5 April 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for the brilliant term that we are farewelling. It has been an incredibly busy ten weeks, and it’s hard to think that it is only term 1.

We have definitely welcomed the much awaited autumn weather, and what a nice change this is.

This week we have been able to finish off our term with our cross country events, our always exciting Easter Bonnet Parade and farewelling some of our staff.

This term we are saying goodbye to Mr Harvey, who has been successful in picking up an Acting Head of Curriculum position at Ashmore State School. Jason has been at Coomera Springs since graduating from university, and what a wonderful asset he has been to our school. Jason has more recently been in the role of Teaching and Learning Coordinator and he has made a significant contribution to not only educating our students but also to the development of curriculum across our whole school.

I want to thank Jason for all he has achieved at Coomera Springs, and we all wish him every success in this next phase of his career.

We are also saying farewell to Mrs Danyel Pennycuick, who will be beginning her maternity leave and waiting for the arrival of baby number 2. Again, Danyel has made a significant contribution to the lives of the students here at Coomera Springs, and has always done this with such a positive energy and smile on her face. We wish Danyel and her family every happiness and look forward to hearing the exciting news.

Our wonderful and hardworking Business Manager, Mrs Jean Newall will also be taking some much earned leave. Jean is the incredibly busy lady behind all of the finance, facilities and overseeing our non-teaching staff. It’s a huge job that many wouldn’t even realise happens. I want to personally thank Jean for all the hours of hard work she puts in, and for being simply the best right hand woman any principal could ask for.

I am also saying farewell to the wonderful Coomera Springs State School, and it truly is an emotional farewell for me. It doesn’t feel like it was over 7 years ago that I started my principalship here, but it really was back in 2012. The school was only 4 years old at the time, and a lot smaller than what it is today.

Being the principal of Coomera Springs has been an absolute privilege and something that I will never forget. To have been a significant part of growing this wonderful school, and having the opportunity to have worked with such a dedicated and incredible staff is simply a blessing. I thank our parents and wider community for trusting in me along this time and for supporting all that we do here.

Coomera Springs will continue to go from strength to strength because of the will of the staff, students and parents. I wish you all the best in your continued journey in life and thank you for all of the support you have ever shown me. It has been an honour to serve this community.

Term Two Reminders

During Term Two, parents will be invited to attend our Parent Teacher Interviews. Please take advantage of this great opportunity to come along and chat in an in depth manner to your child’s teacher. I have often spoken about the importance of the parent teacher partnership, and just how much learning occurs at home. So this is a great opportunity to come along and find out first-hand what your child has specifically been focusing on, what their learning goals have been, how they have tracked against these and what their upcoming goals are. Then it’s almost sugar on top, to hear about how you can directly support and influence this at home.

Also, later in Term 2, formal report cards will be sent home. So please ensure that you have the correct email address listed with our school.

Operational Changes to the Uniform Shop and Tuckshop

At our recent P&C Meeting, there were several motions passed regarding the operations and management of the uniform shop and tuckshop.

During Term 2, the school will resume responsibility for both of these. There will be some changes when this occurs, and during the transition time, some level of impact.

For the uniform shop, this will be outsourced to School Locker. School Locker is independent of both the school and P&C Association. School Locker have been working through this transition with the school and this changeover will occur during Term 2. What impact this may have during the interim is that certain stock may run low, or become unavailable. As we are not going to be independently ordering any new stock due to this changeover, we recognise that during some time of Term 2, some students may not have particular items available. To support this process, please supply a note to the classroom teacher and this will be recorded on One School. If an item of clothing is not available, we do request that you wear something that is very closely related to school colours. Once all items are available, this will be communicated and families will need to then ensure all children are in the correct uniform.

With the tuckshop, there will be a review of the menu and as always, we will be calling out for volunteers to support the tuckshop each day.

