Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

I saw the most heart-warming act of kindness and selflessness this week.  Ellie (Year 4) had her hair cut but what makes it special is why she did it.  Her own report follows the Principal's news section this week.  Our school has had other students in the past who have done this as well, and I applaud all of these young children on such a beautiful gesture.

This week also saw scores of parents visiting their child's class as they participated in our annual Know me before you teach me program.  This program originates from Bruce Jepsen who is principal at Bay of Plenty’s Te Akau ki Papamoa Primary School in New Zealand.

We invest the first few weeks each year in getting to know our learners (and their family) as people and partners in learning.  I have a strong belief that, while it is important that we teach stuff (content) as a school, it is more important that we teach children.  This is a subtle change in phrase but an enormous change in approach.  So thank you to the teachers and parents who were able to participate in these activities.  There will be more next week as well.

Day 8 counts are done - 1130

We completed the Day 8 count this morning and we will need to restructure some of our classes and say farewell to one teacher.  We were just 5 students off our prediction for the 2021 school year, but this deficit is enough to force a change.  We will determine our new structure in the coming days and contact families early next week with the plan and the timeline for change.

Traffic safety around school

I have been informed by our crossing supervisors and from traffic officers from the Gold Coast Council, that some cars are parking on the crossing itself and sometimes, cars are pulling up and dropping their children at the crossing (kiss n go style).  Doing this impedes the vision of the supervisors and, of course, the officers are going to start fining offenders.  It is busy at drop off and collection times at school, but please practice patience and safety.

Medication collection

We still have a large number of families that had medication stored at school in 2020 that have not completed the Medication authorisation forms for administering medication in 2021.

If your child requires medication to be administered at school, please contact Nikki Little on 55968333 or email. 

Kind regards

Vic

Hi, my name is Ellie and I am in 4P.

I want to share with you something really exciting that happened on Australia Day. My mum cut 40 cm of my hair that was down to my waist and donated it to the Variety organisation’s Hair with Heart program. Cutting my long hair was a hard decision to make but I made that decision because I wanted to make a positive impact in the world and raise awareness for sick children.

My hair will be used to make wigs for children that have undergone cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or children who have a condition that causes hair loss called alopecia.  Wigs can really help children that have lost their hair to regain confidence and feel better about themselves. Knowing that my hair will be worn by someone who needs it makes me feel good. I feel happy to donate my hair to such a good cause and I hope you will donate (money or hair) to Variety and help them to help more people. 

Click here if you would like to find out more about the program or make a donation. 

Before photos

And now...

This week, 4K was privileged to have Tamara Letter, author of 'A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love and Learn', read the story of  Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed to us.  Reading via Skype from Virginia in the USA, Tamara introduced the incredible power of kindness and how easy it is to be kind. This was a wonderful way to start this thinking and action. She challenged the ‘4K Kindness Crew’ to perform one small random act of kindness, and for us to share them with her, so we expect to see many RAKs occurring around our school and in the community. Tamara also answered questions about her passion for kindness as well as the writing process. This amazing learning opportunity was possible due to Mrs Caswell maximising the connections she has made on Twitter and leveraging the power of digital technology for learning.  This learning contributes so powerfully to 'Good at Life.

Well done to our award winners on their outstanding week of learning at school.       

Prep and Year 1

Year 2

Year 3 and Year 4

Year 5 and Year 6

Teachers have been very focused on getting to know students as people and learners these past few days, and getting to meet and know their families is a vital part of this journey.  This is just a sample of the many activites that have been occurring at school this week.

Prep

This week in Prep S, we have been working on, developing our routines, learning to work with different members of our class and, using Maths as a great opportunity for hands-on counting, sorting colours and enhancing our fine motor skills.

And still in Prep...

Year 1

Year 2

This week 2T welcomed families into our learning space. Together families and students created a time capsule that the students can reflect on at the end of the year. We finished up by playing some fun games. 

Tuesday afternoon saw carers and students from 2A and 2H participating in a Potions Class. First students had to add ingredients to their potion bottle mixture that described their personality. The mixtures were amazing, with a lot of thought and discussion involved. Next they wrote a sentence or two about themselves and could visit a scientist dress up booth.

2B invited parents to engage in our work around measurement. We had a lot of fun at the Undercover area.  And we mindfully ate Freddo Frogs - which were a big hit! 

What's in the box?

Some mysterious boxes have recently arrived at Coomera Rivers and this week, 2A had the opportunity to have a closer look. Their investigation promoted many conversations...

• What's in the box?
• Where did they come from?
• How did they get here?
• Who put them here?

And the students had lots of wonderful ideas including:

• Perhaps "Im a celebrity, get me out of here!" will be filming at Coomera Rivers and the new contestants are inside.
• Maybe Lego Masters has come to town and the boxes are filled with lego and the TV hosts.
• What if the animals from Madagascar were airlifted by a helicopter from New York City.

I wonder what amazing writing the children will come up with?!?!

