RPS Chatter June 2025

Can you believe we are already over 1/2 way through the term! 

I heard during the week that now that we have passed June 2nd 2025, we are now officially closer to 2050 than we are to 2000! Now that is scary!

Walking through our classrooms daily, I see firsthand they are buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and hard work. Whether it’s students mastering new maths strategies, exploring big ideas through reading and writing, or collaborating on exciting projects, the level of engagement and effort from our learners is something to be truly proud of. But the learning doesn’t stop at academics.

Just as important is the social and emotional learning that helps our children grow into confident, kind, and resilient individuals. Every day, we see students learning how to manage their emotions, build respectful relationships, solve problems, and work together. These are vital life skills, and we’re so proud of the progress our students are making.

Behind the scenes, a great deal of thought and care goes into making sure every student feels safe, supported, and included. Many systems and processes are in place to ensure the needs of all learners are met.

You may not always be aware of these supports—and often that’s by design. For the privacy of students and families involved, many of our processes remain confidential. Please know that this confidentiality is a vital part of the care we provide and reflects our deep commitment to student wellbeing.

As a public school, we are proud to be part of an inclusive education system. Inclusive education means that all members of our school community are valued and supported to fully participate, learn, develop and succeed—regardless of background, needs, or abilities. This is not just a belief we hold; it’s something we put into action every day.

As always, Megan and I are here if you ever want to talk. Whether it’s a question, a concern, or just a chat about your child’s progress, our door is always open.

 

 

School Value: Respect

 

One of the most important values we can practice every day is respect. Respect helps us create a positive and supportive school environment where everyone feels valued and included. But what exactly is respect, and why is it so important? Let’s dive into it!

 

What is Respect?

Respect means treating others the way we want to be treated. It’s about showing kindness, listening to each other, and appreciating the differences that make everyone unique. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the playground, or at home, showing respect makes a big difference in how we get along with others.

 

How Can We Show Respect?

There are many ways we can practice respect, and it starts with simple actions and words. Here are some key ways to show respect to others:

• Listening Carefully: When someone is speaking, we should listen without interrupting. This shows that we value their thoughts and opinions.
• Being Kind and Polite: Saying “please” and “thank you” or offering a smile can brighten someone’s day.
• Appreciating Differences: Every person is unique, and respecting others means accepting their differences, whether it’s their culture, interests, or ideas.
• Helping Others: If someone needs assistance, offering a hand shows respect and care for their well-being.

 

Respecting Body Safety and Consent

One of the most important aspects of respect is understanding body safety and consent. It’s crucial that we respect each other’s personal space and boundaries. Here’s what that means:

• Personal Space: Everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable in their own body. This means we should never touch someone without their permission. Always ask if it’s okay before hugging, holding hands, or touching someone.
• Consent: Consent means asking someone if they are okay with something before you do it. If someone says “no” or looks uncomfortable, we must respect their choice. Remember, “no” always means “no,” and we must respect that.
• Body Safety: It’s important to speak up if something feels wrong. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, talk to a trusted adult, like a teacher or parent. It’s never okay for anyone to hurt or make you feel unsafe.

 

Why Is Respect So Important?

Respect helps build trust and understanding between people. When we show respect, it makes our school a safer and more welcoming place. It also helps to prevent conflicts because people feel valued and supported. The more respect we show, the more respect we receive in return, creating a positive cycle of kindness and understanding.

 

What Happens When We Don’t Show Respect?

When we don’t show respect, it can hurt people’s feelings, create misunderstandings, and cause problems in relationships. It’s important to remember that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and it’s never okay to be mean or hurtful to others.

 

Learn More About Respect

If you would like to learn and understand more about respect, check out these helpful websites:

• Respect.gov.au offers a Conversation Guide that talks about respect in different situations, from family to school to online spaces. It’s a great tool for learning how to talk about and practice respect in your everyday life. Respect Conversation Guide

• Kids Helpline has a fantastic article on how to treat others with respect, including practical advice on being a good friend and handling difficult situations in a respectful way.
  All About Respect – Kids Helpline

By practising respect in everything we do, we can help make our school a place where everyone feels happy, safe, and valued. Let’s all commit to showing respect, whether we’re working in the classroom, playing on the playground, or talking to each other online.

 

Statewide Principal’s Conference

 

Last week, Hayley and I had the privilege of attending the Statewide Principal’s Conference held at the Melbourne Convention Centre. The conference was an opportunity for Victorian government school principals, assistant principals and leading teachers to come together to hear from renowned educators and leading practitioners, and to explore how thriving networks can support implementation and achieve excellence in every school, under the theme of ‘Excellence in Every Classroom.’

