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As we approach the end of Term 2, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we have worked together to provide ongoing learning for your child both at home and at school. All of us have experienced significant change over the past three months and I appreciate your patience, persistence and encouragement during this difficult time. I also want to especially acknowledge and thank our dedicated staff, both teaching and non-teaching, who have quickly adapted to these changes within the school environment and been able to provide quality learning experiences despite the challenges faced. As aspects of life slowly return to "normal" I am aware that for some in our college community aspects of work, family and finances may become more challenging as the year progresses. Our school is always willing to assist you and your child and I encourage you to contact the school for assistance if required. Throughout this newsletter a list of external organisations and support services has also been provided that may be of benefit to you and your family should you require it.
In other news, this week our P & C Association was informed that they were successful in obtaining a $10,000 Federal Government grant to build a new school ANZAC memorial Saluting the Service of all defence personnel both past and present. The P & C plans to utilise these funds to help in the construction of an ANZAC Place memorial to be established at the front of our school. At this stage, we plan to unveil this memorial on Remembrance Day later this year. If you would like to donate or assist in this ANZAC Place memorial please contact the school at principal@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
In other great news, we have also been awarded a grant to employ a school-based chaplain for 1 day a week in semester 2. Combined with this grant, Central Valley church and SU QLD have donated an additional $2000 each to support the ongoing work of chaplaincy in our school both this year and for the future. We plan to advertise and recruit for this position over the coming weeks and I look forward to welcoming this additional support person within our college community in the near future.
Next term our school commences the enrolment process for year 6 students planning to enrol at our College in 2021. For those families who have younger siblings planning to enrol in 2021 I would encourage you to contact the school as soon as possible to commence this process to assist us in our planning and staffing for 2021. Already we have over 40 students enrolled for 2021 and with many out of catchment applications expected the sooner applications are received, the sooner we can accept and plan for next year. For further information or to enrol for 2021 please visit our school website at https://ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au/enrolments or email myself at principal@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
As the end of Term 2 quickly approaches, I once again want to thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to sharing more good news stories with you in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Brendan Krueger
Foundation Principal
We are now well into the assessment period with our students completing assessment across a variety of modes in their subjects. There are choreographed dance routines, consumer affairs short videos, monologues and exams occurring in classrooms across our College. With such a wide variety of assessment tasks in seven different subjects for each student, it can be difficult for parents/carers to keep track and assist their children with meeting assessment deadlines.
All students are required to adhere to the assessment submission requirements that are set out in our Learning Policy. The key messages that are set out in the policy are:
- Drafts must be submitted by the deadline to receive teacher feedback
- Late Drafts are still required to be submitted as evidence of learning, however teachers may not give written feedback
- Assessment must be uploaded to Daymap by 4:00pm on the due date
- Late Assessment will not be marked by the teacher
- Results can only be given for work that is completed and submitted on or before the due date
If your child is having difficulty meeting an assessment deadline due to circumstances outside of their control, they can submit an application for extension. Applying for an extension before the due date is in consultation with the Curriculum HoD. Extensions after the due date are only granted by the Deputy Principal. If your child requires support in accessing an assessment task, eg they have broken their arm and cannot complete the required physical activity, or they have an anxiety diagnosis that prevents them from performing in front of the class, they can apply for adjustments to be made to the assessment task through the AARA (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments) Process. Application forms are below and available on our website.
During the Learning@Home period, the Daymap Parent Portal has become a vital source of information for all parents/carers, it can keep you up to date with homework tasks, assessment due dates and results and gives you the first notification that Parent/Teacher interviews are open for bookings. You can also send and receive messages from the College via this platform. I strongly encourage all parents/carers to set up their Parent Portal accounts and check this platform regularly.
On Friday 26th June, all parents/carers will be receiving their child's Semester One Report Card. This Report will give an Academic Achievement result that is a combination of assessment results from Term 1, Term 2 Weeks 1-5 Learning@Home and Term 2 Weeks 6-10 face-to-face learning.
We know that the Learning@Home period presented many challenges for both our staff and students, and assessment that was completed during this time may have achieved a different result if it had been completed in a face-to-face mode. However, our staff responded to the challenge by making significant changes to the planned assessment for Term 2 to enable all students to be able to access the learning and assessment during this time. It was the expectation of the College that students were completing the work and assessment to the best of their ability and we feel it is important that their achievements be reflected in their Semester 1 Reports.
