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From the Principal's Desk

Published by Rochedale State School

Spring Break

Some aspects of the world, specifically around COVID, continue to be unpredictable, however, the passing of time is something we can all still count on. While we couldn’t always anticipate what would happen throughout Term 3, we knew the weeks would still pass by. And now, in what seems like the blink of an eye, we are almost three quarters of our way through the year and commencing the final week of term. While most thoughts are turning towards our Spring break, we must also keep planning our direction forward for the rest of this year. Term 4 is when we finalise our staffing, enrolments and school goals for 2022 and as such will be another busy term; before you know it, it will be Christmas. No matter what happens in Term 4, I can guarantee the ten weeks will fly by. It is just a matter of time before the shops bring out their Christmas decorations!

Staffing Term 4

  • Denise Wardle has extended her carer’s leave for the remainder of the year to continue to look after her mother. 
  • Mr Paul Kelly, Head of Curriculum/PYP Co-ordinator has extended his sick leave into Term 4 and Natasha Floyd will continue to act in this role.
  • Our Head of Diverse Learning and Enrichment and Year 2 Sector Deputy Principal, Mrs Jessica Rigby will be taking the first two weeks of Term 4 off on Long Service Leave. Miss Tara Barron will act in these roles in Jessica’s absence.

Details of Tara’s replacement and a couple of other staffing changes will be communicated in the first newsletter next term, once they are finalised.

September means sport

To many September is synonymous with football grand finals – either AFL or Rugby League depending on the code you follow. For us at Rochedale September also means sports albeit in the form of Junior Sports Day and Senior Cross Country. Our recent Junior Sports Day was a huge success and I am happy to announce that after tight and enthusiastic competition, Banksia emerged as the winning house after all the points were tallied. Congratulations to all competitors for your efforts and to the entire Banksia team!

We now turn to the Senior Cross Country which will be held this Friday after parade. To assist with COVID planning, students will come out of their class in age groups, run their race and then return to their rooms so that we do not have large crowds on the oval. We will begin with our youngest age group, the 8 years at 9:45am, followed by the 9 years at 10:00am, 10 yrs at 10:15 am and the 11 and 12 yrs running together at approx. 10:30am. Parents are welcome to spectate but we do ask that you stay back from the student races, maintain social distance while on site, stay away if feeling sick or been to a listed hotspot and complete a COVID declaration form on arrival – these will be located adjacent to the Admin Block. Please note, race times are a guide and start times may vary depending on the time taken by preceding groups.

NAPLAN results - individual reports to go home today

Each student in Years 3 and 5 has been provided with their own ‘Student Report’ for NAPLAN in 2021 - these reports have been placed in an envelope and given to students today. Although NAPLAN results form a useful piece of information, they are not the be all and end all upon which to judge a student’s (or school’s) success. It is important to remember the NAPLAN results represent point-in-time testing over a few hours each May – for only two of our seven year levels. The NAPLAN results are important but are just one of the many pieces of information our school uses to improve learning outcomes for our students and to ascertain report card grades. If you have any questions in regards to the NAPLAN Student Reports, please see your child’s teacher in the first instance and then the Sector Deputy if you need more informtion.

Harmonies on the Hill

Like many things we have re-booted this year, Harmonies on the Hill will take on a different look in 2021 to reflect the current COVID restrictions. Due to the sheer numbers of performance students, we have moved Harmonies to an outdoor setting so that parents can attend. The gym has limited seating due to COVID and is unable to accommodate an audience of this size. A second key change is that we have moved our traditional two Harmony nights into one to maximise the use of the outdoor stage we have hired. Please note in your calendar, Harmonies on the Hill will take place from 6:00pm this Wednesday night. Performance students and families have received more detailed information but the night is open to all. Bring a rug, and dress for the Spring weather and remember everyone is welcome. I look forward to seeing the proud parents and family members in the audience supporting our talented music program students.

Rochedale Performing Arts Kids - RPAK

Following Harmonies, on Thursday night at 6:00pm on our outdoor stage, we are proud to present our dance performance students in A Night at the Movies for your enjoyment. A Night at the Movies will take you on an exciting and colourful journey of dance, choreographed to partner some of your favourite and most popular movie themes. Our performance includes 86 dancers from Years 4 to 6 whose talents will bring these songs to life and showcase the amazing dancers we have here at Rochedale. This show promises to be a toe tapping, entertaining night and a perfect way to end our term. I look forward to watching our students turn their hours of hard work and rehearsal into opening night! Please come and join us.

