hard, focus on the fun part. Many people make a subtle mistake, which is they emphasize how difficult it is to do something. They tell themselves writing is hard or running is hard or math is hard. And so on. The dominant thought in their mind is that this is hard to do. And it is true these things (and many others in life) can be challenging. Meanwhile, people who thrive in a given area are often emphasizing a completely different aspect of the experience. They are thinking about how it feels good to move their body rather than telling themselves exercise is hard. Or, perhaps, they aren't really thinking much at all. They may slip into a trance during their run, a meditative rhythm. But what they are almost certainly not doing is repeating a mental story about how hard it is to do the thing. Their dominant thought is about some element of the experience they enjoy. They are working hard, but with the fun part in mind."
As both our year 11 and 12 students head towards their exam block period, it is important for them to not lose sight of the end goal they are trying to achieve while working through the study and revision period. We wish our students the best in this season and know they will put their best effort in for this final push.
YEAR 12 EXTERNAL EXAM BLOCK
With our first graduating cohort of year 12 students, we also encounter our first ever External Exam block. This exam block starts on Monday 21st October and runs until Tuesday 12th November. The schedule of all exams can be found on the QCAA website and students will be provided with an individual copy of their exams early next week.
The following information is important to note as it may differ from previous exam sessions:
- Year 12 students are only required to attend school for scheduled exams or VET catch up sessions.
- Students must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to beginning of the exam session and are to wear correct uniform.
- When students have completed their scheduled exam, they are able to leave the exam session.
- Year 12 students at school at any time other than an exam session or lunch break, will be working in the designated study classroom. The study room is a supervised room and attendance recorded each lesson. The expectation is that students work quietly and independently.
- Any students with outstanding VET modules of work will be required to attend VET catch up sessions during the exam block. Students will be required to attend these sessions until all required work is completed and marked as competent.
YEAR 11 EXAM BLOCK
With the start of October, we have now only a few short weeks left with our year 11 students before they start their exams for Unit 2. Year 11 exam block will be held from Monday 21st to Friday 25th October. All year 11 students will receive their exam timetable by email at the start of week 2. To help assist students and ensure that the exam block runs smoothly, we ask that parents please take note of the following information:
- Year 11 students are only required to attend school for scheduled exams or VET catch up sessions.
- Students must arrive at the beginning of the exam session and are to wear correct uniform.
- When required for a scheduled exam session, students must remain in the designated exam room for the entire scheduled session with their teacher.
- Year 11 students at school at any time other than an exam session or lunch break, will be working in the designated study classroom. The study room is a supervised room and a roll will be marked each lesson. The expectation is that students work quietly and independently.
- Any students with outstanding VET modules of work will be required to attend VET catch up sessions during the exam block. Students will be required to attend these sessions until all required work is completed.
Todd Robson
Deputy Principal - Year 11 & Year 12 - Pathways & Partnerships
- A reminder that the last day for Year 10 students this term is 22nd November (end of Week 8).
- I would strongly encourage you to sit down with your child and discuss their pathway options that we all discussed during SETPlan meetings. A large number of students were not eligible to particular senior subjects due to not meeting a pre-requisite. I would strongly encourage you to review these choices with your child and do some goal setting if they are needing to improve results to be eligible for certain subjects. Right now is the time to have these discussions as they can have the greatest improvements early in the term. We are also very happy to have these discussions with you and/or your child. Please don't hesitate to contact the College and ask to speak with the Year Level HOD or myself.
- A reminder that we strive to uphold high expectations on student uniform. Please ensure that you are aware of the uniform policy and support your child upholding the details within this policy. These can be found on our website or in the student diary.
Tess Reeves
Year 8 Subject Selections:
On Monday 21st October, all Year 8 Students will be selecting their subjects for Year 9 2025. This will occur during Period 1 ENT and students will need to have a charged laptop to ensure they have the ability to select their subjects promptly.
Students in Year 9 will still complete the core subjects of: English, Maths, Science, Humanities and HPE, however will have the ability to pick the electives as per below:
- Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Visual Arts and Music
Students cannot study the same elective twice in the calendar year.
Parents, Carers and Students will receive the subject handbook in Week 2, which provides insight to what content is being taught, assessment information and subject costs. This will be sent out via email.
Year 7 2025 Orientation Day:
If your student is currently in Year 6 and you have not completed the required paperwork to enrol at our College, please utilise the QR Code below. All enrolments will need to be finalised by Term 4 (unless circumstance apply).
