15 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL REPORT

EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS before and after school

Before and after school are a wonderful time for parents and children to connect with one another however it is important that school rules are followed so everyone is clear about expectations. Please note the following:

1. Parents are responsible for their own children - your children should be within your eyesight at all times.
2. Children are to follow normal school rules when playing all games - be respectful, be responsible, be safe. The children know what is acceptable and unacceptable on school grounds.
3. When conflict arises between children, parents can re-direct or discipline their own children however have no right to approach other children. The emotional response that we all have when we are trying to protect our children means that interactions between parents often do not end well and can include poor role modelling of how to resolve conflict for our students. Please contact the leadership team if your child is having concerns regarding any children in the playground so that we can work to resolve the problem in a way that is fair to all parties.
4. Parking – Please think carefully about how you are moving in and around our school - No parking in the 2 minute zones or school car parks.
5. Birthday parties – the school grounds are not appropriate for after school birthday parties.

The school is surrounded by some great parklands. If you find these expectations difficult to meet, please move your play time to the nearby parks. Thank you for your support and understanding with these expectations.

INTERSTATE VISIT

Last week I went to Melbourne for a conference on Intrinsic Motivation with John Edwards and Bill Martin, authors of a book called `Schools that Deliver’. The opportunity to learn from and connect with schools from Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand was very informative. Using systems thinking through the lens of Daniel Kim’s levels of perspective to determine circle of causality was a great process that each school used to help gain clarity on where they were on their journey and where to next. The importance of an inside out model of governance to allow the psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness and competence for staff to be met affirmed the current distributive model of leadership our school engages in, including a year level representative on the School Improvement team for the development of implementation process for any change and the maintenance team of year level coordinators who ensure we regularly review and update current practices. We will use circle of causality process in these teams where appropriate as we continue on our journey to move from a great school to an excellent school.

CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

Last week the strategic team and class teachers spent a day with other Curiousity and Powerful Learning Schools and Bill Lucas, to consider ways to assess student progress on capabilities such as creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration. These skills are essential for our students’ future and determining how to measure progress is a challenge that countries are currently undertaking. Our school will collaborate with fellow CPL schools to help determine the best way forward to assess our students’ capabilities. The learner protocols and Australian Curriculum general capabilities are good starting points.

THANK YOU

Last week we shared the news of the passing of one of our teacher aides, Caroline Last, who has been associated with our school for 20 years. Thank you for those families who took a moment to write to us about some of the ways that Caroline had supported their family over the years. It was humbling to have a number of people volunteer to help with staffing, including a parent who is a teacher with a day off on Thursday offering to take a class. We so appreciate the support of the community, that allowed all staff who wished to attend do so. Caroline’s family have asked us to thank you for your support and kind wishes.

SALLY AND POSSUM : ECDP FAMILY DAY

This Saturday the Yeerongpilly ECDP families will be involved in a family day celebration on the Junior School oval to launch Sally and Possum AUSLAN ABC Kids program. The Yeerongpilly ECDP were consultants for this project and were excited to hear that a second season has been contracted. Hear for Kids, our Yeerongpilly ECDP partners, are coordinating this event. We hope that all the families enjoy this lovely day out.

ROAD SAFETY
– KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE

3 Key Messages

1. Please ensure your children only every get in/out of your car on the kerbside of the road.
2. Please do not park and leave your vehicle in the STOP, KISS & GO zone.
3. Please do not drop off/pick up your children in designated staff car parks.

Debbie Spanner, Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL REPORT

Chappy Jen

Chappy Jen has written about all the things that she does in the school. We would like to thank her for all she does for staff, students and families. It is those little random acts of kindness that make a big difference in all our lives. So if you see Chappy Jen please feel free to reciprocate or help your children participate in showing her that we value the work she does in our school with a random act of kindness.

Student Council

It has been great working with our student councillors. What an energetic, enthusiastic and sensible group of students. In consultation with the teachers we have decided to hold our lunch time activities over until week 3 term 3 and the PJ buddy reading day will be held over until book week (28 August - 1 September).

Homework

In my household this became almost a swear word. So we called it home learning. The connotations change as this implies that we are learning and that it is not a labour. Often parents ask “how can I help my child?” My two top tips are to read to your child daily and to play board and card games with them.

As you may realise, reading daily to your child can be a challenge but does not have to be as onerous as it sounds. Our school has a subscription to world book online (ask the teacher for the password details), reading an article with your child to explore their interests, is as valuable as reading a story and is still reading. Do a project with your child and bring it into school to share with the class. If you really become time poor then there are apps such as ‘Epic’ which have stories that can be read to you, that are age appropriate.

My personal favourites are board and card games. These help keep basic facts fluent and with a real purpose. Get your child to keep score and add the totals. Help them use strategies such as making tens, grouping easy numbers such as doubles. I shared with parents at a parent session on maths some of my favourite games and thought I would share them again. Snakes and ladders, monopoly, Rummy O, Five crowns and chess are my family favourites. Another great game for strategizing is an after dinner game. Once a week we would make sure we sat at the table to eat. After the meal we would each be allowed to remove one or two items from the table at a time and would have to put them away in the right place. The person who picked up the last item was the winner and was allowed to get away with doing one chore that day.