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. Children who need help with being reflective are directed to our Reflection Room as part of the school behaviour management plan. Children who haven't been to the Reflection Room this term qualify for this term’s final learner profile attribute. 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, a Silver Award if they achieved an award last term or a Gold Award for students who have already received two awards this year. Well done to these students!

Happy Holidays

Term 3 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 Tuesday 5 October (Monday 4 October is a public holiday). 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.

COVID

Please note: if the COVID situation changes over the holiday period and impacts on our school, I will send a news flash to all families on Monday 4 October with the latest information outlining any changes to school routines/procedures. A lot may happen over two weeks and I won’t just react to changing bits of news and bombard you with updates, particularly if it is the first week of holidays. I will endeavour to keep any messaging clear, concise and accurate to prepare us all for Term 4. I thank you in advance for your continued patience and understanding.

Have a safe and happy holiday and see you in Term 4.

Kind regards
Keith Graham
Principal

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Deputy News

Published by Rochedale State School

School holidays: A time for rest and restoration for children and families   

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest. Unknown.

As this term draws to an end we are thankful for school holidays as the holiday break provides children and families with an opportunity to rest.  School holidays are a time for students to “switch off” from traditional school-based learning and focus on rest and restoration supporting their wellbeing.  Holidays are not a time to “catch up” on school work or continue formal academic learning, rather holidays are a time for children to rest their brains (in an academic sense), relax and reboot, ready for another term of learning at school.  

School holidays also allows families a time to break from the normal time restricted daily routine (which can sometimes be stressful- especially that morning rush!) and gives families an opportunity to spend some quality time together and reconnect.  Holidays also allows students an opportunity to engage in different learning experiences with family or carers, such as shared projects, e.g. craft, Lego, gardening in the beautiful Spring weather, puzzles or cooking/baking.  Whilst we may not be traveling far from home, if at all these holidays, spending time at home can still be quality.  Perhaps by watching a movie as a family or going to a local park for a walk or having a picnic together?  Reading books with your children with a focus on reading for enjoyment, not learning to read can also be a positive family experience.  Holidays provide an opportunity for families to make great memories together, supporting children’s wellbeing and emotional development.   

If your children are attending vacation care these holidays, be assured that ROSHCA also provides a great service focussing on this rest (change from the normal academic school focus) supporting the social emotional development and wellbeing of students as well.   

As we finish this term we hope that you all have a restful holiday with a focus on wellbeing for the whole family. 

Jessica Rigby
Deputy Principal Year 2 / Head of Diverse Learning and Enrichment 

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Curriculum Connection

Published by Rochedale State School

Inquiry at Rochedale

Last week we shared the celebration of the year 6 Exhibition and deep level of understanding those students could communicate. What is evident at Rochedale, is that students across all year levels show this keen interest to inquire into the unknown, and to expand their knowledge and understanding.

At Rochedale State School, we have adopted an inquiry model called OSCAR. An inquiry is engaging with prior knowledge and either adding to it or using it in a new way. It is through this model that we deliver the Australian Curriculum. You may have heard the children mention OSCAR. It is not a person, but rather a strategy to support the children as they build their conceptual knowledge and understanding. OSCAR is an acronym for;

 O = ORIENTATING, S = SEARCHING, C = CONNECTING, A = ACTIONING and R = REDEFINING.

During the ORIENTATING phase, students focus upon re-engaging with prior knowledge. Through sets of tasks and learning experiences, their past experiences and curiosity are engaged. Students are encouraged to pose questions that will help drive and direct their learning. During this phase, students also record their current understanding of the concepts involved in the unit.  

In the SEARCHING phase, students engage in tasks which are designed to help them draw out knowledge from readings, experiments, collaborative talks and reflections. Students also seek out answers to questions they have asked at the beginning.

Through the CONNECTING phase, students make links between points of their knowledge and develop their understandings. These understandings and links are then brought together to form an enduring understanding.

The ACTIONING and REDEFINING phase are for the students to apply their knowledge to new or different situations, or to simply help make others aware of what they have discovered. We can ask the question: How does this new knowledge change how l act and think? During REDEFINING students revisit and redefine their definition of the unit’s concepts. We also ask the question: How has this new learning impacted upon my knowledge and understanding?

