The Swell April 2015

THE
SWELL
Get to Know Your
School Leaders
KOKODA
MEMORIAL
TRIP
Technology
Overload
HOW MANY KILOJOULES
SHOULD my child be
consuming?
BROUGHT TO YOU BY SOUTH COOGEE PUBLIC SCHOOL • APRIL 2015

putting your neighbours to work

From The Editor
Well this term has simply
flown and it has been
fabulous to see all the kids
settling in to the new school
year with such ease. It’s been
a busy start to the school
year - but busy is good!
I, for one have found adjusting
back to the school routine a bit of a
challenge so that is one of the reasons
that I thought it might be a good idea
to include some helpful tips on how
to simplify your school day morning
in this months issue of The Swell – I
certainly need to take note!
Contents
• We get the latest updates
from each of the Stage
teachers on all the great
things the kids have been
up to.
• We feature a delicious
chocolate cupcake recipe just
in time for Easter.
• Check out our tips to help
you boost your child’s
confidence.
• 5 simple ways that you can
simplify your school day
morning.
• Tips to help improve your
child’s social intelligence.
• 10 healthy changes that you
can make for your family.
• Principal Trish Fisher hits
this month's Hot Seat.
• Dr Joanna McMillan looks at
how many kilojoules our kids
should be eating.
• We meet Steve McCarthy
co-founder of Road Runner
Mobile Tyres this month’s
Scoop’s “Supporter in the
Spotlight”.
This month we put our new principal
Mrs Trish Fisher in The Swell Hot Seat
and find out a bit more about this
lovely lady.
Before we know it the term will be
done and the kids will be on holidays
again – it’s a bit scary how time flies.
I hope that you enjoy this issue of The
Swell and hang on tight – it’s going to
be a busy year ahead.
GEORGINA SENES
Created, Designed & Delivered By...
themillenniaproject.com
For All Advertising Enquiries Call 1300 900 171
PG. 3

PG. 4

Restorative Practice
at South Coogee Public School
In week 8 the final steps towards the shift to Restorative Practice at South Coogee were taken. Students and
parents were trained in initial concepts of RP with great success by the amazing Terry O’Connell. The feedback
has been incredibly positive. Teachers are using the questions to solve problems and to frame conversations in
regard to behaviour and learning. As I have said many times, Restorative Practice is not a program but a way
of being. It has changed my life as a parent and teacher. The teachers at SCPS are already finding how positive
RP is. It requires teachers to be explicit about their pedagogy and practices and to deal with the myriad of
programs and expectations in a calm, consistent way.
“At a whole school level Restorative Practice/approaches can be a catalyst for change as
it helps educators to reflect upon & clarify existing practice particularly around beliefs &
values”.
Terry O’Connell, Lesley Oliver, Lyn Doppler 2007
“A restorative classroom setting is one that values dialogue through an inclusive approach
where everyone expects to be heard, and through this participatory process students
develop the capacity to learn in a practical way that emotions are an important and
legitimate expression of healthy dialogue. This helps students to deal with conflict, tensions
and difference in respectful ways that engenders trust, empathy, responsibility, and fosters
healthy relationships.”
Terry O’Connell, Lesley Oliver, Lyn Doppler 2007
Restorative Practice in schools provides a focus on developing positive relationships between
all members of the school community, opportunities for people to take responsibility for their
behaviour & learning. This requires that teachers actively create the space where students can
experience situations that develop their emotional & social capacity in order to support & assist
them in taking responsibility for their behaviour & learning.
Implementing RP at the same time as we implement KidsMatter and Bounce Back is a very
positive shift for the school. We are truly catering for the ‘whole child’ wellbeing as an integral
part of quality teaching. Students are already embracing the language and using the questions
to solve problems. Teachers have seen even our very youngest of students starting conversations
when things go wrong.
These two sites will give you further information if you did not make the training or are
interested in learning more.
www.facebook.com/RestorativePractices
www.iirp.edu/au/
Fiona Wood
Student Wellbeing Coordinator
PG. 5

HOW MANY
KILOJOULES
SHOULD MY CHILD
BE CONSUMING?
Last year I worked with
the NSW Food Authority
on their 8700 campaign.
The campaign is so named,
as 8700 is the average
number of kilojoules an
adult requires every day to
stay in energy balance. I
have to start by stating that
I don’t advise counting the
kilojoules in every single
food and drink that you
consume, but it is a good
idea to have what I call kJ
awareness. The campaign
has two key goals: to teach
people what kilojoules are
and to have an awareness
of how many you need in a
day so that you can make
better choices when eating
out. All food outlets with
more than 20 stores must
now by law display the kJ
on their menu board. This
gives us the consumer a far
greater ability to make the
best choice. When you do
eat at these outlets a few
simple swaps can save you
unwanted kJ and hence
unwanted weight gain.
So the question has come
to me; can we use the
information provided to help
us make better choices for
our kids and should we be kJ
counting for them? Should
we teach them about kJ or
are we just setting the path for disordered eating?
I don’t believe we need to kJ count for kids, just as
we don’t have to for ourselves. But that awareness is
just as important and you might be astounded at the
kJ counts in some of the foods you commonly give
to your child. Let’s take banana bread (which should
really be called banana cake but bread makes us all
feel better about eating it). One slice of banana bread
varies from 1360kJ to 2430kJ. The latter constitutes
almost a third of a 7 year olds daily requirements!
Yet I know many 7 year olds who would happily
polish it off. I could give you many other examples
of seemingly relatively healthy and numerous not-sohealthy
foods and meals that are in fact energy-dense
and easy to over-consume. Armed with the kJ facts
and knowing your ‘ideal figure’ and that of your
child’s, allows you to make a more appropriate choice,
or simply reduce the portion size (e.g. share the
banana bread between kids or keep some for
another day).
So how do you know how many kilojoules your child
needs? Simply go to
www.8700.com.au/kjs-and-kids/how-many-kjsdo-kids-need/
and enter the information to get your
child’s ideal figure. This is the approximate amount of
energy they need to meet their nutritional demands
for daily energy and growth. It is not geared towards
weight loss. You can make that option for yourself,
but it is rarely appropriate for children. If you are
concerned that your child is overweight visit a health
care professional, who can help you formulate a plan.
But in essence the goal is to allow the child to grow
into their weight. Certainly watch
their food choices and make sure
you are doing everything you can
to provide minimally processed
nutritious meals. Teach them
about nutrition and why it is
important to think about what
we eat. Encourage
movement and
exercise without it
becoming a chore.
Limit TV and screen
time. It’s amazing
how a daily 2-hour
screen time limit is
easily surpassed
when you add up
time spent on
DS-like games,
computer and TV.
PG. 6

