The Ryde Community inFocus is a simple way of communicating some insights and observations from the weeks past. It is written to celebrate and share the work that we do and to connect with community around some thoughts and insights into the learning culture at Ryde Public School.

Our School Vision

Lifelong learners- How good can we be? Strive today, succeed tomorrow

At Ryde Public School we believe that every student should be challenged to learn and continually improve in a respectful, inclusive and engaging environment of high expectations.

Our vision is to be partners in learning and collaboratively empower all students to become confident, resilient, self-directed and successful learners.

Wellbeing is the bedrock for all activities across all strategic improvement strategies, reflecting our core beliefs that success and acceptance breeds a culture where all stakeholders feel valued and cared for and prepared to take on challenge.

Lifelong learning, excellence, and happiness are the states of mind promoted in classrooms with the ever present question of 'How good can we be?' being asked across our community daily.

School Holidays Monday 07 July - Friday 18th July 2025

Staff Return - School Development Days - Monday 21st July

School development days are used by schools to build on the knowledge and skills of our teachers, school leaders and school administrative support staff through a targeted professional learning program. These will operate the way they always have. Students do not attend on these days as there are no timetabled lessons so staff can engage in professional development and planning.

K-6 Students Return Tuesday 22nd July 2025

The Best Education Money Can't Buy...You can find it here at Ryde PS.

For 175 years, NSW public schools have been at the heart of education, preparing today’s children to succeed and build better communities for tomorrow.

We do this every day at Ryde Public School by ensuring that students are at the heart of everything we do.

So for the best education money can't buy, choose your local public school.

Find out more: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schools-near-me

Did you know you can still enrol your child in Ryde Public School for 2025 classes?

If you have a friend or a neighbour who is unsure about enrolment eligibility, please share this link or tell them to call us. We are here to help!

https://ehub.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/schoolenrolment/?schoolCode=3021

Click ENROL NOW to start! Its never too late!

.......and this is what parents are saying about Ryde Public School:

"I really appreciate how warmly and respectfully the teacher treated me. Her support and encouragement made a big difference in my experience "

"All teachers are welcoming, enthusiastic and engaging. I am confident in their ability to support and nurture my kids"

"Our child had joined Ryde Public School last year. We are very happy with his progress in school , both academically and socially. We offer our profound thanks to the teaching and administration faculty at RPS."

SAVE THIS DATE

OPEN DAY - Tuesday 5th August - 8.30am - 3.00pm

School Captains' Report

In Week 6 of Term 2, the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition took place. Stage 1 and 2 students planned their speeches and presented them in front of their classes. Class representatives then presented their speeches in front of their stage. The event showcased cultural diversity and reinforced school-wide unity. Well done to all the students who participated.

This term, Stage 2 and 3 students participated in the Spelling Bee where they expanded their vocabulary and spelling. Class representatives spelt their words in front of their stage. The lists stretched on, with cheers when long words were spelt, and sighs when a silent letter was missed. Congratulations to those who got to the next round, and to all who took the time to expand their vocabulary and spelling.

Then came pyjama and comfortable clothes day in week 9, a day for students who would rather come to school in what you slept in! It was a fun experience for students to be in their comfortable clothes. This was a fundraiser for the year six farewell, and we raised $552! Thank you to all of those who donated!

Finally, on the Thursday of week 10, all of the classes went to the hall for their end of term assemblies! Students from each stage helped run their respective assemblies, where announcements were made, awards were handed out and songs were sung. This assembly marked the end of a great term at Ryde Public School, and the midpoint in the school year! Stay safe for the holidays and we’ll see you next term!

By Aryaa, Elijah, Hansen and Raleigh

Attendance Matters!

Let us know if your child is absent

It’s always wonderful to have our students in classrooms, ready to engage and learn. Our teachers and school staff are committed to fostering growth and opportunity, and we are here to work with you to support your child to reach their full potential.

Consistently going to school has countless benefits – from learning, to creating social connections and improving wellbeing through access to support and quality education.

Students are required to attend school every day, whether it’s the first or last day of the term, Mondays, Fridays or days dedicated to sports carnivals, school excursions and incursions.

