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.
Embedded Files
Our School Vision
Our School Vision
Lifelong learners- How good can we be? Strive today, succeed tomorrow
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
School Holidays
Monday 29 September - Friday 10th October 2025
Monday 29 September - Friday 10th October 2025
Staff Return - School Development Days - Monday 13th October
Staff Return - School Development Days - Monday 13th October
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 14th October 2025
The Best Education Money Can't Buy...You can find it here at Ryde PS.
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
.......and this is what parents are saying about Ryde Public School:
.......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 "
"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."
School Captains' Report
School Captains' Report
It has been a busy and exciting start to term 3, with students settling back into routines and learning new concepts.
In week 1 on Thursday, 27 teachers from the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) arrived at our school on a study tour. They flew from Taiwan to Sydney and visited Ryde Public School to experience the learning culture and teaching. We welcomed them through a presentation led by Mr Ta and Mrs Bellamy, which referred to some statistics about our school and Mr Ta also shared his personal past experiences. A key part of the presentation was a Mandarin speech by Hansen Toh, when he retold “The Old Man and the Sea”, also talking about his own experiences after finishing his recital. Throughout the day, the Taiwan teachers continued to explore the school, visiting classrooms, experiencing some of our extracurricular activities and a few of them even got to see our stages practice their dances that were being prepared for our Education Week Open Day.
Students in Years 3 to 6 participated in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee which is an online competition where they spell 30 tricky words. All the best for the students who got into the next round of the bee!
Stretch, run and compete! In week 2, we had the Athletics Carnival where students got active and competed in many different events such as long jump and lots of running races. Despite the drizzle of the rain, everyone was cheering for their friends, house and everyone participating. All of the students had a blast!
In week 3, parents, carers and the community visited Ryde Public School for Open Day. Our classrooms were open in the morning and afternoon. Students showcased all of the extracurricular activities offered at the school including dance, choir, band, drama, debating and visual arts. Then students had a picnic lunch together with their parents. After lunch, everyone danced to their stage songs.
By Aryaa, Elijah, Hansen and Raleigh
Attendance Matters!
Attendance Matters!
Let us know if your child is absent
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
Special Events at Ryde
Open Day 2026: A Celebration of Learning and Community
Open Day 2026: A Celebration of Learning and Community
Open Day 2026 at Ryde Public School was a wonderful opportunity for our community to connect with students and teachers, and to experience the many daily and extra-curricular activities our school provides. The students were enthusiastic, the weather was kind, and families enjoyed visiting classrooms as well as performances from the junior and senior bands, dance groups, choirs, the drama group and debating teams. For many parents, a highlight was watching the children perform their stage dances.
Visitors also enjoyed a coffee from the cart and a sausage from the BBQ. Community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting your appreciation for the wide range of opportunities offered throughout the day and recognising the contributions of our staff, the school’s P&C, and OSH care. We look forward to building on this experience and showcasing our wonderful school again during Education Week in 2026.
If you haven't already checked out the photos on the slideshow here is the link:
Premier's Debating Challenge
Premier's Debating Challenge
Stage Three students recently concluded their participation in the Premier’s Debating Challenge, with their final debate featuring a spirited contest between the two Ryde teams. The topic for this debate was ‘That we should ban parents from serving unhealthy foods like cake, lollies and drinks at their kids’ parties’—a provocative and relevant issue that prompted thoughtful and engaging arguments from both sides. Students presented their positions with poise, clarity, and confidence, working collaboratively to build persuasive cases. It was an extremely close debate, with Ryde Team Two narrowly securing the win. Special congratulations go to Ryde Team One, who finished a close second in our zone—an outstanding achievement and a testament to their dedication throughout the competition.
In addition to the Premier’s Debating Challenge, our debating teams also showcased their skills during the school’s recent Open Day celebrations. In front of an audience of staff, parents, carers, and visitors, the teams debated the statement: ‘Recess is essential for students.’ Once again, students demonstrated thorough preparation and delivered well-reasoned arguments with confidence and clarity. This was also a close debate, with Team One emerging victorious on the day.
