Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

This issue of the newsletter is a gigantic one.  We have tried to squeeze in everything that has been happening at school in the past week plus let you know about the opportunities that are fast approaching.  I hope you enjoy celebrating the  week that was Week 8.

Very special guests coming this week

As part of our work with The Resilience Project, a couple of current and former Brisbane Broncos players will be visiting our Year 3-6 students next Wednesday 10  September.

The players will share their personal stories around the principles of GEM: Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness, plus Emotional Literacy, equipping students with essential tools to enhance their emotional intelligence and promote positive mental health.

At the end of the presentation, students who bring a Broncos jersey or ball or other memorabilia, may have the chance to get it signed by the players. Please note, however, that it’s not appropriate for players to sign school shirts, hats, shoes, or post-it notes.

Thank you to the P&C for helping make this special visit happen for our students.

      
Finnegan and Friends Playtime

Pre-prep aged children and their families are invited to join our weekly Finnegan and Friends Playtime at Coomera Rivers State School iCentre.

When:  Every Friday
Time:  8:45 – 9:45 am
Location:  iCentre

Bring along a hat, water bottle and a healthy munch & crunch snack and get ready for a morning filled with play, fun and new connections.

Parents are required to stay and can join in the session with their children. It’s a wonderful way to spend time together and meet other families in our fabulous school community.

Please RSVP by scanning the QR code on the flyer.

Finnegan_and_Friends_Playtime_flyer.pdf

Finnegan_and_Friends_Playtime_flyer _pdf 3.77 MB

         

AB Paterson College Public Speaking Competition

Congratulations to our students who competed at the highest calibre public speaking competition on the Gold Coast - and possibly further afield.  The calibre of young speakers at the AB Paterson College competition is extraordinary.  And I am proud to say that, of the 20 or so schools involved in the competition, Coomera Rivers was one of only four state primary schools to compete.  

I was unavailable for the Year 4 speeches due to afternoon commitments at school but arrived in time to listen to all the speeches for the Years 5&6 students that evening.  And gosh they were impressive.  Monday night was heats.  Tuesday night was finals.  

Proudly representing Coomera Rivers was:

Year 4

Speaker	Heat	Preliminary Final	Grand Final
Kaylee	Yes
Emily	Yes	No finals	No finals
Indie	Yes	for Year 4	for Year 4
Amelia	Yes
Sebastian	Yes

           

Year 5

Speaker	Heat 100 speakers	Preliminary Final (Top 20)	Grand Final (Top 8)
Ellie	Yes	No	No
Olivia	Yes	Yes	No

       

Year 6

Speaker	Heat 100 speakers	Preliminary Final (Top 20)	Grand Final (Top 8)
Emma	Yes	No	No
Baylin	Yes	No	No
Ashtiva	Yes	Yes	Yes

Thank you also to our three coaches - Mrs Hardwick, Mrs Ellison and Ms Landers - who supported and adjudicated across the two evenings. 

Mrs Hardwick being very adjudicatory!      

            

Inter-school sport season

It seems that the weather has impacted on so much this year including our inter-school sport plans.  Nonetheless we have managed to get 2 full days in across the past week which has been pleasing.  It reminds me of my inter-school sport activities when I was in primary and secondary school.  The excitement of competing is memorable.  Being part of a team is a great experience.  It can be character building with the right mindset - fun - fitness - friendship.  

Our teams (in Oztag, Soccer and Netball) represented our school with distinction once again.  Thank you to each of the players and coaches for their commitment to their team and school.  

Uniform return:

Please wash and return sports uniforms to the office on the following colection times and days.

Fathers Day celebrated at school

Thursday was celebration day at school for all things DAD. We held pirate dress up days in Prep and opened classrooms and picnicked on the lawns in Year 1 and 2.  I was even treated to a shave from the kids in 2C and 2E.  

Thank you to the staff for promoting this special event in the lives of families and my sincere thanks to all of the dads and families who attended to make the events more special.

Belonging at and to our school

The gift of diversity:

It was Nelson Mandela who was quoted as saying 'No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.  People must learn to hate.  And if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.'  

Everyone is welcome and everyone belongs at our school - without exception.  What is not welcome is racist behaviour and comments.   Ours must be a culture that celebrates difference and diversity and recognises the strengths and opportunities that it offers and across the next 12-15 months, our school will be increasing its activities and focus on this.   

Children can sometimes use racist remarks when in conflict or bullying.  This is never acceptable and we must re-teach kindness and acceptance until it becomes the default.  I believe this to be the moral imperative of every adult and at this school, it will be addressed appropriately.  

Happy Father's Day on Sunday to all of our wonderful dads and granddads.

Kind regards

Vic