Board Games

Deborah Cowie, Acting Deputy Principal

P & C REPORT

pandc@yerongass.eq.edu.au

Tuckshop Volunteers - Help Wanted

Tuckshop

The Tuckshop needs your help!!! Did you know:

• over 100 individual orders are completed every day for students
• during first and second break on Wednesday, staff make sausage rolls, meat balls and muffins
• excluding one menu item, all other foods are made at the Tuckshop
• after running at a loss for many years, the Tuckshop is now making a healthy profit.

Our tuckshop staff does an amazing job by creating delicious food that our children enjoy but they can’t do it alone.

The Tuckshop is in desperate need of volunteers on a Wednesday. You are only required for 2 hours and volunteering at the Tuckshop is a fun and rewarding experience.

Our Fete demonstrated that when our community comes together, great things can be achieved. Volunteer help is needed if our Tuckshop is to continue offering great food and great service at a great price.

If you would like to help or ask some questions, contact Tracy (Tuckshop Convenor) yerongasstuckshop@gmail.com

BEFORE YOU HIT SEND

P&C is hosting a community parent education event on Wednesday 23rd August. The seminar is entitled Before You Hit Send: A Social Media SOS for Children & Parents and will be presented by local author and journalist, Rebecca Sparrow. The admission price is $25 per adult and $10 student. Due to content presentation, children must be 10 years old to attend.

Jo Thomson, P&C Committee

MONEY MATTERS

Statements & Outstanding Payments

Statements will be issued at the end of this week. A reminder that if your statement shows a negative amount ie -$15 this is a credit and does not require any payment. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the office.

If you do have any outstanding payments it would be greatly appreciated if you could attend to payment. Should you wish to pay in instalments please contact me by email nalla6@eq.edu.au or by phoning the office on 3426 0333 so that arrangements can be made.

Report Cards and QParents

Did you know that you can view and print your child’s report cards directly from your QParent account? QParents is a free service and also enables you to

• view your accounts and pay multiple invoices in one transaction
• update your contact information
• advise of absences
• gives access to your child’s report cards.

If you have not registered for QParents and would like to do so, please email me nalla6@eq.edu.au and I will have an invitation sent to you.

On behalf of the office team I would like to wish you all a safe and happy winter vacation.

Nicki Allardyce, Business Services Manager

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

She Flies

Last week year 5 and 6 students participated in the exhilarating drone program She Flies. Whilst all students from the upper two cohorts participated, the premise of the program is to generate gender equality in STEM. By using the world of drones, this inspires and promotes a platform for change to occur. On the day students were able to fly the drones manually and also program them for specific purposes using coding software on the iPads. It was clear from the look on student’s faces that the experience was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. We look forward to using the drones in our learning program in the future.

Josh Newby, Year 6 Teacher

MUSIC

Stella Voce

We were amazing at the finals of the Queensland Youth Music Awards Primary Choral section, last Monday. We tried our best and succeeded in achieving the goals that we set - goals for individuals, goals for sections and goals for the whole ensemble. Although we didn’t place, we are very proud of our outstanding performance.

The venue, St Peters Lutheran Performing Arts Centre, was a magical place to perform in, and we felt comfortable on the big stage with huge choir risers. Our new unisex music uniform looked fantastic. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many. While the adjudicators were considering their verdict, the MC interviewed student representatives on stage. Yeronga was asked “What do you do when things go wrong in rehearsal?” Leith looked puzzled, thought, paused - and said “We are the perfect choir!” Touche!

Thank you to all the parents and family members of Stella Voce who spent a long evening supporting our highly capable young musicians, many who experienced choral singing for the first time. I have asked all members to send me any great photos of the evening and I will collate with the videos and make media of the night available to anyone who brings in a USB memory stick. Please do not upload these to social media to protect privacy of those involved.

Jane Plumridge, Music Specialist

Yeronga Music Concert Dates 2017

After some time negotiating with other schools, the Concert Calendar for Music has been finalised. All concerts are a 6:00pm call for students with the concert commencing at 6:30pm. We are grateful to Coorparoo and Sherwood State Schools, their BSMs and Music teachers for sharing their facilities with us. Please add these important dates to your calendar.

Junior Showcase

Term 3, Week 2 Thursday 20 July.
Coorparoo State School Performing Arts Hall
Junior Band, Stradivari Strings, Cosmio Singers

Senior Showcase

Term 3, Week 8 Friday 1 September.
Coorparoo State School Performing Arts Hall
Brandenburg Strings, Senior Band, Stella Voce Choir

Big Play

The Annual Instrumental Celebration and Awards Night: Term 4, Week 7 Friday 17 November. Coorparoo State School Performing Arts Hall
All instrumental groups from the Band and Strings programs.

