Thanks to the whole Richmond community for another positive and productive year at school. We have finished with a rush of activity as always, from excursions to assemblies to graduation to P&C events to class parties.
Congratulations to the students who have been accepted into instrumental music next year. Students did aptitude tests to get into this extension program. Four students will start cello and eight will start violin – both at John Curtin College of the Arts. At Richmond, five will start each of flute, brass and clarinet. We are very proud of our music program at Richmond – music always creates a beautiful tone in the school.
If you’re still wondering what to buy your child for Christmas, could I please ask that you buy them an analogue watch. Not an iWatch or a Fitbit. Just a plain watch with a clear face and hands. It’s so important that children learn to tell the time and understand the concept of ‘quarter to’ or ‘five past’ and that they can visualize what it means. It also helps with their maths and understanding of fractions in a way that digital numbers just don’t. By the end of year 3 they should be adept at it, but most of them aren’t… let’s make it cool to wear a watch for school!
Also, a couple of things to practise over the summer if possible – handling money and word processing (not swiping or gaming). Again, these are skills the children really need, but seem suddenly to be struggling with. Thank you! It will make such a difference to them.
Student reports were posted to CONNECT yesterday afternoon. If you have misplaced your password, Lara will happily reset your account for you.
Special thanks to the School Board and P&C for all their hard work and support of the school. Remember, if you’d like to nominate for either group for 2020, please have a look at the relevant pages on our website. I have set up easy online nomination forms for both. The closing date for all nominations is 18 February, 2020 at 3pm.
It is busy here today, with lots of groups moving rooms, final shuffling of classes, a constant stream of new enrolments, and the year 6 students oscillating between laughter and quiet contemplation, as they ready themselves for secondary school. We wish them all the best, and will give them our traditional ‘Richmond farewell’ at 2.50pm in the quad today (weather permitting), when we will end the year with the ringing of the old bell.
I wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas, and look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday 3 February, 2020.
Lisa Dentith