18 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents Students and Staff

It is hard to believe that we are near the end of term 1 (goodness knows where that went) and it’s often been either hot or wet. I again want to commend our students and staff for their resilience and persistence during these long, hot and wet days.

I had the privilege last week to attend the opening of the University of the Sunshine Coast Petrie campus. It’s a fantastic site and it’s exciting to think some of our students may be studying there in a few years’ time. There were politicians from all levels of government present and many spoke of the challenges in bringing this project to fruition, but all acknowledged it was only possible with everyone working together. It’s terrific example of what can be achieved when everyone is working towards a common goal.

Ailsa Bernard
Acting Principal

New Students

A special welcome is extended to Dre (SA1) 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.

Parade Presentation

Congratulations to SE for a terrific parade presentation on 6th March. The students shared information regarding the history of Dance and danced in an upbeat manner. It was wonderful to see all students enjoying themselves and excited about performing in front of an audience.

Last Friday the students of JH shared the work they have been investigating in their science unit about Push, Pull and Gravity. The students spoke with confidence and entertained the entire audience with their dramatic representation of the story, “The Enormous Turnip”. Well done students and teachers!

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 1 WEEK 6

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 1 Week 6

TERM 1 WEEK 7

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 1 Week 7

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

2021 Prep Enrolment

We are now taking names of Prep students for 2021. Children who were born between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016 are eligible to commence prep in 2021. Parents are invited to contact the school office (ph: 3481 4333) if they are intending to enrol their child at Kurwongbah for Prep in 2021. Enrolment forms will be sent out in Term 2 and interviews conducted early in Term 3. Please contact the school for further information.

Free Dress Day

Tomorrow (Thursday) will be a free dress day as our student leaders would like to raise funds to donate to the Red Cross following the work this organisation did during the recent bushfires and floods. We are asking student to wear ‘red’ on this free dress day. Our student leaders wanted to support a charity which reflected one of our values of CARING.

Please remember to bring a gold coin donation if you are coming in free dress on Thursday 19th March. Please remember to still wear your school shoes and hat.

No Bullying Day

Whilst we work every day to stamp out bullying, we will be acknowledging No Bullying Day this Friday.

Please note this is not a free dress day on Friday 20th March, but we are asking students to add something orange to their uniform (eg socks, ribbon) to show their support. Remember to also wear your usual school shoes and school hat. Let’s all work together to make our school a bully free place where both children and adults adopt and model our value of CARING to support and build one another up rather than knocking people down.

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools says:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Early Departures

Please be advised that should you need to collect your child / children from school before 3 pm, you may be asked to show photo ID at the office or First Aid Room. This procedure is to ensure the safety of our students and we thank you in advance for your cooperation with this procedure.

Uploading Photos

Please be aware that if you take any photographs of a school activity they CANNOT be uploaded or shared with others. We do not want to prevent you taking photos of your child, however we need to be mindful of privacy issues and the safety of individuals.

Camp Report

Year 6 camp had many features that made it great: activities, challenges, groups, food, cabins, games and more. The activities, which included surfing, rogaining, flying fox, catapult quest, medium ropes, low ropes and team challenges helped all of us learn teamwork, have fun and make friends.

Low ropes and medium ropes helped us gain trust with each other as well as encouraging each other if we were scared.

The flying fox was a challenge for some of us who were afraid and it was great to see people give it a go.

Surfing was enjoyable as most of us had never tried it before and a lot of us succeeded.

Team challenges helped us use teamwork in our groups through communication.

Rogaining helped us learn skills of direction and make teams and friends through discussion when trying to find all the markers.

Then we had the catapult quest where we had to follow instructions to build our own catapult to fire balls of wet socks at each other.

It was a great three days that we all enjoyed.

By Luke Scheu

School Play Equipment

A reminder to students, parents and carers that, in the interest of student safety, school play equipment and play areas are out of bounds before and after school. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Absences

Absence notification process

When reporting absences, please use our SMS service (preferably) on 0429 919 560. Your other means of letting us know is via our absence line (3481 4366), by QParents or by the main phone line. Please be sure you indicate the following when reporting the absence:

• Name of child (especially if there is more than one child in your family)
• Absence reason – Please indicate if your child is sick or at an appointment etc. Indicating that your child is not coming to school, does not give a true reason for the absence
• Late Arrival – If your child will be late due to an appointment, please indicate an approximate time of arrival
• Dates of absences, if longer than 1 day

When using our absence line (3481 4366), please speak very clearly. It is a requirement of the Department of Education for all absences to be explained.

Contact Details

It is important that the school have the correct contact details. If you have changed your mobile phone number, address or email address, could you please complete the attached form and forward to the office. Please be also aware if you have a change in emergency contacts.

