* Please note that this calendar is a guide only and dates and times may change as required.

Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

This past fortnight has seen our school in full flight.  Not only have we maintained our teaching and learning each day but we have added Wakakirri, numerous sporting events (including athletics, inter-school sport and rugby league), Year 4 camp, the Gold Coast Eisteddfod performances and Day 10 for Year 6. 

My highlight was Wakakirri.  For me, this was the best ever performance our school has delivered - ever.  It comes as no surprise that we were selected to advance to the national level for this competition.  I am extremely proud for the kids and staff involved with this event.    

Free dress day (6 September)

We are holding a free dress day on 6 September to raise money to send our Wakakirri troupe to the finals in a couple of weeks.  Transport to the venue and an evening meal for the performers is really expensive.  I encourage our entire school community to get behind the kids for this amazing privilege.

Gold coin donation to support our Wakakirri troupe.

Year 4 camp

Year 4 camp was another huge success this past fortnight.  It is a massive logistical challenge.  For instance, try to imagine 120 students at your dinner table.  What could possibly happen?  Keeping everyone happy, engaged, busy, well-fed and safe is an enormous responsibility.  I cannot ever thank the staff involved enough for their work last week.  

Sport

Our children have represented us on the sporting fields as well.  Athletics and rugby league and inter-school sports programs have seen many successes.  I continually tell our players that the scores are not the reason we play sport.  Winning anything is just a bonus.  Our focus needs to stay on Fun - Fitness - Friendship.  And by doing this, it is more likely that kids will stay playing sport into their adult lives.  

School closures

Please make sure that you note that the school is closed on:

• Friday 26 August (Gold Coast Show public holiday) and
• Friday 2 September (Student Free Day)

There will be no-one on site so please do not mistakenly send your children to school.

Kind regards

Vic

Congratulations to these wonderful learners on their achievements.

Prep 

Prep gallery

Year 1

Year 1 gallery

Congratulations to these Year 2 students

Year 2

Year 2 gallery

Mathletics Mastery

Congratulations to students in 2B and 1/2Mc who mastered Mathletics tasks over the past 2 weeks. Keep up the great work Year 2!

Learning in DigiDesign Term 3 = STEM

This term, Year 1 and 2 students are following the journey of Sir Harley Houndstooth III as he navigates being stuck on a deserted island after being shipwrecked following a terrible storm at sea.  Sir Harley Houndstooth III needs to solve problems to help him stay alive and eventually be rescued. The last couple of weeks have seen our students use different materials, follow a design brief to design, sketch and build a bridge to help him reach fruit trees (high enough that the crocodiles won’t reach him) and a lookout tower to help him signal for help. Students are working collaboratively to come up with the best solutions to solve the problems and are so pleased when they pass the challenges each week.

Learning in 2O

Learning in 2T

Learning in 2B

Well done to:

Year 3

Year 3 gallery

Year 4

Year 4 gallery

Year 4 Camp 

Congratulations this fortnight to:

Year 5

Year 5 gallery

Year 6

Year 6 gallery

Year 6 Day 10

This Friday saw the 2nd round of Day 10 activities for our Year 6 students.  This is a wonderful program offered to our Year 6 students every 10 days where students select activities they wouldn't normally do in a school day and with teachers they may not normally work with.  This Day 10 saw activities ranging from visiting one of our local kindys, basketball, contemporary dance, gardening, Maori art, cafe' helper, chess, cookie decorating, pasta bake cooking and much, much more!  We even had the BMX bandits riding around the school.  It takes a lot of organisation for these activities to take off but seeing just how much our students enjoy them, it's well worth it.  

August is always a huge month for our musicians and a lot has been going on in the Arts Department.  We are so proud of our creative students!

Wakakirri 2022 - The rise above plastic

On Wednesday August 10, our Year 5&6 Wakakirri troupe took to the stage with their story ' The Rise Of Plastic' and this week we found out that our hard work paid off.  We were notified that we have received two National Story Award nominations for:

• National Excellence in Performing Arts Award and
• Best Environmental Story Award.