I don’t think it’s the right move to make our children
overly conscious of kilojoules. The focus should
instead be on the healthfulness of a particular food
and the positive attributes it brings. But there is
nothing wrong with teaching them what
kilojoules are (a unit of energy) and let them be
aware without emotions being involved
(particularly with girls) that we need to
balance our daily intake with expenditure.
As they get older they too will then be
able to make sense of food labels and
menu boards. As always make this information
appropriate for the age of your child. As a scientist
I always tend to err towards being very factual with
my children, but in this instance it is an approach that
works because it does take the emotions out. You
can do this without talking about consequences (ie
getting fat) but couch it in a healthy message.
Dr Joanna McMillan
Registered Nutritionist, Accredited Practising Dietitian, & Mum to Oliver (year 4) and Lewis (year 2).
For more information on 'The Dr Joanna Plate' go to www.drjoanna.com.au, your trusted nutrition and healthy lifestyle hub.

DEFENCE
FORCE
PARENT INTERVIEW
?
Here at South Coogee Public School we
are really proud of the number of defence
force families that we have within our school
community. These mums and dads fulfill
important and essential roles in the army,
navy, air force and other sectors of the
Australian Defence Force – tough jobs that
are vital to the security of our country.
The Swell wants to find out a bit more about
what its like to be a member of the Australian
Defence Force so we thought it would be a
great addition to The Swell to regularly feature
an up close interview with a parent at South
Coogee Public who holds a position within
the Australian Defence Force.
This month we meet father of four South
Coogee Public School children, and Combat
Systems Manager for the FFGSPO at Garden
Island, Adam Cooper and learn a little bit
about his role within the Australian Navy.
PG. 8

The Swell: Hello LCDR Cooper and thank you for taking
the time to chat with The Swell. We are really interested to
learn a bit about your role within the Australian Navy and
to find out more about how you came to become a naval
officer. Tell us how you began your career in the Navy?
Adam Hi Georgina, and first of all, thank you for inviting
me to share some of my experiences with SCPS, I love being
asked to contribute to community engagements.
I joined the Royal Navy in 2001 after having being sponsored
by the Navy through an Engineering Degree at Southampton
University. The entry class I joined was less than 2 weeks
after 9/11 and so out of the 150 expected to arrive only 70%
showed up. I spent the next few months at Britannia Royal
Naval College in Dartmouth, UK before joining my first ship,
HMS Cumberland in Plymouth. I subsequently served on the
Frigate, HMS Kent and the Aircraft Carriers, HMS Invincible and
Illustrious, before transferring to the Royal Australian Navy.
The Swell: Did you always want to be in the Navy or did
you have other career objectives?
Adam When I was little, I wanted to be an inventor. I
would spend countless hours in my Granddad’s garage
creating my inventions. I only came close to burning down
the garage on a couple of occasions and so I count that as
a success! By the time I had reached college age (around
16) I had lost sight of where I was going and it was actually
my Granddad who applied to the Navy for me. He took me
to my first interview at Navy recruiting and it all slotted in to
place from there.
The Swell: You began your career in the British Navy and
then transferred to the Australian Navy a few years ago – tell
us how and why this transfer came about.
Adam I had been in the Royal Navy for 12 years.
Unfortunately at that time the Navy was in the middle of
defence budget cuts and was looking to reduce its strength
by 7000 people. My wife, Sophie, and I had talked about
leaving the Navy and this presented a good impetus for us to
look at other options. We had seriously considered a move to
Australia several times in the past but had never been brave
enough to make the leap, however this time everything fell in
to place and we soon found ourselves on a plane heading
for Sydney. My daughters loved the business class, although
I now fear that they think all flights will be in similar luxury!
The Swell: Has your family adjusted well to the move
from Britain to Australia and how does your family find it
having a dad in the defence force?
Adam I think we have all adjusted really well. It helped
moving from the UK to Sydney as the culture and character is
very similar (it is just a bit warmer…). We were very fortunate
that we moved straight in to South Coogee where there is
a fantastic family atmosphere that embraced the whole
Cooper Clan from the outset. The girls found it very easy
to make friends at South Coogee and the mums and dads
welcomed Sophie and me with open arms.
I think the girls really enjoy having a dad in the Defence Force.
There are the obvious down sides of me getting deployed
and missing Birthdays and Christmas’s but they also get
exposed to lots of places and activities that they would not
otherwise. From free family defence days, camping in Jervis
Bay and wandering around Ships and Tanks, what’s not to
love?
The Swell: What has been the biggest difference
between the British and the Australian Navy?
Adam Both Navies are very similar. We operate under
similar rules and procedures, we have the same pressures
of not enough people, working tremendously hard in
difficult circumstances and we do it all with a smile on our
faces! Obviously the biggest difference I have noticed is that
deployments in the RAN are around Australia, to South East Asia
and sometimes to Hawaii. I will take that any day compared to
another trip over the top of Scotland or doing circuits in the cold,
grey North Sea.
The Swell: Tell us a bit about your day to day duties – what
does a day in the life of Combat System Manager Adam Cooper
entail?
Adam My girls joke that I spend my whole day drinking
coffee and playing computer games, but I do drink a lot of
coffee! Essentially I am responsible for ensuring that the Combat
Systems (the systems that make our ships – Warships) on FFGs
are maintained to as high a level as possible. This means that if
there is ever an occasion where we need to operate the Combat
Systems on FFGs, then Navy can be confident that everything
will work.
The Swell: What do you find the most challenging part of
your job within the Navy?
Adam At the minute I find the most challenging part is being
a manager rather than an engineer. Deep down I really enjoy
engineering and getting stuck in to the nuts and bolts of what
makes things work, however at present I can’t really do that as
my primary focus is on managing a team of engineers who look
after that stuff for me. I do get tempted to grab the tools and start
tinkering but then I see the look of fear in the eyes of the guys
who know the systems far better than I do!
The Swell: What do you find the most rewarding part of your
job within the Navy?
Adam Definitely the opportunities. With the Navy I have
travelled all over the world, I have sky dived, scuba dived, driven
tanks and flown in many different helicopters. I have met some of
the most genuine and dedicated people imaginable and shared
experiences that few people could comprehend. It is also true
that the friendships forged in difficult situations tend to stand the
test of time. It has not always been exhilarating and at times it has
been downright terrifying but I would not change a thing.
The Swell: Do you have advice for people thinking about a
career in the defence force or the navy in particular?
Adam I would suggest they need to check it out. I think there
is a public perception of what the Army, Navy and Air Force can
offer, but that only usually scratches the surface. Go to a Defence
Recruitment centre and speak to the people there. There are so
many opportunities that most people do not consider. You could
be a doctor, lawyer, pilot, chef or nurse, as well as the normal jobs
that people associate with the Navy. You get trained, play sport
and travel and all of that whilst being paid. As I said, what’s not
to love!
PG. 9

