30 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome the penultimate school newsletter for 2018.

Time has flown by and over the next coming weeks we will be celebrating the year that has been, farewelling 121 of our Year 6 students, and preparing for the 2019 school year.

Enrolments are looking great for 2019 with Prep numbers already on the 115 mark. We have been welcoming all of our new prep children and their families in over the past couple of weeks.

Class Lists For 2019

A practice that we introduced a number of years ago is to release the draft class lists for the following school year on the final Wednesday and Thursday morning of week 10. So this year those dates will be the 12th and 13th of December.

As in previous years, the lists will be brought out for the morning only and then returned to the office. You are not able to take photos of the list as they contain the full names of each child and we must work within the Privacy Act. If you are seen to be taking a photo, you will be asked to delete this immediately.

Also, as in previous years, NO changes will be made to the class lists simply due to dissatisfaction of placement. As I always make clear, parent requests are requests and not a forgone conclusion. Any requests received after the closing date were not included in the process. If you have a concern over class placement you are welcome to email through this concern to me on mgill35@eq.edu.au

Are You Leaving Coomera Springs State School in 2018

Thank you to the parents who have notified the office of your intentions for 2019. As we are right in the middle of creating classes for 2019, this information is incredibly important for us. To streamline the notification process, we have created a specific email address for you.

So, if you are leaving us in 2019, please send this information through to the following address and we will know not to place your child in a class.

leavingCSSS_notification@coomeraspringsss.eq.edu.au

Special Events

As we near the end of the school year, we have a very busy calendar of celebrations. To help you with your calendar, here are some of the big ones ahead:

December 4:

9.15am – P-3 Awards Ceremony
11.30am – 4-6 Awards Ceremony

December 6:

5.00pm - School Disco

December 7:

9.00am – P-2 Christmas Concert
11.30am – 3-6 Christmas Concert

December 10:

Year 6 Graduation (Movie World)

December 12:

11.30am – Year 6 Final Roll Call

It would be great to see as many of you at these events as possible.

Technology Holiday Guide for Parents

Parent Article - By Martine Ogelthorpe

As holidays approach, the role that screens and devices will play becomes an increasing concern for parents. Days when kids are usually tied up with school and activities make way for many an idle hour and, as such, parents fear those hours will be spent largely engaged with a screen or gaming console. While there is certainly no harm in some well-balanced screen time and developmentally appropriate online activities, we must remember that, as parents, we have an important role in helping our kids manage and balance that screen time. Here are a few things we can do:

Understand the battle

It is important parents know the beast they are dealing with. It is easy to shout from another room to get off a screen or whinge to our friends that ‘kids of today’ are all addicted to their phones, but we need to recognise the pull that many of these devices have. The social networks are designed to keep us liking, commenting and sharing. The games cajole us into having ‘just one more’ turn at being the last man standing. These technologies tempt us to reach just one more level, or to scroll for just a few minutes more. Our brains experience a dopamine release and a sense of insufficiency when we use a device. There is always something else to do or something else to scroll through, or one more YouTube video to watch. So our kids are up against it when trying to control their time on a device. We need to help them with that.

Get outside

We can complain that kids never go outside and play anymore, but sometimes we have to physically get out there with them or offer opportunities in which being outside and active play are appealing. We have to work a little harder at this today because we are competing with a device that answers many of our kids’ perceived needs. We need them to know that their needs are greater and more varied than what their screens can offer.

Have some rules

Despite their apparent dislike of rules around technology, kids will (one day) appreciate having boundaries to help them manage their screen time. Rules can be established regarding time limits, devices in bedrooms, device-free meal times, etc. Whatever you decide is important, be sure that you have those discussions with your kids. And any discussion around rules or consequences should happen away from the screens so they are clear on the expectations. (Talking about their screen-time habits while they are just about to be the last man standing on Fortnite is probably not going to make for engaging conversation.)

One console on one television…outside the bedroom

Having only one television that is connected to a gaming console or to Netflix is a good way of ensuring that the device gets shared and one child doesn’t monopolise the screen. And leave consoles out of bedrooms where the appeal of just one more quick game can very quickly rob them of important sleep time.

Role model

Make sure you are showing your kids how you want them to be. Have times when the devices are put away and you give full attention to the people around you. Don’t answer calls or emails at the dinner table. Don’t fall asleep with a device landing on your forehead. Take time to get outside and do things active and in nature. Don’t ever use a phone while driving. Use the Screen Time feature on iOS products to monitor just how you are using your technology and whether you could be making some changes. Kids learn more from what we do than what we say.

