1 May 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Our community - separated but together during COVID-19

We are presently in a period of ‘learning from home’ for students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a historic change and a challenge to do things differently.

We are very grateful to our nation and state in that cases of COVID-19 are low compared to other countries and we all need to play a part to keep this happening. We are blessed with a wonderful school community that is making this as workable as it can be.

We are grateful for our health professionals, governments and communities for keeping us safe and healthy at this time.

We are grateful for our school families who have been working exceptionally hard on remote learning to keep things balanced for students.

We are grateful to our school staff who are working in a dedicated way to make remote learning work as best it can be.

Now that we are in Week 2, we are finding things are running better than during Week 1. I commend teaching teams for making adjustments to assist the learning and to provide clarification for parents.

Parents should not worry that students will fall behind. Research completed after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake found that students were able to catch up the learning during the time that schools were closed there. Please be reassured from the world’s leader in educational research, John Hattie. The evidence from Christchurch is comforting at this time.

Students learn in many ways, including through life experience. Students learn life lessons through experiencing the reality of life at the moment. It is more important for students to stay well balanced and resilient than completing every single learning activity, if this is causing stress. Just like in Christchurch in 2011, schools will prioritise the curriculum to close the gap after this is all over. This is not a perfect situation and I encourage our wonderful families to be as upbeat as possible for our students.

We are all hearing mixed messages at this time. We continue to operate under the decisions of the Queensland government. We look forward to the time when all students can attend school. The current guidelines are as follows.

From the start of Term 2 until 22 May 2020 inclusive, all students will be learning from home, except for students in the following categories:

• Children of essential workers on days when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made. Essential worker means any worker who must continue to attend their workplace for essential business during this time.
• Vulnerable children including children identified by schools or who:
  - are currently receiving services from Child Safety, including children who are subject to a child protection order
  - are subject to a youth justice order.

We expect to be notified of a decision on school operation beyond 22 May by Wednesday 15 May. I thank all families for your assistance in making this work at this challenging time for us all.

Our community coming together

Our school strives to come together, separated but together for special school community events.

Our virtual school ANZAC Day commemoration enabled students learning in many places to participate and feel part of our community. Thank you to families who supported ANZAC Day in your own house. We are all proud of Coomera Springs music teacher, Mrs Allison Murray as her original song featured on the Gold Coast television news.

During Week 2, we will be separated but together for a virtual Whole School Assembly. We are determined to reach out in whichever way we can to include students learning in many places to participate in our community.

Excellence at Coomera Springs State School

We look forward to our extra-curricular excellence opportunities resuming when restrictions are relaxed. In the meantime, we highlight the work by students in remote learning:

• Students logging into Showbie early in the morning to complete learning upon waking up;
• Students fully participating in our school ANZAC Day virtual service in many locations in uniform;
• Students continuing learning at Mum’s home then to Dad’s home with a day at school and without missing a beat;
• Students practicing their musical instruments as well as their dance, sport and cheerleading on Zoom;
• Students showing amazing love and care for pets and family, also performing acts of kindness to help others;
• Students thriving on the independence that the remote learning is enabling for them – to be able to learn at their own pace;
• Students learning real life 21st Century skills of collaboration, problem solving, independence and 21st Century communication.

In the midst of a crisis, we come out stronger as a community. Thank you to everyone for making the largest change in school learning in history work.

Chris McMillan
Principal

Deputy News

Deputy Principal Year 4 - 6 Sam Wiseman

Hello everyone, I have just joined the team at the start of Term 2 and I have already found Coomera Springs State School to be a very supportive and friendly environment for all. It is a pleasure to be here and I look forward to working with students, parents and staff to produce the best possible outcomes for the students of Coomera Springs State School. I also want to acknowledge the great work of Sarah Hodder throughout term 1.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Sam Wiseman
Deputy Principal Year 4 -6

Finance News

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:

• 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
• Ensure you enter your email address to receive a receipt of your payment

Please note, you will need to do “individual” transactions for each invoice you receive.

BPOINT Phone:

• Phone 1300 631 073
• Ensure you have your CRN and invoice number handy –these can be found in the BPOINT box (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.

