12 May 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The cooler weather is now definitely setting in. Our uniform shop currently has a 30% sale on items right now, so it's the perfect time to stock up on your winter woollies. As much as we remind our students to take care of all of their items, we still seem to attract many jumpers and hats into our lost property. I encourage you to name everything clearly, and keep checking that your child's name is visible after wearing and washing.

It's been a busy few weeks, but here are some key messages and thoughts for our community.

ATTENDANCE

As Semester One is an official reporting term, you will receive the total number of days absent on your child's report card. We will also be taking the time to review our 'frequent flyers' and making contact home to discuss this issue with you. Even if the days are of an explained absence, I must still stress to you the importance of our message - EVERY DAY COUNTS!

As a school we have a target of 93% attendance rate for the school year. That's the minimum target we want to achieve. So what does that mean for your child? Essentially you would be looking at around 5-6 days absence across a school year. Now there are times that absence is unavoidable. Children get sick and they need time to recover and rest up. However, we have a significant number of students who have considerably high absence numbers. We are only a total of 14 weeks into the school year and there are students who have been absent for 4-5 weeks' worth of learning. The reality to this is, we cannot keep plugging up the gaps that exist. Essential learning is being missed and that does have a genuine impact on not just the current learning of your child, but also their future learning.

If you are experiencing trouble in getting your child to school, we are more than happy to work with you in setting up some proactive strategies.

READING

In the past, we have offered our parents some specific training in the teaching of reading. I have included many articles in past newsletters about the importance of reading. In fact, reading is the king of skills. Research is very clear in showing that if a student experiences delays in their reading development, this will have an impact in other areas of their learning. There are six distinctive stages of development that children go through to develop their skills in becoming a proficient and critical reader. These skills are known as 'The Big 6' and they are:

1. Oral Language (Linguistic Knowledge)
2. Phonological Awareness and Phonemic Awareness
3. Phonics/Letter/Sound Knowledge
4. Vocabulary Development
5. Fluency
6. Comprehension

Even though some of this may sound a bit like 'teacher speak'. I really believe it is important for all of our parents to have an understanding of how important language development is and how you can build this into your daily routines at home. For example, with oral language, being able to model clear and correct use of language is paramount. Share your thinking aloud strategies with your child as a guide for them to learn from. Teach active listening. This can be achieved by not only asking your child questions about their day, but having them reciprocate this behaviour and being able to listen to your responses. Learning to make eye contact and to understand when things are just conversation, or if it's an instruction etc. Practising oral language on a daily basis also provides opportunities for social interaction.

What we would like to do is again look at what learning opportunities we can provide to our parent community to continue building your knowledge and understanding, as well as strengthening our philosophy around 'Parents as Partners in Learning'. In the coming weeks I will send out a survey and we will use this information to provide the basis of our next steps in this journey. We would also love to invite a parent group in for a 'Feedback Friday' Session to be able to dig a lot deeper into ways in which we can assist you, and sometimes a survey doesn't allow that level of discussion. So keep an eye out for the survey, and if you would be interested in attending a feedback session, you can contact me on mgill35@eq.edu.au.

NAPLAN WRAP UP

This week our Year 3 and 5 students have participated in the national testing of Literacy and Numeracy, more commonly known as NAPLAN. There is always a lot of media buzz around NAPLAN at this time every year, and many rigorous discussions around the merits of this test, purpose, possible anxiety it could cause to students due to the testing conditions.

We spend time in preparing our students for the testing conditions so that none of that is a surprise on the testing days. We also value our parents input in making decisions based on personal reasons for withdrawing individual children.

We use our NAPLAN data as a marker for how our school is performing and ways in which we can get better. NAPLAN is not used on student's report cards, we do our own summative assessments for this process.

We can expect our results to be made available in August of this year and we will share these with our community when they do come out.

I would like to thank all of our staff for the preparation that they have put into our students and the journey towards NAPLAN.

Have a wonderful weekend and always remember to have courage, but be kind!

