26 May 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I trust that our community is travelling along safely and happily. We have been very fortunate to have had a resurgence of fantastic weather, and this has certainly made the Year Six campers a happy group.

As we head into the second half of term it is, at times, easy to let some of our expectations slip. I have noticed an increase in some of the less desirable behaviours such as short tempers, or not following instructions the first time they are given.

If you could assist us in reminding students about where they need to be etc. For example, if your child is at school prior to 8.35am, and they are unaccompanied by an adult, they need to make their way to the tuckshop undercover area for supervision. I have noticed that some students, more in the senior end of the school, are trying to avoid being where they should be in the morning.

Another area of safety concern is the Junior Adventure Playground. This is an off limits area before and after school, and this includes the younger siblings of our students.

Fidget Spinners

I am sure you are all aware of the newest craze of fidget spinners. Sadly these are still considered toys, so that means that they are not to be brought to school. This message has been shared with all students on assembly. But I am guessing that you will need to remind your child about this as well.

Reading

In my last newsletter item I wrote about the importance of reading development and focussed on oral language. This week I would like to share some great tips for parents of early readers that I came across in Reading Rockets.

The love of reading begins long before a child starts at school. As parents, it’s up to us to give our children lots of opportunities to read aloud and to inspire our children to practise every day.

The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.

• Don’t leave home without it: Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait. Always try to fit in reading!

• Once is not enough: Encourage your child to re-read favourite books and poems. Re-reading helps children read more quickly and accurately.

• Dig Deeper into the story: Ask your child questions about the story you’ve just read.

• Take control of the television: It’s difficult for reading to compete with TV and other distractors.

• Be patient: When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him/her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word.

• Pick books that are interesting and at the right level: Successful reading experiences help to make better readers.

• I read to you, you read to me: Taking turns with your child shows them you as a role model for reading.

• Talk, talk, talk: Talk with your child every day about school and things going on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words into the conversation, and build upon words you’ve talked about in the past.

Kind Regards
Martine Gill

News from our Deputies

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 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.

Triple P Parenting Sessions

The school will be hosting three sessions in the school library in term 3, we would like to personally invite some parents as well as open it up to the entire community. Triple P is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world, backed up by more than 30 years of ongoing research. Triple P gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong, healthy relationships confidently manage their children’s behavior and prevent problems developing.

Stay tuned to the school and class newsletter for more information about where, when and what time.

Exemption applications for absence of more than 10 school days

Parent are reminded that where a student will be absent for more than 10 consecutive school days, an application for exemption should be completed by the parent and submitted to the principal for approval. It’s a parent’s legal obligation to ensure that their child is enrolled and attends school. Every single school day is important and if attendance becomes irregular vital moments of learning will be missed.

The secret weapon to eliminating poverty — and we’ve had it all along!

This is a great article and one that highlights the importance of reading, relationships and conversation with your children.

Please take 5 minutes to read.

Year 6 Camp

Our Year 6 students spent a wonderful at The Beach School in a bid to further develop their leadership skills, overcome personal challenges, build resilience and strengthen their friendships. Over the course of the week our students have participated in a wide variety of activities from tobogganing behind a speedboat, right through to solving Navy Seal inspired problem solving scenarios.

The amount of challenges that our student rose to each day were only outnumbered by the smiles that were plastered on our student’s faces. The Coomera Springs 2017 Year 6 cohort were amazing in the manner in which they challenged themselves and supported one another was admirable.

Thank you to all parents and carers that enabled the Year 6s to experience the week away, without your support the children would not have been able to shine.

Thank you also to Mrs Cubit, Mr Fletcher, Mrs Eckford, Mrs Want and Chappy Ben for supporting our students for the week. We all appreciated and acknowledge the time you have spent away from your family, friends and homes enables this camp to be possible. Thank you also for all the planning leading up to the event and the support provided by our wonderful office staff.

Year 5 Adaptations Excursion

It was wonderful to see our Year 5 students having a ball during the Adaptations excursion at David Fleay Wildlife Park. They spent their day examining the structural and behavioural adaptations of plants and animals after first spending some time developing the skills needed to paddle their sit on top kayak along Tallebudgera Creek.

The group spent time observing and taking pictures of the adaptations developed by mangroves, sea eagles, cormorants and ibis’s. Whilst at Fleays, our students visited three different habitats, the rainforest, desert and eucalypt forest. Students will observe and photograph the structural adaptations of animals such as the Bilby, Plains Rat, Koalas, Gliders, Southern Cassowary and the Tree Kangaroo.

What a wonderful and active way to explore our curriculum in a hand on, real life manner.

Gabby Raffin/Taylor Haley/Ben Morris

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 http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/links

News from our HoSES

Morning Activity Zone is Open.

Starting from next week we will be opening Activity Zone in the SEP building to help support our students in the following areas:

• Morning transitions into classroom to begin the school day
• Fine motor – students will have access to various activities to strengthen and develop their drawing, colouring, writing and cutting skills.
• Reading- Students will have the opportunity to read to an adult. They can read their home reader or choose a book from the book corner.

Activity Zone will be supervised by our wonderful Teacher Aides and will be open from 8:10am.

If your child is in the SEP and you would like for your child to access Morning Activity Zone please either contact their case manager or myself.

News from our IT Department

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News from our PE Department

PE Lessons

Last week, Prep – Yr 3 students participated in AFL skills and games run by AUSKICK.