Lost Property

Please ensure all jumpers, water bottles, hats etc are named so that we can get these items back to your child as soon as possible. We also keep other pieces of lost property in the office eg glasses, jewellery.

The Lost Property box is located outside the First Aid room. This room is locked at 3pm each day so please ensure you check any lost property prior to 3pm.

After School Soccer Program

Soccer X will be running a 6 week program at school. Refer to attachment for further details.

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable – Term 1

World Educational Robot Contest

Nathan Li from Year 3 recently went to the World Educational Robot Contest (WER) held last year in Shanghai. Nathan competed as part of a team that had to program a robot to complete various challenges in a theme about artificial intelligence. He had a fantastic time and was a great opportunity for him to gain experience in programming, problem solving and collaboration. Congratulations Nathan on your achievement!

Sumo Robotics Competition

Students in Year 3-6 are preparing for the upcoming Makerspace Sumo Robotics Wrestling Competition as they challenge their peers in a battle to have the last robot in the ring. If you are interested, see Mrs Rowley in the Makerspace to form a team to compete. Many senior students would be able to teach and mentor teams to show the basic moves. Come to the Makerspace Tuesday – Thursday first and second break.

Premier’s 2020 Coding Challenge

The 2020 Premier’s Coding Challenge is on again! This challenge offers great prizes and an excellent opportunity for students to create some interactive and innovative coding to raise awareness of cybersafety and help Queenslanders by providing tips to improve their cybersecurity. Entrants from Year 3- 6 can develop an app, game or animation, and they must submit a short video showcase with their entry. For more information see the teachers in the library and you can also come to the Makerspace to create and refine your entry.

2020 Theme: Celebrate our differences and create a colourful world.

This national competition is open to all primary schools across Australia and coincides with the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence in March. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness of bullying and to assist schools and organisations to identify and address bullying behaviours in their communities.

All you need to do is draw an A4 poster depicting the theme of ‘Celebrate our differences and create a colourful world.’ Send your entries to the library by 31 March. There are some great prizes on offer.

Music News

This week your child will receive a note (hard copy) regarding the cost involved in the Instrumental Music and/or Choral Program. This note will have your child’s name on it with details itemising the amounts payable for your child. An invoice will then be emailed with the total amount. Please keep an eye out for the note and email.

Performance Uniforms

Students in the ensembles listed below require a Performance Uniform. Some students have already been fitted and all students should be fitted before the end of term.

• Junior and Senior Band
• Junior and Senior String Ensemble
• Junior and Senior Singers
• Percussion Ensemble

Uniforms will not be sent home until everyone has been fitted and payment is completed. The uniform is to be worn with white ankle turn over socks (not sport socks) and black school shoes (no boots, runners or ballet flats). These items are not part of the hired uniform. Some students have already been fitted.

Music Rehearsals

Attendance is expected for all rehearsals so if your child is unable to attend a rehearsal could you please email or send a note to the teacher so his/her absence can be noted. Please remind your child to collect his/her instrument from the storeroom. Instruments are to go home each week so your child can practise before the next rehearsal.

There will be NO Senior String Ensemble rehearsal or lessons on Thursday, 2 April (the last week of term), Please make alternative before school arrangements if your child is involved.

Choir and String Ensemble rehearsals will take place in the hall for the remainder of this term to allow the students more space.

Book Club News

Just a reminder that all orders for Book Club Issue 2 are due by Wednesday 18th March. Please find the links for loop online orders and the Issue 2 catalogue below.

As Easter fast approaches, and you would like to order books as gifts you can do so by clicking on the Gift order box when ordering on loop site. If you are doing a cash order please write on it as a gift. When I receive gift orders they will go directly to the Library and parents will be called for collection from there.

Issue 2 Catalogue

Loop Orders

Thank you and Happy Ordering

Julie Collins
Book Club Coordinator

P&C News

AGM

The annual general meeting (AGM) for the P&C will be held tonight at 6.30pm in the school staffroom. A new executive committee will be elected at this meeting. If you are interested in nominating for a committee position, including sub-committee positions, these will be called at the AGM. Nomination forms are available.

More information about these roles is available on the P&Cs Queensland website at

2020 Membership

New membership forms are available below. We encourage all parents, staff and interested community members to become members of the P&C. All membership applications received in 2020 prior to tonight’s meeting will be ratified at the AGM, whether or not you are in attendance.

Membership forms can be returned electronically to secretary@ksspca.qld.edu.au or dropped to the school office. Any forms received after the AGM will require member attendance at the meeting they are tabled for ratification.

