26 April 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Yours in education,

Leanne Odorico
Principal

Respect Program Information – Scope and Sequence

Student of the Week

TERM 1 WEEK 10

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 1 WEEK 10

Top Kurwongbah Kid – Term 1 Week 10

Date Claimers

Due Dates for Payments

Staffing Update

Bruce Hamlin (Instrumental Music – Percussion) is on leave in Term 2. Mr Hamlin will be replaced by Diane Munns during his leave.

ANZAC Parade

Thank you to our Student Leaders, Chappy Carly, Mrs Turner, Meredith Kelly (Bray Park Strathpine RSL Sub Branch) Mrs C and the Performance Group Choir who presented a special ANZAC Parade last Friday. Thank you to all classes that created wreaths for our school ANZAC Garden. It was wonderful to have many family and community members also attend parade.

Thanks also to staff, parents and students who purchased ANZAC Badges and Ribbons will all proceeds going to the Strathpine RSL Sub Branch who support our veterans.

A big thankyou to our Student Leaders and their siblings who represented our school at the ANZAC March at Kallangur on Tuesday morning.

Louise Park Author Visit – Last Man Out

Louise Park visited Kurwongbah State School last Tuesday and launched her latest book with us “Last Man Out”. It is a factual account of her grandfather’s incredibly brave involvement in the Gallipoli evacuation. She presented to our year 5 and 6 students to coincide with our Anzac Day commemorations. It certainly gave our students a lively and thought-provoking account of what our soldiers had to endure during WWI, of the bravery displayed and the true meaning of the word hero.

Postcards of Honour – ANZAC Day

This year working with the Bray Park Strathpine RSL Sub Branch students in 5C, 5D and 2D wrote Postcards of Honour which will be distributed by the RSL to our local veterans. Well done students for all the work and kind messages that you included in your postcards.

2024 Prep Enrolments

We are now taking names of Prep students for 2024. Children who were born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 are eligible to commence Prep in 2024. Parents are invited to contact the school office (Ph: 3481 4333) if they are intending to enrol their child at Kurwongbah for Prep in 2024. Enrolment forms can then be completed and submitted for Principal approval and student interview times booked. Please contact the school for further information.

Parade Presentations 2023

Whole school parades are held each Friday morning from 8.55am in our school hall. Parents are most welcome to attend. During the year each class or year level will present a presentation on parade. Below is the 2023 parade presentation schedule:

Absences

State schools are required to notify parents on the same day any student is absent from school without explanation. Rolls are marked at 8:50am and 2:10pm each day. An SMS message will be sent to any parent of a student with an unexplained absence by 11am. Students who are not in their class at 8:50am will be marked absent and MUST collect a late slip from the office. Parents collecting their children early must sign them from the office before collecting from the classroom.

Absence Notification Process

Please remember to contact the school early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly. The preferred method of reporting an absence is via the SMS number 0429 919 560. Otherwise, you can contact the school absence line on 3481 4366 or the main school admin line on 3481 4333.

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

Contact Details

It is important that the school have the correct contact details. This is especially important in emergency situations or if your child presents as unwell during the school day. If you have changed your mobile phone number, address or email address, complete the attached form and forward to the office. Please be also aware if you have a change in emergency contacts. If parents are registered through QParents they are able to update details through this app.

School Parking Patrol Program

Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) Local Laws Unit undertakes a School Parking 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 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, marked yellow lines, shared paths, dividing strips and nature strips, along with vehicles parking across residents driveways and within ‘No Stopping’, ‘No Parking’, and ‘Bus Zones’ and Pick-up / Drop -off zones. Council is legally required to enforce these areas and the School Parking 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 also 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 conduct enforcement through the issuance of Penalty Infringement Notices as part of each School Parking Patrol. Please be aware that Council officers may take photographic evidence of vehicles stopping or parking illegally with Penalty Infringement Notices to be issued via mail at a later date to the offending vehicle’s owner.

Visit the link below for further guidance on parking restrictions.

For any further information, members of the school community are welcome to contact Moreton Bay Regional Council on 3205 0555.

