16 March 2023

The Principal

Dear Parents

A big thank you to all of the parents who attended an interview with their child’s class teacher last week. I trust that these interviews have been informative and that you have had a chance to share with the class teacher how you feel 2023 has commenced for your child.

If you were not able to make an interview last week, please contact the teacher to organise an alternative time and collect your child’s behaviour report.

Parents and Citizens Committee

Last Tuesday night, the Talara Primary College P&C held their Annual General Meeting. It was wonderful to see some new faces join the committee, a committee which is absolutely invaluable to our school community.

A special thank you to our ever energetic and passionate President, Elisha Dibben who has committed to 1 more year as president. The leadership Elisha continues to bring to our committee and whole school community is invaluable. We are so lucky to have such a generous President who just loves this school and parent community. We are super thrilled to bring on 3 new Vice Presidents to our Executive committee this year. A very special welcome to Corrie, Heidi and Jess and I know these ladies will be a wonderful asset to out Executive team.

A very big thank you to our parting Vice President Kerry Goodacre who over the last 3 years has been on the Executive Committee and leading so many different projects across our P. & C. Kerry’s endless hours as a volunteer can not be recognised highly enough as the work this lady does in the background is amazing. It was also decided last night that the Container Refund Scheme (Bin Chickens) that Kerry has so passionately led will no longer continue. This has been a fabulous environmental project and fund raiser, whoever due to no available volunteers and dwindling collections, it will no longer continue. Again, a big thank you to Kerry for the last 4 years of Bin Chickens!

On behalf of the committee, all of the staff, parents and students of Talara over the last 6 years, we wish to thank and recognise our former Treasurer Kylie Cerda who stepped down after 6 incredible years as our school’s P&C Treasurer. The time, massive effort and financial practice leadership Kylie has given to our college as a volunteer, has been significant and is immensely appreciated. A huge thank you, however Kylie is not escaping us, as she is continuing as the Vice Treasurer for this year.

Congratulations to our Executive team for 2023:

President - Elisha DIBBEN
Vice President – Cornelia BRINK-GROBLER
Vice President - Heidi DAVIES
Vice President - Jessica SIMPSON
Secretary – Nicole NOY
Treasurer – Kylie BURNS
Vice Treasurer – Kylie CERDA

At the meeting lots of great ideas were discussed for activities to take place during the year, including many special events to bring members of our wonderful school community together. For all these great plans to come together, this committee really needs many helping hands to make them possible. The very first Parent Rep meeting was conducted last Friday with over 30 parents attending, with a real buzz in the air and sense of excitement for our Winter Sun Carnival later this year. The next parent rep meeting and Carnival planning meeting will be Wednesday 22 March at 6pm.

There was also strong support for a parent Trivia Night and a new team of volunteers putting up their hands to plan this, so start to get your teams together for TPC Trivia Night Friday 26 May.

It would be fantastic to really maximise parent involvement and enlist volunteers through our parent rep’s and class Facebook pages.

P&C meeting dates occur the Tuesday of week 3 and week 8 each term. That means the dates for P&C meetings this year will be as below with start time as 6:30pm, in the IAC.

Term 2
Tuesday 2 May and Tuesday 6 June
Term 3
Tuesday 25 July and Tuesday 29 August
Term 4
Tuesday 17 October and Tuesday 21 November

Literacy Teaching at Talara

At Talara Primary College, we are deeply committed to ensuring our students learn to read and read well! Reading is not only an essential skill for children to find success in school but to thrive in society as they grow up in our world. We are learning more about what research says about how children learn to read, how to make sure every student learns to read, and what to do when a child encounters difficulty with reading. This body of knowledge we are learning about and implementing is called ‘The Science of Reading’.

Please click this link where our dynamic Head Of Department Curriculum, Mrs Meghan Clark presents an overview of these changes

Also attached is a PDF version if you prefer to read this overview yourself.

NAPLAN

This week our Year 3 and Year 5 students have all participated in the 2023 National Literacy and Numeracy tests - NAPLAN. Our staff and students have done an awesome job in being ready to undertake this task on the digital platform. I know our whole teaching team do an incredible job every day delivering the Australian Curriculum with clarity and rigour, whilst building our students’ confidence and resilience.

I am immensely proud of how all of our students demonstrated their resilience, persistence and confidence throughout this week. There is often significant media attention given to the stress caused by NAPLAN, however it should not be so. Watching our students undertake NAPLAN this week is an excellent example of Talara students not only being academically prepared but just as importantly, being emotionally prepared and knowing it is just about giving it their best.

