From the Principal
Published by Rochedale State SchoolFROM THE PRINCIPAL
Our Rochedale Athletes continue to go from strength to strengh, congratulations to:
- Lincoln E placed 3rd in the National Finals
- Joshua A placed 3rd at the Queensland Cross Country Championship, Joshua has progressed through to the National titles in Adelaide.
- Emily A placed 4th at the Queensland Cross Country Championship and will join her brother at the National titles.
Congratulations!
Specialist Timetable
We have moved to a specialist timetable that will operate across 2 weeks (A and B cycle), A on odd weeks and B on even weeks.
The change to the timetable will see some year levels engage in more specialist lessons aligned to our plan for providing the Australia Curriculum. The P-6 Assessment and Reporting Plan is attached to this article for your information.
Year 5 will be taught Dance lessons by Mrs Amy Smith.
Year 2 will receive Digital Technology lessons with Miss Tara Barron.
Prep, Year 3 and Year 5 will have Drama lessons with Ms Jackie Erskine
For the remainder of the year Languages in Years 2 and 5 will be one hour across the fortnight to accommodate additional specialist lessons. This will be reviewed again for 2023.
For students in years 1-6, PE lessons will now be one hour lessons every fortnight to support rich engagement with specialist curriculum areas. In particular, an hour-long block will enable students to have quality swimming lessons across terms 1 and 4. This will allow more instructional time from the PE teacher to ensure all curriculum for the year level is being met.
We have taken time to consider this move and feel is it in our students’ and teachers’ best interests.
School Opinion Survey
Thank you to all of those who have already completed the Parent/Caregiver Survey. If you have not had a chance to complete the survey yet, please note that the online surveys will remain open until Friday, 12 August 2022. This is your opportunity to provide feedback about what our school does well and how we can improve.
To have your say, check your email for an invitation from the Department of Education titled School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2022.
Can’t find your invitation? If your family has more than one parent/caregiver, check that they haven’t received the invitation and/or check your junk email folder.
Attendance: Every day counts, every minute counts
Does arriving late for school impact on your child’s education?
If he/she is only missing… |
That equals … |
Which is … |
Over 13 years of schooling that’s … |
10 minutes per day |
50 minutes per week |
Nearly 1 ½ weeks per year |
Nearly ½ year. |
20 minutes per day |
1 hour 40 min per week |
Over 2 ½ weeks per year |
Nearly 1 year. |
30 minutes per day |
Half a day a week |
4 weeks per year |
Nearly 1 ½ years. |
1 hour per day |
1 day per week |
8 weeks per year |
Over 2½ years. |
It certainly adds up doesn’t it?
It’s important that your child/ren arrive on time to school, so they are ready to start the day and are engaging in the morning routines.
There are a number of students who are having frequent days off that is impacting on their academic progress…
If he/she is only missing |
That equals… |
Which is… |
Over 13 years of schooling that’s … |
Which means the best your child can perform is … |
1 day per fortnight |
20 days per year |
4 weeks per year |
Nearly 1.5 years. |
Equal to finishing Year 11 |
1 day per week |
40 days per year |
8 weeks per year |
Over 2.5 years |
Equal to finishing Year 10 |
2 days per week |
80 days per year |
16 weeks per year |
Over 5 years |
Equal to finishing Year 7 |
3 days per week |
120 days per year |
24 weeks per year |
Nearly 8 years |
Equal to finishing Year 4 |
For further information visit: www.education.qld.gov.au/everydaycounts
School Absences
Parents are reminded that if their child is away from School, could they please phone the School early in the morning. Parents can ring our ABSENTEE LINE ON 3340 8388 and leave a message explaining your child’s absence from school.
Extended Absences
If your child/ren are going to be absent from school for more than 10 days you need to complete an Exemption from Compulsory Schooling form. Please call into the Office for the form. Please note that if you’re taking your child/ren out from school through the term, they will miss work and possibly assessments while they’re away. We are unable to guarantee that assessments will be done when your child returns to school.
