28 April 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Yours in education,

Leanne Odorico
Principal

New Students

A special welcome is extended to Ariana (JB1), Cooper (MA2), Isabella (JH1), Jasmine (SF1), Tayleigh (SB1), Elijah (MB1), Hayden (SF1), Lincoln (JA1) and Reuben (MA2) 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.

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

Staffing

We welcome back Mr David Fowler, PE teacher. We also welcome Mrs Kristi Nageli who will replace Mr Hamlin each Monday as percussion teacher during Term 2.

2022 Prep Enrolments

We are now taking names of Prep students for 2022. Children who were born between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017 are eligible to commence prep in 2022. Parents are invited to contact the school office (ph: 3481 4333) if they are intending to enrol their child at Kurwongbah for Prep in 2022. Enrolment forms will be sent out in Term 2 and interviews conducted early in Term 3. Please contact the school for further information.

School Anzac Parade

Thanks to our 2021 Student Leaders, Year 6 Singers and Mrs C who presented a reflective and moving ANZAC Day Ceremony on School Parade last Thursday. All classes created wreaths which were taken to our ANZAC Garden after the ceremony. It was wonderful for our students to be able to assemble and commemorate this significant occasion.

Kurwongbah Dojo Celebrations

Due to the lockdown in the final week of school, last week class teachers conducted celebratory sessions for those students who have earned 200 or more Dojo points in Term 1. Congratulations to the many students who achieved this target – we are proud of your behaviour choices. The Term 1 Outstanding Student afternoon tea was also hosted last Thursday. It was a busy week celebrating our fantastic start to 2021.

NAPLAN Testing

The NAPLAN Online testing for students in years 3 & 5 this year will be held over two weeks, 11th – 21st May. These tests will cover Language Conventions, Reading, Writing and Numeracy, providing a point-in-time information in relation to student performance. Year 3 Writing is completed as a paper version and not as an online test. This is consistent with all Year 3 NAPLAN testing nationwide.

Students have ready completed practice tests to ensure each student is familiar with the testing format.

The timetable for the NAPLAN Online tests is below.

Parade Presentations Term 2

Parents of classes involved in parade presentations are welcome to attend parades from 9.00am each Friday. Parents of students receiving special awards are welcome to attend parade. Students of the Week will be celebrated through our school newsletter.

Term 2 Parade Presentation Schedule

Collecting Student During Breaks

If you are planning to collect your child during break times, please ensure you advise the office on the morning of the intended early pickup so that we can organise to have your child at the office ready for you. It is often not possible to contact teachers to find children during these break times.

Lab Kids Incursion

Lab kids visited JA and JB and we learnt about materials and their properties.

2021 Lab Kids Incursion

Kurwongbah Kids Playgroup

We welcome parents and their young children to our Kurwongbah Kids Playgroup, held every Friday in the Sports Hall.

Eco Marine Ambassadors

Our Eco Marine Ambassadors visited Tangalooma Island yesterday.

Casual Vacancy – Schools Officer Grounds & Facilities

Voluntary Contribution

Voluntary Contribution is a vital part of the Kurwongbah P&C’s commitment and helps to fund reading books, maths & science consumables, art consumables, digital resources, sporting equipment and positive behaviour learning program resources.

You can make a financial contribution to the school by completing the attached form and forwarding with payment to the school office. The contribution equates to $1 per week for the 40 weeks of the school year.

Parent and Community Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct, outlines how parents, carers and visitors should conduct themselves while they’re on school grounds, at school activities, and interacting with others in the school community.

Australian Early Development Census 2021

Every three years the Australian Early Development Census is conducted Australia wide collecting critical data relating to our Prep students. Attached is detailed information about this data collection informing parents on why and when the 2021 AEDC data collection process will occur at Kurwongbah State School.

Volunteering And Bluecards

Just a quick reminder to the school community of both school and Education Queensland requirements.

It is a requirement for all volunteers to adhere to the Student Protection and Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines as part of Mandatory training. There are no exceptions to this expectation.

All volunteers must:

1. Have a valid blue card (if not a parent) and link blue card to Kurwongbah SS. You can NOT start volunteering until your blue card has been approved.

Parents do not require a blue card.

Grandparents and other relatives / friends are required to have a valid blue card before commencing volunteering in the school. Please provide a copy of your blue card to the Office when you sign in. To apply for a blue card, please visit the Blue Card Services website .

