Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

This has been yet another week of incredibly challenging weather and the resilience and character that our students, staff and community have shown has once again been superb.  Well done!

Year 6 were covered in mud

Year 6 camp ventured to camp in the pouring rain on Monday.  Usually we would be feeling concerned for the young campers comfort and their camp experience being affected.  I am delighted to realise that this was unnecessary worry.  They made the most of every rain drop and had the absolute best camp experience.  Peruse the editorial and camp photos gallery below for a glimpse of their fun. 

Harmony Day

As a school, we promise to celebrate people's differences and last Friday was the opportunity where we showed this.  The harmony day activities included photo booths, special lunches, special visits and more.  The traditional costumes that some students and staff were able to wear were a reminder that together we are better.  

COVID

The vacation will provide a short window where I am hoping, the spread of COVID through the school can ease.  The past three week in particular have been very difficult with so many students and staff affected.  Thank you sincerely to everyone who continues to do the right thing concerning isolation.  Had we not done this and instead waited for herd immunity (as many people to catch the virus and recover in the quickest possible time), I believe our staffing and student numbers would have been decimated.  

The relaxation of close contact times from 4 weeks to 12 weeks following the end of isolation, will provide greater opportunity for continuity at school.  We need to get everyone at school on time every day if we are re-establish our routines for learning.  

An amazing achievement

Congratulations to Louie in Year 2 (8 years of age) on winning first place in the Under 16 division at Bowlzilla Gold Coast 2022 recently.  Bowlzilla is an international skate boarding competition and the calibre of skill is unbelievable.  In winning, Louie nailed a 'Backside 540' twice and is the youngest ever winner in the competition.  Keeping in mind that skateboard is a new Olympic sport, the sky is the limit for this young talent.  

Farewell to Miss Jodie

We said goodbye to Miss Jodie on Wednesday as she finalised her time working at Coomera Rivers Outside School hours Care.  On behalf of our school community, we thank Jodie for her service and for the great things she did throughout her time with us.  We wish her all the very best.

We are currently working through a recruitment process for our new Service Director and will update families as soon as this process is completed.

Staff car park

Please do not use the staff car park unless you have permission to do so.  Staff have seen many parents using the space, double parking, parking in disabled spots and some parents encouraging prep students to jump the fence into the car park.  Please use the main car park and Kiss n Go zones instead.

Are you moving?

If you are aware that you will be moving schools in the next couple of months, I ask that you let the school know.  We have regular enrolments and if we know that we can anticipate a space becoming available, we can plan enrolment placements better and therefore avoid another class restructure.  

Term 1 highlights

• Smooth running of the supervision period & then the restrictions that were in place at start the school year
• Kindness Day free dress and $1000 to charity (Team Seas)
• Harmony Day
• Year 1 excursion to Jacobs Well
• Year 6 camp to Emu Gully
• 2nd place at eSports
• Many kids selected in Broadwater District & South Coast teams for school sport
• Kokoda training on Saturday mornings
• Easter hat parade
• Justin Coulson sessions for students, staff and families
• Running Club and sports training sessions each week
• Tutu day

I am looking forward to:

• School resumes on Tuesday 19 April at 8:30am
• Cross-country carnival on Wednesday 20 April (Week 1)
• ANZAC day service at school in Week 1
• Year 4 camp to Tallebudgera
• Year 2 excursion to Beenleigh Historical Village
• Year 2 swimming lessons begin
• School disco
• Queensland winning the state of origin
• Inter-school sports days (2 days)
• Recycling programs for aluminium cans / plastic bottles and paper are starting in Term 2

Easter hat parade

Well done to the Prep and Year 1 classes on their fantastic Easter hat parade this week.  I was worried that the weather would make things challenging but it went brilliantly well.

Thank you to the awesome team of staff who make these opportunities a reality for our kids.  I hope they all get to recharge those batteries across the next fortnight.

I would like to wish all of our families and friends a safe and wonderful Easter vacation.  I look forward to seeing everyone again when school resumes on Tuesday April 19 at 8:30am.

Kind regards

Vic

A fantastic final fortnight of Term 1 for these amazing kids!

Please note that nearly all of our staff has been affected by COVID in some way this past few weeks and awards may not have been presented some weeks due to their required absences.  

Prep

Prep Gallery   

Prep Mathletics Champions

Harmony Day Gallery

Year 1

Year 1 Gallery

Year 1 Mathletics Champions

Year 2

Year 2 Gallery

Year 2 Mathletics Champions

Year 2 Harmony Day       

2F and 2S had Angela (Orell's mum), Roxanne (Bailey's mum) and Andrea (Layla and Alexa's mum) to speak to 2S and 2F about their nationality, their traditions, how to speak in different languages and the traditional foods that are eaten in their country. The students were able to eat different treats from South Africa and Germany. The lollipop they received has a special meaning behind it - a token of friendship.