Our performance feedback

Coomera Rivers State School for their Story-Dance titled The Rise Above Plastic

'A powerful exploration of an important topic using the story-dance form in a highly effective way.' by Daniel Dunlop

Performance and Production awards:

1. Amazing moment
2. Excellent ensemble
3. Excellent theme/concept
4. Excellent soundtrack mix
5. Excellent staging – combination of all aspects

Your Story-Dance was nominated for the National Festival Award: Environmental Story Award Story Award!

Panel feedback from Daniel Dunlop

Story: A clear narrative, enhanced through the use of music, props, costume and lighting. A well structured piece that helps convey the emotion, importance and gravitas of the situation we face as a world.

Story-Dance: Strong technique, good use of theatrical devices throughout. Highly creative and imaginative interpretation of each section and well-supported using character, costume and well considered staging.

Performance: Well rehearsed, well choreographed - a variety of choreographic devices - performed sharply and with intention. Great energy throughout.

Elements: Such a strong music mix - with some fabulous music to help evoke mood and atmosphere and to help convey the message of the piece. Loved the theatrical magic of the flying plastic bag - well done on on this innovative production element.

A highly energetic and fun performance.

Congratulations!

Wakakirri Finals FREE DRESS DAY

We have been invited back to perform in the finals on September 6 and the students and the teacher team are SO EXCITED!  Please support us with your donation on the 'Wacky Wakakirri' free dress day to help support us to get there.

Check out our promotional video on our P&C Facebook page.                      

Junior and Senior Strings

Earlier this term the Junior and Senior Strings performed at the Beenleigh Eisteddfod and both groups played beautifully with our Junior Strings earning a 3rd place. The experience of performing on stage in a professional venue and watching other school's groups is so enriching for our young musicians.

Music excursion

This week, our strings groups (with Mrs Blyth and Ms Leese) went to visit the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at Southbank to see where their hard work could possibly take them.  It was a wonderful day and their behaviour was exceptional.

Mrs Blyth loved watching the faces of the students as the first few notes were played. Their eyes were popping out of their heads! Fingers crossed we'll see one of our students there one day.

Junior and Senior  Bands

This week, our bands competed in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod and both came away with a Bronze.  Mr Owens was very impressed with the Junior Band's first performance and the students loved the buzz of performing on a big stage at HOTA (Home of ther Arts) to an audience.

The Senior Band then had their turn that evening and performed with energy and excitement. Our students LOVE to be on stage showing you the results of their hard work and practice.

       
Choir

Our school choir is ready to perform at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod at HOTA on Thursday evening, 25 August.  They are really excited to perform on the stage and I look forward to seeing them.

Dance Performance is coming soon...

Families are encouraged to come in to the school to collect your students one afternoon in week 10 (week of 12/9) for a special school wide dance performance from 2:25pm! (Shhhh! It's a secret BUT we want you to know so you can organise to be there. )

Coomera Rivers Athletics

Due to the weather conditions earlier in the year, we had to squeeze our Athletics day into the few sunny days that we had in Week 2.  We managed to get through our field events and we are pleased to announce that 4 students have broken some Coomera Rivers Athletics records. See below.

Record Breakers

Scarlet: 2012 - Long Jump (3.49m)
Jacob: 2011 - Long Jump (4.16m)
Connor: 2011 - High Jump (1.23m)
Bailey: 2012 - Shotput (7.36m)

             
Broadwater Athletics

Congratulations to all of our students who competed at the Broadwater District Athletics trials. It's a 2-day event with plenty of talented kids on display.  Well done to the following students who placed in the Top 4 and will progress to South Coast Athletics trial in September.

Zane: 800m (4th)
Jacob: Long Jump (1st), 100 (4th), 200 (4th)
Scarlet: 100 (3rd), 200 (3rd), Long Jump (2nd)
Bailey: Shot Put (1st)
Mylah: 1500 (2nd)
Henko: High Jump (1st), 800 (2nd), 1500 (4th)

Queensland swimming achievements

Congratulations to Cooper on his recent achievements Queensland Short Course State Swimming Championships.  He swam so well and managed a personal best time.   He came 4th in his heat and swam magnificently.  