Kind Regards
Martine Gill

News from our Deputies

Prep 2018

We are now taking enrolments for Prep in 2018!! If your child is born between 1st July 2012 and 30th June 2013, you can now pick up an enrolment pack from the school office for Prep in 2018. Our first Parent Information Session will be held on the 15th of June at 4:30 – 5:00pm in the school library. Come along if you are interested in finding out some more about Prep at Coomera Springs State School, there is no need to bring your children, it’s purely information for parents.

Life Education

Life Education provides a unique learning experience for children instilling in them the skills needed to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. Mobile Classrooms visit the school where trained educators, joined by Life Education’s loveable mascot Healthy Harold bring to life age appropriate lessons that empower children to make safer and healthier choices, now and in the future.

Primary school curriculum based modules focus on issues around food and nutrition, personal safety, physical activity, cybersafety, safety with medicine and legal drugs; tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. By taking a comprehensive approach to drug and health education the modules help children to develop relationship skills, positive communication (both face to face and online), problem solving and decision making skills. Life Education provide students the opportunity to to develop strategies, and practice the skills required to avoid the harms associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.

All students are invited to participate in an age appropriate Life Education Module – each year level does a different module. See attached information on each module.

Prep – My Body Matters
Year 1 – Ready, Steady, GO
Year 2 – Growing Good Friends
Year 3 – Harold’s Diary
Year 4 – Bcyberwise
Year 5 and Year 6 – It’s Your Call

Parents wishing to know more about the program and visit the van are invited to a Parent Information Session on Tuesday 6th of June at 2:00pm in the Life Ed van. The van will be parked at the back of the staff carpark, near the newest demountables, where the Dental Van has been parked.

QParents

Our school has QParents. If you are already utilising this please ignore but new Parents should have received an invitation email or letter by now and it’s great to see that so many parents have registered already. If you have not received an invitation, please advise us immediately. Over time, QParents will become an integral part of how we communicate with parents. Get on board now to enjoy the ease and convenience that QParents offers.

Gabby Raffin/Taylor Haley/Ben Morris

News from Our HOSES

Updating Medical Records

Parents, we ask that if you have recently been to a Paediatrician or Therapist and have not already touched base with your child’s case manager, to please do so.

This ensures that our records are kept up to date and assist us to better support your child at school.

Connie McLean

News from Our Guidance Guru

Worries and Anxieties: Helping Children to Cope

Children, like adults, have all sorts of strong feelings about what is happening to them. At times, the world can seem frightening or uncertain, which may create fearfulness, worry or anxiety.

Different Types of Anxiety

Fears and Phobias

Very young children often develop fears and phobias. These can be triggered by changes (going to childcare, separating from a parent), or particular things (spiders, snakes, monsters etc). Fears like these are common but with encouragement and support most children learn to overcome their anxiety.

General Anxiety

Some youngsters feel anxious most of the time for no apparent reason – it may be their temperament or may be a pattern of behaviour that is shared by other members of the family.

School-Related Anxiety

School refusal can be caused by anxiety – separating from parents, fear of bullying, problems with friendships, trouble with school work or teachers are worth investigating

Home Related Anxiety

Family problems (money issues, squabbling, separation/divorce), death of a family member or friend, harsh discipline or a traumatic experience eg burglary can be causes of anxiety (as well as depression).

What are the Signs

• Feeling sick – stomach aches, headaches. Not being able to stomach food.
• Feeling tense, fidgety, needing to go to the toilet often
• Feeling fearful or panicky, breathless, sweaty
• Being irritable, tearful, clingy or having sleeping difficulties

Anxiety can limit a person’s experiences in life. It can contribute to lack of confidence, loneliness, health problems and learning difficulties. The emotional effects if not remedied can be long lasting.

What to do

• Talk to your child –show your child that you care and want to understand the reason for their anxiety
• Give comfort, reassurance and practical help with how to cope eg. change thinking to be more positive
• There are children’s books to help with upsetting things like divorce, death (ask your guidance officer)
• Prepare your child for changes – talk to them about what might happen and why
• For children with school/ separation anxiety, regular routines and consistency around sleep, and getting ready for school, having breakfast etc will generally improve the outcome
• Be aware of school or family situations that may be creating worries for your child
• Be aware of your own anxiety and protect your child from taking on your woes

If your child is so anxious that they can’t cope more specialist help may be needed.

