Term 1 Week 3

10th February 2025

Welcome to another year at Russell Vale Public School!

It was great to see nearly all of the boys and girls return safe and sound after their holiday. It is also wonderful to welcome a few new students, along with our new Kindergarten students and their parents, to school. As staff returned on Friday, 31st January (Week 1), and students returned on Thursday, 6th February (Week 2), we are already into Week 3 of an eleven-week term, which will be a busy one.

A particular welcome back to Mrs. Brown, who returns to Russell Vale Public School after maternity leave.

2025 classes are as follows: 

KH – Mrs Hoyn

KJC – Ms Johnston (Mon – Thurs), Mrs Cleall (Fri)

1JW – Mrs James (Mon – Wed, Fri), Mrs Wrice (Thurs)

1/2N – Mrs Nelson

2/3LB – Mrs Brown (Mon, Tues), Mrs Logue (Wed – Fri)

3/4L  – Mrs LaVanda

3/4QR – Ms Quince (Mon – Wed), Mrs Rann (Thurs, Fri)

5/6E – Mr Elsley

5/6R – Mrs Rafferty (Mon - Wed), Mrs Rejske (Thurs, Fri)

5/6B – Mr Batley

RFF Teacher/Librarian – Mr Shepherd (Tues - Thurs)

RFF Teacher – Mrs Wrice (Tues)

RFF Teacher – Mrs Cleall (Mon – Thurs)

Learning and Support Teacher – Mrs Inwood (Tues - Fri)

School Counsellor – Mrs Coote (Tues)

Assistant Principals 

Early Stage 1 - Mrs Smith

Stage 1 - Mrs James

Stage 2 - Ms Quince (Mon – Thurs), Mrs Logue (Fri)

Stage 3 - Mrs Rafferty (Mon – Thurs), Mrs Smith (Fri)

Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction – Mrs Smith (Mon – Thurs)

The Executive Team will not be in class on Thursdays this year to provide time for curriculum planning, school planning, progress and implementation monitoring, and evaluation.

The Kindergarten children will be together for a period of time, during which they will be observed to determine the best class placement possible.

We were one student enrolment short of maintaining 11 classes this year, which will have a direct impact on class sizes, meaning that all classes are operating at capacity. Should we gain this enrolment this term, there is a very real possibility that classes may shuffle to reduce class sizes.

Russell Vale Public School is moving away from SeeSaw as a communication platform this year. During the Covid lockdowns and remote learning period, there was an essential need for this software to support teachers, students, and families. However, as we have long since moved past that scenario, SeeSaw is no longer required in the same capacity. Additionally, new guidelines regarding the Right to Disconnect have informed our decision to transition away from this platform.

The increasing use of emails, mobile devices, social media, and various applications has blurred the boundaries between work and personal time. While these tools offer convenience, they can also intrude on personal time, making it harder for employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The Covid lockdowns and remote working further intensified this issue.

Supporting our teachers in maintaining a balance between professional responsibilities and personal renewal is crucial for their well-being, job satisfaction, creativity, and effectiveness. Ensuring they can disconnect from digital technologies during rest periods is essential to preventing burnout and other risks associated with being constantly connected.

To address this, the Department of Education has introduced a policy, the Right to Disconnect, that allows teachers the right to switch off from work-related communication outside of school operating hours. This policy sets clear expectations regarding when and how teachers respond to messages, particularly for those who do not work five days a week. As a result, teachers may not reply to non-emergency emails or messages outside of school hours.

We understand that parents and carers have busy schedules and may sometimes need to contact the school outside of operating hours. You may continue to communicate with your child’s teacher via email, telephone, or in person formally and informally, but please be aware that non-emergency messages will typically be responded to within two school days under normal circumstances. Any enquiry can be sent via email to our school email address and it will be forwarded on to the correct person. Our school email address is russellval-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au.

For emergencies, please contact the school office directly. Emergencies include serious health, safety, or well-being concerns. Teachers are not able to monitor emails while teaching, so please do not send messages requiring an immediate response directly to a teacher during the school day. If you need to communicate an urgent message—such as a change in afternoon pickup plans—please call the school office to ensure the message reaches your child on time.

For longer discussions or complex matters, we encourage parents and carers to schedule an appointment with the teacher at a mutually convenient time.

Our teachers are dedicated to helping students achieve their best, and open communication is essential for your child’s education. We value your involvement as a parent or carer and appreciate your role in fostering your child’s learning. While we recognise that it may be easier to send emails or messages after work hours, please know that teachers will read and respond to them during school operating hours—unless they choose to reply in their personal time. Otherwise, responses should be expected within two school days.

