Term 3 Week 10

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

In the blink of an eye, Term 3 has come to an end! It has been such a busy, and very successful term for us at Coolum State School. During this term we have seen our students achieve across the arts and sporting arena, with special mention to;

• Our AllStarz team gaining trophies at the Australian Pinnacle Dance Competition, Dance X Competition and the Aussie Gold Internationals Competition.
• Both of our choirs performing brilliantly and placing, with Junior Voices Choirs winning the eisteddfod!
• Our Chargers (surfing team) placing well at the Curra Gromfest Surfing Comp.
• Many students participating in our School Spelling Bee, with 6 students moving to the State level!
• Our Rugby League teams competing and winning the Mark West Cup and Billy Moore Cup!
• A very competitive tournament of the minds team.
• Teams representing our school well at Netball Gala Days and AFL Gala Days.
• An absolutely outstanding performance from our Shrek Musical cast over two performances last week. Amazing!

To add to this, we have begun our transition program for our Pre-Prep students, toured our Prep-Year 2 students through the Coolum community during our ‘Paint the Town Read’ event and shared the love of reading. Our students have engaged in learning excursions, bike skills sessions and been ‘Waste Warriors’, having a positive impact on our local environment and community.

Students have worked so hard both in and out of the classroom and this is something that I am incredibly proud to be a part of. Despite all of the amazing extra-curricular activities, learning is the focus in classrooms and over the past 2 weeks, I have been pleased to see the outcome of their hard work in their assessment tasks. I have had many visitors to my office to proudly show me what they have achieved.

Our teachers have been working hard over the last few weeks to plan and finalise curriculum units of work for Term 4 and we will be ready to go from Day 1!

Thank you to our parents and staff for supporting all of our students to have a rich and full school term.

Take care on the holidays and see you in Term 4!

Thanks,

Shannyn

Roadworks Update:

Speaking with the team from Department of Transport and Main Roads, the works out the front of our school are currently on track to be completed by their proposed end date at the end of this term.  As the works near to the end of their completion, I will update you with a more accurate date. Major change in infrastructure such as this can have quite an impact, and I appreciate your patience with these works. Attached is an update of some works occurring over the school holidays period, with changed access to the shopping village across from the school.

Infrastructure Update:

This year our school has been successful in gaining School Subsidy Scheme funding for a shade structure over our courts behind the hall. This will allow students to use the area despite rainy conditions and will also provide shade, particularly during our summer months for students to play. I must thank our amazing P&C for their very significant contribution to this project. This simply would not be moving forward without their support and will be a permanent legacy for our school for many, many years into the future.

The works will begin on the start of the school holidays and we will have fencing erected to establish the worksite for the duration. This will likely be for the whole of Term 4 and possibly into the Christmas holiday period. From the beginning of Term 4, there will be no access to the school through the gate between the hall and the courts, and the bike cage will be moved to the oval side of the hall. There will be times where we will have other areas closed due to crane lifts, however I will keep you informed of this as we move through the works.

School Safety Update:

Recently we have had some people accessing our school grounds after school and over the weekends, sometimes damaging property disrupting staff and students still on school site. School grounds should not be accessed after school or over weekends unless part of a program (organised through a hire agreement) or through our OSHC. Can I ask that our families keep an eye out over the holiday period and report any suspicious behaviours to the police. Thank you in advance for supporting our school in keeping things safe over the break.

Shannyn Taylor
Principal

Dig Into Reading

This Dig Into Reading Article looks at choosing the most appropriate books/texts for shared reading.

What books should be used for shared reading?

In the early years of reading instruction, children engage with different books for different purposes. They need to read decodable texts to develop their word reading skills and they need to read and hear authentic texts to develop strong oral language skills. Authentic texts include picture books, storybooks, information texts and any reading material the child enjoys.

When children are first learning to read, the books they will read independently are designed to improve their ability to decode (decodable texts). For most children, the language used in these books will be far simpler than the language they already understand and use.

Virtually all children’s books are appropriate for shared reading, but the best books will have rich, detailed pictures, and are interesting to the child. Remember, the purpose of shared reading is to stimulate rich talk between the adult and child, not for the child to be able to read the text themselves.

News from 3S

This term, 3S has had fun learning to write information reports about Australia.  We have explored our way across the country by sharing stories of our travels, we have learned songs and even a bush dance.  We also did a lot of research, and the students have made some very exciting discoveries about our amazing country, states and territories.  3S would like to share these with you. We wonder how many of these facts you already know?

Kylie Sampson
Teacher of 3S

Year 6 Legacy Bake Sale Results

Our year 6 students did a wonderful job in tempting everyone’s taste buds this week with their scrumptious bake sale. Our year 6 student councillors encouraged each of their classes to bring in delicious treats and the outstanding efforts of year 6, with gold coin contributions from the school, enabled them to raise a magnificent $1178! Thank you!  A huge thank you goes to everyone who supplied baked goods and to all those who brought in a gold coin to support them.

The money will be used to complete the yarning circle that the year 6 2023 cohort started, this is situated outside the year 6 classrooms. A memorial plaque will be added to the new blocks when they are delivered in term 4 to recognise the fundraising efforts of the 2024 cohort.

Thank you, Coolum, you are the best.

Noosa Triathlon Information

Noosa triathlon festival is coming up from the 30 October – 3 November. The Noosa triathlon festival is the largest triathlon festival in the southern hemisphere right here in our own backyard. Students are entitled to a 50% off discount on race entries using code- SCNOOSATRI24 . . Visit https://noosatri.com.au/ for more information.

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.

Japanese Word of the Week

Natsukashii　(懐かしい)

Natsukashii is used in the context of an object, sense, or scene bringing back sentimental memories of the past that illicit a warm, poignant feeling within.

Not to be confused with the English word ‘nostalgia’, natsukashii is not related to a feeling tinged with sadness and longing. Natsukashii makes one feel grateful to have lived the memory, and move forward in life, without the desire to go back to it as it is something that cannot exist again.

Brad Yaxley
Japanese Teacher

Dental Van News

The Dental Van will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in both weeks during the school holidays, so if you would like your child to be seen please contact the mobile Dental Van on 0418 889 478.

Messages from Coolum High School

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.