As we look ahead to the remainder of the school year, I’d like to remind our school community that we are here to work with you to support your child to thrive. We know that families experience a variety of challenging circumstances, and we are committed to working with you to address any barriers to regular attendance.

If your child is absent from school, please let us know why as soon as possible, even if it’s just a few minutes at the start or end of the school day. Of course, there will be times when your child is unable to be at school, like when they are unwell. Medical appointments should take place outside school hours where possible, and family holidays should be taken in term breaks.

If your child is feeling anxious about coming to school and you need support, please reach out to your child’s teacher or to me directly. There are also helpful resources for parents and carers on the NSW Department of Education website.

Thank you for being a part of our school community and for partnering with us to ensure students access the endless benefits of regular school attendance.

Sincerely,

Thanh Ta

Principal

Special Events at Ryde

NAIDOC WEEK

All Abilities Gala Day

In Week 6, all diverse learner students had a fun-filled day at Wanderers Fives All Abilities Gala Day as they participated in a series of engaging soccer skill activities. The day promoted teamwork and personal growth as students rotated through various stations, practicing essential skills such as dribbling, goalkeeping, kicking, aiming and reaction time. To keep everyone fuelled and ready for the fun, delicious sausages were served and devoured for lunch by many of our students, satisfying their hungry bellies and adding to the festive atmosphere.

Sydney Writers' Festival

On the 27th of May, 60 Stage 3 students had the opportunity to attend Sydney Town Hall for an interactive and inspiring day at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. We enjoyed presentations from a lineup of captivating writers and illustrators, including Terri Libenson, Joel McKerrow, Katrina Nannestad, and the crowd favourite, Jeff Kinney. Throughout the day, we explored the creative process behind writing and illustrating books, leaving us inspired by the world of literature. We loved listening to the authors and meeting some of our favourite storytellers. We can’t wait to apply the ideas we learned to our own writing and illustrations!

Western Sydney Wanderers Soccer Coaching

Every Friday, our Kindergarten students have been receiving top-notch soccer coaching from the Western Sydney Wanderers! The coaches have introduced a variety of skills and engaging games that have captured the children's enthusiasm. Over the term, we've witnessed remarkable improvement in their dribbling, kicking, and blocking abilities. Not only have their soccer skills flourished, but their overall coordination and listening skills have also seen significant growth. Our students are developing a love for the game while building teamwork and sportsmanship.

What we have to offer....

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Group have had a busy term working on their ‘Nature’ themed 3D sculptures. Every week, our students come up with innovative ways to utilise everyday objects and materials around them to complete their designs. It is so lovely to see everyone collaborating, sharing ideas with one another during tricky parts of the design and making processes. We are so proud of the progress they have made in such short amount of time.

K-2 Junior Choir

Term 2 has flown by for the eager members of the Junior Choir, as we have continued to practice our two songs, You’ve Got a Friend in Me and Do Re Mi, ready for our first performance next term. We have begun practicing with karaoke versions of the tracks, and our progress is impressive. I’d like to thank the many students who enthusiastically devote their Tuesday recess playtime every week to perfecting our performance. I can’t wait to show our families how far we’ve come in just half a school year!

3-6 Senior Choir

The Senior Choir had an exciting day on Monday 16th June, as they attended their first rehearsal with fellow schools for the Ryde Performing Arts Festival. Under the expert guidance of our conductor Rachel, the students practiced a variety of songs, focusing on pitch and tempo to ensure a harmonious performance. The energy in the room was infectious as they collaborated and shared their passion for music with peers from across the Ryde network. We can’t wait to see their hard work pay off at the festival! Stay tuned for more updates as they continue to prepare for this exciting event.

Drama

On 3rd June our drama ensemble ventured out on an excursion to Riverside Girls High School. We had been invited to attend the final dress rehearsal of this year’s major performance, The Little Mermaid.

