Term 1 Week 4 - Copy - Copy

Principal's Report

Dear Coolum Community,

It is hard to believe that we are nearly halfway through the term already! Our students are showing us some great learning behaviours and we can see students trying hard in class. Over the past couple of weeks on parade I have been encouraging students to really think about setting themselves a goal to work towards and achieve.

Goal setting can help young people gain a sense of direction, motivation and focus. It can be really supportive for young people to have someone help them set out their goals. In fact, research has found that parent and teacher involvement with setting expectations and goals makes it more likely that young people will achieve their ambitions.  I shared with students that if I was setting a goal for myself like “learning to surf”, that would be a long term goal (very long term perhaps) and would need to be broken down into some smaller steps. From here, students can track their progress and celebrate success! Take the time to ask your child if they have set a personal goal for themselves this term.

Over the past few weeks, our some of our support teachers Debbie Bryan and Patsie Schmidt have been running reading sessions with our lower school parents. In recent years, our curriculum has changed in the way that we teach reading in schools, and these sessions are aimed to support parents to navigate this and help their children at home. I was able to pop into these sessions and chat to parents. It was wonderful to see so many parents keen to connect with us and support their children on their reading journey! I was chatting to some Prep parents whose children have already started to sound out words. This word level reading is the foundation of reading instruction and it’s exciting to see students coming along in leaps and bounds so early in the year!

Recently we had some older students on our school grounds after school time- riding e-bikes and e-scooters. This behaviour ended up being reported to the police and I would like to remind our families that our school grounds are out of bounds after hours, unless you are part of an organised activity. This includes the ovals and bike track. Also, students are not permitted to ride e-bikes and e-scooters to school. The minimum age to ride an ebike solo is 16 years old. We want our students and and families- whether on a bike, scooter or as pedestrians to stay safe.

Speaking of safety, it is timely to remind students that this continues on during walks to and from school, and also outside of school hours. Travelling to school or other familiar places by themselves is an opportunity for children to develop confidence and new skills. Many children start travelling independently in primary school. For the many students walking to and from school, remember to (from the Daniel Morcombe Foundation):

• Choose the safest route to school and back
• Use basic road safety skills such as how to safely cross the road and only ever crossing when the green walk signal is active at lights or at a pedestrian crossing
• Walk with siblings or friends if possible
• Always walk towards traffic but on the footpath or nature strip
• Be safety aware and on the lookout for hazards such as reversing cars
• When using headphones, only use one earpiece to stay alert to other noises like traffic or people
• Do not make stops along the way (ie to play in the park) unless this has been discussed and agreed to
• Do not accept a lift from anyone who is not known. Remember the family password rule
• Talk to a trusted adult at school or home if you ever feel unsafe. Particularly if an incident has occurred on the way home, or if they have been approached by a stranger. Tell a trusted adult to get help.

Finally, a staffing update. Mr Prokopuk is still recovering at home after his ankle injury (I think our parade message helped!). During this time, we will have Mr Dominic Carter joining our team as the Deputy Principal for Years 3-4. Mr Carter will join our school on Monday next week. Welcome Mr Carter!!

Kind regards,

Shannyn

Deputy Principal's Report

Well the sports try-outs have begun with a bang this term! Almost every day there has been a different sport selection trial. It is amazing to see the number of students who are turning up for these selection trials. I know some sports have required 2 or 3 sessions to select our best students in each sport. Just to reiterate and clarify to all students, parents and carers that the trials presently occurring are for selection into the Noosa District Team who will play at North Coast Regional Trials. We are limited to sending only 6-8 students to most sports for these trials. The school teams that will play at different times during the year will be selected at a later date, closer to the times of these competitions. So keep up that training.

As I visit the classrooms, I have been impressed to see the students engaging with their current English unit of work. The Year 6s are busy creating a written imaginative and entertaining short story for a class anthology where the Year 5s are learning to create a multimodal informative text about how astronauts prepare for life in space. A few questions you can ask your children are How are you going with the task? How do you know that? Hopefully the students can articulate where they are currently sitting with the task and how the feedback, they are receiving will help them improve.

Camps are definitely the hot topic of discussion around the Upper school this week. As we approach the build-up and excitement of camp, I have reminded the students camps usually create a lifetime memory with all the amazing, fun and challenging activities that they will do. Teamwork and camaraderie activities on camp are designed to foster collaboration, trust, and a sense of community among students. As students work together to achieve common objectives, they build lasting friendships, and develop a deep sense of unity, all while having fun and making wonderful memories. We are all hoping for positive, fun and worthwhile experience for everyone.