Ms Cardillo and Mr McMahon would like to extend their congratulations to all students who participated in this year’s debating program: Anna H, Christian S, Shireen S, Anna S and Elijah Y from Team One and Brian K, Ian X, Olivia X, Patrick X, and Isabella Y from Team Two. Your enthusiasm, commitment, and growth as speakers have been truly commendable. Most importantly, you demonstrated excellent teamwork- listening to one another, building on each other’s ideas, and supporting your teammates throughout every stage of the program.
-Ms Cardillo and Mr McMahon
My Regional Spelling Bee experience
My Regional Spelling Bee experience
As I entered my old chess classroom, I sensed the fear and nerves climbing through my spine. I brought my trusty bottle with me, Bobby. I had my supportive friends by my side or rather sitting behind me cheering me on. They were Sunwoo, Reuben and Danzel. I also had Mrs Yiu who was there to set up the zoom for me.
When I sat down, my breathing suddenly got toooooooooo intense so I drank a bit too much water. When the zoom started, there were like 20 schools there. We all waited a long time until all 31 people had joined. As it all started, the instructors carefully explained the rules to us. We first began a practice round where 3 random people would spell easy words so we would all get the gist of it. I was one of the random people and they gave me the word dog. It was super easy.
They first call out the school, then the name of the person and give them the word to spell. It’s just like the one we did in the hall. Every time they said my name we all were nervous and my friends were like “ Come on Jacob”. Every time I got one correct, we all cheered.
People fell out of the first rounds like flies as we slowly entered the harder levels, lvl 6. I got too nervous that I drank a bit too much water so when my next turn finished, I quickly bolted to the toilet and went back.
That was when they were announcing the random words, not from a list. That was when there were 4 people remaining. So Mrs Yiu took a photo of us all in the final 4. When it was my turn, they gave me a word that we all thought that was going to be my end. I sadly said the word but still had a bit of hope inside me somewhere. We all thought that I got it wrong so we were about to pack up and leave, until they called out the result at exactly 2:07…Correct. Then we all bursted out into real live active volcanoes and celebrated.
Then, after a few more words, there were 2 people remaining, me and another person. She got her word wrong and so then the instructors announced the winner. ME.
We all celebrated, Mrs Yiu called Miss Tang about the news and then we headed back to class. Me and my friends got to eat recess in the hall since it ate up our eating time.
With a triumphant victory in my hands, I couldn’t even believe I was standing here. Then suddenly, Sunwoo goes “Everybody, Jacob won the spelling bee” and then the whole class was cheering for me, asking for fist bumps and high-fives just like in the hall. Now, I will strive through the top of the world and face any word that comes in my path.
Jacob
Jacob’s Triumph
Jacob’s Triumph
It started on Wednesday the 20th August right after an indoor lunch. It happened to be pouring very hard at the time. We (Mrs Yiu, Jacob , Sunwoo, Danzel and Reuben) went to the upper half of our school to the empty classroom (closest to the bathroom in B block). When we finally entered the room, Mrs Yiu set up the laptop Jacob needed to spell his words. According to Jacob himself: He felt ultra mega super terrified and he felt a shiver run down his spine. Yikes. A little bit later the Spelling Bee started and after a couple of peoples turns, it was Jacob’s turn and he got the word domain (d-o-m-a-i-n), a fairly okay word, and the beginning of adrenaline. Luckily he got it correct and would go through to the next round. The words would get hard every round but luckily Jacob well in our opinion got some pretty simple words. Every time we would hear the phrase “Ryde Public School Jacob it your turn, your word is:” we’d all get tense and nervous inside.
Luckily, Jacob kept on dominating the Spelling Bee and stayed in the competition, getting further and further each round to the point where so many people were getting eliminated! By then, we were extremely nervous hoping deep down that he wouldn’t get it wrong. Then, it was down to the final four. We waited anxiously when the first person made a mistake then the second and then it was Jacob's turn.
It was just Jacob and one more girl after him. It was then his turn and… he got it correct! He was the final contestant. Since he got it correct, now it was all down to the final person. We started to desperately hope she’d make a mistake in the spelling when the word was incorrect we hoped Jacob didn’t have to spell another word, luckily he didn’t and just like that Jacob won the senior Regional Spelling bee at around 2pm in the afternoon.
