From the Principal's Desk
Published by Rochedale State SchoolWelcome back and welcome to Term 3; I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing break.
Once again, the impact of the COVID pandemic and the speed with which conditions can change were evident over the holiday period. Many parts of Australia experienced lock-downs and/or restrictions due to the latest outbreaks, with the greater Sydney area continuing to experience ongoing challenges, including a return to home learning from today. For us, we were once again fortunate that our lock-down was contained to only 3 or 4 days – depending on where you live – and the increased restrictions which have been imposed, are due to lift by this Friday. While these restrictions are in place, I do ask that you maintain social distance while on school site, stay home and keep your children home if you have any symptoms of COVID and get immediately tested, and follow the new rules on wearing a mask in public places.
Mask wearing
In regards to masks, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer has confirmed that children are not required to wear masks while on school premises. Specifically, the following advice applies to school sites when COVID-19 restrictions are in place that require the wearing of face masks by the general public (currently local government areas in South East Queensland, Townsville (including Magnetic Island) and Palm Island until 6 pm on 16 July 2021):
- Students are not required to wear a face mask when on school premises or when travelling on dedicated school transport.
- School staff are not required to wear a face mask when working with children but may choose to do so.
- Adults, including volunteers and family members, are required to wear a face mask if they cannot maintain physical distancing from each other while on school grounds and to wear a mask when entering any buildins or classrooms. Please note, to maximise their workplace safety, teachers may use their discretion and minimise parent/carer/adult numbers in classrooms or restrict adult access to classrooms completely for this week. We thank your for your understanding.
More general information about wearing face masks is available on the Queensland Health website.
Contact tracing
Current pick-up and drop-off arrangements remain in place along with our Green Zone restrictions both before and after school. QR codes and the Check-in Qld app are not mandatory for schools and we have elected not to use these. The check in app is only for contract tracing and does not contain a legal declaration component about the health and contacts of visitors. To maintain our high safety standards, we ask all visitors to classrooms/school events and all non-parent/carers i.e. friends and extended family members, to complete a COVID declaration form anytime they are on site. Parents and carers who are just dropping-off or picking-up in mornings and afternoons, do not need to complete this declaration. All information collected on these forms is kept and used in line with Dept of Health and Dept of Education protocols and will be destroyed when no longer required.
I once again sincerely thank you all for your continued support. By working together, we can help stop the spread of COVID and also continue with some level of normality in relation to school activities and operations.
The third quarter
While every term at school is important, Term 3 is of great significance as it is the term where students consolidate what they have learned, build on what they know, devise some new learning goals and set themselves up for a successful rest of year. The importance of the third quarter is highlighted in many major sporting events such as AFL, where it is known as the Premiership Quarter, and in golf majors where the third round is referred to as Moving Day. The third quarter of any event is where you devote more energy and work harder to maintain the pace and set up for the final push, keeping your eye on the finish line and ensuring that everything you are doing is aligning with your goal of doing your best. I hope our students will use their third quarter wisely and devote energy and hard work to maintain their learning pace to ensure a successful finish. I look forward to continuing to support them and cheer them on to the finish line as they give their all for the remainder of the year.
Staffing
The new term also brings a staff change. I would like to welcome back Mrs Nicola Leslie who will be taking over the role of Sector DP for Years Prep and 1 while Denise Wardle is on leave. Nicola brings a wealth of school leadership experience to our school and I am sure you will join me in making her feel welcome once again.
Learner Profile Awards
It was so wonderful to see the large number of students wearing their Learner Profile Bronze and Sliver Awards so proudly at the end of last term. Each week we highlight one of the IB learner profile attributes and set tasks for children to achieve a goal. From the number of badges on display it is obvious that students are working hard towards these goals. Last term over 750 students achieved a Silver Award and just as importantly 150 students who missed their Bronze Award in Term 1 improved their efforts and achieved their Bronze Award – a fantastic effort! Students have another chance this term to achieve an award by completing this term’s goals with the Silver Award holders aiming for a Gold Award.
Leading by example – our uniform & our image
We have been speaking to our students about leading by example; making sure that they are modelling our expected behaviours, both in and out of school. Whenever our students are in uniform, their conduct and our school image are on display as wearing our uniform makes them very identifiable. Our students should be proudly wearing our uniform each day, and it was wonderful to see this as I walk around the school and visit classrooms. Supplementing the school uniform with extra items, particularly in winter is fine, as long as they are the appropriate colour. I remind all families that our uniform includes black shoes only. Whilst we expect all of our students to wear correct school uniform each day, it is even more important for our senior students to do so, as we expect them to lead by example. Please contact your Sector Deputy Principal if there is a reason your child cannot be in appropriate school uniform each day, as we do understand that there are extenuating circumstances for some families and students; we will then work with you to ensure your child does not remain out of uniform. Thank you for your support with this.
Learner Profile: Attribute focus for the week – Caring – students care about our school’s public image and about how they present themselves, by wearing the correct school uniform with pride. To achieve this goal this term, students must abide by our school uniform policy for the entire term.
Wishing you a great start to the new semester
Kind regards
Keith Graham
Principal
I have received the most wonderful warm welcome as I join the Rochedale SS team as Deputy Principal, Prep – Year 1 sector. I have been privileged to have spent time at Rochedale SS previously, working alongside Mrs Denise Wardle in 2018. I feel honoured to continue the great work she has provided our school community and will work hard to continue providing the best possible opportunities to our students. I hope my previous experience as a Principal and Deputy Principal over the last 13 years will help me in contributing to what is an outstanding teaching and leadership team.
Term 4. Two session times are offered – Morning Sessions - 9.50am - 11.20am or Afternoon Sessions – Noon -1.30pm.
Our ‘ROCKETS’ program offers two morning visits during Term 4. Sessions run from 9.30am – 10.45am over a two-week period.
Prep enrolments for 2022 are now being accepted. To be eligible, students must be five (5) on or before 30 June in the year they enrol in prep. Enrolment packs are available from Administration or on the school website.
