From the Principal's Desk
Published by Rochedale State SchoolReading is a gateway skill that makes all other learning possible - Barack Obama
During the Xmas holidays I was reading an article which included the above quote by former US President Obama, highlighting the importance of reading in relation to school success. The article focused on tips for parents to help give their children the best opportunity for learning…and the top tip was; read to and with your children. The article stated, children who read regularly with their parents, build up their vocabulary and bank of literacy strategies, which give them such an advantage at school. Conversely, children who do not have these skills start school at a disadvantage and spend their school years continually trying to catch up. At Rochedale, we strongly advocate the skills of reading with reading a major part of our school improvement agenda. Our school mantra is; every night, every child reads, and this mantra is supported by our resident superhero, Captain Readit and Rusty our Reading Dog. Reading gives children the power to unlock the world and to develop knowledge. Reading should be a part of every child’s daily routine. As a parent, one of the best gifts you can give your child is the joy of reading and I would encourage you to find some time each day to make reading with your children an important part of your daily routine. To quote Captain Readit, ‘May the words be with you’.
Day 8
Day 8 of our new school year was last Friday and we submitted our student numbers for 2021 to Education Queensland. From these figures, the number of teachers and staff allocated to Rochedale will be finalised. Our official Day 8 number was 1009, which sits within our predicted range and class structures planned at the end of last year. Planning numbers for the following school year is an art more than a science; however, our team is getting very good at it. I do not anticipate any changes to our class structures or staff from our Day 8 figures. Our current structure also allows room for the inevitable growth across year levels throughout the year.
Parent information sessions
Please remember that our parent information sessions are being held tonight under somewhat modified conditions. These sessions are opportunities for you to have a chance to meet the class teachers and hear what is happening in your child’s year level. So that you can attend more than one session we have three session times, please check that you have the right time for your year level. Due to COVID guidelines, I do ask you to remember and observe the following:
- Please bring your COVID declaration and information form with you – one form for each child/session. This form will be your ticket into each session and also serve as our contact tracing information to track visitors as required by the Department of Health.
- Due to number restrictions only one adult from each household will be permitted into each session. This is essential to keep rooms to number limits. Please keep other adults and children at home to minimise numbers on site.
- If you are in a classroom you will be asked to sit at your own child’s desk to restrict contact with other children’s property.
- Rooms will be at capacity limit, please bring a mask if you feel uncomfortable in an indoor space or if social distancing is compromised.
I thank you for your understanding and continued co-operation with COVID. I am sure you will find the sessions very informative.
Happy Lunar New Year…
China's public holiday for Lunar New Year will be held this year from February 12-17 marking the beginning of the Year of the Ox. Lunar New Year is considered by many to be the most important of Chinese holidays. Over a billion people in China and millions around the world will celebrate or acknowledge Lunar New Year, including us here at Rochedale. Half of our students learn Mandarin each week (the other half learning French) and as part of their language learning, and our school’s philosophy of students being global citizens and learning about the greater world, we will be celebrating Chinese New Year this Friday with some traditional Chinese lion dancers. Due to COVID, we will be holding this event outdoors, away from our regular parade, on the oval behind Admin from 8:20am. It will be colourful, it is always loud, and by holding it outdoors, everyone is welcome to leave the Green Zone and join the celebration. Adults are asked to remain behind the lines, keep social distance and not to enter the student sitting area, which will be marked on the ground. Once the dance is over, students will move to class and we ask adults to exit the school as quickly as possible as you normally would. My Mandarin is limited but let me still wish you Xin nian kuai le! (Happy Lunar New Year).
Building works
- Work on our junior playground area commenced last week and will continue for several more weeks. The Government has funded Phase 1, which includes a new terraced slope and water mitigation to prevent the erosion in this area. We are currently negotiating Phase 2, which will see the work extended right to the property boundary, and discussing Phase 3, which will see a replacement of the shade sails with a purpose built hard structure. Once completed, this area will be a wonderful and safer play space for our ever growing school.
- The P&C have funded an additional building for ROSHCA to help alleviate our wait lists. The new ROSHCA building will be delivered over the next couple of weeks and give ROSHCA some additional, much needed indoor space. The new building will be sited adjacent to the existing ROSHCA building.
Learner Profile: Attribute focus for the week – Knowledgeable – Students demonstrate a desire to learn more and become more knowledgeable by completing all school and homework tasks to the best of their ability. To achieve this goal in Term 1, students are expected to demonstrate this attribute for the entire term.
Kind regards
Keith Graham
Principal