AUSKICK is currently running a program after school on Mondays for 6 weeks.

Tuesday 30th May – Yr 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 year four either as our lunch breaks at Gala Day do not coincide with the normal break times.

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 School Facebook page and in the newsletter for more information closer to the date.

Titans NAIDOC event

GIRLS PLAY AFL TOO

AFL Queensland has developed a new program just for girls aged between 5 to 9 years old. Our #GirlsPlayToo program bridges the gap between Auskick and Club Football. We’ll help you and your daughter become ‘club ready’, develop her confidence, and build her knowledge of the game.

The program is presented by female coaches in a friendly, safe and fun environment

There will be a structured competition commencing at the start of Term 3

Our program is run over four weeks and is completely free for any girls that want to attend

WHEN: Thursdays (25/05—22/06) 4:00—5:00pm
WHERE: Mudgeeraba Spartans JAFC, Somerset College
COST: FREE!
REGISTER: via the link below Or email— Tim Searl at tim.searl@afl.com.au

Sarah Hodder

News from our Music Department

Instrumental Music News

Our Beginner String Ensemble (Year 3 students) commenced this week with Mrs Favaloro. Beginner Strings will be rehearsing on THURSDAYS at SECOND BREAK in the Music Room, and we are looking forward to hearing their first performance as a group next semester.

Ukulele Band

Ukulele Band (for Year 4 – 6 Students) commenced this week with Mrs Murray. The Ukulele Band will be rehearsing on FRIDAYS at SECOND BREAK in the Music Room, and new members are welcome!

Junior Chior

Our Junior Choir members are busily preparing for a performance at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod at the end of August. The Junior Choir will be performing two songs at the Eisteddfod, “Sea Shell” and “Three Little Fishies”. Further information for this excursion will be sent to the parents of the Junior Choir once the date and time of our performance are given to us. If your child in Prep – Year 2 would like to perform with the Junior Choir (or was in the Choir last term but has stopped coming) please encourage them to come along to the Music Room on THURSDAYS at FIRST BREAK.

School Musical 2017 – KIDS AT SEA!

This fortnight we saw a flurry of activity as our Sets and Props team (under the direction of Ms Paige Talbot and Mrs Sarah Hodder) began working on the wonderful backdrops we will be using for our Musical Performances. Our cast members are busily learning lines, songs, scenes and dances, and we are very happy with how things are coming together.

Date Claimer – MUSICAL SHOWCASE EVENING

Following the success of our Inaugural Musical Showcase Evening last year, I am pleased to advise that this year’s event will be held on Thursday the 27th of July at 5:30pm in our hall. This will be a very exciting evening of music and entertainment. All of our Instrumental Music ensembles will be performing, as well as our Junior Choir, Ukulele Band, Music Centre of Excellence Classes and some of our talented Teachers! This is a great opportunity for parents of potential Instrumental Music students to come along and see what the program has to offer. Our whole school community is invited to come along and enjoy some wonderful entertainment.

Music Shirts

Our performing ensembles look amazing in their Music Shirts. If your child is in Band, Strings, Ukulele Band or Choir now is the time to order your Music Shirt for 2017 – available from the uniform shop for $28. Music Shirts can be worn to school on Fridays in 2017.

Prep parents please be advised that the Music Shirts are only available from Size 6 upwards (it is not possible to make the shirt in a smaller size as the process would alter our design). Prep students in the Junior Choir should purchase a Size 6 shirt and wear it tucked into their formal bottom half.

Alison Murray
Music Coordinator

News from our P&C President

Bingo Night!

Our first Bingo night for the year is being held on Friday 16th June.

We have 2 Jackpots up for grabs $1000 and $500 as well as heaps of cash and prizes. Prebooked tables of 8 get a free nibbles platter. BYO alocoholic drinks. There will be food and softdrinks available for purchase.

Tables are selling fast! Places can be booked on Flexischools, at Frankie’s Tuckerbox or contact Sharon on coomeraspringspresident@gmail.com

Airconditioning Update

This is our second year of fundraising for air conditioning. There are 5 stages in total to be air conditioned. The stages below are in no particular order:

Demountables – completed in 2016
Prep & Year 1
2 storey building 1
2 storey building 2
Admin & Library

Whilst each stage has been quoted individually the cost of the total project is appoximately $200,000. The cost of air conditioning the demountables last year was $40,000 which we were able to completed with the help of the fundraising that was completed last year.

The next stage is also $40,000 and we as an executive hope to have this next section installed before the next summer holidays. To be able to do this we need the help of parents with fundraising. We have a number of events on this year Bingo, Disco’s, Stalls, are just a few. The more help we get the faster we will get to reaching our goal. If you would like more information about our fundraising goal for this year please have a chat to any one of our executive team.

New Executive Team

With the AGM held recently we have some new faces to our executive team for this year. Our new executive team is listed below:

President: Sharon Sharp
Vice Presidents: Renee Tobin and Theresa Grima
Secretary: Rachelle Hehir
Treasurer: Keli Pitchford

We are excited to have Rachelle and Theresa on board with our returning executive team.

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 via URL below:

UC Physio

UC Physio offer physiotherapy services including musculoskeletal, paediatric

(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), 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.

Level 1, 21 Coomera Grand Drive, Upper Coomera QLD 4209

Phone: 55 618 111 Fax: 55 618 344
email: admin@ucphysio.physio

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