2019 Parenting Trends You Should Know – Parent Article

By Michael Grose

Parenting Ideas always keeps a close eye on parenting trends so we can help keep you ahead of the curve. With this in mind Parenting Ideas founder Michael Grose will guide you through eight new parenting trends for 2019.

1. The normalisation of anxiety

Amazingly, when Australia conducted the first Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in 1998, anxiety wasn’t listed in the list of disorders that impacted kids. It wasn’t on the radar in the same way that major depressive disorders and ADHD were. With one in seven Australian kids in the 4-18 age group experiencing a mental health disorder, it’s fair to say anxiety is on the radar now.

The last few years have seen the rise in the normalisation of anxiousness across all strands of the community. People from all walks of life are talking about it and there’s more knowledge about its management.

2. Unearthing kids strengths

The Positive Psychology movement has been a strong influencer on school wellbeing practices for many years, but it’s struggled to have cut-through with parents – until now. The huge success of Professor Lea Waters’ book ‘The Strength Switch’ has seen parents start to embrace the strength-based approach with their families.

The holistic nature of this approach appeals to parents who are able to use knowledge of their children’s strengths to motivate, boost confidence and better manage their behaviour.

3. Integrating digital technology into family-life

The rise of digital technology has been the biggest game-changer in my three decades in parenting, bringing problems to families such as cyber-bullying, online safety and kids’ overuse. We know that parents want knowledge and information about children’s digital technology use beyond mere cease and desist tactics that many experts present.

Successful integration of children’s technology use into family-life is trending as a topic. Parents want kids to experience the benefits of digital technology, while staying safe. They also want to know how digital technology approach can enrich family-life rather than detract from it.

4. Wellbeing as a way of life, not merely a fad

The wellness industry has been thriving for years now and it’s beginning to make its mark on families. ‘Find a balance’, ‘Don’t overdo your studies’, ‘Make sure you choose at least one subject you enjoy.’ The language kids hear is beginning to reflect the move toward mental health practices as a normal part of life, for happiness and wellbeing, and not just for optimal school success.

Parents will continue this year to look for the latest research, information and strategies to support the mental health and wellbeing of their families. Schools, as a trusted source of information, have a significant role to play in educating parents about this trend.

5. Balancing extra-curricular activities

Has the student extra-curricular activity trend reached its nadir? Has kids’ busyness peaked? For many years the benefits of kids being involved in extra-curricular activities has been spruiked, while ignoring the cost in terms of overworked kids, frantic parents and stretched family time.

Now get ready to hear the word ‘balance’ replace the terms ‘benefits’ when extra-curricular activities are considered. The potential stresses that student overload can cause on family life and parent wellbeing is now a common concern. In this increasingly competitive educational climate parents are yearning for more balance.

6. Healthy rites of passage

As a community we’ve struggled for many years to create rites of passage for young people. Once a young person’s first job, or their twenty-first birthday were significant markers of maturity, offering a sense that they were entering into the adult world. Community changes have largely eradicated these traditional markers, which makes it harder for a young person to know when they’ve become an adult.

There are many healthy ways to recognise a young person’s growing maturity and mark their journey into adulthood. Many families are now creating their own ways to mark events such as the end of primary school, the move into the teenage years, and different stages of adolescence.

7. Understanding the body clock

Sleep has been high on most schools, ‘must reinforce with parents’ lists for the last few years. And rightfully so, as Australian kids haven’t been getting enough of this performance-enhancing, mental health-boosting activity. Most sleep messages provided to parents have focused on the development of good sleep habits, with regularity and routine being the major strategies. These are slim picking indeed in the light of recent sleep findings from the world of neuroscience.

The 24-hour body clock (circadian rhythm) until now has been thought to regulate feelings of sleepiness and wakefulness over a 24-hour period. Recent findings show that the body clock drives the timing for so much of our bodily and brain functions as well. Working with the body clock means not only does a child or teen get a good night’s sleep, but it also helps them maintain optimum body and mental performance. Work against it and not only is their mental health affected but daily tasks are more difficult to perform. The most remarkable finding though, is that we can reset our body clocks every day. That’s exciting as it’s easier than we first thought for kids to get the proverbial good night’s sleep. It’s a matter of making the body clock work with them, rather than against them.

