Thank you so much to our teachers and P&C for their tremendous work in creating some very special opportunities and memories for children and families across the past term.   It has probably been the one of the most successful terms and semesters we have had at Coomera Rivers.  There was so much on offer to students and the the achievements continued to be added.  Following is just a couple of the more recent highlights that I am adding to the list of Pizza Pizzazz, Grandparents Day, Kokoda and more.

Inter-school sport

Inter-school sport in the Broadwater school district this semester offered four sports and Coomera Rivers had teams representing in each of them including rugby league, touch football, soccer and netball.  In the past we have collected a premiership here and there but this year we ended the season with:

• Rugby League - Premiers
• Touch Football - Premiers
• Soccer - Premiers
• Netball - Premiers

And while these results are impressively satisfying, what I am most proud of is the feedback from families from our school and other schools about how we play the game.  We teach and expect our children to play for fun, fitness and friendship.  Winning is always nice, but it is sportsmanship that is paramount.  

Cyber-safety competition

Students were asked to design a poster for their classmates to make them aware of Popcorn’s story so they don’t have the experience that Popcorn had with the fabulous friend machine.  Click here to see the results and winners.  Brilliant work by our two Cyber-safety Agents I and T.  

Diamond promotions

Congratulations to all the students form Years 3-6 who earned their Diamond level at assembly this week.  This is an outstanding achievement.

Student dress code updates

We spoke at the last P&C meeting about the dress code and the warmth of the tracksuit top in particular.  The conversation was passionate, open and respectful and we agreed on the clarity around the following points.

• The latest version of the tracksuit is reportedly thicker in its insulation.  This would be considered across the next few weeks and families will be consulted as to their opinion on a replacement.  I would also expect that the senior students be able to provide feedback also.
• That students who feel the cold should layer up below their uniform.  Spencers and singlets should not be visible under the uniform.  Long sleeved skivies were receommended as a warming layer as well but they should be navy only in colour.  It was also recommended that as the day warms, the skivies could be removed and the school tracksuit or jumper provide the necessary warmth required.  
• Beanies and scarves need to be plain navy or navy and lime only.

I have attached the most recent copy of the Student Dress Code for reference.

National recognition for Coomera Rivers

Coomera Rivers has been recognised as a finalist in two categories of the Australian Education Awards this year.  I am delighted that our teachers and school are being recognised alongside some of the most prestigious schools from across Australia.  In some instances, we are the only primary school in the category.  This is a truly impressive achievement and I am so proud of the school staff.  This follows on from 2018 where we received our first 2 finalist nominations and we actually came second in one of the categories.  Adding a perspective to this achievement is that there are nearly ten thousand schools in Australia.

Report Cards

Reports were emailed to parents this week.   Please read through the report with your children.  There should never be any nasty surprises as teachers contact families to discuss progress regularly.  If your child receives a C grade then this is exactly where the Australian Curriculum wants them to be. Anything higher is an even stronger achievement and is hard to acquire.  

Teachers spend many hours producing reports for the coaches, deputies and me to proof read.  Errors will still sneak through - despite our best efforts.  If there is a typing error on your child's report, please contact the school and we will have it amended and returned to you within 24 hours.  

School resumes

School resumes for Term 3 at 8:25am on Monday 15 July.  I hope that you all are able to enjoy a wonderful winter vacation period with your families. 

Kind regards

Vic

Congratulations to the following students who were rewarded with a Student Excellence Award this week. What a wonderful way to end the last week of the term.

While the rain meant that our NAIDOC BBQ needed to be postponed until Term 3, the activities inside were full steam ahead.  Each of our classes created their own Acknowledgement of Country and explored Indigenous art, games and dreamtime and more contemporary Indigenous stories.  I enjoyed the story in 2W of how the birds got their colours.  It was a fun week of learning.  Thank you to our teachers for their investment in promoting and understanding our Indigenous cultures.  Check out our gallery below.

The students thoroughly enjoyed their behaviour rewards day this term when they were allowed to come to school wearing their pyjamas, onesies, slippers and dressing gowns.  This is becoming a real highlight for the students and the staff were really enjoying the opportunity too.  

