Issue 02
26 February 2010
Contact our school
Santa Isobel Bvd Pacific Pines QLD 4211
PO Box 534
Helensvale QLD 4212
Ph: (07) 5502 5333
Fax: (07) 5502 5300
Email: admin
@pacificpinesss.eq.edu.au
Web: www.pacificpinesss.eq.edu.au
Our Sponsors
Please click on the advertisments to view more details
 Staffing
Our classes have now settled. We have 45 classes and an additional staff member appointed on Day 8
numbers. This extra staff member is Mrs Pauline Stock who will be working with the Learning Support Team
for the next few weeks and who will then be assigned to special projects throughout the school, including
working with advanced groups of students. Our Learning Support allocation dropped this year from two full
time teachers to one full time and the other working three days per week. This was a result of our great
NAPLAN results. Our Learning Support staff are Joy Wheeler (full time) and Leticia Hanlon (3days) with
Pauline working alongside them for part of her role. Our Special Education staff are Gina Perkins (full time),
Karen Rayward (7 days per fortnight) and Leticia Hanlon (2 days per week). There are also 58 teacher aide
hours assigned to the Special Education Program. All of these staff are based in the Unit facility.
Annual General P&C Meeting
The Annual General meeting for the P&C Association will be held on Wednesday 10 March at 3.15pm in the
school’s staffroom. All parents and community members are invited to attend.
School Safety
With the very sad news of the passing of the 12 year old boy in Brisbane last week, parents everywhere
must have hugged their children a little tighter during the past few days. This school has a very detailed
Code of School Behaviour which can be accessed through our web site at www.pacificpinesss.eq.edu.au
We have very high expectations of student, staff and parent behaviour at this school. Everyone here has
rights but they also have responsibilities as part of the school community. The behaviour of our students is
outstanding and if any student contravenes our Code of Behaviour, then they face the consequences. My
Deputy Principals and myself are very proactive in monitoring our students and we are always looking for
positives. Be assured that if there is anything occurring with any students, such as bullying, it is reported to
us for follow up immediately. If your child discloses any issues to you, then please follow up by talking to one
of us. It just takes a phone call or email to make a time through the office. The school process for reporting
bullying is through the Bully Report Form which any student can access through their classroom teacher.
This form must be completed by the teacher with the student giving the information. This stops any cycles as
reporting any issues leads to positive outcomes and teacher awareness.
Start of the Hall Construction
The expected date for the start of the construction of our new $3 million hall is 9 March. The area around the
basketball courts will be fenced off for this construction. Completion is expected around the end of October.
Fundraising for 2010
Fundraising for 2010 will be:
Term 1
Easter Raffle – can students please start bringing in Easter egg etc donations ASAP to the
Tuckshop?
Term 2
Spellathon
Term 3
Fashion Show
Term 4
Christmas Raffle
Kathy Edwards
Principal
We are very proud to announce our Student Leadership Team for 2010. The election process was rigorous
and highly contested. The quality of all applicants was outstanding. I know that our Captains, Chloe, Lochlan,
Emma and Jon are very enthusiastic to get to know their team and lead their 2010 student body. Pacific
 Pines Primary values and encourages student leadership at many levels; this is evidenced by the fact that
the school contributes 50% of the funds to pay for a three day Leadership Camp. On behalf of the 2010
student leaders I would like to acknowledge this contribution from the school as well as to thank the 2009
Student Council for the 50% contribution that they raised. The camp is an opportunity for us to really get to
know each other, to establish ourselves as a working and productive team, to set the scene for the year and
most of all just to have a really good time.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support and commitment Miss O'Donnell and Mr
Slinger have demonstrated to this group of student leaders. Both of these exceptional teachers have a long
history with student leadership at Pacific Pines. Without the time and support from teachers our student
leaders wouldn't have the opportunities and experiences they are about to embark on.
On Monday the leaders were presented with their badge which clearly identifies them in their elected role. I
am looking forward to supporting the students develop their profile in 2010 as a student leader and
witnessing the growth and success of them as individuals and as a collective team. Congratulations to one
and all.
Angela Gooley
Deputy Principal/Line Manager Year 6 & 7
Already this year we have had many students coming to the payment window well after the cut off date.
These payments cannot be accepted as all camps/excursions numbers have to be finalised as soon as
possible after the cut off date to allow confirmation of numbers to venues and bus bookings.
Obviously if we accept late payments and this necessitates booking an extra bus then the school will make a
loss on a camp/excursion.
Internet payments must be made at least 2 days before the cut off date of an excursion/activity to allow the
transfer to our bank account.
If numbers have been finalised then late payments will be processed as a credit on your child’s account.
