Richmond Primary School Newsletter 5th June 2024

Principal's Address

Dear Families,

Breakfast Club

A school Breakfast Club program is a great way to provide nutritious food at the start of the busy school day – but a breakfast club can offer much more by improving concentration, builds social skills, and giving children a better chance to create a bright future for themselves through learning and it might just be the motivator to get children to school.

Currently in collaboration with the School Association and many community groups and businesses as we seek to set up a breakfast club, initially 2 days per week on Monday and Thursday mornings. Our aim is to have the breakfast club up and running at the start of term 3.

We have already received very generous offers of support from

• The Richmond Bakery
• The IGA Richmond and their suppliers PFD
• The Coal River Red Cross Branch who have donated toasters, cups, and plates.

However, the most important aspect of the program are the volunteers we need to run the program on Monday’s and Thursday’s and for that we are calling on our parent community to assist. Without your support we cannot run the program. So please, if you can find an hour, once a week, once a fortnight, or even once a month contact Kate in the office and let’s see if together, we can’t get our breakfast program up and running for the benefit of all our students.

National Simultaneous Story Time

Last Wednesday, our school participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime when we all read the story Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker.

National Simultaneous story time is an annual event run by Australian Library and Information Association and involves a picture book by an Australian author and illustrator being read simultaneously in libraries, schools, and other venues across our country.

This new picture book from Aura Parker stars a beautiful bowerbird on the search for blue! The story is of the collector. Always looking, finding, and keeping! Bowerbird loves blue. Magnificent cobalt. Brilliant, vibrant blue! But something is missing. What could it be? It’s a moving story of longing and connection, that unfolds as the bowerbird’s search sends him soaring across the sea, sky, and city. He swoops and snatches vibrant treasures for his collection, and soon his bower – a mix of natural and unnatural objects – attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined. This really is a wonderful story, one to add to your bookshelves at home.

Bowerbird Blues has been shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2024.

Congratulations Cross Country runners

On Friday 24th May, following a postponement on Thursday our students from Prep to Year 6 participated in our annual Cross Country and our kinder students ran their first Cross Country on Thursday 30th May. The focus for the morning was on participation with all students ‘having a go’ and earning points for the houses. In a very close-run event, we saw Thomson win this event.

As a school we had been training hard in preparation for this event, so is wonderful to see students improving, being able to complete the course or being able to complete a full lap. To those students who fell and picked themselves up, you showed great courage and should be commended. The way the students encourage each other is a lovely characteristic of Richmond students. To the Year 6 students who helped run the event and who ran with younger students a HUGE thank you for your leadership. 

Well, done everyone.

The following students have been selected to represent our school at the inter-school cross country being held today and I’m sure you will join me in wishing them well.

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Campania School Transition Visits

Last week I met with Ange Burbury the principal of Campania School to plan some transition visits for Year 6 students wishing to attend Campania in 2025 as they commence high school. 

The first of these visits is scheduled for Thursday 13^th June when Ange and several past students will return to talk about their Campania experience.

Ange is also offering an open afternoon for students and parents to visit the Campania campus to see what is on offer at the school. I would encourage parents and students to take this opportunity to visit and chat with Ange.

Communicable diseases

A communicable disease is an illness that spreads from one person to another. People also call them infectious diseases.

Different communicable diseases spread in different ways. Common ways are through viruses or bacteria in food or water, blood or other body fluids, insect bites or air.  

Presently, we have lots of communicable disease in our school. COVID, Flu and the common cold along with gastro-enteritis. I do request if you have an unwell child that they stay home, so as not to infect other children and our staff. In the case of gastro, it is the recommendation from state health that they stay home for 48 hours after vomiting has completely passed.

Finally, some reminders: Friday 7^th June is a student free day as staff moderate student work samples with other schools. Our staff are working with Lauderdale, South Arm and Rokeby this year, to ensure that judgements are consistent across schools, and in line with the achievement standards for each year level as outlined in the Australian Curriculum. This work helps us to maintain a high standard of work here at Richmond and it also allows for collaboration and network building for staff.

The student free day precedes the public holiday for the King’s birthday on Monday 10^th June.

Most importantly, School Photos are on Tuesday 11^th after the long weekend.

Clare McVilly

Principal

Below are some more comments from our kinder students about the things they love at Richmond Primary School. 

Zac  “ My favourite thing is playing with the play dough”.

“I love going on the slide and putting things on the light.” Clare

Lucas “I like playing outside”.

Fletcher “I like playing football and soccer the best”.

Dannii “ I like playing with the boxes and with my friend Archie”.

Layla "I like going in Bunnings with my friends Remi and Violetta”.

Dakota "I like to jump and run around. I like to play with the babies and go outside”.

Willow "I like playing with Violeta and eating my lunch”.

