Jumbunna 11th November 2021

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A Message from Ken and Lisa

Remembrance Day

Today, we paused as a school to reflect and commemorate our service men and women who died during wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Our School Captains lead a short ceremony via our PA which included the reading of the ‘Ode of Remembrance’ and ‘In Flanders Fields’, playing of the last post and one minute of silence. All students also had the opportunity to purchase and wear a poppy or wrist band to commemorate the day.

Rapid Antigen Testing in Schools

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the use of rapid antigen testing for home use from Monday 1 November.

The Department of Education and Training is currently working with the Department of Health to roll-out a state-wide program for any new COVID-19 exposures on school sites from Monday 15 November.  This program will help unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students to return to school as quickly as possible after being identified as a primary close contact (PCC) after a seven-day quarantine, instead of a 14-day quarantine.

We will have more information for parents and carers ahead of the statewide roll-out, including factsheets, web copy, video content and other materials to assist with the program.

How the rapid antigen testing program will work

The at-home rapid antigen testing program is an opt-in program for unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, students. Our school will provide you with rapid antigen test kits. You do not need to buy these test kits. 

Following an exposure at our school, you will be notified that your child (who is unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated) has been identified as primary close contact (PCC) of a confirmed COVID-19 case. 

If you want to take part in the at-home rapid antigen testing program, your child must quarantine at home for seven days. On day six of quarantine, your child must get a standard (PCR) test at your local COVID-19 testing site. If the test is negative, you must provide the results to your child’s school, and your child can then return to school on day eight. 

Students will then be required to return a negative rapid antigen test result each morning from days eight to 14 on school days, which must be reported to the school by 8:30am before they arrive at school.

Parents should continue to follow current school policy and public health advice. If your child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home and get tested for COVID-19 with a standard (PCR) test, regardless of a negative rapid antigen test result.  

Our school will communicate with you as soon as we are aware that we have a confirmed COVID-19 case, including with instructions on how to conduct these tests, how to report the results, and support available if needed. 

Unwell students

We have had several students attend school recently displaying with asthma, hay fever and cold symptoms, which are also symptoms of COVID-19. If a child attending school displays any of the following symptoms, we will be calling home and asking for them to be collected and tested for COVID-19.

The symptoms to watch out for are: 

* fever 

* chills or sweats 

* cough 

* sore throat 

* shortness of breath 

* runny nose 

* loss or change in sense of smell or taste 

Some people may also experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. 

If your child does suffer from asthma or hay fever, or other conditions, it is important that we have a copy of the relevant health care plans.

Face Masks

A reminder to parents and visitors to the school, that face masks must be worn when entering any school building. If you have an exemption from wearing a face mask, we ask that you wait outside and call the office, and someone will come out to meet you.

We have had a number of students in Years 3-6 recently who have forgotten to bring a face mask, or their disposable face mask has become damaged during the day. A reminder to please send your Year 3-6 child to school with some spare face masks in their school bags in case this occurs.

Shade Sails

We are excited to inform our school community that as part of the Government grant for the building upgrade of our Primary School and Pre-school, we have been approved to construct four shade sails in the Primary School and Pre-school grounds. We will be constructing a large shade sail in the Junior Playground which will cover most of the coloured play equipment, two side by side shade sails in the senior playground which will cover the majority of the senior playground and a shade sail over the grassed play area in the pre-school. This is fantastic news for our whole community. We are hoping to have the works completed over the summer break.

We have also submitted an application under the Department of Education’s grants for shade sails to support outdoor learning spaces. We are currently waiting to hear the outcome of this application.

It will be fantastic to have this additional shade for our students and community.

 

Helping your family manage uncertainty

by Maggie Dent

Uncertainty is part of life and yet our brain, which creates our thoughts and feelings, loves certainty and predictability.

The pandemic has created more uncertainty in families, schools and communities than most people can recall in their lifetimes. With no clear end point, more stress and anxiety may well be triggered. In small doses anxiety heightens your sense of focus, giving you an increased level of energy, and increases your chances of managing a potential challenge that has appeared. In large doses, this anxiety is problematic, as it can cause feelings of being overwhelmed and even panicked.

The lesson of being real

Many fears and unexpressed emotions lie beneath the stress of navigating uncertainty. Be prepared to share your emotions with your children, especially feelings of sadness. They experience grief every time they lose the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, go on holiday or return to school to see friends.

Grief is not a sign of weakness. It shows you are human. Let your children see you cry and give them the agency to know what to do. They can grab a tissue, they can give you a hug and, if they’re old enough, they can make you a cuppa.

Your children need to see that when bad things happen to adults, they can feel upset for a time. There are many ways you can help children cope with uncertainty.

Normalise uncertainty

Teach your children that nothing is permanent. Good things come and go. So will tough times. Change is a part of life and can be positive or challenging. Share stories about how your family recovered from hard times. Adaptability and flexibility are key components of resilience, which can be nurtured in childhood.

Make choices that ease fear and anxiety

Remind your children and young people that they are not powerless. Resting, reading and relaxing are great tools to ease fear and anxiety. This might include taking deep breaths, listening to music, or making others laugh. Getting outside to play or walk the dog is another simple way to ease the nervous system.

