Term 2 Week 8

Principal's Report

Being a Good Friend

Wellbeing at Coolum SS is a whole school priority that is fostered by everyone at Coolum SS. Many staff are involved in deliberate programs that support building friendships and relationships. From Mrs Frew, Mr Zimm and Mr Welch during their health lessons, to Mr Yaxley’s Games room, Ms Langrova’s Dance club, Ms Bollard's Allstarz, Mrs Nix’s Musical team and Ms Tyler’s Wellbeing Wagon, class activities and the plethora of arts and sports team students have numerous opportunities to develop their relational skills.

Friendship is defined as the caring relationship which exists between two or more people. Having friends is important to everyone, so helping your child to develop skills in establishing good friendships is an important parental role; one which is supported at school. Much is said about the traditional ‘three R’s’ in education, but there are really ‘four R’s’ and the fourth ‘R’ is relationships. School is about learning to live as a community member, and relationships and friendships are the glue that keeps communities together.

Here are some ideas and advice for developing healthy friendships:

• Be honest and truthful.
• Be there when your friend needs you; be helpful.
• Respect people’s feelings and belongings.
• Share your feelings and be a good listener.
• Be kind and caring.
• Invite people to join in your games and activities.
• Never talk about people when they are not there.
• Always keep your promises.
• Be prepared to forgive and forget; it is human to make mistakes.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• Be the kind of friend you’d like to have.

Making and keeping friends requires a lot of effort. It’s not always easy and sometimes friends do things which are hurtful. A good friendship is one in which the people involved all work together to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone. Be prepared to step in and help your child if you sense that their friendships are not appropriate or suitable. Talk to your child’s teacher if you are unsure.

Before and After School drop offs and supervision.

A reminder that school does not open until 8:00am and finishes at 2:40pm. Outside these hours we have minimal supervision as staff are preparing for the day ahead and following up the day just finished. We have noticed many parents meeting with other parents outside classrooms while collecting their children. While doing this please ensure you provide the necessary supervision of your children. This includes ensuring they are safe by not climbing fences and railings or riding bikes or scooters through the school. Your assistance in this is appreciated by the school community. Should you require care before or after school please contact our award winning OSHC.

Anthony Ryan
Principal

Dig Into Reading

This Dig Into Reading article focuses on the role of decodable texts.

What are decodable texts?

Click here to watch a video or read below to find out about decodable texts

When children first learn to read using systematic synthetic phonics, they are taught letter-sound correspondences in a specific order. They will learn a few at a time — not all at once — and they will practise the letters and sounds they have learned by reading and spelling.

Decodable texts are used with beginning readers and are written to match children’s developing letter-sound knowledge. These texts provide an opportunity for your child to practise their reading skills in a meaningful way without having to guess words.

Your child may bring home decodable passages or texts to practise their word reading skills. The texts will contain only those letter-sound correspondences they have been taught. If your child is having difficulty decoding a word, model saying the sound represented by each letter and blending the sounds to read the word. For example: for the word ‘cat’, point to each letter and provide the sound it represents /c/ /a/ /t/, then blend the sounds to read ‘cat’.

Decodable texts may also contain some high-frequency words that your child has been taught. High-frequency words are words that are common in English texts (for example: said, the, of, is). These words are included in decodable texts to create meaningful sentences. They may contain some letter-sound correspondences that have not yet been taught.

News from 3P

In year three this term we have been writing persuasive letters asking Mr Ryan to give us a day of celebration for Year 3. Here are some of our ideas.

Amanda Perina,
Teacher of 3P

News from 4F

4F Adventure Days

This term has been one big, wild adventure. 4F was lucky enough to take part in two fun-filled days spent building resilience, working as a team, and creating new bonds within the class. They were challenged both physically and mentally while completing tasks that had them standing on a ledge (literally).

Day 1

Nestled in the sub-tropical bushland conservation area, Maranatha gave us the opportunity to participate in thrilling activities in a stunning setting. First, we played a heated game of rocket ball where two teams battled it out sling shooting balls at a gold gong while their teammates ran from base to base. Both teams, Fireball and Black Panthers, both came out victorious with one game each. Next, we faced the fearsome Tower of Tremble where students worked as a team to climb wobbly milk crates as quickly as they could. This activity was a hit; everyone had a job from climbing, stacking crates, and pulling ropes to hold their peers up. Last was raft building, a challenge of the mind and body. Students learned to tie knots as well as design and create a raft that could support their whole team on the water. Most were successful, but some began to fall apart in the water, which meant they had to swim their way back to shore, pulling their broken raft behind them.

