Dear Mums, Dads, Carers and Colleagues

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We are just six weeks into the school year and already the achievements of students, staff and P&C are growing.  I am extremely proud of the work and achievements of all of these people.  The newsletter will mention just some of the things that are happening at Coomera Rivers but what you don't always see is the dedication and expertise of the people making them happen.  Read through the newsletter to gain a sense of what is happening.  We really are here for learning.

Car park

Please be deliberately patient and courteous in and around the school car park.  If everyone can do this then the safety and well-being of our children and families is optimised.  Park your vehicles properly in the car spaces.  Wait in line.  Join the traffic queue from the back.  The students and I appreciate it greatly when you do all these things well.

New after-school programs will appeal to the digital generation

There are two very exciting, after-school programs being offered to students in Years 3-6 next term.  The details about these activities are later in the newsletter but get in early as places are limited.

Important dates

There are a few events that are fast approaching. Make sure you have all the information you need.

• Regional chess tournament (12 March)
  • Good luck to our 12 players led by Mrs Hardwick
• Free dress day (15 March)
  
  • Orange day (National day of action against bullying and violence)
  • Gold Coin donation to our Student Council
  • Reflects our school pledge (Promise 2)
• P&C AGM (19 March)
• Harmony Day celebrations (22 March)
• Parent-Teacher Interviews (25 & 26 March).
  
  • Bookings will open this Tuesday evening at approximately 6:00pm.
  • I will email families with the bookings link
  • Bookings are provided on a first in basis.
• School cross-country (26 March)
  
  • What's your team? Your family is allocated to a sports house based on the surname of your oldest child. Eg Smith is Siganto house
    
    • Colman (A-E) Red
    • Foxwell (F-L) Blue
    • Pedley (M-R) Yellow
    • Siganto (S-Z) Green
• Colour Run (29 March)
  • Great messy fun
  • This is the P&C fundraiser so check the Colour Run story to see what is involved.

Congratulations to the following students for being recognised for their excellence this week.

Thank you sincerely to our brilliant P&C Association for their organisation of the disco.  It was another success.  Thank you to the many staff, family volunteers and DJ Brett who contributed to the event as well.

We all had a wonderful night.

Friday 15 March

Friday is designated as our community day of action against bullying and violence.  It is just a small part of the national event but it is our way of reinforcing the importance of a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

We are holding a free dress day with the theme of wear ORANGE

• Please send a gold coin donation along with your child as well.  The first 1000 students who donate will receive a special 'Stand against bullying' wristband.
• Please remember that all clothing needs to be sunsmart and appropriate for school

This day of action is more than a free dress day and a class activity.  Did you know that our school also:

• Includes information in our school newsletter about bullying and being respectful
• Ensures that students participate in cyber-safety activities 
• Provides parents with opportunities to attend workshops on cyber-safety for their children
• Includes We Stand Against Bullying as promise number 2 on our school pledge
• Provides our families and P&C with information regarding the Task Force recommendations from late last year.
• Models respectful, caring and kind behaviours

This week, Prep S' Maths lesson was a scavenger hunt.  Miss Sullivan took students into the playground to find different representations of numbers 1-10. They worked collaboratively to place the cards with the right number and continually checked the wall for errors as they continued to add.  That learning looks fun! 

The Year 1 classes have been having a great time incorporating technology into their classrooms and learning this week. Book Creator, Pic Collage and Seesaw are some of their favourite apps that their students App Smash to show off their learning to their parents. Already this year students have measured items around the classroom and school using informal units... they even measured how long some dinosaurs are! Did you know a Triceratops is 14 hoola hoops long! They have been labelling the external features of animals and plants, creating habitats and identifying the needs of living things.  Teachers expect the students to design - create  - share to demonstrate their learning.  This is clever use of technology to support learning.  

Each week this year, I have been updating our families with information about our school’s behaviour expectations. Our school Positive Behaviour for Learning plan is on the school website should you wish to peruse it. Our school invests most of our time towards teaching and rewarding the positive behaviours that our community wants.

