Term 1 Week 2
Principal's Report
Welcome back to the new school year. We have had a fantastic start this year with 1014 students looking splendid in their uniforms and getting back into their learning from day 1. A special welcome to the new families to our wonderful community. We also welcome some new staff to our school, Mrs Cohen, Mrs Westera, Mrs Bourne, Mrs Onions, Mrs Gowing, Mrs Green and Mrs Sparrow. They have all been welcome additions to our teaching team.
While many of you will have a had a chance to meet your child’s teacher already, the parent information sessions provides an opportunity to hear more from your child’s teacher about what they will be learning this term and how the classroom operates. There are many events planned for the term such as swimming for years 2 and 4, Investiture of the school leaders, Year 6 camp, NAPLAN, cross country and dress up days. We have many ways to keep you updated on upcoming events such as the fortnightly newsletter, Facebook, notes delivered by students and emails. Please ensure your contact details are up to date so you receive our communications and may plan for these events.
School Uniform
We are a school uniform school and this is endorsed by our school P&C. We have this policy as it reduces potential bullying with have’s and have nots and instils a sense of pride and connection in our school and the Coolum Community. Your assistance with this is appreciated.
- Hats: We are a sunsafe school. If students do not have a sunsafe hat they must remain in the under covered area. (Covered area means solid structure. The shade of trees is not a solid structure) We have a school hat that should be worn.
- Shirts: The blue school shirt or year 6 senior shirt with accompanying shorts, skirt or the dress can be worn every day and is the uniform for an excursion unless a specialist uniform is available eg sports shirt of music shirt.
- Sports Shirts: House shirts are for Friday’s only or when a whole school sports event such as athletics or swim carnival are on.
- Special Shirts: District rep shirts can be worn on the Friday following the students representative day.
- Socks and Footwear: Socks can be short white, blue or black. Shoes are to be closed in.
Active Transport to School
It is fantastic to see the number of students who come to school either by bike, scooter or walk, even if only for part of the trip. This helps to reduce the congestion around the school and create healthy habits for our children. Please note bikes and scooters are not to be ridden in the school grounds and are to be stored in the provided bike racks. No scooters will be stored in classrooms.
Mobile Phones and Smart Watches
We understand that mobile phones fill a need for some families, especially in relation to the occasional issues that arise before or after school with safety and communication. There are a number of issues associated with mobile phones and smart watches at school. These include security, interruptions to class programs, inappropriate use or overuse. Due to these issues, we prefer that students do not bring mobile phones to school. The school holds no responsibility for lost or stolen phones. If a student has a wearable mobile phone device. The phone component must be not be used while the student is on the school site.
If however, you do require your student to have a mobile phone at school the following procedures apply:
- Your child must secure their phone in their school bag for the entire day.
- Students who breach this requirement will have their phone held in the Front Office.
- Should you need to get in contact with your child, this should be done through the Front Office. One of our Front Office staff will get the message to your child.
We trust you appreciate the stance the school and Education Queensland has on mobile phone use and actively support the above school procedures. Digital literacy refers to the skills needed to live, learn and work in a society where communication and access to information is dominated by digital technologies like mobile phones. However, the benefits brought about through these diverse technologies can be easily overshadowed by deliberate misuse which harms others or disrupts learning. In consultation with the broader school community, Coolum State School has determined that explicit teaching of responsible use of mobile phones and other devices is a critical component of digital literacy. The knowledge and confidence to navigate and use these technologies safely while developing digital literacy is a responsibility shared between parents, school staff and students.
Anthony Ryan
Principal
News from 1J and 1W
As our Year One students dive into the new school year, they're navigating a mix of emotions. They have a new class, a new teacher and new classmates to get to know. We asked the students what they are most excited about for this year.
Here is what 1J said:
Florence: Going to the big kids playground and seeing all of my friends.
Dusty: The iPads and meeting new friends.
Bailey B: Going to STEM and doing cool things like a time capsule.
Ollie: Going on the stage and dancing.
Finn: Dressing up and the playground.
Maci: Reading books and having lunch.
Ella: Learning and playing.
Bailey S: Playing on the oval and on the playground.
Jonathan: I get to do fun stuff like writing.
Bodhi: I am excited for when we get to dress up.
Emmy: Learning new things and learning Maths.
Dimitria: Learning how to write.
Rocky: STEM and seeing my brother in Year 2.
Adalyn: When I do STEM.
Calypso: Meeting new friends and doing new things like how to make a time capsule.
Ashley: We get a class party at school if we get all the coins in the treasure chest.
Eleanor: Having the best teacher.
Nullah: When we come in in our dress ups.
Fern: I get to have a really nice teacher.
Oakley: STEM and doing the iPads.
Eve: Playing in the new playground and learning what we want to be in the future.
Maverick: The end of the term and the iPads.
Hamish: Learning about science because I love it and I borrow science books from the library.
Here is what 1W said:
Frankie: Frankie wants to learn words.
Kiana: Kiana wants to write.
Zara C: Zara wants to learn maths.
Archie: Archie wants to be respectful.
Maggie: Maggie wants to do maths.
Noah H: Noah wants to do writing.
Jay: Jay wants to do testing.
Sonny: Sonny wants to learn how to read.