Technology Overload
The popularity of apps, gaming, social
networking and technology in general
is on a meteoric rise. It feels like from
the moment a child leaves the womb
they are being submersed in the world
of technology. It is not uncommon to
see a child as young as 2 years of age
aptly and efficiently manoeuvring
their parent’s smart phone.
Few would argue that technology certainly has
many benefits for kids. When used wisely they
can be great tools for learning, development
and entertainment. But the prevalence of
technology in our lives, and those of our
children, means that we are inundated with
it at every corner – when does it become too
much?
Some experts believe that the sooner a child
becomes computer savvy the better whilst
others warn of the damaging long term effects
of technology overload. As parents we need to
ask ourselves where the happy medium is. How
much is too much and when is it time to call a
technology time out?
Here are 5 reasons for limiting the
amount of technology that your kid uses
01
02
It may interfere with sleep
Between homework, sport and after school activities it’s hard enough for kids to squeeze in a
decent nights sleep and that’s without any technology being thrown into the mix. If you try and
slot in TV time, computer games or iPad play it becomes downright impossible. It has also been
shown that electronic stimulation from playing on computers and I pads or watching TV interferes
with children’s ability to both fall and stay asleep.
It reduces the amount of physical activity that children do
The more screen time kids have the less time they are moving. Physical play is an essential component
in a childs development - it helps to build strong muscles and to keep kids fit and healthy. It also
reduces the risk of childhood obesity and sets good habits for later in life.
03
Not enough people time
When children are watching TV or playing on their computers or iPads they are not
interacting with other people. Children need face-to-face contact and experiences to
develop empathy and to build social skills.
04
It can interfere with school work
Children who spend a lot of time in front of electrical devices are more likely to struggle
at school, not complete their required study time and read fewer books.
PG. 10
05
Reduce the time for creative thought
If a child is spending excessive amounts of time in front of screens then the amount of time
they have for creative thoughts is limited. Children need free play time to develop their
mind, their imagination and creative thoughts.

When do you need to pull the
plug and call a technology time out?
What can you do to ensure that your child is
not experiencing technology overload?
01
02
03
04
05
Set limits
As parents we need to set screen time limits for our kids and we need to stick to them. When
establishing these limits parents need to consider the child’s age, maturity level and make a
determination on an individual basis. You also need to make sure that you consider all screens
available to your children (TV, computer, gaming device) and work out a grand total of screen time
that they are permitted.
Content counts
All screen time is not equal. It is common sense that educational apps that require children to be
active participants are a better choice than television. It is key that parents factor in the content of
their child’s screen time and to find the right balance between mediums.
UNPLUG
Try having ‘electronic’ free days. By setting aside days where the whole family limits their exposure
to technology you will be encouraging your kids to focus more on creative play and personal
interaction.
Be Proactive
Be aware of what programs your children are watching and what games they are playing to ensure
they are not detrimental to their development.
Be a good role model
Children will learn more from what they see you doing than any rules or limits that you set. If you
are constantly texting at the dinner table or constantly have your head in your I Pad then they will
learn to do the same. Let your children see you using technology to learn, work, solve problems and
enjoy life. Let them see you strike a good balance.
With a little effort, direction and control from parents – technology and kids can bring out the best
in each other!

