Term 3 Week 8 2022
Principal's Report
Congratulations to our OSHC
Congratulations to our wonderful OSHC who were announced as runner ups in the recent P&C Queensland awards. This is well deserved recognition of the work our P&C and OSHC staff do in presenting a quality service to our students and parents.
Social Media
Social media services and online chat are great ways to stay in touch and find new friends, but there are also risks. The landscape of social media is evolving. Traditional social media services like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are great ways to stay in touch and keep across the latest news and trends. Private messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Snapchat are also increasingly popular. Google Docs is even being used as a chat app by young people. While these applications provide opportunities for positive social interaction, we are all aware of the negative influence they can have also.
While the age restrictions for these apps is 13 years and over we are aware that a very large group of students have profiles on a variety of social media platforms. We are aware of students using social media on weekends and in the evenings that is having impacts on the student behaviour here at school. In particular a large group of students have created a group on Snapchat in which they have been sharing photos and video they have taken during the afternoons and weekends. This behaviour can affect the social and emotional wellbeing of our students. School staff are often spending large quantities of time dealing with these issues as a result of these posts that occur outside of school.
At school during class we provide cybersafety lessons to students to help them understand the repercussions of their actions while on-line and how to stay safe online. Your support in monitoring your child’s on-line activity and access to social media is appreciated. The link below provides advice to students and parents on actions they can take to stay safe on-line. There is also more information on how we deal with these issues at school in the Student Code of Conduct which is available on our school website. Below is an extract of the Student Code of Conduct that focuses on cyberbullying.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is treated at Coolum SS with the same level of seriousness as in-person bullying. The major difference with cyberbullying however, is that unlike in-person bulling, cyberbullying follows students into their community, their homes and their bedrooms, giving them no opportunity to escape the harassment or abuse during the evening, weekends or holidays.
In the first instance, students or parents who wish to make a report about cyberbullying should approach the regular class teacher. It is important for students, parents and staff to know that state school principals have the authority to take disciplinary action to address student behaviours that occur outside of school hours or school grounds. This includes cyberbullying. Parents and students who have concerns about cyberbullying incidents occurring during school holidays should immediately seek assistance through the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner or the Queensland Police Service.
Students enrolled at Coolum State School may face in-school disciplinary action, such as detention or removing of privileges, or more serious consequences such as suspension or exclusion from school for engaging in behaviour that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, other students or the good order and management of the school. This includes behaviour such as cyberbullying which occurs outside of school hours or settings, for example on the weekend or during school holidays. It also applies to inappropriate online behaviour of enrolled students that is directed towards other community members or students from other school sites.
Paint the Town Read
What an amazing day we had! This event was about the promotion of reading with the whole community. It reminded us all that there are reading opportunities everywhere and gave our students an exciting insight into the local businesses and started many conversations amongst them that they likely would not have otherwise had. What made the event so wonderful was that it wasn't just the students that had a fabulous experience, our staff and the businesses have all said how much they enjoyed it too.
I extend my thanks to all of the businesses that got involved as this event couldn't happen without your involvement.
I would like to give special thanks to the following:
- Woolworths at Coolum for donating not just the food, but also they sent an excellent team along who came down for the morning to cook and serve it!
- The Salvation Army came along with their bbq trailer and an amazing team who worked so hard all morning with the Woolworths team to ensure we were all fed and watered. Amazing!
- Coles donated loads of fruit and water
- Skyline Attractions for giving everyone a free spin, we all loved it!! Katherine and her team were so welcoming and got us all through so efficiently and joined in the fun spirit of the day.
- MP Dan Purdie provided a gift bag containing a book for every child to take home as a memento of this wonderful day
- SES QLD provided tarpaulins and witches hats that were used for class groups to sit on.
- Coolum Police for assisting us safely across the road.
It was wonderful for every child to have a book to take home, I hope they and you enjoy reading their story books together for many years to come.
Here's a few photos from our fun day:
Paint the Town Read
The businesses kindly donated the story books they read back to our school library. They are now on display and ready to loan. Ask your children if they recognise the story book that was read to them.
Donated books in the library
Student Free Day
Tomorrow is a Student Free Day so school is closed to students, enjoy your extra day and we'll see you on Monday!
Anthony Ryan
Principal
News from 1R
It has been a very busy term for 1R.
