12/06/2020 / / ISSUE NUMBER 9

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RPS CHATTER SCHOOL IS BACK…CAFES ARE BACK…FOOTY IS BACK…

LIFE IS RETURNIG TO A “NEW” NORMAL

Want to know what’s happening when?

Dates to remember

Date Event

June 19th CommunityOSH

meet and greet

3:00 - 5:00pm

June 24th Semester 1 Reports

“released” via

Compass

June 26th Last Day Term 2

July 13th First Day Term 3

July 22nd Curriculum Day

(i.e. students NOT

required at

school….

CommunityOSH

will be operating)

August 21st Curriculum Day

(i.e. students NOT

required at

school….

CommunityOSH

will be operating)

September 18th Last Day Term 3

October 5th First Day Term 4

It’s finished!

Message from the Principal

MEGAN DELL

I can’t believe there are only 2 weeks remaining of Term 2! To say that it has been an interesting term in an understatement.

The energy around the school with all our student returning this week has been electric. We knew our P – Year 2 students and families were experts at the staggered drop off and pick up processes and it didn’t take long before our Year 3 – 6’s were able to get into the groove. Standing at my designated gate, I’m noticing increased student confidence and independence as they arrive and leave each day, and that was a benefit we weren’t expecting

After weeks of having our basketball court fenced off and resurfaced I am happy to say that it is finally finished and ready for everyone to use. This project was funded through a community grant and the amazing efforts of our fundraising team. It looks amazing! (now we need to start fundraising for the netball court).

There is lots happening at the moment, so enough from me and keep reading to know everything that is happening here at RPS.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Stay Happy.

Megan

IN THIS ISSUE

STAFF SPOTLIGHT MESSAGE FROM

SIMON

REMINDERS

12/06/2020 / / ISSUE NUMBER 9 RPS CHATTER

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Blythe Neve

CHANGING FACES IN YEAR 1/2

The time has come... In every school, staff come and go at

different times throughout the year. One

thing they all have in common is that each

of them has an impact on the lives of our

students, and the culture of our school.

Simon Purdie is one of those staff members.

Simon has been offered and accepted a

position working with Western Melbourne

Regional Office.

We are very excited for him as he begins a

new chapter in his professional career, and

at the same time know that he will be

missed by staff, students and the

community. We wish him the very best in his

future endeavours and thank him for his

contribution to our school.

To ensure a smooth transition for the

students in 1/2S, their teachers for Semester

2 will be Mrs. Lauren Granger (3 days) and

Mrs. Helen Smith (2 days).

Lauren has been a member of the RPS

community for a number of years and is

looking forward to working with her own

class again.

Helen is a highly experienced teacher who

has been our regular relief teacher for a

number of years. She knows our students

and staff. It will be great to have her

officially as a staff member of the RPS

community.

Lauren and Helen are very excited to be

working together.

2020 has definitely been a rollercoaster,

with many unexpected twists and turns. This

is another twist that we weren’t expecting,

but know the RPS community will continue

to be supportive.

Simon has his own message to the RPS

community later in this edition of the

Chatter.

2021

Should I stay

OR

Should I go?

We mention it every week, and you might be shocked to know that planning for the 2021 school year is in full swing!

To assist us in making sure we are ready for next year, if you or anyone you know hasn’t enrolled or intends on not being a part of our school community in 2021, could you please let the office know.

The earlier we know, the more prepared we can be with staffing and school organisation.

You are a new addition to the crayon box. What colour would you be and why? Blue, the colour of dreamers.

When you are by yourself in the car, what’s your “go to’ song/artist that you sing along with? It would definitely be David Bowie, at the

moment probably, Moonage Daydream.

When I was in primary school I would look

through my parents record collection, I

found a copy of Aladdin Sane and thought it

was the weirdest, scariest, most alien thing I

had ever seen. I’ve been hooked ever since.

What’s the last thing you watched on TV and why did you choose to watch it? ABC News, it’s pretty much the only

television I watch.

What’s your favourite movie? Once I used to go to the cinema around three

times a week, I would watch films at home,

and I was a member of Melbourne

Cinematheque for a long time. I don’t have a

favourite movie, it’s too hard, European Art

House cinema is my thing.

If we opened your fridge, what would we find? I love cooking, it’s an excellent form of

escapism, thinking about the places, I’ve

been or would like to go; Japanese

mayonnaise, capers, jalapeno sauce, dill

gerkins, kasoundi, kimchi, tahini, pickled

ginger, etc…

Which football team do you support? I would use the term ‘support’ pretty

loosely. Since 1988 the Richmond Tigers,

when I defected from Hawthorn.