Visit to
Kokoda Memorial Track
On Tuesday 17th March, Mrs Weal took nine year 5 students to the Kokoda Memorial Track
Walkway. This was paid for and arranged by the members of the Coogee RSL Club. They
were guided around the Walkway by Veterans of the Kododa Track who shared their personal
experiences with the children. It was a fantastic learning experience and was enjoyed by all.
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is open to the public and information regarding it can be
found at www.kokodawalkway.com.au
It was really nice of
them to cook a bbq
for us after guiding us
around.
Grace
The way the Veterans
told the stories
made them easy to
understand.
Reuben
I enjoyed learning.
I really learnt alot
that day.
Penny
I liked the way the track
was made and I really liked
learning about the Fuzzy
Wuzzy Angels.
Brooklyn
I really liked the way that
they said that Heroes aren't
footballers or rock stars.
They are the men and
women in the Defence Force
and Police and Ambulance
and Fire Brigade that are the
real heroes.
It was great to see the
Rose Garden with all
the plaques showing
the names of people
that have fought in
wars and when and
where.
Avryl
My favourite bit was
learning all about the war
in Papua New Guinea.
Peter
Duncan
I liked hearing all about
the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels
- even the bad ones that
helped the Japanese.
Coen
The Veteran's telling us
their stories and about
their experiences was
amazing and made it
even more interesting.
Elora
Thank you to the Coogee RSL for taking us to the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway.
We had a great time and learnt a lot.

McGrath
Market Report
by Bernadette Summers
Buyer confidence is at an
all-time high in Sydney,
McGrath Agents are
experiencing large numbers
of people attending open
homes.
The auction clearance rate since
the beginning of February is
approximately 86%. The stats
shown below is data collected
from McGrath offices (in February)
across the network, buyers who
missed out at the end of 2014 are
actively looking for property with
the assistance of low interest rates.
We have over 251,000 new
registered buyers in the buyer
database, McGrath offices all use
the one database which is a very
effective tool if you are looking to
buy property in the LGA or elsewhere
within Sydney or interstate.
Once any agent in the McGrath
network enters your search criteria
into the database you will receive
an email alert to notify you of that
particular listing, in February we
sent out 224,205 buyer emails.
Email notifications of newly listed
properties go to our buyers before
it hits the open market.
THE MONTH THAT WAS FEBRUARY 2015.
If you are considering selling your property the current market is strong with qualified buyers who
missed out on property looking to purchase right now.
e bernadettesummers@mcgrath.com.au
p 02 8622 4543
m 0408 115 672
www.mcgrath.com.au
PG. 13

crazy SIMPLE
CHANGES THAT
YOU CAN MAKE
FOR YOUR FAMILY
TO HELP THEM
GET BACK ON
THE HEALTHY
0TRACK!
10
0
Life is so insanely busy that it is only
natural that we drop a few balls along the
way. When you are stressed out and time
poor it’s all too easy to grab a quick takeaway
for dinner, to skip your morning walk
and to throw the kids a packet of chips as
their after school snack. All these things are
fine to do once in a while but it’s important
to make sure that they don’t become regular
habits.
1
Prioritise your food and exercise
There is always an excuse or another job to do
but if you are really serious about instilling healthy
lifestyle practices within your family then you need to
make food and exercise a priority.
2
Resurrect
family meal time and
actually sit at the table!
Our busy schedules can sometimes make sitting
down to a meal let alone sitting down to a meal as
a family difficult. But it needs to be made a priority.
Research has shown that family meals not only
help teenagers to perform better both socially and
emotionally but that sitting down at the table to eat
dinner as a family without the distractions of TV or
electronic devices, promotes weight control.
PG. 14
When you find yourself slipping and things spiraling
out of control it’s really important to regroup, re focus
and make a few simple changes to your family’s lifestyle
that will help them get back on the “healthy lifestyle”
track!
3
3Cut back on takeaway
Have a good look at how much takeaway
your family actually eats. This includes work
lunches, school tuck shop, afterschool treats and
quick-fix dinners. You will be surprised by the amount
of takeaway that the average family consumes. Being
organised and planning your family’s meals and snacks
can minimize the amount of hidden fats and sugars
found in take away and processed foods that your
family consumes.
4
4Make the rule that its water during
the week and juice and fizzy
drinks are weekend treats
Most of us don’t regularly drink enough water each
day. Get into the habit of encouraging your child to
try and drink plenty of water each day. The occasional
juice or fizzy drink is ok as a special treat but should
not be made a regular part of either your or your child’s
weekday routine.

5
5Increase the family’s
vegetable intake
You might think it’s great if you
manage to eat half a plate of veggies a few
nights a week whilst the truth of the matter
is that your body actually needs that amount
each and every day! You need to establish
some regular vegetable eating habits that
simply become part of your family’s daily
routine. Every couple of days cut up capsicum,
celery and carrots and put them in plastic
containers in the fridge. Offer the veggies
along with humous or another healthy dip as
an afternoon or pre dinner snack. Add a zip
lock back of veggies to your child’s lunchbox
each day and take some with you when you
go out.
6
6Lead by example
It’s not rocket science – if you want healthy
kids, you have to be healthy yourself. Children,
particularly school-aged ones, model their behaviour on
their parents so if you want them to eat well, exercise
and live a healthy lifestyle then you need to set a good
example.
7
7Enjoy the sunshine
Make sure that all the family gets at least 10
minutes of sunlight every day. Whilst not directly
linked to nutrition, getting enough vitamin D each
day is vital for strong bones and optimal mood and
processed foods that your family consumes.
8
8Only eat food you love
We have all heard the saying “life is too short
to eat bad food” – well it’s true! If you know
that certain foods are full of bad fats, preservatives and
additives then why choose to eat them and put them
in your body? The occasional treat is fine but eating
rubbish regularly just because you are too lazy to find a
healthy alternative is a poor excuse. The more you look
after your body and feed it properly the better you will
feel and the better you will look!
9
9Change your families favourite
meal to a healthier version
If your kids favourite meal is chicken schnitzel
and chips look at healthier versions like oven baked
crispy chicken and baked potatoes that they will also
enjoy but which are better for them. It’s not hard to
tweak a meal and make a healthier version you just
need to get creative and plan ahead.
10
a physical activity that the
whole family loves
10Find
Find ways to incorporate movement and
activity into your family’s weekly routine. Look for
activities like stand up paddle boarding, swimming or
backyard cricket that are fun and entertaining for the
whole family but also get you moving.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
RE-CONNECT YOUR
MIND, BODY, SPIRIT?
Solar-Lunar Yoga is Coming to Snape
Park Tennis Centre Hall, in April
Classes offered Tuesday mornings at 9.30
am - Friday Evenings at 6 pm
Commencing Friday April 10
Find Solar-Lunar Yoga on Facebook
Special
Introductory Offer
First 5 classes at
$15.00
per class!
Individually Tailored
Private Lessons Available –
Let Me Come To You!
Hatha Flow and Yin Restorative
Classes Available
For Booking and Enquiries:
Call: 0403 067710 or
E: mkirkwood61@yahoo.com.au
PG. 15

