20 May 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

NAPLAN Wrap Up

I would like to congratulate all of our Year 3 and 5 students and teachers who undertook NAPLAN last week. Whilst we prepare our students for the testing conditions, it is always nice to have smooth sailing through the process, and we did have just that.

All test booklets have been sent off for marking, and as soon as we receive our results we will share these with our school community.

Thank you to our P&C who provided all of our Year 3 and 5 classes with a special treat at the end of this testing period.

Premier's Reading Challenge

This year we have 32 of our classes participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge. This challenge sets a goal for students to reach in being able to read, share and experience a particular number of books by the end date which is August 26.

You all know that reading is a number one priority in student learning, and we do all we can to encourage wider participation in reading not just for learning, but also for enjoyment.

I encourage our parents to join in during this challenge and share in some book experiences with your children.

This particular event culminates with our Book Week, so throughout the coming months we will include some special events to promote reading and to promote the Premier's Reading Challenge.

But knowing that Book Week is just around the corner, maybe you can start thinking about costumes. This year we will be inviting our parents to dress up and join in with the fun of our parade and to celebrate reading as a whole school community.

Year 6 Camp

Next week our Year 6 students will head off to Camp Tallebudgera. This is always a wonderful experience, with some great challenges for our students to participate in. One of the greatest challenges is usually that this is the longest stay away from parents, and sharing with mates in such close proximity. But I am yet to hear any of our students come back and not have had an amazing time.

Members of administration will make it down to camp during the week to share in this experience and see how our students are going through all of this. But we will keep parents posted with pictures along the way.

C&K Students Meet the Storybook Lady

It's no secret how much I love to read and share this experience with our students. This week we have had our C&K friends join us for their second visit to our Library. This time around they met the Storybook Lady and shared in reading 'The Gruffalo'.

Whilst very interested in the story, they were as equally interested in knowing if the Storybook Lady lives in a castle and if she has a mummy.

But it was a great experience to share this moment with our little friends from C&K and promote our love of reading!

Staff Carpark

Once again I must write about the extremely unsafe and frustrating actions from members of our community. The staff carpark is not for general use, yet we have parents still doing this on a near daily basis.

This is the entry point for students who ride a bike or scooter to school, and is not a thoroughfare for general traffic. Yet parents continue to ignore this rule and signage. It is getting to a point that we will investigate the installation of a boom gate, or lock this gate on a daily basis.

So once again, please do the right and safe thing by our student community and do not use the staff carpark.

Martine Gill

News from Our Deputy Principals

We're taking it in our Stride on Friday, 20 May 2016

Well it's that time of the year again when our school seriously starts talking about walking!

Not only is walking a wonderful way to get you where you want to be, but it also gets your health – and your child's health on the right track too. So that's why this year Coomera Springs is once again participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 20 May 2016.

Walk safely to School Day asks that we all consider our transport habits and try to incorporate more walking as part of a healthy, active way to get around. And although walking all the way to school isn't realistic for many of us, it's quite easy to figure out how you can build a walk into your family's daily routine.

You can teach your child the healthy habits of walking more by:

• Walking with them the whole way to school
• If they get the bus, walk past your usual stop and get on at the next stop
• If you have to drive, park the car a few blocks away from school and walk the rest of the way.

Regular exercise like walking with your child not only helps them (And you!) beat chronic problems like obesity, heart disease, behavioural and mental health issues and diabetes. It also gives you a great opportunity to teach your child safe ways to behave around roads and traffic.

Remember, Active Kids are Healthy Kids, so please join us on Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 20 May 2016.

We have organised two alternative routes to School so please see below for the maps and keep an eye out for the posters around the school. We aim to leave each starting point at 8:15am.

Year Six Camp

Next week our intrepid Year Six students and teachers will embark on a five-day adventure.

Everyone is pumped for a week of physical activity, good eating and early nights! The theme of the camp is 'A Hero's Journey' and our students will develop team and confidence-building skills. Last year's camp was a huge success and we expect this one to be no different. Thank you to our families who have invested in this experience for their child – these events are ones that will be remembered for years to come. Also a big thank you to our school staff who will accompany our students and spend the week away from their families and loved ones.