Topics covered

• Newsletter 1 – Swearing and inappropriate / offensive language and gestures
• Newsletter 2 – Managing conflict
• Newsletter 3 - Aggression
• Newsletter 4 – Violence (including threats to others)
• Newsletter 5 – Bullying
  
• Newsletter 6 - Cyber-bullying
• Newsletter 7 - Respect for property 

Cyber-bullying

Last year, the Premier of Queensland established a taskforce to investigate cyber-bullying and what we as a community can do prevent it.  The taskforce included Member for Coomera - Michael Crandon MP.  The taskforce developed 29 recommendations that the government will adopt.  While each of these 29 recommendations will have some indirect impact on schools and institutions, five of them apply to specifically to schools.  These include:

Recommendation 11:  The Taskforce recommends the Queensland Government require all schools to deliver evidence- based whole school programs that:

• Promote social and emotional competencies among students
• Include evaluation of the programs impact
• Include professional development for teachers.

Recommendation 12:  The Taskforce recommends the Queensland Government in collaboration with an independent body such as the proposed national education evidence institute, commission a rigorous evaluation of relevant anti-bullying programs and resources in order to assist school leaders and school communities to reduce the prevalence of cyber-bullying.

Recommendation 13:  The Taskforce recommends schools continue to have autonomy to determine student access to mobile phones and other personal devices at school, and ensure their policies on the use of mobile phones and other personal devices are:

• Developed in consultation with the whole school community Regularly reviewed in light of rapidly changing technology
• Give consideration to technology-free spaces and times.

Recommendation 15:  The Taskforce recommends the Queensland Government provide clear guidance for all schools on the scope of their responsibilities in relation to cyber-bullying, including the circumstances when the principal is and is not responsible.

Recommendation 17: The Taskforce recommends the Queensland Government expect all schools to have clear, transparent, readily accessible and easily understood policies and procedures to address cyber-bullying, that:

• Include a flowchart clearly outlining the school response to incidents and reports of cyber-bullying and provide indicative time frames for school responses
• Provide contact details of relevant school staff
• Identify when parents and carers will be contacted by the school
• State the possible consequences for the student who has bullied
• Identify the support available for the student who has been bullied and the student who has engaged in bullying behaviour.

Our families will see evidence of our school's efforts towards achieving these recommendations from Term 2 this year.  The expectations around school policy requirements and school and community consultation are yet to be sent to Principals but they are expected soon.  I will most certainly keep our community updated with all that is happening in this space.  

You will remember from last week's Be respectful section that I explained the school's current position on bullying and how we respond - very similar to the requirements of recommendation 17.  This is currently in place and will be part of the future consultation process.  Cyber-bullying is just one form of bullying and although the steps we use to address the problem may vary (due to Federal law) it will be assessed as bullying.  Please continue to discuss with your children, the standards that are expected by our community.

Remember - next Friday is the national day of action against bullying and violence and Coomera Rivers is committed to it.  You will see further details about this in another section of this newsletter.

School trials and selections:

Soccer:   This week we are holding our school trials for Boys 12Y (Monday) and Girls 12Y (Tuesday).

Basketball:   Congratulations to Eden, Aysa, Dallin for their selection in the Broadwater District Girls Basketball Team.

AFL:   Well done to Noah for making the Broadwater District U12 AFL team and to Taylan for being listed as an emergency.

Touch:  Congratulations Kobe for being selected in the Broadwater U12 touch team.

Rugby League:   Congratulations to Harry, Kobe, Alyssus and Si'u for making the second round of the Broadwater District Rugby League trials.

Netball:   Congratulations to Chezaan for her selection in the Broadwater District U11 Netball team.

2019 Kokoda Challenge

Our Kokoda training session early last Saturday morning proved to be a very wet one but that didn't slow anyone down.  The rain poured and added puddles and streams to the track.  Every student gave their best effort despite the weather.  Well done to all who were involved.

Running Club

A big thank you to Mr Cope, Ms McLean Mr Murillo for their efforts in running and organising some great running club sessions this week.

With Cross-Country scheduled for Week 9 of this Term, it is time to start thinking about those house colour accessories!

This year, not only do we have the hair ties and wrist bands available for purchase but we also have House coloured shirts through our partnership with Reklaim.

Orders for these shirts are open now through Flexischools and, to allow production of the shirts in time for the Cross Country, orders need to close next Friday 8 March at 4:00pm.