Parents, it is critical that we reflect this confident and resilient approach to our students for all new tasks that come before them as this is what so much of life is about, seeing an opportunity, having a go and doing your best.

The tests are now completed for 2023 and we will get the results in Term 2. The overall results will be good evidence for our school to reflect on, to see how our different curriculum and support programs are working in literacy and numeracy. For an individual student though, these are just a snap shot on a given day, on a very narrow aspect of the rich and diverse learning that our students engage and thrive in. I trust all parents will treat the results in this manner and know that the best indicator of how their child is progressing through school is by their report card and communicating with their class teacher.

Parking in Bus Zones

Recently there has been multiple occasions where cars are parking in one of the 2 bus bays at the front of the school. These 2 bus bays, one right before the main crossing, and the second at the bus shelter in front of Prep, must be kept clear at all times. We have multiple buses that arrive in the morning between 7:30am and 8:30am and then again in the afternoon, 3:10pm and 4:00pm where they must have clear access. Please be aware that the bus drivers will be taking photos of offending vehicles and sending them to the police.

Prep to Year 6 Cross Country

All of the students are getting very excited about the upcoming whole school Cross Country, to be held at 9am, Tuesday 28 March. This is always a fantastic event where every student gets in and has a go, completes the running course to the best of their ability and crosses the finish line gaining points for their sports house. I have been super impressed with the hundreds of students who have been very actively training for the event and joining our before school running club. Come Monday, we will have war cries, cheering, tumbles and victories, but most importantly we will have that amazing Talara Team spirit and encouragement of each other on display.

On Cross Country day, students will be required to come dressed in their sports uniform which consists of a plain coloured t-shirt in the colour of their sports house, running shoes, school shorts or skorts and the school wide brimmed hat. Students are also recommended to bring a school shirt and their black shoes, to change into after the cross country.

Parents are very welcome to attend as we would love you to be here, to help cheer on our enthusiastic runners.

Please click on the links below for each year levels Map.

Parade of Excellence

Our Term 1 Parade of Excellence will take place Wednesday morning 29 March, commencing at 9am in the hall. This is a whole school parade where we will get to hear the results of the Cross Country and trophy recipients, as well as recognise students from across the college who have excelled throughout the term. All parents and community members are very welcome to join us. A reminder also, that there are no normal weekly parades in the last week of term.

Open Afternoon

On the last Monday of term 1 and term 3, we open our classroom doors and invite parents and the community to come in and join the students in the classroom. Our Open Afternoons are a chance for you to come in and see the work the students have done throughout the term, as well as participate in a learning activity or two where the kids can show you just how smart they are!

Open afternoon is Monday 27 March, 1:45pm to 2:45pm, invitations should be coming home next week, we hope you can make it.

Discos

Talara will be running three discos across this year:

• Term 1 Thursday 23 March (week 9),
• Term 2 Thursday 18 May (week 5) and
• Term 4 Thursday 30 November (week 9)

There is no Term 3 disco as we have the Talara Performance Night at the end of Term 3. Our discos are incredibly popular and are another great way to celebrate the fantastic students we have with lots of fun, dancing with their friends.

Our discos can only happen as a direct result of our very generous staff who are willing to give up another night towards a school event. A massive thank you to each and every teacher who willingly gives their time at the end of term for these nights.

Parents we ask that you please ensure that you follow the two simple procedures of:

1. all students being collected promptly at the end of their disco from inside the hall;
2. students are only allowed to attend their designated year level disco.

Our disco times are:

• Prep to Year 2:     5.00pm to 6.30pm sharp
• Yr 3-Year 6:     6.30pm to 8.00pm sharp

This Term’s disco is not too far away. Next week, on Thursday 23 March, the first disco of 2023 will be held. It is a Hawaiian Luau theme so get out those bright colours. See the flyer below for more information.

Free Dress Day

For our final day each term, the students are able to come to school wearing plain clothes that match with a special theme as long as they bring a gold coin for charity. These days are coordinated by our Student Council, where our student leaders identify different charities they would like to see our community giving back to. Each year the Student Council choose a local charity, a state charity and an international charity. Please see the full article in today’s newsletter with all of the details.

Term 2

Term 2 starts Monday 17 April with our parent Winter Sun Carnival planning meeting on the evening of Wednesday 19 April.

