Term 1 of the 2022 school year, has been unusual.  We finish the term with Parent Teacher interviews. Parent Teacher interviews are a great opportunity to get to know your child’s teacher and check in on how your child is going at school.

The interviews form part of the Rochedale SS reporting requirements to offer parent teacher interviews twice a year. Report Cards are emailed home to parents at the end of semester 1 and 2.

We teach, assess and report against the achievement standards in the Australian Curriculum.  Parents can access the achievement standard for each learning area across each year level through the Australian Curriculum website http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au

Principal / Parent Sessions
Tuesday 29 March 2.00pm in RPAC, I’d like to meet with parents of students with a disability to meet and to listen to your feedback.
I’ll offer a follow up session next term before the P and C meeting.

Parents as Learners – Inclusion and Disabilities
What is Autism?
Between 1 and 2 in every 100 Australians are diagnosed with autism. On this page we share information about autism and how autism impacts on learning. We also explore the importance of creating positive partnerships between home and school to best support the educational outcomes of children on the autism spectrum.

Characteristics of autism
Autism can be tricky to define. Autism is a developmental condition that affects how a child learns and interacts with the world around them. Because autism has many different characteristics, no two people on the spectrum are alike. However, those on the autism spectrum may need support in two main areas:

Social communication issues

• Understanding non-verbal communication, such as body language
• Understanding when and how to appropriately respond in social interactions
• Developing, understanding and maintaining relationships with others
• Expressing and comprehending information

Repetitive patterns of behaviour

• Repetitive use of movement, speech or objects
• Affected by changes to expected routines and surroundings
• Intense focus on limited, specialised areas of interest
• Increased sensitivity or lack of sensitivity to particular sensory signals, such as sound, touch, taste, etc.

How many people are on the spectrum?
The current research suggests that within a group of 100 people, 1 or 2 of them will be on the autism spectrum. Autism can be diagnosed in people in all areas from all cultural and economic backgrounds. The characteristics of autism appear in early childhood, but it may be difficult to recognise them in infants and very young children.

Not long now and the holidays will be here.  I trust the holidays are as relaxing or as exciting as your family needs.
Just a reminder, school will return on Tuesday 19 April.
Melissa

2023 Prep Enrolments are now open!

Enrolments for Prep 2023 are now open for children born between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018. Children must be five (5) by 30 June in the year they enrol. Applications for enrolment will only be accepted for students within the school catchment area (or siblings of a current 2022 student). Unfortunately, we won’t be offering any out of catchment places for 2023. For further information, please contact our school Enrolments Officer, Mrs Amanda Ross on PH: 3340 8333 or E: enrolments@rochedalss.eq.edu.au

Introducing Transition Teacher – Mrs Katrina Johnson

It’s my pleasure to introduce our transition teacher for 2023, Mrs Katrina Johnson. We are delighted to have her join our prep transition to school team! She will work closely with myself and enrolments officer, Mrs Amanda Ross. We are all looking forward to welcoming new students and families to our school. Over terms 2 and 3, Mrs Johnson will be contacting our enrolled students’ families and planning for participation in the ‘Ready 4 Rochedale’ program in Term 4. She is looking forward to visiting our local kindy and day-care providers to build productive partnerships to enhance our transition to school program.

‘Ready 4 Rochedale’ – Orientation Visits – Term 4

Starting school is an exciting milestone and the beginning of building children’s educational partnerships.  Research tells us supporting children to positively transition to school helps foster their enthusiasm for lifelong learning. We have redesigned our prep transition program this year and look forward to our students enjoying the new activities. Over three orientation school visits, our ‘Ready 4 Rochedale’ prep transition program will:

• Assist pre-preps in making a successful transition to the school environment
• Provide opportunities for the children to participate in classroom activities
• Provide opportunities for children to practice skills necessary for school
• Encourage new friendships
• Provide information and support for parents /carers.