Dance Academy:
Curriculum:
Dance Academy are currently working on their choreography tasks. This task is where students can get creative with their dance technique as they work with their group to come up with their own routine. Year 7 and 8 students will be choreographing in groups of 4 to entertain for their funky jazz routines. Year 9 students will be choreographing a Lyrical solo which communicates their own personal identity. Students will draw on childhood memories to create their choreographic intent.
Events:
Students will have their final public performance at the Performing Arts Showcase on the 11th and 12th of October.
Make sure you get your tickets to either one or both of these nights!
Use the link below to purchase your tickets:
https://www.trybooking.com/CVDSE
Our wonderful P&C are supporting this event by providing food on the night. You will be able to purchase this before the show and during interval.
Showcase key dates:
- Thursday 3rd October TECH RUN 3pm - 6pm
- Saturday 7th October DRESS REHEARSAL 8am - 1pm
- Friday 11th October PRIMARY MATINEE 11.15am - 2.45pm
- Friday 11th October SHOWCASE NIGHT 1 Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start
- Saturday 12th October SHOWCASE NIGHT 2 Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start
Football Academy:
There are some major events that are occurring to specific year levels within the Football Academy this term.
Major Events Term 4 (next 10 weeks)
- The following major events are upcoming across the next 10 schooling weeks.
- King Birthday Public Holiday – Monday, 7 October (week 2)
- QRSS 13-14 Year and 15-16 Years Futsal – Thursday, 17 October to Sunday, 20 October (week 3)
- U14 SFL Gala Day 3 – Thursday, 24 October (week 4)
- U14 SFL Shield Finals Day (must qualify) – Tuesday, 5 November (week 6)
- U14 SFL Champion Finals Day (must qualify) – Wednesday, 6 November (week 6)
- U12 QSF Cup – Monday, 11 November and Tuesday, 12 November (week 7)
- QFSL Grade 7 Gala Day #2 – Tuesday, 3 December (week 10)
Ipswich Futsal
Our FAC Futsal partner, Ipswich Futsal, are currently seeking expressions of interest for the upcoming Futsal season. They are one of only 8 clubs across south-east Queensland guaranteed to be part of the FQ Futsal Academy 1 competition
If you would like to continue to improve your futsal skills outside of the football season, please see the link below.
https://www.ipswichfutsal.com.au/2024-academy-trials-eoi/
FQA Boys & Girls EOI's are open!
SUFC is currently undertaking a Tier 2 Football Queensland assessment process to progress to Academy status for the 2025 season. We have also been granted Provisional Entry for FQ Academy Girls in 2025 (subject to gaining necessary Club rating and FQAL junior female licence criteria).
Please fill out the EOI form via the link below if your child is interested in the below age groups.
EOI Form:
- U9-U12 boys pre academy
- U13-U18 boys academy
- U9-U18 boys development*
- U8, U9 and U10 pre academy
- U11, U12, U13 and U14 academy
- U15 and U17 FQPLW development
7 Ignite – The students have started their final unit of Year 7 and are learning all the ins and outs of project management and how we can apply that in a school context. They are starting to gather ideas on ways to improve our school in the future.
8 Ignite – Using the documentary 2040 as a prompt, the students have begun to explore sustainable concepts and consider how the manufacturing process and disposal at the end of a product's life can impact its overall sustainability.
9 Ignite – If you see students around the school practising with hula hoops and juggling balls, it's just 9 Ignite hard at work. As a way to explore physics through hands-on activities, students are working on their circus skills before analysing and calculating for an 'ideal performance'.
Head of Department - Junior Secondary - Year 7A to 7E
2024 Student Resource Scheme (SRS)
The 2024 SRS payment is now overdue, if you have not finalised your SRS invoices (including elective subject fees for years 10, 11 and 12) please make payment via one of the methods below.
Please note that non payment will result in the students individual laptop being collected. Your student will need to backup their data onto Onedrive as the laptop will be wiped and returned to the school fleet of computers. Families with outstanding fees have been notified via email.
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 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.
2025 Student Resources Scheme (SRS)
The draft SRS for 2025 has been submitted and approved by the P&C. The SRS price has remained the same for the last 5 years and I am pleased to announce that there is only a minor increase to the Year 7,8 & 9 SRS. The price will be increasing from $675 to $690. Our regular arrangements of 3 installments ($230 each) or individual payment plans will still be available.
