7 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Great start to the 2020 school year

Welcome back to all our families to a wonderful 2020 school year. Students have settled in exceptionally well to their new classes and routines, and I congratulate all students for this. It is great to see their happy faces being back at school with their friends and learning at the new year level. I can see that so many students have grown taller over the break and appreciate that families are having to make the adjustments to uniforms for the new year. Across the school, it is wonderful to see what a great start students have made to the 2020 school year!

This great start does not happen by magic. I acknowledge and thank families for your organisation for back to school and in preparing students so well for the 2020 school year.

I also thank our staff for establishing new classes and building the relationships and routines that assist students.

Current Issues

There have been some hiccoughs at the start of the year which are being worked through by some of our suppliers. School Locker is waiting on supplies of some school hats and we will update when these arrive. Kookaburra has experienced logistical issues causing issues for families and is working through this and communicating directly with families involved. We will be working with our suppliers towards improving this situation for the 2021 school year. Back to School is a major logistical exercise, expense and some stress on families and these delays are regrettable.

As a community, we are all aware of the fire disasters that continue across Australia. We will work with our Student Council on a way that students can support our fire fighter heroes and help those in need in some way. Stay tuned on this.

Please continue to check your emails and social media on precautions underway in response to the Novel Coronavirus. The advice and procedures given are to ensure that we can contain this virus in Queensland.

Teacher Information Sessions

Parents are invited to Parent Information Sessions next week. These sessions are opportunities to meet your child/ren’s teacher/s and receive information to help support your students. Sessions include information regarding routines, curriculum expectations and homework. Year level teams will email individual details to parents shortly. Please note that this is not the time to meet with your child’s class teacher. If you’d like to have an individual meeting, please email your class teacher and request a meeting time.

Parent Information Sessions

Chris McMillan
Principal

HOSES News

What a wonderful start to 2020!

Our support programs have certainly all got off to a fantastic start and this year is looking to be another year full of exciting learning opportunities for all of our students at Coomera Springs.

The first couple of weeks we have been very busy ensuring our students have settled into their new classrooms and are becoming more familiar with their new teacher and classmates, as well as the new routines.

Our Special Education Program teachers again for this year are as follows:

Connie McLean (Head of Special Education Services and Prep/Yr 1/Yr 2 case manager) cmcle38@eq.edu.au
Sandra Button (Yr 3/Yr 4 case manager) sbutt39@eq.edu.au
Linda Miranda (Yr 5 case manager) Monday - Wednesday lmira1@eq.edu.au
Gail Want (Yr 5/ Yr 6 case manager) gwant2@eq.edu.au
Malina Ratu (targeted intervention) Thursday - Friday mgrat0@eq.edu.au

Please feel free to contact us if you would like any further information on the services we provide at the school.

Parent Workshop Opportunity

CRU (Community Resource Unit) is holding a free parent workshop at Robina on 25th March, 2020. These workshops are designed to assist families of students with disability to be clear, informed, confident and connected so you can work as respected and valued partners in your child’s education.

Oxenford/Coomera Community Youth Centre: Parenting and Life Skills Programs

Each term, parents, grandparent, aunts, uncles and carers are invited to attend the following programs. Childminding is available for all day programs, but is limited, so get in fast to book your spot.

Programs running this term are as follows:

• Tuning in To Teens
• Self Esteem
• Tuning in To Kids
• 1,2,3 Magic and Emotion Coaching
• Circle of Security
• Parenting in the Digital Age

Please click on the link for further information regarding the programs and to register if you are interested in attending

End of Summer Wildlife Adventure - Limited free tickets available

Teenage Adventure Camps QLD are holding their annual outing for local children with special needs and their families at Fleay’s Wildlife Park on Saturday, 22nd February. Tickets have been sponsored by the local business community and are completely free. We have been provided with an extra 30 free tickets. If you are keen for your family to attend this day, please email me as soon as possible at cmcle38@eq.edu.au with the number of tickets you would like. First responders will receive the tickets.

