22 June 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Yours in education,

Leanne Odorico
Principal

New Students

A special welcome is extended to Carmody (4C) and Sebastian (2A) 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

TERM 2 WEEK 8

TERM 2 WEEK 9

Top Kurwongbah Staff

Top Kurwongbah Kids

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

TERM 2 WEEK 8

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 2 Week 8

TERM 2 WEEK 9

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 2 Week 9

Outstanding Students for Term 2

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.

There will be a special Outstanding Student morning tea held this Friday at 10.20am in the staffroom for the students who received this award this term.

We would like to acknowledge all nominated Outstanding Students for Term 2:

Term 2 2022 Outstanding Students

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

Kurwongbah Fete

What a sensational Sunday for our 2022 Family Fete. It was the most amazing day –great crowds, great stalls & great performances – all in our wonderful Kurwongbah School Community. We would personally like to thank the Fete committee who worked tirelessly and gave up their ‘usual’ lives to commit to the Fete this year. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Kirsty Cherry and Alana Krogh – your dedication and commitment made this Fete the great success that it was. We also wish to thank all of the parents and staff who took on roles as convenors and supported the Fete committee so well - THANKS!

Fabulous effort everyone – a very enjoyable day!

We would also like to congratulate Micah (1A) for completing his Fete Passport and having his name drawn to become the lucky winner of the IPad. Well done Micah!

Colour Runs – Prep to Year Six (School Oval)

Tuesday 21st June

Prep - 3rd Session

Wednesday 22nd June

Year 2 - 2nd Session
Year 4 - 3rd Session

Thursday 23rd June

Year 1 - 2nd Session
Year 5 - 3rd Session

Friday 24th June

Year 3 - 2nd Session
Year 6 - 3rd Session

Facilities Update

As part of the Solar Schools Programme installation has just finished this week of a 100 Kilowatt Solar System on our School Hall and GLA 6. This will significantly offset electricity use across our school and help build a more sustainable future.

During the school holidays as part of the school’s planned maintenance program the Year 1 Teaching Block (GLA2) will have an internal and external paint. The Junior and Senior Toilet Blocks will have an internal and external repaint and GLA 7 and external paint as part of the Refresh Schools Project. During Term 3 works are expected to commence on a $300 000 upgrade of the Year 6 Teaching Block (GLA 5). During the holidays there will also be an upgrade of the ANZAC Garden area, the concrete pathway on the entrance to the school will also be replaced and there will be further electrostatic painting of the covered walkways.

Semester Two Staff Changes

Ms Boucaut is on leave from the end of Semester 1 and will be replaced by Miss Hayden. Miss Hayden has been working in Prep C during Term 2 getting to know the students. Mr Smith (Facilities Officer) finishes this Friday. Thank you, Mr Smith, for all your hard work and support during Term 2. Mrs Neilson finishes her contract as Class Teacher of 4C at the end of this week. We wish you every success at your new school. Mrs Hodgson will be returning from leave at the commencement of Semester 2. Mrs Grant-Freeman finishes this Friday as Business Services Manager. Thank you for all your hard work in managing many complex facilities projects during this term.

Semester One Academic Reports

Semester 1 Reports will be completed and emailed to parents on Wednesday 13th July.

Academic awards for students from Years 3 to 6 will be finalised and they will be presented on parade on Friday 22nd July. A copy of Academic Awards Criteria for Semester One is below.

Safety Tips Online

The 5 R’s:

Realise – people you chat with may not be who they say they are.
Refuse – requests for personal information.
Review – make sure you know all your contacts
Respond – close the program quickly if you do not feel comfortable.
Report – to a trusted adult any on-line contacts you feel uncomfortable about.

It is important for parents and carers to remind children regularly about these tips for on-line safety.

Newsletter Permissions

Schoolzine is the school’s primary means of communicating to the school community in the form of the school newsletter, as well as year level, class level and whole school level messages.

