Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

Our school recognised the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence today.  Students have been involved in activities in their classes to promote kindness and tolerance and understand what bullying is.  We culminated the week with a free dress day that raised $1018 for the student council.  They will be supporting their chosen charity - The Starlight Foundation - across the 2021 school year.  Congratulations to everyone for your participation across the week.  

With just nine school days remaining for the term, it is certain to be busy.  We have Year 1 on excursion, Year 5 on excursion and Year 6 attending camp.  

Student leaders do milkshakes

Earlier this week, Mrs Artz and I had the pleasure of taking our student leaders to meet with their counterparts from Pimpama State School.  The conversation over mildshakes covered all the important topics - the leadership structures at schools, brothers and sisters and movies.  While the students were meeting, we met with Mr Marx and Mrs Langford from Pimpama and discussed plans on strengthening our already important relationships and opportunities for our students.  Thank you to the staff at One Little Tree Cafe for hosting us.  The cafe is owned and operated by one of our Coomera Rivers families.  

Our P&C for 2021

I would like to officially welcome the 2021 P&C executive committee.  Elected this week at the AGM was:

• President:  Corina Profke
• Vice-President:  Bridgette Raschke
• Secretary:  Gemma Del Re
• Treasurer:  Vacant

School disco postponed

The rain that was forecast didn't eventuate but the decision to postpone the disco was still the right one.  We tried to make the decision early enough to allow families to alter their plans but late enough to see what would happen.  Forecasts were consistent that the rain would arrive and that would have spelled disaster for the event.  As I explained, using the hall means that COVID restrictions apply and consequently, parents couldn't attend.

To be successful, the students need to love their disco experience and the parents need to enjoy their children's reactions.  Thank you to everyone who has been understanding.  

Our behaviour

It is vital that we model the values and behaviours that we expect our children to attain.  And from time to time, I think we let our kids down.  This includes me.  It is important for our children that we respectfully say, write and use non-verbal communication and show kindness to others.

I was looking at the school 'Bullying No Way!' mural today when I came across this quote - written by a student in Year 5.  The wisdom and maturity of the words stopped me in my tracks and filled me with both hope and confidence.  I do not know who wrote it but I wished it was me.

Choose the safer option

Please try not to walk through the staff car park.  I understand that the shortcut will save 100m of walking (or riding), but it adds considerable danger as well because people are walking on the roadway.  It is far safer to use the path and crossings.  Please know that all students are not to enter the staff car park unless they are accessing a car with their parents.  

REMINDER: Please complete the surveys

Last week, all families received 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 Anti-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.

Are your children's 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

Congratulations to these students on there wonderful compassion, empathy and integrity.

Prep and Year 1

Year 2

Year 3 and 4

Year 5 and 6

Mathletics champions

Thank you to these very kind members of our school for their kindness shown to others this past week.

Kindness quote of the week 

Thank you to 3JN for their kindness quote this week.

Good starters

Over the past couple of weeks, our Good Start group have had some very fun hands on activities facilitated by our multi-cultural health educator, Jo.

Our senior students served our younger students a range of ingredients for an after-school sandwich from all the different food groups and we also worked together in teams to build a boat out of different materials. The boat signifies our strong bodies and the materials we build with signify what we eat. We need to build a strong boat to be strong enough to float and we need to eat healthy foods to create a strong body.

Our Good Start group is growing by the week. If you would like to join us in Term 2, please email Ms Waide for a permission form.

Learning to fly

1N and 1D noticed that paper air planes were a bit of a sensation in the classroom. To incorporate the children’s interests in their learning, we did a paper air plane workshop, followed by a mathematics competition. The length of the air plane flight determined the numbers the children were to add up. Using chalk, the children worked together to add up the numbers to then unlock more air plane flights.

It was great to see the collaboration and mathematics skills of all 1N and 1D students.

Being a buddy

Our school uses buddy class arrangements to assist the younger students with their learning and the older students with opportunities to demonstrate their compassion, patience and leadership.  Thank you to the teachers who operate these really valuable programs as the experiences for students are wonderful.

Nine proud selfies

2B completed a retell about their favourite day at the beach. Nine students were extra proud of their work and wanted to share a selfie moment.

Bullying No Way! gallery

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.

