9 December 2021

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S NEWS

Dear Parents/Caregivers

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

Our Year 6 students are a very special group of young people. Most of these students started their journey at Pomona State School in 2015 which is also when Mrs Harch and I joined the staff. We have watched them grow and mature, make mistakes, fall down, get back up, achieve on the sporting field or in the academic arena. We have watched their creative flair and critical thinking develop. As we farewell our Year 6 students we also say farewell to a number of families who have finished their education journey at Pomona State School.

Bordessa, Burrows, Dengate, Heath, Kelly, Kerr-Scott, Lyons, Mullin, O’Regan, Pearce, Priestley, Rodwell, Saunderson, Schofield, Stewart, Stigler, Suska, Tilmouth, Walker and Wilson Families.

I would like to thank these families for entrusting us with your family’s education.

STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME

Pomona State School in consultation with the P&C Association has chosen to operate a Student Resource Scheme for 2022 to assist parents with the cost and resourcing of additional educational resources that provide enhanced learning opportunities. The scheme is supported and approved by the School’s Parents and Citizens Association and operates under the policy and guidelines of The Department of Education and Training (DET). The scheme is not used to raise funds for other purposes. The scheme provides the entire package for the specified participation fee and is not available in parts.

Participation in the scheme is voluntary and there is no obligation placed on a parent/caregiver to participate. A parent/caregiver’s decision to participate is based on consideration of the value and convenience afforded by the scheme. However, please be aware that materials required under this scheme are not funded by school grants.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide the parent/caregiver with a cost effective more economical alternative to purchasing required resources and consumables through reduced prices gained from the school’s bulk purchasing processes. The provision of this scheme ensures that well-resourced learning by our students remains our key focus.

Total cost of the scheme is $70.00 per student and details of what are included in the scheme will be forthcoming, but includes subscriptions to Mathletics, Reading Eggs, Ebooks, Apps, school produced workbooks, as well as Design & Food Technology and Art supplies.

AWARDS DAY

Congratulations to all the recipients of the Academic Excellence, Academic Merit and Class Effort awards. Well done on consistently striving to achieve throughout the school year.

We thank Countryside Realty, Raine and Horne Realty, Grow Landscape, Alligator Water Tank Cleaning, Camp Australia and Bendigo Bank for supporting these awards.

PLAY IT SAFE – AT SCHOOL, AT HOME, AND DURING HOLIDAYS

Summer holidays wouldn’t be complete without time spent near and in the water. With thousands of Queensland families expected to enjoy the warmer days swimming, fishing, and boating at local lakes and dams, it’s important to remember that still water can be risky.

Seqwater, South East Queensland's bulk water supplier, has launched their summer safety campaign that encourages a deeper level of thinking about safe behaviours while having fun at South East Queensland’s dams, lakes, and parks. Enjoy a safe summer and always keep an eye on family and friends around water. More information and general safety advice can be found on the Seqwater website.

SCHOOL WATCH

Help us keep an eye on our school these holidays. If you see anything suspicious please don’t attempt to intervene, call the School Watch number – 131 788. Let’s work together to help create a safer school community.

As this is the last school newsletter for the year have a safe and Merry Christmas and I look forward to welcoming you all back to school on Monday 24th 2022.

Cheers,

Alyson Covey
Principal

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.

DATE CLAIMERS

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

TERM 4 WYTHES AWARDS

2021 BENDIGO BANK ACADEMIC AWARDS

2021 GROW LANDSCAPE AWARDS

2021-RAINE & HORNE CLASS EFFORT AWARD

YEAR 6 AWARDS

COUNTRYSIDE REALTY AWARDS

Pomona State School STEM Award

Barrett S

Camp Australia Spotlight Award

Tommy S     Summer C

Alligator Tanks Academic Award

Kyan P     Cassidy M

Alligator Tanks Class Effort Awards

Stan Topper Bursary – Kai H

POETRY CORNER BY 3AB

The very talented 3AB students have been writing their own poetry this term. They wrote many adaptations of poems, then presented them to their peers. They studied imagery, onomatopoeia, alliteration and rhyming patterns.