NB: At these times a talk to your school’s guidance officer, or your doctor will be useful, or you could seek help through child mental health services. Through the medicare benefits scheme access to a psychologist is available.

Adapted from Mental Health and Growing Up, 3rd Edition – Factsheets http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/info/mhgu/index.htm

News from our IT Department

Dear Parents and Carers,

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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

Upcoming Sporting Events

Tuesday 30th May – Years 4, 5, 6 Gala Sports Day

This term students in years 4, 5 and 6 will compete against Highland Reserve State School and Park Lake State School in a Mini Olympics. Each year level will be hosted at a different school.

Year 4 – Coomera Springs State School
Year 5 – Highland Reserve State School
Year 6 – Park Lake State School

Students will need to wear their school sports uniform, hat and sunscreen.

They will need to bring: two water bottles, packed lunch and morning tea – NO TUCKSHOP facilities are available. There will be no ordered lunches for years four either as our lunch breaks at Gala Day do not coincide with the normal break times.

Thursday 25th May – District Cross Country Championships

26 students have earned their place on our Coomera Springs Cross Country team for 2017. These 26 students will have the opportunity to compete against 37 other schools in our Broadwater District. We wish the following students good luck in their 2km and 3km races.

Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th June – Athletics Carnivals

Save these dates as parents and families are invited to cheer on their children at our annual Athletics Carnivals.

• Prep – Year 2 Carnival will be held on Tuesday 13th June from 9am – 12.45pm
• Years 3 - 6 Carnivals will be held on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th June.

Keep a look out on our Facebook page and in the newsletter for more information closer to the date.

Coomera Springs State School NAB AFL Auskick Centre

Sign on & 1st Session: Monday 15th May
Time: 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Venue: Coomera Springs State School oval
Cost: $75
For more information contact: Tyson on 5594 5722 or at Tyson.Kulari@afl.com.au

Auskick is for Boys and Girls!

Participants receive benefits which include: football, lunch bag, and more!

Register online & pay online below

Sarah Hodder

News from our Music Department

Musical Update - Kids at Sea 2017

Costume measurements have been taken today for lead roles and featured dancers. Students in Chorus A, B and C will be measured throughout next week. I can't wait to see the amazing costumes by Mrs Marriott and Mrs Cowley and their team of parent helpers.

The songs, dances and scenes are coming together very well - please keep practicing at home so you remember your words and moves from week to week.

Alison Murray
Music Coordinator

News from our P&C President

Raffle Fundraiser

Thank you to all our lucky winners of our raffle draw which was held last Friday night at Ladies Night Out. There were many prizes up for grabs.

The lucky winners of 2nd prize has sent us a photo of their fabulous prize all set up and ready to go.

Frankies Tuckerbox

Our new winter menu begins on Monday and it is delicious!

• Chicken noodle soup with a crusty breadroll
• Beef Stirfry
• Potato bake
• Apple pies and custard

These are just a small selection of our new winter menu. You can order these on Flexischools or at Frankie’s Tuckerbox.

We have a new relationship!

The P&C have partnered with St George bank to help our parents and friends looking for a new home/moving home. If you are interested in a new home loan or refinancing your existing home loan please contact Sharon on coomeraspringspresident@gmail.com and she will put you in touch with a lender who can discuss your home loan needs.

This is an exciting concept for us to be a part of and we are looking forward to working with St George Bank and our families at Coomera Springs State School.

Bingo Night is coming – Save the date!

Friday 16th June will be our first bingo night of the year. Keep an eye out for emails and Facebook posts for details on how to secure your table. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Good bye for now

Our next P & C Meeting will be held on Wednesday the 14th June 2017 at 6pm in the resource room next to the library.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Sharon Sharp
P&C President

Community Notices

Gold Coast Health Oral Health (Dental) Services

****Please note: The dental van is no longer at CSSS, you will need to phone the Oral Health Client Service Centre # 1300 300 850 to make a time to receive a free dental check-up & any follow up treatment required.

To arrange an appointment for your child telephone:

The Oral Health Client Service Centre

Number: 1300 300 850 Monday – Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm (Excluding Public Holidays)

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.

Further information on public funded oral health services can be accessed below

Girls Play AFL Too

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