Remi “ I like going outside to go on the orange seesaw. My friends are mostly everyone”.

“I love making hamburgers with tomato sauce and I like cooking too”. Luna

Term 2 in Kinder

This term has been full of exciting firsts for our Kinders!

We went on our very first excursion to Bunnings with the Preps.  We had a super interesting tour and got to make a little creation with a real hammer and nails. It was a fun day for our Kinders – especially the bus ride! We also ran in the cross country wearing our team colours with pride and trying our very best.

The Richmond Primary Science Expo!

Mark Your Calendars – The Richmond Primary Science Expo!

Exciting news for our school community! Richmond Primary has been awarded a National Science Week grant by the Australian Science Teachers Association. This fantastic opportunity allows us to celebrate the wonders of science during National Science Week. Join us in the school hall on Tuesday, August 13th, for an exhilarating science showcase! The day's lineup so far includes hands-on experiments with expert scientists, cutting-edge drone and VR demonstrations by UTAS tech solutions, and an inspiring showcase of projects from Rose Bay High teachers and students. Our very own Richmond Primary students are also gearing up to present their amazing scientific discoveries. Stay tuned for more updates!

5/6A News

Buddies

Grade 5/6A enjoyed spending some time helping their 1/2A buddies research questions they had generated as a class after their walk down to the Richmond Bridge. Our local history is so interesting and always brings about such great opportunities for research and finding out more about our local area. They were some great questions 1/2A! We look forward to our next buddy session together.

Government House Excursion

Recently, 5/6A was privileged to be able to visit Government House and meet the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker, alongside her husband, Emeritus Professor Don Chalmers.

After an opportunity to ask the Governor questions about herself and her role as the Governor of Tasmania, we enjoyed a delicious morning tea and then a tour of the State rooms.

• Her Excellency said that when she was appointed to the position of Governor, she felt worried and overwhelmed about the role, but she also felt proud and honoured.
• Her Excellency’s first job when she was at university was a waitress and then she became a lawyer.
• Her Excellency was once a Federal judge.
• She has two border collies called Narla and Oscar. They are 11 years old.
• Her Excellency likes books about family relationships. She enjoyed reading Harry Potter to her own children when they were young.
• Her favourite sport when she was younger was tennis and indoor hockey.
• On the day we visited Government House, Her Excellency also had two other events to attend. One of them was opening the new Parliament for their first sitting. Her Excellency certainly has a jam-packed schedule.

Emeritus Professor Don Chalmers made a special mention about how well thought out our questions were and how engaged and polite Grade 5/6 Richmond Primary School students are.

We were very warmly welcomed at Government House and thoroughly enjoyed our day.

Upcoming Term 2 Dates to Remember

Cross Country Report

Our school cross country was held in sunny conditions on Friday the 24th of May. The course was around the inside and outside of the school.

We had some tremendous running on the day with Thomson being the winner with 286 points. This is their first win for a very long time in the cross country. Archer were close behind with 270 points.

Winners on the day:

Prep - Imogen and Noah

Grade 1 - Lola and Julian

Grade 2 - Zoe and Milo

Grade 3 - Elizabeth and Sam

Grade 4 - Grace and Tim

Grade 5 - Isla and Elroy

Grade 6 - Kara and Noah

The Interschool carnival is on Wednesday 5th of June for selected students.
The Tasmanian All Schools State Cross Country Carnival is on Tuesday 18th of June. Parents need to enter and organize transport for their child if they wish to compete in this event. The link to enter into the state comp is below:

Tasmanian All Schools Primary Cross Country 2024 - Athletics Tasmania (tasathletics.org.au) 

Assembly Awards - Week 6

Richmond United Junior Soccer Club Disco

Richmond United Junior Soccer Club Disco!!

Wristbands can be purchased by either messaging the Richmond United Junior Soccer Club Facebook page, or by emailing richmondunitedsoccerclub@gmail.com

The Disco is open for anyone to attend not just club members.

Lantern Walk

Get ready for the

Richmond Annual Lantern Walk! 

20th June 2024, 5pm ​

​Not only is this a fantastic community building event, but a key fundraiser for our Richmond Primary School Association. All proceeds from food and drink sales help us to fund activities and purchase equipment for our children such as colour runs, library books, sports shirts, and more. 

Keep making your lanterns! ​​

• There are lots of great ideas, in our school newsletter and online. ​
• Raid the recycle bin for materials – upcycle milk cartons, jars, tin cans, soft drink bottles etc. ​
• Remember – no real candles.

LED tealight candles now available ​

​Located at the office for cost price (50c). 

Children are not to remain at school at the end of the day unless they are attending After 
School Care as the School is unable to provide supervision after 3pm.
All children attending the walk must be accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian 
for the duration of the event and throughout the night

For further information about the event or if you would like to volunteer to help, please contact  association.rpsa@gmail.com