Blue cards are required to be linked to the school. Please complete section 3 of the attached blue card form and submit to the Office.

2. Sign in at the Office. You will be provided with a volunteer lanyard.

3. Read & signed off that you have read the “Mandatory All-Staff Training Program - Key Messages Guide for contractors, volunteers and visitors 2021” document.

Inclusion News

April has been Autism Awareness Month, and while we were on school holidays for much of it, we as a school celebrate difference every day. Over 7% of our students are diagnosed with Autism and are making a ‘can do’ impact on our community. It is very interesting, as we would discuss Autism as a Spectrum, with people falling all along the continua and many would say that we all have traits somewhere on the continua, regardless of whether we have a diagnosis.

Shouldn’t we be grateful of difference. What a boring world it would be if we were all the same. In my previous school, we had over 70% of our families come from overseas, and we have 46 different languages or dialects amongst our families. In this situation, we would joke that to be ‘normal’ was different!! So, on this month, let’s celebrate our people with Autism, who bring a new perspective to many situations, and often are great models of resilience and persistence.

This following information is from the Autism Association of Western Australia.

Embrace Difference

April is World Autism Awareness Month. A time to come together and ignite change. Help us make a difference to the lives of people with Autism and celebrate embracing difference in your community this April.

What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Autism) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts on child development in a number of key areas, including communication, social interaction and repetitive patterns of behaviour. Autism is frequently associated with sensory sensitivities and sensory processing difficulties. While Autism is a complex lifelong developmental disability, with appropriate intervention children and adults with Autism can make significant progress and live fulfilling lives. Consequently, it is imperative that individuals with Autism have access to specialist services that understand their needs and are experienced in developing their skills and strengths. Until recently it has generally been accepted that about 1 in 100 Australians have Autism. With a broadening of Autism criteria in recent years, and advances in identifying Autism, it is now considered to be closer to 1 in 70. This means that if you have Autism you are not alone. And, if you do not have Autism yourself it is likely that you will meet or have already met someone who does.

This increase is prevalence does not necessarily mean that Autism is on the rise. Rather, it is likely that increased Autism awareness and understanding, with resultant changes to the diagnostic criteria, has led to better identification of Autism characteristics.

Cameron Brown
Head of Inclusion

Inclusive Practices

People communicate in many different ways, some people use their voice, others use a device or a computer that speaks for them, and some people use sign language to communicate. In our Kurwongbah school community, we have students who use a variety of methods to communicate and it is important that we celebrate this diversity and actively work to engage and learn more about different methods of communication.

Recently some of our Prep students have begun to learn sign language with our visiting school Speech Language Pathologist Kathryn McGrath. We will share these signs and symbols through our newsletter so that our wider community can learn the signs at home too.

Kathryn McGrath
Speech Language Pathologist

First Aid News

Medication

Students are not permitted to have any medication on their person or in their bags while they are at school.

The First Aid room is able to administer medication as described by the Education Queensland Regulations: -

1. Must have a permission to administer medication form (see below).
2. ALL MEDICATION MUST be in the original container from the pharmacy with both the child’s and Doctor’s name, clear WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS on the container, and must be lodged with the School First Aid Room for security purposes. WE CANNOT ACCEPT INDIVIDUAL CAPSULES OR TABLETS.prescribed by medical practitioners.
3. Must be prescribed by a GP/Specialist. Non-prescribed medications (eg aspirin, panadol, cough medicine etc) should NOT be brought to school and WILL NOT be administered by school staff unless it is
4. Any students with a medical condition, also require official documentation from the child’s Doctor/Specialist indicating the condition and any emergency plans.

Requirements for Medication

For general medication, please be aware of the guidelines from the Department of Education. ALL medication no matter what it is, is required to be prescribed by a qualified health practitioner (eg: doctor, dentist), in its original container/box and have a pharmacy label attached. Failing to adhere to these guidelines, means that we are unable to administer the medication to your student and you will be called to either collect the student or come and administer the medication yourself.

Leigh Taylor, Anne O’Brien & Marika Lankheet
First Aid Admin Officer
3481 4335
firstaid@kurwongbahss.eq.edu.au

Chappy News

Welcome to Term 2, Kurwongbah Families!

I hope that your (extended!) Easter break was refreshing, relaxing, and filled with an abundance of joy, even if that joy was in the moments you got to eat some chocolate on your own! Our family enjoyed the lazy mornings and relaxed days that being out of school routine brings, however by the end of the holidays I think we were all ready to return to “normal life” and get Term 2 underway.