What superpower do you wish you had? Just basic magic would be good.

Are you a dog or a cat person? I live in the country, so I like to see dogs

around town. Not so much cats, as I love

Australian native birds.

What is your favourite memory from Primary School? The school caff’. In the 1980’s you could buy

a Sunny Boy, Red Skin, acid drops and a few

eucalyptus leaves for about 50 cents. It was

also a great place to congregate and people

watch. As a teacher today, this idea is like

some sort of nightmare.

What was your favourite subject at School? Art, and I still manage to incorporate it into

most things I do, and all the decisions I make.

I pledge to the RPS community:

To always aim for the best student outcomes within a supportive and nurturing culture.

To improve upon my own teaching, whilst working collaboratively with colleagues, to ensure Richmond Primary School continues to evolve as a great school.

12/06/2020 / / ISSUE NUMBER 9 RPS CHATTER

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IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING….

We are happy to be back at school!

We asked some students what the best thing

about being back at school. Here are some of

their answers:

“Its great to see friends and easier to interact with everyone” Beth, 5/6

“Talking with friends and it’s fun to hang out with them” Hugo, 5/6

“Nice to see people and hang out with them” Luca, 5/6

“Seeing my friends and things are

explained better in the classroom” Miriam, 5/6

“Being back in the classroom and seeing my friends” Erik 3/4

“Seeing everyone I missed” Hugh, 3/4

“Seeing friends and being able to play in

groups” Mackenzie, 3/4

“Learning how to read” Summer, Prep

“PE” Freddie, Prep

“Sarah back and laughing” Sophie, 1/2

“Friends and being able to work with them” Arabella, 3/4

“Art and Craft things” Iona, Prep

“Seeing friends again and the play equipment.” Grace, 1/2

“I arrived really early because my

mum told me to go and I wanted

to see everyone.” Bill, 5/6

“Seeing my friends” Quinn 3/4

“All the specialist classes” Maisie, 1/2

“Seeing all my friends” Cameron, 1/2

“Seeing my friends and having

more people to hang out with” Lilly, 3/4

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

Our newest RPS members. Meet the latest editions to the Richmond Primary School Family. We

now have one canary and two Gouldian Finches.

At the moment they don’t have a name (we are calling them all

“Birdie”), so if you have some good ideas on what we should call them,

send me an email:

Megan.Dell@education.vic.gov.au

We will also be looking for someone to look after them over the

holidays. If this this something you might be interested in, please let

me know.

REMINDERS

In a nutshell Parents are not allowed to access

any part of the school, other than the school office, between the hours of 8:45am – 3:45pm

All students are required to bring their own water bottle as they are restricted from drinking at the drinking taps.

Each family is allocated only 1 COMPASS account. If you are separated or divorced and require more than one account, please let the office know.

If you notice any “interesting” behavior around our school grounds out of hours, please do not get involved and contact the police.

Students will be dismissed on the last day of Term 2 (June 26th) at 2:30pm

SMS messages are being sent out via COMPASS if your child has not arrived at school by 9:15am (school commences at 9am).

If you haven’t already, please make sure you have returned all medication that is required at school.

We are still waiting on the return of borrowed technology. Please return all ipads to the school office as soon as possible.

There is no borrowing from our school library until the beginning of Term 3

12/06/2020 / / ISSUE NUMBER 9 RPS CHATTER

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NEW CHAPTER

A message from Simon.

SIMON PURDIE

With a touch of sadness, I have to announce that I will be

finishing at Richmond Primary School at the end of this term.

I have accepted a new roles as a Professional Learning

Communities facilitator for the Department of Education

Western Melbourne Regional Office.

It is an exciting opportunity to support groups of teachers

across the region to work collaboratively to improve student

outcomes.

I have loved being part of the Richmond Primary School

community over the past 7½ years. It is very sad to leave

my Grade 1/2 class halfway through the year, but we have

had a fantastic 6 months together. You’re a great bunch

of kids and parents.

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to teach so

many fantastic students and I have loved getting to know

all of the parents.

Thank you to all of our talented and dedicated teachers

and support staff for your support and friendship. I have

really enjoyed working with you through my role as the

Literacy Learning Specialist. I look forward to seeing what

you achieve under the leadership of Megan, Nerida and

Cassie.

I am not learning the neighbourhood so I am sure that I will

keep running into you around 3121.

Catch you in the line at Cheeky Monkeys sometime soon.

Simon.

YOU WILL BE MISSED.

An exciting opportunity awaits

you!

GOOD LUCK SIMON