Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

Week 8 has been a shorter week - for students at least - but no less action packed.  Highlighting this week was the Coomera Cup sports matches against Coomera Springs, our free dress day and my contribution to the senior band's performance of Ghostbusters where I played the sleigh bells.  The kids thought I was just a natural however, I am not sure that the bells actually added any musical value to the performance.  

Coronavirus update

Coomera Rivers remains COVID-free.  However, the latest community outbreak has increased my awareness and concern.  We have many plans, either on the drawing board or ready to go, should the circumstances surrounding the virus change.  I feel that we are well-prepared for most contingencies.  It could be that we:

• May need to further tighten parent access to the school
• Restrict parent access completely or
• Temporarily close the school if an outbreak impacts our staff or students.

None of these is desirable but, should the circumstances require it, we will employ what is necessary.

If we need to tighten or completely restrict parent access

• We will contact all families via SMS, email, newsletter and Facebook to inform our families of any changes and provide as much time as possible for alternate arrangements to be made.

If we need to close the school temporarily

(I do not expect this to happen but just in case)

• If the Minister instructs us to temporarily close, we will contact families via SMS, email and Facebook with the direction.  Parents will be required to collect their children from the school if the direction is given during school hours.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to rely on buses, after-school care and walking or riding home.

Please make sure that your current mobile number and email address is held at the school.  

• OSHC will be affected if the school closes and will be forced to temporarily close for the same duration as well.

School events

We are still working towards our musical, Time to Shine music concert, sports days, our Annual Awards Assembly and Year 6 Graduation.  They will be different to previous years and we will do all we can manage to include opportunities for families to view the events. 

Excursions

We are planning for some excursions and have completed a few already.  There are very strict guidelines and protocols to comply with, including all venues having approved COVID Safe Industry Plans and our school needing to undertake detailed risk assessments.  Every excursion is different and unfortunately, not all of our original plans from earlier in the year can be realised.  

On-site health and safety measures

• Stay home if sick

Under the Queensland Chief Health Officer directive, any student or member of staff who is unwell must not attend school and should remain at home. Parents will be required to collect their child from school if they become unwell.  I understand that this can be very inconvenient but these are different times in which we live.

• Maintain social distancing 

Do this always.  I know that our usual bubbles are much smaller but we simply must increase our social distancing practices if we are to stay healthy.  Staff and parents are asked to do this.

• Wash hands

We continue to expect that children will use sanitiser or wash their hands:

• • • After going to the bathroom
    • Before eating
    • Entering a new classroom or inside space 
    • When their teacher directs them

Teacher Aide Week

This week was the official Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the important role of our teacher aides, whose hard work and dedication make a difference to students, teachers and our school community. The awesome group of teacher aides at Coomera Rivers contribute positively to our school each and every day. 

Pokemon Clubs

Our Pokemon Club runs each lunch break in the cafe shed area are the players are highly engaged.  There are boys and girls of different ages just loving Pokemon.  They follow the rules and expectations and thoroughly enjoy sharing their time with similar minded students.

We also have Bey Blade and Yu-Gi-Oh Clubs as well.        

Sports Fun Day program (Term 4)

We will be holding the sports fun days next term.  The program is outlined below but a more detailed plan will be provided prior to the event. 

Unfortunately, parents will not be able to attend so we will coordinate a live stream of particular events onto Facebook should you like to catch a glimpse of the action.  The streaming will be conducted by staff and will show students enjoying the friendly competition.  Please contact Kylie Finch by email or phone if you do NOT want your child included in the streaming, otherwise we will assume you have provided your consent.  

Program:

• Wednesday 7 October - Prep and Year 1
• Thursday 8 October - Year 2 and Year 3
• Friday 9 October - Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6

The winning house will hold the trophy until the next event later in the year.  The champion house for the year will be engraved onto the trophy.  We will be providing ribbons and stickers but this is not an age-championship so medallions are not awarded.  The age champions in Years 4,5 and 6 will be determined at a separate event in Week 10.  We call this event out Athletics Trials as we also select a school team to represent at the district carnival.