Reports are issued via an automated email from One School. If you need to update your contact details, in particular your email address, please contact the College Administration on 07 3819 5333 or principal@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
Thank you to the parents/carers who took the opportunity to give feedback about our Parent/Teacher Interviews that were held earlier this term. We have been able to enact some of your wonderful suggestions and our next Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held on Wednesday 29th July from 3:00pm - 7:00pm at the College. This is your opportunity to discuss Semester 1 Results with your child's teachers and also to get further information about Year 9 Elective Subjects from the specialist teachers. If these times do not suit you and your family, teachers will be available for phone interviews from Tuesday 28th until Thursday 30th July. More information on how to arrange a phone interview will be sent when bookings are open.
Bookings will open on Friday 26th June via the Daymap Parent Portal. Information about how to book and set up your Parent Portal account is available on our website and will be sent with Reports.
Emily Prenzler
Student Code of Conduct
The Ripley Valley State Secondary College Student Code of Conduct (the Code) has replaced our Responsible Behaviour Management Plan for Students. The Code outline our College's behaviour policy. It also provides useful information about responsible use of technology and processes for responding to instances of bullying. The Code was developed in consultation with the College P&C. It was endorsed by the P&C at the last meeting on Thursday the 21st May 2020. A copy of the Code is available on our College website under the Policies tab.
Subject Selections
Year 7 and 8 students will complete a total of four compulsory Electives this year. The Electives are Dance, Design and Technology, Digital Technologies and Music. Students complete two of these electives in semester 1 and the remaining two electives in semester 2. Next Semester, year 7 and 8 students will change classes to complete their remaining two Electives. For example, students completing Dance and Design and Technology in Semester 1 will change classes and complete Music and Digital Technologies in Semester 2. The Electives provide students with an opportunity to trial different Subjects and to begin forming areas of specialisation.
Year 9
We are in the process of planning our 2021 Year 9 Curriculum. Year 9 students in 2021 will complete the following core subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, HPE, History and Economics/Business. In addition to the core subjects, students will be required to select four Electives to complete during the year.
The Electives offered will be based on student interest and availability of staff. During the first week of next term I will send out the Year 9 Subject Selection Survey. The survey will provide us with preliminary information about which subjects are most popular. Students will be required to select their top six Electives from a broad range of Electives.
We will use the information to ascertain which four Electives will go ahead. Students will complete their official Year 9 Subject Selections on One School during Week five next Term.
The Junior Secondary Curriculum Handbook is available on our College Website under the Curriculum tab. It provides an overview and information about the Electives on offer. Please have a conversation with your child to discuss their areas of interest. It is important that students select subjects that align with their areas of interest and career aspirations.
Submitting Assessments
With assessments underway students have been reminded on how to submit their assessments via Daymap. Instructions to do this can be found HERE.
Saving WorkI also encourage all students to save their work on their personal OneDrive accounts. Extensions for lost work from computer hard drives will not be granted. Students know how to access their OneDrive account and all work should be created and saved in this location. Students that need support with this will need to come and see myself or our technician in the library during "tech times".
Angela Waugh
HOD - Digital Technologies | English | Humanities
Angela Waugh
Email: awaug24@eq.edu.au
Homework Support Group
Last week we began our Homework Support Group! Thank you to all that attended and our wonderful staff for volunteering their time to support our students strive for success.
At Ripley Valley, our students own their learning and strive for excellence. We hold high expectations for all our students and encourage them to hold high expectations for themselves. We know that Secondary schooling is a big jump from Primary school and the demand of homework and assessment increases. To support our students with this journey, we have created the Homework Support Group.
Teachers volunteer their time to dedicate an afternoon in supporting students to:
- Build confidence in students to ask questions about their homework or assessment tasks
- Support students to schedule their homework tasks and assessments
- Develop good study habits for Senior schooling
This is an invaluable opportunity for students to drop-in and seek guidance and support from Ripley Valley staff. If you notice your child struggling to organise their time, needing further help with Homework, or just needs a quiet space to study, encourage them to attend the Homework Support Group!
Targeted Intervention trial
In addition to the Homework Support Group, we also have the Homework Club. The name will be changing based on student feedback. Access to this group is by referral only and is run by our Speech and Language Pathologist, Teacher Aides and Head of Inclusion. This program is specifically tailored to support students with Learning Disabilities' or Specific Learning Disorders. Students work with support staff to master skills in studying, reading and comprehension. As it is a trial, admission is limited and we will be evaluating its potential to run multiple groups in the future.
End of Semester Support Plan Meetings
I am conducting meetings with families to review students' Support Plans and Support Needs as identified by their teachers. This meeting will also allow you and your child to have input into their Support Plans. If you would like to book in a meeting, see the details on Daymap.