Our very special ANZAC Day service taking place in the Performance Hall Monday 24 April at 1:30pm and then the public march in Caloundra on ANZAC Day. Please be aware of the public holidays this term -Tuesday 25 April ANZAC Day and Monday 2 May Labour Day.

I trust the last 2 weeks of Term 1 go really well for all of our students and I hope you all have a safe and happy Easter break from Friday 31 March.

Have a safe and happy holiday

Mr Adams

Principal

Newsletter Articles

Attendance

Talara’s attendance goal for Term 1 was to stay above 95%. We are below this guide and we would love to see students in classrooms and attending school each day. If you are finding it difficult to get your child to school on time, please contact the school and we can try and support you and your child in being successful learners every day.

In 2022, Talara’s attendance data dropped to its lowest in quite a number of years. 367 students failed to attend school greater than 90%. That is equivalent to missing 4 weeks of school across the year. It is imperative that every child is at school every day.

My First Year 2023 – Prep Photos

Celebrate your child's first year of school with My First Year 2023. A special liftout featuring prep class photos from across the region including (insert school). Available in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Fri March 24 or view the gallery online now.

National Ride to School Day (Sunshine Coast Council)

National Ride2School Day (Friday 24th March 2023) is Australia’s biggest celebration of active travel and one of the best days in the school calendar.

Sunshine Coast Council is encouraging all students within our region to ride, scoot or skate to school on this day.

This is a great initiative to develop a healthy school community, reduce traffic congestion and create less demand for parking spaces.

Please also consider:

• Take extra care, slow down and watch out for children riding to school.
• Perhaps organise your own Ride2School Day activity ie group bike ride

Parents are asked to log on to the sunshine coast website and register their child. Students who register and ride to school on Friday go into a draw. There are 4 x $500 Bike Shop Vouchers up for grabs by registering on council website.

Parent TV

All you need is Love – The Connection and Love Cup

Children don’t “attention seek”, they “connection seek” to fill their Love and Belonging Cup. Much like the “Bucket Filling” we talk about at school.

We all know the saying ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup” and when it comes to children, giving so much of our time and energy to these little people can really ‘empty our cups’!

But what if, just like us adults, our children have cups too, and by identifying their different cups (or needs) we can better understand their behaviour?

For more information, watch the below videos by Sandi Phoenix

Term 1 Disco

Natasha Wolski
Year 4 Classroom Teacher

Term 1 Free Dress Day

On Friday 31 March the last day of Term 1, Student Leaders/Councillors are asking all students to kindly donate a gold coin and to come dressed with Crazy hair and be wearing blue clothing like an Avatar! We are raising funds to support Variety Club the children’s charity. We are very passionate about this fundraiser after hearing our very own Kylie Lilley come share with us what Variety Club is about and the support that they offer so many children throughout Queensland.

This year Mrs Lilley and her Team are participating in the 2023 Variety Club Car Rally. We wish them all the success in the world and can’t wait to see everyone dressed in blue sporting crazy hair.

As an extra, we will also set up lunch time Throw a Sponge. Bring $5 to have 3 throws of a wet sponge at a teacher/ student leader or even a Deputy Principal. All funds raised is going to Variety Club.

Talara Student Leaders/Councillors 2023

Mrs Lawrence Highly Accomplished Teacher

Anzac Day

Tuesday 25 April 2023 marks the 107th anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli.

On Monday 24 April, the school captains of Talara Primary College will host our annual school service at 1.30pm in the Performance Centre. We hope that everyone will join us in commemorating this special occasion.

The ANZAC Day Dawn Service will be 5am at Kings Beach Ampitheatre for families who wish to attend. Seating is limited to Veterans and their families.

The Citizens March will step off at 9.00am (form up is at 8.30am) from the Stockland Shopping Centre carpark and concludes in the carpark of the Caloundra RSL. In the past we have had around 200 proud TPC students join us to show respect to our diggers past and present. The Wreath Laying Ceremony will be held after the Citizens March (approx. 10am) in the Memorial Garden located in the grounds of the Caloundra RSL. This year, a 100 seat grandstand will be set up in front of the outdoor screen with the intention that it will be used exclusively by students of the Caloundra community.

Kristy Walton

Deputy Principal

ANZAC Day Badges for Sale

In Week 1 and 2 of Term 2, Monday 17 April until Monday 24 April, Student Leaders will be selling ANZAC DAY BADGES before school on the main path leading to centre court. There will be $2 badges available for purchase. We look forward seeing all our Talara Students and Community wearing their ANZAC DAY Badges with pride showing our respect for all our past and present service men, women and animals.