It was a monumental moment. In the end, Jacob beat 31 schools and came number 1! It was legendary.
Written by Reuben and Danzel
School Magazine
School Magazine
Exciting News: Launch of Our School Magazine!
We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of our school’s very first official digital magazine - a new publication that will showcase student writing, creativity, and the vibrant life of our school community. This student-led magazine will feature a wide range of contributions from students, including opinion pieces, creative writing, reflections on learning, school events, and more.
To lead this exciting initiative, we recently held a competitive selection process to appoint our first editorial team. Many students applied, and the standard of applications was exceptionally high. After careful consideration and a formal interview process, four students were selected for their strong communication skills, leadership potential, and creative vision.
2025 Student Magazine Editors:
Fiction Editor: Shireen S
Non-Fiction Editor: Brian L
Marketing Editor: Anna H
Puzzles Editor: Nathanael L
Students in Stage Three will soon be invited to submit their own writing for consideration in the first issue. This is a valuable opportunity for students to share their voices, ideas, and talents with the wider school community and to take part in a collaborative publishing project.
We are looking forward to working closely with the student editors to bring the magazine to life. We are excited to support and promote the work of our student writers, to help in fostering a love of writing, and continue to strengthen student voice across our school.
Our student editors are also looking forward to getting to work on the magazine. They were excited to receive their shiny new badges this week!
The magazine will be published digitally and shared with the school community later this year.
-Mr Boustani and Ms Cardillo
What we have to offer....
What we have to offer....
Visual Arts
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Group have been working tirelessly in preparation for the Visual Arts Group Showcase for Open Day. Students demonstrated their dedication by attending additional art sessions so that they could add finishing touches to their artworks and sculptures. The Visual Arts Showcase on Open Day was a major success! The students were excited by the opportunity to display their creations, and we applaud them for their tremendous effort!
K-2 Junior Choir
K-2 Junior Choir
We are so proud of our enthusiastic, dedicated Junior Choir members after this year’s first public performance at our school’s Open Day. As the first performers in the B-block quadrangle, the pressure was on our K-2 singers, and they rose to the challenge, showing parents, grandparents and other visitors how we start the performing arts journey at Ryde Public School. Thank you to all who came to watch our performance, and most importantly, to the 60 students who give up recess play every Tuesday to make our choir a success.
3-6 Senior Choir
3-6 Senior Choir
The Senior Choir has been working diligently to prepare for the Ryde Performing Arts Festival. Their hard work and dedication are truly commendable! Additionally, the choir is thrilled to have showcased two of the songs they've been practising during our Schools Open Day. We are so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see them shine on stage.
Drama
Drama
This term, our drama sessions have been full of energy and imagination! Students have been exploring a variety of drama games, practising movement and voice, and contributing their own creative ideas to shape short performances. These activities give them a glimpse into the “behind-the-scenes” work that brings productions to life on stage.
It was wonderful to welcome parents during our ‘Open Day’ to watch students carefully curate creative moments, showcasing not only their talent but also the collaborative process that builds confidence, teamwork, and storytelling.
3-4 Junior Dance
3-4 Junior Dance
The junior dance group performed at our recent Education/Open Day, and they had so much fun showcasing their routine! Their energy and enthusiasm delighted the audience, making it a memorable event for everyone involved. We are proud of the junior dance group and their hard work and dedication.
5-6 Senior Dance
5-6 Senior Dance
The Senior Dance students wowed audiences at Open Day with a glimpse of the routines they have been learning and practicing throughout the year. It was an exciting preview of their hard work, showcasing their growing skills and enthusiasm. As they continue finishing and perfecting the dance, the students look forward to presenting the full performance later this year.
Gardening Club
Gardening Club
This term in the gardening club, the stage 2 students have an opportunity to be a part of the club. We have had some wet weather recently which meant we had to postpone gardening club at the start of the term. With some nice weather coming through, we finally started gardening in week 3. The students came so eager to see what previous students had planted and gave some fantastic ideas on what to plant next. We talked about how long it takes to grow fruit plants, so we have opted to plant some more herbs and vegetables this term as they grow at a quicker rate.
Music/Band
Music/Band
What a term it’s been for our amazing Junior and Senior Bands! They’ve been busy spreading the joy of music throughout our school and beyond.