South Coast Netball

Congratulations to Shaylen on her achievements as Goal Shooter for South Coast Netball recently in Caloundra.  South Coast was undefeated winning all eight matches.  

Inter-school sport

Last Friday we had our first Inter-school Sport day for Term 3. The sports on offer for Term 3 were OzTag, Rugby League and Netball. It is so great to see over 150 students from Coomera Rivers spending a Friday in the sun playing sport with their mates. Whilst our main focus is Fun, Friendship and Fitness, we still enjoy seeing our team succeed on the field, and it seems that Coomera Rivers teams all played really well and got a few wins over the course of the day.

All our teachers were really impressed with how our students represented our school with a high level of respect and competition. Thank you to all our teachers who helped coach and referee matches.

Northern Gold Coast Schools' Rugby League Challenge

Last Wednesday, Coomera Rivers sent our Rugby League players into the NGCSRLC competition to compete against Coomera Springs, Picnic Creek and Arundel SS - The 4 top Rugby League schools on the Northern Gold Coast. We played each school and turned out some good performances, but unfortunately didn't get the results we were after.

Thank you to Mr Bradley and Mr Taylor who coached our teams. Congratulations to Papu who was announced as Coomera Rivers' best player.

NRL Gala Day

On Thursday 18 August, Coomera Rivers took 60 students from Year 3 - 6 to Coomera Cutters for an NRL Gala Day.  There were over 300 kids at the Gala Day all playing Rugby League, which was amazing to see.

Coomera Rivers students were amazing in the way they conducted themselves over the day, even other schools were complimenting us.  

A huge thank you to Mr Bradley, Mr Taylor and Mr Meijboom who helped coach our teams. Another thank you to the parents who came down to support.

Coaches' Awards

Year 3/4 Girls: Zara (4W)
Year 3/4 Boys: Tohu (5EL)
Year 5 Boys: Braxtyn (5W)
Year 6 Boys: Cody (6WL)
Year 5/6 Girls: Maya (5/6L)

We love our science at OSHC, and can't wait to further extend on this experience!

Our online Father's Day stall is now open!

To order you can visit School24 to view our range of Father’s Day presents 

Our stock is limited so get in quick to make sure you secure your awesome gifts.

Orders close on Tuesday 29 August at 4:00pm if not sold out prior.

Queensland Road Safety Week is approaching and we are asking all Queenslanders to join us in support of this week. It is a chance for all of us to be involved in making our roads safer, including those around our schools, especially for our kids. In 2022, we’re celebrating the many ways Queenslanders keep our roads safe every day.  This year’s theme is ‘everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe’.

We’re all getting busier and often multi-task to get through the day, even when using the road. It is especially important to be road safe around our schools and remind ourselves to:

• Put road safety first every day
• Follow school zone speed limits
• Obey parking signage, especially in drop off and pick up zones
• Never double park
• Obey the directions of school crossing supervisors at all times.

Coomera Connector work begins

Nightworks – Foxwell Road, Finnegan Way and Shipper Drive

Due to traffic safety requirements and to minimise impacts on motorists, where investigation activities are required on or near the road, some works are required to be completed outside of normal construction hours.

• From Sunday 21 August to Friday 2 September  (Weather, site and contractor conditions can impact works, delaying start and finish schedules.  )
• Works between 7:00pm – 5:00am
  
  

Additionally, a section of the southbound lane of Finnegan Way will be temporarily closed during night works (8pm – 5am) from Sunday 28th August to Friday 2nd September. Traffic along Finnegan Way travelling south will be detoured via Tyrol Road and Gunther Avenue.

What to expect:

• Audible noise: Audible noise from small excavators and compaction equipment, vacuum excavator trucks and other heavy machinery can be expected. Reversing beepers and flashing lights are a safety requirement and will be used at all times during work hours.
• Temporary lighting: Generator powered lighting towers will be used to light work areas. Lighting is a safety requirement.
• Traffic control: Localised traffic changes including reduced speed limits, detour and some road shoulder/lane closures. Traffic controllers and police may be in place to assist and direct road users.
  
  

How can you help?

• Motorists can help by driving slowly and following directional signage.