Richmond Primary School Newsletter Wednesday 2nd August 2023

Principal's Address

Welcome back to Term 3!

Dear Families, welcome back to school for another exciting ten-week term of teaching and learning, students have had a settled start back to the term.  You should all have received a termly outline, if you haven’t please contact your child’s teacher.

Professional Learning – 24^th July

Our teaching staff engaged in professional learning last Monday where they participated in sessions focussing on Safeguarding Children and Young People.  Staff also unpacked the Pedagogical Framework – five key teaching practices to inquire further into their own teaching practices.

Working it out!

All staff at Richmond Primary are participating in professional learning with Working It Out!  This professional learning is about creating a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTIQ+ for students, staff, and families. 

Welcome to new staff

I would like to welcome Ian Williams to Richmond Primary School. Ian will be working with our choir and Kindergarten and Prep Students.

Every school day matters

Going to school every day gives your child every chance to learn and grow and connect with their mates and teachers. It’s where bright futures start and where they’ll benefit the most.

Below is attendance at Richmond Primary school for the first five days of term 3, well done everyone, what a great start!

Before/After School Hours Duty of Care

Our school hours are from 8.50 am through to 2.50 pm.

Each morning there is supervision on site from 8.30 am.

It is important that parents do not bring children to school before school hours because there is no supervision of students at that time.

Similarly at the end of the school day, students cannot be left unsupervised.

It is important parents either: 

• collect their children at the end of the school day          
• arrange for them to catch the bus home
• make other collection arrangements
• plan for them to attend after school hours care with Lady Gowrie

Unsupervised students may engage in dangerous play or put themselves in dangerous locations such as car parks or spaces being used by buses and cars during school drop off and pick up. Parents are responsible for their child outside school hours unless they have accessed school-based childcare during these times.

Is your child going to high school soon?

Have your say on current feeder school arrangements

The Department for Education Children and Young People is seeking feedback from families on current feeder school arrangements. These arrangements have been in place for many years and are currently under review. The current feeder school arrangements have been published and can be found on the Department’s Find Your Local High School webpage.  

Feedback on these current arrangements can be provided via on online survey at https://forms.office.com/r/q6SrdMne2i . Your feedback will be a valuable input into the review process.

Term 3 Calendar of Events

See below upcoming dates for term 3 which looks to be another busy and action packed term.

Jaqui Mason

Thank you John Conway and the Richmond Football Club!!

A big shoutout to John Conway and the Richmond Football Club for generously donating us some of their football guernsey's. 

Our grade 5 and 6 students are thoroughly enjoying wearing them to the winter sports games this term. 

Congratulations Hudson!!

Well done to Hudson in Grade Six for winning first prize in the Tasmanian Mathematics Association Problem Solving Competition.

Every year students across the state are invited to participate in this competition. This year we had a group of students from grades 5 & 6 choose to participate and answer the 90minute long paper. Hudson’s solutions were compared against that of all the other participants in the state and his work was deemed to be the best of all grade 6 students. Here is a photo of Hudson receiving his cash prize and certificate from Mrs McVilly.

Here is one of the questions the students had:

Jake had 100 coins in a jar. The coins were only 20c and 50c coins. The value of the coins was $29.90. How many of each coin did Jake have?

Have a go and come share your answers with Mr Johnston.

Term 2 and 3 Learning in Grade 3/4

We have been very busy in Grade 3/4!

Throughout last term we spent time on an inquiry which involved writing an information report on an endangered marine animal.  In particular we focus on researching the animal’s food chain and finding out why the animal was endangered. 

Inspired by our class novel ‘The Last Bear’, we created polar bear art works to display in the hall for our Lantern Walk.

We were all excited to share our school holiday experiences with our ‘holiday in a bottle’ art.

Symmons Plains Cross Country Report

On the 27^th of June five of our students headed up to the State Cross Country to race against the best distance runners from all around the state. Well done to Lily, Scarlett, Grace, Isla and Noah who competed and ran their hearts out.

Thanks to our amazing parents who drove the students up so they could compete.

Brixhibition - 28th August - 1st September

The Tasmanian Brick Enthusiasts Inc. and Brixhibition invite all Richmond Primary School students to enter our school competition.

• Students are invited to have a Lego creation of their own design completed and ready for judging at Richmond Primary school in Week 6. Entries are to be brought to school Monday August 28^th and collected on Friday September 1^st.

• There are 4 age groups, with prizes awarded for each:
  • Kindergarten – Prep
  • Grade 1-2
  • Grade 3-4
  • Grade 5-6

• Judging will take place over the week with students, families and staff involved. Legos will be securely displayed in the staff room for the duration of the week. Winners will be announced on Friday September 1^st.

• The overall school winner will be invited to participate against other Southern Primary Schools at the Hobart Brixhibition on Sunday 8th October.

FAQs

Q. Is there any cost to enter the Brixhibition Lego Competition?                                                                     

A. No, Brixhibition Lego Competition is completely free to enter. 

Q. Are teams allowed?                                                                                                                                                             

A. No, to be fair to all students, teams are not allowed.

Q. Can I build from a kit or use instructions?                                                                                                               

A. No, we want to see original ideas and imagination in the creations. 

Q. What is the maximum size creation allowed?                                                                                                       

A. Each Lego creation is not to be larger than 52cm Wide , 52cm Deep, 52cm High  or no larger than Four 32x32 lug Lego baseplates.  All parts to the Lego creation must stay within these dimensions.

For further information please contact Mr Ben Johnston at school.

Happy Building!

School Levies

School Levies are now overdue. Please phone the office if you need to discuss payment options.

Instalment options are by agreement with Lisa Brooks, our School Business Manager. Please note that we are able to offer flexible and negotiated options to assist parents to budget for this cost if the payment schedule does not suit your circumstances.

The school accepts payment by cash, eftpos or cheque. Levies can also be paid by Bpay, Centrepay and at Service Tasmania.

STAS - Student Assistance Scheme

Details re Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) and application forms may be found at:

https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/fees-levies/

Parents who have a current concession card as listed below can apply for dependent students for assistance under the STAS:

• Services Australia – Centrelink Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card
• Services Australia – Pensioner Concession Card or
• Department of Veteran Affairs – Pensioner Concession Card.
  

If you have already been accepted for STAS there is no need to re-apply, please check with the school  office if you are unsure on 6260 2191.

Upcoming Events at RPS

Dental Care Week 7th - 13th August

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 5 is now available online.  
Our preferred option is that orders are entered ONLINE via LOOP. 
If you don’t already have an account you may register via www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP 
(follow the link to create an account). Or download the app from the Apple or Google 
play store.
Cash orders will be accepted at the office.
Orders close at noon on Thursday 10th August