Each month The Swell will sit down with one of the fabulous
teachers from South Coogee Public School and learn a little more
about them. In this edition of The Swell, we are having a chat with
: Where did you grow up and do
SWELL
you have a favourite childhood memory?
Trish: I grew up in the Eastern Suburbs.
I remember living in Kingsford and going
to Rainbow Street Public School from
Kindergarten to Year 4. My family then moved
just down the road to Garden Street. I then
attended years 5 & 6 at Maroubra Junction
PS, until I went to South Sydney High School.
My favourite childhood memory was playing
handball with my friends.
: What did you want to be when
SWELL
you were growing up?
Trish: I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But
people tell me that I always tried my best at
whatever it was I was doing.
: What is your favourite thing
SWELL
about being a teacher?
Trish: My favourite thing about being a
teacher is that I can make a difference.
Whether the students are good at academics,
sport music or whatever; I would focus on
their interest and help them achieve the best
they can. Now that I am a Principal, I am able
to support a lot more students.
: What is the worst thing about
SWELL
being a teacher?
Trish: The worst thing about being a teacher
is saying goodbye to the students that I
have worked with over the years whether it
is leaving a school or when the Year 6’s are
going to high school.
: What is the funniest thing that
SWELL
you have ever had a student do?
Trish: Well.. students really. A few years ago
our class was asked to present an item at the
end of year assembly showcase. So I taught
the kids how to Rock 'n' Roll - like in the olden
days. All the kids dressed up, they all had a
partner and we made it a bit like a ‘Grease’
musical. It was so much fun. In fact the other
teachers jumped up and joined in too!
: What is your top piece of advice
SWELL
for the kids at South Coogee Public School?
Trish: Be kind and look after each other. There
is a nice saying I would like you to think about:
“No act of Kindness, No matter how small, is
ever wasted”. Have you been kind to someone
today? Not just your friends but someone you
don’t normally talk too?
: Thanks so much for your time Trish it
SWELL
has been great getting to know you better.
Thank you!
Mrs Trish Fisher Mrs Trish Fisher, South Coogee Public School’s new Principal.
PG. 16

Fresh is good,
Living is better...
Finally, we’re bringing
the farm to you!
Poppin Pods are bringing the outside-in to your kitchen! Experience the benefits of
always having living herbs on hand. Stocked locally in IGAs and green grocers.
www.poppinpods.com.au

EARLY
STAGE
1
NEWS
Kindergarten is the beginning
of a thirteen year journey. The
importance of a strong beginning
and the development of strong
foundations cannot be understated.
At South Coogee Public School
when the Kindergarten teachers
reviewed the term we were
astounded at the amount we had
achieved. The academic learning
has been amazing. The students
started learning letters and numbers
on the second day. In our second
week of school we started home
reading. This quick start has really
enhanced the learning. However,
the initial, very important learning
of independence and social skills
has been a focus with some really
pleasing results. Students have
learnt to take responsibility for
their belongings, home reader and
packing their bags. They can sit on
the mat and listen to a story and
contribute their ideas and know to
listen to the teacher and maximise
learning opportunities. They can
hand in notes and change their
home reader without reminder,
open their own lunchboxes and
go to the toilet at break times.
In addition they have formed
friendships and learnt to maintain
these friendships by being kind and
restoring problems when things go
wrong. That’s a lot to learn in just a
few short weeks!
Highlights of the term have been
the Science experiments, beginning
to go to Assembly, our fun sport
rotations on Friday, buddies,
Terry O’Connell’s workshops, our
KidsMatter launch day and lots of
learning off amazing things. We are
looking forward to the Easter Hat
parade.
Thankyou for a wonderful term.
Have a happy and safe holiday.
Regards
Fiona Wood and the
Kindergarten teachers