Inquiries are not always linear. The OSCAR model is designed for students to progress and revisit the stages where needed as they engage in their inquiries.

 

Natasha Floyd
Head of Department- Curriculum

 

 

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Harmonies on the Hill

Published by Rochedale State School

HARMONIES ON THE HILL - MUSIC CONCERT

WED 15 SEPT AT 6PM ON THE RSS OVAL

Featuring all RSS Choirs, String Ensembles and Bands

Everyone is welcome to be part of the audience, however here is some helpful infomation if you’d like to come along!

  • All audience members (adults & children) need to submit a covid declaration form on arrival (attached). It would be appreciated if these could be filled out prior to arrival to streamline the process, however there will be limited copies available if needed.
  • Please bring a picnic blanket or camp chair to sit on, as there will not be any seating provided on the oval. If you are using chairs, please sit further back so that families on picnic blankets can see.
  • Photos should only be taken from your sitting position on your blanket or chair. Please DO NOT approach the stage to take photos.
  • Please be mindful of social distancing between family groups when you are seated on the oval.
  • Current restrictions mean that you are not required to wear a mask outdoors if social distancing is possible. It is suggested that masks are worn when you are moving around and in potentially crowded areas (arrival, departure, toilets, etc.).

 

Parents of performing students should have received an email with details for performers. If you did not receive that and believe you should have, please contact Mrs Eames – aeame5@eq.edu.au

Parent_COVID_declaration.pdf
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Library News

Published by Rochedale State School

Welcome to Week 10 of Term 3!

Brain Teaser

Q. Why didn't the dinosaur cross the road?

A. There weren't any roads back then.

Congratulations to Levi E in 3G for cracked this one.

Q. You can hear and use me but never touch me, smell me or see me. What am I?

A. a voice

Congratulations to Serena Z in 3B for figuring this one out.

Q. I exist when you're here. Where you never were, I'll never be. What am I?

A. a reflection

Congratulations to Leo K in 3A for figuring this one out.

Captain Read It

Congratulations to our Captain Read It Winners from Week 8&9 of Term3

Prep I          Finn K
Prep J         Subhana H
1K               Oliver R
1J                Henry M
2P               Krishiv P
2B               Harriet M
3W              Iris D
3A               Jesse R
4F                Alastair P
4K                Lachlan G
5J                Zeenat C
5R               Jordan C
6R               Kailey H
6L                William P

Have a great week!
Jackie and Lorraine

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Dates to Remember

Published by Rochedale State School

DATE
EVENT
Friday 8 October
Parade, Interschool Sport
Friday 15 October
Parade, Interschool Sport
Friday 22 October
Parade, Interschool Sport
Tuesday 26 October
Book Fair
Wednesday 27 October
Book Fair
Thursday 28 October
Book Fair
Friday 29 October
Public Holiday
Monday 1 November
Book Fair
Tuesday 2 November
ROCKETS Transition Day, Funkybooks Incursion Year 1
Wednesday 3 November
ROCKETS Transition Day
Thursday 4 November
ROCKETS Transition Day
Friday 5 November
ROCKETS Transition Day, Parade, Student of the Month, Interschool Sport
Tuesday 9 November
ROCKETS Transition Day
Wednesday 10 November
ROCKETS Transition Day
Thursday 11 November
ROCKETS Transition Day
Friday 12 November
ROCKETS Transition Day, Parade
Monday 15 November
Year 5 Camp
Tuesday 16 November
Year 5 Camp
Wednesday 17 November
Year 5 Camp
Friday 19 November
Parade
Monday 22 November
Swimming Carnival Year 1
Tuesday 23 November
Swimming Carnival Year 2
Wednesday 24 November
Swimming Carnival Year 3
Friday 26 November
Parade
Monday 29 November
Swimming Carnival Year 4-6
Thursday 2 December
Carols Night
Friday 3 December
Parade, Student of the Month, Shuffle Up Day
Monday 6 December
Year 4 Camp
Tuesday 7 December
Year 4 Camp
Wednesday 8 December
Year 6 Graduation
Thursday 9 December
Report Cards Issued, Celebration Day
Friday 10 December
Last day of Term
Dates Subject to Change
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Absence Line

Published by Rochedale State School

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.