16 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Yours in education,

Leanne Odorico
Principal

Student of the Week

Top Kurwongbah Kids

Congratulations to the following students who have recently received Top Kurwongbah Kids Awards by showing our School Values:

TERM 3 WEEK 9

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 3 Week 9

Outstanding Students for Term 3

Each term, teachers nominate an Outstanding Student from their class. The nominee is a student who independently models our school values reflecting pride in themselves, pride in our school and displays care and concern for those around them.

Year 3 – 4 Outstanding Students for Term 3 were presented at parade on Friday 11th September. There will be a special morning tea for all nominees on Friday 18th September (Year 2-6) or Friday 9th October (Prep-Year 1).

We would like to acknowledge all Year 3-6 nominated Outstanding Students for Term 3:

Term 3 2020 Outstanding Students

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

Payments

Payments are now being accepted for all excursions. Please note, all BPOINT payments are to be made by the due date. No late BPOINT payments will be accepted.

Kurwongbah State School is Cashless

The safety, wellbeing and hygiene of students, parents and staff is a top priority at Kurwongbah State School. Kurwongbah School prefers cashless transactions.

This measure will minimise the risk of contamination by transmission when paying with cash.

There are various ways to pay for excursions / activities for your child.

Acceptable methods of payment include:

• BPOINT (preferred method)
• QParents
• EFTPOS

Please contact the School Office if you require any assistance with payments.

Children Leaving Kurwongbah

We are starting the process of forming classes for 2021. Parents whose child or children (other than year 6 students) will be leaving Kurwongbah at the end of the year are asked to inform the school office please.

2021 Prep Enrolment

We still have some places available in prep for 2021. Children who were born between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016 are eligible to commence prep in 2021. If you know of anyone wanting to enrol their child at Kurwongbah, please ask them to contact the school office (ph: 3481 4333).

2021 Parent Class Requests

We are beginning the process of forming classes for 2021. This is a thoughtful process which takes into consideration many factors. Our underlining consideration is always, what is the best learning environment for each student?

If there are specific learning needs for your child which you would like us to take into consideration, please write these needs, along with your child’s name and year level they will be in next year, and hand this in to the office by Friday, 16 October. This is not a teacher selection process so please don’t request a particular teacher.

Parents are advised that, whilst consideration will be given to requests, final class formation decisions will be made by the school administration in consultation with teaching staff.

Swooping Birds

Some native birds, including magpies, plovers, butcherbirds and crows, swoop as a defensive behaviour to protect their young. Swooping is most common during the spring breeding season, but if weather conditions are favourable some species may start breeding from late winter and continue into summer.

Students may encounter swooping birds on their way to and from school, or while inside school grounds. While being swooped on can be unpleasant, there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce safety risks to individuals and the community.

School Garden News

Students have recently harvested the winter crop. We have been successful growing corn, tomatoes, lettuce, beans and peas. It has been great having students come to the garden during playtimes to water and of course eat the crop. I would also like to thank Kylie Mynett for the SubPod that she applied for and won for the school. A SubPod is a worm farm that is embedded in a garden bed. Thanks for your support Kylie.

School Watch

We are asking our community to report any suspicious activity in our school grounds during the holidays to the School Watch Team on ph: 13 17 88. We take pride in our school facilities and trust you will work with us to prevent any damage occurring during the vacation period. We need to reduce vandalism, theft and arson in Queensland schools.

Online Behaviours

Should your child experience any inappropriate or bullying behaviour online, please report the incident at the following website at the link below.

Kurwongbah Playgroup

Free Dress Day - Thursday 17th September

There is no theme for this day so you can choose what to wear as long as it is sun safe and appropriate for school. Remember to bring your school hat and wear your school shoes.

Please bring a gold coin donation which will be put towards paying an Indigenous (Gubbi Gubbi) speaker who will help us with our NAIDOC celebrations next term.

Year 5 Camp Medication

A reminder to parents that any medication sent to the Year 5 camp must be prescribed by a GP/Specialist.

ALL MEDICATION MUST be in the original container from the pharmacy with both the child’s and Doctor’s name and clear WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS on the container.

We can only accept non-prescribed medications (eg aspirin, panadol, cough medicine etc) that is prescribed by medical practitioners.