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:

Chappy News

Firstly, to our parents: whether you’re working from home, going to work or performing home duties, thank you! Juggling work, home and home schooling is a “tough gig”. As a working parent I understand some of the pressures parents are under and the extra “stuff” we all have to deal with.

But… and it’s a big “but”… we’re all doing a great job: we’re getting on with it, doing it together, keeping our families safe and staying healthy.

Remember, we’re in this together, this is temporary – it will end.

Let’s keep a healthy balance between knowing what’s going on and NOT immersing ourselves in media report, but rather looking for the positive or the funny. Now is the time to watch the funny cat videos on YouTube with your children, watch that comedy or comedy series you didn’t have time for before.

Let’s stay connected with our loved ones, hug those you can, call those you can’t and look out for those who might need some encouragement, a bag of groceries dropped off or a friendly smile.

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

To our teachers: they have been working super hard at home and school to engage our children and keep them connected to educational outcomes. Long before school starts they’re here preparing for the day and long after school ended they’re still communicating, planning, working. Thank you – you are amazing!

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 and thereafter. 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 you could contact for food support:

Hillsong Care Upper Coomera – 7 Kohl Street, Upper Coomera 4209
Mobile: 0420772972
Website: Hillsong
Email: pare.andrews@hillsong.com
They provide food hampers at $15 and have food items for sale at very low prices

New Life Food Barn - 12-16 Dunkirk cl, Arundel QLD 4214
Mobile: 0410 565 781
Web: New Life Food Barn
Offer food parcels from $50

Loaves and Fishes – 29 Mary Street Kingston
Phone: 07 3808 5713
$50 food parcels (valued at $250)

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

Tribe of Judah – 101 Park Road, Slacks Creek or 16 Queens Road, Kingston
Ph: 07 3290 3610
Free Food, bring own bags

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

Desiree Geldenhuys
Chaplain
desireeg@chappy.org.au

Library News

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

P&C News

The P&C realise how important it is for us to continue to celebrate our school community events during this time of learning at home. Although it has to happen in a different way this year, we are happy to announce the Mother’s Day gift stall will once again be available for all students - both at school and at home.

This year the P&C Mother’s Day gift stall will be offering mystery Mother’s Day gift bags.

The “Mystery Mother’s Day Gift” will be available to purchase in four different prices for $1, $2, $3 and $4.

Students can pay for either a $1, $2, $3 or $4 gift, or more than one gift (eg $10 worth could be one of each).

Mystery gifts are designed to be “as is” so that students can simply “grab and go” to minimise queuing time.

How to purchase

Decide how many gifts you would like to purchase, in which $ values, and place the correct total money into a zip lock bag or envelope. To assist with social distancing and to minimise the handling of cash NO CHANGE WILL BE GIVEN.

For Students at School

The Stall will be Wednesday 6th May and will follow a timetable for year level and groups.

Students who are at school on Wednesday can bring the correct money in a zip lock bag or envelope and will be able to purchase their gifts at the stall.

For Students at Home

Students learning from home have the option to purchase their “Mystery Mother’s Day Gift” at the bus zone at the front of the school on Thursday 7th May. There will be designated time slots (see below for details). We ask you for your patience as we are not sure how many to expect and you may have to wait while we hand out the “Mystery Mother’s Day Gifts”. Hopefully, not for too long!

11.35am - Surnames beginning with A to G
12.00pm - Surnames beginning with H to P
12.30pm - Surnames beginning with Q to Z

When you arrive, please have your money ready in a zip lock bag or envelope.

Here is how it will work:

1. Arrive at the bus stop – please go as far forward as possible. Remain in your car.
2. A staff member will approach your car, collect your money, and ask for selection of the mystery gift/gifts.
3. The staff member will collect your “Mystery Mother’s Day Gift/Gifts” and bring them to you at the car.
4. Pull out safely and enjoy the rest of your day.

We anticipate that it may be busy at the bus stop. We would like to make the interactions at the bus stop as brief as possible to avoid long wait times for others. We really appreciate your patience and understanding.

School Terms for 2020

School Calendar 2020

School Directory

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