There will be heaps of bonus points available so please check the newsletter and Facebook for how parents can earn points too.

Our 2021 planning starts now

We are about to start our planning for the 2021 school year.  I wonder how different it will be to this year that has left everyone with an enforced mindset on life and lifestyle.  Whatever happens, I know that Coomera Rivers will be flourishing with helping our children to be good at learning and good at life.

If you are leaving our school, please email Kylie Finch so that we can make the necessary arrangements for transfers.

This will make placements available to new families so if you know anyone interested in joining our community, please encourage them to make an application to Kylie via the email link above.

I hope all of our dads and grandads have a lovely Father's Day on Sunday.

Kind regards
Vic

Congratulations to our Excellence Award recipients this week on earning this wonderful recognition.

Prep, Year 1 and Year 2

Years 3-6

Deep Learning in focus

Finding solutions for homeless people

The students in 3WH were due to have their evening sleep out this week but had to pivot and adapt due to COVID restrictions. So they set up their beds for the homeless in the undercover area for all to enjoy.  Staff were able to stop by and ask the students questions.

One idea behind Deep Learning, is to create learning that sticks. Chatting with these future change agents, it was clear to see that learning had stuck with them. They were able to articulate their understandings of insulators and conductors of heat and how this knowledge had been used to create a bed for the homeless.

Not only were the students able to communicate their scientific knowledge and understandings, they were able to articulate how they had collaborated with their peers to design and develop their solution.  Tiara proudly said, 'We merged everyone's ideas to make an even better idea.'

Simply sensational!

Page 4 stars with virus book

Congratulations to 3WH again this week when they were stars in the Gold Coast Bulletin.  I was most impressed with Jorja's interview.  It seems that teachers do know everything.  

ABC radio promotes two young entrepreneurs

in the Academy for Enterprising Girls

The Academy for Enterprising Girls is a FREE, fun, on-line program specifically designed to help prepare your daughter and other girls aged 10 to 18 years for the 21st century workforce.  This is a robust learning experience that has been co-designed with experts and students to meet the needs of Australian girls and our local industries.

It aims to ensure young women are equipped for jobs of the future, in non-traditional growth industries such as technology and engineering, where there are increasing opportunities but unfortunately where women are greatly under-represented.

This week, 35 Yr 5/6 girls joined Mrs Pinnington, Mrs Hadfield and Cat Kitney from Young Change Agents for an Enterprising Day of Excellence. The girls rocked their #enterprisinggirls Tshirts as they worked in teams to create a community map, ideate solutions to problems, prototype and pitch their ideas to their teachers and peers.

A unique and enterprising opportunity for our students thanks to our DigiDesign teachers, Young Change Agents and The Academy for Enterprising Girls.

to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

We had an incredible day at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Because it was closed to the public, we were able to experience the excursion as our very own private tour. We watched the pelicans eat breakfast, had front row seats to the bird show, enjoyed a picnic in the sunshine, watched a crocodile swim and even fed the kangaroos!

Theme: Twinning

We had a wonderful free dress day this week to assist our Student Council in its efforts to raise a donation for the Children's Hospital Foundation.  The dress up and costumes right across the school were very impressive and there are clearly a lot of very clever mums out there!  We raised $1030.

Here is just a snapshot of the twins - even my very own.

Prep and Year 1

Year 2 and Year 3

Year 4

Year 5 and Year 6

Mr Graham's twins

Coomera Cup (Rugby League and Touch Football)

Rugby League coaching clinic

The year 3 and 4 students who joined in the weekly Deadly Choices program this term were sad to see it wrap up this week. The program teaches students all about making healthy lifestyle choices - or 'deadly' choices - whilst making links to their Indigenous heritage. They were all keen to share each week what they learnt and join in on some traditional games for a bit of fun as well. 