8. Conversations that influence.

A decade ago the British did something simple yet profound. Realising that parents needed to converse with their kids if they were to influence their behaviour and thinking, they conducted a nation-wide campaign to encourage parents to regularly share meal times with their children. So successful was this campaign that it saw a significant increase in shared mealtimes, and has been attributed to giving back to parents the ability to have influence, which was previously considered to be lost, over their children’s behaviour.

In Australia, parent-child conversations have been promoted as relationship-builders, rather than ways to impact on children’s and young people’s behaviour and thinking. As our world is becoming increasingly chaotic and fast changing, parents are once more seeing the benefits of two-way exchanges with children about a range of issues. The meal-table, something so central to traditional Australian parenting, and in later years somewhat neglected, is now making a comeback. And we’re thrilled about that.

Awareness of trends influences our work at Parenting Ideas, and we believe it should influence the reading and learning of parents. It’s our observation that the most savvy and confident parents are those that keep one step ahead rather than always playing catch-up with what children and teenagers are thinking and doing.

Final Farewell

I wish all of our families a very safe and relaxing Easter vacation. If you are travelling away, please stay safe on our roads. If you are staying close to home, still stay safe. But to all of you thank you and I wish you all the best of luck in all of your endeavours.

Kind Regards

Martine Gill
Principal

Welcome to Our Incoming Principal – Mr Chris McMillan

I wish to introduce myself as the incoming principal of Coomera Springs State School. I have long knowledge of the Coomera area and know the high esteem that the school is held within the educational community. I am delighted to be able to take up this role and look forward to working with the school and school community in the best interests of our Coomera Springs students.

I move to Coomera Springs State School from Principal of Coomera State School where I have been since 2003.

I bring to the role experience and a commitment to making a difference for students. My first order of business will be to get to know the students, staff and parents as well as becoming more aware of the many great things about the school. I am all about continuous improvement and will seek to work with key people on what that might look like so that Coomera Springs State School continues to be the best it can be into the future.

I very much look forward to starting this position on 23rd April 2019.

ANZAC Day Commemorations

ANZAC Day Commemorations will be held in Week 1 of Term 2 on Wednesday 24th April at 11:30am in the School Hall. All parents and school community members are invited to attend our school service. Students are invited to attend the Community March in School Uniform as CSSS representatives.

PE Department News

Cross Country Carnival

Congratulations to all of our students who completed the Cross Country course earlier this week. Everyone did an amazing job! It was great to see our students dressed in their house colours and displaying sportsmanship by cheering for their teammates and congratulating each other.

The winners for each age group were:

Congratulations to TUGAI house for winning the House Shield!

Magic Round

Mrs Sarah Hodder
PE Teacher and Sports Coordinator

Music Department News

Junior Choir

Congratulations to the Junior Choir on a super performance at the Easter Hat Parade yesterday – we loved seeing and hearing you perform! The Junior Choir will be learning new songs next term, so if your child in Prep – Year 2 is not in choir yet (but wants to join) please send them along to the Music Room on Thursdays at First Playtime. Junior Choir will recommence in Week 2 Next Term, due to the ANZAC Day Public Holiday.

School Musical 2019 – The Amazing Adventures of Superstan!

The Musical Cast will be announced on assembly today and posted on the window of the Music Room – congratulations to all students who have been selected! Rehearsals will commence in Week 2 of next term, and will be held during play breaks in Term 2 (with after school rehearsals being added in Term 3). A weekly rehearsal schedule will be emailed to parents and teachers every Friday after school so our cast and teachers can plan ahead for each upcoming week. Look out for your first emailed rehearsal schedule at the end of Week 1 next term! We are very excited about the talent we have seen at auditions, and are looking forward to getting started on this wonderful show.

