The Grapevine Newsletter 11-03-2022

Principal's Message

Congratulations to the Green House who scored 1^st place from the Swimming Sports Day. Final House totals were: Green – 532 points, Gold – 472 points and Blue – 260 points. A big shout out to all our students who attended on the day, especially those students who participated in the swimming events and gave it their all.  Good luck to all of the students who go on to participate in interschool swimming events.

Please join me in welcoming Mrs Brenda Latunipulu to the role of Year 7/8 Community Area Coordinator. Brenda joined us this year as a Science, Maths and VCAL Numeracy teacher and we would like to thank her for taking on the additional responsibility of Year 7/8 Community Area Coordinator. We are looking forward to the positive influence she will have on the community in supporting our aim of ensuring a calm learning environment across all of those classes. Ms Marjie James continues in her role as the Year 5/6 Community Area Coordinator.

We are already in week 6 of 10 for Term 1, having already passed the half way mark. This is a good time to think about what your child might need for Term 2. While we are still enjoying some beautiful weather at the moment, those colder days can creep up on us quite quickly after the holidays. With this in mind, please remember to check that your child has the appropriate warmer uniform items and if not, please see Rosa in the front office who can assist you and your child with purchasing some warmer clothing. Please remember that financial support with uniforms is available through State School Relief and Rosa in the front office, your child’s Community Area Coordinator or Ms Shanahan can assist with this.

Our College Council AGM is on the 23^rd March at 5pm. Members of the public are welcome to RSVP by Friday 18^th March, if they would like to attend.

Thank you to all of our staff for participating in our Pupil Free Day professional development on Friday 4^th March. We spent the day undertaking an Appreciative Inquiry, facilitated by Dr Paige Williams, who has expertise in organisational change, creating positive change and supporting wellbeing in organisations. Our focus for the day was on ‘Enabling a caring, self-sustaining culture of excellence for staff and students of Robinvale College.’ As a result of this work, a School Improvement Team will continue this work with staff as they lead and oversee the planning and implementation of numerous projects, events and activities that are planned for our students and the school community over the next 12 months…stay tuned.

Miss Sara Broster                                                                                                                                                                          College Principal

College Captains

The College Captains were presented with their badges and blazers at Assembly on Monday. 

Junior School Captains

Our Junior School Captains Molly Bivolcheff and Keanu Austin were awarded with their badges at the F- 4 Assembly.  Molly and Keanu were voted by their peers to represent our school and community. Congratulations to you both.

F-4 SEL Awards for Week 5

For Listening to Others   

 F/1 – Ivy Manu,  1/2 – Chloe Le and Phong Nguyen,  3 – Jed MacIntosh,  4 – Joziah Dunrobin-Rowe.

Swimming Carnival Results 2022

Congratulations to  all the students that particpated at this year's  Swimming Carnival. 

1st Green House : 2nd Gold House  : 3rd Blue House                                                                                                   

Age champions 

Absent from photos age champions: Keanu Austin Terrick, Salutu Felise, Brock Parker, Mathew Peniongo, Nick Neyland and Frank Zaffina.  

Year 7/8 Coordintor

Robinvale College, would like to welcome Mrs Brenda Latunipulu. Brenda has recently transitioned into the role as Year 7/8                       Co-ordinator, as well as teaching Year 7 & 10 Science, Year 9 Maths and VCAL Numeracy.
Brenda comes from a Tongan background, growing up in New Zealand before moving to Sydney. Brenda is looking forward to her new role as Year 7/8 Coordinator, by ensuring students are staying in class, creating a safe and engaging learning environment and supporting our teachers within the learning community.
Brenda and her family are thoroughly enjoying their move to the area and have felt very welcome from the Robinvale community.

Year 7 and Year 10 National Immunisation Program.

Year 7 and Year 10 secondary school students can receive free immunisations as part of the National Immunisation Program.

Year 7

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) - course of two vaccines, 6 months apart.
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) - single dose.