Terry O’Brien

Deputy Principal Years 5 and 6

NAPLAN 2025

NAPLAN will shortly be on our doorstep, with all of our children in Years 3 and 5 due to participate in the national testing beginning on Wednesday 12 March. NAPLAN: National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, and will measure students’ knowledge and understanding in Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language (formerly Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) and Numeracy in a series of online tests. Over the coming weeks, all students in Years 3 and 5 will be introduced to the online platforms, their functionalities and the numerous tools that support the completion of this test in its online form. The Year 3 Writing task will still be a paper copy and not online.

At Coolum, we work with our students to ensure that they are best prepared in their knowledge to use this online platform and feel confident to demonstrate their knowledge in the online forum of NAPLAN. Our children’s best preparation comes from the consistent and quality teaching of the Australian Curriculum which each of our experienced teachers provide students with every day.

If you would like more information, please check the NAPLAN online website. This is the specific sections for parents and carers. https://www.nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/naplan-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.

P-2

Did you know?

Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance at school is associated, on average, with higher student achievement.

Why is regular attendance at school important?

Regular school attendance will mean that your child gets a better chance at life. Your child will achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day:

• they learn better

• they make friends

• they are happier

• they have a brighter future

Dan Stanieg

Welcome to Prep T

Prep T have been working hard to settle into school life. We have been learning all about blending and segmenting, numbers to 10, families and how objects move. We can’t wait to keep learning!

Waste Warriors

We are revising the way we encourage students to keep the school clean in 2025 with the hope to get more students involved. This year your class will be given the grabbers and bags for a week each semester to enable volunteers to pick up rubbish around school. The Environmental Team will make sure the equipment is in your classroom on Friday afternoon. We would love you to encourage a variety of students to get involved so it doesn’t have to be the same ones every day but if some don’t want to do it, that’s okay too. Other students from other classes may borrow the buckets but please make sure you get all 6 back at the end of each break.  Prep Team, if you are interested in organising something later in the year, please let us know. If you have any questions, please let Judith or Ash know. Thank for your support.

Environmental Team

Meet our 2025 Environmental Team

This year we have a wonderful group of Year 6 students who have chosen to support our student body to look after planet Earth. Our captains this year are Charlotte and Ella. I asked the team what they were hoping to achieve this year, and this is what they had to say –

Charlotte – I’d like to help raise money for endangered animals.

Goldie – I want to encourage more people to pick up rubbish on the beach and in school.

Milly – It would be good to help people to have a cleaner environment.

Adam – I want to be involved in a beach clean-up.

Lottie – I think we should encourage more kids to clean up inside the school and outside of it and make sure everyone teaches their parents too.

Mahli – I’m going to encourage kids to use the containers for change bins correctly and collect containers at home.

Addison – I want to make sure people at home know about using the 10c scheme or put into the recycling.

Ella – encourage students to be plastic free in their lunchboxes every day.

Kendall – I’m going to encourage people to get involved in Clean up Australia Day.

Containers for Change

If you’ve been into school, you may have noticed our new Containers For Change (CFC) bins. We have made sure that they are a uniform colour to help students understand which bin is which and make sure students know that these bins are only for the 10C containers and not rubbish!

If you want to help with CFC there are two ways you can do this. Firstly, when you take you containers to a CFC facility give them our school code – C10190364 Coolum State School P&C Association, this will mean that your donations will contribute to our P&C funds and benefit all of our students.

Secondly, start collecting cans and bottles at home. After ANZAC Day, on Monday 27th April, we will have a CFC car park collection. Families will be able to drop off their collection bags on the Monday and we will organise to take them to the Coolum CFC facility for you. If you can’t wait for your bag to be sent home and are eager to start collecting, the uniform shop has collection bags that you can pick up now.

Also, the family that collects the most bags of containers will win a prize, to be advised.

Student of the week

RideScore Active Schools

Name: RideScore Active Schools

1. Do you live close to school?
2. Does your child have a bike or scooter?
3. Would you like your child to get an active, healthy and fun start to the day?
4. Would you like more time in your day, and avoid the traffic queue at the school drop-off and pick-up?
5. Would you like to receive confirmation that your child has arrived or departed school safely?

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 is open to students who are able to ride a bicycle or scooter to school.

Participating students receive a 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, via the RideScore app, 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. Students are able to earn great prizes at the following milestones:

• 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.

How do I register?

Step 1 - Download the app (search ‘RideScore’), complete your registration.

Step 2 – Receive your starter pack (posted within one week) that will include:

• Your child’s beacon & instructions on how to pair and fit
• A scorecard for the fridge (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.

RideScore is proudly funded by Sunshine Coast Council’s Transport Levy

CDC Queensland Bus information

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.