Over Semester 1, we have been gathering data around your child’s strengths and support needs. They have completed their transition in Ripley and our staff have:
- got to know your child,
- collected data on their engagement with school and academic achievement,
- observed their behaviour at school,
- observed their support needs.
In Secondary, our students are making their journey to becoming their own advocate for their learning so we believe it is very important for the student to have a say on what supports they want.
(Illustration by Chris Vallo: CAST; 2013)
- Being an advocate for your learning starts with you.
- Being successful begins with effort.
- Being a learner requires positive self-talk.
Rhiannon Kemp
Head of Inclusion
Rhiannon Kemp
Phone: 3819 5319
Email: rxtoo0@eq.edu.au
Both students and teachers have settled back into the routine of school life, and this week and next are very busy with drafts and assessment tasks coming in thick and fast!
Year 7’s have spent the last couple of weeks learning all about the conventions surrounding fables, and have completed some cross-curricular activities, combining the content learnt on Ancient Egypt in History, and adapting Ancient Egyptian fables in English.
Pivot animation has also been a big part of our programme this past week, where students have been experimenting with, and creating, visual representations of fables that they have written, adapting ancient stories within a modern context.
We have some budding animators in our group who can’t wait to show how they have used technology to create a new type of ‘written text’.
Year 8’s have also just completed making monologues based around the world of science fiction. Taking characters and imagining their thoughts and feelings has been a challenge which some students have embraced and demonstrated what fine young actors they are beginning to become!
Find some snapshots of some of our Science Fiction Superstars!
Stay tuned for next newsletter when we share some of the science fiction short stories we have written ourselves!
Health and Physical Education
Over the past few weeks, our Year 7 and 8 students have been putting themselves through a series of pre and post fitness testing during HPE. This see’s our students test themselves in exercises such as: the Multistage Fitness Test (beep test), 3m sprint, Illinois Agility Test, Standing Long Jump, Maximum Push ups/Sit ups, Stalk Standing Test and Alternate Wall Toss. Students have been thoroughly engaged throughout the fitness testing, and it a pleasure to see our students push themselves past their physical boundaries! Students will reflect on and evaluate their physical performance for assessment and provide modifications to a circuit training workout. Throughout this fitness testing period, students will also receive house points per exercise they complete.
On Friday 26th June, RVSSC students will compete in the first ever Interhouse Cross Country and Athletics Carnival. The schedule is as follows:
- Period 1: Cross Country - Year 7 | Minor Games - Year 8
- Period 2: Cross Country - Year 8 | Minor games - Year 7
- Period 3: Track & Field events - both year levels
- Period 4: Track & Field events - both year levels
Further information surround specific events and distances will be announced via social media and Daymap notices in Week 9.
Science
Students in Year 7 Science this week have been busy constructing their own Dichotomy key using chocolate. Our year 8 students have been busy working on their body systems and how their body works to ensure they can exist.
Over the coming weeks we are busy with our final assessment phase of learning and this is a timely reminder for all students regarding submission of their assessment on or before the due date.
To tie in with all the learning we are doing in Year 7 at the moment, here is a fun fact for all of us - At over 2000km long, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth!
Maths
This term our students in Year 8 have been busy learning about measurement. Upon their return to school, we put all the learning at home on Measurement to practice where they designed their ideal backyard. This assessment allowed the students to become future landscapers and determine the placement of their pool and other products that became important features of their ideal backyard. It was fantastic to see how many students actually decided that a 6 burner BBQ and firepit were integral to their garden design and budget. This lifelong learning allows them to prepare for what they will encounter post schooling.
A fun fact from our Maths Department this week that ties in with our learning in year 7 about rational numbers - the word fraction comes from the Latin word fractio which means to break.
Dance Squad
Preparations are underway for the very first Ripley Valley Dance Squad.
Students have been learning Hip Hop and Contemporary routines that they will perform at an audition in week 10 this term. Students who are successful in making the team will then go on to participate in morning rehearsals from term 3. This year the Dance Squad will aim to work towards learning and polishing two routines that they can perform at various school events.
2021 will hopefully see the team participating in some external competitions in the region. For those students who are unsuccessful in making the team this time around there will be further development opportunities later in the year and another round of auditions next year.
Instrumental music is back in full swing after distance education with the addition of marching drums all the way from Longreach! Ripley Valley SSC Drum line coming soon…
Beginner percussion learning paradiddles
Lower brass playing strong!
Why are the creative industries subject important?
A foundation for creativity
The Creative Industries subject allows students to think outside the box, collaboratively making, designing, evaluating and managing. Utilising not only cognitive skills but also hands-on team-based problem-solving skills. These skills are the basis for creativity — and as a muscle; they develop with practice over an extended period. They develop skills in critical and creative thinking, collaboration and communication as they become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged learners.