Parents as Learners-Inclusion and Disabilities
Every deaf and hard of hearing student succeeding
The deaf and hard of hearing services direction is outlined in our Every Deaf and hard of hearing student succeeding framework 2021-2025 document. The DHHS framework is aligned with Every student with a disability succeeding plan through our focus areas: improving language and literacy, providing access to appropriate quality pedagogy, supporting effective transitions and early years programs and increasing engagement and wellbeing of students, families, staff and communities. Our vision is to provide quality, accessible education for all Deaf and hard of hearing students.
Click on the link to access Every deaf and hard of hearing student succeeding framework.
Deaf and hard of hearing services (DHHS) provides a range of supports to families, children and schools to ensure that Deaf and hard of hearing students are accessing, participating and succeeding at school.
DHHS can put you in touch with your local Advisory visiting teacher – Hearing impairment, your regional Auslan coach or your local Department of Education office in your region to find out how you can get help in your local area.
Project officers - teachers experienced in working with Deaf and hard of hearing children or students are available to answer questions and to provide resources and services.
Advisory visiting teachers (AVT) support is available for all students who have a verification in the category of hearing impairment.
AVTs are experienced teachers of the Deaf and have experience with hearing devices, classroom adaptations and curriculum differentiation for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
They provide advice to classroom teachers and school teams around adjustments for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
The department employs approximately 80 Deaf teachers and teacher aides. Deaf and hard of hearing students, families and staff across Queensland use Auslan (Australian sign language) to communicate and access the curriculum.
External providers:
- Deaf Services
- Hear and Say Centre
- NextSense
- Victorian Deaf Education Centre
- Uniting Education
- QHealth Healthy Hearing program
- Deadly Kids Deadly Futures
Safe travel to and from School
The health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and school community is of the highest priority. Please convey this important message to your school staff and students, as a reminder about taking care when travelling to and from school. All types of travel have inherent risks. Regardless of how any of us travel, it’s important we are mindful of the potential risks and manage them to avoid incidents and injuries.With the increasing use of rideables such as electric scooters, skateboards and bikes, ensuring the safety of your staff, students and pedestrians is essential. Please note that Queensland Road Rules apply to e-scooters and e-bikes.Anyone who scoots, rides or skates to and from school should:
- Wear protective gear and a helmet, which is mandatory if riding an electric scooter or skateboard
- Give way by ringing your bell when approaching pedestrians and overtaking on the right
- Travel at the appropriate and safe speed for the environment in which you are travelling
- Be respectful to pedestrians and other path users and keep out of their way
- Adhere to road rules when riding an e-scooter
- Park responsibly to avoid becoming an obstacle or risk for others.
Reminder: COVID Health Advice
COVID-safe practices As we have been doing throughout the pandemic, there are key measures we can all take to stay safe. These include staying 1.5 meters away from other people whenever possible, practicing good hygiene such as always washing your hands with soap and water (including before and after eating and going to the toilet), and staying home when sick.
Isolation if COVID positive The requirement to isolate for a minimum of 7 full days after contracting COVID-19 remains in place. It is vital to adhere to this requirement to assist with preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Notification to your school Parents are asked to notify the office if their child tests positive for COVID-19.
Face masks Currently, there is no public health requirement for wearing a face mask in schools except in certain circumstances (e.g. for 7 days after having COVID-19, or being a close contact. Wearing masks in state schools is a personal decision for individuals to make and any staff member or student who wishes to wear a face mask will be supported to do so.R
Rapid antigen tests Schools are continuing to provide rapid antigen tests (RATs) to staff and students who develop symptoms while at school, and who are close contacts.
Learning materials if your child is in isolation due to illness
The learning@home website has resources for students in Prep to Year 10. Students are also be able to view quality curriculum-based television programs on three different stations – programming information can be found at Learning@Home TV
Additional resources are also available at The Learning Place . Students will need their EQ user name and password to access.
Further information on supporting your child, maintaining healthy learning routines and setting up a learning space at home can be found at https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/learning-at-home/wellbeing-of-students
Have a great week.
Melissa