Following the performance, our students were treated to a private audience with the cast and crew. We learned all about the rehearsal process, the fear of singing in front of a large audience, and some important tips for our own performances. It was very impressive to see what the teachers and students had managed to achieve in only 10 weeks! Our students were impeccably behaved throughout the excursion and represented Ryde PS admirably.

3-4 Junior Dance

So far our dance group has been working hard trying to perfect our dance as much as we could. Everyone has encouraged each other about the next upcoming performance. Congratulations to all of our proud dancers for working together and making it in for the last performance we finished. We have all continued to work hard and become a wonderful group - Jayde Chen.

5-6 Senior Dance

Senior Dance students have been working hard each week, learning new choreography while also refining technique and timing of routines they already know. They are dedicated to improving and approach every challenge with persistence and focus. Repeating difficult sections without giving up shows just how passionate and resilient these students truly are and the support they show one another is truly commendable. They tackle each challenge with persistence, going over difficult parts until each step is just right, a true reflection of their passion and resilience.

BREAKING NEWS:

We are so excited to announce that Senior Dance has been successful in the audition for Ryde Schools Performing Arts Festival! Their hard work and dedication truly shone through, and we look forward to sharing the performance the students have been working on.

Congratulations again, Senior Dance!

Gardening Club

The students in the gardening club have continued to be eager gardeners and monitoring the growth of the plants we planted earlier in the term. We have learnt that the carrots and chives have been growing well over the winter season. We made tabouli using the parsley that has been growing. Students really enjoyed using ingredients from the garden to use for their cooking recipes and recognised that the taste of the ingredients is a lot fresher than a bought item from the supermarket.

Music/Band

Our new band program has started with a bang! Interest in the program has been so strong that we have been able to form both a junior band and senior band in our very first term. Ben, our music director, has been consistently impressed with the progress our students are making. Keep on practising throughout the holidays!

Our Senior band performed outside the hall before the stage 3 assembly on Thursday 3rd July.

Technology

A few weeks ago Mr Ta and myself attended Edutech - Australia’s premier Education Technology conference. Sponsored by the NSW government, Edutech brings together educators from across Australia to share ideas and learn about the latest digital innovations to support and empower students academically, creatively and socially. During our time at the conference we heard from a range of distinguished international speakers and engaged with colleagues across the government, Catholic and independent school systems.

We have returned energized by what we saw and learnt. We have already begun working with teachers to explore how we can further leverage technology to maximise opportunities for every student at RPS.

Mr Ivanov

SRC

Our Student Representative Council began this Term by celebrating the success of the Easter fundraising events they had planned! After getting their shiny new badges earlier in the term, it was straight back to work for our intrepid leaders.

They were instrumental in making our Cookie Day a success. From engaging with the P&C to setting up, and even giving up their recess to sell the cookies, the SRC demonstrated maturity, commitment and exemplary service to the school community.

Currently, they are putting the finishing touches on a plan to involve every student and class from K-6 in cleaning and beautifying our school. Stay tuned for updates in the near future!

Library

It’s been a fantastic term in our library! Students from all across the school have been borrowing with increased enthusiasm, excited for their next reading adventure.

This term, our students had the opportunity to recommend new titles for our library collection. After creating a long list of ideas, we are excited to share that we were able to purchase and add many of these books to our shelves. This wonderful enhancement to our library was made possible thanks to the generous contributions from our families and community, who have supported us through their school donations. We can't wait to see our students dive into these new books when they return next term!

In other news, we received a beautiful card and letter in the mail from an anonymous former student. She shared that she attended Ryde Public School in the 1950s - over 70 years ago! In her letter, she recounted the story behind the origin of our school song. After graduating, she went on to become a librarian herself. In a wonderful gesture of kindness, she also sent us a voucher to help purchase some picture books for our students. These images show the books we selected, and we are confident that our students will appreciate these special stories.

Diverse Learners

What an amazing Term 2 we’ve had in the Diverse Learning Space! Our students have demonstrated incredible growth, confidence and enthusiasm as they embraced new challenges. Stage 1 students enjoyed an exciting day of activities with Ranger Jamie, learning about the deep connection Aboriginal people have with their land.