Interschool Sport

On Tuesday this week, we had a meeting with all students in Years 5 and 6 about the upcoming season of interschool sport. The season is conducted in May-June. We will be nominating teams in Soccer, Touch Football, Netball and Rugby League. The cost is approximately $50 for the season. More information will be sent home in the comi ng weeks but you will start to see coaches and interested students training (as soon as the weather improves).

      
Tennis

Any students aged from 10-12 years of age this year (born 2011-2009) and are talented at tennis are encouraged to see Mr Raffin or Mr Burrows for information about the Broadwater District Tennis trials.

Tennis champion

Cruz is a budding tennis star and loves his sport.  He recently won the 2021 KDV Queensland Junior Clay Court Under 10’s Boys singles tournament.  Congratulations Cruz.  Something tells me that this will not be your last trophy.

Touch Football

Talented touch football players (aged between 10-12 years) are encouraged to come to the oval at second break on Monday where Mr Burrows and Mr Raffin will be conducting representative trials. In the event of wet weather, we may use the school hall.

Soccer

All talented soccer players (aged between 10-12 years) are encouraged to come to the oval at second break on Wednesday and Thursday where Mr Burrows and Mr Raffin will be conducting representative trials.

Wet Weather

The inclement weather has played havoc with school based sport and district trials this week. We do our best to keep all informed in a timely manner when things are cancelled or postponed. As soon as we get notification from conveners and the GC Council about ground closures, we will let students and parents know.

Broadwater Niftyball

Congratulations to the Kaysiyah, Maia and Ataahua who have been selected to represent the Broadwater District at the upcoming regional netball carnival. This is a very pleasing achievement.

Kokoda Training Session 2

Last Saturday saw 33 students and 9 staff members take on the Currumbin Border Track as part of our 2021 Kokoda training.  This year will see us enter 4 teams into the Gold Coast event, so while not all students will make the team, it's awesome to see so many interested students and parents joining us for some early morning training sessions.

There were audible groans as we approached the rocky hills but students were focusing on their 'self-talk' and encouraged each other for the 2 hour trek.  There was mud, rocks, slips and slides but this is what makes Kokoda training so much fun.  Thank you once again to all staff and families who gave up their Saturday morning sleep in to support our Kokoda kids. 

Dance in PE

This week, we have been doing some dancing as our warm ups for our Juniors, and our seniors have been more than happy to lead our dances. Thanks for your help and for ensuring our PE teachers don't have to show their dance moves.

Busking starts

Cricket seems to be all the rage lately at OSHC! Every morning for the past few weeks Toby, Jett, Christopher, James and Ryleigh have been instigating and setting up cricket in the hall and every morning more children join in to play! If the children can’t find the wickets, they improvise with all different sorts of equipment, including the hockey stick bin! How creative is that!? We have four of our kids participate in Cricket Blast on Thursday afternoons and these children make a big impact at OSHC as they can teach those who aren’t sure how to play cricket the rules and dynamics of the sport.

We also spent Monday and Tuesday at the SSC and playground as the hall was being used for Parent and Teacher interviews, which meant change in our usual afternoon schedule. We had afternoon tea at the courtyard in the SSC, which the children loved as it was something different. The children also got to spend time in the air-con, colouring, playing chess and completing word searches. The sandpit and playground are always a fun time! Johnny-Rae and Rachelle had a competition to see who could dig the cricket wicket the deepest into the sand. OSHC is making sure we squeeze in as much time outside before the rainy days that are ahead!

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.

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

Tickets on sale now

Come along in your best fluro gear and leg warmers and join us at our 80’s Disco to be held on Thursday 29 April.

Whilst there might be the occasional moon walk, the majority of the music will still be that hip, cool and rad stuff the kids think is AWESOME!

Junior hipsters (Prep to Year 2) starts at 4.00pm and goes to 5.30pm with the Senior groovers (Year 3 to Year 6) starting at 6.00pm and finishing at 7.30pm.

Ticket sales now open on Flexischools and the footloose deadline to purchase your 80’s Disco tickets is Thursday April 22 at 4:00pm.

If, for any reason at all, you would like to attend the 80's Disco but can NOT meet the payment deadline, please email the P&C BEFORE the deadline and we will be able to assist. Unfortunately, once the deadline has passed no further tickets will be available.

PLEASE NOTE - Please take special notice of the information, on the flyer, around senior students NOT to be at junior disco and junior students NOT to be at the senior disco as well as the requirements for signing in and collecting students, as refusal on the night of the disco may offend.