Over the next few newsletter articles, I am going to be exploring the concept of empowerment and how empowering individuals provides tremendous opportunity for growth, character development and increased confidence across all aspects of life. I believe that when we give people the opportunity to make decisions for themselves and to own their choices and behaviours, we are allowing that person freedom to explore what is important to them and to then live authentically in accordance with their core values and beliefs.

When we disempower people, or limit their opportunity to make choices for themselves, we actually facilitate the stunting of emotional development and can create situations where people become risk-adverse, or find themselves in repeatedly negative or damaging circumstances, because they have not learned how to advocate for themselves or been trusted to make choices around their lives.

As parents, we have a tremendous responsibility to learn how to live empowered lives ourselves so that we can set our children up for success in the future. I often speak with parents who struggle to find the balance between enabling their children and empowering their children, and I admit that I still have my own personal battles in this area with my own kids. The reality is, though, that enabling our children (ie. Rescuing, over-protecting, limiting, excusing or controlling their choices) can lead to long term issues including the inability to make meaningful relationships, struggles with positive mental health, employment challenges and so on.

If you are wondering whether you are empowering or enabling your children, the following questions might help highlight some areas that you could work on.

• Am I doing for my child what they are able to do? (carrying their school bag, tidying their room, picking out their clothes etc)
• Am I acting out of guilt and obligation? (I’ll be a bad parent if I don’t to X-Y-Z)
• Am I worried about them feeling rejected?
• What if they didn’t need me as much?
• Do I have my own self- doubt that is contagious? (am I concerned about them taking risks and being hurt?)
• Do I trust them to make good decisions?
• Have I used encouraging, “I believe in you” language or discouraging, “Are you sure you can do this?” verbiage?

I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks as we all look to supporting our young people to be the very best version of themselves that they can be.

Have a fantastic week!

Chappy Carly

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable

Solid Pathways Term 2

Selected students from Year 5 and 6 are again participating in Solid Pathways for Term 2. Students will attend a 1- hour session every week, engaging with other students from a variety of schools in a collaborative interactive online environment for STEM related activities in a virtual reality program. Year 5 students will explore the three phenomena of light-reflection, refraction and absorption. Year 6 are understanding how coding languages, including branching, repetition and user input, can solve problems.

Kurwongbah’s Techgirls Team

The Techgirls program is about changing the way girls perceive and engage in STEM. The program combines problem-solving through a social, business and technical lens, producing high-quality business plans, pitch videos and working app prototypes from girls as young as 7 to 17. Through highlighting pathways and role models and connecting teams with female mentors, students engage to build skills, which helps to build confidence, and the teamwork and mentorship help to grow courage. Four students from Year 6 are entering this year into the competition and are looking forward to the challenge! Best wishes for the project girls!

Seeking donations for Kurwongbah State School to attend the RoboRave Australia 2021 Competition!

Students in Year 4-6 have the opportunity to partake in the upcoming RoboRave Australia 2021 Tournament at the University of the Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs on Sunday 30th May 2021. Teams will compete in two categories of Elementary (Aged 8 -10yrs) and Middle School (Aged 11-13yrs) in the SumoBot Lego Challenge in teams of 2-4. It is an exciting opportunity for Kurwongbah to compete in as this will be the first-time teams have competed in this event.

Kurwongbah is seeking any donations from the Community to help the students purchase team shirts for RoboRave, assist in registration fees and purchase Lego robotic components.

Please contact the Kurwongbah school office or Rebecca Rowley (Ph 34814333 or rrowl3@eq.edu.au) if you can assist.

Premier’s 2021 Coding Challenge

The 2021 Premier’s Coding Challenge is on again! This challenge offers great prizes of coding and robotics kits and an excellent opportunity for students to create some interactive and innovative coding to raise awareness of digital wellbeing.

This can include themes such as:

• work and study life balance
• postural considerations of using technology
• personal security and safety online
• adhering to social media ethics and protocols.

Entrants from Year 3 -6 can develop an app, game, animation or website, and they must submit a short video showcase with their entry.

For more information see the teachers in the library or visit at the link blow for more details.

Entries close on the 17th September 2021.

Music News

Over the holidays the restrictions around rehearsing and performing for instrumental music and choirs were revised and as a result, within the school environment, members of large bands, choirs or ensembles are able to rehearse in the same location. Physical distancing within a school by students is not required. This is great news and full rehearsals commenced last week with our bands and choirs.