In visual arts, students created incredible artworks from recycled materials brought in from home. They turned egg cartons into tiny crabs, plastic bottles into bird feeders and old newspapers into paper mache turtles!

Our life skills program took us on a culinary journey around the globe, where we prepared a variety of delicious dishes inspired by different cultures, such as Japanese curry, Dubai chocolate, and Chinese stir-fried noodles.

Additionally, all students participated in a whole-school Footsteps program, where they learned new dance choreography and moves each week!

Early Stage 1

In Week 9, Kindergarten students enjoyed an exciting excursion to the Botanic Gardens of Sydney inspired by Pamela Allen’s book ‘Alexander’s Outing’, where they journeyed through the garden and tackled various mathematical challenges. They participated in retelling the story and explored the garden by counting the birds, identifying shapes, and comparing the heights and widths of different trees. The students used mathematical vocabulary as they acted out Alexander's rescue by filling containers with water and discussing concepts like "full" and "empty." They also described lengths and shapes found in their surroundings, such as the triangles of the Harbour Bridge, all while relishing the shared reading experience.

Stage 1

Our Stage 1 students recently enjoyed an enriching Aboriginal Experience excursion led by the Gumaraa Rangers from Ranger Jamie Tours. This engaging program brought to life key learning outcomes from History, Geography, and Science, with a strong focus on respecting and caring for the land we live on.

The day began with a traditional smoking ceremony and welcome, followed by a series of hands-on cultural activities. Students explored Dreamtime storytelling, ochre face painting, traditional dance, and handling artefacts such as boomerangs and spears, each activity offering deeper insights into the knowledge and traditions of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

This experience supported our students' ongoing learning about sustainability and environmental responsibility. It complemented our Science focus on how we can actively care for the land by reducing waste, preserving natural habitats, and protecting heritage sites. Students reflected on the importance of cleaning up after themselves, recycling responsibly, and maintaining a healthy environment for future generations — values that are deeply rooted in Aboriginal culture and practices.

This memorable day helped our students connect their classroom learning to real-world cultural and environmental conservation, reinforcing their understanding of what it means to care for Country with respect and responsibility.

Stage 2

This term, Stage 2 has been comparing human and natural environments around our country and learning about their similarities and differences. To complement our learning, we were visited by Ranger Jamie, who led an amazing day of learning and adventure!

Students learned about the art of taxidermy and how it helps scientists study animals up close. They also explored the serious effects of pollution on our waterways, gaining a deeper understanding of how human actions impact the environment and what we can do to protect it.

The day was packed with creativity and curiosity as students built their own aluminium foil ovens to harness solar energy, crafted bird houses from recycled cardboard, and even learned how to safely catch and observe bugs in their natural habitats.

Stage 2 approached each activity with enthusiasm and Ranger Jamie couldn’t speak highly enough of our future scientists and environmentalists!

Stage 3

Our Stage 3 students have been learning about ‘The Australian Colonies’ as part of their History curriculum. Throughout this study, they have been given the opportunity to engage with a range of historical sources and perspectives, exploring the reasons behind colonisation and its impact on Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Students have been working hard, applying historical inquiry skills to create a display on the Australian Gold Rush. As part of their display, students have been collaborating with their peers to produce quality information reports on their findings alongside the creation of historical artefacts to accompany their research. Stage 3 has expressed much excitement throughout this project and we are so proud of all their hard work!

Year 6 Farewell

Fundraising Update

Our students have worked incredibly hard to fundraise for the Year 6 Farewell. On June 25th, K-6 students came to school dressed in their pyjamas and raised $570.40.

We have had another kind parent who wished to remain anonymous donate $1000 towards the year 6 farewell! This is very generous and we wish to thank you for this donation!

A special thank you to the Year 6 Parents Committee! Here is a message from the committee members:

"Thank you for your wonderful support of Cookies Day — from welcoming the idea and embracing the risks, to staff offering hands-on help at the stalls.

Thanks to the collective effort, over 1000 cookies were sold over the two days, and we raised a total of $1055.60 towards the Year 6 Farewell.