Parents only receive this communication if they have provided “Schoolzine” permission for their child. Forms were recently distributed to all students who are currently without permission, including those that expired at the end of Year 2 (permission is given for the period Prep-Year 2 and Year 3-Year 6).

If we do not receive this permission by the end of this term, you will no longer receive Schoolzine communications. Complete and return the permission form as soon as possible so this access can be continued. It is a requirement of the Department of Education to regularly review permissions for access to online services.

School Holidays

A reminder that the last day of Term 2 is this Friday 24th June. We wish all our students and families a safe and enjoyable holiday. School will resume on Monday 11th July.

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 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.

Parking in and around the school site

Parking is often at a premium in and around the school at key times of the day. Parents/Carers are reminded parking must adhere to road rules and promote the safety of our students when travelling to and from school. Parents are not to stop in yellow lined zones to drop off children nor are they to complete u-turns in Eacham Street at the crossing. This impacts on the safety of our children.

A request that when you are collecting or dropping off your children at school that you consider our neighbouring houses and ensure that your vehicles are not blocking driveway access for these residents. Parking and walking a short distance from the school especially if you have older children helps promote road safety around our school.

2023 Prep Enrolments

We are now taking names of Prep students for 2023. Children who were born between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018 are eligible to commence Prep in 2023. Parents are invited to contact the school office (Ph: 3481 4333) if they are intending to enrol their child at Kurwongbah for Prep in 2023. Enrolment forms will be sent out this term and interviews conducted early in Term 3. Please contact the school for further information.

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. If parents would like to pay a larger or smaller contribution towards their child’s education they are welcome to do so.

Covid Restrictions Update

As you may be aware, Queensland Health has updated the requirements for anyone who is deemed a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19. Please note, when determining whether someone is a close contact, schools and early childhood services are not considered a household, or household-like accommodation or care facility.

New Requirement for Close Contacts

From 6pm on Thursday 28 April 2022, close contacts that do not have COVID-19 symptoms are no longer required to quarantine.

Students who are close contacts must notify their school that they are a close contact. For 7 days after becoming a close contact, students over the age of 12 must wear a face mask while outside of their home, including at school, and when outdoors if unable to physically distance. Queensland Health also recommends that children under the age of 12 wear a face mask when it is safe to do so.

It is recommended that students undertake a rapid antigen test (RAT) on the first day they leave home, and every second day (e.g. days 2, 4, and 6) until they are no longer a close contact. Close contacts that develop COVID-19 symptoms must not attend school and should isolate until their symptoms resolve.

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

Schools are now providing RATs to staff or students who are close contacts. Please contact the First Aid should you require a RAT.

If You or Your Child Tests Positive to COVID-19

Queensland Health requirements for people who test positive to COVID-19 remain unchanged. You must follow the Queensland Health guidelines outlined in the first steps to take if you have COVID-19.

Face Masks

As a gentle reminder, masks continue to be required in certain settings for anyone aged 12 years or older, such as when travelling on public transport. They are also recommended whenever you can't physically distance. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask at school will be supported to do so.

We will continue to keep you informed of any changes to our response to COVID-19.

Eco-Marines News

Kurwongbah Kids Playgroup

Guidance Officer (GO) Greetings

Greetings Kurwongbah Families!

Have you heard of the Starfish Program? This is a FREE counselling service offered in the Moreton Bay area (it is funded by the Federal Government). Starfish supports children and young people up to 18 years who may be experiencing emotional health and wellbeing challenges. Along with supporting children, they also support families and carers.

If you are concerned about how your child is coping with a challenging situation or they are having ongoing issues at home or at school – contact information for Starfish is shown below.

Olivia Devereux
Guidance Officer

Inclusion News

Coffee and Connect

I am lucky to have learnt so much across my career and one of the most useful pieces of content I have come to understand is the work of William Glasser, a Psychiatrist of the last century, who maybe had many point of contention that science has worked past, but he has had some of the most impactful and lasting working in self-awareness, self-control, emotional awareness and control, leading into work on relationship, connnection and motivation.

Anyway, that’s the boring bit.

