14 October 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Yours in education,

Leanne Odorico
Principal

New Students

A special welcome is extended to Kenzie (MD1), Mikyla (SA1), Paige(MD2), Jasmyn (MC2) and Willow (SD2) who joined the Kurwongbah School community recently. We hope you enjoy your time at Kurwongbah and we look forward to parent support with P&C and class activities.

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 10

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 3 Week 10

TERM 4 WEEK 1

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 4 Week 1

Term 3 Outstanding Students – Additional Photos

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

Cyber Safety & Cyber Bullying

On Thursday 15th October our Adopt A Cop, Constable Jenny Mulholland from Petrie Police Station, will be speaking with our Year 5 and Year 6 students about Cyber Safety and Cyber Bullying. Please take the opportunity on Thursday evening to hear from your students the message they received during this presentation.

Remember, should your child experience any inappropriate or bullying behaviour online, please report the incident at the following website:

Year 5 Camp

After an enormous amount of work and adjustments to the ‘normal’ programme, we were able to take our Year 5 students to camp at Mapleton last Wednesday to Friday. All students had a terrific time and came home with many wonderful experiences and stories to share. I would like to publicly thank Ms Aland for the many hours she spent ensuring everything was in place with the current COVID conditions so our year 5 students could attend camp.

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.

New student free days added to Term 4!

In recognition of the outstanding efforts of school staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two days of the school year, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December, have been declared student free days. Our school will be closed on these days.

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.

Soccer X Program

Soccer X will be running an 8 week after school program at Kurwongbah State School every Wednesday after school beginning 21st October 2020.

Proactive School Patrol Program - Moreton Bay Regional Council

Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) Local Laws Unit undertakes a Proactive School Patrol Program where officers complete scheduled school patrols, both in the morning and afternoon, to ensure that vehicles are parked in a safe and lawful manner. The primary aim of the program is to partner with schools across the region to ensure that students and family members/caregivers are able to safely move around the school area as part of dropping off or picking up students from the school.

The Moreton Bay Regional Council Local Law No.5 (Parking) 2011 and Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1999 control parking or stopping of vehicles on footpaths, bicycle paths, shared paths, dividing strips or nature strips. Council is legally required to enforce these controls and the Proactive School Patrol Program forms part of this process. Drivers are reminded that footpaths and nature strips are in place to promote pedestrian movement in a safe manner along roadsides and that drivers and residents must not stop on a bicycle path, shared path, dividing strip or nature strip. Please note that vehicles that are parked with two wheels up and two wheels down is not considered as a lawful parking practice.

Local Laws officers have fact sheets and other relevant information that is provided to drivers to assist with education surrounding safe parking in school zones. Enforcement through the issuance of Penalty Infringement Notices is carefully considered as part of each Proactive School Patrol.

Visit at the link below for further guidance on parking restrictions.

For any further information, members of the School community are welcome to contact Mr Bradley Foley, Local Laws Coordinator on 3205 0555.

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

YMCA OSHC

We hope everyone had a good holiday; we sure had fun this past Vacation Care! We have truly enjoyed having so many wonderful children for the holidays.

Moving on to the last term of the year we can hardly believe it is already October! It has been a tough year and we are so very proud of the resilience our students, as well as the whole community, have displayed.

We have observed our students enjoying the wonderful spaces that we are using within the school grounds. Bush Gully is still a big hit, especially with the older students as they seek to have more freedom and space of their own, after initially meeting in the sports hall. Our prep and Year 1 students enjoy starting their afternoons in the prep playground area, where they participate in a variety of experiences before moving down to the classroom area. The year 2-3 group starts their afternoon near the classroom area and outside. At the start of the afternoon all groups are offered afternoon tea and afterwards transition to planned activities or free play in our various areas. Our team is working on streamlining our planning processes and we always welcome childrens’ and families’ input. We display our program in the OSHC classroom (Modular 7, behind sports hall).

We have lots of new families and we would like to extend you a warm welcome to the YMCA! Please let us know if you have any feedback or comments or would like to share about your family interests and traditions.

We have spaces available for both permanent and casual bookings. For new enrolments please contact us via email, phone or in person.

We look forward to growing with your children!

A big thank you from the YMCA Kurwongbah Team.

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

Music News

Instrumental Music

The instrumental teachers are in the process of recruiting students for 2021. If your child is interested in participating in the instrumental program he/she should have received a note or alternatively can collect one from the office. The String Program is offered to students going into year 3 next year while the Band and Percussion Programs are offered to students going into year 4. Please have the forms returned by the due date to avoid disappoint of your child missing out as numbers for beginner students are limited for each group. This is a lengthy process which will take a few weeks. Students will be notified once the entire process is finalised. We thank you for your patience in this process.

Junior And Senior Singers

Welcome back for the final term of 2020. Traditionally we have our ‘End of Year Awards and Music Night’ in November however this ‘Covid’ year things will be different. Unfortunately, at this stage this event is not permitted to proceed in its usual way therefore some alternatives have been made.

