1 April 2021

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Off the back of a very challenging 2020, many of us would have hoped that a new normal would enable us to get back into a routine, both for our students, families and the wider community, as well as for our own personal and family lives.

However, we have all come to appreciate the challenging nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it continues to bring to our lives. Regardless of this it has been wonderful to see in classrooms and around our great little school the enthusiasm and positivity shown by all our families and school staff. It allows us to continue to focus on strong education outcomes for our students.

As we head into the Easter break I would like to wish you and your families an enjoyable Easter.

Term One has come to a close and I would like to thank our many volunteers who have been assisting our class teachers and Mr Byrne for swimming lessons during this term. Your support has been wonderful, your assistance in changing home readers, in art and craft lessons and our STEAM days has been invaluable.

Please practice social distancing, hand washing and cough and sneeze etiquette and model this behaviour to your children, our students, to keep everyone healthy.

Easing of restrictions in the Greater Brisbane area from noon today

The Premier has this morning announced that thanks to the efforts of people in the Greater Brisbane region and across Queensland more broadly, the current lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 will end at 12 midday today.

This means all residents in local government areas of Brisbane, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Logan and Redlands, can now freely enjoy the Easter break, along with the rest of Queensland.

While this is good news, staff may wish to consider their travel arrangements over the Easter break in recognition of the often changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and how this impacts on travel plans.

There are still a number of restrictions statewide, including:

• you must carry a face mask at all times and wear indoors, unless you have a lawful reason not to
• gatherings in people’s homes are limited to 30 persons in total, including the people you live with
• you can leave your home for any purpose. You can travel anywhere in Australia. Please note other states and territories may have restrictions in place that prevent you from travelling to them
• visitors to aged care facilities , disability accommodation services ,  hospitals and correctional facilities are restricted across the state
• restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs can only open for seated eating and drinking, no standing allowed
• hospitality businesses must keep an electronic customer register
• customers must check into venues and provide their contact details in case we need to contact you.

Please continue to check the Queensland Government website for any changes to the latest restrictions.

It is important to stay vigilant no matter where you are in Queensland. Please continue to:

• stay home if you are sick
• get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms , no matter how mild
• stay 1.5 metres away from other people – think two big steps
• wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitiser
• leave the location if it is crowded.

NAPLAN Testing Year 3 and year 5

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN test in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

This year, between 11 and 21 May, our school will be doing NAPLAN Online. NAPLAN Online provides a better assessment and more precise results. One of the main benefits of NAPLAN Online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, giving them more opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do. Year 3 students at Pomona will complete their NAPLAN writing test on paper.

I trust everyone will have an enjoyable break with their family and I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday 19th April for the beginning of Term 2.

Alyson Covey
Principal

PROCEDURES FOR……..

UPDATING PARENT/CARER CONTACT DETAILS

Please ensure our office staff have your correct contact details – telephone numbers (for us to contact you – particularly important in the case of an emergency with your child), and email address (for invoices, newsletter, etc). Please also ensure that your child/ren’s emergency contacts are up to date.

ADMINSTERING MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

If your child requires a staff member to administer medication at school, please contact an admin member at the school office in the first instance to discuss your child’s requirements.

Please note, school staff will only administer medication that:

• has been prescribed by a qualified health practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist)
• is in its original container
• has an attached pharmacy label. Pharmacy label must show prescribing doctor’s name.

Office staff will ask you to complete and sign Section 1 of the Administration of medication at school record sheet.

School staff are bound by these regulations and we hope that all parents will acknowledge and cooperate with these rules.

HEAD LICE

The presence of head lice is a very common childhood occurrence in the community. The primary responsibility for the management and treatment of head lice in students belongs with parents.

As a school we notify parents via a letter if a parent has reported to the school that their child has head lice. This letter is sent to all the students in the class.

Students who are suspected of having head lice or eggs present in their hair are not excluded from class or school. However, if notified by the school, a parent may choose to remove their child from school to administer immediate treatment to their child.

REGULAR ATTENDANCE

EVERY DAY COUNTS – the message is the same in 2020. The simple fact is, the more regularly your child attends school, the more they learn. Aside from illness and bereavement, for example, attendance is expected every day. Keep an eye out on Facebook for regular videos from Education Queensland. If for any reason your child will be absent from school, please ring our 24/7 absentee line on 54 808 260 prior to 8.45am.

STAFF MEETING DAY - TUESDAY

Parents, please be advised that on Tuesday afternoon I request that all teaching staff attend a meeting which starts at 3:00pm. Staff will leave their rooms quickly once the bell rings to signal the end of the day. If you have anything urgent to discuss with your child’s teacher please leave a message at the office for that teacher

UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS

Clothing. Clothing should fit neatly and be sun safe. It must be suitable for full participation in all curriculum areas and the playground. It should not be inappropriate.

Hair. Hair should be clean, tidy (brushed or combed) with no extreme colours (natural colours) and tied back if below the collar. Fringes must not interfere with a student’s vision at any time.

Jewellery. Students may wear one set of stud or sleeper earrings and a watch. All other jewellery is considered to be a danger to the child’s safety and must be left at home. Students will be reminded to remove unauthorised jewellery worn to school.

Uniforms are available for purchase from the Tuckshop.

SAVE THE DATE

OUR AMAZING STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

PE NEWS

First of all, a big thankyou to all parents and carers who volunteered their time to assist at swimming this term! Your help really does assist us to run things smoothly and gives the kids more time in the water to learn. Whether you came to one or all lessons this term I really do appreciate it and hope to see you back at the pool for more fun in term 4!

Next term in HPE we turn our attention to cross country and athletics. The dates for our Pomona carnivals are as follows:

Cross country – Wednesday 5th of May (Week 3)
Athletics – Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th of June (Week 9)

Listed below are the distances that students will be required to run at our cross country by year of birth (in case they want to prepare over the school holidays).

Due to nominations for district cross country being due at the end of week 1 of term 2, I will be holding a lunchtime trial for students turning 10, 11 and 12 in 2021, who would like to be considered to attend the Noosa District trials. This will happen on Wednesday the 21st of April at first break. If selected from our school trial, students will represent our school at the Noosa District Trials on Friday the 7th of May at Noosaville State School (Week 3).

Enjoy your holidays and see you all soon.

Regards,

Ben Byrne
HPE

HINTER HUB BOOK SHOP

At the Hinter Hub we are expanding our book shop every day. We have a wide selection of reference books on offer on local flora, fauna, soils, walks, and history of our local area. We are also very happy to offer a selection of children’s books by local authors. Come in and find yourself a great read!

We are open Mon-Fri 8.30am - 3.30pm and Sat 8am - 1.30pm at 6 Station St, Pomona. (Closed Good Friday and Easter Saturday)

CAMP AUSTRALIA

NOOSA SHIRE COUNCIL CLIMATE WEEK ACTIVITIES

Please find here the link for Noosa Council's Climate week activities and information events.

ROVING RESTORERS PROGRAM - NOOSA CHAPTER - FRIDAY 9TH APRIL 2021

When: 8:30 AM, 09 Apr 2021
Where: Cooran

Please join us at Cooran at a beautiful Nature Refuge property, removing corky passionfruit vine and other weeds. The property provides important linkages to Tuchekoi National Park and works undertaken will help to enhance biodiversity in the region.

Please contact Noosa Landcare Project Officer – Tamara - projects9@noosalandcare.org for further details.

Participants will be notified the day before the event of the address of the property on which the work will be undertaken.

This program is proudly supported by Noosa Council.