Parents of Prep and Year Three Students

Your child in Prep or Year Three has the exciting opportunity of entering our three-year 1:1 student iPad program at the beginning of Year One and Year Four. This is a program that has evolved over the past few years and our current 1:1 iPad students are beginning to reap the benefits from the rich forms of student engagement generated and our unique network capabilities. It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend our parent information session at 5:30pm on Thursday 9th of June. During the information session, we will provide information about:

• How the iPads are used in the classroom
• How learning continues at home
• The benefits of learning with an iPad
• Coomera Springs' unique network and app purchasing capabilities (compared to other local schools)
• Purchasing arrangements and our supplier

Also attending the information session and answering questions about the iPad bundles on offer will be Mr Jon Tapia, Queensland Business Development Manager from our iPad supplier, Comp Now.

The feedback we received from parents last year centred on the need to start the information sharing and purchasing process earlier. This is important to us, as we wish to present you with all the information needed to make an informed decision about your child's learning. We look forward to seeing you in the hall at 5:30pm on Thursday 9th of June.

Taylor Haley/ Elvis Gegić/Dave Hartley

News from our Head of Special Education Services

Dear Parents/Carers,

Nationally Collection of Data on School Students with Disability

Collecting data on school students with disability helps teachers, principals and education authorities support the participation of students with disability in schooling on the same basis as students without disability.

All Australian Governments have agreed to work together on the annual collection of data on school students with disability.

All Australian schools participate in this annual data collection.

The data provided to the Australian Government is aggregated data only. Please be reassured that the Department will not provide on to another organisation any data that can identify an individual student. The only data being collected at the school level to be reported nationally is the:

• number of students in the school who are provided with an adjustment to address a disability;
• level of adjustments we provide for those students; and
• Broad category of disability.

Consultation with parents is important not only for the data collection but also to ensure you are aware of the adjustments being provided to support your child. We will therefore continue to consult with you.

While only data that cannot identify your child will be submitted outside of the Department, if you do not wish for your child's details to be included, please let me know.

Information and fact sheets are available to help you make a decision from the:

• Department's website:

• Australian Government Department of Education website:

Alternatively, if you have any queries about the collection or use of this data I encourage you to contact me directly.

Lisa Partridge

News from our Guidance Officer

Health Environment Education Community Creativity

TIPS FOR BEING A NURTURING PARENT

Being a parent is the most important role you can ever have.

Children need to feel loved and treasured in order to develop to their full potential. Children learn by example; they learn by watching what you say and do all the time, every day.

Tell them regularly that they are special, loved and wanted.

Make sure you hug and cuddle often.

Choose your words with care when disciplining your child; children need love, even when they misbehave.

What you say to your children can determine how they feel about themselves, and how they feel about you. Children tend to believe what their parents or carers tell them; if the words are hurtful, they may develop low self-esteem.

When they misbehave remember to tell them it is the behaviour you do not like; criticise the Behaviour, not the child. Make sure your child knows that bad behaviour won't mean loss of your love even for a little while.

Harsh, hurtful, abusive words can have very negative effects, and can result in children believing they are useless, no good and will never amount to anything.

Children learn right from wrong by copying; if you hit them, they'll think it is okay to hit too.

Be constructive in your criticism; talk to children about how they could do things differently.

Show children what they should do – not just what they shouldn't do.

It is easier as parents to see the bad behaviour, and not notice the good behaviour. Learn to look for good behaviour and let your child know how pleased you are. Let them know when they do things well by using encouraging words.

Praise their smallest achievements.

Acknowledge, and respect their talents.

Make time for your children, find out what is happening in their lives, how they feel, what they think. Help them feel heard and understood.

Take time to have fun together and get to know more about your child.

Let them know you are available to talk with them about their feelings and worries.

Encourage children to share their feelings, and share your feelings with them too.