This week at Good Start, senior students learned about balance between energy in and energy out through food consumption and physical activity. They played a game where they needed to race to Robati to answer a question about health while grooving to some music.

Our junior group (Prep-Year 2) were doing an emu parade where they were doing incidental exercise while keeping our kura (school) clean and tidy.

It is exciting every Wednesday afternoon as we are all enjoying our learning around healthy living.

School drop off and pick up

Schools are chaotic areas at drop-off and pick-up time each day and can be even more so in wet weather.  Please continue to be vigilant in your driving around these times as children are completely unpredictable.  They do not understand speed nor consequences of their sometimes impulsive behaviours.  As adults and motorists, we need to do all we can to be ready, careful and courteous.

Please never:

• Park over driveways at school drop off and pick up - or any time in fact.
• Double park in the car park or streets.  Amazingly some parents have stopped in the middle of the road to pick up their children.  This is a very dangerous act - and is also disrespectful to other motorists.
• Cut into the traffic queue.  Please go to the end of the line.
• Be abusive towards other motorists.  This is just unnecessary.

Click here to view safe and legal parking tips from the Gold Coast City Council.  

Thank you to the Gold Coast City Council for installing koala warning signs along some streets in our community.  Theses are known koala hotspots.  Please drive carefully in these areas.

• Amity Road Natural Reserve
• Finnegan Environmental Reserve North

New recruits

Have you been seeing some new friendly faces at OSHC lately?  That’s because we have added three educators to our team!  And Miss Ellie, Miss Jazmyn and Mr Campbell are all really happy to be with us!

OSHC is super excited to introduce our families to our new educators. We always try our best to introduce our team to families upon arrival but understand that sometimes we don’t always catch you!

Recruiting Miss Ellie, Miss Jazmyn and Mr Campbell has been a huge step forward for OSHC. We all appreciate your patience and understanding, as we know it can be stressful not knowing which Educator will be here on what day. Nevertheless, your children’s interests are always our number one priority, so please do not stress or worry, as the kids have been loving playing, learning and growing with our new educators!

Outside School Hours Care

OSHC Director

The Coomera Rivers State School P&C Association is seeking a full-time OSHC Director to be responsible for the day-to-day operations of their Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service.

The Director will have the opportunity to lead quality education and care in a growing and dynamic service. The P&C are seeking someone with sound organisational and management ability, ideally with robust experience in a school age care environment. This is an excellent opportunity for an OSHC professional who has a passion for quality and the ability to work autonomously.

Applicants must be dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for school age children. The ideal candidate will oversee the design and implementation of engaging programs that encourage and support positive outcomes for all children aligned to ‘My Time, Our Place’ Framework for School Age Care.

Click here to go to the advertisement.

OSHC Senior Educator

We also have a new position in our OSHC team for a OSHC Senior Educator. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in this role, please refer to the below link for more details and how to apply.

Click here to go to the advertisement.

Bookings are open now

Vacation Care bookings are open to ALL families of schools and limited vacancies are still available. Our current availability is:

• Monday 21 September - 16
• Tuesday 22 September - 19
• Wednesday 23 September - 10
• Thursday 24 September - 11
• Friday 25 September - 12
• Monday 28 September - 18
• Tuesday 29 September - 10
• Wednesday 30 September - 6
• Thursday 1 October - 13
• Friday 2 October - 13

There is no minimum number of days that you need to attend - just book for the days you need.

Price includes breakfast and afternoon tea.

