We are half way there

With the school mid-year holidays just days away, and the semester quickly coming to an end, it is an opportune time to look back to the terrific start we had to the year. Six months ago, we started with a bustle of activity as 1000 plus students and 100 odd staff began a new year of learning. COVID was still impacting on how we undertook some work, however we did not wish this to become our main distraction. Our core business was student learning and our goal was to continue to increase our Reading and Writing outcomes while ensuring every student could access the Australian Curriculum. At the mid-year point, I am happy to say that our Reading and Writing goals are on track to be achieved. Education is a partnership and as Report Cards go home this Thursday I urge you to look over your child’s report and help them set some learning goals for Term 3 to continue their growth and ensure that a year’s worth of learning (or more) happens each year at school.

School Annual Report

Our School Annual Report has been posted on our school web page. This year, once again, the information in this report has been self-populated by the Department and is more streamlined. The report is a synopsis of the previous year’s work, so this year’s report is a summary of Rochedale SS for 2020 and the very different year that it was. If you are interested in reading this report, please log onto our web page, or alternatively you can ask for a hard copy at the office.

School Opinion Survey

The annual suite of School Opinion Surveys will be conducted in Term 3 and will close on 30 July 2021. All families, school staff and students in Years 5 and 6 will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what our school does well, and how we can improve. An invitation to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey will be emailed to one parent/caregiver per family in the week beginning 5 July. The invitation will be sent from the Department of Education, not the school, and it will have the subject line School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2021. Check your junk email folders if you can’t find it. The survey can be completed as soon as the invitation is received and will take approximately 5 minutes using a computer, tablet or smart phone. Parents/caregivers who do not have access to the internet at home are welcome to complete their survey online at the school. Your feedback is very important to us and the School Opinion Survey is a valuable way for us to hear your opinion and use this information to help us set our school’s future direction.

Building works

The recent State Government budget has listed Rochedale as a school which will receive new classrooms through a building program. Considering the growth of our suburb and school and our projected continuing growth, the need for additional classrooms comes as no surprise. I will convey more details around this project next semester as they are released, and pass on my thanks to our Department and State Government for supporting our school’s growth with new facilities.

Senior Sports Day

Senior Sports Day (Years 3 to 6) will be held this Wednesday 23 June. We are so pleased to be able to welcome the community to our school events once again this year, however we must still remain cautious. Recent events in Victoria and now in areas of Sydney and Brisbane remind us that COVID has not gone away and circumstances can change very significantly, extremely quickly. To help keep our Sports Day ‘COVID Safe’ we do ask that you follow some simple protocols;

• Every person attending needs to bring a COVID declaration form which confirms that you are symptom free and have not been to a restricted area or been in contact with anyone who has. This declaration form also acts as our contact tracing information if necessary.
• If you are symptomatic, awaiting a test clearance or have been in contact with someone who is, please do not attend our school site.
• School age students may not attend our Sports Day; if they are sick and home from their school they need to remain off site and if they are well they should not be taking a day off their school to watch their siblings.
• Yellow lines will be marked around all activities to ensure a safe space for our students and staff to perform their duties.
• Please adhere to social distancing rules when observing activities.
• Please follow the direction of any staff on the day to ensure a smooth and safe sports event.

I thank you sincerely for your support. By following some simple rules, we will continue to be able to invite parents and carers to school events throughout the year which we know is important to both students and their families.

Staffing

The end of the term, often means some staffing changes. While specific details of any changes will be communicated to individual classes as required and outlined in the first newsletter next term, I do wish to acknowledge Mrs Wardle. Mrs Wardle is taking carer’s leave for next term to look after her extremely ill mother – this leave may continue into Term 4. I am sure everyone will join with me in sending Mrs Wardle and her mother our best wishes and thoughts. Mrs Wardle will be greatly missed; we are all looking forward to everything going well with her mum and for Mrs Wardle’s return to school.

Learner Profile:  Attribute focus for the week – Reflective – students who are reflective think about how their actions impact on others and make the correct choices to ensure everyone at school can focus on our core business of teaching and learning. Students who need help with being reflective are directed to our Reflection Room as part of the school behaviour management plan. Students who haven't been to the Reflection Room this term qualify for this term’s final learner profile. Students who have achieved all ten weekly Learner Profile attributes this term have earned a Learner Profile Award recognising their outstanding achievement – a Bronze Award if this is their first one, or a Silver Award if they achieved an award last term. Congratulations to these students.

Term 2 finishes this Friday and I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. I hope you all have a wonderful and refreshing break. Please note that school restarts on Monday 12 July. Please help keep our school safe by staying out of the school grounds over the holidays and reporting any suspicious trespassers or behaviour to the police or School Watch on 13 1788.

I wish all our students and families a safe and happy holiday.