S
UPPORTER IN THE
POTLIGHT
Steve McCarthy Executive Director
at Road Runner Mobile Tyres PTY LTD
: Hi Steve, tell us about how you
SWELL
came up with the concept of Road Runner
Mobile Tyres?
: You have not always been in
SWELL
the tyre industry – what area of business
where you involved in before Road Runner
and why the change in career path?
Steve: The idea came about when my business
partner John Shim had to go through the whole
rigmarole of calling around for tyre prices then
finding time in this busy world we all live in to
head to a tyre shop and then having to wait
around in an unpleasant environment during his
lunch hour waiting for my tyres to be put on. To
top it off he was told it would take one hour when
in fact it took over an hour and a half which made
him late for his meetings plus no lunch!!
We started thinking about if car windscreens
and mechanical servicing can be done at home
by mobile service companies, why can’t tyres be
done at home ? So we starting Googling “mobile
tyre service” and there was a company in the UK
who had been providing a mobile tyre service for
over 10 years and had over 180 vehicles. So if a
successful mobile tyre business exist overseas why
isn’t there one here…..? After some more research
and due diligence, we prepared a business plan to
raise seed capital from investors.
Road Runner Mobile Tyres was brought to life
in May 2013. Now we have 7 vans in Sydney,
Melbourne and Brisbane and have serviced over
8,000 customers in 18 months.
Steve: Prior to starting up Road Runner Mobile
Tyres I spent 11 years as CEO of Adshel Street
Furniture, Australia and New Zealand’s largest
street furniture business, operating in the
outdoor media sector. Adshel provides bus
and tram shelters with advertising panels to
local councils and transport authorities. During
my time at Adshel, we grew our revenue and
profit substantially and we developed a really
constructive team culture.
Prior to my time at Adshel, I had spent 15 years
working in the Shopping Centre industry for
companies such as Westfield, Lend Lease and
Knight Frank, where I learnt about consumer
behaviour and the retailing industry.
It was during my time at Adshel that I met John,
who was my Audit Partner from PWC, and we
struck up a really strong professional relationship.
Following on from my stint at Adshel, I was
looking for an opportunity to get into a business
venture from an ownership perspective. John and
I had been working on a couple of new business
ideas when John identified the mobile tyre
business as a real possibility, and the rest as they
say is history.
SWELL
SWELL: How does the Road Runner service work?
Steve: It’s very simple. You just go online to our
website www.roadrunnermobiletyres.com.au or
call 1800 RUNNER (1800 786637) and tell us what
type and brand of tyres you’re after and a time that
suits you for us to come to your vehicle at either
home or work.
We operate 7 days a week, from 6am to 9pm on
weekday and 8am to 5pm on weekends so you’ll
have no trouble finding a time that suits you.
We have all the equipment a tyre shop has in our
Road Runner van so we can supply, fit and balance
your new tyres plus do a wheel alignment. We also
provide on site mobile puncture repair services so if
you get a flat tyre, we can come to you to get you
back on the road.
PG. 20

We are really excited to introduce this issues Supporter in the
Spotlight – Steve is the co-founder of Road Runner Mobile Tyres which
is a revolutionary business concept offering a unique spin on an old
unappealing service.
: What makes Road Runner
SWELL
different to other tyre businesses?
Steve: We are all about customer service. Tyres
are a grudge purchase and you only do it once
every 2-3 years. No one really wants to waste
their valuable time trying to sort out their tyres.
We do all the work for you.
We are not owned by any tyre brands so we
can see which brands are on special, provide an
independent view on which brand is best suited
for your vehicle and your budget.
We are the only tyre business open 7 days a
week, and open outside of normal business
hours. We agree what time best suits our
customer and we turn up on time.
: Does Road Runner offer the
SWELL
same variety of products as other Tyre
businesses and are you competitively
priced?
Steve: We provide all brands of quality tyres
including the very popular and value for money
Kumho Tyres, as well as Continental, Goodyear,
Dunlop, Bridgestone, Michelin, Maxxis and Pirelli.
We supply normal passenger vehicles, 4WDs,
commercial vans, trailers and caravan tyres.
We are competitively priced with all major tyre
retailers.
: Thank you so much Steve. It has been great to chat with you and to find out a bit
SWELL
more about one of Swell’s supporters. We think many Swell families will be very interested in
the services offered by Road Runner Mobile Tyres – we expect that you might be hearing from
a few of them soon!
www.roadrunnermobiletyres.com.au
T. 1800 786 637

Your circle of trust
1300 651 413
www.kumho.com.au
communications@kumho.com.au
www.facebook.com/kumhotyres
@kumhotyres
ADD KUMHO TYRES TO YOUR CIRCLE OF TRUST
Because there’s
a lot riding on
your Tyres

RECIPE
Chocolate Easter
egg cupcakes
These cupcakes are a chocoholics
delight and with chocolate on
the inside, chocolate frosting
on top and chocolate eggs for
decorations they are simply YUM!
INGREDIENTS
200g good quality milk
chocolate, chopped
185g butter, softened
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup plain flour
ICING
100g butter
1/3
cup cocoa powder, sifted
1/4
cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2
teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2
cup buttermilk
Good quality mini Easter eggs,
to decorate
3 cups icing sugar mixture,
sifted
1/4
cup milk
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line 24 x (1/3 cup capacity) muffin pans with paper cases.
2. Place the chopped chocolate into a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water.
Allow chocolate to melt, stirring with a metal spoon to prevent it from burning. Once chocolate is melted,
remove from heat and set aside. Allow chocolate to cool for 5 minutes.
3. Using an electric mixer beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until pale and creamy. Add eggs, one at a
time, beating after each egg is added.
4. Add chocolate and continue beating until all ingredients are well combined.
5. Add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and bicarbonate soda and stir until combined. Add buttermilk and
again stir until combined.
6. Spoon mixture evenly among the prepared pans and bake in oven for 20 minutes or until a skewer
inserted in the centre comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and allow cupcakes to cool completely.
7. To make the icing place the butter into a medium bowl and using an electric mixer beat the butter until
it is pale. Gradually add the cocoa powder, icing sugar and milk in batches, beating well between each
batch until well combined.
8. Spread or pipe the icing mixture over each cake to form a little nest, and pop a few chocolate eggs
inside.
PG. 23

How
to help your child develop social intelligence
and foster positive peer relationships
As parents one our biggest worry is that our kids might not be popular, might get bullied
or will not have any friends. This is a universal parental worry the world over.
One of our jobs as parents is to help teach our child social intelligence and how to get along
with their peers and to solve any personality clashes amicably.
Here are some tips that you can do that will help your child to develop social intelligence
and foster positive peer relationships:
All kids face peer challenges so
listen when your child has them:
Don’t make the mistake of simply
telling your child how to handle a
situation or a challenge. Let them
tell you about what has happened
and help them to clarify their
feelings and work together to
problem solve the issue.
Don’t take sides –
try to be Switzerland:
Listen to your child and hear
their view of the events that have
occurred. Avoid taking sides in the
situation – remember there are
always two sides to every child’s
story and then there is the truth
somewhere in the middle. Try and
encourage your child to also see
things from the other person’s
perspective. Hypotherising about
how someone else may be feeling
can be a really helpful tool in
resolving peer issues.
PG. 24
Help your child to express their
feelings without attacking the
other person:
Kids are always going to experience
peer conflict – it’s a natural part of
growing up. Teaching your child
how to deal with conflict in a non
aggressive way is an extremely
important life skill. Explain to
your child that it is ok for them
to feel a certain way or to hold a
particular opinion but they need to
be respectful and polite at all times.
If they feel like they are unable to
contain their emotions then they
need to learn when to walk away
from the conflict and leave it until
another time when they are better
able to deal with it.
Help your child to explore
a range of problem solving
options:
More often than not once a child
discusses their feelings and works
through them they know the best
course of action to take but if your
child is struggling to work out
how to resolve an issue it can be
very beneficial to brainstorm some
different strategies with them.
Teach your child that every problem
has a solution you just need to work
out what the solution is.