Medication is to be dropped off at the desk near First Aid prior to camp departure. Please place medication and Permission to Administer Medication Form in ziplock bag with name clearly marked.

Short Story Writing Competition (Grades 4-6)

Children in Grades 4, 5 and 6 are invited to write a short story of between 1000 and 1500 words – on any subject. The winner will receive $100 and have their story published on the StoryLinks website.

IMPORTANT DATES

• Entries due by 9 OCTOBER 2020
• Shortlist announced 19 OCTOBER 2020
• Winner announced 1 NOVEMBER

The winner will be announced at 3 pm on Sunday 1 November during Australia Reads at a free public session online via ZOOM . The best stories entered will be read aloud.

SEND your entries via email to storylinksau@gmail.com.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

• It must be fiction and all your own work.
• Include your name, address, age, school/home school, email address and phone number.
• The competition is open to all children living in Australia.
• Note: all entries will be checked for plagiarism.

Enquiries: email storylinksau@gmail.com or see our lovely Mrs Turner in the library

Collecting Students for Appointments

Please be aware these are the lunch break times for your children:

• 1st Break : 10.50am – 11.30am
• 2nd Break: 1.30pm - 2.10pm

If you need to collect your child for an appointment, please inform either the office or your teacher as to your approximate arrival time and if necessary we will attempt to have your children waiting for you at the office. We do not have a system where we can contact children or teachers during break times.

Lost Property

A pair of blue framed glasses have been found and are at the office for collection.

Please be aware, if your child has lost jewellery, watches etc these items are brought to the office (not the lost property box).

A reminder to please ensure you name your child’s belongings. We are receiving lots of un-named jumpers and hats at Lost Property and we are unable to return them to their owner. Don’t forget to also rename belongings if you have bought it second-hand.

First Aid News

You are reminded that children who are unwell must not attend school. In accordance with Queensland Health Directions, parents or carers of any child showing signs of illness will be asked to collect them immediately from the school.

First Aid Room
firstaid@kurwongbahss.eq.edu.au

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Kurwongbah’s Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable – Term 2

Electrical Safety Week

Congratulations to the Year 6 Senior A enrichment students who presented activities to promote Electrical Safety week to their buddy class. Students were engaged in a science show about how electricity works and played games to learn about safety in and out of the home. They also watched a film about broken and frayed electrical cords and how to spot dangerous electrical situations. Well done students!

Coding Toy Review, ‘Just Kidding,’ Magazine

A huge thank you to Hendrix, Hudson and Quillan for writing the toy reviews for the upcoming. ‘Just Kidding,’ magazine. These students are a part of the robotics club and were very happy to test the new coding robots. These toys of, Artie 3000, Botley and Botley 2.0 now will be donated to the Library and the Makerspace so students can use them during breaks and to also enhance their digital technology skills.

Robotics Sumo Wrestling Competition Term 4

Selected Year 6 students will be running a Robotics Sumo Wrestling Competition early next term for Year 3 -6 to compete in. Students will learn how to program and design their robot to compete in a round robin competition whilst being mentored by the Year 6 team who attended the Sunshine Coast Sumo Workshop earlier in the year.

STEM Punks Holiday Program

STEM Punks online school holiday classes have been developed by teachers, leading innovators, and industry professionals. The lessons are developed to enable a mindset of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. They are running daily online school holiday classes 21st September - 2nd October. Visit the website below for more information.

Resource Centre News

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Premier’s Reading Challenge has now finished. Celebrations for this will take place in November.

Book Club

Book Club Issue 6 orders have closed. There are 2 more issues to come this year!

Book Fair

A HUGE thank you to our wonderful school community for purchasing a whopping $5952 worth of books and knick-knacks from the book fair. This was a tremendous success, especially considering COVD-19 restrictions. So, we give thanks to you and to our wonderful P&C for supporting this worthwhile activity. Mrs Turner was able to keep over $1000 worth of books from the fair and will receive a decent amount of rewards to spend at Scholastic for our students to enjoy.

Mrs Turner would personally like to thank Mel Crowhurst, Amy Walters, Julie Collins and Liz Greer, who always do such a splendid job supporting the library.

Book Week - “Curious Creatures, Wild Minds”

The year we celebrate our love for books by letting our imaginations go wild. This years book week is planned for Term Week 3: Monday 19th October - Friday 23rd October.

