Friday's morning showers were not all that gloomy!

Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

Just five school days remain in this term so please make sure that your children at at school each day, on time, ready to learn.  The past 45 days have been - unique.  Routines and expectations have returned and restrictions are slowly reducing.  Even when the restrictions are removed completely, we will maintain some of the practices that we have enjoyed or have seen to add value to what we do.  We have found gate duties to be very demanding in terms of time taken in the week but the positive has been spending short moments with so many families each morning and afternoon.  I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing family faces each day and having a brief chat - and losing so many games of scissors - paper - rock.  

And despite the incredible level of interruption to the term, we have still managed to maintain some of the key aspects of what we do.  For instance... 

Diamond promotions

Next Monday and Tuesday, teachers in Years 3-6 will be awarding behaviour promotions to students in their classes.  At Coomera Rivers, we classify our student behaviour levels into three categories - Emerald (C), Sapphire (B) and Diamond (A). These gemstones represent the three school colours as well. The highest level of personal behaviour is Diamond and it is difficult to achieve. Diamond level students epitomise the qualities to which we want all children to aspire. These are the children who represent the school with pride, focus on their learning, ensure that their conduct is impeccable, maintain their service to others and have other regard their leadership at school with admiration and their social interactions are highly respectful. 

Normally we would have a special assembly to celebrate these promotion  achievements and the deputies, teachers and I would proudly present students with their Diamond badge. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has prevented this.  So this time, we have decided to do a reverse announcement.  Normally we keep the awards a secret to students and we share the surprise with parents.  But this year we are telling the students and the surprise will be for the parents!  So students will be presented with their Diamond Badge and certificate on Monday and Tuesday next week and mums and dads will find out when they get home.  

As parents, you have played an enormous role in supporting your child to achieve Diamond status, so we really want to include you in this celebration. While we have presented the badge and certificate, the deputies did not pin this badge on your child’s uniform. This is an honour that we want to share with you.  So on Tuesday or Wednesday morning, please pin the badge on your child’s uniform so that they can wear it with pride to school the next day. It is worn on the opposite collar to the school embroidered badge.  AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, can you please take a photo of you and your child (wearing their badge) and email it to me at vgrah1@eq.edu.au so that it can be shared via the school newsletter later that week.  

Different coloured Diamond badges show 4 levels of achievement

Some students in Year 6 are receiving their fourth Diamond level badge. Some in Year 5 will have earned their third and some in Year 4 will have earned their second. To recognise the significance of these achievements, we have created a colour coded badge system. The original Diamond level badge remains in place then we will progress to Green, Navy and Gold.

School opinion survey

Parents and carers are invited to participate in this year’s School Opinion Survey and have a say about schooling during the COVID-19 lockdown. You are also given the opportunity to provide feedback about our school more generally.

Participation in the survey is anonymous and you are encouraged to take this opportunity to have your say. The survey form has been designed so that it can easily be completed on a computer or smartphone.

The online survey will be available until Friday, 17 July 2020, and should take less than five minutes to complete.  To access the survey, please click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:

Click here to access the parent survey

Please contact the school if you have any questions about the survey.

mySpeak finals

We judged our mySpeak finals this week and announced our 2020 age champions.  The calibre of public speaking is very strong and to win the age champion at our school is prestigious.

All students involved in the speaking program received their certificate today and winners were also awarded a medallion.  

The 2020 mySpeak age champions are:

Hair at school

Please remember our school requirements for student hair.  We encourage students to be conservative, neat and well-groomed.

Please note:

• Hair that touches the shoulders needs to be pulled back neatly from the face.
• Bands, ties and ribbons need to be navy or lime for girls and hair coloured for boys.
• Hair colours (except for sports days) are not allowed
• Tracks, mohawks, rat's tails or combinations of these are not allowed

Students may receive uniform infringements should their hair not reflect the code requirements.  Please contact your child's Deputy Principal should there be something you need to discuss.  I recognise that every family has been made aware of the dress code requirements (including hair) when they attended enrolment induction.  The code has not changed in this regard.

School photos

School photos have arrived and should have been taken home by now.  Please contcat the school office if your child did not receive their photos.

Have a lovely weekend

Kind regards

Vic