Day 2

Well-rested and ready for a non-stop day full of activities, 4F began their day playing AFL. We then moved on to Juiced Up Groms where we competed in a range of competitive challenges, then enjoyed a refreshing smoothie before moving on to go-karts where we truly saw who would be a hazard on the road. After a delicious BBQ lunch, we did team building where students showed their leadership skills. Next, teams of four students competed in an amazing race challenge around the school. Lastly was the most exciting of all, the inflatables - a 30-meter blown-up obstacle course that showed students true grit and strength as they raced through the difficult course.

I loved everything, especially the food and the raft building - Laroka

My favourite was Tower of Tremble when me and my friend got to climb up the crates and we got up to 7 crates! It was fun when got to kick the crates down! – Ruby

Kicking down the crates during tower of tremble was the best – Evie

I really loved building the raft– Reeve

The lunch was so yummy - Santana

Emma Fisher,
Teacher of 4F

Japanese Word of the Week

 Nanji ni? (何時に？) – At what time?

This is a particularly useful phrase while traveling. It can be helpful when purchasing rail tickets (see more on getting around Japan below), making meal reservations, or arranging tickets to events.

Sure, you could just ask nanji? (what time?) and hope your point gets across, but by adding the preposition ni you can be assured of much more clarity!

Brad Yaxley
Japanese Teacher

Go Blue Day

On Friday 12 July (Term 3, Week 1), we are having a 'Go Blue Day' to raise awareness about Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)  as well as other forms of Diabetes.  T1D is a complex and challenging condition and it’s something anyone should not have to face alone.  Approximately 11,000 school-aged children in Australia live with T1D.  In Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas can’t make insulin.  The body can still get glucose from food but the glucose can’t get into the cells where it’s needed.  Glucose stays in the blood, which makes the blood sugar level very high and causes health problems.

We have had and still do have, students in our own school living with this condition every day.   Hence, we are having a 'Go Blue' Day on Friday 12 July to raise awareness about this condition.  Children and staff are invited to wear blue on this day and bring a gold coin donation which will go towards the Diabetes Foundation.

Further information is available here: https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/queensland/ 

Thank you

Student Council

World Environment Day

Wednesday 5 June was World Environment Day.  To celebrate we would like to encourage you to write a poem and enter the POEM FOREST competition at https://redroompoetry.org/projects/poem-forest/ This is created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, POEM FOREST is a free competition that invites students and teachers to use their words to make positive climate action change. For every nature poem received a tree will be planted to help heal habitats and create a POEM FOREST for future generations. Since 2021, over 17,100 poem trees have been planted.

Your poem doesn’t have to be complicated and can be written about any nature topic you choose. What might yours be about? Will yours be worthy, or a prize or maybe you just want to have a tree planted in your name?

All POEM FOREST entries are published in their digital online library and have the chance to win prizes, including $500 for each category, book packs, garden tours, plants, journals and more.

Entries should be sent directly by parents or carers, on behalf of students, to the competition organisers before 27 September 2024.

Coolum’s Containers for Change Collection

It’s back, Coolum’s Containers for Change Collection is on again. In term 1 you helped us to raise a fantastic $605.20 from items dropped off at school and then more from items taken directly to the depot.

On MONDAY 8 July, from 8.00am to 8.45am, you can drop off bags of containers in the PCC car park. This is the first day of TERM 3. Our wonderful P&C volunteers will set up a collection zone there to receive them.  The more bags you bring along the better.  Bags will be given to all our students in the last week of term but if you are going away, please head to the uniform shop NOW to collect yours.

Don’t forget, you can use our school code, at any time, to register donations to the school C10190364 Coolum State School P&C Ass.

News from the P&C

Coolum OSHC Exceeds National Standards

Exciting news! Coolum State School P&C Association is thrilled to announce that Coolum OSHC has been awarded the rating of Exceeding National Quality Standard (NQS) under the National Quality Framework! The NQS sets the bar for exceptional children’s education and care services across Australia. Each service is meticulously assessed by state or territory regulatory authorities in seven critical quality areas, culminating in an overall rating. Achieving an Exceeding NQS rating is no small feat. It signifies going above and beyond in at least four of these quality areas. Coolum OSHC has gone even further, receiving the Exceeding rating in all seven quality areas! Join us in celebrating this incredible achievement as we continue to provide top-tier education and care for our children.

Under 8's Day

Student of the Week

News from the Dental Van

The Dental Van is currently treating students in Year 6 at Coolum SS.

If you would like your child to be seen, please return completed forms to the Administration Office. If you need a Medical History/Consent Form please visit the Dental Van to collect one. 

A Free Dental Check-up and subsequent dental treatment is now available to Year 5.

Medical History/Consent Forms have been issued to all students in Year 5.

Please return the dental forms to the school office as soon as possible.

All other grades will be offered treatment throughout the rest of the school year.

For any enquiries, please contact the mobile dental van on 0418 889 478.

RideScore Active Schools

Register Now

Do you live close to school?

1. Does your child have a bike or scooter?
2. Would you like your child to get an active, healthy and fun start to the day?
3. 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.