The importance of sharing:
This might seem very obvious but
in all too many instances children
forget the importance of sharing
and the importance of allowing
other children to have a go and
have a turn. No one likes being
bossed around or excluded so it
is vital that we teach our kids the
value of letting everyone be heard
and the value of letting everyone
have a go.
Foster empathy in your child:
It is very important that children
learn the skill of empathy. It will get
them a long way in life. Being able
to put yourself in someone else’s
shoes and see something from
another perspective is a great gift
and a great conflict resolution skill.
Teach your child that they may
not always be right:
It’s hard to admit when we are
wrong or when we have made
a mistake but the truth of the
matter is that we do not always
behave perfectly all of the time.
It’s important to teach your child
when they need to own up to bad
behaviour and accept that they are
in the wrong and fix the problem.
Being able to admit being wrong
and work towards rectifying the
situation is a great life skill.

Planning ahead:
Saving for your kids’ education
It can be daunting when you consider how
much the education of your children could cost,
so starting to save now is a wise move.
The Avenue
Frances St
Some investments, such as bank accounts, can
be held in the child’s name, whilst shares and
managed funds can be purchased by an adult
acting ‘as trustee for’ the child.
To discuss a strategy to save for your children’s
education, drop in to MLC Advice Randwick
for coffee or give me a call.
Alison Road
Cameron McAusland, Financial Adviser
Suite 6, 201 Alison Rd, Randwick.
Contact MLC Advice Randwick
on 02 9398 2722 or
randwick@mlcadvicecentre.com.au
Belmore Road
Avoca Street
Victoria St
Albert St
Pitt St
Cameron McAusland and MLC Advice Randwick Pty Ltd are authorised representatives of GWM Adviser Services
Limited trading as MLC Advice ABN 96 002 071 749, AFSL No 230692 (GWMAS), Registered Office at 105–153 Miller
Street North Sydney NSW 2060. GWMAS is part of the National Australia Bank Group of companies. MLC Advice
Randwick Pty Ltd is not part of the National Australia Bank Group of Companies. National Australia Bank does not
guarantee or otherwise accept any liability in respect of MLC Advice Randwick or GWMAS.
JB33099 (653782 Expert Financial Advice Randwick Advert) V4.indd 1
20/03/15 2:48 PM
Champagne Days!
Mothers Groups and
Playgroups 12.30-
2.30pm $30
per person
BOOK NOW!
Or Join Us For A
Morning Coffee,
Relax and kids play
10-11am $15.00
Monday-Friday
BOOK ONLINE!

STAGE
3
NEWS
What a busy term to begin the
year! Students have been involved
in many wonderful learning
experiences already and we have
more exciting events to follow in
Term 2.
Stage 3 students were involved in
a leadership day earlier this term
where they learnt skills to assist
them with leadership roles within
the school. This was important for all
students as they had an opportunity
to progress their expertise for their
level. At South Coogee we value
students leadership in many ways
including being a good role model
for students on the playground,
working with buddies and house
and school captains.
Recently, students competed in an
AFL competition for the Paul Kelly
Cup. We had a competitive girls
and boys team as well as a friendly
competition that other students
were involved in. Overall, the girls
team won the competition and the
boys just missed out even though
they competed well. All students
had a wonderful day and improved
with their skills.
Finally the students have just
returned from their camp! Keep
an eye out for the next edition for
the photos and wrap up of the
wonderful memories had by all!
Stage 3 teachers would like to
thank you for your ongoing support
and wish you a happy holidays and
a relaxing break.
Stage 3 Teachers
PG. 27

WHAT OUR HAPPY CLIENTS ARE SAYING...
A massive thankyou to you and the
staff at at Cotton Candy Kids for
hosting Archie's party last Sunday.
He had a great time! From the
preparation, to the cleanup and all
the fun in between, you certainly
took the worrying out of organising
a party! He's already asking when we
can go back to Cotton Candy Kids!
Regards, Richard
Thank you Cotton Candy, our grand
daughter Jenny can't stop telling
anyone who will listen about her
awesome birthday party.
It was everything we could
have imagined and more. The
photographs you captured were
great and a lovely reminder of the
special event you created for us.
Best always, Alex and Maria
Having my sons 3rd birthday at
Cotton Candy made the process
easy and seamless, within a gorgeous
location. My friends all commented
that it was the best party I had thrown
to date. Thanks Niki

TEETH
Martin Fine Editorial Teeth Tips
What Is The Difference Between A
Dentist And An Orthodontist?
Orthodontists receive an additional two to three
years of specialized education beyond dental
school to learn the proper way to align and
straighten teeth. Only those who successfully
complete this formal education may call themselves
orthodontists.
Brought To You By Martin Fine Orthodontist
When Is The Best Time To Seek
Treatment For Your Child’s Teeth?
While orthodontic treatment most often begins
between the ages of 9 and 14, some children’s
orthodontic problems can benefit from earlier
treatment. If it appears that your child will need
treatment at some point, your orthodontist can
advise you about the best time to begin.
If early treatment is indicated, it can give your
orthodontist the chance to:
• Guide jaw growth
• Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front
teeth
• Correct harmful oral habits
• Improve appearance and self-esteem
• Guide permanent teeth into a more favourable
position
• Improve the way lips meet
What Are The Sign’s My Childs Bite Is Not
Right?
Signs the Bite’s Not Right It’s not always easy to tell
when your child has an orthodontic problem. Even
teeth that look straight may be hiding an unhealthy
bite.
Here are some clues that may indicate
the need for orthodontic attention:
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Breathing through the mouth
• Thumb-sucking
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that are too far forward or back
• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the
mouth
• Protruding teeth
• Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet, or meet in
an abnormal way
• An unbalanced facial appearance
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Ph. (02) 9369 3566
Bondi Junction - Maroubra - www.fine.com.au

Looking forward to seeing you all there...

