Principal's news
Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues
This has been the first of the more normal weeks for the year. We actually made it through the five days without flooding, COVID restrictions or traffic congestion. Perhaps it is due to the full moon? As you read above, at school it has been Kindness Week.
Significant increase in reported positive COVID cases at school
While it was great to see COVID restrictions recently ease, I think we are beginning to see the results. I can never give an accurate number of positive student cases at school as I cannot guarantee that all positive cases have been reported to the school. I work on the theory that the actual number is higher than the reported number. Nonetheless, the number of positive student cases this week has quadrupled. Where we would usually sit between 2-4 notifications each week, this week is four times this number. Senior school students are hardest hit. Numbers of positive cases for staff have also increased by the same proprotion this week. Once again, senior school is impacted the most. These numbers do not include close contacts - just the positive cases. For the record we have had 16 student cases and 7 staff cases this week alone.
If your children show any symptoms of COVID, please test and keep them at home. Also remember to let the school know that they will be absent. If they develop symptoms at school we will contact you to collect them, and provide you with a RAT to use.
Please also remember to maintain social distancing, keep up the excellent standards of hand hygiene and test & report if required.
Dr Justin Coulson is coming next week
I believe this will be a truly amazing opportunity for our school and community.
The student session on Monday 21 March is for students in Years 4-6. The session is approximately 45 minutes long and the content covered includes:
- Why relationships (friendships) matter
- How to make friends
- What to do when someone is not being included
- What to do when you're not being included
- How to be a good person - at school and at home.
The parent session is being held Monday evening from 7:00pm. I encourage everyone to come along. We are all here for learning more. Thank you to the P&C for this wonderful opportunity.
Good at learning - Good at life
You will hear this often around our school as this is what we strive to build into our community - and especially our children. And when asked about it, their responses are impressive. We love providing students the opportunity to have and share their voice at school. For instance, the consideration that children are giving to the selection of charities to support, the themes for discos and the creation of our sustainability mission statement have impressed me greatly this past week.
- Charity for Semester 1: Team Seas
- Disco theme: Red carpet (Bring on the bling)
- Sustainability mission statement: This is still a work in progress but phrases such as environmental footprint and diversity have been used in the early drafts. Wow!
Respect in the Kiss n Go
I am yet to meet anyone who enjoys sitting in traffic. It is frustrating at the best of times. However, when we are around the school and our children, it is vital that we demonstrate the highest levels of patience and courtesy to others.
If you are using the Kiss n Go before or after school, you need to:
- Keep your motor running
- Keep moving to the top end (school hall) of the KnG zone
- Organise so that your children exit and enter the car from the curb side (passenger)
- Watch the internal crossings for children as I will guarantee that they will not always be watching for you, despite the big car you are in
- Follow the requests of school staff. They are there to help make the area safer for children and assist with keeping the traffic moving. Please never abuse or swear at them as they are trying to help you.
Have your details changed?
We will often send out a text message or email about what is happening at school. These will generally be emergent issues or reminders for deadlines. If you are not receiving them, this means that your school details need to be updated. Please contact the school office as soon as possible, if you need to change your address, phone numbers, emergency contacts and email address details.
NAPLAN is coming in Term 2 (Years 3&5 students only)
The following information relates to NAPLAN Online for 2022.
NAPLAN Online Tests
The 2022 NAPLAN Online testing at Coomera Rivers SS will occur from Term 2, Week 4, Tuesday 10 May (test schedule to be shared closer to this date).
NAPLAN Online Practice Tests
To prepare our students for the format of NAPLAN online testing, they will undertake practice tests on the following dates:
- Year 5 - March 28, Wednesday 9.00 - 10.00am (Writing test)
- Year 5 - March 28, Wednesday 11.15 - 12.15pm (Omnibus test)
- Year 3 - March 29, Tuesday 11.15 - 12.15pm (Omnibus test)
The Omnibus test is a mix of questions from all NAPLAN tested areas, reading, language conventions and numeracy. No data will be collected or shared for the practice tests.
Please note: Year 3 Writing will not be online.
Student iPad Preparation
We ask that if you haven't already done so, please download the NAP Locked Down browser app to your child's iPad. This app can be found in the inTune Company Portal app.
iPad mini cannot be used for the NAPLAN Online testing.
We ask that students have headphones to connect to their iPad.
It is important that our students are not overwhelmed by the experience of NAPLAN, it should not be a stressful experience for them. This is why we run practice tests and build their emotional resilience in preparation for the tests.
NAPLAN Online Information for Parents
We sent home to families this week information about:
- NAPLAN Online information brochure for parents and carers
- NAPLAN privacy notice
- NAPLAN Online protecting privacy
- BYO device parent information sheet
For further information, please visit:
- Queensland's NAPLAN Online website - https://naplanonline.qld.edu.au/getting-ready/parent-information
- ACARA NAPLAN Online website - https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment
- ACARA's Assessment Platform - https://www.assessform.edu.au
- Advice for Parents and Cargivers about NAPLAN - https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support
What is NAPLAN Online 2022
NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.
NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. Each teacher will have the best insight into their students’ educational progress.
NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.
NAPLAN Online Familiarisation
We encourage students and parents to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN Online by visiting the public demonstration site - https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site on the NAP website. Some past NAPLAN papers are also available: https://www.acara.edu.au/assessment/naplan.
Student Withdrawals
Parents can withdraw their child from the test by notifying the School and completing a Withdrawal form. Withdrawal is intended as an option to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing.
Student Exemptions
Students may be exempted from one or more of the tests if they meet one of the following criteria:
- students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant comorbidity that severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests.
- students with a language background other than English, who arrived from overseas and have been attending school in Australia for less than a year before the test.
- Exemptions for students with physical and/or intellectual disabilities are determined through consultation between the principal, student, and parents/carers.
Student Disability Adjustments
Adjustments are available in NAPLAN tests for students with disability to support students’ access to the tests. Adjustments should reflect similar support and assistance provided in the classroom for assessment activities.
Adjustments can be made for students with physical, cognitive, sensory and social/emotional disability. Examples of adjustments may include:
- students may receive slightly more time to complete the tests or be seated separately from their regular class.
- students may receive rest breaks.
Parents and carers of students with disability should discuss with their concerns with their child’s teacher, and/or Inclusion teacher, and discuss the adjustments that may be suitable for their child.
Kind regards
Vic