The price for Senior has also increased slightly due to rising costs of inclusions in the SRS. The price of our year 10, 11 & 12 SRS will be $600 + elective subject fees as per the subject selection handbook.
The parent information letters which outline all the Student Resource Scheme inclusions and show the value for money that the school is able to offer are attached below and will be sent home via email in Term 4 and included in future newsletters.
Michelle Mills
Business Manager
ITEM / DESCRIPTION COST
- Insurance Excess - 1st damage in 12 months $50
- Insurance Excess - 2nd Damage in 12 months $100
- Insurance Excess - 3rd Damage in 12 months Cost of full repair (Quote will be provided)
- Damage to school bank laptop (Hot Swap) Cost of parts + $50 labour fee
- Laptop Skin $15
- Laptop Case $45
- Replacement Charger $37
Please advise us at tech@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au if you know that your child will not be at school when their year level is completing their health checks so alternate arrangements can be made. Similarly, if you know of issues with your child’s laptop that has not been reported please advise our team so we can ensure issues are rectified.
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 $45 to replace, and stickers are $15 to replace. If you have any questions please email:
tech@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
Todd Robson
Deputy Principal - Year 11 & Year 12 - Pathways & Partnerships
Another school year is moving quickly as we find ourselves preparing for new Term 4. I am looking forward to continuing to work in classrooms with students and teachers as we explore our Term 4 learning in different subjects.
Our College believes in partnership with families to help students achieve excellence together and as part of this work we will be offering a trial literacy and numeracy small group support program during Year 7 and 8 Enrichment class time each week in Term 4. These lessons are designed to support students who are currently not achieving a C grade in Maths or English to improve their confidence and understanding in this space. If your child has been recommended to participate in this program, you will have received a letter from the school with more details at the end of last term. Students will be working with Ms Morris and Ms Beutel for Numeracy and Ms Goldthorpe and Ms Hartley for Literacy on Wednesday Period 4 lessons. As this is a new program being delivered at our College, we encourage you and your child to provide feedback on their learning experience and development. This can be done via feedback@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au or egran55@eq.edu.au
Ellen Grant
Head of Department - Teaching and Learning - Year 9G to 9I
We are thrilled to announce that one of our exceptional English teachers, Ms Lauren Marks, has achieved the prestigious Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT) qualification. This accomplishment is a testament to her dedication, expertise, and commitment to fostering excellence both in the classroom and within our school community.
Attaining Highly Accomplished status is no easy feat. It requires educators to demonstrate consistent high-level practice, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to make a meaningful impact on student outcomes and staff development. Ms Marks’ journey to HAT certification has involved countless hours of reflection, collaboration, and ongoing professional growth, and we could not be prouder of her outstanding achievement.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Ms Marks as part of our team, helping to guide students towards academic success and inspiring colleagues with her wealth of knowledge and skill. The passion and dedication that she brings to teaching not only enhances student learning but also contributes to the professional growth of our entire staff. Having a Highly Accomplished Teacher in our midst enriches the culture of excellence that we strive to uphold every day.
On behalf of the entire school community and especially the English faculty, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ms Marks. We look forward to encouraging and celebrating many more teachers in our faculty to take up this challenge.
Thank you, Ms Marks for your tireless efforts in shaping the future of education at our college. We are incredibly proud of you and excited for the continued positive impact you'll make!
Ms Jasmine Diesing
Head Of Department | English | Year 10E to 10G
Welcome back to term 4. I hope everyone had a relaxing time with their family and friends. As we return to the classroom, it is important that students settle back into classroom routines, set new goals and implement strategies to achieve well in semester 2. Our students will continue to explore mathematical concepts and build on their knowledge and understanding of these concepts.
Year 7 students will explore the concepts of Statistics, Probability and Financial Maths. They will begin by learning how to calculate and interpret the mean and median of data sets and to construct data displays. They will demonstrate these skills with an in-class extended response. Then they will learn how to list sample spaces, calculate the probabilities of events and compare the cost of items. They will demonstrate these skills during an exam.
Year 8 students will be learning all about Measurement and Geometry this term as they learn how to calculate perimeter, area and volume of shapes and then moving onto triangle properties and congruency. Year 8 students will demonstrate these skills throughout two exams.
