Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

Week 2 has been a very productive and fun week at school.  We:

• Received a special visit to Coomera Rivers by the Assistant Regional Director
• Created a video for the Department of Education
• Ran a great disco
• Held swimming lessons for Year 2 classes
• And 1M and 1N went on excursion to the Jacobs Well Environmental Centre.

         

Tyler shows incredible character and kindness

Each week I speak with students about the importance of both character and showing kindness.  I constantly repeat to our students that kindness shows others that they matter and that people with true character show kindness and not expect anything in return.  Well Tyler from 6K epitomised this at the cross-country last week.  

Tyler is a very capable runner who would normally challenge with the leading pack of runners, but he decided on cross-country day to run with a classmate who was struggling with the event.  He encouraged his classmate the whole way through the first lap (approximately 1.5km) and when his mate chose to not run the second lap, before Tyler set to take off, he said 'Good job mate!'.  He didn't know that we were watching and he didn't expect anything for his kindness.  His levels of humility are astounding.

This behaviour is very special indeed!  Congratulations Tyler.  

NAPLAN is coming

Students in Years 3 and 5 will be sitting their NAPLAN tests in Week 4.  There are four tests to be completed across three days and we will be completing our work on our iPads.  Teachers in these year levels will be sending home information about what children can expect.

You can help your children by:

• Speaking positively about the test experience and encouraging them to give their best efforts
• Ensuring they get a good night's sleep each night
• Providing healthy breakfasts and lunches
• Keeping a perspective on the purpose of the tests
• Celebrate effort as much as performance

The results will be sent back to school by the end of this term and we will send the reports home to families.

Interschool sports

We have begun training for interschool sport season which starts in Week 6.  Matches will be held on Mondays.  Please make sure that your children have the necessary equipment for their sport, including the necessary payments for the program.  

Coomera Rivers will always value participation and effort above winning.  We talk about fun ~ fitness ~ friendship as our sports motto.  Please reinforce this with your children as well.  I want them to continue to enjoy sport well after they finish their secondary school careers.  

Winter is coming so get in early

I always consider ANZAC Day to be the turning point for the cooler months.  The days are superb and the nights are cool.  The cool morning will soon see your children need their jumpers (formal uniform) and tracksuit (sports uniform).  Please get in early and don't wait for the first cold day as the stock will already be gone.

Free dental work for all children at school

The dental van is at Coomera Rivers and all students of the school are eligible for dental check ups and any possible follow-up work.  Visit the Gold Coast health dental site.  

Lost property from camp

We have a lot of lost property at school, especially from the Year 6 camp.  If you are missing anything, it will be worthwhile checking the lost property bags.  We will be donating the lost property items to charity in Week 5.

Kind regards

Vic

Congratulations to these students on their excellence awards this week.

Prep to Year 2

Year 3 to Year 6

Coomera Rivers arcade

As part of Year 4’s Science unit on forces, the students created a games arcade made from cardboard boxes. This arcade was opened for the school to play on Wednesday. Much fun was had both making and playing the arcade.

Character matters in 4K

This week, 4K had the privilege of connecting via Zoom with Barbara Gruener in Friendswood, Texas, an author and school counsellor with 37 years experience. She discussed the specific words, actions and traits of people with character, and shared her messages of character, empathy and kindness with us. We were also lucky enough to have a sneak peek read aloud of her new book, 'Mr Quigley’s Keys', which won't be released until June 1. This was such a valuable learning experience for all, once again made possible by leveraging digital technology and Mrs Caswell’s learning partnerships on Twitter.

An email from 1N and 1M

Dear Mr Graham

Yesterday we went to Jacobs Well for our excursion.

First we went on the bus.

Then we got all muddy at the mangroves. We also saw some crabs and their exoskeletons.

Lastly we went to the freshwater pond and caught some mosquito fish and tadpoles. We were very tired at the end of the day.

Kind Regards,

All 1N and 1M students.

Gone shopping

This week 3/4WH became a mall. Students took turns to open shops. The customers needed to work out their change on their iPads and the shop keepers needed to check it and give peer to peer feedback on their working out. This was a great learning experience and resulted in huge improvement in students working out change and was a whole lot of fun!

Making movies

Thank you so much to the staff and students who contributed to the organisation and filming of the video we made this week this week.   The video will be used by the Department of Education to showcase the way we teach at Coomera Rivers.  So this week, it was all hands on deck, with some of us performing roles we wouldn't normally do. Even being put in front of a camera is way more daunting than standing in front of a whole class. Well done to everyone. We can't wait to share the final video with you later in the year.

