17 June 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are nearing the end of Term 2 and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for another wonderful term. There is never a dull moment in school life and sometimes I look at the calendar of events and my head starts to spin with just how busy we all are.

With the end of term nearing, this also means that report cards will soon follow. Please make sure that the office has your correct email details as all reports are emailed home.

Thank You to our P&C

Our P&C have been an extraordinarily busy group this year and last week they organised another spectacular event for our community. Bingo was a huge success and the hall was full of enthusiastic players. Food was aplenty and the laughs were definitely getting loud.

Our P&C have been working very hard with every fundraising event and all money raised is going towards the big goal of air conditioning our classrooms.

I would like to congratulate and thank Sharon, Maxine and Keli for their efforts and enthusiasm that they have brought to the executive. Also, to the many helpers that have been volunteering their time to support these events.

There is a very short survey that I would love for you to complete to assist both the P&C and school in continuing to host these types of events and continuing to improve them.

1:1 Learning Program

Last week we held the first of our 2 parent information sessions regarding our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) 1:1 Learning Program. We had a wonderful turnout of parents.

Our 1:1 learning program starts in Years 1 and 4 giving students 3 consecutive years with the same device. This has been chosen as typically this is the recommended life span of a device, plus the warranty life span.

The information from this night has been emailed home to our current Prep and Year 3 parents. We will be hosting another information evening in Term 3, so if you were unable to attend the first event, keep an eye out for the upcoming one.

Staffing Changes

Our lovely Mr Hartley is currently enjoying some long service leave. In his absence, Mrs Raffin is the Acting Deputy Principal for Years 4-6.

Also, Mr Hartley will be taking on the role of Acting Principal at Coombabah State School for Term 3, so the current staffing arrangement will stay in place during this time too.

Student Absences

As we are finalising student report cards for the Semester, we are also completing our term check on the total number of absences of all students across the school.

Did you know that Education Queensland sets a target of attendance for all students and this target is 95%. What this means is that out of the 200 school days in the year, all students are expected to attend school for 190 of those days to meet the 95% target.

How is your child tracking so far this year?

In my review of absenteeism we have a significant number of students who have well and truly exceeded what is considered to be a reasonable number of days absent. I will be making contact with each family to outline your obligations in ensuring that your child/children are attending school regularly.

Whilst I understand that children do get sick, we have an inordinate amount of absenteeism that is simply unexplained. There is also a very strong correlation to attendance and achievement. It won’t come as a big surprise to know that students who have a significant number of days off also fall behind in their learning, and in particular in English and Maths. This creates a difficult situation for our teachers who try to play catch up, but sometimes, the gaps just get too big.

So I ask you to ensure that your child/children are at school each and every day!

Martine Gill

News from Our Deputy Principals

2017 Prep Enrolments

Prep enrolments for 2017 are open day 1 of Term 3 (11th July). Coomera Springs State School has an exciting transition program so if you have younger siblings, friends or family ready to start Prep please don’t hesitate to enrol your child sooner rather than later.

Upcoming Triple P Seminar’s

Parents all over the world have the same kinds of problems, Toddler tantrums, fighting at home or at school, a child who won’t go to bed, a defiant teen, or one who never seems to listen. The good news is the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program can help.

Triple P is a parenting program that helps make raising kids (and teenagers) easier. It gives you tips and ideas to help you deal with the big and small problems of family life. Triple P is NOT “one size fits all”. You can do as much, or as little as you like. Parenting is usually lots of fun. But every parent has times when things can get a little tricky. Like when your toddler won’t eat his/her dinner. Or your five year old won’t pick up their toys.

Coomera Springs in partnership with the Benevolent Society will be running three 90 minutes seminars in Term 3 (Dates to be confirmed soon) which will cover three main topic:

• The Power of Positive Parenting
• Raising Competent, Confident Children
• Raising Resilient Children

The three sessions will be held in our school library and we hope to see as many parents in attendance as possible. Stay tuned for further information.

Gala Day

Last Tuesday, our Year 4, 5 and 6 students took part in a Mini Olympics Extravaganza Day with Park Lake State School and Highland Reserve State School. Our Year 5s went to Highland Reserve SS and the Year 6s went to Highland Reserve SS while our Year 4s stayed here at school. All the students had a great day participating in track and field events and showed true Coomera Springs Spirit in the way they conducted themselves both here and at the other schools. All of our students did a fantastic job and tried their best – our Year 4s and 5s topped the day at their respective events, and the Year 6s finished in second place. Thank you to Mr Gall for organising and running the event here at school and thank you to all our staff that went along to help with supervision and cheering! Great job everyone!!

School Reports

Semester 1 reports are due to be e-mailed home at the end of this term (Wednesday 22 June). Some family circumstances result in a request for more than one copy. Should you require additional copies e-mailed, please notify the school office with recipient details as soon as possible.

Winter Uniform

A reminder with the cooler weather arriving, that students are required to wear their winter school uniforms.