Year 9 students will also be learning about Measurement and Geometry as they calculate the area, surface area and volume of prisms and cylinders. They will then move onto calculations involving triangles as they learn about Pythagoras theorem, trigonometry and scale factor. They will be assessed with two in-class exams.
Year 10 students will be learning about algebra, statistic and financial mathematics. Students will be assesed with an exam at the end of term.
Year 11 students will have an exam block in week 4. This exam will assess their knowledge and understanding of unit 1 and 2 topics. Unit 3 content will then be delivered to start preparation for year 12 in 2025.
Our year 12 students have completed all internal assessments and are now revising for the external exam. Students are encouraged to engage with all resources provided by their teachers and available on the QCAA website in order to prepare for the exams. We wish them all the best for the external exams and their future careers.
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
Welcome to term 4 for science!
This term our year 7's are studying a physics unit about forces, while embedding indigenous perspectives. Year 8 is also studying physics with a focus on types of energy. Year 9 will be learning about human body systems and DNA.
Year 10 biology, chemistry and physics will experience their first exam block this term. Year 10 science in practice are analysing data about climate change, while year 10 psychology will be conducting memory experiments on other classes.
Our year 11 science practice class was successful in their cheese making journey receiving an award for first in their category at the RNA cheese in schools competition.
We also have a busy term with our year 11 biology students off to Jacob's Well in week 3 for their mandatory fieldwork. Students will survey abiotic and biotic factors in different locations to determine the effect abiotic factors have on organism numbers.
Keep an eye out in the next newsletter for some great pictures from the term.
Cora Newton
Acting Head of Department - Science - Year 11
As the school term begins anew, we are excited to welcome students back! Humanities continue to be the cornerstone of our students' intellectual development, offering them critical thinking skills, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Term 4 is always everyone’s favourite term, as the winter months have faded, there is sun and warmth and of course the ever-approaching Christmas holidays!
Late last term, students in Year 11/12 Legal Studies attended the Supreme Court in Brisbane to witness different proceedings, and later this term, year 10s will have the same opportunity! The seniors had a lovely day, and were full of stories and experiences upon their return. We thank Mrs Goldthorpe and Ms Eden for organising this great opportunity for them!
Cecilia Hall
Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 7F to 7I
Looking ahead, the Year 7 Japanese students will attend the traditional tea ceremony at Nerima Gardens in Queens Park Ipswich during Week 4. This is typically a thrilling day and it is so convenient for our students to be on the excursion so close to our school! The students are preparing for this cultural experience by describing our local area using more adjectives so that they can create a bilingual brochure. We hope the brochures can be shared with the students from Japan who will visit our school in November!
The Year 8 Japanese students are wonderful collaborators and they are now engaged to present mini-movies about their hobbies. We hope that students who are going to Japan on the school tour in April next year can then show their mini-movies with their homestay families.
Mrs Emmalene Stevens has been teaching students in ‘Japan Club’ which also starts again in Week 2 in J121 on Thursdays after school. Everyone is welcome!
Georgina Wellwood
Japanese Teacher
Welcome back to Term 4! The most exciting news of all is that Showcase is next week! Our performers and teachers have been working hard putting the finishing touches on our show to ensure that our wonderful audience has the best night! We are so excited for our students to hit the stage and share all of their hard work with you.
This year we will be performing across two nights - make sure you get your tickets to either one or both of these nights!
Use the link below to purchase your tickets:
https://www.trybooking.com/CVDSE
Our wonderful P&C are supporting this event by providing food on the night. You will be able to purchase this before the show and during interval.
Showcase key dates:
Thursday 3rd October TECH RUN 3pm - 6pm
Saturday 7th October DRESS REHEARSAL 8am - 1pm
Friday 11th October PRIMARY MATINEE 11.15am - 2.45pm
Friday 11th October SHOWCASE NIGHT 1 Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start
Saturday 12th October SHOWCASE NIGHT 2 Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6pm start
Over in curriculum land most of our classes are moving onto the second part of their making tasks. Dancers will be choreographing; Actors will be devising scripts and performances and our musicians are hard at work on their compositions. This term really allows our students to get as creative as possible while they explore ideas to communicate meaning.
The Performing Arts not only teaches subject specific content but a variety of life skills such as; leadership, empathy, critical thinking, technology, confidence, communication, global citizenship, collaboration, connection and creativity. We encourage all of our Performing Arts students to give it a go, try their best and have fun whilst engaging in Dance, Drama or Music. Performing Arts is the platform that students can use to build these transferable skills that they can then go out and confidently apply to any facet of life.