Focus on the things you can control

Simple habits and routines really make a difference. When everything is changing routines and rituals such as regular family mealtimes, bedtimes and wake up times help maintain a sense of normality. These rituals provide an important anchor helping them feel in control.

Encourage your kids to have a ‘gratitude attitude’

Though times are no doubt really tough for many, you can choose to feel grateful for the things you have, and the people love, and you can model this mindset with your children.

Maintain hope

Hope is an important antidote to feeling stuck in fear. Encourage feelings of hope by sharing wonderful memories via photos or videos which can lift everyone’s spirit. Plan a new experience to happen when that becomes a possibility.

Children and young people need to understand that life can be an unpredictable ride and together you can adapt and find a way through to each new day.

The greatest tool you have as a parent in these times is to remember that you are the ‘safe base’ for your children and young people. If you can embody that, and help them feel that no matter what, your love and support is a certainty, then the uncertainty around us all becomes a lot more manageable.

regards

Ken & Lisa

 

 

 



Parent Payments Information

BONBEACH PRIMARY SCHOOL- BTS PARENT PORTAL

REQUIREMENTS FOR 2022

2022 Requirements for Online Ordering through COS Parent Portal

The school has worked with an external company, COS to negotiate an extremely competitive price for the stationery packs. These will be delivered to the school directly and distributed to classrooms.

The   items   listed   on   the   following   page   have   been   selected   as   being   required   for  2022.    To    ensure    delivery    prior  to Term 1, 2022, please place your order by Friday 17th December 2021.

Listed below are the easy steps for placing your online order available from Monday 1st November 2021.

Ready to order?

For a fast, simple and secure way to place your order visit www.cos.net.au and follow these steps:

  1. Click on Sign In button in menu task bar
  2. Enter the Username: bonbeachps@cos.net.au & Password: Parents-22
  3. Select the Year level required for 2022
  4. Review product selection based on your requirements

-     Please note, items may have been marked as either mandatory or optional by your school

  1. Add your Pack to the Cart
  2. Enter your Child’s Details & Delivery Details
  3. Enter in your credit card, Paypal or Pay4 details and submit

You will receive an order confirmation via email and can request to have your order tracking sent to you via mobile.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ORDER

 

Delivery Guarantee -

- All orders placed before Friday 17th December 2021 will be delivered to the school prior to Term 1, 2022 commencing.

- Orders after this date cannot be   guaranteed   to   arrive   on   time   and   may   be   delivered   to your   school a few weeks into the school term.

Please contact COS with any queries regarding the Parent Portal

 Telephone:  1300 614 133

Email:  parentportal@cos.net.au



A Message from the Art Department

Welcome to Term 4 in the Art Room! We are so excited to have the students back onsite for a fun finish to the year in Visual Arts!

A focus across the year levels will be settling back into the routines of the Art Room, although we are using every opportunity to be outside in the fresh air!

Foundation students will be making some art works giving them the opportunity to practice their scissor skills. We will then be making some prints and completing some fun Christmas activities.

Year 1 & 2 students will be exploring printmaking using foam and also having Christmas fun using textiles and printing.

Grade 3/4s will focus on constructing and sculpture to create a surprise masterpiece using wire and Modroc.

Grade 5/6s will create a Kandinsky inspired weaving using an array of textiles - a fun activity using different materials but also allowing them the opportunity to connect once again with their peers!



Student of the Week

PDJ     Jackson I
PKM    Olivia F
PMW   Amelia D

JBT      Lisa S
JKB      Emmi H
JKM     Jackson M
JST      Axel H
JTC      Ella I

MBJ      Oliver S
MCF      Giselle M
MEI       Milly I 
MFR      Masha S
MSM      Ben C

SJH       Levi M
SNM      Matt C & Ruby J
SPA       Caitlin E

PE          Leo C


Theircare News



November Newsletter

Welcome back to term 4, we are so glad to have all our students back to the service, we have a very busy term planned, with lots of time to play our favourite sports outside, time for lots of craft, singing and dancing and we will start the countdown to Christmas with our own activity-based Advent calendar. After a tough few months, we want to make sure the children have lots of fun and laughter

Please remind your child to bring their hats to Theircare, No hats No outdoor play

 

               

Up Coming events

Silent Disco is coming to Bonbeach

From Tues 23rd  – Mon 29th Nov

Christmas week

13th -17th Dec

Bookings are now open for our Summer Holiday Program

10th -29th January

Opening Hours:

BSC: 7am – 8.45am

ASC: 3.30pm – 6.00pm

Service Coordinator: Louise Whyte

E-mail us:                                                      

Bonbeach@theircare.com.au      

Call us: +61 439 392 221

                 

 



P&F News

                      Parents and Friends meeting

Just a reminder that our next meeting is on Thursday November 18th in the BER at 9:00am.

Come and join us for a cuppa and a chat after morning school drop off.

Any new suggestions about fundraising for our children are always appreciated

Everyone is welcome and we would love to see you – parents, friends and, of course, grandparents.



Community Announcements