A standout moment was their performance at our school Open Day. Their music set the perfect tone for the day and was thoroughly enjoyed by students, families, and the wider school community. The energy, the smiles, the toe-tapping, every student played with such enthusiasm. It was a huge success!
Our Senior Band also had the exciting opportunity to visit St John the Pope Primary School in Freshwater. They not only performed beautifully, but also introduced each instrument to the students there, complete with some brave and brilliant solos. It was a fun, engaging, and inspiring experience for everyone involved.
Huge congratulations to all our talented band members. You’ve made us so proud!
SRC
SRC
The Student Representative Council has continued to meet and collaborate to ensure that student voice is heard and valued across the school. The SRC team has discussed ideas concerning our school environment and student wellbeing. The students have floated the idea of developing a mascot and having SRC members sort and distribute lost property back to students once a week. Through their involvement, students are developing leadership, teamwork and communication skills while making a meaningful contribution to the school community.
Library
Library
Book Week is among us!
Snowflake the Sack Cat has been on so many great adventures!
Students have been eagerly bringing in books for the book swap.
We’re looking forward to viewing the performances on Tuesday.
We’re excited to dress up in costumes on Wednesday.
We’re thrilled to be able to read and explore the CBCA Children’s Books of the Year shortlisted books.
Students are excited to hear from our guest readers.
We’re looking forward to some quality time and activities with our buddy classes.
Check out how we celebrated Book Week 2025: Book Week Slideshow
Diverse Learners
Diverse Learners
As we embark on Term 3 at DLS, our students are eagerly embracing the fresh opportunities and challenges that this semester brings. With refreshed energy and enthusiasm, they are immersing themselves in their learning experiences. The music program has been a particular highlight, sparking creativity and passion among our students. In our life skills program, they are exploring new recipes. Teachers are committed to creating a supportive environment that nurtures resilience and adaptability, guiding students as they navigate their unique learning journeys. Students continue to work towards their IEP goals, we look forward to seeing them thrive and achieve their personal best in the weeks ahead.
Early Stage 1
Early Stage 1
Over the past few weeks, our Kindergarten students have been diving into some exciting maths activities focused on forming groups and exploring two-dimensional spaces!
In our lessons on forming groups, students learned to make pairs, ensuring every object has a partner. This skill is not only fun but also practical in everyday life, such as matching socks or pairing up for games. Students succeeded when they could confidently say, "The pairs go marching two by two," and confirm, "There are no spares in pairs!"
Our exploration of 2D shapes had students asking and answering questions to identify shapes, even when they looked different. They learned to count sides, check if they are straight or curved, and identify corners. Practical examples, like finding the right box with a triangle, made this learning relevant and engaging.
Stage 1
Stage 1
Stage 1 has been having a fantastic time in music class this term! They have been diving into the world of music, exploring and celebrating diverse sounds from around the globe and throughout history. Stage 1 students are mastering the skill of staying on beat and developing their musical ears.
Following the Amplify Program, students are also learning about the fundamentals of music, including tempo, dynamics, and pitch. They have been putting these principles into action through performances that feature body percussion, xylophones, and their best dance moves.
Stage 2
Stage 2
In Term 3, Stage 2 students went on an excursion to The Rocks in Sydney CBD. During this engaging experience, they explored Australia’s history from the time of first contact. Students participated in guided tours, dressing as migrants, convicts, and soldiers to learn how significant events have shaped our local community. Students had the opportunity to sit at observatory hill, eat lunch with a view and sketch the beautiful Sydney harbour. We have some amazing artists in Stage 2.
Stage 3
Stage 3
Stage Three students have been diving into the fascinating world of biomes in our Geography unit this term. Classes have been exploring what makes a biome unique — from climate and landforms to the plants and animals that live there.
Students have shown great enthusiasm as they researched a variety of biomes, including deserts, taiga forests, tundras, and grasslands. To showcase their learning, they have worked hard to create vibrant and informative posters that highlight the key features of a chosen biome.
The creativity and curiosity on display have made this unit a highly engaging and enjoyable learning experience for all students.