Creative Industry subjects are practical and valuable subjects. They enable students to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of themselves, their community and environment. Students learn how to take risks and so, become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable. Additionally, it provides excellent opportunities for students to develop and apply value judgements of an aesthetic, economic, moral, social, and technical nature both in their own skills but also evaluating the world around them.
Subjects in planning for 2021:
Year 7 Subjects - Dance, Music and Design Technology
Year 8 Subjects – Drama, Food & Fashion, Visual Arts and Digital Media
Year 9 Subjects – Dance, Music, Music Industries, Drama, Visual Arts, Digital Media, Design Engineering, Design Manufacturing, Food & Fashion
Lorinda Stiles
HoD Creative Industries
lstil21@eq.edu.au
Keeping Motivated
As the term draws to an end, it can be difficult for students to maintain their motivation. While there is no one approach that will work for everyone, here are some ideas that you can try to help your child improve their motivation before the break:
1. Focus on your child's strengths- offer praise for effort and improvement, even if it seems small. Share these successes and offer verbal/written praise.
2. Help them seek help - coach your child on how to ask the teacher for help if you think that this is something that they need.
3. Chunk down the task - if the workload seems overwhelming, help your child break down the work into small steps so that they can work through them in small bits at a time. Celebrate the completion of each step.
If you feel your child needs some more help with their motivation, encourage them to seek support from their teacher or the Guidance Officer.
13 Reasons Why- Season 4
It has come to our attention that the fourth season of 13 Reasons Why is now available on Netflix. This series depicts some difficult issues that may be triggering for some individuals. Headspace has created a resource for parents and young people, which may help discussion on the topics raised in the program. This resource can be located at: https://headspace.org.au/13reasonswhy/
niggle App
Kids Helpline and QUT has released a new App for young people called niggle. This app is free and available on iPhone and android. Young people are able to track their wellbeing and access information on mental health, relationships, school, esafety and life issues. niggle can be downloaded from the App store or Google play.
Guidance Bookings
Students are now able to book an appointment with the Guidance Officer directly through Daymap. The Guidance Officer Bookings link can be located under the Navigator function.
Enjoy the rest of the term and I hope you have a wonderful break.
Lisa Henderson
Guidance Officer
Student Resource Scheme
For those families paying in instalments the future due dates are
Term 3 - 24 JulyTerm 4 - 16 October
Statements will be sent via email prior to these dates.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact me on Email - bsm@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au or Phone (07)38195333 to arrange an appointment to discuss payment plan options. Any information that you provide will be confidential.
Michelle Mills
Business Manager
House Afternoon
On Friday 29th May, as a school community we celebrated the students return by hosting a “House Afternoon” where students engaged in a whole range of house versus house competitive activities. This saw students competing in games such as Tunnel Ball, Basketball Shootout and a War Cry Challenge.
Students in their respective Houses were individually rewarded points via a traditional points scale system. First place received 4 points, second place received 3 points, third place received 2 points and fourth place received 1 point. Our current House Points are as seen below:
1st – 4825 = Flinders Dingos
2nd – 4363 = Perry Devils
3rd – 4240 = Goolman Geckos
4th – 3382 = Blaine Crocs
Student Representative Council (SRC) and House Leaders
The SRC have been heavily working at developing the SRC vision, as well as working on a school project with Mr. Krueger and Miss. Starkey. This project will be announced later on during the year and is an inclusive event for the whole school community to be a part of.
The House Leaders are currently two days into their first Interhouse lunchtime activities that saw them organise a five-v-five basketball competition. This competition will run over three weeks where a round robin format will be played. The winner of the competition will verse the staff members!
Incursion
All students will be involved in an incursion at the school in Term 3, where facilitators from yLead will run leadership activities to identify future leaders within our school community. yLead’s approach focuses on three essential pillars of leadership:
- Leadership beings within – building a strong sense of identity and self-confidence around individual strengths, passions and abilities.
- Together has power – exploring the power and importance of relationships and team dynamics.
- Leadership is action – developing the skills, tools and attitudes to create a change at school, within the community and beyond.
Future House Events
Jess and I look forward further developing the school’s house culture with our next event, the Interhouse Cross Country and Athletics Carnival, which be held on Week 10 Friday 26th June. Information surrounding this will be posted on social media and via Daymap.
James Dunn
House & Sports Coordinator (Goolman and Perry)
Jessica Starkey
House Coordinator (Blaine and Flinders)