We were lucky enough to hear keynote addresses from Dr Sonja Hood AM (President of the North Melbourne Football Club) and Professor Joanna Barbousas (Dean of the School of Education at Latrobe University), amongst many others. It was great to see the excellent work public schools are doing across Victoria and learn from many experienced and storied educators and leaders.

 

Important Student Free Dates to Remember

 

• Monday July 28th – Whole School Curriculum Day
• Friday 22nd August – Whole School Professional Practice Day
• Wednesday 10th September – Early finish for Student Led Conferences

 

This week’s Resilience Project Question

Who is someone you are grateful for today?

 

 

Russell Sivewright
Assistant Principal

 

Hey RPS friends!

Guess what?  We (Emily, Maddie, Sadie, Camille, and Samika) are doing the ICE BUCKET Challenge on Friday, June 13th!  It’s going to be super chilly but super fun!

We’re doing this to help people learning about MND, which is a serious illness.  It’s kind of like the BIG FREEZE thing you might have heard about.

We’re also raising money to help out.  There will be a link on Compass soon where you can donate.  If you’re in Years 3 to 6 and want to join in, you can put your name in a raffle to pour ice water on either a student or staff member.  We’re picking 4 students and 4 staff members to get soaked. So, don’t miss the assembly on June 13th.  It’s going to be a blast!

For the MND Fundraiser, you have the option to either donate and place your child’s name in the raffle to pour an ice bucket on someone. Or, simply just donate without putting your child’s name down for the raffle. Please see the links below:

 

• Donate and Enter your Child for Student Raffle 

 

• Donate Without Entering Student Raffle 

 

The Election Day BBQ was a resounding success, with our egg and bacon rolls and Democracy Sausages selling out in record time. Thanks to everyone who baked goodies or volunteered their time on the day – we couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks also to our local suppliers who continue to offer the best produce at the best prices, including J&M Poultry at Gleadell Street Market, Bakers Delight Hawksburn, Pastarami restaurant and Axil Coffee. And egg-stra special thanks to all those families who generously responded to our call for eggs. What a community!

Eleanor Thomas

RPS is participating in the Parents Battle of the Bands for the first time this year. PBOB is a Melbourne-wide competition between bands made up of the parents of local primary schools. It is a great way of raising funds to help support our school. Funds raised through ticket sales come directly back to RPS to support our performing arts program.

Our RPS band – Rage Against the Canteen – will be playing a 15-minute gig at the Croxton Bandroom in Thornbury on Thursday 19 June at 7.00 pm.

It is an 18+ venue, so not one for the students

Tickets and info are now available through the PBOB website (https://parentsbattleofthebands.com/) or scan the QR code on the poster in the office.

Select ‘Northside Battle 1’ and make sure you select the tickets that apply to ‘Richmond PS – Rage Against the Canteen’ so that our school gets the benefit of the ticket sales.
Look forward to seeing you all there!!

 

Foundation

• Clay S – For consistently demonstrating responsibility and a willingness to assist others. Clay, you set a positive example for your peers. Well done, Clay!
• Rose F – For your excellent narrative about a turtle. It included a setting, a problem and a conclusion. An outstanding effort for your first narrative, Rose!

 

Year 1/2

• Ollie H – For asking thoughtful and curious questions during our Ceres excursion yesterday
• Julia T – For always working hard, being kind and wonderful writing. Bravo Julia, you’re a star!
• Jasper W – For an awesome week in inquiry investigations! You have been an eager and enthusiastic participant in whole-class discussions and activities, and you approached our excursion to CERES with such excitement and positivity. Well done superstar!

 

Year 3/4

• London L – Great job on your peppercorn tree report! Your hard work and attention to detail really stood out. Keep up the fantastic effort!
• Cristiano N – This legend has recently been through a lot, but despite this, he’s still come to school and committed to his learning. What a resilient trooper!

 

Year 5/6

• William D – For displaying respect and lending such a helpful hand around the classroom. Will, you have truly stood out this week. Keep up the great effort!
• Edie S – For showing such great confidence and enthusiasm towards everything you do. You’ve been an absolute legend this year, Edie – well done!
• Juno M – For consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic and respect for others. Your dedication and positive attitude ensures you are a standout role model in our classroom. Well done, Juno!
  Felix F – For his hard work and determined attitude towards learning and for consistently giving his best effort. Keep up the awesome work Fish!

 

Specialist Subjects

 

Art

 

• Ty P – Great focus during Visual Arts

 

PE

 

• Butch L – For recognition of his consistent effort, fair play, and enthusiastic participation in Physical Education.

 

 

Chess Club – Fridays, 8:00 – 8:50 AM

Hot Shot Tennis – Fridays, 8:00 – 8:40 AM