Stop what you are doing and listen when your child talks to you; respect and acknowledge their feelings. These actions give powerful messages to children about how important they are to you.

Children think some amazing thoughts. If your child knows you will listen, you are more likely to find out what is going on.

Try to address any stress in the family. Children are sensitive to adult tension and may misbehave as a result.

Remember to use words that HELP not hurt.

TELL CHILDREN YOU LOVE THEM – THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT!

News from our IT Department

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News from our Music Department

Music News

This week, our String Ensemble and Senior Concert Band have performed at the State Schools Fanfare Festival of Music at William Duncan State School.

Both groups have been practising since the beginning of the year, and have performed very well! The String Ensemble was awarded a Bronze Award - the Band is awaiting the adjudication but they did an awesome job as well!

Thank you to all our parent supporters who help us out by ensuring their children attend the outside school hour's rehearsals!! Your support is very much appreciated.

News from our PE Department

Remember to bring hats and drink bottles to school.

Also ensure names are on jumpers, as although the mornings are becoming cooler, during PE lessons and break times the children are very active and are taking off their jumpers/jerseys. Already some jumpers have gone missing.

The school Athletics Carnivals are coming up soon!

This year they are being held over three days: 14th – 16Th June 2016

• Prep- 2 - Tuesday 14th
• Years 3 - 6 - Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th June.

More details will be available shortly.

Jump Rope for Heart is HERE

It's that time again; Jump Rope for Heart is at Coomera Springs State School. Click on the following link to register your child and begin fundraising for prizes and this great cause today!

Tim Gall/Sarah Hodder

News from our Classrooms and around the School

We love to show you what is going on around our school and in our classrooms.

Chess Club

This term the Coomera Springs Chess Club or the 'Check Mates' partook in their first outing and competed with other schools in the region to better their abilities.

Students from Coomera Rivers, Pimpama and Highland Reserve of all ages tried their best to outwit their opponents on the chess field (board). There were coaching sessions as well where children were shown a number of new techniques to better their game and allowed them to see how strategies can help them to finish a game.

All children who took part should be congratulated on their efforts and I look forward to seeing how we measure up at the next round in term 3. If your child would like to take part in chess club they can learn the basics in my room 1st break on Tuesday or play a game at the back of the library at 1st break on a Thursday. Congratulations again to all.

Prep

WALT: Work on our ordinal numbers through running races.

Grade 1

Grade 2

In Year 2 we have been learning the Water Cycle Song! Quiz us about precipitation

Grade 3

In Year 3 We Are Learning To:

Create a contemporary/jazz dance in small groups, and Investigate rural and urban cities and discuss similarities and differences

Make Mother's Day craft

Grade 5

5A WALT – understanding difficult vocabulary during LIFT

News from our P&C President

Mother's Day Raffle and Ladies Night Out

Thank you to everyone who came out for our Ladies Night Out. We had so much fun shopping and getting together with friends. The Raffle and Ladies Night raised just over $7000 to go towards air-conditioning for our school. An amazing effort from everyone involved especially the students and parents for selling so many raffle tickets!

Chocolate Drive

Chocolate boxes will be arriving this week and will be delivered to your childs class.

Bingo Night

P & C Executive Bio

Last newsletter we started to introduce you to the P & C Executive so you can get to know them.

This week we are continuing with our Secretary: Keli Pitchford.

Keli has 4 children going to Coomera Springs State School and has been a member of the P & C for a number of years. She has held the role of President, Secretary, and Uniform Shop Convenor just to name a few. Keli has a wealth of knowledge and is a vital member of our P&C Executive.

She has the big job in conjunction with Our Vice President of organising stalls for the fete so if you are able to help or are interested in a stall Keli is the person to see.

She can be contacted on cssssecretary@gmail.com

Good bye for now

Our next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 8th June at 6pm in the staffroom, next to the Resource Centre. We would love to see you there. If you have any questions or would like to assist the P&C in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me at pandcpresident@coomeraspringsss.eq.edu.au

Sharon Sharp
P&C President

Community Notices

Schoolkid Bonus Announcement

Helps with education costs and is automatically paid in January and July.

