13 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents and Carers,

These are unprecedented times for schooling systems and you can be assured that all Queensland state schools are working closely with the Department of Education as we respond to this significant and evolving public health issue.

Thank you for your support and understanding, as our school and the broader education community manage the impact of COVID-19.

I also acknowledge the excellent work being done by teachers and support staff in our school in ensuring your children are safe and continuing their learning during this difficult time.

Please be mindful that staff are also managing the health and well-being of themselves and their loved ones during this time. Masks must be worn by school teachers and staff as well as high school students.

Do not enter the school grounds unless you have an essential need and please come directly to the office. Please practice social distancing at the school gates and ensure you are wearing a face mask.

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

Students who present with flu like symptoms and present unwell at school will be sent home.

Unfortunately, with our current restrictions we have had to reschedule our Colour Fun Run to Friday 17th September. Please continue to fundraise up to this new date. All funds raised will go to a shade structure over our new playground.

Other events that have had to be cancelled include Year 5/6 Interschool Sport and we have not been able to find another available date to suit all schools, and our weekly Monday parades. We are working on rescheduling class performances to other available dates.

Our school tuckshop is currently closed until the 24th August. We are hoping to open again from this date and look forward to the delicious meals and snacks provided by our lovely tuckshop staff and volunteers.

I thank you for your continued support for our school and staff, it is greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Alyson

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S DESK

School Photos – Thursday – 26th August

Class photo envelopes were sent home on Monday 9th August. Envelopes for the following are available from the Office

1. Leaders
2. Rock Band
3. Choir
4. School Band
5. RoboTREC Yr3 and 4
6. RoboTREC Yr5 and 6
7. Year 6 (whole year level)

Sibling photos will also be offered however, this is only for siblings who are at school. These photos are taken in the Library at 8:00am on photo day. The envelopes for these are available from the Office.

Focus Forty – Dealing with Anger.

It’s okay to be angry. It’s how you deal with your anger that counts.

It is important to remember that anger is an emotion and natural, but the actions taken in response to anger are chosen behaviours. Skilling children to use appropriate behaviours when they are angry is very important and understand that most actions taken in the heat of anger are later regretted.

• Take 3 deep breaths
• Count to 5
• Use your words and say clearly how you feel and why

Colour Fun Run

Please note that the Colour Fun Run has been postponed until the last day of term, Friday 17th September. This is a great opportunity for those who have not had the chance to fundraise for our school to do so. If you have completed your fund raising by collecting cash and would like to bring that money into school, please take it to the Office.

Prep 2022

Do you or a friend have a child who is old enough for Prep 2022 (turns 5 before 30th June 2022), if that is the case you are invited to our Principal’s Tea and Tour on Tuesday 31st August at 3:30pm. Please RSVP by Monday 30th August and phone the Office – 5480 8222.

PROCEDURES FOR………

UPDATING PARENT/CARER CONTACT DETAILS

Please ensure our office 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 staff to administer medication at school, please contact 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.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AMAZING STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

DATE CLAIMERS

6JA HAVE BEEN GETTING READY FOR THEIR NEXT PHASE OF LEARNING

Time is certainly flying by for 6JA, we have started the transition to the next step in our learning journey. Friday of week 2 we were invited to Noosa District High School to experience the sites and delights of the Pomona campus. The purpose of the transition day was to introduce students to key staff and engage with the school’s resources.

Students were broken into small groups and rotated through several different classes. In science we experimented with chemical reactions. During Media Arts we tried our hand at photography. Food technology saw us cooking up a storm in the kitchen and Drama allowed us to put our imaginations and acting skills on display.

It was a great day had by all and I can confidently say the students of 6JA are ready for the next phase in their learning adventure.

DISTRICT ATHLETICS 2021

On Tuesday the 27th of July, 17 Pomona students attended the Noosa District Athletics Trials held at Girraween Sports Complex, Noosa Heads. These students were selected from our own school Athletics Carnival held in term 2 and did a fantastic job at representing Pomona State School!

All of our students tried extremely hard in the hope of finishing in the top 2 of their events so that they could represent Noosa District at the regional trials.

Unfortunately, this year we didn’t have any top 2 finishers but an honorable mention to Willow S who finished 3rd in the 12-year-old girls 100m sprint. Well done to all Pomona students who represented our school for excellent behavior and having a go! Special thanks to Mrs. Laird and Tanya for helping in managing the team.