One of his concepts that I live by, and work by, is his concepts around physiological need (which isn’t rocket science) – all that about food, water, shelter etc. However, he outlines the psychological needs of human beings, and prioritises these as needs, not wants, to the level that we cannot survive without them, in balance and over time in our life.

There are four psychological needs as outlined by Glasser. There is Empowerment (which is really our self-worth, our knowledge of what we are good at and our value); there is Freedom (freedom to choose and freedom from choice), Fun and Enjoyment (self-explanatory); and finally Love/Belonging/Connectedness.

Focussing on this last one, we obtain our Love, Belonging and Connection from many sources in life. We have our family at the core, our extended family and those we consider family. We have close friends, acquaintances, supports. We have our sporting teams, our community groups, for our children we have our classes, the friendship groups, and all manner of expanding groups that we belong to or are connected to, from there.

For us, our school is a place of belonging. It is the strength of this belonging and connection that is a great predictor of school success and support over time. Whether that be our children, at their peer level, or us as adults, staff, parents. Traditionally, schools were central to community. For us, our school was built as a hub for the local development. We are in the midst of our Fete season, and it heightens our sense of community. Our vision would be for our school to be a great hub of support and connection for our community. When you are a Kurwongbah family, a staff member or community member, then you belong here and we care about you.

In Term 3, Week 1, we are commencing our Coffee and Connect on a Wednesday morning. We are even heightening the stakes with having a coffee vendor come in a trial the morning from 8am. This is a great opportunity to stop in, take 5 and say g’day, to allow your community to embrace you a little, or it is an opportunity to take a breath, stay a while and strengthen your connection or help someone else strengthen theirs by saying hello and asking, “How Are You?” and really listening for the answer. Over the term, we will then launch into some information sessions based on what we are hearing our community wants. It could be homework strategies, morning routines, math strategies, surviving pre-adolescent children, and the list can go on for ever, but we want to know what our community would like to chat about. Community and connection are about the collective of people, and we all have the ability to have impact. Please come along each week and have a positive impact.

Cameron Brown
Head of Special Education Services

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable

Telling Stories Writing Competition

The ‘Telling Stories’ Writing Competition is organised by Mooloolaba Rotary in partnership with the Creative Writing Program from the University of the Sunshine Coast and Voices on the Coast. This competition is on again and open for students from Year 4-6. Students are to write their own story with the title being – ‘I wonder why?’

Entries are due on 12th September and there are great cash prizes to be won. Please see the Library for an entry form. Details of word count and prizes are below:

Grade 4: 300 – 500 words
Grade 5: 400 – 600 words
Grade 6: 600 – 800 words

Prizes sponsored by FireFly Education:

Overall winner - Professor Gary Crew Trophy and Cash Prize of $150.
Grade/Category Winners - $50 cash and medal.
2nd Place - $30 cash and medal
3rd Place - $20 cash and medal
4th & 5th - $10 cash and certificate

Premier’s 2022 Coding Challenge

The 2022 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 the importance of digital technologies for 21st century citizens and to predict digital skills and environments of the future.

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 visit the website below.

School Holiday STEM Programs

Junior Engineers Program - Northlakes

SparkLab – Science Centre

Queensland Museum

Resource Centre News

Readers Cup

On the 9th June Kurwongbah State School hosted the North Brisbane Region Readers Cup competition, which was coordinated by Mrs Turner. The following students represented Kurwongbah State School: Finlay, Connor, Mani (absent), Isaac, Yasmin, Harrison, Claire and Hayden. 384 teams entered the competition across Queensland and 32 of these teams competed at our school. Every team read the same 5 books over about 8 weeks and on the day had to answer 50 questions (10 per book) about the books. Although our teams did not win, they did very well and enjoyed the experience! Wilston State School were the winners and now go on to compete in the state final in August.

Book Week Term 3

The theme for Book Week this year is Dreaming with Eyes Open.

Book Week Competition

Make a Dream Catcher with a book theme. Add embellishments to your dream catcher that gives clues to the book you are dreaming about.