Thank you for treating our staff with kindness, respect, and understanding as we work together to support your child’s education.

New department guidelines limit all meetings outside of classroom hours to one hour per week. Whole-school staff meetings will take place on Thursday afternoons at 3:10 pm. Please be mindful that teachers will not be available during this time. Additionally, whole-school communication meetings will take place on Wednesday mornings on a fortnightly basis.

Our first meeting of the year is scheduled for Monday 17^th February, 7:00 pm at Woonona Bulli RSL. As always, new members are welcome to attend. I’m looking forward to catching up with our very dedicated group of parent and carer volunteers.

Parents and carers will be invited to attend information afternoons in the coming weeks, at which you will hear about class procedures, units of work being taught, timetables, reward systems, discipline procedures and many other pieces of information about your child’s class. Times and dates will differ as certain teachers have various commitments around which to work. 

As always, I am available at most times to discuss any aspect of your child’s education that may be of concern. Please take that opportunity to speak with me if you need to do so.

Two years ago was our final year for transition between school uniforms, meaning that it is our preference that any of our previous shirts not be worn. As the school year begins, there will be regular reminders to our students regarding the rest of our uniform and the importance of following it. This includes a school hat (wide brim), white socks (without large branding or advertising), green shorts, black shoes (except for sport on Fridays). Grey shorts and socks have been phased out and should not be worn moving forward. I thank parents and carers in advance for their support in this and in purchasing appropriately for the new school year.

Thank you to Jessica Jones for her time in getting our uniform shop organised for opening this year. It will be open each Monday morning by appointment for purchasing or you may make orders online and have these delivered to your child’s classroom. Uniforms can be ordered through Flexischools.

Indigenous Sports Shirt

The ordering portal for our optional Indigenous sports shirt is now open. This shirt is an optional Friday ONLY sports shirt for those that wish to purchase. Please note that this shirt is not carried in stock by the uniform shop. Orders can only be placed once per year at the start of each school year. 

Orders must be placed by Friday 28^th February (end of Week 5) with delivery expected towards the end of this term.

To purchase, please click the following link: Indigenous Sports Shirt Order

School Photos will be held on Tuesday 4^th March February (Week 6). It is our hopes that all students can wear the entire proper school uniform for this. Similar to last year, there will be an online process for ordering and payment of school photos. There will no longer be envelopes coming home. More information will come in the near future. 

Our Swimming Carnival has already taken place. Thank you to Mr Shepherd for organsing and to all of the parent volunteers to help make this such a successful day. A successful swimming carnival can not be run without your help.

A reminder to parents and carers of students in Years 3-6 that we are a Bring Your Own Device School. Please encourage your child to ensure that he/she has his/her device at school on a daily basis to ensure that there is no disruption to learning.

Last year, information regarding Selective High School 2026 (Year 5) Opportunity Class 2026 (Year 3) applications was communicated. For those that either missed it or are still interested, applications are still open. Please refer to the website link below:

Selective High School Information

Please join me in wishing well Mrs Walker. Unfortunately, Mrs Walker had a workplace accident on Wednesday, prior to students returning. Mrs Walker has dislocated her ankle and fractured her fibula, which will require surgery in the near future. I am unsure of her recovery timeline. In her absence, we will have varying replacements depending on the day of the week.

Paul Cuthbertson
Principal  

Welcome back to the new school year.

Applying for extended leave: When planning leave which is for more than 5 school days, please complete an Application for Extended Leave at least 10 days prior to the leave occurring. The Extended Leave application is found in the FORMS section of School Bytes. Please do not apply for extended leave under planned absences.

Update of Details: To ensure that we are able to contact you when your child is unwell at school, please update your details using the FORMS section of School Bytes and ensure all emergency contact details have been updated as well.

Late arrivals: A reminder when students are arriving late to school, please ensure they come to the front office before going to class so that they can be marked as present.

Finance: All families have been invoiced and your Statement of account is now available on School Bytes.

A reminder that the school fees are different than the voluntary contribution as the school fees give access to various programs and activities that all students access. The voluntary contribution is voluntary.

It would be appreciated if fees could be finalised by Friday 28th March 2025. Please do not hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions.

• 14th  Year 6 shirt orders close
• 17th  P&C Meeting 7pm Woonona Bulli RSL
• 18th  District Swimming Carnival
• 24th - 28th  Meet the Teacher 
• 28th  Indigenous sports shirt orders close

• 4th  School Photos
• 10th  South Coast Swimming Carnival

Disclaimer: Russell Vale Public School advertises in this column as a service to parents. Russell Vale Public School does not endorse, sponsor or accept responsibility for the management or organisation of the advertised events or services.