Mr. Byrne
HPE

JAPANESE COOKING EXPERIENCE

During Term 2 a class vs class competition took place in Japanese between grade 5 and grade 6. 5NR was victorious and earned a Japanese Cooking Experience. Students had a hands-on experience learning how to make Temaki (hand rolled sushi) and Onigiri (rice balls). Students also practiced Japanese eating etiquette before devouring their creations while watching a Studio Ghibli film. Students got to select toppings of their choice from a selection of fresh produce donated from Erbacher’s Fruit and Veg Shop. The competition is now on for Term 3, with a new point system in place to encourage all students in Japanese to do their best. Will 5NR be victorious again or will another class take the lead and win the Term 3 Cooking Experience?

4PT GIRAFFE PROFILES

Currently 4PT have a very colourful office foyer display. During art lessons with Mrs Whitehouse, the class focused on drawing a giraffe, however, each student had to reflect upon their personality and add features which demonstrated this. As you can see each one is unique! Great job 4PT!

WEEK 7 IS CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK

This year’s Children’s Book Week will be held in Week 7 from 23rd to 27th August. To celebrate Book Week the school will be hosting a book fair as we have done in previous years. The Book Warehouse will be supplying the books, which will be displayed in the hall and available for purchase by students and families. Due to ever changing COVID restrictions we are unsure at this stage if parents and members of the community will be able to come into the school grounds to view the books. We are certainly hoping parents will be able to attend the book fair but if not The Book Warehouse will be running an online book fair at the same time as our book fair at school. This will enable parents to browse and purchase books at their leisure. Books will then be picked, packed and labelled by The Book Warehouse and sent back to school for distribution in the week following the book fair. Along with the book fair running at school, the school will earn a 30% commission on these online sales. This is a great opportunity to get some early Christmas shopping done!! The online component of the Book Fair will run regardless of restrictions and an invitation to the online book fair will be emailed to parents in Week 6.

And, what is a Children’s Book Week without the very entertaining Book Character Costume Parade? As per usual we will hold our Book Character Parade at the end of Book Week on Friday the 27th August. As with the Book Fair we are unsure at this stage as to whether parents and other family and community members will be able to attend the costume parade. If COVID restrictions are still in place the Prep to Year 2 parade will be held at 9am and Years 3 to 6 will parade at 11.30am. Please encourage your children to come dressed as a book character as it is such a fun and exciting morning. The theme this year is ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds, which leaves the scope for costumes wide open! If your children are stuck for ideas, please send them to see me in the library and I will try to help them out. There will be prizes for a girl and a boy from each year level.

I am very grateful to have a very generous grandma in our school community who donates a beautiful book for every winner of the costume parade every year. This year is no different and Mrs Jan Clarke has once again donated books as prizes. I would like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you to Mrs Clarke for this incredibly kind and generous gesture.

Sandy Nicholson
Library Aide

FINALLY!! BY ELLA from 6CL

Finally the 2021 Year 5s and 6s have a chance to play on our school’s well deserved playground. It has taken our hardworking school community seven years to raise enough money but finally the dedication has paid off. Our extraordinary playground has monkey bars, rope walls, tight ropes, climbing walls, wobbly stepping stones, climbing frames, rope ladders and a spider net. Each break we come rushing to our amazing new playground. WE LOVE IT!!

STUDENT SUPPORT

Our school has an active Student Support team which includes:

• Mrs Shirley Savage (Support Teacher – Students with Disabilities)
• Ms Allison Page (Support Teacher – Literacy and Numeracy)
• School administrators
• School Guidance Officer (one day per week), and
• School Speech and Language Pathologist (4-5 visits per term)

Teachers refer students to the Student Support Team for a wide variety of reasons, including:

• Requests for assistance monitoring academic progress, either advanced or delayed
• Concerns about particular behaviours exhibited at school, e.g. anxiety, reluctance to participate, difficulty controlling emotions
• Assistance planning and implementing supplementary or alternative programs for identified students

Your child’s teacher will discuss their thoughts with you prior to making a referral to Student Support, and provide you with a Parent Consent for Referral form, which enables you to provide any additional relevant information which could help us make decisions about next steps. The referral process does not necessarily mean that your child will be in a ‘learning support group’, or withdrawn from class for special tasks. New referrals are discussed at our weekly meetings, with the referring teacher in attendance. Often the Support Team will offer teaching suggestions, recommend further monitoring, or provide information about outside agencies or resources which parents may find helpful.

Support programs for selected students are usually delivered by either Allison Page (P-3), Shirley Savage (4-6) or one of our skilled Teacher Aides.

Please don’t worry or panic if your child’s teacher suggests a referral to our Student Support team – this is just another way in which our school provides differentiated support for our students.

COORAN OZTAG