Avah: Avah isn’t sure what she wants to learn.
Rocco: Rocco wants to be a billionaire when he grows up.
Mahalia: Mahalia wants to learn to write.
Sam: Sam isn’t sure what he wants to learn.
Dallas: Dallas wants to do maths.
Zara R: Zara isn’t sure what she wants to learn.
Aria: Aria isn’t sure what she wants to learn.
Airlie: Airlie wants to write a lot of high numbers.
Arlo: Arlo isn’t sure what he wants to learn.
Kalani: Kalani wants to do reading.
Lillah: Lillah wants to write.
Mylo: Mylo wants to do science.
Noah W: Noah wants to learn how to paint.
Jade Epifaniou and Judy Williams
Teachers of 1J and 1W
Reading @ Coolum Parent Information Session
Queensland has a new Reading Commitment!
Queensland is refining how we teach reading!
Families and carers play an important role in supporting children to read. Please come along to a 30 minute information session to see what this means for your child/ren.
Year Level | Date | Time | Venue |
Year 1 | Monday 5th February | 3:30pm – 4:00pm | Staffroom |
Year 2 | Wednesday 7th February | 3:30pm – 4:00pm | Staffroom |
Prep | Thursday 8th February | 8:30am – 9:00am | Staffroom |
We look forward to seeing you there!
Click here to find out more.
Containers for Change Fundraiser
Wow and thank you Coolum, you are amazing! When Clare, from the P&C, suggested that we ask students and families to collect cans and bottles as a fundraiser and to promote our sustainable message, we thought we might get a few returns. However, on Monday morning we were delighted by your enthusiasm to help.
Our amazing volunteers, Denise, Clare, Terry, Marie & Jen braved the heat and steam to welcome donations in the PCC carpark, and the donations poured in. Once everyone had dropped off their bags, the wonderful staff from the Coolum Containers for Change Depot collected them and swapped them for coins. We raised a fantastic $605.20 from items dropped off at school and $50 from items taken to the depot. This equates to 6,050 items.
At school, we encourage every student who uses a 10c can or bottle to place them in our specially marked school collection bins. Then our fabulous 6Q students sort the bins out on a Friday ready to be sent to the depot. Sadly, we can’t take additional items from homes in our bins as we don’t have the capacity, but don’t be disheartened you can still contribute.
How can you help further?
- If you have cans and bottles you would like to donate to school please deliver them directly to the depot and use our school code C10190364 Coolum State School P&C Ass. You can do this whenever and as often as you would like.
- Also, please help us educate your student to understand what can and can’t go into container collection bins e.g. YES, items marked with the 10c logo but NO rubbish, dirty nappies or food items. It makes it much more pleasant for our Friday sorting team.
Thank you again to our generous Coolum Community for making this a success.
2024 Musical
We are soooooo excited to announce our musical for 2024! Its going to be AMAZING.......
P&C News
P&C Meeting - Welcome to all parents and caregivers!
The first P&C Association meeting of 2024 will be held on Wednesday 21 February at 6pm. You are welcome to join in, either from the comfort of your home on Teams (we will send you the link) or in person at the P&C office. Please RSVP to pandc@coolumss.eq.edu.au by midday 21 February.
Scholastic Book Club
Our school is participating in Scholastic Book Club this year. Up to twice a term, during the school year, we will send home the Book Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages. Your first catalogue will come home this week.
You’ll find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites. The books span a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests and are inexpensive (some books cost as little as $3). It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card and the books will be delivered to your child's class. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/loop or by using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. If you wish to pay with cash, call into the P&C office (Uniform Shop). Further enquiries phone: 5471 9371.
More information is in the Parent Guide available here:
Denise French
P&C Manager
RideScore Active Schools
Do you live close to school?
- Does your child have a bike or scooter?
- Would you like your child to get an active, healthy and fun start to the day?
- Would you like a system that tells you automatically when they have arrived or left school?
If you answered YES to these questions, then RideScore is for you!
We are one of 11 Sunshine Coast schools that are enjoying RideScore Active Schools Program funded by councils Transport Levy.
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 will be open to students who are able to ride a bicycle or scooter to school.
Participating students receive a personal sensor (beacon) to attach to their bicycle or scooter. The school bicycle storage facility has a Bluetooth reader that detects the signal from the beacon and sends a notification to the nominated contact to inform them that the student has arrived at/or departed the school.
Each trip is recorded by the RideScore app, providing incentives when the students reach their milestones. Earn great prizes:
- 20 Trips – Mystery prize
- 70 Trips – Movie ticket
- 120 Trips – Bli Bli Aqua Park voucher
Activities will be planned throughout the school year to promote and encourage riding and scooting, including fun events and bicycle skills classes for all year 4 students.
This program was developed in 2022 with a Federal grant funding from the Move it AUS program, with the support of Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Stockland.
How do I register?
Step 1 - Download the app (search ‘RideScore’), complete your registration details
Step 2 – Receive your sign on bag (posted within 1 week) that will include:
- Your child’s beacon & instructions on how to pair and fit
- A scorecard (your app will also keep a live score)
Step 3 – Start riding and scooting!
Visit the RideScore website for more information, great resources and safety tips.
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.
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 .
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 and submit reasons for absences.
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.
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