It has been a great semester at Chess Club and we finished the season with our club championship competition.  Thank you to our super coaches for their commitment so far this year.  And congratulations to our club champions:

• Harlan (Junior)
• Lachlan ((Intermediate)
• Keagan (Senior)

On Thursday a group of very excited Year 5 students headed to Griffith University, accompanied by Miss Bray, for the 'Cutting Edge for Kids’, a STEM experience day. The program started with an inspirational speech about resilience presented by Dr. Dinesh Palipana, Queensland's first quadriplegic doctor. Students then headed to their first workshop on Forensic Science, where they used fingerprinting and pH testing to determine who had stolen Hulk’s formula from the lab.

Next, students made poo…yes, you read that correctly! They broke apart food and mixed in chemicals to learn about the journey food takes through our digestive system. There was plenty of laughing (and gagging) when students finally squeezed out their finished poo! In their last workshop, students built tumble wing gliders. This session really tested students resilience as they kept re-testing and adapting their design and technique to travel the greatest distance possible.

Throughout all the sessions, the Year 5s showed tremendous team work and represented our school with pride.

It may be the first day of the holidays for many but the passion for learning and sharing continues this weekend for some of our digital leaders. Several of our Year 6 students, supported by Ms Muller, are attending The Qsite CreativITy 2019 Conference at Griffith University where they are showcasing their learning in digital technologies to teachers from all around the state.  Ms Muller will be running a hands on workshop for teachers on Sunday that will provide practical ideas that can be taken back and used in the classroom.  

Thank you Ms Muller and our digital leaders for proudly representing our school at this event.

Over the past 10 weeks selected students from Years 3 and 4 have participated in an after-school workshop made up of 3 groups – LEGO Robotics, LEGO Masterbuilders and LEGO Animation. Students have been coding We-Do robotics challenges, taking on Masterbuilder LEGO tasks, and creating Stop-Go animations. We have seen robots built and programmed as racing cars, spelling machines, Mars Rovers and rescue helicopters. Our Masterbuilders built catapults, wind-racers, pinball games and even a device to protect an egg from a large drop. Our animators put their movie skills to use, drawing storyboards, creating characters and scenes, and using a stop-go animation app to create their own short Lego film. Each session has been hectic and fun-filled. Packing up was the hardest part every time because no one wanted to stop.

$20 Boss puts the development of enterprise skills like critical and creative thinking, teamwork and entrepreneurship at the forefront of learning.  It builds enterprise skills and teaches students how to be entrepreneurial. Over the term 20 Year 5 & 6 students have learned about what a business is and have researched online creative business ideas. 

Early on they had to decide - What they will sell? Who their customers will be? What materials they need?  How to package their product?  What price they will sell their product or service for?  Who the charity will be who will receive 50% of their profit?

Over the remaining weeks our $20 Bosses have been exploring colour theory and logo design to create their catchy business names and logo.  They finalised their shopping lists, produced their marketing materials and have had heaps of fun along the way.  They are looking forward to setting up and running their market stall at the Coomera Rivers School Fair on August 3rd.  Make sure you visit the $20 Boss stall to support our students entrepreneurial endeavours.

Seven string students spent the last Monday - Thursday representing Coomera Rivers State School at Regional Music Camp. While there was a little time given to the beach and fun, the majority of camp life was devoted to improving their skill as a musician. Despite the rain, the students who attended camp had an amazing time and it will be a memory that they will never forget! Congratulations to Mrs Stephenson who supported the students throughout the week and a huge congratulations to the students involved - I am sure they returned home eager to share what they have learned with the rest of the string students at Coomera Rivers!

Year 1 Choir, Year 2/3/4 Choir and Year 5/6 Choir will be performing at Beenleigh Eisteddfod on Monday 22 July (Monday week 2 of Term 3). All permission slips are now overdue so please email your child’s choir teacher for a copy of the information note if you have not yet received it.  Invoices are due Wednesday 17 July and if they are not paid by this date then unfortunately, your child will not be able to attend.  *Please note: For your child to participate, all debts that the family holds with the school must be met – either via regular payments by instalment or paid in full. We are always willing to assist families where we can. Please contact Mrs Hibbert on 55968333 if you have any concerns or questions about outstanding debts.

Volunteers needed

We are seeking more volunteers to support the choirs when they perform at Beenleigh Eisteddfod on Monday 22 July.  Volunteer parents will travel free to and from the venue. If you are able to volunteer on the day could you please email Emma Blyth as soon as possible so you can be included in travel arrangements.  