With the lifting of these restrictions, we are now able to perform for the wider school community. Dates and details are being organised and once finalised, we will pass on the details.

Due to the easing of COVID restrictions for singing groups and band performances, Performance Uniforms will now be issued. Parents will receive a separate invoice for the Performance Uniform only. Parents will also have previously been invoiced for the Music Fees on 29 March. This first invoice is to be paid by Friday 30 April. Once payment is received for both invoices, your child will be issued with a performance uniform. All students are required to hire the performance uniform except for Beginner Strings and Kurwongbah Blokes. Students are required to wear black school shoes and white socks (turnover top socks) as part of this uniform (to be purchased by you). Joggers, boots or ballet flats are not acceptable as part of the performance uniform.

Choir News

Senior Singers

Year 5 and 6 students are rehearsing together this term every Friday morning before school. Could you please ensure you child is at school ready to commence rehearsing at 7.45am. We are currently preparing for a competition and it is essential that all members attend every rehearsal. Your child will receive a note about this performance at rehearsal this Friday. If your child is unable to attend a rehearsal please contact me via email to let me know - rcurc1@eq.edu.au (Mrs. C).

Senior Concert Band And Senior Percussion Ensemble

Band rehearsals are now able to recommence as before COVID. This means no split rehearsals. Year 6 and 5 will reform together as Senior Concert Band! This means all year 5 and 6 woodwind and brass students, plus Year 6 percussion students are required EVERY Tuesday morning for band rehearsals. (nb. No alternating weeks). Band rehearsals start at 7.45am. Students arrive from 7.30am onwards – Mr. Denning.

Junior Concert Band

Beginner Band starts in Week 3 at first break. it is strongly encouraged that students know their first 5 notes by this time so that they can feel confident in their very first band rehearsal. There will be no lessons or band in week 4 as I will be away – Ms Porter.

Book Club News

HI Families! Welcome Back to Term 2. All Book Club Orders for Issue 2 and Back Orders have been delivered.

Issue 3 Catalogues have been delivered today and are due by Thursday 6th May.

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 spend 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

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 link below or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Cash orders can be handed into the library. Simply fill out the order form on the back of the catalogue, place the form and the exact cash amount (no change given) into an envelope or clip seal bag and drop off to the LIBRARY ONLY!

Julie Collins
Book Club Coordinator

YMCA OSHC

Welcome to Term 2!

We hope everyone had a wonderful break and a lovely Easter.

We were busy, busy, busy over the holidays with our jam-packed holiday program! Our first trip to the movies was fantastic and we are planning to go again in the next holidays! We also enjoyed some messy and sensory days, wheelie days, laser tag and bunny making, amongst other things. The next holidays are already in the planning so please send in any suggestions to the team.

Our numbers for after school care are reaching capacity on a few days each week so please book in as early as you can if you need a place in the afternoons. Places are allocated to permanent bookings first and then casual bookings if there are spaces. Please discuss this with an Educator if you want to make any changes to your bookings.

We would also like to remind our families that our service closes at 6:00pm and we are unable to provide care for your children after that time. We know that sometimes circumstances are out of your control and occasional late collections occur, but we appreciate notification in these instances and on time collection otherwise.

If you have any questions, concerns or feedback please phone or email us.

Many thanks,

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

Fundraising News

Mother’s Day Stall

Thanks to our very talented Kurwongbah Craft group, we are offering students the ability to purchase inexpensive gifts for their mother figures on Wednesday 5th May and Thursday 6th May.

Students will have the option to visit the stall during an allocated timeslot for their class.

Tuckshop News

Welcome to Term 2.

Term 2 Meal Deals

We are excited to announce our new meal deals for Term 2:

• Chappy’s Hot Diggety Dog Meal $6.50
  Hotdog, Brownie and Drink
• Waldo’s Pizza Box $7.00
  Ham and Cheese Pizza Slice, Garlic bread and Drink
• Miller’s Baseball Meal $7.00
  Hotdog, Pikelets and Drink
• Zoey’s Mundi Meal Deal $7.00
  Chicken nuggets, Banana Muffin and Drink
• Annie’s Tasty Toastie Pack $6.00
  Ham and Cheese Toastie, Brownie and Drink

The following meal deals will be available until the end of week 4:

• Join Flynn’s Ant Army $7.50
  Pasta Bolognaise, Garlic bread and Flavoured Milk
• Leila’s Netball Pack $6.50
  Vegetable Spring rolls, Banana Muffin and Drink
• Ashden’s Rugby Meal $6.50
  Beef Pie, Popcorn and Drink

Daily Specials

Pizza Wednesday

• Margarita pizza $5.00
• Ham and Pineapple $5.00
• Mega Meat $5.50

Thursday Special

• Roast Chicken, baked potato, Vegies, Gravy and Garlic Bread $5.50
  Inspired by Aiden and Chelsea’s favourite meal of the week.