We understand that this is a short turn around time and this was unavoidable as this opportunity has only just been provided to us so, with that in mind, if you are unable to purchase and pay via Flexischools by the deadline we are willing to take orders via email - the deadline for email orders is also 4pm Friday 8 March. For these email orders the deadline for payment is Wednesday 20 March - shirts will not be delivered unless full payment has been received.

House coloured hair bands and wrist bands will be available to order via Flexischools right up until 2 school days prior to the event.  This allows enough time for the orders to be processed and the items to be delivered.

If you have any questions, please email the P&C.

There is always a great deal happening at the OSHC and the newsletter is a great way to share some of the learning and activities that children enjoy.  This week the focus is on creating positive and trusting relationships.

At OSHC this week we have been working hard on establishing mutually respectful relationships between staff and students. Our senior students have been helping our juniors with their homework, providing assistance with iPads and reading stories. OSHC staff are working with children in small groups to promote relationship building. Relationships between staff and children help children to play, learn and develop. We are all enjoying seeing the relationships blossom each day at OSHC.

We will be conducting Parent / Teacher Interviews in Week 9.  

Dates: 

• Monday 25 March (3:00 - 7:00pm) and Tuesday 26 March (3:00 - 5:00pm).  Times will vary between teachers as they balance their own families with this commitment to yours.  

Venue

• All interviews are in the school multi-purpose hall

Bookings:

• You can make bookings via https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/?z=wMCEzg   
• The special event code is cjrzq
• Bookings will close to families on Thursday 21 March to allow time for teachers to prepare.

Duration

• Interviews are what we call a 'Lightning Round' - short and focused.  They will be 10 minutes in duration so please be early and leave on time so the next family can access their time as well.

Questions

Teachers will be prepared with information for you and will share your child's learning goals for reading, writing and maths with you.  But you might be surprised to learn that they are actually looking for information from you as well.  Don't be surprised if they ask questions like:

• What would you like your child to achieve this year?
• If I could assist you with one thing what would that be?
• What is something interesting about your child?
  
  

Everyone is invited to come to school dressed in their own cultural dress/national dress or costume/ national sports uniform etc. on this day.  Our kids come from all over the world and some may have been born in Australia, but identify with a different culture, so we are hoping to create a day of bringing together and celebrating all of our differences.  (School Pledge - Promise 6)

Being absent from school can significantly impact on students' learning and wellbeing.

Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance in associated, on average, with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school everyday helps children to build social emotional skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience.

Under the law, you must make sure that your child attends school on all school days unless there is a reasonable excuse. Schools must monitor the attendance of students and follow up with parents and caregivers for any unexplained absences.

Please contact the school office before 9:30am for each day your child is absent from school.                            

School Absence Line Telephone: (07) 5596 8366

If your child does not want to come to school, please contact your child's Deputy Principal for assistance and support.

Building the skills of our future teachers

It was great to see our universities investing time this week with pre-service teachers to further explore how to support innovative pedagogy with digital technologies.  Two of our staff, Mrs Pinnington and Ms Muller, were invited along to QUT to share our school context and their experiences in working with technology.  The discussion was focused on these key questions:

• Why and how are you using digital technology in your teaching?
• What are the challenges you encounter and how do you overcome them?
• What is a 21st Century learner?

Congratulations to our staff for being recognised by academics as innovators and leaders in this field.

Helping current teachers transform their classrooms and schools

Also this week, one of our teachers, Ms Parker, was privileged to present at an iPads in the Classroom Event to showcase the Coomera Rivers digital pedagogy story, share the implementation of the digital and design curriculum through our Digi-design program and discuss our future ideas around how we can leverage technology to design, create and share solutions that have social impact on our community.  Congratulations to Ms Parker on this recognition by Apple Australia.

Did you know that recent research by Monash University found that 66% of parents believe digital technologies make a positive contribution to Australian Schools.  In the same report, the Number 1 recommendation for schools to consider was the promoting school technology use to parents and the wider community to ensure that families are informed and understand the role technology plays in learning.

It is concerning when young people have been exposed to any content that scares them or plays on their emotions, like those reported via the Momo Challenge. Unfortunately, the Momo Challenge is not the first, nor will it be the last, harmful online “challenge” or phenomenon to target our children.