Year 3

This week 3GN shared our strengths, challenges and interests using Dot Mapping. We placed our dots in the different zones that we felt best applied to us and our learning styles or preferences. Then we collated that data and shared as a whole class. We found out that we are a sporty bunch of Mathematicians who like drawing!

We also invested some tiomne into decorating biscuits and completing some mystery writing.  

And in other parts of Year 3 things were just as exciting

Year 4

Year 4 classes invited families and some overseas guests into school this week.  And then they celebrated individual's differences in their Pirate Day activities.  

The pirate games in 4B were a hit.

Year 5

There are many ways that 5C used to get to know each other including the team challenge of building with marshmallows and creating with Lego.  Some groups did very well and some are still learning about collaboration and teamwork.  The tallest tower measured 63cm and was free-standing.

And elsewhere in Year 5 there were game galore.

Year 6

Year 6WC classes held a parent afternoon and played Golden Child and Paper, Scissors, Rock. Great fun was had by all! 

6KR returned from break on Wednesday to discover that their classroom had been struck by an Earthquake. This earthquake prompted discussions between the students about different natural disasters.  Students in 6KR will continue exploring natural disasters for their Science unit this term.

Getting to know our learners was happening in every part of the school.  Here is just a quick look into one of our Digi Design classes and how students were describing the things that make them unique.

Year 2 classes

Year 3 classes

Year 4 classes

On Thursday, the Year 4 cohort set sail on an action packed adventure to ‘Get To Know Their Crew’. The day begun with a special Skype call all the way from America! Tara Martin read us her picture book titled ‘Cannonball In’. Feeling newly inspired to dive in and try new things, students then headed off to start their first activity. Throughout the day students moved around to different teachers and completed pirate themed activities. We focused on collaboration, personal identity, perseverance, and FUN!

Need some help with tools

It started when Mrs Young purchased a new washing machine for her home.  Then she thought that some of our inquisitive young engineers might like to discover what is underneath the vivid white enamel casing, so she brought it along to school.  And she was right.  Our students are enjoying dismantling to see what is inside and how things might work but our progress is limited as our tool box is very meagre indeed.  It seems that we only have an old rusty screwdriver at the moment.  

So we are asking families if they have any tools that they no longer need that we can use to make our tool set.  

Michael, Taejax and Mrs Young are very keen to see what they can discover.

It is getting to know learners in music and drama too.  Year 5 and 6 are enjoying their music revision activity folders and Year 2 are practicing drama by playing charades.  

After school chess club is back for 2021 and starts in Week 3.  Club is open to all students (Prep to Year 6) with to all levels of experience.  Unfortunately, we can only accept 45 students into the club, so please register your interest early.

   
Details at a glance

Day:  Wednesdays (Starts Week 3)

Time:  2:30 - 3:30pm

Room:  School staff room

Cost: $1 per week.  The school will invoice families each semester, once the club commences.

Additional costs:  We will attend tournaments most terms.  We will advertise these when details are made available.  

Going home:  Parents will need to collect students from the staff room OR if your child is walking or riding home, you will need to inform Mrs McMurtie when you register.  Students who attend OSHC on Wednesday afternoons will be escorted over to the hall by the chess coaches after chess club.

How to register your child:  Please email Mrs McMurtrie to register your child.  Click here to email.  

District Sport Calendar

District Swimming

Any talented swimmers are encouraged to submit their times to Mr Raffin and Mr Burrows for the following events:

• 50m Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke and/or Butterfly
• 100m Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke and/or Butterfly
• 200m IM

** These times need to be submitted to PE Department by 10 February.

District Golf

Any students (10-12 Years) who are interested in District Golf, please see Mr Raffin or Mr Burrows by February 9.

Keebra Park Touch Tournament

Coomera Rivers will be taking 3 touch teams to attend a touch tournament hosted by Keebra Park State School.  Some of the Gold Coast Titans players will be there to support as well.  It is a great opportunity for our senior girls.  Training has already commenced.  Good luck girls and thank you to Mr Burrows for coaching the team.

Take a look at the NRL program coming to Coomera Rivers.

Check out the SiBa Soccer program at Coomera Rivers.

We also have a cricket program coming our way!

Kia Ora tatau (hello everyone!)

This Saturday, Feb 6th is New Zealand’s Waitangi Day.  Waitangi Day is New zealand’s national day as it marks the anniversary of the initial signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840.  This treaty is the regarded as the founding document of the nation.

The treaty was signed by representatives acting on behalf of the British Crown and about 45 Māori chiefs. Over the course of the next seven months, copies of the treaty were toured around the country to give other chiefs the opportunity to sign. The signing had the effect of securing British sovereignty over the islands of New Zealand, which was officially proclaimed on May 21, 1840 (cited from ‘Creating the Treaty of Waitangi’).

Westfield Coomera is hosting Waitangi Day Celebrations this Saturday.  Visit the Westfield website for more information.

Fun fact, Kumera (pronounced like Coomera but roll the r) actually means sweet potato in Maori. 

Nga mihi

Jemma Findlay

Teacher (Digi - PE - Drama)