EXCITING NEWS!! This year we are celebrating Book Week with two sensational authors (details to come soon):

• Cori Brooke - Tuesday 20th October for Prep to Year 3. Cost $3 (BPay)
  Cori loves writing and is passionate about picture books and their ability to drive and encourage the imagination and creativity of both children and adults. She also spends a lot of time at the beach, loves cooking and collecting antiques, especially old watches.

• Pat Flynn - Wednesday 20th October for Year 4 to 6. Cost $3 (Bpay)
  An ex-professional tennis player and teacher, Pat Flynn writes realistic fiction with a dose of humour for 8-16 year olds. His book “The Tuckshop Kid” won an Honour Book Prize at the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and his new books include “The Trophy Kid” and “How to Get Dumped”. He also loves surfing!

Book Week Parade

Details for a COVID-19 style Book Week Parade are yet to be finalised. More details will follow. There are many curious creatures that feature in children’s books. I wonder which “curious creature” you might dress up as!

Book Week Competitions

1. Write a story featuring a “Curious Creature”
2. Take a photo of a “Curious Creature”

Entries to the library by Friday 16th October.

Many thanks and Happy Reading,
Your friendly Library Crew

School Banking News

Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award nominations open from 14 September

Great teachers don’t just do things differently, they see things differently.

They see education as inspiration and challenges as opportunities. It’s what sets them apart and helps them transform lives. And it deserves to be recognised and celebrated.

Nominate a great teacher and they could become one of 12 outstanding educators selected to receive a 2021 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award, which includes a $45,000 Teaching Fellowship.

Nominations will be open from 14 September until 16 October 2020. To find out more, visit at the link below.

YMCA OSHC

A big hello to all from the YMCA team!

As the weather has been warming up and it is lighter longer, we are seeing a lot of interest from the children to spend most of our time outdoors. There is a multitude of opportunities on offer each day – starting with various outdoor games, craft & dramatic play and special occasions such as movie afternoon. Bush Gully has been a huge favourite this term with lots of opportunities to enjoy the benefits of the great outdoors!

With Vacation Care fast approaching, we encourage you to put in your bookings using the My Family Lounge app to book. We have an exciting program prepared for these two weeks. Is there a day your children are especially excited for – let us know! Also an important reminder to please ensure your children have hats, water bottles, sun safe clothing (clothing with sleeves & enclosed shoes) and have brought along their lunch. Keep in mind that your child may miss out on activities if they are not wearing sun safe clothing and a hat.

As a team we would like to say a big thank you to our school community and our families for your ongoing support. It is wonderful to hear feedback and we are always happy to hear your family’s voice. If there is anything you feel would be valuable for us to include in our program, please do bring it up or ask your children to let us know. As we endeavour to be the link between home and school we are always seeking input from our community.

All the best from the team at YMCA Kurwongbah!

The YMCA Kurwongbah Team
Phone: 0448 244 060
Email: akb@ymcabrisbane.org

P&C News

A reminder that P&C Meetings are now being held on the second Wednesday of each month. Therefore, the next meetings is scheduled for Wednesday 14th October at 6:30pm. We'd like to extend the invitation to all members of the school community to come along and get involved. We'd love to see your friendly faces!

Fundraising News

Billy G’s Cookie Dough Fundraiser

We are holding a Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough drive as a major fundraiser this term and we ask for your support. All the funds raised will be provisioned for future projects at Kurwongbah State School that benefit all the children.

Billy G’s is an Australian family owned and operated business. There are ten (10) delicious flavours including their NEW Mint Choc and NESTLE® SMARTIES® cookie dough. There is even a cheese flavoured Doggie Dough for your special furry family members! The delicious cookie dough is only available through fundraising and is not sold in stores, so stock up!

• Orders open 7/09/2020
• Paper Prize Orders Due 18/09/2020
• Final Online and Cash Orders Due 21/09/2020
• Online Prize Ordering Closes on 24/09/2020
• Delivery Date 10/10/2020

How Do We Fundraise?

Kurwongbah families are encouraged to set up an online fundraising page from Monday September 7th and collect orders from family and friends. For families who require a paper order form, these can be collected from the School Office from Monday 7th September.