In the first week back next term our Musical Cast will be performing as the Senior Choir – they will be singing “Our Heroes Today” at the School ANZAC Day Service on Wednesday 24th April at 11.30am. All Senior Choir members will wear full formal uniform for the service – please ensure that we all have black shoes!

Music Shirts

Our performing ensembles look amazing in their Music Shirts. If your child is in Concert Band, Ukulele Band, Strings or Choir, now is the time to order your Music Shirt for 2019 – available from the uniform shop for $30. Music Shirts can be worn to school on Thursdays in 2019. Prep parents please be advised that Music Shirts are now available from Size 4 upwards.

Chess Club

Chess club will continue next term and take place every Monday at 2nd break in the back of the library. All students are welcome.

P&C News

Good Morning Teachers, Parents and Carers,

Please find enclosed our fundraising report.

Sausage Sizzle

Last Wednesday we held a sausage sizzle - thank you to all who supported this fundraiser.

In total 309 sausage sizzles were sold, after the cost of bread, sausages and sauce, we raised $468.50.

Disco

Last Thursday evening we held our very first Disco for the year.

With 462 students in attendance, this successful event was one of the BIGGEST turnouts for students, teachers, parents and volunteers.

After all costs of the disco, we raised $5,457.18.

I would once again like to thank all of you who attended. We danced, sang, laughed and also surprised Mrs Gill with a cake and a farewell present from all of us. We wish her all the best.

It was also fantastic to see the enthusiasm and generosity from parents and students alike who donated their change to the food and glow stalls to achieve our goal towards air conditioning our classrooms.

The support and help from all the staff, teachers and parents was absolutely AMAZING!

Thank you to all the volunteers who did such an amazing job!

Angela Billiau, Vivien Franklin, Lucy Attard, Paul Grima, Tamara Hammill, Michael Cooper, Brett Hammill, Mark Miller, Lisa Cooper, Sharon Quigley, Clayton Best, Hayley Franklin, Yolanda Beck, Carley Johnson, Kellie Harmon, Kylee Kendall, Marleen Bassam, Sue Eckford, Anahera Waitere, Arahia Nicholls, Heather Robertson.

I know there were several more volunteers on the night, but failed to get your names, I do apologise. A big thank you to all of our volunteers.

Silver Coin Challenge

Once again, congratulations to Prep D who won the Silver Coin Challenge and celebrated with a Pizza Party last Friday.

Fundraising Funds

So in the past 3 weeks, we as a school community have raised....

AMAZING!!!!

Theresa Grima
Acting P&C President

Uniform Shop

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

Tuckshop

Ellie’s Café

Are you passing the time scrolling through your phone as you wait to pick your children up from school each afternoon? Why not take advantage of the buy 4 and get the 5th drink free from Ellie’s Cafe? Drop in and grab your loyalty card from the tuckshop and start drinking your way to a free one.

We are open:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:30am – 3:00pm
Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30am – 2:00pm.

Frankie’s Tuckerbox

The tuckshop is open Monday - Friday and offers a range of healthy choice options.

Orders can be placed at the tuckshop between 8.15am - 8.40am or online via FlexiSchools

FLEXISCHOOL THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS

All orders on Thursday and Fridays can now only be placed through Flexischools. No bag orders over the counter will be taken.

Please use separate bags for each break, for each student if ordering at the Tuckshop counter. Please clearly mark the student’s name, class and break on each bag.

Lost or forgotten lunches will be replaced with a jam, vegemite or honey sandwich and a piece of fruit at a cost of $4.00. Payment can be made over the phone by EFTPOS or the bill will be sent home with the student.

All counter orders will incur a 30c processing fee.

Phone orders are no longer accepted.

Camp Australia Holiday Program

School Terms for 2019

School Directory

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Community Notices

Pimpama State Secondary College – 2020 Academy Programs Information Night and Principals Tour

New Immunisation Clinic

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