Kind regards
Keith Graham
Principal

Readers Cup

Our 2021 Rochedale Team consisting of Mila 6A, Kayla 6R, Pacey 6L, Shauna 6M and Bailey 6N,  competed against 30 neighbouring schools last week at Algester State School.  The team conducted themselves incredibly well and gave the competition their best efforts.  Unfortunately, they had a few ‘unlucky’ breaks on the day and didn’t place but a big congratulations to them all.  Another big thanks to Mrs Ros Cradden for guiding the team during their preparation phase and supporting them on the day.

I am pleased to inform our school community that Rochedale Performing Arts Kids (RPAK) has quietly begun working on their 2021 project.  Selected students from years 4-6 have begun rehearsal for a dance showcase under the direction of Mrs Amy Smith in readiness for end of Term 3 performances.  The show will be themed ‘A night at the Movies’ and feature some of your favourite show tunes.

At Rochedale State School, we take a holistic approach to the education of our students, with the academic, sporting and cultural facets of education all receiving focus and attention. RPAK is a wonderful (and extemely popular) addition to the numerous opportunities we are able to provide our students.  I have already seen many enthusiastic students in the green zone and at play breaks practising their ‘moves’. 

I look forward to updating you all on the progress of the group.  More details of the show and performance dates will follow at the beginning of the next term. 

Year 6 Exhibition Begins

Last week the year six students began engaging in a series of classroom provocations to start their thinking on this year’s Exhibition.  The Rochedale State School Exhibition has returned to Term 3 after a COVID necessitated departure to December in 2020.  The year level will also have an exciting new Transdisciplinary Theme (How the World Works) and Central Idea which will inspire some new thinking and fresh presentations.  The central idea, Advances in science and technology can solve problems and impact our world promises to be a rich, broad area for each student to find a topic of interest and personal significance to them.

The Exhibition is a year six student led inquiry project conducted over 8-10 weeks….a culmination of their Rochedale State School learning journey so to speak.  It is an exciting opportunity for each student to take their learning beyond the classroom and to demonstrate a deep level of thinking and their higher order thinking skills.

The year six teaching team will be holding an information afternoon tomorrow, Tuesday June 22 at 4pm to provide parents of the year six students with further information about the process and tips on how best to support their child through this exhilarating inquiry phase.  I hope to see many of you there. 

Kellie Maxton
Deputy Principal (5-6)

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

During the second week of the winter break (July 4-11) Australia will celebrate NAIDOC week.

This week is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the oldest continuing cultures.

NAIDOC week is celebrated not only in indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

This year the theme is Heal Country.

NAIDOC 2021 invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.

Have a great week and a restful break.

Paul Kelly
PYP Coordinator

School banking has ceased as at 23 June 2021. After this date you will need to deposit money into your child's bank account either via internet banking or visit your local branch. Any ordered rewards that your child hasn't yet received will be delivered this week. Any questions can be directed to the school banking help desk on 1800-674-496.

As we approach the end of term, it is a good idea to do a check on your child’s property. We have an enormous amount of lost property again.  Could you please have your child check our lost property if you are missing items, specifically jumpers.

Any uncollected lost property will be disposed of during the school holidays.

ABSENCE LINE 3340 8388 or

text 0427 890 693 (24 hours)

*******IT IS NOW A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL STUDENT ABSENCES BE REPORTED ON THE DAY OF THE ABSENCE TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE*******

To report a student absence, please call the absence line on 3340 8388 or text our SMS line on 0427 890 693.  These lines are both open 24 hours a day.

When recording an absence on either our phone line or SMS line, please state the following:

1. Your name
2. Student's name
3. Student's class
4. Reason for absence

Please speak clearly and slowly and help us with spelling of names when calling the phone line.

Our next general meeting will be held, Tuesday June 22 at 7pm.  Attendance is open to all. If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to pandc@rochedalss.eq.edu.au

SNACK SHACK NEWS:

Any concerns or questions you may have please email 

fsmanager@rochedalesspandc.com.au or pandc@rochedalss.eq.edu.au

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS:

Uniform Shop Opens every Wednesday 2.15pm to 3.15pm, every Thursday 8.15am to 9.15am and then again in the afternoon at 2.15pm to 3.15pm during term time only. Online orders through Qkr are always processed on a Thursday. Please be patient while we work through them. If your order is not delivered to your child's classroom on the Thursday it will be delivered on the Friday after parade. Uniform delivery is subject to class times and if your child's class is not there this will cause a delay. Every effort is made though to make sure the orders are delivered directly to the teacher for distribution to your child. Any questions or concerns can be sent to uniform@rochedalesspandc.com.au

Kind regards
Michelle Duncan
Admin Asst. RSS P&C
07-3340-8365