Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

Story time grows

It is wonderful to see more parents and children taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy reading together in a warm and inviting environment.  Make story time one of your school routines each morning.

Social media, screen time and our kids

This is a very hot topic at the moment, particularly with the current push for all social media being legally banned for children.  Research shows that social media and on-line gaming negatively affect the mental health of children (and adults).  While the school has no influence on parent decisions in the home, it is important I feel, to explain how school helps children use technology.

• We teach cyber-safety practices each year
• We teach mindfulness and resilience each day at school, from Prep to Year 6
• We currently do not promote homework.  Children do not need screen time at home for school purposes - unless your teachers explain the task.  We use devices at school for learning and it is rare that children will have any free time on school apps
• We have firm expectations at school and children who break IT rules (including messaging, using VPN or using home apps) will have their device blocked for a set period of time.
• We teach children how to be cyber-safe, but it will always require close adult supervision
• We encourage sporting activities and do more PE each week than is required by the Department
• We offer before school fitness and sport training and before school skipping and basketball clubs
• We encourage cultural activities, like our musical or instrumental programs, to build creativity in young minds
• We offer after school chess, and before school reading and lego clubs
• Our OSHC will not use devices.  Instead they offer a multitude of enjoyable activities each day, morning and afternoon.

Your children need you to teach them about what you expect with their online behaviour and how these expectations reflect your family values and communtiy expectations.

Our world is saturated with technology and we all need to learn how to live successfully with it.  Our children are extremely vulnerable so I implore you to reduce or remove social media, gaming and excessive screen time at home and enjoy face to face activities instead.  

Great resources for parents:

Parent tips on screen time:  How much is too much?

eSafety for kids:  Advice for parents

School's Kokoda Challenge is tomorrow

Good luck to our Kokoda teams this weekend when they compete at the School's Kokoda Challenge in Brisbane.  The squad has trained each week and has come together every Saturday fortnight for big training sessions. 

I went to Brisbane this afternoon to collect our race packs and set up our tent.  Thank you to our staff team (Ms McLean, Mrs Broy, Mr Ken, Mr Pryce and Mrs Barnes and Mrs McMurtrie) for their continued support.  We are all excited to compete tomorrow - bring it on!

Revised Diamond process has started (Years 3-6)

Students in Years 3-6 are able to challenge their character, citizenship and collaboration virtues to be recognised as 'Diamond' level at our school.  Teachers help every student in their class to set goals to develop their skills, attitudes and values and develop both a growth mindset and 'above the line' problem solving.  Teachers will also support those students whom they believe are ready to apply for Diamond, to make their application.  

Please note that Diamond level and an A on the report card are separate.  An A on a report card does not automatically result in Diamond - as Diamond is really an A+.

More incredible young talent

Congratulations to Sofia on her achievements at the recent Future Stars Dance Competition.  She competed in two solo dances and two duos, earning:

• 1st place for her Hip Hop Duo
• 2nd place for her new Song & Dance Solo
• 2nd place for her Jazz Duo
• 3rd place for her new Acro Solo

What a superb achievement.

Kind regards

Vic

Well done to these awesome students!

Awards gallery:

Celebrating Prep

Our prep students became budding engineers in science building different structures such as bridges, houses, caves and flagpoles. I wonder if some of the caves were inspired by the story of The Gruffalo which prep students have been writing about? Our preps have also been learning to be helpers as part of their resilience project lessons. Prep D made a great video to model some very helpful behaviours. 

Celebrating Year 1

Our year 1 students have been putting their empathy skills to use and learning to walk in other people's shoes. Mr Graham helped out by literally putting himself in Mrs Lewis's heels and having empathy for all she and other teachers do. 1A and 1L had some excitement with a student's dad and his police colleagues visiting to show some of their day to day work gear - including their cars with sirens. Ms Waide was impressed by the wonderful writing across the classrooms on all manner of minibeasts. Ms Waide was lucky enough to happen upon 1/2B having a lesson in the Yarning Circle and show them her favourite minibeast - the school's native bees. 

Celebrating Year 2

20 has been very busy learning about Uluru. First, we made a paper collage of Uluru. Then, for days we discussed, brainstormed and found out many facts about the sacred landmark.  After that we started writing our plan.  Now, yippy!  We have finished.  

Skipping club

Over the last three weeks, our weekly skipping club has been running a House Competition where our skippers have been earning points for their house. We are extending the competition for another two weeks. This means students, parents and staff have 2 more weeks to come along to skipping club and earn points for their house.  So please join us on Wednesday morning at 7:45am at the Courts.  Bonus:  Parents and staff are worth double points too.

OzTag – Class Cup

Congratulations to 5P (Pryceless Power) and 6P (Green Bean Potatoes) who won their respective Grand Finals in our OzTag class cup.

Grand Final Scores

Year 6:  Green Bean Potatoes def Coomera Bulls 7-6 (drop off)

Year 5:  Pryceless Power def 5S Superstars 7-5

South Coast sport

Congratulations to Shayla (6P) who participate in the U11 Netball State trials last week. The South Coast team finished 2nd overall. Huge effort, Shay! Well done.

Good luck to Zara & Tae (Touch), and to Honor (AFL) who will be away at State trials this week and next week. Looking forward to hearing how they go!

Zara, Honor and Flynn participated at South Coast trials for Cross Country on Tuesday. It was a very tough field and they gave it their all. Well done.

Athletics trials and Sports Fun Days (Week 10)

In Week 10, Coomera Rivers will have our annual Athletics trials day for students in Years 5&6 who qualified (Monday), and our Sports Fun Days (Tues & Wed).   We look forward to seeing everyone wearing their house colours.

• Junior Movie Stars (Prep to Year 2) - 4.30pm to 6:00pm 
• Senior Movie Stars (Year 3 to Year 6) - 6.30pm to 8:00pm.

Get your Sport House colours ready!

With our Sport Fun Day event scheduled for late this Term, now is time to start thinking about those house colour accessories!

Our sports house shirts are made of a breathable fabric, have a collar for sun protection, school logo and, most importantly, your house colour and name!

Orders of these shirts are open now on School24 and Stock is limited! 

We have included below the size chart to assist with sizing for your orders. This chart is also accessible from the School24 site when ordering.

Please note

Sports House Shirts are now located in a dedicated uniform ordering section of School24. Please click on the Uniform Online - Order Uniform tab on the home page to access ordering.

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

The school dental van is based at Coomera Rivers.