In English we have been focusing on describing characters in stories. Students have been learning to write sentences using descriptive language in preparation for writing a description about who they’d like to be when they grow up.
Last week we participated in the ‘Paint the Town Read’ at Coolum. We enjoyed listening to stories at Coolum Surf Club and Coolum Accountants. Then we had a ride on the Ferris Wheel and had a Sausage Sizzle in the park. All the children had lots of fun and had an amazing time out in our local community.
Friday was our Book Week Dress Up Day. Students came to school dressed as their favourite book character, and shared their favourite stories to the class. Then in the afternoon, our class spent time with their 5D buddies. Each week they look forward to spending quality time with their buddies building supportive friendships through reading stories, sharing ideas and playing games.
1R
Tessa Rofe
Teacher of 1R
News from 6P
6P are completing an English and HASS transdisciplinary unit this term. During this unit we are writing a letter to a student from another country describing our life on the Sunshine Coast. We will be conducting research and then taking on the role of the recipient to write a reply describing their life in their country and how our lives are connected. We have been enjoying researching our country and have been learning a lot of interesting things. Below are some fascinating facts we have learnt so far from our research.
Grace – I have learnt that the Japanese population has 4.6 million people under the age of 14.
Jake – I learnt that one of Greece’s indigenous animals is a badger.
Siena – I have learnt about 21 per cent of the world’s population lives in China.
Marlee – Football is the most popular game played in the UK and follows a traditional league system which consists of more than one hundred teams.
Calum – Did you know that New Zealand has the 137th ranked university in the world and it is in Auckland.
Indi H – I have learnt that in Greece their national flower is the laurel, a pretty pink flower that Greece worships.
Indy R – I have learnt that London’s city has a strong cultural heritage and has buildings that are instantly recognised such as the Big Ben.
Duke – I have learnt that the population density of Greece is 81 per km.
David – I have learnt that Vietnam has a population of 99.7 million.
Saul – The fact I have learnt is that China’s population is 1.4 billion people.
Jamie – I have learnt that Greece has a population of 10.72 million.
Ella – I have learnt that in New Zealand there are a lot of sheep, more sheep than people. The current population of people is 4,432,174 and 44,321,740 sheep.
Layla – I have learnt that Vietnam's national flower is a lotus flower.
Bodhi – I have learnt that Vietnam’s population is ninety-nine point seventy million (99.70 million).
Amie – This term I have learnt that Greece’s national animal is a dolphin.
Sienna L – I have learnt that the population density in China is 153 people per square kilometre but Australia only has 3 people per square kilometre. Did you know that? Because I didn’t!
Isaiah – I have learnt that China’s most popular sport is Basketball. I find this interesting because I love basketball.
Cruz – I have learnt that Japan has the 13th best University in the world.
Harmony – I have learnt that a giant carnivorous snail lives on the Southern Island of New Zealand.
Paddy – I have learnt that Japan has an indigenous animal called the red panda.
Harper - I have learnt that New Zealand’s national flower, the Kowhai is one of the best know native trees in New Zealand and it’s their unofficial national flower.
Lachie – I have learnt that 100 million people in China live on one dollar per day.
Iola – Did you know… Japan has a literacy rate of 99%? Well I didn’t!!
Sunny – The top sport in London is cricket and soccer.
Ethan – The kiwi is the beautiful national animal of New Zealand.
Tayla Pollard
Teacher of 6P
Tournament of the Minds
Seven sensational students have spent the last six intensive weeks, at lunchtimes, before and after school and between a school camp, an eisteddfod, sporting commitments and musical practices, to produce their own play, completely written and directed by themselves, with props and costumes also made by their clever selves! Where could such an opportunity exist? Tournament of the Minds. They performed brilliantly recently at University of the Sunshine Coast, and came away with Honours!
Congratulations team, we are very proud of you!
TOM
Mary Kotzur
Teacher and TOM Coordinator
Garden Club
Earlier this term from the Garden Club enjoyed making bee hotels to attract more pollinators into their home gardens. Students have been learning the symbiotic relationship between flowering plants and bees. Students also learnt some interesting facts about the Stingless bees.
Did you know?
Bees have been pollinating crops for millions of years.
Stingless bees look for native plants to collect pollen. They are attracted to flowers that are in an ultraviolet colour range rather than a red hue.