All string and band students will have the opportunity to perform at Gold Coast Eisteddfod next term.  While information notes will be emailed out to families early next term, please mark the following dates on your calendar:

• Extension Strings - 9:30am session, Monday 12 August
• Senior Strings - 11:00am session, Tuesday 13 August
• Junior Strings - 9:30am session, Wednesday 14 August
• Senior Band - 5:00pm session, Monday 19 August
• Junior Band - 9:00am session, Tuesday 20 August

Sportsmanship has been our main focus this week at OSHC. As we recognise the importance of children learning through play, we provide a variety of opportunities each day for students to participate in a diverse range of individual and group activities. These activities allow students to develop and demonstrate their autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency.  Each morning and afternoon, educators and students have been enjoying playing the programmed group games along with any games the students have been suggesting.  With an emphasis on demonstrating enthusiastic sportsmanship, students are encouraged to cheer on all students, whether they are in their team or not, be truthful when getting out and recognising the importance of playing for fun and building one another up.

This very important day of the year is fast approaching and, with that in mind, Father’s Day Stall vouchers are now open on Flexischools.

Purchase a voucher via Flexischools between now and the deadline of 4pm Wednesday 14 August and your child will then have a chance to visit the stall, with their class, during the week starting Monday 19 August.

There is an amazing variety of gifts or children to select from at the stall and we love watching the thought and consideration that students take when considering what to purchase for their special person.

The next general meeting of the P&C Association will be held on Tuesday 23 July at 6:00pm. If you have an agenda item that you would like to discuss at the meeting, please click here to email the Secretary with the details by no later than 9:00am Monday 22 July.

As you know, the P&C are focused on raising funds to be used for classroom air-conditioning.  Fundraising income will be invested in this project until such time as every one of the 54 classrooms is air-conditioned.  Planning showed that this project would take about 4-5 years of concerted focus to see it completed.  This is a long term project (which started in Term 1 of 2018) with the P&C hoping to raise enough funds to air-condition between 12 to 16 classrooms each year.  

This term we have had our Mother's Day Stall, Mother's Day Raffle and our Bingo Bonanza night.  And thanks to your support, these fundraising activities were successful and we are installing the next two air conditioners.   That makes a grand total of 19 classrooms air-conditioned since we started with six classrooms provided for this year alone.  The cost of purchase and installation of each air-conditioner averages out to be $5500 per unit.  As you can see, the cost of units is not the same as a domestic unit and different specificiations, plumbing and electrical works are necessary.  

​These new installations will be completed during these school holidays and will be installed in our modular prep building for Prep W and Prep S.

With school vacation now upon us we have reached the half way point of our Small Change for Cooling fundraiser.  Thank you so much to our families fro supporting this fundraiser to date and we look forward to your continued support in the first two weeks of next term.

As at the end of Term 2 the current leader board is:

With 10 collection days still to go in early Term 3 there is plenty of time remaining to help your class to the top of the leader board.  In fact there is only a few dollars difference between the top and bottom classes in each year level.  If last year is anything to go by, the last day of collection saw the leaders across the school change entirely as some of the back markers stormed home.

Do you have some small changes to help make a BIG difference? AND help your class win this amazing class celebration day!

Discounted pre-sale ride and activity tickets are scheduled for release any time now - as soon as Flexischools confirms that this is live we will advise families via Facebook.  For more information on our Community Fair please visit our Fair website.

We are excited to be able to invite our families who have market style businesses, an opportunity to be part of our Community Fair.   Our Fair will be held on Saturday August 3 from 1:00pm until 6:00pm.  We are now taking applications from interested parties that would like to be involved.

If you would like to request the 'Market Stall Requirements' and the 'Market Stall Application' please click here to email the P&C.   Spots are limited and applications will be dealt with on a first come first considered basis.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Orders are now open.

Each year we offer our graduating class the chance to purchase a signature bear as a memento of their time at Coomera Rivers.  The signature bears are available to order now via Flexischools with orders closing on Friday 9 August at 4:00pm.  If you do require a deadline extension you MUST email the P&C prior to the deadline to request one.

Once the deadline has past, orders will then be arranged and personalised (with class of 2019 school logo) and will arrive in time to be distributed to class late in Term 4 with students offered the opportunity to have their bears signed before bringing them home.

If you require more information please email the P&C.