This year we wish to set a new record surpassing our 2022 total of $644. All money raised is being kindly donated to LEGACY that supports families of those who served and sacrificed, providing the essential social and financial support that these families need.

Debbie Lawrence, Student Councillors/Leaders 2023

Highly Accomplished Teacher

Instrumental Music News

Instrumental Music is well and truly under way for 2023 with lessons and ensembles in full swing. Across the TPC Instrumental Music Program, Mr Hucknall and Mr Fodor have approximately 150 students learning, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion and String instruments.

Beginner Bash

On Tuesday 21 March, our Beginner Talara musicians will be performing for the first time in the annual TPC Beginner Bash. Students will show parents what has been learnt in their first term of tuition. The Beginner Bash will be held in Centre Court and will commence at 3.00pm and conclude at 3.30pm. An email will be sent to all parents of our current beginner students.

Brendan Hucknell

Instrumental Music Teacher

TEAK News

Big thanks to all the classes that were involved in our 2023 Clean Up Australia Day. Over 20 bags of waste were removed from the gardens and grounds which is fantastic for the school and the environment!

The winners of the perpetual trophies for collecting the most waste in their age groups were -

2G and 2B (combined) , 4A and 5W.

Congratulations to these teachers and students. The trophies were presented to them at tribal parades last week by our Environmental Vice Captain, Daisy.

Earth Hour is on Saturday 25th March. Families can register to participate at earthhour.org.au We will encourage Talara teachers and students to "turn off" for one hour at a time that suits them during Friday 24th March. The TEAK team will also undertake an audit of the classrooms during the lunch break to monitor how much electricity is being used when classrooms are empty.

Kids in Action "Save the Date" notes were sent home to selected Year 5 students last week and will be coming home with the selected Year 6 students this week.

Environmental Tip for Easter - remember to save your alfoil wrappers, put them together in a ball no bigger than your fist and place in the recylcing bin.

Our Clean Up Australia Day Winners

Year 7 2024 Scholarships

The Principals of the Coalition of State Secondary Schools, invite Year 6 students to apply for year 7 Scholarships for 2024. Application forms can be downloaded from each State Secondary School’s website. Each Secondary School has its own scholarship selection criteria and process. Parents are advised to contact our Coalition State Secondary Schools for further information.

• Scholarship Application Period opens on Friday 24 February.
• Scholarship Application period closes TOMORROW on Friday 17 March.
• Successful & unsuccessful applicants will be notified by Friday 31 March

Kristy Walton

Deputy Principal

Secondary School Catchment Information

The Caloundra Coalition of Secondary Schools, wish you and your student a successful, productive and memorable final year of state primary education.

During this year, coalition primary schools will work together with the four local state secondary sites – Baringa State Secondary College, Caloundra State High School, Kawana Waters State College and Meridan State College, to provide a comprehensive and supportive program to assist both you and your student to make the transition to junior secondary schooling. At this early time of the year, we would like to provide you with important information regarding coalition enrolment processes for students transitioning to high school:

• Similar to primary school, all four coalition secondary sites have an Enrolment Management Plan (EMP) and corresponding catchment boundary.
• Parents can determine in which catchment they live by using the EdMap website from the link below. This is the method used by all coalition secondary schools to determine if a student is living ‘in-catchment’.
• Students are guaranteed enrolment at the school that is indicated by this web site as their ‘in-catchment’ school. This is determined by the student’s residential address. Proof of residency is required when lodging an enrolment application with a coalition secondary school and catchment status will be verified upon enrolment.
• The ‘in-catchment’ secondary school is the site that the student is assumed to be attending for Year 6 Transition Days in June and December.
• If a student has an older sibling already attending at an ‘out-of-catchment’ secondary school, the Enrolment Management Plan allows for the student to enrol at that school as long as certain conditions are met.
• Students may enrol in an ‘out-of-catchment’ school if they are successful in gaining a place in a scholarship program or Program of Excellence at that school.
• Parents may lodge a written Expression of Interest to enrol in an ‘out-of-catchment’ school for consideration by the Principal. ‘Out-of-catchment’ enrolments are granted at the sole discretion of the Principal and are subject to available enrolment capacity at the school after all ‘in-catchment’ enrolments have been accommodated.
• Details of each secondary school’s Enrolment Management Plan can be found on the school’s website.
• Each school has an Enrolment Officer who can be contacted to provide further information and advice.