Jessica Starkey
Head of Department - Performing Arts - Year 8E - 8H
- 4th October (Period 4) - BKSB Testing for all 2025 applicants
- 4th November - 2024 Graduation Ceremony
- 19th & 20th November - 2025 Information Evenings
More details will be sent to families regarding the above events in the coming weeks.
If students are interested in applying for WesTEC for 2025, they are still accepting applications but please be advised that most courses are full so applications would go onto a waitlist should an opportunity become available.
OTHER PROGRAMS IN 2025
Applications for courses at TAFE and UQSkills are now available for 2025. There are a range of courses available with these providers at various locations. If there's a course you're interested in studying, please see Mr Gerchow or reach out to pathways@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au for assistance.
James Gerchow
Head of Department - Senior Schooling - Year 12
- Friday 13 December 2024 - Release of the 2024 ATAR results
- Monday 23 December 2024 - December Offer round
- Thursday 16 January 2024 - January Offer round
No specified dates:
- EAS no closing date promoted but I called QTAC and they recommended 15th December to provide enough turnaround time for a January offer round and as early as possible for other offer rounds.
- Closing date for QTAC is before the offer round
- Please consult the university directly for dates on early offer rounds and procedures in applying because I have found the process differs between institutions. Do not hesitate to call the university directly.
- Please continue to check in the with career board with advertisements on amazing job opportunities such as the one from the ATO below:
Janet Ingram
Guidance Officer - Years 10, 11, 12
studentservices@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
What is Sleep Hygiene?
Sleep hygiene refers to the habits and practices that promote consistent, restorative sleep. For secondary school students, who often require 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, following good sleep hygiene can help reduce stress, improve concentration, and regulate mood. Poor sleep hygiene, on the other hand, can lead to chronic fatigue, irritability, and decreased academic performance.
Why Is Sleep So Important?
During sleep, the brain consolidates memories, processes information, and prepares the body for the challenges of the next day. Adolescence is a critical period for both cognitive and emotional development, and sufficient sleep is essential for:
- Improved Learning and Memory: Sleep enhances the brain’s ability to retain new information, making it easier for students to focus and perform well academically.
- Emotional Regulation: Adequate sleep helps students manage emotions better, reducing the likelihood of irritability and mood swings.
- Physical Health: Sleep supports the immune system and allows for physical recovery, especially important for students engaged in sports or physical activities.
- Mental Health: Consistent sleep patterns can lower the risk of anxiety and depression, conditions that can affect school performance and peer relationships.
Tips for Developing Good Sleep Hygiene
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Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule Encourage students to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate their internal body clock and makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up naturally.
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Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine Help your child unwind by establishing a calming pre-sleep routine. Activities such as reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing mindfulness exercises can signal the body that it’s time to sleep.
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Limit Screen Time Before Bed Exposure to blue light from devices like phones, tablets, and computers can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep. Encourage students to avoid screen time at least 30 minutes before bed to help their brains prepare for rest.
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Create a Sleep-Conducive Environment The bedroom should be cool, quiet, and dark. Consider using blackout curtains or white noise machines to create a peaceful sleeping environment. Additionally, the bed should be associated with sleep, so it’s a good idea to avoid using it for homework or other activities.
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Watch What You Eat and Drink Avoid large meals, caffeine, and sugary snacks close to bedtime. These can make it harder to fall asleep and may disrupt sleep during the night.
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Encourage Physical Activity Regular exercise during the day can promote better sleep at night. However, vigorous activity right before bed may have the opposite effect, so it’s best to schedule physical activity earlier in the day.
Emily Leschke
Guidance Officer - Years 7, 8, 9
Welcome back to the final school term of the year, I trust and hope you had a well-rested holiday break. There is a lot happening in Term 4 so stay tuned for more details. Taylah Adsett one of our chaplains is now here at RVSSC every day to support students.
Pastoral Care
School Chaplains role is to provide emotional, spiritual and social support to the students and wider school community. One of the ways that we provide support is with one-on-one pastoral care conversations. If you would like them to provide support for your child, please email them at chaplaincy@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club has kicked off for the term and will operate Tuesdays-Fridays from 8:15-8:45 am. If you want to help out, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Chaplaincy Committee
The Local Chaplaincy Committee is the supporting and guiding body behind the Chaplaincy Service helping to shape it to meet the wellbeing of the school community here at the College. If this sounds like something you would like to attend, our next meeting on Thursday the 17th of October, 4pm here at the college. Please get in touch if you'd like additional information.