Students who sell 1 tub or more are entitled to an incentive prize for their efforts. But why not aim higher? You have the option to choose up to five (5) prizes and this will set your fundraising goal. Family and friends are your greatest supporters, so ask them first for support. You will reach your fundraising goal in no time!

How do we create an Online Fundraising Page?

Creating a fundraising page is easy as 1,2,3.

1. Head to www.cookiedough.com.au to create your Online Fundraising Page by clicking the “Register Now” button and fill in your information as a parent/guardian.
2. Choose your child’s prize goals and create their avatar!
3. Share your child’s online fundraising page with your family and friends via the “Share” section so they can start buying some Cookie Dough as well, How Easy!

There are great features in the online portal like creating your own avatar, selecting your prize goal and entering your cash sales!

Win a Dream Holiday worth $10,000! Create an Online Fundraising Page at the link below, sell or purchase one tub or more of Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough and you will automatically go into the draw to win a $10,000 Dream Holiday.

The Leaderboard Challenge – If you become the highest fundraiser in our Schools leaderboard you will automatically go in the draw for the chance to win a Cruise worth $5,000. How exciting! Let’s get fundraising!

How to Order Prizes?

To reward your child for their efforts, they can choose incentive prizes based on the total amount of tubs sold.

Login to your Online Fundraising Page at the link below. Once the fundraiser has finished, click the ‘ORDER MY PRIZE’ button via the dashboard. Select up to five (5) prizes to the amount of tubs you have sold.

Or - Complete the back-page of your paper order form and return it to the P&C Office by Friday Sept 18.

Thank you in advance for your participation. Happy fundraising!

Kurwongbah Fundraising Sub Committee

Tuckshop News

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Day - Friday 18th September

The tuckshop is hosting an end of term special on Friday 18th September.

Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts are available for $2.00.

Orders taken online or before school via new cash system until Thursday or sold out.

Gluten free dairy free cupcakes have sold out for Term 3.

Ice Block Reminder

Please remind your child that they are required to collect ice block orders from the tuckshop during play time. These items do not get sent to the classroom.

Ordering

The preferred method of ordering is Online at the link below or over the phone, as all details of in stock items are available.

Cash

The tuckshop is accepting cash in bag system before school only. This is a COVID safe plan to ensure no cash is handled while food is been served.

Please ensure you have your child’s name class break and order on the bag with correct money as no change can be given. Please note that a separate bag is not required for the money.

Phone Orders

Parents can place a phone order, by phoning the tuckshop directly on 3481 4337 and paying by credit card. Cut off for phone orders is 9:00am.

Online Ordering

Parents can order via our online ordering system. Cut off for online ordering is 8:00am. Please ensure you have your child’s correct class so your child’s meal is prepared and ready in the correct collection place. Please use the instruction box to pass on any information regarding your child’s order.

Have a safe holiday and we look forward to seeing you return in Term 4

Tuckshop Hours

Monday – Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday – Friday 8:15 - 2:10 pm

Sandra and Carol
Tuckshop Convenors
tuckshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Uniform Shop

End of Term Hours

A reminder that the Uniform Shop will be closed on Thursday 17th September for stocktake. Last day for orders this term will be Wednesday 16th September.

Second-hand Uniforms

Don’t forget that you can sell your second-hand uniforms through the Uniform Shop with 50% from the sale going to the P&C, which is spent providing better facilities for your children.  We have parents waiting for second-hand uniforms.

The Uniform Shop is currently accepting phone orders or email orders. Phone orders can be made Monday – Thursday from 9am – 12pm

If you are unsure of the sizing, we can have your child come to the office on either a Monday or Thursday morning. We will organise this with their Teacher.

Deliveries will occur on Mondays and Thursdays only.

You can send your emails through any time and they will be processed on these days. We can send 2nd hand items home for you to accept but if you do not want them they must be returned next day with your child.

We are not currently accepting cash.

Ordering Through Uniform Shop

The following options are available:

1. Email your order through to uniformshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au. This will be processed next time the Uniform Shop is open.
2. You can phone the Uniform Shop during open hours and pay by Credit Card.

Uniform Shop Hours

Thank you
Kay Mitchell & Carol Woodhouse
uniformshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Containers for Change

Community Notices

School Holiday Craft Program