These will be taken on 16 & 18 March. The timetable is yet to be finalised but Years 4-7 will be taken on 16
March and the P-3 on 18 March. The timetable will be available from the website by the end of next week.
Please ensure your envelope is completed with payment and returned to the office by 16 March. The school
does not handle the money for the photos and we cannot give change – correct money must be in the
envelope handed in.
Envelopes for sibling photos are available from the office.
 Eileen Dixon
Business Services Manager
Gold Coast Advanced Music Camp
Gold Coast Advanced Music Camp will be held in the last week of Term 2 again this year. The camp is 4
days only this year and is available for Senior Strings, Senior Band and Senior/Boys’ Choir members. The
cost is $255 for the four days. Please let any of the music teachers know expressions of interest either by
telling your child to see us or by emailing Rosemary Warhurst on rwarh3@eq.edu.au
Choir/Band and Strings Rehearsals
Rehearsal for all choirs and senior band and strings are now in progress and the students are enjoying the
challenge of learning their new music. Junior band rehearsals will start next week.
In April the Senior and Boys’ choirs will be heading to the Albert Waterways Hall (directly behind Pacific Fair)
for a whole day of rehearsals in a massed choir format, with students from Worongary and Coombabah's
choral programs. This event will feature a guest conductor Julie Christiansen, who has been conducting for
over 25 years and started the Brisbane Birralee Voices - now world renowned children’s’ choirs. We are very
lucky indeed to have the opportunity for our students to work with Julie. The day will culminate in a concert
for all parents and friends starting at 5pm (might be 5:15pm....) at the venue.
I will send notes home when we have more details finalised. There will be a cost involved (around $15) to
cover the accompanist, guest conductor and music, but will let you know details asap.
Rosemary Warhurst
Music Teacher
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Matters
In Australia 89% of school-aged children with a disability attend an ordinary school. However, 63% of these
students have been found to experience difficulties. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities can be
challenging for schools and families. However, effective support for children’s mental health and wellbeing
involves efforts to meet the social, emotional and learning needs of all children. The term ‘disability’ refers to
a wide range of conditions that in some way limit people’s ability to manage everyday living. Different
disabilities are often grouped in categories such as intellectual and learning disabilities, psychiatric
disabilities, sensory and speech disabilities, chronic illness, acquired brain injury or physical disabilities.
People may also be affected by more than one kind of disability.
Here are some handy hints for supporting children with disabilities
Build strengths step-by-step
Breaking tasks into small steps helps to ensure success and supports children’s learning. It is important to
support children’s confidence by emphasising what they can do, not what they can’t.
Be an advocate for children with disabilities
Children with disabilities often face discrimination. Make sure that others understand the need to include and
value all children this benefits not only the individual child but promotes a caring community.
Focus on the child not the disability
Children’s needs should be assessed individually and regularly. Do not to assume that all children with a
particular disability have the same problems and needs. An individual child’s needs may also change over
time.
Develop partnerships
Parents and carers cannot meet the complex needs of children with disabilities alone. Collaborative
involvement between families, schools and health professionals helps to ensure the best outcomes for
children’s development and mental health.
Here we try very hard to meet the needs of all students in our care and hope that you will continue to support
us in doing this.
 Until next time
Julie Dixon
Guidance Officer
Parents/Guardians, please remember to advise the school if your child is absent from school for three days
or more. You can do this by using the student absence phone number. If notification is not received your
child’s absence is recorded as “unexplained”. Letters requesting an explanation will be sent to
parents/guardians when a child is absent for 3 days or more.
Student Absence Phone Number (24hrs) 5502 5360
R.E. activity books for Semester 1 are available for purchase now from the payment window at the office on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8:15-10:00am
Year 1
Beginning with God
$5.00
Year 2&3
Infant Connect
$3.00
Years 4&5
Lower Primary Connect $3.00
Years 6&7
Upper Primary Connect $3.00
Year 5
Reading Lab 2a-student record book
$9.05
Year 5
Targeting Maths Dictionary
$11.20
Year 4
Soundwaves Student Activity Bk.
$13.85
 DATES TO REMEMBER
1-3 March
Leadership Camp
10 March
P & C Meeting 3:15pm – All Welcome!
16 & 18 March
School Photographs
18 March
Yrs 4-7 Cross Country
19 March
Yrs 1-3 Cross Country
1 April
Last Day Term 1
12 April
Student Free Day
13 April
First Day of Term 2
EXCURSIONS/ACTIVITIES
Year
Level
Date
Excursion/Activity
Cost
Payment
Due by
4
11 March
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
$17
5 March
5
29-31 March
Yr 5 Camp to Tyalgum Ridge Retreat
$225
19 March
6/7
1-3 March
Leadership Camp
$32
19 March
CHESS PAYMENTS FOR TERM 1 DUE NOW
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