Please kindly pass on our sincere appreciation to all staff for their support and engagement"

The total amount fundraised for the Year 6 Farewell stands at an outstanding $6561. The Year 6 students would like to thank the P&C, students and teachers for their generous support.

We invite you to take a look at our fundraising thermometer to see our progress!

English as and additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D)

This term, our English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) program is in full swing as we focus on enhancing our students' English language skills. Our sessions incorporate a diverse range of strategies designed to support essential skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

To foster language development, we use engaging activities such as interactive games, visual aids and guided reading sessions. Our students have particularly enjoyed hands-on learning experiences, including visits to the school garden, where they explore and discuss the variety of fruits and vegetables we are cultivating.

We are thrilled to witness the growth of our students' language abilities as they engage with these exciting learning opportunities!

P&C Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Term 2 is finishing strong this year with a hugely successful Cookie Day fundraiser for the Year 6 farewell. We had an amazing 20 families bake for us around 1600 cookies. It was a fantastic experience for students to grow in their confidence with choosing and ordering their own food as well as for those students who were involved in selling the food and handling money. Plus the cookies were delicious! We are happy to report that we raised an incredible $1055! We had to extend the event to the next day because we had more cookies than we hoped for. The unsold cookies were delivered to staff rooms to make a lovely surprise morning tea for the teachers and staff and the rest were donated to a group that works with the Vinnies Night Patrol. The Night Patrol provide food and essential items to the homeless community. Learn more about them here:

https://www.vinnies.org.au/act-surrounds/find-help/food-housing-clothing-act-surrounds/night-patrol

We aren’t quite done yet though… we are looking forward to the Footsteps Disco on Friday. This is our first time in partnering with the school to put on a food and glow stick stall. We will be selling fresh popcorn, hotdogs, ice blocks and juice boxes to families and money raised will go towards our playground upgrade. Glow sticks will be sold by the Year 6 students and parents and will go towards the Year 6 farewell.

A massive heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the many P&C initiatives this Term! We could not do this without your passion and dedication. If you would like to join our group and be part of the fun next term please join our WhatsApp Helpers Group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HqR6AoxC3CS5evWIWeDxgL

We wish everyone a great school holiday break. See you in Term 3!

Warm regards,

Cathrine Isaacs, P&C president

Community Information

What a wonderful journey it has been for our Beginner Chinese class this semester! At the start of this year, many of our students were completely new to the Chinese language. Now, just a few months later, they have completed their very first textbook and mastered over 100 Chinese characters!

With great enthusiasm and persistence, the children have learned to read aloud short passages, understand simple conversations, and recognize and write many characters. Their progress has been nothing short of impressive.

To celebrate their achievements, we created a short story using all the characters they’ve learned—plus their own names! We’ve shared this story with the students so they can read it over the holidays. We hope they will feel proud of how far they’ve come and enjoy reading something they helped inspire.

Well done to all our young learners.

North Ryde Games

North Ryde Games has been operating at St John’s North Ryde for 18 years. This year, around 300 primary and high school students will be involved. The program is not for profit, and we have generous donors that can part of fully fund families that cannot afford registration.

Ryde Rotary's 2025 Circus Quirkus Shows

With plenty of tickets still available, we are offering ALL Ryde Public School students and their families free tickets to our 2025 Circus Quirkus Shows during the July school holidays...

Monday, 14th July @ the Blacktown Workers Club - 11am
Wednesday, 16th July @ Hurstville Entertainment Centre - 11am

The Rotary Club of Ryde hosts these free events to provide a live theatre experience accessible to children and young people across Greater Sydney.

Giving us Feedback

There are many ways that you can give us feedback, such as:

Emailing the school (ryde-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au). Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member through the office.
Access our feedback link via the school website or
the Community inFocus. It looks like this:

High quality feedback from the community helps us to improve. Your feedback is important.

Compliments lets us know what we are doing well and the positive impact it is having on the community.

Your suggestions helps us to evaluate and review our practice and where possible, make adjustments to improve our service.

Please click HERE: Compliments and Suggestions High quality feedback from the community helps us to improve. Your feedback is important.

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