Students as teachers

This week, Chase taught us how to make Chocolate Coconut Balls.  As a class reward, he chose to teach 5W a lesson and it turned out being a cooking lesson. We had fun taking turns smashing the biscuits, rolling the chocolate mixture, and then eating them. This shows great character as Chase wanted to share his reward, knowledge and experience with others.

Thank you

Thank you to our Year 6 student leaders for their contribution to the school ANZAC Day service last Friday.  They all did a remarkable job.  We recognised them with a school certificate this week to add to their folios.

Our chairs went on strike!

34WH had a problem this morning when their chairs went on strike!  A spokeschair had left a persuasive letter to the class to say they were not going to work for them anymore.  As a result, 3/4WH had to write a persuasive letter to convince them to come back to work.  And luckily, their persuasive pieces worked a treat! 

Year 2 swimming

Thank you to the staff and volunteers who assisted with the Year 2 swimming program this week.  The outcomes for our children are very good indeed.

Our eSports representatives have been selected

These students have been selected to represent Coomera Rivers playing Mario Kart in The Fuse Cup Gold Coast Finals - Friday Week 4.  Each will compete against students from other schools for their chance to be part of the Queensland State Finals which will be held later in the year.

Mrs Hardwick will be taking the team to Emmanuel College for the tournament. Good luck everyone!

1. Kade 
2. Jacob
3. Byron 
4. Tyler 
5. Jaden 
6. Jasper 
7. Mathias 
8. Aiden

The weather held off and the music boomed at the Semester 1 disco this week.  Thank you to the P&C volunteers who created a great event for our children.  The smiles, the colour, the outfits and fun were very satisfying to see.  Thank you to staff and volunteers for your contributions and help also.  A true team effort!  

Salaka Drumming

Salaka drumming was a HUGE hit in 2019 so we’ve asked them to come back!! This term students will participate in workshops with dancers and performers from Ghana where they will learn about African culture, music and folk tales. More importantly, not only will every student get an opportunity to play the djembe (’talking drum’), but also teachers get the opportunity to showcase their skills too! Students will be getting a taste of Salaka in their music lessons over the next few weeks in the lead up to the incursion. Permission forms are due back by 14 May and payment of $7 is due 25 May.  Please email your class teacher with any questions.

Busking In The Cafe

Delayed from last term due to weather, our Beginner Band and Year 1-4 Choir will be sharing what they’ve been working on from 2:00pm in the Main Undercover Area. We hope to see you there!

Representative honours

South Coast rugby league team

Congratulations to Si'u and Noah who have both been selected in the South Coast Rugby League teams.  They will be travelling to Cairns to compete against the other regional teams. Congratulations boys!

Broadwater District touch football

Well done to Seantayne, Noah and Colten on their selection in the Broadwater touch football teams. Great work boys.

We all know COLMAN is the best colour, right? Right? Ah well, no matter what house team you’re part of, I hope you all had so much fun participating in cross country! Congratulations to those in Pedley, you blitzed it - gaining so many points you won! The children were very excited to make their signs to support their teams, decorating with pom poms, pipe cleaners and straws. Tyler made 4 signs to celebrate Foxwell, Brooklyn made her very first sign for her first cross country to support Siganto, Charlotte created a beautiful poster for Colman with Shyelah showing her creativity for Pedley. Everyone had an absolute blast prepping for cross country, by the end of the day everyone was super tired but still pumped to be in different clothing other than uniform.

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

FREE PARENTING SEMINAR

HELP YOUR CHILD HANDLE UPS AND DOWNS, INCLUDING ONLINE

We all do our best to supervise our children’s online activities, but this Triple P – Positive Parenting Program seminar offers tips on how to develop your child’s ability to cope with problems, now and in the future, in real-life and online. The seminar is fun and friendly and only 60 minutes long, it’s FREE, and it’ll help kids AND parents take the drama out of family life (including screen time), and deal with issues calmly and more confidently.

Come to the free Raising Resilient Children (Focus on Cyberbullying) – Triple P Online Seminar Wednesday 19th May from 7:00pm to 8:00pm (Zoom).

REGISTER NOW:  https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/qld-uken/find-help/check-our-calendar/2021-05-19/cyberbullying-seminar/raising-resilient-children-focus-on-cyberbullying/109166/