Strength Program
The Strength Program is a boy’s program that is open for year 9 & 10s that will run from week 4 to 8 on a Thursday. Strength is a unique personal development and group mentoring tool that uses an inspirational, practical and experiential approach to learning. This program is founded upon the premise that every life counts and has intrinsic value, and fosters an awareness of this belief. As a result, participants are equipped to become effective global citizens for the future.
If this is something you would like your child to be a part of, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Looking forward to the term ahead
Kristian Atkins Taylah Adsett
Chaplain Chaplain
Alicia Pickerill Jacob Millerick
YSC YSC
Student Wellbeing - Chaplain and YSC
Term four is traditionally a busy term, with the culmination of exams and activities for the year, school productions, and important events such as formals and award ceremonies. For many Defence families, it is also a time when they are preparing to leave for their next posting in a new location, which adds extra challenges for this busy time.
Remembrance Day
One of the biggest events in the military calendar for term four is the Remembrance Day commemorations, which will be observe both at the college, on the 8 November, and at the Ipswich RSL Sub Branch on the 11 November.
Remembrance Day (originally known as Armistice Day) began as a commemoration of the end of World War 1, but has become a day of remembrance of Australian service personnel, both past and present, across all conflicts that Australia has been involved in. This year commemorates the 106th anniversary of the end of WW1.
The Poppy Project
ANZAC Day 2025 commemorates 110 years since the landings of the ANZAC’s at Gallipoli. To acknowledge the courage and bravery of those soldiers involved in the Gallipoli campaign, the Poppy Project has been launched at RVSSC. The aim is to collect 500 crochet poppies that will be curated into an art piece, to be displayed at our ANZAC Day school commemoration. The creation of each poppy is a lovely way to reflect upon the sacrifices that were made, not only by the ANZACs but all those who have paid the ultimate price to ensure the freedoms we, as Australians, enjoy today.
Whether you are an avid crocheter or a novice, and you would like to donate a poppy to this project, please see the details in the flyer below.
Poppies can be dropped off at our Administration Reception, or, students can leave them at SSS Reception in J Block.
DMFS Coffee Connection
For Defence families in and around Ipswich, the Defence Member and Family Support Branch run a Coffee Connection every month. Information can be found on the Eventbrite App or you can copy and paste the link below to your browser for details. The event is free, and is a great way to network within the Defence community in this Ipswich region.
RVSSC Defence Families Posting Out
If you are a Defence family who will be posting out at the end of this year, please ensure you report your students exit from the college, either to the Enrolments Officer on 3819 5333, or to myself, to ensure all documentation is completed prior to your departure. Additionally, if there is any information or support you need around your students transition to a new high school, please feel free to contact me on tcoop203@eq.edu.au so that I can provide you with up-to-date information of support you may be eligible for.
Defence School Mentors (DSM's) - Nurturing the Mental Health of our ADF Students
The role of DSM's is to support students from Defence force families to lessen any negative impacts the military lifestyle may have on education and learning.
Key areas of support are:
- Welcoming
- Integration
- Parental Absence (due to military service)
- Farewells.
If your Defence family is requiring extra support for your child at the college, please contact the DSM, who can help facilitate the appropriate support with the many support staff at school, along with DMFS and its affiliate support organisations such as Open Arms and Kookaburra Kids.
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
Brothers Sports Club Sponsorship
Thank you to Brothers Sports Club for their $5000 sponsorship towards 2 new marquees at our college. These marquees will be used at sport and community events to provide additional shade.
Car Show: Save the date!
Election Day Sausage Sizzle and BBQ
On Saturday 26th October the P & C will be proving a BBQ and sausage sizzle.
Eftpos and cash will be accepted and if you would like to help out on the day please click the link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA4AA2DABF4C25-51992564-election
CSI Ipswich Raffle
Over the coming months the college P & C will be hosting the weekly meat raffle at CSI in Ipswich.
Each Sunday from 11.30am -1pm come along to buy a meal, buy a raffle ticket and enjoy the great food and entertainment at CSI. Raffle is drawn at 1pm each week.