Year 6 Farewell
Year 6 Farewell
Fundraising Update
Fundraising Update
Our students have put in tremendous effort to raise funds for the Year 6 Farewell. We fundraised $1,055.60 for cookie day, $501.60 for disco glow sticks and $524.35 for the ice block fundraiser.
The overall amount raised for the Year 6 Farewell has reached an impressive total of $7586. We have officially reached and surpassed our target of $7000!
The Year 6 students extend their heartfelt thanks to the P&C, fellow students, and parents for their generous support.
We encourage you to check out our fundraising thermometer to view our progress!
English as and additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D)
English as and additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D)
Our dedicated EALD (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) teachers recently attended a professional development session at the Henry Parkes Equity Resource Centre in Western Sydney. This experience provided them with access to a wealth of resources and strategies designed to support our diverse student population. The Centre focuses on promoting equity and inclusion in education, equipping our teachers with the tools they need to enhance language learning and engagement for students from varied linguistic backgrounds. By integrating these resources into their teaching practices, our EALD teachers will be better positioned to help students improve their English proficiency, build confidence and achieve academic success. We are excited to see the positive impact this will have on our students!
P&C Report
P&C Report
Dear Parents and Carers.
We are pleased again to have wonderful things to report back to the school community. Firstly, we ended Term 2 with a successful Footsteps Disco where the P&C was invited to run a food and glow stick stall. We were able to raise $501.90 from the glow stick sales (going towards the Year 6 farewell) and $689.96 from the food stall sales. We were thrilled to have so much support from the school community not only in terms of people coming out to enjoy our food and the glow sticks but also in terms of volunteers on the day! This was our first time organising the event and we are proud of our community's achievements. We have now reached our goal of raising the money we need to put on a wonderful Year 6 farewell for our students and it’s only the middle of the year – such a fantastic testament to the community spirit of Ryde Public School!
Term 3 is here, and it started with an amazing Open Day which showcased the learning opportunities that the students at Ryde Public School have. The P&C was invited to attend as parents, not volunteers, so we could focus on enjoying the day, but we were pleased to be able to organise a coffee cart for families! We hope you enjoyed a coffee from Xpresso Coffee!
This term is a little quieter than Term 2, but we are looking forward to the Father’s Day Stall on Thursday the 4th of September where we will again be partnering with the teachers and SRC students to run this event. We look forward to providing the children with a range of gifts to choose from that make their dad or granddad smile and feel loved.
As always, if you would like to be involved in any upcoming events or want to learn more about the P&C and what we do. Please join our WhatsApp Helper group on: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HqR6AoxC3CS5evWIWeDxgL. You can also sign up to be a financial member using the Qkr app. which allows you to vote in upcoming meetings.
Warm regards,
Cathrine Isaacs, P&C President
Community Information
Community Information
Chinese Class
Chinese Class
In Chinese class this week, students experienced the joy of shadow puppetry (píyǐngxì, 皮影戏), a traditional Chinese art form that dates back more than a thousand years. Shadow puppetry uses light and puppets made of leather or paper to tell stories, entertain audiences, and share culture.
The children performed the well-loved story The Tortoise and the Hare using shadow puppets, and their creativity brought the characters to life on the screen. Alongside the performance, students also listened to a famous Chinese poem and learned more about the richness of Chinese culture.
The class was filled with laughter and excitement—everyone had so much fun while learning!
The Northern Centre
The Northern Centre
1-2-3 Magic & Emotion Coaching Parenting Program in Korean
1-2-3 Magic & Emotion Coaching Parenting Program in Korean
It’s a well-regarded system designed to assist parents in handling challenging behaviour in children aged 2-10. This program provides parents with practical tools and techniques to manage behaviour, encourage positive communication, and build stronger relationships with their children
City of Ryde Libraries - Indigenous Literacy Day Aboriginal Storytelling through Art workshop
City of Ryde Libraries - Indigenous Literacy Day Aboriginal Storytelling through Art workshop
The workshop introduces children to traditional symbols representing people, the land, and animals, and guides them in creating and presenting their own stories. This creative, intercultural experience is a great way to increase our younger generation to the storytelling of our Indigenous and First nations people.
Where: Ryde Library
When: Thurs 4 Sept 2025
Time: 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Ages: 5yrs +
Giving us Feedback
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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