Please note, you are required to submit a new application for membership each year, your membership does not carry over. Membership not only provides you with the opportunity to raise issues and concerns at meetings, it also provides insurance cover when you volunteer at the school.

March General Meeting

The March general meeting will also be held tonight, immediately following the AGM.

Seeking A Casual Retail Assistant

The P&C Association is seeking a motivated person with cooking and/or retail experience to join the team. The position will be trained across both the uniform shop and tuckshop and will support the day to day operations of both services. The successful applicant will be employed by the association as a casual and will be offered a minimum of three (3) hours per week.

The successful applicant will be required to hold a current Queensland Working with Children Check / Positive Notice (Blue Card). The successful applicant will enjoy working in a retail environment within a school setting, have excellent interpersonal skills, a high level of attention to detail and a friendly disposition.

The role may include preparation of food, compilation and organisation of online orders, stock rotation and maintenance, customer service, assisting volunteers, liaising with school staff and suppliers and/or money handling.

If this sounds like a position you would be interested in, please contact the association via email to secretary@ksspca.qld.edu.au for more information or submit your written cover letter, current resume and at least two referees.

Fundraising News

Next Meeting – Wednesday April 1st – 6:30pm at Warner McDonalds

The Sub Committee would like to invite all interested parents to attend the next meeting to discuss the planned fundraising for Term 2.

Kurwongbah SS P&C Easter Rafflle

Our biennial Easter Raffle is on again! We are currently collecting for donations towards the raffle hampers. Please drop your donations of chocolates, baskets, novelties and lollies to the School office between Thursday March 5th and Thursday March 19th.

Raffle tickets were sent home with the eldest child on Wednesday March 11th and are due back by Wednesday March 25th. The Raffle draw will be held on Friday March 27th. We look forward to your support with this fundraiser.

Guest Speaker Evening - Postponed

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus situation, it has been decided to postpone the Guest Speaker evening until later in the year. All ticket purchases to date will be refunded.

Election BBQ

Due to the impacts of the corona virus, the fundraising committee have decided to cancel our Election Day BBQ and bake sale.

Craft Group

The craft group meet on Mondays at 8:30am in the supper room beside the hall. Everyone is welcome to attend and assist with making items for the upcoming Mother’s Day Stall.

Fundraising Committee
fundraising@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Tuckshop News

Easter Special

The tuckshop is very excited to bring you an Easter special in Week 9 on Friday 27th March.

Our special will be:

• Pizza, a hot cross bun and popper for $7.50
  - Pizza choice = Cheese pizza, Ham and cheese, Ham and pineapple
  - Hot Cross Bun. Option between a plain or fruited hot cross bun.

Pre orders are now available over the counter or online Via QuickCliq. Normal menu will also be available.

End of Term

As we come to the end of term, please note some stock may become unavailable so we have limited stock on site over the holidays.

Lawnton Country Markets

We would like to thank Lawnton Country Markets for the 10% discount the tuckshop receives on our weekly fruit shop.

Volunteers

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers for your continual help. Reminder dates:

• 19/3 Kimi Bandaranayake
• 20/3 Brooke Krause, Liz Greer
• 26/3 Kimi Bandaranayake
• 27/3 Kim Robertson, Brooke Krause, Liz Greer

Tuckshop Hours

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

Uniform Shop

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.

Ordering Through Uniform Shop

If you have a problem being able to get to the Uniform Shop on the days we are open there are a number of ways you can order your uniforms.

1. You can send your order and payment (money or credit card details) with your child.
2. You can come into the Uniform Shop during open hours and pay by cash or Eftpos.
3. If you are unable to come into the Shop during open hours you can pay by phone order and your child’s uniforms will be delivered to your child’s class or class tray.

We accept Cash, Eftpos and Credit Card in the shop or Credit Card by Phone Order.

Uniform Shop Hours

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

Containers for Change

Community Notices

Tranquil Kids Yoga

Weetbix Kids TRYathlon

The Weetbix Kids Tryathlon is the perfect participation event for students wanting to try something new and set themselves a challenge. They can even enter a team with a friend if they don't want to do it alone.

Specific information regarding the event can be viewed here:

Moreton Bay School Holidays 6-19 April

Moreton Bay Regional Council's school holiday program for children and young people returns in April.

Between 6 and 19 April, your students have access to a diverse range of free and low-cost activities and events across Council's libraries, galleries and museums, environmental centres, parks and sports venues.

From reptile shows, art workshops and environmental activities to parkour and ninja warrior challenges, there's an adventure to be had every day with Moreton Bay School Holidays.

Bookings open at 11:00 AM on Thursday 26 March 2020. To make a booking visit

Carl Richards Football Academy