FREE DRESS DAY (Friday 19 March)

Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

This past week has been highlighted by our parent-teacher interviews.  We conducted 629 interviews across the two afternoons.  Thank you sincerely to the teachers and families for their attention to building these partnerships.  I hope that those who attended found them very worthwhile.

This coming week will see us being even busier with:

• School photos  (All students must wear their full and correct formal uniforms for photos day)
• Free dress day on Friday
• School disco on Friday evening

IMPORTANT:  Please complete the surveys

Families will soon receive two automated emails with access details and links to surveys that must be completed for your children.   Only parents or carers for which we have recorded in our school system that students reside will have received these emails and links.  Please note that only one parent or carer needs to complete the surveys.

Survey 1:  Online Services Consent Form  (estimated completion time - 5 minutes)

The purpose of the Online Services Consent Form is to inform you about the third party online services used in our school and how student information, including personal information and works, may be recorded, used, disclosed, and published to the services.  We will only allow the following information to be accessed by these provides:

• Student's first name
• Class name
• Teacher's name
• Access codes provided through the app (eg a Mathletics password)

If the app provider requires more than this we will not use the app.

Survey 2:

Digital Devices User Agreement and Anti-Bullying Agreement (estimated completion time 5 minutes)

The purpose of the Digital Devices User Agreement and Anit-Bullying Agreement is to acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Coomera Rivers State School Digital Devices User Agreement and Anti-Bullying Agreement which can be found in our Student Code of Conduct, and that you have discussed both with your child.

Thank you in advance for completing these two surveys.

National day of action (Friday 19 March)

Our school will once again this year, support the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence with a free dress day.  We invest heavily in developing strong levels of character, tolerance and kindness across our students and community.  If you would like to know more about how we do this, please refer to our Student code of conduct (CLICK HERE).  The section on bullying starts on page 47.

The term bullying gets used a lot and usually incorrectly.  Our school uses a very clear process to manage instances of bullying.  Most of what we investigate and manage is conflict, retribution (pay back) or nastiness.  This is why we focus so heavily on creating an environment of kindness.  

We use the agreed national definition for Australian schools describes bullying as:

• ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social
  and/or psychological harm;
• involving an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening;
• happening in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and
  it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert).
• behaviour that is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records);
• having immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Behaviours that do not constitute bullying include:

• mutual arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
• not liking someone or a single act of social rejection
• one-off acts of meanness or spite
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.

However, these conflicts are still considered serious and need to be addressed and
resolved. At our school, our staff will work to quickly respond to any matters raised of this nature in collaboration with students and parents.

Woolworths Pots of Fun

If you shop at Woolworths and don't use your free pots of fun at home, we would love to have them at school.  We currently use these seed propagation kits to reward students who are volunteering their time to tidy our school or maintain a garden area.  They are hugely popular but I cannot buy enough groceries to have enough for everyone involved.  So if you are able to donate yours to school, we will turn them into yummy herbs and colourful plants.  

NAPLAN Online 2021 - Year 3 and 5 students

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assessments happen every year.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are tested on the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills that every child needs to succeed in school and beyond. NAPLAN is a national, consistent measure to determine whether or not students are meeting important educational outcomes.

NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy and over time.

NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process, they do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. Your child’s teacher will have the best insight into your child’s educational progress.

NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality.

NAPLAN Online testing at Coomera Rivers will take place from Tuesday 11 May until Friday 14 May for Years 3 and 5 students.

NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four areas (or ‘domains’) of:

• reading
• writing
• language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• numeracy.

Further information regarding NAPLAN Online testing for 2021 will be sent directly to parents/caregivers of Year 3 and 5 students.

CLICK HERE to access further information on the National Assessment Program website.

Are your details up to date?

Have you changed your street address, email address or contact numbers in the past 12 months?  Have there been any changes to your family circumstances that the school needs to be aware of?  Please contact the school or visit QParents to update your records.  

Kind regards

Vic

Super work to these tenacious learners this week.

Prep and Year 1

Year 2

Year 3 and 4

Year 5 and 6

Mathletics awards

2B brains

Linking to Growth Mindset we made Original Brain Hats in 2B and using our brains we made lists of what we can do and what we can't do "yet."

Year 1 science

Year 1 students have been learning about the habitats of living things. On Tuesday, students had the opportunity to explore a turtle/coral reef habitat. One habitat was healthy, the other was unhealthy. The students had to work out which one was healthy and unhealthy and explain why.  Students were able to take their turtles out into the habitats and explore the reef. They were able to take photos of their turtles in their habitats and describe what might happen to them in the unhealthy habitat. It was a hands on and exciting afternoon science lesson for everyone.