After collecting pollen stingless bees moisten the pollen with regurgitated nectar to make it stickier and easier to pack into their pollen carrying area.
Stingless bees carry the pollen directly to an open pollen storage pot.
The stingless bee produces a tangy honey called sugarbag honey. The honey tastes sweet and sour with a hint of fruit. Each hive usually produces 1kg of honey a year.
Hope you enjoy visiting the school garden! We are open each day. Check the timetable on the gate for opening times.
Happy gardening!!!
Garden Club
Ms Marsh
Garden Club
School Musical News
Have you bought your tickets for our school production of The Wizard of Oz?
Tickets are selling fast! Follow this link so you don't miss out.....https://www.trybooking.com/CBDZV
This year's performance is dedicated to Rhianna Quarry, our original "Glinda the Good Witch" (cast of 2012), who sadly passed away last year, at the age of 21 from brain cancer. Rhianna was a vivacious, brave and above all, generous young woman. Following her example, this years cast would like to raise funds for the Cittamani Hospice Service, a charity nominated by the Quarry family on Rhianna's behalf.Cittamani is a community based organisation that provides professional and compassionate in-home palliative care on the Sunshine Coast
Check out these raffle prizes available and buy your raffle tickets at school or online here using the link below:
Story Dogs Dress Up Day - Friday 9 September
Artistic help wanted!
Are you artistic? Have a bit of spare time on your hands? Love helping out your local school?
Our Year 6 Student Councillors have been very busy coming up with some great ideas regarding how to beautify our school even more. They would like to paint our Year 4, 5 and 6 toilets near the tuckshop but we need some talented artists/painters to help us plan some creative designs and inspiring quotes, and implement and co-ordinate this project.We will supply the paint, you supply the talent.
Our student councillors would love to assist in the painting of this project. If this is you, please call our Administration Office on 5471 9300 and leave a message for Mrs Albrecht to express your interest.
Other News
Reporting your child's absence
If your child is absent from school it is important that you notify us as soon as possible. To report your child’s absence please either complete the short form available on the website at https://coolumss.eq.edu.au/our-school/absences or telephone us on 5471 9300.
Absences may be reported both on the webform and on the telephone in advance for planned absences.
We thank you for your assistance.
QParents
Did you know that the QParents portal is available for Coolum State School? QParents enables schools to offer parents secure access to information about their child. Parents can communicate directly with the school and update their child’s address and medical conditions, submit reasons for absences and make online payments for school invoices.
QParents is available to all families and not just our new families! If you would like to receive your unique invitation code and child's EQ ID please email us info@coolumss.eq.edu.au to request this.
Contact details
Have you changed your mobile number recently? Have you moved house?
It's important that we hold up to date contact details for you and your nominated emergency contacts. If you would like to update your details please pop in to the Administration Office or email us at info@coolumss.eq.edu.au .
RideScore Active Schools
REGISTER NOW!
- Do you live close to school?
- Do your children have a bike or scooter?
- Would you like peace of mind knowing your children have safely arrived at school?
If you answered YES to these questions, then RideScore is for you!
We are one of nine Sunshine Coast schools that have been invited to trial the RideScore Active Schools Program in 2022.
What is RideScore?
RideScore is an incentive-based program delivered by Sunshine Coast Council and We Ride Australia to increase active travel to and from school. The program is open to all students who ride a bike or scooter to school, as these can easily be fitted with beacons.
Participating students will receive a personal sensor (beacon) to attach to their bike or scooter. The school bike storage facility will be fitted with a Bluetooth reader that detects the signal from the beacon and sends a notification to the nominated contact that the student has arrived at or departed the school gate. Please note that the beacon is not a tracking device, it only records school arrivals and departures.
Data is collected by the online platform, enabling incentives to be offered at certain milestones.
Activities will also be planned throughout the school year to promote and encourage active travel, including cycling education classes for all Year 4 students.
How do I register?
Step 1 - Download the RideScore App (Search for ‘RideScore’ in the App Store or on Google Play)
Step 2 – Receive your sign on bag (will be distributed via the classrooms) that includes:
- Your child’s beacon & instructions on how to pair and fit
- Bike Lock
- Scorecard
- Road Safety Information
Step 3 – Start riding or scooting
Step 4 – Visit the RideScore website for great resources and safety tips
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