State schools are great schools! Our secondary schools have planned a wide variety of whole day, before school and after school events that showcase the new and exciting opportunities available to Year 7 students. We urge you to take advantage and participate as much as possible in the Year 6 Transition Program this year. A summary of key dates is included on the back of the attached letter for your reference. Further details for each event will be provided closer to the day.

Kristy Walton

Deputy Principal

Student Achievements

Student of the Week

Student of the Week Dingira Tribe - Tuesday 14 March 2023

Pedestrian Safety Improvements – Transport Department

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) would like to advise that design is complete and construction is expected to start in mid-March 2023, weather and construction scheduling permitting.

The project will improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Nicklin Way and Gannawarra Street, Currimundi.

If you would like further information regarding the works, please contact TMR's project team on 5451 7055 or email northcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au.

Available Position at Talara Primary College

We are looking for an Administrative Officer, a dynamic person that has skills in programs such as Canva, Adobe, school website, Microsoft packages and Oneschool.

Closing date is by 10pm, 26 March 2023.

Please see job advertisement for more details

Tuckshop

TuckerShack

FAQs:

• Our Tucker Shack service operates 5 days per week, both breaks.
• All main food can be ordered using the Qkr! app and is delivered to your child’s classroom.
• Preps will get an opportunity to visit the Tucker Shop in Term 4.
• We have Birthday Treat options to choose from, each one is for a class set and is organised with the teacher on the day.
• We love volunteers in the Tucker Shack - it’s the only way we can keep the service affordable and ensure we are serving fresh, house made delicious food.

If you have any questions and would like to get in contact with us, please email talaratuckshop@gmail.com.

Parent Notes

Community Notices

Mum’s Day Off Retreat

Music with Maree

Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Pippies Program

Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club is running an inclusive nippers program for children and teenagers to access the beach safely and increase their confidence and awareness at the beach, regardless of disability or environmental obstacle. Activities will be focused around lifesaving specific skills with the overall aim of increasing beach safety awareness and confidence when going to the beach.

Please see flyer attached and pass on to any families you think may be interested.

Dates: Saturday 15th, 22nd & 29th of April
Time: 8:00am-9:30am
Age range: 5 years +
Location: Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Cost: Free

You can register via the QR code below.

Talara Primary College Calendar

Our school calendar can be accessed via our website using the below link.

School Contact Details

ADDRESS:

PO Box 3707 Caloundra DC 4551
Talara Street, Currimundi 4551

CONTACTS:

Administration	5438 3777
Student Absence Line - Voicemail	5438 3760
Student Absence SMS Line - SMS only	0474 195 135
Early Childhood Development Program	5438 3713
Website	www.talacollss.eq.edu.au
Email	info@talacollss.eq.edu.au
Principal	Stephen Adams
Deputies	Kristy Walton (Years 5 & 6) Paul Bathersby (Years 3 & 4) Scott Butcher (Prep, Year 1 & Year 2)
Head of Curriculum	Meghan Clarke Julie Henderson
Guidance Officers	Katie Churchill
Business Manager	Kirsty Gould
Administrative Officers	Lisa Dighton Carly Clark Rochelle Tritton Nicole Noy

P&C Association

P&C Meetings are held on Tuesday evening of Week 3 & 8 each term at 6.30pm.

Everyone is welcome. Please email tpcsecretary2017@gmail.com for further details.

Uniform Shop Hours

Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8.15am to 8.45am.

Tuckshop

Open daily Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1.35pm.

Parades (2:15pm)

Tuesday	Dingira
Wednesday	Djaa
Thursday	Noring

Outside School Hours Care:

Helping Hands 0459 990 650.

Student Absences

Please remember to ring the school on our Student Absence Line (5438 3760) or send an SMS to our SMS Absence Line: (0417 978 610) otherwise a note to the teacher the next day is required.

Remember, all student absences need to be accounted for and any unexplained absences require the school to ring home to check. Accounting for student absences is a legal requirement for all schools. Your assistance in providing the relevant information to us regarding your child’s absences daily is appreciated.

Change of Details

• Have you bought a new mobile?
• Maybe started a new job?
• Moved house?

Please remember to update your details with the school, either via the Change of Details Form found on the side panel of this newsletter or drop us a line at info@talacollss.eq.edu.au