You have the opportunity to see all of the shows the Wildlife Park has to offer such as:

• Nocturnal House – sneak a peek at some of Australia’s rarest nocturnal animals
• Creatures of the night show – discover the mysteries of the animals of the night – gliders, possums & owls
• Wallaby Walk – meet some of Australia’s iconic animals as Park rangers feed the wallabies & emus
• Fleay’s in Flight Show
• Crocodile feeding
• Cassowary Quest Presentation
• Creature feature presentation – experience some of Australia’s native wildlife up close

There will also be a free sausage sizzle and drink provided on the day.

Chaplain’s News

It was a privilege and delight to see all the beautiful, bright, familiar and new faces of the families in our school community last week! I thought this would be the perfect time to introduce myself to the new families and to those who may not have met me before. My name is Desiree and I have been the chaplain at this school since May 2019.

In a broader context people often ask "Who are our chaplains?"

Our 2019 annual survey tells us our average age is 44 (Generation X) and most of us (89%) exceed the minimum qualification levels and some of us, almost 20%, hold Post-Graduate qualifications.

Another question often asked is "What do chaplains do?"

We provide social, emotional and spiritual support to school communities. We contribute to the overall wellbeing strategies and educational goals of our local schools. In Queensland, school chaplaincy services are available and accessible to all students, staff and families. Chaplains don't provide case management or counselling but compliment other school support services by providing pastoral care support.

 

There is so much more to tell you - I will include more about what we do in the next Newsletter! Feel free to send me an email anytime at: desireeg@chappy.org.au, call the school or pop in at Activity Zone and ask for Desiree - the Chaplain. Until next time!

Desiree Geldenhuys
Chaplain

PE Department News

Drinking water is the best way to quench your thirst. Even better, it doesn’t come with all the sugar and energy (kilojoules) found in fruit juice drinks, soft drinks, sports drinks and flavored mineral waters. Drinking water instead of sweetened drinks also prevents dental problems. Students are encouraged to bring a named water bottle to school everyday to ensure they stay hydrated.

Students must wear hats for all HPE lessons and outdoor play.

Save the Date: School Cross Country Carnival

Our annual Cross Country Carnival will be held on Tuesday 24th March.

Students can come to school dressed in their house colours –

Ballun ( Blue ) Kaban ( Green ) Tharagum ( Yellow ) and Tugai ( Red )

If you are unsure which house your child is in, please contact your classroom teacher. Families and friends are invited to come along and cheer! Don’t forget to bring your chairs.

Save the Date: Tuesday 17th March – Year 4, 5, 6 Gala Sports Day

This term all students in years 4, 5 and 6 will compete against Highland Reserve State School and Park Lake State School in our Interschool Sports Program. Year 5 and 6 students have chosen to compete in either Oztag or Soccer. Year 4 will be soccer only. These sports will be held over three venues. More detailed information will be emailed to families in the coming days.

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.

Music Department News

Classroom Music

Welcome to our new and continuing students in Music at Coomera Springs! We have some great learning activities planned for our students and music groups this year, but first let me introduce our teachers. For 2020 Mr Lewerissa will be teaching Classroom Music to Year 2, 3, 4 classes (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). Mrs Murray will teach Prep, Year 1, 5, 6 and the Year 4 - 6 COE Music classes, and coordinate the Instrumental Music Program (Monday to Friday).

Sign ups for our Extra Curricular Music groups will be happening in Week 3, and all students are welcome (to check which groups are open to which year levels please see below):

Drumline (Mr Lewerissa – N Block Music Room) – students in Year 5 & 6 are welcome to sign up for tryouts (limited places available).
Drumline will rehearse on MONDAYS at 2ND BREAK.