Schoolkid Bonus is being phased out. The final instalment will be paid in July 2016.

Term 2 Parent to-do List:

• pay school resources fee in instalments
• find out if there is any camps/excursions to pay for this year
• What extra cost do we have to cater for extra curriculums such as sport, music instrument hire, art supplies etc.?
• Join the Saver Plus you read about in the school newsletter to save for education cost, as no more school kids' bonus after June 2016!!!

Upper Coomera Physio

Some of the very extensive range of services available to you at UC Physio includes:

General Physiotherapy
Clinical Pilates
Osteoporosis
KIDS Physiotherapy
MASS & CAETI
Aquatic Physiotherapy
Aqua Bump
Speech Pathologist

Now Practising at UC Physio kids therapy room– Monday, Tuesday and fortnightly Saturdays

She has extensive experience dealing with speech issues in the pre-school and school aged populations.

AND…

Psychologist

"Sarah Gurrin is a fully registered and teacher working here on the Gold Coast. She specialises in IQ testing, Specific Learning Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She works both in schools and in private rooms to provide early intervention services, testing, diagnostic reports, classroom observations, assistance with funding applications and individual learning programs, feedback to parents, teachers and aides and other professionals to help provide a comprehensive service that will benefit the child. Medicare and Private Health Fund rebates are available on most services. She uses the most up to date assessment tools including the new WISC-V on iPad. She has a passion for helping children reach their potential, having worked with children for over 15 years she have a broad range of experience and expertise. Sarah is able to come to your child's school or is available at UC Physio on a Thursday. If you would like to make an appointment please call Sarah from East Coast Assessment Services on: 0413957968"

Please welcome Sarah who will be providing psychological services to children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities at UC Physio on Thursdays. She specialises in assessment, early intervention, diagnosis and therapy. Bookings can be taken at UC Physio 55 618 111.

Gold Coast Health Oral Health (Dental) Services

Please note the Dental Van is no longer at Coomera Springs. To find your nearest van please call 1300 300 850 and to arrange an appointment for your child call:

The Oral Health Client Service Centre
1300 300 850
Monday – Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Excluding Public Holidays

***PLEASE NOTE: If you are trying to book an appointment and experiencing some difficulties, feel free to come to the van to make the appointment, however, if we are busy with a patient, your details will be taken and contact made as soon as possible.

Child Dental Benefit Schedule Vouchers are accepted. When your child's $1000 cap is reached, there will be no out-of-pocket expenses provided your child meets *eligibility criteria.

* Eligibility – All Queensland resident children aged four years or older who have not completed year 10 of secondary school.

Junction Café

Junction Café is located in Coomera Square shopping centre. We are open for breakfast, lunch and Thursday night for dinner.

Open from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm 7 days
Thursday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Plenty of room for mums to come in with pushchairs and enjoy a coffee while the kids plays at their own little table.

We are looking at hosting small cooking demonstrations on a week day morning with our Chef utilising pantry staples with a few simple chef twists. Afterwards there will be a Q&A with the Chef over a coffee or tea for those that are interested please phone 5580 0060.

Our menu has the good ol' classics for breakfast with some added favourites, like, overnight oats, omelettes, lifestyle choice and the iconic hash stack. This runs all day

Lunch has a street food vibe, which has bagel burgers, soft shell tacos, street wings, Thai salad, BLT and a lot of mouth-watering favourites to offer.

We also offer fresh made to order sandwiches, wraps, Devonshire teas, toasted sandwiches and a few gluten free alternatives, to name a few.

Our Devonshire teas and ham, cheese, tomato toasted sandwiches are on a permanent special at $5.00.

We are a Pay it Forward café. So what does this mean? We collectively pool tips and donations, which are topped up from sales. This is given back to the community by way of tokens. These can be exchanged for a meal or drink for those that are finding it a little tuff.

We also host morning tea and scones for residents of the local aged care facilities with the Pay it Forward programme.

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