3 April 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

COVID – 19 School Update

Our entire school community continues to be challenged by the health concerns and restrictions linked to COVID – 19. We send our immense gratitude to our families and extended community for the level of support and messages over the past fortnight. We have many families with parents providing essential services to keep us safe, healthy and fed. We also have many families who work in other essential areas such as child care and logistics, which all contribute directly. On behalf of our community, we thank you for what you do.

There is no certainty about many aspects of school after the Easter vacation. The Prime Minister has stated that on the other side of the school holidays, school will not look like it does now. We are spending this week preparing for all known contingencies for school in Term 2. This has been an opportunity to innovate on 21st Century learning.

21st Century Learning Centre

We are planning to do things differently whilst enabling the learning, community, routines and support for students to continue, if students need to learn from home. Our passionate and committed team of educators, are seeking every possible way to support students to continue their learning and continue as part of our school community.

As we approach the school holidays, parents may have some time to prepare for on-line remote learning. Year level teams will have forwarded details on learning platforms that will support on-line remote learning.

Our school has chosen the Showbie Pro application to support learning at home. Year 6 and some Year 5 students are already using this application and it is working well. Students enjoy using Showbie as it assists them to feel a level of autonomy and ability to engage in 21st Century learning. Showbie works well for students on 1:1 Ipad but is also compatible with smartphones and PCs. Showbie is also a way for parents to follow their child’s learning. Teachers will provide more information and codes to assist your student/s enrol into their classes ready for Term 2.

The link below may also be helpful for parents of Coomera Springs State School students

Excellence at Coomera Springs State School

Our excellence focus this week is our Kokoda Challenge kids. Approximately 32 students demonstrated commitment and effort over many weeks to train and improve endurance and resilience. As it turns out, these students reached a significant goal of climbing Mount Warning prior to restrictions being put into place. We honour our Kokoda Kids for the values of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice.

This is our last newsletter for Term 1. I take this opporunity to wish all of our families a wonderful family time and very Happy Easter.

Chris McMillan
Principal

Finance News

Payment Options Available

How can I pay an Invoice?

Our preferred method of payment is BPOINT

Please see below our “quick and easy ways” to pay 24/7:

BPOINT via WEB ADDRESS:

• Simply click the BPOINT link located at the bottom left hand corner of the invoice
• Enter your debit/credit card details
• Elect the amount you wish to pay
• A receipt will be emailed to you

Please note, you will need to do “individual” transactions for each invoice you receive due to the unique references pertaining to same.

BPOINT Phone:

• Phone 1300 631 073
• Ensure you have your CRN, invoice number from the BPOINT box at the bottom left hand corner of your invoice
• Enter your debit/credit card details when prompted
• Elect the amount you wish to pay
• A receipt number will be quoted at the end of the transaction approval process

Please note you will need to do “individual” transactions for each invoice you receive due to the unique references pertaining to same.

EFT

Payment directly to our School Bank Account

Please ensure correct identification in your reference by including at least STUDENT’S SURNAME, CLASS, etc. Example SMITH, 1A Fees.

Important – When paying by BPOINT/EFT

It is advisable that you allow a “48 hour turnaround” to ensure payment reaches us by the payment deadline date.

For your information we have outlined below ALL current Fees/Excursions/Incursions:

From the Chaplain

During difficult times it is important to remember that we’re in this together, that we’re surrounded by our community, all of us are going through the same issues and that it is for a period of time, not forever! This is temporary - this will end.

Let’s also find a healthy balance between knowing what’s going on and spending too much time listening to the media. We can’t control what’s happening “out there” but we can control what’s happening “inside” – let’s try and keep a practical and calm approach.

By staying home we’re helping out! We’re keeping our families and others safe. By practicing social distancing and washing our hands we’re doing something – we’re decreasing our chances of getting sick.

Let’s stay connected to our friends and family by calling or texting or using Skype, Zoom, Facetime, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and more – there are sooo many ways to stay connected.