2T celebrated Harmony day by inviting families in for an afternoon picnic. Families brought in a plate of food that is traditional to their culture. We shared and enjoyed flavours from all over the world. It was a nice way to celebrate and learn about different cultures, food and traditions.

Year 3

Year 3 Gallery

Year 3 Mathletics Champions

Year 3 Harmony Day Gallery

Year 4

Year 4 Gallery

Year 4 Mathletics Champions

Year 4 Harmony Day Gallery

Year 5

Year 5 Gallery

Year 5 Mathletics Champions

Year 5 Harmony Day Gallery

Year 6

Year 6 Gallery

Year 6 Mathletics Champions

was a huge success!

to complete the Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing survey

In Weeks 1-4 of Term 2, students in Year 4 to 6 across Queensland will be asked to take part in the Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing (QEW) Survey.

We know that wellbeing and engagement are important parts of your child’s life at school. The QEW Survey is designed to measure how students view their wellbeing and engagement across different topics. The information we get from the survey helps us better understand and support our students. 

Please see the information letter below for more information. If you have any questions, please contact the school.  If you do not wish for your child to participate in the QEW Survey, please contact Leonie Jenkins .

More information, including FAQs, can be found here. 

Congratulations Coomera Rivers for raising $1000 on our free dress day last week. The 2022 Student Council decided our chosen charity this year would be TeamSeas. This money means we have now helped to remove 1000 pounds of rubbish from our oceans. What an amazing contribution to our environment. Well done to our students for choosing such an important organisation.

Representative Sport

Broadwater Rugby League

Congratulations to Papu, Paysin and Onyx who have been selected in the Broadwater Rugby League.

Broadwater Touch

Congratulations to Paysin and Seantayne who have been selected in the Broadwater Touch team.

Good luck to Remmy, Roxy, Scarlet and Harmony who will trial for the Broadwater Touch team next term.

Broadwater Rugby Union

Good luck to Papu, Paysin, Seantayne and Tyrell who will be trialling for the Broadwater Rugby Union team next term.

Interschool Sport

Notes have been emailed home for ISS. Please return them as soon as possible. Thank you to all the coaches who have been working hard with the kids.

AFL

Good luck to our boys and girls' AFL teams when they head to Livingstone College to play some friendly matches in preparation for QSchools Cup.

Cross Country

• Wednesday 20 April
• Prep to Year 6
• Wear your house colours

Harmony Week is a week-long celebration of the rich cultural diversity within Australia, providing an opportunity for all Australian's to embrace cultural diversity and share our similarities. Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australian's, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. 

Did you know Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world? 

At OSHC, we strive to show this not just this week, but everyday. Harmony Week bought up lots of conversations around our own cultural background and why it is essential that we ensure that everyone is made to feel equal, and is treated with fairness and respect. As educators, we believe that it is so important to learn about the cultures and customs of those within our school and community, to help better understand our differences. 

On Friday morning the children arrived in outfiits that represented their culture, sparking conversations about where they are from, what their outfits represent and the similarities amongst our OSHC community. 

Friday 13 May

Watch Facebook and your emails for more details REALLY soon!

A casual position exists for a School Crossing Supervisor at Coomera Rivers State School.

The hours of work for the School Crossing Supervisor may be up to an hour and a half, on any school day, in all weather conditions.  The position is paid at a rate of $32.70 per hour.

Commencement of work for the successful applicant is dependent on:

• The favourable outcome of a health assessment carried out by a duly qualified Medical Practitioner according to the guidelines in the 'Notes for Medical Practitioner' on the School Crossing Supervisor Scheme - Health Assessment Form
• The applicant either holding a current Blue Card or be eligible to apply for a Blue Card to the Commission for Blue Card Services.

Department of Transport of Main Roads will organise and fund both Medical and Blue Card for selected applicant.

Interested applicants should send their resume to Ros at southportroadsafety@tmr.qld.gov.au 

Happy Families premium account available to our families

Our P&C has invested in the emotional support for our entire community this year and has engaged Dr Justin Coulson to share his expertise with us. 

You may have seen Dr Coulson on television. He talks regularly about parenting, education and psychology issues for The TODAY Show, The Project, Studio 10, Mornings, The Daily Edition and Parental Guidance.

Families have FREE access to his Happy Families website. The P&C has paid the 12-month account membership for all of our families. You are welcome to access it when you wish.

The link to access your FREE Happy Families account can be found here.  Further details can also be found in the flyer below.   If you have any questions, please contact the P&C.

Due to circumstances outside of our control, our planned March AGM needed to be postponed.

The Annual General Meeting of the Coomera Rivers State School P&C will now be held on Tuesday 10 May at 6:00pm in Corporate Services.

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