Please note, however, that a school hats are still required. As the day generally heats up students begin shedding layers, all items should be clearly labelled with student names so misplaced items can be returned.

Lost Property

There are a number of lost property items including items from year 6 camp, lunch boxes, school clothes and hats etc. behind A Block (Administration) in 2 large green bins marked Lost Property. Please ensure all property including uniforms is marked with correct student names.

Taylor Haley/ Elvis Gegić/Gabby Raffin

News from our Head of Special Education Services

Wow! Term 2 has passed so quickly. With only 1 week to go until the June/July school holidays the SEP team would like to wish you all a lovely break. Also a huge thank you to the families of those students that the SEP team works with for the continued support you have given us during the school year so far.

We look forward to working with you all again in Term 3.

Lisa Partridge

News from our Chaplain

Thought for the Week.

So these last few weeks have been an interesting time where I have had quite a few of those days where I think that I should have just stayed in bed and not got up. Sometimes things in life can go pear shaped or not according to plan and it will send us in a whirlwind more often than not. It’s in this time that we make choices that can either help us or not help us so much. I personally have a tendency to chuck a tantrum which has no benefit to the situation and can make other people annoyed or upset. So I think sometimes when you see things going pear shaped, we should just take a step back and regroup, so that we can make positive choices that will have a positive impact on both us and the people around us.

News from our Guidance Officer

Talking to your child about alcohol and drugs - Tips for parents

When it comes to talking about alcohol and drugs young people will appreciate your advice and look to you for your views, but they will expect you to be informed, up front and honest, and, if you show you are listening to them, they are more likely to listen to you.

Here are 10 ways to encourage young people to talk with you about issues such as drugs and alcohol.

Be part of their lives

Make sure that you make time for your children. Take an interest in their interests and establish a routine for doing things together. Don’t be afraid to ask where your teenagers are going and who they will be with. Spending time together as a family is important. For example, try to talk and eat together at least once a day and find other opportunities to enjoy time together as a family.

Listen to them

By showing a willingness to listen will help your children to feel more comfortable about listening to you. Ask for their input about family decisions to demonstrate that you value their opinions. Try not to interrupt or react in a way that will stop further discussion. Encourage them to feel comfortable about telling you their problems.

Be a role model

When it comes to substances, there is no such thing as “Do as I say, not as I do”. If you take illicit drugs or drink to excess, you can’t expect your child to take your advice. Don’t underestimate the influence your behaviour can have on your children, particularly any use of tobacco or misuse of alcohol and medications.

Be honest

It is important to be informed but don’t pretend to know everything. Be prepared to say “I don’t know but I will try and find out”. Be honest and clear about where you stand so that your children will find it easier to be honest with you.

Pick your moment

Choose the right time to discuss the topic by looking for natural opportunities as they arise. This might be watching TV, when talking about someone at school, or in response to something that the media has targeted in regards to substance abuse.

Be calm

Being calm and rational is also important and don’t overreact. You should keep the lines of communication open and don’t ridicule or lecture. Remember that getting angry will just close the door on further discussion.

Avoid conflict

It is difficult to solve a problem when there is conflict. Try to see their point of view and encourage them to understand yours. If a confrontation develops, stop the conversation and return to it as soon as both of you are calmer.

Keep on talking

Once you’ve had a discussion, it’s important to have another. Ensure that you are always willing to speak to your children about drugs and start early.

Set clear boundaries

Most young people expect and appreciate some ground rules. Allowing them to take part in setting the rules encourages them to take more responsibility for sticking to them. Once you have rules, enforce them and ensure young people know of the consequences of breaking them. Find and agree to ways young people can act should they find themselves in a situation that exposes them to potential danger. For example, let them know that you will always collect them if they need you to, even if it is late at night. However, make it absolutely clear that you would rather they didn’t put themselves in a situation where they are likely to be exposed to illicit drugs.

Focus on the positive

Reward your children’s good behaviour and emphasise those things they do well. Encourage them to feel good about themselves and let them know that they deserve respect.

Adapted from

News from our IT Department

Dear Parents and Carers,

Are you subscribed to our newsletter?

Do you see it off the website, emailed from the school or our Facebook or twitter accounts?

Would you like to get it emailed to you as soon as it is released…?

Please click on the link below to receive it via email as soon as it is released!

Further into the Sign Up process is the option for you to choose your association with the school (e.g. Staff, Parent, and Student)

News from our PE Department

NRL Titans Holiday Clinic – Tuesday 28th June at Burleigh Bears

Following the success of the Helensvale and Cudgen Holiday Clinics during the Easter break, the NRL and Titans will be conducting their biggest clinic of the year at Burleigh Bears. Kids are able to join in activities with their favourite Titans players and also receive a NRL Footy pack, Titans Membership, morning tea and lunch. The clinic is for girls and boys aged 5-13 years and they can register to attend via this link -

Titans NAIDOC Event – Wednesday 6th July at Burleigh Bears

For the second consecutive year, the Titans will hold a free NAIDOC event for the community to come and celebrate the Gold Coast’s indigenous heritage and culture. The event is being run in partnership with Kalwun and Deadly Choices who are great supporters of the Titans. If you are interested in attending register your details via the following link to get all the up to date information around the event -

Community organisation, groups and organisations are encouraged to get involved and participate in the day by clicking on the above link and filling out the Expression of Interest Form at the bottom of the page.

