Term 3 Week 2

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I'm delighted to introduce myself to you as the new principal at Coolum State School. Thank you so much to all the parents, students and staff for the very warm welcome to this wonderful school. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many, many of the students and parents over this past week and have felt a very strong community feel. My role as a teacher span over the past 18 years and I have recently worked as a Deputy Principal and a Principal in the last 13 years.  My experience ranges from schools across Ipswich and also the Sunshine Coast, including smaller schools of 350 students, to bigger schools of 1000 students. I have two young boys myself and enjoy spending time with my family. When I’m not at Coolum SS, I'm usually kept very busy with nippers and football on the weekends!

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting all 41 classes and as I spoke to students, I was asking them what the best thing is about Coolum SS. I shared a summary of the responses during our assembly on Friday (see below) and was impressed by how much our students feel connected to their school and appreciate the many opportunities Coolum has to offer. 

1. The oval is amazing- lots of sports!
2. The library offers a calm space for budding authors
3. Students love the many activities on offer at Coolum- sports and the arts
4. The Coolum Carnival is the most fun of the year!
5. Followed closely by the Colour Run!
6. The students feel cared for by their friends and teachers.
7. Coolum kids love to learn… and learning is fun.
8. The school community is valued by students.
9. Reading instruction is very strong at Coolum SS
10. The Chicken Goujons from the tuck shop are the best!
11. The playgrounds are fun, and they have shade if you don’t have a hat.
12. Maths is a strong favourite subject too and Year 1’s love learning about shapes.
13. There is a lot of excitement about the musical.
14. Music lessons rock!
15. The bike track is pretty cool.
16. Students have lots of friends, and they love them.
17. Students feel that the staff support them to be their best.
18. Students feel included.

What an amazing school!!

Our agenda for this year is well underway with the strong roll out of our PLD reading program in our lower and middle years, and a focus on vocabulary in our upper years. Our results in Semester 1 have been strong and as a school, we have had a lift in our English grades, with 93% of students receiving a C grade or above and nearly 50% of students receiving an A or B grade in English. Congratulations! We will remain on our improvement journey this year and I look forward to sharing more great outcomes with our community.

As you would likely be aware, earlier this week, there was a tragic accident that devastatingly claimed the life of an 11 year old boy. I would like to pass on our sincerest condolences to the young boy’s family and to the community affected by this tragedy. At times like these, it highlights the importance of safety on the roads and I implore all families to take great care and remain safe on our roads. At Coolum, we have ongoing changed traffic conditions, and in a busy school environment, it’s important to keep an eye out and look after ourselves and our community. Thank you for taking the time to reflect and remain safe.

Please be advised that our fabulous bike track is not to be used outside of school hours. 

Thank you again for my warm welcome at Coolum State School. If you'd like to get in touch please make contact through the School Office, otherwise I will see you out and about in the playgrounds before and after school for a chat!

Take care 

Shannyn Taylor
Principal

Dig Into Reading

Welcome back to the regular Dig Into Reading articles. 

• Click here to access the Department of Education and P&Cs Qld Twilight reading session for parents and carers to provide information on Queensland’s Reading Commitment and how to support your child’s reading at home. Click here for a fridge poster outlining ways to support your beginning reader.

News from 5W

5W are looking forward to a fabulous term.  We have an excursion to the Gympie Gold museum next week to learn more about the Gold Rush to write our historical narratives. 

Our parade performance this Friday is an Olympic Based Theme in preparation for the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics.  For those of you who can not make parade this week, here are our jokes that we prepared.  Our presenters are Lucy and Kokoda.

Charlotte G: I see you won a silver medal at the Olympics. What’s it for?
Havana: It’s for telling knock knock jokes.
Charlotte: And what’s that gold medal for?
Havana: For stopping.

Dexter: Why is basketball the messiest Olympic sport?
Cooper: I don’t know.
Dexter: Because the players dribble all over the court!

Sophie: Why does Cinderella never win the Olympics?
Trinity: Why?
Sophie: She has a pumpkin for a coach and runs away from the ball.

Sammy: Why is it so hot in a stadium after the Olympic games are over?
Zeke: I don’t know.
Sammy: Because all the fans have left!

Saraya: What is a banana’s favourite gymnastics move?
Rose: Beats me.
Saraya: The splits!

Brooklyn: How do fireflies start a race?
Sam: I don’t know. How?
Brooklyn: “On your mark. Get set. Glow!”

Sydney: Why were the swimming elephants thrown out of the Olympics?
Ivy: I haven’t a clue.
Sydney: Because they couldn’t keep their trunks up!

Rhett: Why was the Olympian not able to listen to music?
Joao: Why?
Rhett: Because he broke the record!

Lottie: Knock, knock.
Havana: Who’s there?
Lottie: Woo.
Havana: Woo, who?
Lottie: What are you cheering for? We didn’t win a medal.

Andre: Why did the spotted cat get disqualified from the Olympics?
Zane: Why?
Andre: It was a cheetah.

Summer: Why couldn’t the bike finish the Olympic race?
Sophie: Why?
Summer: It was two-tired.