Our planet needs to matter

It is really important that children develop a respect for environmental sustainability as early as possible.  Caring for wildlife and protecting our planet and climate must be a central passion for each of them, as the planet struggles with global warming and habitat destruction.  

Well done to everyone who joined the Clean Up Australia crews around the Gold Coast last weekend.  We also completed our Clean Up Schools day this week - in between the showers.

Year 5 creativity

5W have started creating prototypes for Term 1 HASS unit. The students have researched some of the most devastating bushfires in Australia's history and have come up with their own innovation that will provide support to different areas of the community in the event of a bushfire. Prevention and providing a service is the key.

Hot Cross Buns

Bakers Delight are offering our school families to purchase delicious Hot Cross Buns delievered to school for collection.

Not only will you receive mouth watering Easter Buns, but you will also be raising funds for our school with a percentage from every packet ordered being donated to our P&C.

Available to purchase is your choice of:

• Traditional
  
• Choc chip
  
• Apple and cinnamon
  

The price for a half dozen packet is $8.00.

Orders are open now on Flexischools and will close at 4pm Wednesday 24 March.

Orders will be delivered on Wednesday 31 March.

With NAIDOC week fast approaching, the South East Region Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander team will be conducting a region wide NAIDOC Art Competition open to all P-12 students enrolled in a South East Region school.

Wakakirri

The expression of interest response to Wakakirri 2021 and try outs have commenced and so far, they have been amazing!  If your child still wants to try out, please return you Wakakirri note by Friday 19 March 2021 to Mrs Blyth or Corporate Services.

Easter hat parade

Busking at the cafe

Fun, fitness and frienship begins early

This week the Preps and Year 1’s have been working on a range of fundamental movement skills such as forward rolls, cartwheels, balancing, moving on scooter boards and hula hooping. It has been great to see our teachers get involved too! Our students were encouraging of each other and showed kindness when helping others with learning new skills.

Broadwater AFL

Congratulations to Noah who has been selected in the Broadwater District AFL team. He is showing a huge commitment to all of his sport and is getting rewarded nicely.

2021 UQ Open Table tennis championship

Congratulations to Amy in 4B who has been very successful in the sport of Table Tennis. She has finished in 1st place in both the U11 and U13s girls singles championship recently.

Interschool Sport

There will be an information session for all Year 5 and 6 students who are interested in participating in Interschool School sport this year.

Interschool Sport runs on Mondays in Term 2 from Week 6 - Week 9. The cost will be approximately $50 for each student. The meeting will be conducted in the school hall at 12.45pm on Tuesday.
         

Broadwater Netball trials

Congratulations to our 7 girls who attended the Braodwater District netball trial on Thursday. They have all been invited to Round 2 of the trials, which is a great achievement.

11 Years: Harmony, Sienna, Kaysiyah and Mya
12 Years: Ataahua, Maia and Talia

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

Hoppy’s Car Wash at Pimpama has an amazing offer for our families (and their friends)

For just $20 you will receive three Ultimate Car Washes valued at $25 each. Total value $75!  Limited vouchers available.  Orders are open now via Flexischools.

Hoppy’s Car Wash Pimpama is donating all proceeds from the sale of these vouchers to our P&C Association.

Please see terms of use below.

1. Vouchers must be used in order- 1, 2 etc
2. Same vehicle must be used for all washes
3. Valid for date range May, June & July 2021 only. Strictly no extensions.
4. Large vehicle surcharges apply – from $2
5. Excess dirt / bug charges may apply – from $5 bugs, $10 dirt
6. Vouchers not exchangeablefor cash
7. Can be used at Hoppy’s Pimpama only
8. Only one voucher booklet per registration

The Annual General Meeting of the Coomera Rivers State School P&C will be held on Tuesday 16 March at 6:00pm in Corporate Services.

A general meeting of the Association will be held directly after the AGM.

Building Friendships at OSHC

OSHC is the perfect setting for building new friendships, as our children learn through play, enhancing their social skills and emotional wellbeing.

We have had so many new friends join us at OSHC this term and we understand that sometimes coming to OSHC can be a bit daunting at first!  Our educators support our children to create new friendships, based on mutual interests, spending that extra bit of time building relationships with children and supporting them to participate and thrive at OSHC. As we have progressed through the term, we have seen all of our students come out of their shells and show their sparkling personalities.

We have especially noticed that we are seeing the older children play with our preppies and are guiding them to make the right choices. Bryce and Bentley have formed a special bond together, with Bryce always offering to play with Bentley. Suyeon was very shy at first, but Tanisha helped her climb out of her shell and become more involved with playing with our toys, so now Suyeon makes sure her voice is always heard!

We love to see the kind, caring and respectful relationships our children are building with each other, regardless of age! We are currently reviewing our routines to allow for more unstructured free-play, where children can choose to play with children of all ages, with a range of activities and opportunities that interest them.