Due to the large number of students in Junior and Senior Singers, both groups were split into year levels for rehearsals. This was a considerable change for everyone and the students have been amazing at attending rehearsals. The students will be able to perform on parade for their peers this term. The following are the planned performances for each group:

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Kurwongbah’s Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable – Term 4

“Telling Stories” - Children’s Story Writing Competition

Congratulations Caleb in Year 5 for achieving a place in the top 5 for the Mooloolaba Rotary writing competition. The awards ceremony will be held at the Innovation Centre USC where the places will be announced. Best wishes for the upcoming ceremony Caleb!

Buy $mart Competition

Chloe and Isabella of SD have been short-listed into the finals of the Buy Smart 2020 competition. Their entry of a shopping tips calendar was selected for the Year 4-6 category. The major prizes will be announced in a virtual award ceremony on Thursday 12 November. Congratulations on your achievement!

Well done to all the other Year 5 students who also participated in the competition this year. There were some amazing projects entered!

Robotics Sumo Wrestling Competition

Selected Year 6 students will be running a Robotics Sumo Wrestling Competition this term for Year 3-6 to partake in during the lunch breaks. 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 participated in the EV3 immersion event at the Sunshine Coast in Term 1. Come to the Makerspace in second break to be involved.

Hermitage Plant Competition Winners!

The Year 6 students from the winning team for the Hermitage Plant Science Competition received their prizes last week of a school trophy and an eBook, which will be used for future science projects. Congratulations students on your achievement!

Resource Centre News

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Mrs Turner has received the certificates. They will be awarded during parade later this term.

Book Club

Book Club Issue 7 has been distributed. Please order through the Scholastic LOOP website.

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 in Term Week 3: Monday 19th October - Friday 23rd October.

Book Week Visiting Authors

This year we are celebrating Book Week with two sensational authors:

• Cori Brooke - Tuesday 20th October for Prep to Year 3.

• Pat Flynn - Wednesday 20th October for Year 4 to 6.

WE have books by both authors for sale at the library. Please see attached order forms for more details.

URGENT Your children should have brought the author visit permission form home this week. The cost for attending this great event is $3 and the closing date for payment is this Friday 16th October.

About the Authors

• 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

Book Week parade will take place on Friday 23rd October. There are many curious creatures that feature in children’s books. Some are human, some are fictional and some are real! Which “curious creature” will you celebrate during book week?

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

Book Club News

Hi Families! The Book Club Issue 7 brochure has been delivered to students. It will only be available for ordering online still. NO CASH ORDERS will be accepted. All Orders are due by Thursday 22nd October. Happy Ordering!!

How Book club Helps Your Child’s School

Every time you place a Scholastic order, your School is being rewarded! For example, for every Book Club order you place, Scholastic receives 20% of your total order spent to your school as Scholastic Rewards. This allows the school to purchase books and resources for your child’s classroom and the library, helping students reach their highest potential.

How To Order

Order online via LOOP. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school and the books will be delivered to your child’s class. You can place your child’s order at the LOOP website or by using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Julie Collins
Book Club Co-ordinator

School Banking News

New rewards available for Term 4

The Snakes & Ladders Game and Emoji Wallet are now available for redemption in Term 4.

Stocks of the previous terms’ reward items are also still available:

• Terry Denton’s Activity Book
• Mini Soccer Ball (size 2)
• Treetop Stationary Set
• Treetop Handball
• Tomato Seed Kit
• Magic Mist Drink Bottle

The last chance for reward redemptions this term will be on Thursday 26 November, to allow Commbank time for processing and postage of the rewards before the end of the school year.

YMCA OSHC

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

P&C News

The next P&C meeting is being held Wednesday 14th October at 6:30pm.

It’s been a quiet month due to the school holidays but we’re working on some exciting stuff behind the scenes! We can’t wait to share what’s happening, so make sure you keep an eye on the Facebook page!

Tuckshop News

Welcome back to Term 4. Pizza Wednesday’s start back in week 2 Including Margarita $5, ham and pineapple $5, mega meat $5.50. Pikelets are available on a Thursday.

Ice Block Reminder

With the weather warming up and more children wanting ice blocks please remember these items need to be ordered either online or before school via the bag cash system and must be collected from the tuckshop in play time. We do not hand out ice blocks in eating time or put these items in the junior school esky system.

Ordering

The preferred method of ordering is Online at QuickCliq.com.au 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.

Correct cash must be placed into a bag with child’s name class and order, this includes ice blocks. We do not accept cash during breaks.

Thank you to Kylie Mynett (Wednesday), Bruce Spencer (Thursday) and Liz Greer (Friday) for volunteering your time to assist in counting and removing the tuckshop takings.

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.

Allergies

We currently cater for many students with allergies. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact our team and we will be able to give you up to date information regarding our products.

Tuckshop Hours

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

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

Uniform Shop

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 Monday and Thursday’s.

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.

Second-hand Uniforms

We have a good range of secondhand items available. If you want us to select for you, we can send the item home and if you do not think it suitable it can be returned for credit with your child the next day.

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.

We are currently not accepting cash. We can do Direct Debit payments.

Uniform Shop Hours

Thank you
Kay Mitchell
uniformshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Containers for Change