Harry: What is the best part of an Olympic boxer’s joke?
Koby: Tell me.
Harry: The punch line.

We hope to see you on Friday.

KJ Withell
Teacher of 5W

Premier's Reading Challenge

Hello, Wonderful Coolum Readers!

We're officially over the halfway mark of the Premier’s Reading Challenge! But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to dive into more books and rack up those pages. Need a new reading challenge tally sheet? Just ask your teacher or swing by the Library to grab one.

Remember, all completed and signed challenge forms should be handed in to your classroom teacher by 23 August 2024. Every participating student will receive a special certificate from the Queensland Premier. Plus, there are awesome prizes up for grabs for the top readers in each year level, the top class, and the top reader of the entire school!

So, let’s keep those pages turning and see who will rise to the top!

Last year’s winners:

• Prep- Hamish 240 books
• Year One- Sienna 180 books
• Year Two- Escher 140 books
• Year Three- Duke 171 books
• Year Four- Maya 87 books
• Year Five- Alice & Milla 40 books
• Year Six- Yazzy 40 books

Will you be the top reader in 2024?

Susan Gers
Premier Reading Challenge Coordinator

P&C News

It's not long until the Disco! Pre-purchase your tickets at the Uniform Shop or online via this link: https://schoolshoponline.net.au/cool.../eventdetails.aspx...

Are you available to volunteer for an hour or more? If so, we'd love to hear from you! Please pop into the Uniform Shop or call us on 5471 5372.

Prep 2025 Enrolments

Prep 2025 enrolments are now open. Please collect an Enrolment Pack from the office. Our Enrolments Officer Katie will be happy to assist you with any questions or queries that you may have.

STEM News

Last term a small group of Minecraft enthusiasts participated in a challenge to build a Minecraft scale model of the Legislative Assembly Chamber (Green Chamber) at Queensland's Parliament House. The aim was to represent the Green Chamber as accurately as possible, matching the proportions, colours, features, fittings and surfaces of the real Chamber.

The competition was designed to promote creativity, problem-solving and teamwork skills while immersing students in the important work and functions of Queensland Parliament. Coolum State School entered two teams. These students spent their lunch times visiting the STEM Room to create and build their Minecraft models. They also had to do a presentation of their build as well as create a Powerpoint explaining the process.

One of our teams received the exciting news that out of the 55 schools and 258 teams they were one of the 10 finalists. Such and amazing effort for these students. Both teams did an amazing job and have learnt a great deal during this process. Congratulations to Jonathan, Tilly, Olive and Aria for being finalist and to Kendall and Georgie for your great entry.

Cornelia Sutton
STEM Teacher

Japanese Word of the Week

__ ni Ikitai (に行きたい) – I want to go to __

On its own, ikitai means, I want to go.

To express that you’d like to go somewhere, use the phrase __ ni ikitai (simply fill in the __ [blank] with the place you’re trying to reach). For example, Kyoto ni ikitai means, I want to go to Kyoto. It is very useful when in a taxi.

Brad Yaxley
Japanese Teacher

Book Fair News

Save the date! It's nearly time for the book fair. Pop Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August into your diary to come along and check out the fantastic selection available to collection before and after school.

Diabetes Fundraiser - Go Blue Day

Well Coolum, thank you for getting on board and supporting our Diabetes Awareness Fundraiser last Friday. We had a great day dressed in blue and were very fortunate to have our school nurse, Kye Williams, present information at both parades. Students watched a short engaging video that can be accessed here Diabetes Awareness

We raised an impressive $747. Your donation will help Diabetes Australia drive change to:

1. Develop initiatives to prevent type 1/2 diabetes in those most at risk.
2. Empower people to live well with diabetes.
3. Reduce the impact of diabetes on people’s lives, the health system and society.
4. Fund research to prevent, treat and find a cure for diabetes.

Together we can create a future where diabetes can do no harm.  For more information go to https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/

Coolum’s Containers for Change Collection

A big thank you to those families who have continued to lodge their containers using the Coolum State School code (C10190364), in support of our CFC drive.

Despite the wet weather we were still successful in collecting sacks from families. In total the collection took 3620 containers out of landfill and raised $362 for the school's sustainability initiatives.

If you are not collecting containers for your family, you are always welcome to donate them to school via our collection code and we have spare bags available from the Uniform Shop.

Plastic Free Tuesday Challenge Day

Our Plastic Free Tuesday Challenge is back in week 4.

Last term 3D and Prep R were winners of our first challenge. Their classes worked hard to have no single use plastic items in their lunchboxes. Can you do better? 

Remember you can use recyclable containers, bees wax wraps, lunchboxes with sections or buy big bags of chips and tip some into a small reusable box.

Start practising in readiness for judging on 30 July.

News from the Dental Van

The Dental Van is currently treating Year 2 & 5 at Coolum SS. If you would like your child to be seen, please return completed forms to the office. If you need a Medical History/Consent Form please visit the school van.

A Free Dental Check-up and subsequent dental treatment is now available to Year 4.

Medical History/Consent Forms have been issued to all classes in Year 4.

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

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.