All children require the following items every day of Vacation care:

• Morning tea
• lunch
• water bottle
• closed in shoes
• brimmed hat (no caps)
• Sun safe clothing (no singlets or stroppy dresses)

The details of the upcoming program are attached. The program colour code is:

Green = Excursions
Orange = Incursions
White - In Service days

Important Vacation Care booking dates:

• Wednesday 9 September 2020 Excursion t-shirt orders close
  – after this date your choice of shirt size will be limited to stock we have on hand.
• Sunday 13 September 2020 Last day to make changes to booking requests
• Monday 14 September 2020 Service begins processing booking requests and sending confirmation emails

For bookings or further enquiries please contact us:
Phone: 5596 8377
Mobile: 0455 968 377
Email: croshc@coomerariversss.eq.edu.au

Our Sport Fun Days will be held during Week 1 of Term 4 and Subway Lunch Packs are available to order for these Sports Days.

The cost is $8 and they include a Sub (with your choice of toppings), a cookie (choice of chocolate chip or double choc chip) and a choice of drink.

Our Sport Fun Day dates are:

• Wednesday 7 October - Junior Sport Fun Day (Prep and Year 1)
• Thursday 8 October - Middle School Sport Fun Day (Year 2 and Year 3)
• Friday 9 October - Senior School Sport Fun Day (Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6)

Orders are open now, via Flexischools and close on: (Strict deadlines)

• Sunday 4 October 4pm for Junior Sport Fun Day (Prep and Year 1)
• Monday 5 October 4pm for Middle School Sport Fun Day (Year 2 and Year 3)
• Tuesday 6 October for Senior School Sport Fun Day (Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6)

If you require any further information, please email the P&C.

Get your House colours ready!

With Sport Fun Days scheduled for Week 1 of Term 4, it is time to start thinking about those house colour accessories!

This year, not only do we have the hair ties and wrist bands available for purchase but we also have House coloured shirts through our partnership with Reklaim.

Orders of these shirts are open now via Flexischools and, to allow production of the shirts in time for the Sport Fun Days, orders need to close on Thursday 17 September at 4pm.

We understand that this order turn around time is less than our usual 4 weeks so, with that in mind, if you are unable to purchase and pay via Flexischools by the deadline we are willing to take orders via email - the deadline for email orders is also 4pm Thursday 17 September. For these email orders the deadline for payment is Friday 2 October - shirts will not be delivered unless full payment has been received.

House coloured Hair bands and wrist bands will be available to order via Flexischools right up until 2 school days prior to the event.

If you have any questions, please email the P&C

As part of our annual Father's Day Stall, this year we provided every purchase with a free raffle ticket in our Father's Day Raffle.

We are very pleased to announce that our lucky winners are:

1st Ashton C     3EB
2nd Jaxon M-P  Prep A
3rd Kendall T    1W
4th Connor C    5C
5th Kane F       2M
6th Emir O       2B

Congratulations to our lucky winners and thank you to all of our families for supporting our online Father's Day Stall.

We wish all of our dad's a very happy Father's Day for this Sunday.

We would like to offer our Prep students the chance to create their own little masterpiece as a souvenir of their first year at school and time in Prep.

While saved artwork on paper can tear and fade, children’s art that is turned into any one of the products listed below can be enjoyed for many years.  And what a great Christmas gift they would make!

The items below are available to purchase now through Flexischools:

Please find below the important dates in relation to this opportunity:

If you do require a deadline extension you MUST email the P&C prior to the deadline to request one.

The 2020 Year Book is under construction now and, as with previous years, it is going to be a fantastic reflection of a year full of wonderful activities and memories for students to keep for years to come.
2020 Year Book orders are now available to order on Flexischools and the deadline to order is 4pm Friday 23 October. We will only be ordering from the printer the required copies from orders received so please be sure not to be miss this deadline!
If you do require a deadline extension, you MUST email the P&C before the deadline to request one.
* Please note - Year 6 students receive a complimentary copy of the Year Book at graduation (* Conditions apply)

We are currently gathering feedback via an on-line survey in relation to our Cafe.
The survey is an annual feedback mechanism for the school.
Your suggestions make a difference so please complete the survey before it closes on Friday 6 August at 4pm.

The link to complete the 2021 Cafe Survey can be found here.