Our research shows 81% of parents hand their child an internet-connected device by the age of 4, so active parental engagement and oversight of a child’s online activities is critical from the start, to help ensure they are prepared for what they may encounter. As young people often do not have the maturity or judgement to cope with confronting content online, it’s important to guide and instil critical reasoning skills, so they are aware that not everything they see or receive online is real.

We encourage parents to co-view, co-play, ask questions about the games and apps they are using, and let them know you are there to support them if they are upset or uncomfortable about anything they see online.

Five top tips to help limit your child’s exposure to harmful content online:

· Engage in your child’s online activities – ask what apps, sites and games they’re using and make sure they’re age-appropriate

· Use parental controls on devices to help limit what your child is exposed to

· Let them know not everything they see online is real or true.

· Help them report and block upsetting content they see on social media sites or apps.

· Let them know they can come to you about anything upsetting they see online, and to contact Kids Helpline if they need further support.

Parents concerned their child has been exposed to the Momo Challenge, or other upsetting content should:

· Ask their child if they have come across or heard about Momo

· If they have, ask how it made them feel

· Reassure them they are safe and do not have to participate in the “challenge”

· Let them know they can come to you about anything they see online that makes them feel upset or uncomfortable, and contact Kids Helpline if they need further support.

Parents who are concerned their child may be susceptible to self-harm should be aware of the signs to look out for and know where to go for help – see more info here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-the-office/newsroom/blog/is-your-child-at-risk-of-self-harm-or-suicide

We encourage parents to visit www.esafety.gov.au/iparent for information and advice on keep your child safe online.

Is your childs device ready for learning?

We are here for learning and everything we do is focused on achieving this. We utilise the latest technologies and digital pedagogy to support and enhance student learning with the Australian Curriculum.  Our Digital Pedagogy Team and teachers work together to select the Apps that are the best for learning across multiple areas.  All of these allow the students to design, create and share their learning.  

Our family iTunes U course was updated for 2019 and some new Apps were added.  Please ensure your child has all the required Apps listed.  Here is a snapshot of the new Apps we are exploring and the paid apps that we require you to invest in for learning if you haven't already. 

For the full list refer to our iTunes U course.  Enrol code ECZ-BBL-YFL

“BE QUICK - Limited spots available” 

Coomera Rivers State School is excited to offer two new after-school programs in Term 2 for students in Years 3-6 who are interested in design and technology. The two programs will run on separate days from 2.30pm - 3.30pm and will commence in Week 2.  

Year 5 & 6 : Tuesday afternoons from 2.30 - 3.30pm - $60.00 for the term *FULL*

STEAMIE : Inventing & Entrepreneurship with STEAM - (20 places only)

This Tuesday program is based on the $20 Boss Program.

$20 Boss participants move through a series of phases designed to promote critical and creative thinking. Within the Problem Space learners identify the problem they are aiming to solve through their social enterprises and the positive impact they are seeking to have in their local communities. The Solution Space is where learners design, prototype and test their innovative product or service ideas, in readiness for business trading. Students will be given a $20 budget to purchase their materials to create their product or service.

Years 3 & 4 : Thursday afternoons from 2.30 - 3.30pm - $60.00 for the term

This Thursday program has a LEGO Focus.  30 students only will choose one of the following groups to join.

1. LEGO Masterbuilder : Creative lego engineering challenges. Different challenge each week.

2. LEGO Robotics : Creative robotic design challenges using LEGO We-Do. Different challenge each week.

3. LEGO Animations : Creative stop motion animation. One term, one animation.

To register:

Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dream-design-innovators-club-term-2-2019-tickets-56540501161

Use the password: CoomeraRivers

Select one program for your child

Please register using the name of your child and class (eg: Molly 5T) and use your own email address.

Parents will be invoiced $60 per participant after registration

Permission forms will be sent home via students to finalise registration

Please note: that the listed 'free' amount on the registration page is not accurate - this is simply the default price on this free version of Eventbrite

Numbers are strictly limited and payment is required before participation can be confirmed.

Materials will be purchased in advance so once the program has commenced, no refunds will be possible for non-attendance as we can't start new students part way through the programs.

Our three school environmental warriors need your help with this project.   Ava, Isabella and Isabella are collecting your empty water bottles and soft drink cans!  Not only will you be helping the environment but you will also be helping us raise valuable funds for our school.  Please see the details on how you can get involved below.