KindyLinQ

Kurwongbah State School is excited to offer the KindyLinQ program. Families with children from birth to age three will be welcome to register for KindyLinQ. The play-based nature of KindyLinQ, which is delivered by a teacher, is perfect for young children. It enables them to explore, create, socialise and participate in different experiences with the support of their parent/caregiver. KindyLinQ can also support families to get to know the local services in their area and connect to a Kindy program when the time is right. For more information, please refer to the below flyer.

Business Manager News

Welcome back for Term 2. I have lots planned in the facilities and finance spaces so watch this space this term!

Grounds & Facilities – Keeping Our School and Community Safe

Thank you for helping to keep our school safe over the break. I’m delighted to report that we had NO vandalism in the two-week period!

Grounds & Facilities – Works Around the School

The Senior toilet block ambulant toilet work is mostly complete, security screens have been ordered and the flooring contractors booked. Moving forward we hope to be able to create these multi-access unisex facilities in each of our toilet blocks.

The plumbing work on the Prep block is also complete, as it the electrostatic painting. We are seeking quotations for our privacy screens.

This term will see us engage a project manager for our next GLA upgrade. GLA2 will have new carpets, replacement of the roller doors for glass sliding doors and some new internal fit out work, which I would hope to have delivered by the end of the year.

I am also currently working with our Regional Facilities Advisor to upgrade garden spaces and fencing.

Parent/Carer Survey

On Monday 17th April we sent all families a survey to help us better serve you and your children. I encourage you to take the time to answer the 6 short questions (3 are yes/no) to help us understand your needs and wishes for 2024. If you didn’t receive the email, type the web address line below into your browser. All responses are anonymous.

Finance – Excursions & Camps

Year 6 Camp - Is now closed for bookings. We encourage all parents/carers to make regular payments to ensure the full fee is paid by 15 May 2023. If you need to discuss any account matters these should be addressed to Lucy or myself via the office.

Year 5 Camp – We can accept payments to sit as credit on your account at any time for any amount. If you are unsure how to manage this, please contact Lucy or myself via the office.

Swimming – Our Learn to Swim program takes place in Term 3 however as another costly item at about $100 per student we are happy to take prepayments now.

As a courtesy to help you stay up to date with your accounts, we will email family statements once per month and will send home a printed version at the end of every term. If you are experiencing financial hardship, I encourage you to reach out to your classroom teacher or myself early. We have confidential financial support options available to help you but can only offer this before excursion cut off dates.

QParents – Register Now!

In the coming weeks we will be working with families to get you registered on the QParent app. If you are already using the app at another school/s you can add your Kurwongbah SS student and start accessing information, reporting absences etc now!

The exciting news for our community is that soon the QParent app will manage our excursion permissions electronically! No more lost notes, no more missing out because a permission note went missing AND you can pay at the same time! This is a fantastic opportunity for us to communicate and connect and ensure all students have equal opportunity to attend all school events.

This is what QParents could look like at our school:

You can learn more from the link below.

Please feel free to contact me at BSM@kurwongbahss.eq.edu.au should you require further information regarding any of the items above.

Karen Grant-Freeman
Business Manager

Eco-Marines News

In week three the EcoMarines will assist Mrs Owen teach the Year 2 students about how we recycle at Kurwongbah State School. They will educate students on how Year 4, 5 and 6 students manage their waste using multi-sort bins. They will also learn about how this waste is processed and benefits the school through the production of compost and money from the containers for change program. The EcoMarines will also reinforce the benefits of reusing and recycling paper and cardboard. They will educate the students on how the school recycles photocopier ink cartridges and how green waste is managed in the school.

After the lesson, Year 2 students will have the opportunity to trial the yellow multi-sort bins that will provide students with the opportunity to recycle juice and milk containers, further reducing the amount of waste Kurwongbah sends to landfill.

Inclusion News

I grew up with two very accomplished, sporty parents. They instilled competitiveness for me. It has its benefits. It also has links to anxiety. Anxiety around fear of failure, and high expectations and perfectionism. On the positive side it comes with co-operation, persistence, determination, being goal driven. I would say, with good balance, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

However, it took me a long time to learn a very important lesson. It is not about being “THE BEST”, life should be about doing “YOUR BEST”.