Year 10

• Meningococcal ACWY – single dose.

Immunisations are organised at school and administered by nurses from Swan Hill Rural City Council immunisation providers.
Secondary school students are at an age when a vaccine will be most effective and provide protection before possible exposure to a disease.
 
An information and consent form has been  provided by local councils to all year 7 and 10 students that must be completed and signed by the parent or guardian and returned to the College. Students will not be vaccinated if we do not receive your signed consent.
Immunisation day for the students will be Tuesday 29^th March  at the College
If you have any concerns please contact the College on 50263  704.

Lunchtime Activities

It has been wonderful to see the students participation in the lunchtime activities. With a nearly full yoga and meditation session with Antionette on Monday, it is important to remember to sign up. The sheet is next to the poster in the M building, for the next session, Monday 21st  March. Reminder that these sessions are for years 7 and 8 and priority will be given to those students.

This past Tuesday saw six boards of chess, our largest turnout ever, as students from year 5 - 9 played some spirited games. Everyone is welcome to and join in the fun each Tuesday in V5, in the open space in the 9-12 building.

The arts and crafts club in room 31 was on a break this week as Mrs. B. was on leave, but she will return on Tuesday the 15^th of March to get your creative juices flowing. 

Card games continues to be popular on Wednesday in V4 with students from years 5 - 11 enjoying themselves as they teach the teachers some of their favourite games. In the coming weeks Mr Jensen and Mr McDonald will be teaching the students some of their favourite games. 

Boardgames on Thursday has been a solid option for the students. Look for some new games to make an appearance in the coming weeks as we plan to update our games, but the old favourites will still be available.

The long-awaited return of the Friday lunchtime activities begins this week. After having swim sports and a pupil-free day the past two Fridays Ms Yates is looking forward to hearing all the wonderful voices of Robinvale College as she begins the Karaoke Club in the Music Room. This activity is for years 5 and up and limited to 20 students.

Mr McDonald will be in M5 hosting the video game players. The numbers will be capped at 20 for this club and all players will need to be participating in the game playing.

For anyone that misses out, you can join Mr Jensen in M4, in the open space in the 5-8 building.

Coming in week 8 (21-25 March), Mr Jensen and Mr McDonald will be organising a Chess Tournament for grades 5 and up. Depending on numbers there will be multiple age groups and prizes for the winners of each age group. Sign-up sheets will be posted in the communities and will close on March 18 to give time to organise the tournament.

Your Lunchtime Activities Team

Foundation/1 News

 F/1 have been  on a treasure hunt around the playground to look for hidden animals. We had to count the amount of animals in each picture and then practise writing the corresponding numeral. It was so much fun!

We have also been reading Grandpa & Thomas this week. We made predictions, did oral retells of the story and shared about our own experiences of beaches and sandcastles. We responded to the text by creating our own crafty sandcastle and decorated them with feathers, jewels and glitter! 

Sunraysia Secondary/Primary Swimming Mixed Division Finals

Congratulations to all students that attended and participated in this year's Sunraysia Secondary and Primary Swimming Mixed Division Finals in Mildura.  The Primary event was held on Wednesday 9th March with the Secondary event held  last Wednesday  2nd March.   Matthew Phajongdee came first in the boys (12-13 years) 50m breaststroke. Matthew will now compete at the next level.

Planning for a safe and supportive school community

On Friday 18 March 2022, Robinvale College is participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for the 2022 NDA is Kindness Culture. Robinvale College will demonstrate Kindness Culture by promoting inclusiveness, respect and community belonging for all students with some super fun lunch time games with the help of our SRC students.

Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying. The key characteristics of bullying include:

1. power imbalance
2. deliberate intent to cause harm, and
3. ongoing and repeated behaviour.

It is important for our entire school community, including our staff, parents, carers and students to have a clear understanding of the definition of bullying to be able to distinguish these behaviours from peer aggression, and correctly identify and respond to incidents of bullying.