For an easy idea to make a dream-catcher, click on LINK

Or use a paper plate:

ENTRIES DUE by Friday 19th August 2022 (I would like to display entries for Book Week which begins on Monday 22nd August)

Many thanks and Happy Reading,
Your friendly Library Crew

Tuckshop News

Congratulations to all of our Term 2 Meal Deal creators. Your meals have been a massive success to our tuckshop menu.

Congratulations to our Meal Deal competition winners Lexi (2D) and Ebony (3E). We are very excited to introduce your Meal Deals in Term 3. Meal Deals will be advised in early Term 3.

Thanks also to our Student Leaders who have created new Meal Deals for this term which will be available until Week 5 Term 3:

• Ivy’s Mighty Pizza Box $7.00
  Supreme Pizza, Brownie and Drink
• Luca’s Sliding Pack $6.50
  Sausage Roll, Brownie and Drink
• Hayden’s KFC Burger $7.80
  Chicken Burger (with lettuce and mayo), Moosie and Drink
  (Moosie must be collected from the Tuckshop)
• Nate’s Super Cool Meal $6.50
  Cheeseburger (pickles optional), Brownie and Drink
• Isla’s Super Soccer Meal $7.00
  Ham and Pineapple Pizza, Piklets and Drink

Some End of Term Reminders

Tuckshop will be opened today and Thursday, but please be aware that we are running down our stock and there will be a limited menu.

Tuckshop will only accept over the counter sales on Friday. Tuckshop staff will be busy performing end of term cleaning and stocktake.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Ordering

The preferred method of ordering is online via the QKR app, as all details of in stock items are available. 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 the online QKR app. 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.

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

Sandra and Carol
Tuckshop Convenors
3481 4337
tuckshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Uniform Shop

Parents are welcome to the Uniform Shop during opening hours with no appointment necessary. If you have an hour to spare and would like to volunteer in the Uniform Shop please email or call me.

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 a large range of second-hand uniforms in most sizes available including check shirts, blouses, winter jumpers and jackets.

School Backpacks

School backpacks are available for $50. These backpacks are chiropractic approved and have a guarantee for the full time your child is at school.

House Shirts

Due to delivery issues with our current supplier, we have made the decision to move to our Australian made supplier and will advise further once the delivery of the house shirts has been made. To the parents that are waiting for house shirts, we apologise for the delay. We are hopeful that the house shirts will be delivered in first week of Term 3.

Winter Uniforms

Winter uniforms are now in stock.

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.
3. Qkr! Online Orders
   Download the Qkr! App, or use the web-based version of Qkr at https://qkr-store.qkrschool.com/store

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

Uniform Shop Hours

Delivery days are Monday and Thursday.

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

Containers for Change

Community Notices

Dakabin State High School Open Day

Dakabin State High School Open Day will be held on the 16th July 2022. Click on the link below for further information.

Ginger Sports Holiday Program

Chess Mates Holiday Program

Moreton Bay Regional Council Active Holiday Program

As part of Council’s Active Holidays program, students have access to FREE and low-cost activities and workshops during the school holidays. Active Holidays brings children and young people aged 3 to 17 years together to play and be active, develop skills and make new friends in a fun, inclusive and safe environment. All activities provided by qualified and professional instructors in local parks and venues. Bookings are now open. To view the full program and book your place visit:

Moreton Bay Region Libraries Holiday Program

There are heaps of fun and free events for teens happening across Moreton Bay Region Libraries these winter school holidays. Celebrate Harry Potter’s 25th anniversary with us! Make your own chocolate Scabbers or Hedwig, fashion a HP-inspired figurine from polymer clay, or create a glowing wand. Plus, you can make your own scrunchies, launch a recycled bottle rocket, or hold a snake. To discover the full range of events, visit:

Young Engineers – Kurwongbah Program Term 3

Children construct a range of engineering bases projects to test and develop. Book now for Tuesday (Years 3-6) or Friday (Years 1-2) after school classes held in the Kurwongbah State School hall. Click on the links below for further information.