Take care of your mental health: activate your support network, find support networks if you don’t have them yet, try and stay physically active, healthy and in a routine, seek professional help if required.

Chaplains have been providing support to families, students and staff in school communities for more than 30 years. We care about the wellbeing of our school community. Please contact me if you need support (emotional, social, spiritual, financial, mental health) during this challenging Covid-19 period. We can have a chat and I can pass on local and national referral contact details for you and your family.

Here are a few places in our area that can be contacted for food support:

• New Life Food Barn – 12-16 Dunkirk Cl, Arundel QLD 4214
  Offer food parcels from $50
  Ph: 0410 565 781

• Lighthouse – 17 Monte Khoury Dr, Loganholme QLD 4129
  $25 per trolley of goods
  Ph: (07) 3806 0639

• Kings Community Care – 56 Gemvale Rd, Reedy Creek QLD 4227
  Complementary food parcels (conditions apply)
  Ph: (07) 5522 0802

• Hillsong Care Upper Coomera – 7 Kohl Street, Upper Coomera 4209
  Food hampers $15. Food items for sale at very low prices
  Ph: 0420772972
  Email: pare.andrews@hillsong.com

• Meals on Wheels – Beenleigh
  This is a service mainly provided to senior citizens. Even though there is a cost involved, it will be minimal.
  Ph: (07) 3287 3590 or 1300 90 97 90

Desiree Geldenhuys
Chaplain
desireeg@chappy.org.au

P&C News

Hello parents and caregivers. My name is Darren Akers and I am proud to be the new President of the Coomera Springs State School P&C.

I would like to say thank you to former president, Theresa Grima and all members of the former executive committee for doing such a great job over the past year or so, and during some challenging circumstances. We will take on board any advice, and appreciate any assistance they can provide us, so let’s hope we continue to see them around the school.

I would also like to say a big thankyou to Angela, Vivienne and all the volunteers that help out in the school tuckshop. I know I’m not alone when I say we all appreciate them for their efforts, and their care and dedication in what they do for our kids and our school.

Following the AGM in March this year a new executive committee was elected and we thank the following people for volunteering their time to the P&C:

• Vice President – Sue Eckford
• Treasurer – Kirsty Duncan
• Secretary – Kristy Penhaligon

The next few months bring some challenges and opportunities for the school, our teachers and the community, and include:

• Fundraising events, although scaled back, will continue as we work on different ways to ensure they continue to be a success. Many thanks to the fundraising sub-committee for their great work.
• We are still unsure about the operation of the tuckshop in Term 2 as there may be no students in attendance, but we will keep you informed.
• I have had initial discussions with the Principal about how the school may need to change some focus on new methods of learning, and how we can work together and find ways to support the school, families, and our kids.
• Although school activities and events may be temporarily disrupted, we will try to support our school anywhere else it is needed.
• We are working on ways to keep our community connected and how we can conduct P&C meetings etc with possible restrictions in place. We are so fortunate to have the tools available now that enable so much, but they rely on families having devices and internet.

It would be difficult to function as an effective P&C without the support of the community, and we would appreciate any support people can provide, a little or a lot. One of our aims this year is to provide our community with as much notice as possible for upcoming events so you can plan your commitments well in advance.

I will send a communication shortly from my eq email address (once known), for anyone wishing to contact me directly. The P&C general email account: CSSS_PandC@coomeraspringsss.eq.edu.au is still available.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, we look forward to working together to help improve the facilities and opportunities at Coomera Springs State School.

Darren Akers
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 8.15am - 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

Are you subscribed to our Newsletter?

Do you see it off the website, emailed from the school or our Facebook or twitter accounts?

Would you like to get it emailed to you as soon as it is released…?

Please click on the link below to receive it via email as soon as it is released!

Community Notices

Choose how to add this event to your calendar:

Apple Calendar iPhone, iPad, Mac - Download .ics file

Outlook Desktop Outlook - Download .ics file

Android Calendar Android devices - Download .ics file

Other Calendar Google Calendar, Yahoo, etc. - Download .ics file

Download Event