STAGE
1
NEWS
Stage 1 have enjoyed a wonderful term of learning. In the past week
we have celebrated our talented Artists of Term 1 with an assembly
recognising these students’ achievements. We would like to share with
you a little about each artists work.
1DD- Gia
1L- Milan
1W- Lucy
We have been learning about snails in
class. I used crayon and dye to make
my work. I enjoyed drawing the spirals
to represent the shell of the snail.
1/2M -Elliot
My artwork shows a proud spider
clinging to his web. I used oil pastels and
black texta to trace over the spider. I tried
to make it look as colourful as possible.
2C- Mila
We looked at different types of Australian
flowers in class. I drew the flower onto
scratch foam and then printed it with ink
and a roller onto red paper.
2E-Charley
We have been learning about butterflies in
class. I used lead pencil and traced over
with black crayon. I coloured in the eyes,
antennae and mouth in bright colours and
added grass down the bottom.
My artwork is of an ant. I used oil
pastels, paint and dye. I used my
fingers to add spots. I like the frilly
parts at the side of my work because
they are beautiful.
My artwork was inspired by a
book we read in class, Gorilla by
Anthony Browne. I used crayon and
edicol dye for the background.
2N-Dylan
My artwork is a self-portrait. I liked
making my artwork and especially
cutting out the brown paper for the
hair. It shows me getting out of bed
with my school clothes already on!
We wish all families a happy
and safe break. Stage 1 teachers
are looking forward to another
productive and exciting term of
learning in Term 2.

STAGE
2
NEWS
It was a fantastic start to the year and Stage 2 teachers and students have had an
amazing term. Students have particularly enjoyed interacting with their buddies
each fortnight and during recess time, learning about Australia and creating beautiful
artworks.
At the beginning of next term you will be receiving a note pack. The note pack will
consist of a Winter sports choice note, an Athletics carnival note, a Stage 2 term
letter and a Stage 2 camp note.
It is important to return the sports choice notes to school as soon as possible, even
if your child will be trialling for a PSSA team. For those families not familiar with
PSSA sport it is an opportunity for students to compete in a friendly competition
with other local schools. The winter sport trials will be held on Thursday and
Friday of Week 1 Term 2. The other sports offered next term are Tennis, Hip
Hop & Funk, Oz-Tag and School Sport. All Non PSSA sports have a limit of 30
students. If you have any questions about sport or PSSA please contact Betty
Thomas.
The Athletics carnival will be held on Tuesday June 23 at Hensley Athletics Field
Pagewood.
You may be wondering why we would send out the camp note in Term 2 when camp
is not actually until Term 3! As you can imagine organising an event with so many
students requires a lot of time and with the higher cost involved we thought it was
best to give families as much notice as possible.
A reminder that the Cross Country carnival will be held on Friday 1 May (Week
2). If you are able to volunteer your time in the morning, please contact Jenny
Monaghan. (Please note the change of date from Friday 24 April).
We have very talented students in Stage 2 who excel in many different areas. If
your child participates in a special event please let us know! We would love to know
about it.
Stage 2 teachers would like to thank you for your ongoing support and wish you a
safe and happy holiday. We look forward to seeing you next term.
Many Thanks
Stage 2 Teachers

Get to Know Your
School Leaders
By Marion Walsh-Gay
PART 2
This is week I got the pleasure of sitting down with our school vice-captains, Mia G from
5/6R and Ronan H from 5/6R, to discuss how they are enjoying their roles and to find out
about their interests.
MIA
What are some of your hobbies?
I love swimming, going to beach with my friends and
family and walking my dog Piper.
What is your greatest achievement?
I think being chosen as school vice-captain of South
Coogee PS.
What might some people be surprised to find
out about you?
I have a catchphrase “Whattie?”
What are your favourite things about South
Coogee PS?
I really liked that yesterday we became a Kids Matter
school because everything seemed happier and we were
working together more.
What would you change about South Coogee
PS?
The senior girls toilets could be cleaner.
What do you enjoy about the role of Vice-
Captain?
I like the amount of responsibilities we have. We take
our responsibilities seriously and we are reliable. We
are always organised when hosting assemblies or when
attending our kindergarten duties where we help kindy
students resolve small problems. All four of us (the school
leaders) are friends and we all work together well.
RONAN
What are some of your hobbies?
I love to play sports like rugby league, rugby union
and cricket. I also like to play with my pets. I have two
guinea pigs, six chickens, one rainbow lorikeet and one
dog.
What is your greatest achievement?
Winning the State Carnival for Rugby League in Year 3
when I played for South Coogee.
What might some people be surprised to find
out about you?
That I love sport but I am also very strong academically.
What are your favourite things about South
Coogee PS?
I love how many opportunities kids have here. You can
play chess and different sports. You can attend Kids
Express, Book Club and so much more.
What would you change about South Coogee
PS?
The boys toilets.
What do you enjoy about the role of Vice-
Captain?
I like how we have to set an example for the other
students and that gives us a bit of a challenge.
PG. 35