By definition, there can only be one best. To be the best, it means you are better than all the rest. In a social context, I do not like the idea of “best friend”. This can be an exclusionary term, and almost about possession. If you are my best friend, then there is only one, and you are better than all my other friends, which is a bit of a put down for them. It can also make you a possession – you are my best friend, so you can’t be best friends with him/her. That’s a bit of a side note though.

As we are coming into Term 2, we have parent teacher interviews and we have report cards. These should be competitive and comparative, other than in relation to being “YOUR BEST”. I believe that effort is the most important. When we try our hardest, we get our best results. And if we continue to try our hardest, then we keep learning, growing and improving, and realistically, there should be no greater feeling than the sense of achievement that comes from tackling something that was difficult.

The concept of best can also add pressure and pressure adds anxiety. We know that some anxiety (nerves) can improve our performance, but equally, too much can be detrimental. When we have Cross Country this week, or assessment and report cards through the Term, please monitor that balance, please focus on our students doing their best, not being the best, and ensure that their future is not pre-determined by the results in one piece of work, persistence in effort is the key.

I would always run, for myself, do the best you can in the circumstances you are currently in!

Cameron Brown
Head of Special Education Services

Guidance Officer (GO) Greetings

Greetings Kurwongbah families!

This week is Guidance Officer Week – we are celebrating 75 years of guidance support in Queensland State School communities! Guidance Officers provide advice and counselling on educational, behavioural, personal, social, family, and mental health and wellbeing issues.

I love my job and being able to help the students and families that I work with every day. This week I am promoting a positive attitude towards seeking and accepting help. The following information is from ‘Be You’, who explain that asking for help can act as a protective factor for a child or young person’s mental health and wellbeing.

Help-Seeking is a Positive Coping Strategy

Help-seeking is about communicating an issue or challenge to obtain support, advice or help. Remember that getting support early can help prevent small issues or challenges continuing, or even getting bigger.

Here are some ways to develop help-seeking behaviours:

• Support children to recognise and describe their emotions. Children who understand what they are experiencing are better equipped to recognise when they may need assistance.
• Be a positive role model and demonstrate how to ask for help. For example, say out loud, “I’m not sure how to solve this problem – I’m going to ask for help”.
• Read and discuss stories that show children getting support from others such as family members, doctors, psychologists or other children.
• Provide encouragement and positive feedback for help-seeking. For example, “It looked as though you felt upset. I’m really glad you came to talk to me about it”.

For further information and advice, please see the attached ‘Be You’ fact sheet.

Olivia Devereux
Guidance Officer

STEM & Enrichment Education News

Makerspace Lunchtime Timetable

Solid Pathways Term 2

Selected students from Year 4, 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. This term students will be analysing shapes in indigenous art and coding using Scratch to create a game that reflects culture.

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 help to build confidence, teamwork and mentorship to help grow courage. Two teams of students from Year 6 are entering this year into the competition and are looking forward to the challenge! Best wishes for the project girls!

STEM Challenge Day – Bray Park High School

Last term selected Year 5 and 6 students travelled to Bray Park High School to compete in the Bray Park School STEM challenge day. The teams competed in a range of mathematical, science and engineering activities as well as a technology quiz against other local primary schools. Congratulations students on your great efforts on the day!

Bush Poetry Competition – Brisbane EKKA

This year the Brisbane EKKA is again running the Bush Poetry Competition for Primary students to recite their favourite poem that showcases the Australian way of life in the Bush. Poets can choose to recite anything from established bush ballads or write and perform their own poem. Entries close 17th July 2023 via the link. See the website below for more information about competition rules and regulations for entry.

RoboRave Australia Robotics Competition 15th -16th July 2023

The Robotics RoboRave Australia Competition will be held on Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th July 2023 at the Sunshine Coast University. Students, please see Mrs Rowley in the library if you are interested in competing in a team/event this year. Sumo challenges will be held on the Sunday with all other events held on Saturday. Below is a general program for the Sunday events and for more information please see the website link.