Our ‘Ready 4 Rochedale’ program is outlined below:

Over Term 4, the orientation visits will be held during three available time slots each Friday. Orientation visit times are:

• 9.30-10.30am
• 11.30-12.30pm
• 1.50-2.50pm

Mrs Johnson will send further details and registration information shortly. Parents /carers will have an opportunity to nominate a preferred session allocation. To register your interest in participating in the program, please download the ‘Rochedale Prep Transition Expression of Interest Form and return to enrolments@rochedalss.eq.edu.au. All families are encouraged to take advantage of our ‘Ready 4 Rochedale” transition program.

“Ready 4 Rochedale” Parent Information Session – Wednesday 5 October – 4.00-5.00pm

To learn more about our ‘Ready 4 Rochedale’ transition program, Prep 2023 parents /carers are invited to join us for an information session on Wednesday 5 October, between 4-5pm in RPAC. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the Rochedale SS team and hear important information about supporting a successful transition to school.

2023 Shuffle Up Day – Friday 2 December – 11.30am-1.00pm

At the end of the school year, all children will have the opportunity to visit their allocated classroom and meet their teacher for the following year. This “Shuffle-Up day” allows children to begin building connections with their new teacher and classmates prior to starting in the new year. Further information will be available closer to the event.

Nicola Leslie
Deputy Principal (P-1)

At times, our children’s questions can drive us all a bit crazy. However, questioning is an integral part of inquiry learning. Questions, or wonderings, are how we make sense of the world around us. It is a way they express their desire to explore and inquire further into an event or topic. One of the exciting things about working within the Primary Years Programme (PYP), is the way in which children’s questions are valued. We encourage students to ask questions and embrace spontaneous questions that arise within our units of inquiry. 

Student questions can originate from:

• their readiness to learn about something new or different.
• something they find perplexing and are trying to understand.
• something which sparks their interest or catches their attention

Inquiry learning sees value in actively pursuing questions - which is something the teachers and parents must also model themselves. It is through questions that students make connections between what they already know and new information and experiences, driving their desire to find out more about the world around them.

Helping them to find the answers to these questions is key in helping them to remain inquisitive and to build the skills for being a lifelong learner. Guiding students to search for answers is an important part of the inquiry process.

At times, it can be easier to quickly answer a string of questions that come your way. However, may l encourage you to take the time to talk about their questions. Through your discussions, and your own questions, you can lead them to the answer, rather than just answering it for them. It can take a bit longer, and can be burdensome, especially when you are preparing dinner or it’s bed time, but by doing this you support the development of their skills in thinking, analysing information and drawing upon prior learning. Eventually, students will be finding the answers themselves.

So, these holidays wonder, ask questions, seek answers and learn with your children.

See you next Term.
Natasha Floyd
HOD- Curriculum

The Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program will be screening our prep studentsat our school on Tuesday, 7 June 2022.  They are a Queensland Government service that offers Free Vision Screening to all children enrolled in Prep.  If you would like your child/ren to have their vision screened, you will need to complete a consent form. 

Please click on the following link to access the Online Consent Form and Parent Information Letter: https://visionscreening.health.qld.gov.au/ParentalConsent/2511ctyi.  Alternatively you can scan the QR code below:

Please note: The consent form link will close on Thursday, 21 April 2022. 

Nicola Leslie
Deputy Principal (Prep-1)

We have a large amount of lost property.  Can you please have your students check the lost property area this week for any missing items.  All items with names on them will be returned to your child.

The following invoices are due for payment as follows. 

PLEASE NOTE 

Due dates for incursions/excursions are final.  No late payments or permission forms will be accepted after the due date.  

Students who have not returned the permission or made payment by the due date, will not be able to particiapate in the activity.

If you have not received an invoice please contact the office. All payments are to be made by our preferred method of BPoint online.

Office Hours

The school office is open each day from 8am to 4pm. 

Student State School Consent

It is the school’s usual practice to take photographs or record images of students and occasionally to publish limited personal information and student materials for the purpose of celebrating student achievement and promoting the school and more broadly celebrating Queensland education. Consent to use your child's name, photograph, voice/video recording or year level is requested at time of enrolment via the "State School Consent Form". If you wish to make changes to consent for your child please request a new State School Consent Form from the school office. 

Facility Hirers

Please find attached the current list of the community groups that hire our school facilities.

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.