• Register online (ALL students must register online - even if raising cash donations)
• Raise donations online before deadline (minimum donation of $10 to participate)
• Raise cash donations AND return to school prior to deadline (minimum donation of $10 to participate)
• Ensure you are across ALL event deadlines - see below...

Nothing better than fun fundraising and what could be more fun than a fundraising School Community Colour Run?

This term, in conjunction with CUA Fun Run, we will be holding a School Community Colour Run on Friday 29 March.

Last Friday your children should have come home with a sponsorship and information booklet that outlines how the program works including how to set up your online fundraising platform and how to order your prizes! We have also included below a Parent Information letter to get you started.

All profits from this event (and all P&C fundraising activities this year) will be invested back into CLASSROOM AIR-CONDITIONING! So please get behind this donation drive, share it with friends and family near and far and help us get this CLASSROOM AIR-CONDITIONING off to a great start!

Please find the important event details and deadlines below:

• Fundraising start date: Friday 22 February
• Fundraising and online registration deadline: 9am Friday 22 March
• Prize orders open: Monday 25 March
• Colour Run event day: Friday 29 March
• Prize orders close: Thursday 4 April
• Prize delivery: Early Term 2

Important - To be eligible to take part in the Colour Run, each student must raise a minimum of $10 AND register online (even if doing the paper based cash only donations) before the fundraising deadline.

Good to know:

Whilst online fundraising is preferable, families that do not wish to do fundraising online do have the option of a paper based donation. Please refer to the sponsorship and information booklet for more details.

• All students MUST be registered online - even if choosing the paper based cash donation option
• When setting up your online platform the account is set up in the parents name and then you will be promoted to set a “student” account under your parent profile.
• When setting up a student profile you must use the child’s full first name and correct class but you can use a last initial for the surname if you prefer.
• You do NOT have to upload a child’s image to the student profile unless you wish to.

If you need more incentive to fundraise….

If CLASSROOM AIR-CONDITIONING and rewards are not enough to get you fundraising up a storm we have a bonus promotions on offer that we are sure will help:

The class, from each year level, with the highest fundraising (per capita) will win the opportunity to have a water balloon fight with Mr Graham, their Deputy and their classroom teacher.
On the day - Colour Run event day information.

• Teachers will confirm what time your class will be participating in the Colour Run by no later than Tuesday 26 March.
• Families are more than welcome to come along and cheer their children on!
• Children participating in the event will need to bring along on the day white or lightish coloured old clothes to participate in, towel to dry off with and a garbage bag to bring the colour run clothes home in.

If you have any questions please contact the P&C - otherwise, happy fundraising!

The Annual General Meeting of the Coomera Rivers State School P&C will be held on Tuesday 19 March at 6:00pm in Corporate Services.

Nominations for the volunteer executive positions are open now and nomination forms can be requested at Corporate Services or by emailing the P&C.

Nominations for executive positions must be returned to Corporate Services with nominations closing at 3:00pm on Tuesday 12 March.

The general meeting of the association for March will be held directly after the AGM.

From Friday 11 March, all volunteer in any part of our school or on school excursions MUST be a registered and inducted volunteer.  This is a legal requirement.  No registration and induction means you are not able to volunteer.  But luckily, both the registration and induction processes are simple and quick.

Details on how you can register:

Cafe

We need assistance from 8.30am to 10.30am in the Cafe on the following days:-

• Monday 11th March - 1 more volunteer required
• Tuesday 12th March - 1 more volunteer required
• Friday 15th March - 1 more volunteer required

P&C Assistance

• We are looking for 3 volunteers Friday 15th March from 8.30am to assist with some administration tasks for the upcoming Colour Run.

iCentre Book Covering

• Miss Katie has bags of books for book covering ready for collection from the iCentre.

    
Future Volunteer Opportunities

Easter Guess

• We will be looking for volunteers to assist with the Easter Guess table daily from Wednesday 20th March to Wednesday 3rd April. Morning shifts will be from 8.00am to 8.45am and afternoons from 2.00pm to 2.30pm.

If you are interested in assisting with any of the above opportunities please email volunteers@coomerariversss.eq.edu.au 

Induction is required

From Monday on wards volunteers will need to have completed the 2019 induction and registration process in order to be able to volunteer at the school, this of course includes excursions. So if you have not already done so request an information package on how to become registered for 2019.