Book Club News

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 from 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 into an envelope or clip seal bag and drop off to the LIBRARY ONLY!

Julie Collins
Book Club Coordinator

YMCA OSHC News

Vacation Care over the holidays was a huge success, with all the children engaged and enjoying the program which included six amazing incursions ranging from magic show, rhythm culture, build a bear, a travelling farm and reptile show.

We look forward to continuing our great start to Term 2, with an even better June/July Vacation Care program.

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

P&C News

Become a P&C Member

Our P&C association is a friendly group and the meetings are a good way of finding out what is happening at our school. Each year members work together to grow community spirit and work towards the benefit of all children at the school. Members may choose to volunteer in the classroom, library, tuckshop, uniform shop, at sporting events and organised activities/working bees.

Drop your membership form into the school office, or email it to: secretary@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Save the Date

Our next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th May at 6.30pm in the Staffroom.

Fundraising News

Thank you for the generous support of the Easter Raffles. Over $2000 was raised for our School. Congratulations to all the winners.

School Disco – 5th May

We will be holding a School Disco on the 5th May. Come dressed up as your favourite Superhero Villain or Disney character. Entry to the disco is $5.00, with lucky door prizes to be won. Canteen food and merchandise will be available.

Mother’s Day Stall

The Mother’s Day Stall have been confirmed for Tuesday 9th May and Wednesday 10th May. Students will have the opportunity to visit the stall with their classes to purchase items for Mother’s Day. Items range in price from $0.50 to $10.00. A timetable will be sent out to families closer to the event.

Volunteers for our School Fundraising events are always welcome. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Fundraising Committee via the Kurwongbah P&C Facebook page or email admin@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Tuckshop News

Welcome to Term 2, we hope all our families had a great Easter break.

Please ensure you are selecting the correct day when ordering online through the QKR app.

We have a small price increase to our Streets ice blocks, with Lemonade Icy Twist now $2.00 and Calippo’s $1.50.

Our meal deals this term are:

• Dustin’s Hotdog Meal $7.20
  Hot Dog, Pikletes and Drink
• Sianna’s Sizzle Meal $7.90
  Hotdo, Honey Soy Chips and Drink
• Chappy’s Party Pack $8.50
  Meat Pie, Chocolate Mousse and Drink
• Yahirah’s Magnificent Mac and Cheese Meal $8.30
  Mac and Cheese, Moosie and Drink
• Hayden’s Nugget Meal $9.70
  6 Nuggets, Honey Soy Chips and Drink
• Indi’s Winter Pack $7.50
  Pasta Bolognese, Garlic Break and Drink
• Rogue’s Pizza Hut Meal $7.50
  Cheese Pizza, Garlic Bread and Drink

All meals come with a popper however this can be upgraded to a flavoured milk for an additional $0.55. Sauce can also be added for an additional $0.40.

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

Welcome back to Term 2, if you have an hour to spare and would like to volunteer in the Uniform Shop please email or call me, volunteers are urgently needed.

Winter Stock

With winter on the way, we have got winter uniforms of jumpers/jackets, vests, long sleeve polo shirts and track pants ready for sale.

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.

Second-hand Uniforms

If you have uniforms that you no longer require, please bring them into the Uniform Shop. We urgently need all sizes.

You can either sell them through the shop or donate them. If you can’t get into the Uniform Shop to drop off your second-hand uniforms you can leave them at the Office with Uniform Shop written on the bag.

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 from the link below.

The preferred payment options are by Eftpos either by email order or over the phone by credit card or direct deposit. Online QKR orders are delivered to classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If something does not quite fit, as long as the item has not been worn we are happy to exchange.

Uniform Shop Hours

Monday 8:30 - 10:00 am
Wednesday 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Thursday 8:30 - 10:00 am

Delivery days are Monday and Thursday.

Michelle Psaltis
Uniform Shop Convenor
3481 4323
uniformshop@ksspca.qld.edu.au

Containers for Change

Community Notices

Redsticks Hockey Club

Chess Mates

Lotus Fire Martial Arts

Encircle Community Services – Remembrance Ceremony