Ordering

The preferred method of ordering is online at QuickCliq.com.au, as all details of in stock items are available. We will be introducing QKR within the next couple of weeks and will be running both ordering platforms for a change over period. Please ensure you update your child’s profile with their correct class information for 2021.

We also accept over the phone orders and cash orders over the counter.

Cash

Tuckshop is once again accepting cash sales via the bag system and for over the counter items in break times.

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 (www.quickcliq.com.au). 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.

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
3481 4337
tuckshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is currently accepting phone orders Monday and Thursday 8.30am – 10.00am or email orders. Please include your phone number in any messages. Orders will be packed and delivered Mondays and Thursdays.

Parents are welcome to the uniform shop, however we still must maintain social distancing with only one family at a time in the shop.

Payment methods accepted Eftpos, credit card, direct deposit, and cash.

Please see attached order form and price list.

Winter Orders

Please place your winter orders now to avoid disappointment. You can put in your order and pay when it is ready.

Price Increase

Winter polar fleece jumpers and vests will increase in price on the 1st May, 2021. This will be the first increase on these items in 8 years.

• Jumpers - $32.00 (increased by $2)
• Vests - $25.00 (increased by $3)

Ordering Through Uniform Shop

The following options are available:

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

The preferred payment options are by Eftpos either by email order or over the phone by credit card or direct deposit.

Uniform Shop Hours

Thank you
Kay Mitchell & Kristi Milligan
3481 4323
uniformshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Containers for Change

Community Notices

Australian Acting Academy

The Australian Acting Academy is one of Brisbane's oldest and most successful acting schools for kids 7-12 and teens 12-17yrs. They are also the newest addition to the Kurwongbah SS community as they start classes at our Hall 4-5.30pm for kids $285 and 5.45-7.45pm for teens $345.

To celebrate the acting academy coming to Kurwongbah anyone in grades 4-6 can come to the class and try it free of charge this Friday at 4-5.30pm to see if what they do is for them. Siblings in high school can also come try the teen class 5.45pm-745pm.

Each term offers different skills and this term is the exciting art of taking a character to camera. You will learn how to act for camera, the difference between stage and screen, and most excitingly of all you will learn script analysis as you create stories for original scripts. Your work on camera is also sent home for you to review. The Acting Academy is all about supporting and developing creative kids and teens. The thing it is famous for is the Safety Net Philosophy where they make sure everyone supports each other to create safe places to take creative risks. You will not only learn new skills and have heaps of fun you will also make some great like-minded friends. the best part is you can come and try it for $1. If you don't enjoy it, that is all you pay.

To book in simply go to the link below or call Chelsea on 0490071298 for more information.

Soccer X

Grease the Musical – PRSHS

Pine Rivers State High School is proud to present Grease for our 2021 Musical.

Funny, frank and featuring the hit songs "Greased Lightnin", "You're The One that I Want" and "Summer Nights", Grease follows the journey of Danny and Sandy, alongside the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies, as they navigate high school to the unforgettable rock n' roll soundtrack that defined generations.

We would love to see you there. Tickets can be purchased by following the link:

Proactive School Patrol Program - Moreton Bay Regional Council

As a new school term commences, Council’s Local Laws unit undertakes a Proactive School Patrol Program where officers undertake 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.

Pine Rivers State High School Scholarship Programs

Pine Rivers State High School offers a number of scholarship programs in 2021.

Redcliffe State High School – Rugby League Excellence Program

At Redcliffe SHS we give students the chance to further develop their Rugby League skills whilst studying at one of South East Queensland's most innovative schools. Boys in our program study Rugby League as a timetabled class whilst having the opportunity to play in the elite Broncos competitions that are not available at other high schools on the Redcliffe Peninsula.

Dakabin SHS Open Day