Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new families for 2022 and an excited welcome back to our existing community as well.  I am very much looking forward to another awesome year for our children, our school and our community.

We have been busy this past week ensuring that we accurately completed our annual enrolment capture this week.  For those new to the Queensland public schooling system, the enrolments we capture on Day 8 of each school year determine the staffing we receive for the school year.  Not only do enrolments drive our teacher numbers, they also influence the school budget.  The student count on Day 8 this week was 1060 students.  This means that we will have 43 classes from Prep to Year 6. 

The next challenge is massaging the student numbers into the correct class sizes.  Prep to Year 3 classes have a maximum enrolment of 25 children.  Years 4-6 classes have a maximum of 28.  And it is once we receive our teacher allocation on Day 8, we can start to restructure our classes.

Class restructure for 2022

It will be necessary to balance out our classes again this year.  We have already begun this planning, and next week, parents will receive a paper letter from me indicating if their child is affected by a change.  Most children are not affected at all, but there will be some subtle or significant changes.  

I know that each of our teachers is a highly skilled professional, and I have no hesitation in their ability to support your child. You can help your child manage their worry about the change, by speaking positively with them about the change and the new teacher.

We will keep a watchful eye on all students and their well-being, particularly those who may feel anxious about these changes. If you are concerned about your child's reaction to any part of this process, please contact the school immediately.

By the end of next week at school, everyone will be in their official class for 2022.

Uniforms

Our school is a uniform school and both the School Council and the school P&C Association expect that the student dress code is upheld.  Our school also surveys families about the uniform and this helps with changes and developments to the uniform.  No one at our school can say that the uniform requirements come as a surprise as we detail them at enrolment induction sessions and parents sign to show their agreement to meet the dress code.  

Families have another two weeks to ensure that their children have all of the uniform pieces they require.  From the beginning of Learning Week 5, we will be applying consequences to students who are not in correct uniform.  This includes hats.  One of the consequences for not meeting the uniform expectation is detention.  

If you have any problem at all, please send your teacher a note and an exemption will be provided.  

If you are experiencing difficulty with supplying uniforms for your child, please contact the ladies in the school office.  We have some stocks that we can provide.

While the responsibility for providing uniforms for children remains with parents, the school will do all we can to help and support our families.  If your child receives detention for incorrect uniform, it is the parent's decision to not comply that places them in this situation.  

Shoes for school

You will recall from enrolment induction that your children will need two different pairs of shoes for school - one formal set and one sports set.  Both sets of shoes need to be all black.  This is not new information to anyone at our school.  

Please use this week to check your children's uniform.  

Communication between school and home

Please look out for the following communication routines

• School newsletter - I will write a school newsletter each fortnight this year. Newsletters begin in Learning Week 2
• Class newsletters – At least fortnightly using SeeSaw or email distribution
• SMS - Used for student absence from school, reminders for approaching deadlines and urgent messages
• Emails – This is the most common way we will communicate with families.  Please allow up to 48 hour turnaround on work days. I want teachers focused on their own families and lesson preparation first.
• Facebook - We maintain our Facebook posts to include important information as well.  

Covid at school

Restrictions at school

The COVID restrictions placed on schools will continue (at this stage at least) for the next fortnight.  This means that:

• Parents of Prep students may enter the school campus
• Parents of Year 1 students may enter the school campus
• Parents of students with disabilities or medical conditions may enter the school grounds (A key tag is required to be shown upon request)
• Parents are not able to enter classrooms without invitation by the class teacher

Face masks

I have not heard anyone speak enthusiastically about needing to wear a face mask and everyone will have their opinion on their effectiveness.  As adults and parents, we wear masks at school, not only to respectfully comply with government directions, but most importantly, to keep our children safer.  The Chief Medical Officer of Queensland states that masks play a role in maintaining the health of our children so I am prepared to trust that opinion.  So until the direction is lifted:

• Please wear your mask when you come into the school  
• Please speak respectfully to staff if you are asked about any exemption

You will see school staff valuing the health and well-being of everyone on campus by wearing their mask.  It's unfortunate that we see a minority of adults without a genuine mask exemption who choose not to wear one. 

Photo gallery of the first fortnight at school

Enjoy the short photo galleries below.

Prep

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

New staff at our school

I would like to extend a warm welcome to new staff at Coomera Rivers this year.  

• Natalie Irwin - Drama/Dance teacher
• Michaela Bevan
• Therese Kane
• Claire Eckert
• Ryan Cullen
• Aaron Taylor
• Kelsie Jensen
• Jen Leggo
• Julie-Ann Brooks
• Matt Rankin (Assistant Teacher)
• Casey-Ann Curtis (Cafe Convenor)

• Mitch Cope
• Courtney Morris and 
• Rachel Windley

We expect more staff to rejoin our school later in the year and we also have a couple of staff who will be excited about their leave later in the year.  No clues yet!  

Best wishes to Mr & Mrs Gillard on the safe arrival of baby number 2.  Mrs Gillard will be taking leave from the end of next week.  

Thank you

Thank you to our P&C Association for their generosity once again.  Our school usually offers a Tissues and Tim Tams morning tea on the first day of school each year where we get to meet new families and see that our worry is normal.  This year COVID restriuctions meant we couldn't hold this as we normally would.  So our P&C provided the Tim Tams and teabags to classrooms where parents could collect them.  It really was a lovely gesture.

Next TwosDay will be tutu much fun

Next Tuesday, February 22 is Tutu TwosDay at school.  This is because it is a 'very rare' date.  Everyone can come to school wearing a tutu over their regular uniform.

Have a lovely weekend

Kind regards

Vic