We know the technology isn’t going anywhere, and we know there are many wonderful benefits that screens provide. But ensure that holidays and downtime hours can be filled with many different experiences and in ways that leave your kids in control, even if you have to work a little harder to give them that.

Kind Regards
Martine Gill
Principal

1:1 Student iPad Program

Now that Expressions of Interest have closed for the 1:1 Student iPad Program in 2019, it is time to purchase a device ready for the new school year. The Comp Now Parent Purchasing Portal is now open and ready for your orders! Orders placed before November 2nd are guaranteed to be delivered to school for parent pick up by the end of Term 4. Orders placed after November 2nd will be available for pick up in the first week of Term 1 2019.

If families are purchasing a device from another supplier or already have a device that meets the below specifications, the device will need to be delivered to the IT department on Monday 3rd of December. Please ensure that iCloud is signed out, the device is cleared/wiped or backed up (part of the enrolment process is to have a factory reset device) and also clearly labelled with the students full name and current class. The device will then be ready for pick up on the 12th of December 2018.

2018 Awards Ceremony - 4th December

This year’s award ceremonies will be held on Tuesday 4th December. Both ceremonies will be held in the school hall with the Prep to Year 3 ceremony beginning at 9:15am and the Year 4 to Year 6 ceremony beginning at 11:30am.

Christmas Concert – 7th December

Coomera Springs State School Christmas Concert - December 7th

Please come and join us in the school hall.

Final Roll Call - 12th December

This year’s Final Roll Call will be held on Wednesday 12th December, beginning at 11:30am. It will be a wonderful event which culminates our Year 6’s Primary School experience before embarking onto their respective high school.

HoSES News

Countdown Calendars

This year our students who access the Special Education Program (SEP) will receive an A3 size countdown calendar. The calendar will start on the last day of school in 2018 and finish on the first day of school in 2019. Students can use their calendar to cross off each day in the Christmas holidays and prepare for starting a new school year. Your child’s name as well as a photo of their new class teacher (where possible) will be printed on the calendar.

If you wish for your child not to receive this calendar, please send an email through to cmcle38@eq.edu.au.

International Day of People with a Disability

The 3rd of December is International Day of People with a Disability. This is a United Nations day that promotes inclusivity and celebrates the achievements and contributions of people with a disability. It is a day that aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

This year our students will be invited to participate in some classroom activities that may help them to better understand disabilities.

For more information on, what is disability, please click on the link below.

Connie McLean
Head of Special Education Services

Library News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for your support this year with Book Club, Book Fair and reminding your child to return their library books each week.

The end of the year is nearly here. Class borrowing is now finished. Can you please remind your child to return all books, library and home readers by the beginning of Week 9.

Thank you once again for your support,

Happy Reading.
Sue Marriott
Teacher / Librarian

P&C News

Fresh Faces of the P&C for 2019

As the year comes to an end we are looking for fresh new faces to join our P&C Executive next year. All positions will be available. These include, President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.

These roles are a great way to get involved in the school community as well as raise much needed funds for our school by supporting and organising our fundraising events such as, the colour explosion, bingo nights, disco nights and so much more.

We are always looking for people to join us! If you are interested in finding out more about the positions and what’s involved in being a P&C Executive, please email Sharon at coomeraspringspresident@gmail.com for an information flyer or check out P&C’s QLD Website.

The AGM will be held in February next year and these positions will be available for nomination.

We look forward to seeing you there!

P&C Meeting

The final meeting of the P&C for 2018 was held on Wednesday 14th November. There will be no P&C meeting in December.

Sharon Sharp
P&C President

School Disco – 6th December

Pop on those dancing shoes and join us for the last school disco of the year.

Thursday 6th December from 5pm.

$8 entry includes hamburger & drink. All tickets must be purchased no later than Tuesday 4th December.

Tickets can be purchased via Flexischool’s or at Frankie’s Tuckerbox.

Christmas Stall

We will be having our annual Christmas stalls from 3/12/18 until the 5/12/18

Items are from $5 and under.

Great gift ideas for all members of the family.

Please keep an eye on Facebook and emails for more information.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 8.15am – 9.00am.

Tuckshop

Ellie’s Café

We are open from 7.30am until 3:00pm.

Frankie’s Tuckerbox Menu

The tuckshop is open Monday - Friday and offers a range of healthy choice options. Please refer to our Tuckshop Menu for more information.

School Terms for 2018

School Terms for 2019

School Directory

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