Tim Gall/Sarah Hodder

News from our Music Department

Music News

Next week the South East Region will be holding the Intermediate Band Camp. Students are selected for this camp based on several criteria including their abilities and commitment to the program. Congratulations to Sophie in Year 6 who has been selected to participate in the camp on Clarinet. Well done Sophie!

Mrs Favaloro will be away next week as she is an Instructor on the Intermediate Band Camp so there will be no strings lessons next week. 3A will still need to bring their instruments on Monday and Thursday in order to rehearse with Mrs Raffin for their class concert. Mr Mason will continue to join us as our Band teacher until the end of this term. Mrs Russell will return in Term 3.

News from our Librarian

Dear Parents and Carers,

The end of the term is nearly here, can you please make sure your children have returned all their library books and home readers by the beginning of next week. There is no more borrowing for this term.

Thank you for your support,

Happy reading,
Sue Marriott

News from our Classrooms and around the School

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

Prep

Preps have been exploring weight by comparing heavy and light.

Grade 1

1D working hard during Daily 5

Grade 2

2B have been starting off their day with before school play

Grade 3

News from our P&C President

Chocolate Drive

Thankyou to everyone who has returned their chocolate money. We still have some boxes outstanding, so we ask you to please return these to Frankie’s Tuckerbox as soon as possible. We have a number of boxes still to sell so if you are to take an extra box home please contact Sharon on coomeraspringspresident@gmail.com. The bikes and other prizes are being drawn at the final assembly next week!

Bingo Night

A huge thank you to eveyone who attended our first bingo night. It was a huge success and we had some very lucky and happy winners with 2 people taking our the $1000 jackpot! And 1 lucky $500 jackpot winner. A special thank you to Ray White Upper Coomera for their donation of the Jackpot prize. We saw many parents/teachers and friends supporting our event and cant wait for the next one.

Uniform Shop

We are in the need of a builder/carpenter to quote for some work we need done at our Uniform shop. If you are/know of a registered ABN business who is able to help with some minor changes please ask them to contact Sharon at the Tuckshop or on coomeraspringspresident@gmail.com

P&C Secretary and Next Meeting

We currently have an opening on our executive team for a P&C Secretary. If you would like to be involved in the P&C and would some more information please contact the P&C for more information.

Our next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th August 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

Upper Coomera Physio

What is UC Physio?

UC Physio offer physiotherapy services including musculoskeletal, paediatric, women’s health (pre & post-natal), neurological, pre and operative rehabilitation and respiratory conditions. We are able to offer a range of exercise programs that improve and maintain physical strength and function.

Sprains & Strains
Aches & Pains
Sports
Children
Pre & Post Pregnancy
Incontinence
Clinical Pilates
Hydrotherapy
Aqua Bump Classes

Where is UC Physio?

Level 1

21 Coomera Grand Drive
Upper Coomera QLD 4209

We are opposite the trade entrance to Masters in the Coomera Grand Complex

Phone: 55 618 111
Fax: 55 618 344
e-mail: admin@ucphysio.physio

PO Box 327
Upper Coomera QLD 4209
General Physiotherapy

• Musculoskeletal problems
• Spine (Back/Neck)
• Shoulders
• Poor posture
• Sport Injuries
• Pre & Post-Operative Rehab
• Respiratory
• Osteoporosis (vibrodisc)

Women’s Health

A Women’s Health Physiotherapist will help people with pelvic floor issues (eg. Incontinence, prolapsed), pregnancy discomforts (eg back, pelvic, and leg pain), and post pregnancy issues (eg abdominal separation, mastitis and breastfeeding issues).

Kids Physiotherapy

Babies and children often require specialised assessment and treatment that can’t be effectively assessed unless the clinic is specially set up to look at these i.e. developmental delay, movement disorders and neuromuscular conditions.

Workcover, DVA and Third Party

With appropriate referral from your doctor we are able to assess and treat, and report back to your referring doctor.

Clinical Pilates

Clinical Pilates is an excellent way to manage poor posture and ongoing chronic problems. It is especially effective in the hypermobile and post-operative populations. Specific DMA assessment and treatment is also very effective at treating dysautonomia when there is a spinal contribution.

Aquatic Physiotherapy

Aquatic physiotherapy programs can be used for joint pain, gait re-education, strengthening, postural control, fitness and balance. It is suitable for many conditions including muscular dystrophy, arthritis, chronic pain conditions, rehabilitation post injury and post-surgery.

Phone: 07 5561 8111

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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