BEAUTIFUL RAINFOREST by HARRY

In the wet, muddy leafy plains
I can see…
The lovely, heart stopping rainbow lorikeets living in the majestic high trees,
Scaly, fast fish swimming freely in the blue seas,
Light green frogs jumping from log to log in the breeze,
Animals sneaking through the dark, oak trees.
I can hear…
The crystal clear water hitting the rocks where the lizards awake,
The rustling in the bushes, hang on is that a snake!
The constant buzz of the bugs, make it stop,
The fish jumping like kangaroos, flip, flop, flip, flop.
I can feel…
The dappled burning sun on my back,
The bouncing of my back pack,
The dirt under my feet,
My face warm from the heat.

MY PROPERTY by ARLO

I can see…
Tons upon tons of old rotten bamboo,
A canopy of leaves and bats have made it twilight,
A lone python lurking in the shadows, bamboo shoots brand new,
In the loneliness of night shines the moonlight.
I can hear…
Bats screeching, an attack from a goshawk,
Up high carrying a dead chicken,
Back at the house on the BBQ a roast pork,
Stop licking Beane, I give her some treats to stop her from licking.
I can feel…
Wet morning dew, a single dragonfly hovers,
Foggy mist dampens my hair, a single ray of sunshine,
I feel peaceful inside but something distracts me, mum asks for some covers,
I see Cooran Mountain in the distance, just divine!

FANTASTIC FISHING by EZRA

I can see …
Fish swimming swiftly in murky water
Hope we catch it ready for slaughter
All we have to do is wait
Oh-no looks like we need to rebait.
I can hear …
Hungry seagulls squawking aloud
One of them finding scraps from the crowd
Splash splosh goes the frantic fish
Lemon coated bream on a delicious dish
I can feel …
Warm wind on my back
I feel like the fish might attack
My arms are getting really sore
This really is a humongous bore.

SWIMMING CARNIVALS 2021

It has been another busy term in the pool in term 4 with our Junior and Senior swimming carnivals taking place in week 7. Students turning 5, 6, 7, and 8 did a fantastic job on Tuesday morning with participation high for all across the pool races and 25m events. The weather was kind to us and the students showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. A big thank you to all volunteers who have got in the pool or even just been there to be an extra set of eyes or assist with the students getting changed before and after swimming. It really does make our life so much easier and assists the kids to have more time in the water to learn.

On Wednesday of week 7 the weather was again fantastic, and there was also great sportsmanship and participation on show from all students at the senior carnival. The winner of the shield for the fourth year in a row was Lawson house! But well done to Paterson in 3rd and Kendall in 2nd for the great competition.

Congratulations to the 2021 Age Champions:

9 yrs: Zahlia B & Tayte B
10 yrs: Macey H & Ciaron H
11 yrs: Matilda B & Aaron F
12 yrs: Lilly V & Kai H

50m results from the senior swimming carnival are used to decide which students will represent us at the Noosa District Swimming Trials in Term 1 of 2022

Swimming will continue as normal through weeks 8 and 9. (No swimming in Week 10).

Mr. Byrne
HPE

JAPANESE COOKING EXPERIENCE

During Term 4 a class vs class competition took place in Japanese between Grade 5 and Grade 6. 5NR managed to take the victory by a mere 2 points in the closest competition we have had all year. This term students had a hands-on experience learning how to make Hiyashi Somen, cold noodle salad. Students also practiced Japanese eating etiquette before and after digging into their noodles. Students were able to select all the toppings (cucumber, carrot, spring onion, egg, tomato, pickled ginger, sesame seeds and ham) they wanted with the fresh produce donated from Erbacher’s Fruit and Veg Shop. This term students were able to win a bonus cooking experience and this was rewarded to 36 students who have excelled in their assessment, worked hard during class and been excellent listeners this year in Japanese. These students will get the opportunity to eat curry and Hiyashi Somen on the last Thursday of school.

CHAPPY CHAT

CHAPPY FAREWELLS YEAR 6 GIRLS IN A FLURRY OF EXCITEMENT AT HER FIND YOUR SPARKLE GIRLS PROGRAM

The girls will certainly remember the fun time they had at the end of year 6 at the Find Your Sparkle program. It was a very special time once a week over 4 consecutive weeks with food, prizes, presents, activities, and lots of very loud noise. But Chappy says it was well worth the effort to see the girls celebrating the end of their primary school era having fun together. Most of the comments about what they will never forget about their primary school days centered around the very special friendships they have formed over the years.

Chappy's message to the girls was to be grateful for your life, be kind to others, be generous, work hard at high school, think before you act, and love one another!

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM CHAPPY

Have a great holiday everyone! Stay safe and happy! And remember it's not about the gifts but about being together, caring about each other and sharing what we have!

Chappy Paulette