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Principal’s Prattle
…..Engaged and resilient students learning in a safe and inclusive environment…..
This week I would like to acknowledge one of the most important things that makes all our students engaged and resilient and that is you as parents. In many of the articles I include from Justin Coulson, he regularly speaks about the important role that parents play. Your support helps strengthen and support our school vision. Here are a few things that make a big difference-
- Reading to your child
- Setting consistent routines
- Encouraging their curiosity
- Communicating with your child’s teacher
- Celebrate their success
- Encourage them to play a team sport
- Listen and make time to sit and talk with them
- Be very aware of screen time and don’t be afraid to set limits
Anzac Day March
This year we are again having a presence at the local ANZAC Day service and march. We will be meeting outside the Runaway Bay Sports Centre from 9am. Our students march as a group and we ask that parents do not walk in the parade with the students. Please find somewhere along the route to stand and watch. Students will then sit together for the ceremony and are to be collected from there after the service.
AIP - School Magnets
Your child will be bringing home our annual fridge magnet that we share with you to remind you of our school’s priorities throughout the year. I encourage you to have a look at the different aspects we are focussing on as these could form a basis for discussions you have with your child about their experience at school. This relates to my first paragraph with our school vision.
School Data
One of the data sets at school that we regularly track is our attendance and it has been a consistent piece of data that has a significant impact on how well we achieve our school priorities. I have decided to share a recent piece of data that shows the percentage of students in each year level and the number of them who attend school less than 85% of the time. We know that there are particular reasons around sickness and family activities. Our concern here though is that as students get older there is a direct link to more of these students staying away from school. Less than 85% attendance – if this happens regularly means that after 7 years at school the student has missed an entire year of learning. Learning builds on prior learning and if elements are missed it can be difficult for some students to catch up.
|
Year level |
Less than 85% attendance |
|
Prep |
9.4% of the cohort |
|
Year 1 |
14.8% of the cohort |
|
Year 2 |
15.2% of the cohort |
|
Year 3 |
16% of the cohort |
|
Year 4 |
20.8% of the cohort |
|
Year 5 |
22.3% of the cohort |
|
Year 6 |
25% of the cohort |
We use this data to reflect and action our priority of engaging our students with their learning. However if they are not at school for reasons other than sickness this is where your support is vital.
If you are having trouble getting your child to school please contact the school early and we are happy to work with you and your child to achieve a high level of attendance.
Outside School Hours Care
After a very comprehensive evaluation of all the tender documents that were submitted I am pleased to announce that Camp Australia were the successful applicants to continue to provide before and after school care. We look forward to working with them to provide the best experiences and care for your students.
Active school travel
Thank you very much to all the parents and students who are supporting this initiative. Each year they have an art competition for students. Last year one of our students, Mika, won the Junior category.
The competition is open to all primary students and we encourage you to support your child to enter if they are interested in participating.
All the details are on the poster attached below.
Read Less
Connection Before Correction
Children need emotional connection before they can manage behaviour. Connection builds safety, and safety opens the door to reflection and change. When things are tough, children will not often be able to regulate their emotions unless they feel safe and have strong relationships that they know they can depend on. Ways to maintain connection include:
- Co-Regulation
Regulated adults help dysregulated children. Model calm openly: "I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, I’m going to take a deep breath and get a warm drink before we
keep talking, would you like one as well?."
- Be with Them
Healing happens in mutual, emotionally-attuned relationships. It’s not just about how children feel—it's about being felt with and knowing you are there with them.
- Repair Over Perfection
Ruptures are inevitable. Repair is essential. Apologise. Reconnect. Show that relationships can withstand difficulty.
- Safety isn’t just the absence of danger—it’s the presence of attunement.
When a child’s internal world is met with curiosity, not judgment—when their behaviour is met with understanding, not punishment—something powerful happens: They begin to soften. Their shame begins to shrink. Family members start becoming curious about each other’s inner life, not just the outward behaviours. And that shared understanding is where safety begins.
- Non-Judgemental Curiosity
Approach each moment with the genuine intention to understand. Your words, facial expression, tone, and body posture should all say: “I’m interested in you, and I’m not here to judge.” Stay curious about the child’s thoughts, feelings, intentions, beliefs, desires, and needs. Let them know their perspective is safe with you.
If you would like to learn more about attachment and parenting, local community centres such as the Oxenford Coomera Community Youth Centre, Griffith University and Studio Village Community Centre regularly offer parenting groups. You can also contact Parentline on 1800 30 1300 for free and confidential parenting advice.
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden is back! After having 2 trees fall across the garden during the cyclone and lots of rain, the trees have finally been removed, new fences and the beds have been fixed. We are ready to welcome back the Grade 4's and do some weeding.
NEW DATE - Thursday 1st May - see you there!!!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our Colour Explosion Fundraising Challenge is in full swing, this event is not only a fun and exciting experience for our students but also a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for vital school resources.
To keep the momentum going, we have introduced some exciting fundraising incentives to encourage student participation:
Class Challenge: The class that raises the most funds will be rewarded with an afternoon of free play, plus popcorn and snow cones to celebrate their achievement!
Slime the Principal & Deputy: Any student who raises $100 or more will earn a raffle ticket for the chance to SLIME Mr. Gleadhill or Mr. Weir! The more they raise, the more tickets they receive, increasing their chances of being the lucky one to do the honours!
Get Involved!
Students can set up their FUNraising pages at www.myprofilepage.com.au and start collecting donations from family and friends.
Don't forget! Permission notes must be returned for students to participate in this exciting event.
We are also looking for local businesses to sponsor the fun run. In return, we’ll promote your business in our school newsletter, at the event, and on social media.
If you or someone you know would like to support our school while gaining great local exposure, please use this link https://business.myprofilepage.com.au/page/CoombabahStateSchool-78202552
Let’s make this a fun and successful event for our students!
Dear Parents and Carers,
This term we will be holding our Student-Lead Conference process. These conferences provide an opportunity for your child to articulate their learning, express how they are progressing and ways that they can improve. It is also a valuable occasion to reflect on your child’s current learning goals and discuss and form new goals with them. During this process, teachers will be monitoring the room to facilitate multiple discussions and provide assistance where required.
Your child will show you their work, their classroom learning environment & Bump-It-Up-Walls as well as anything else that they are proud of.
Student-Lead Conferences will be held on one afternoon only this term;
Wednesday 21st May 2025 from 3:15-4:15pm
You can attend your child’s classroom at any time between 3:15 & 4:15pm on this day. There will be no scheduled meeting times.
As a parent during these conferences, there are 5 key questions that you can ask your child;
- What are you learning? Why?
- How are you going?
- How do you know?
- How can you improve?
- Where do you go for help?
These are five key questions that the children are becoming more familiar with and confident in answering about their work in class.
In the classroom there will be a short feedback form, and we would appreciate you providing us with some valuable feedback after the experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to this student-led afternoon.
Warmest regards,
Murray Gleadhill
Principal