Senior Choir (Mrs Murray – M Block Music Room) – open to all students in Year 3 – 6.
Senior Choir will rehearse on TUESDAYS at 2ND BREAK

Junior Choir (Mrs Murray – M Block Music Room) – open to all students in Prep – Year 2. Junior Choir will rehearse on THURSDAYS at 1ST BREAK

Ukulele Band (Mrs Murray – M Block Music Room) – open to all students in Year 3 – 6.
Ukulele Band will rehearse on FRIDAYS at 2nd BREAK

If you have any questions about our Music groups please email Alison Murray amurr51@eq.edu.au – we are looking forward to seeing many of our students in Music groups this year!

Instrumental Music

We welcome back our Strings Teacher Miss Stephanie Williams, who has already commenced a “jump start” program with our Year 3 Beginner Strings students. Timetabled lessons for all Strings students will begin in Week 3, with Year 3 lessons on MONDAYS and Year 4 – 6 lessons on WEDNESDAYS.

This year we will welcome a new Band Teacher as our previous teacher Dr Postema has accepted a teaching position in New South Wales. We will advise all Band students and parents about the commencement date of Band lessons once our new teacher has been appointed by Regional Office.

Music Shirts

Our performing ensembles look amazing in their Music Shirts. If your child is in Band, Strings or Choir now is the time to order your Music Shirt for 2020 – available from the uniform shop with ordering via Flexischools. Music Shirts can be worn to school as a uniform option on Thursdays this year.

P&C News

Welcome back to you all and a special welcome to all our new families who have joined us this year.

Fundraising update

Last year we raised enough money in terms 1 to 3 to install air conditioning in the Year 5 and 6 classrooms, which was an amazing effort by all.

In term 4 of 2019, we raised $7,260.43 over three events - CSSS Twilight Market, Disco and Christmas stall. This money has now been carried into the 2020 year. We are hopeful that this year we can raise more needed funds to purchase and install air conditioners for the remainder of classrooms currently without air conditioning (just to give you an idea - to air-condition eight classrooms costs approximately $27,500 including GST).

P&C Meeting

We will be having our first P&C meeting next Wednesday 12th February in the staff room (located next to the library) at 3.30pm. We hope you can come along and join the P & C. Everyone is welcome.

This will be the last meeting before the AGM on Wednesday 11th March when I will be stepping down from my position as President. The AGM allows a new Executive Team to be voted in for the year, so if you are interested in becoming a member of the executive team, please come along to our meeting next week and find out what is involved.

Theresa Grima
P&C President

Uniform Shop

Tuckshop

Frankie’s Tuckerbox

The tuckshop is open Monday - Friday and offers a range of healthy choice options. Please refer to the  2020 Tuckshop Menu  for more information.

Orders can be placed at the tuckshop between 8.15 - 9am or online via FlexiSchools (We prefer online ordering)

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 so it can be paid next day at the tuckshop.

All counter orders will incur a 20c processing fee.

Phone orders are no longer accepted.

FLEXISCHOOL THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS

All orders on Thursdays and Fridays can now only be placed through Flexischools. NO BAG ORDERS OVER THE COUNTER WILL BE TAKEN.

For further enquiries please contact:

Coomera Springs State School – Tuckshop
tuckshop@coomeraspringsss.eq.edu.au

School Terms for 2020

School Calendar 2020

School Directory

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Community Notices

Gold Coast Oral Health

Surfside Buses

The Surfside Bus service has advised that their website has been updated and parents can utilise this to plan their children’s journeys at the link below:

Keebra Park SHS – 2021 Year 7 Enrolment Information Evening

Progress through Sports (PTS)

Progress Through Sports (PTS) are delighted to tell you about our upcoming After School - Multi Sports Program we will be running at Coomera Springs State School every Thursday beginning 13th February.

Over the course of the program children will participate in a range of educational and fun based sessions across a wide variety of sports.

Sports Include: Tag Rugby – Soccer – Cricket – Netball – Softball – Athletics + More

For more information & online registrations please visit the link below:

Coomera Cricket Club

Grasshopper Soccer

Hoop Club

Athlete’s Foot Promotion

Helensvale Netball Club

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