Big Sing

The Annual Choral Celebration and Awards Night: Term 4 Week 8 Friday 24 November,
Sherwood State School Hall
All Choral groups

Music Uniform

The music uniform is now compulsory for all in the music program. It consists of the navy sports shirt, navy culottes or shorts (not grey) and white socks with all-black shoes (not grey socks). The Senior Shirt will only be worn at the Big Sing and Big Play in recognition of our Seniors in their final concert.

RESOURCE CENTRE

Book Fair

Book Fair was an amazing success, thank you to all who purchased an item. We receive 20% of the sales and should be able to buy a lot of new books for our collection because of your support. Thank you once again.

Book Club

Book Club is going out next week and is due back on 22 June. Please note that delivery of books will be after the holidays.

Writing Competition

Last chance to enter the writing competition. Entries close on Friday. Winners to be announced on Thursday during parade.

Return all Library Books

No borrowing this week. All books are to be returned before the school holidays. There are a large amount of overdue books and notes will be coming home this week if you have an overdue item. There are two options when you have lost or damaged a book. We ask that you either source the book yourself and bring it into the library so we can catalogue it or pay a $20 donation so we can purchase the replacement.

Thank you and happy reading!

Faith Hage, Teacher Librarian

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Regional Cross Country Trials 1 June 2017

Six students arrived on a sunny morning at Limestone Park to compete in the regional cross county trials. Chloe F., Alex P., Harry A., Margaret G., Harry C., and Josh W. had been training as a group for several weeks leading up to the race. All the athletes ran really well and showed determination on a hard course. Congratulations to Margaret G. who came third in her age group and will represent Metropolitan West at State Titles 16 July

My Training will continue, with a general athletics focus, on Monday Afternoons, at 3:15pm and Tuesday Mornings at 8:00am.

District Softball Selections

Best of Luck to Ellie M, Lauren Z, Celia A, Zoe H & Alexandra B who were this week selected to trial for the regional team next term. This is the first time we have had so many great softballers.

Junior Athletics Day: 23 June ( 9am- 11am )

Parents are very welcome to watch the sessions. Bring along your picnic rug or folding chair. Please be aware that all students need to be with their class teachers during the activities. They will need to bring along their snack, drink bottle and hat to the activities. Sunscreen should be applied before coming to school.

After roll call all classes are to assemble under the shelters next to the top oval (at the “Big School”) at 9:00am. We will complete activities at approximately 11:00am so the lunchbreak should run as usual. Tuckshop may be ordered using the normal system and it will not be open to sell food during the sports activity sessions. Each rotation (2 activities of 15mins) will run for approximately 30 minutes with a 5 minute change over.

Please note students will participate in their classes not age group. The day is one of participation, and enjoyment of physical activity and our endeavour is to ensure all children achieve this. Many of the activities will provide the students with an insight to what skills they will need when they enter the Senior Sports Day in years to come. We hope you can join the children on the day.

Junior Athletics Day - Friday 23 June 2017

• This program is a guide and times may alter slightly on the day.
• Children will participate in their grade level.

Yeronga State School Senior (Years 3-6)
Athletics Carnival Day 20 June

As with all of these events we would like to extend an invitation to all parents to attend this carnival. The carnival will now be held in the Yeronga State School grounds..

Additionally we would very much appreciate some help in officiating on the day. Last year we had a very healthy contingent of parents assisting which made the carnival a very smooth operation. If you can spare some time it would be most appreciated.

Mr Harvey, from Yeronga State High School, also kindly lent us some of his maths students last year. Many thanks to him for this. I am hopeful of a repeat performance this year if exam timetables permit.

Timetable for the Athletics Carnival

The day will commence at approximately 8:45 with the march past. At 9am the boys field rotations will commence in the following order. Each rotation will take 30 minutes and these rotations will therefore conclude at 11am. While the boys are completing these the girls will be completing the heats and finals of their sprints and 200m events.

At 11:00am there will be a 30 min lunch break
At 11:30am the girls will complete their field rotations and the boys their Sprint and 200m heats and finals.
At 1:30pm there will be a 15 minute break .
At 1:45pm the boys' and girls' Gifts will be held
At 2:00pm The Relays
At 2:45pm The Presentation

The Yerongalympics

This event is a Tabloid sports event comprised of five activities, explained below, which give first turns to children who have been in the least amount of field events.

Activity 1 The Dress up relay

A minimum of 6 children are assembled in line. On the whistle the first child will put the clothes on. They will then go over obstacles around the turnaround marker and back to the team assembly point. Once there they will give the next person in line the clothes and they will have a turn. One point for each person through. Teams keep having as many turns as possible, tallying their points, until the whistle blows to stop. The amount of times the course is completed will equal the amount of points each team has scored.

Activity 2 The Barrel Relay

A minimum of 6 children are assembled in line. On the whistle the first child will put the barrel on its edge and roll it, weaving in and out of the markers, turning around at the turnaround marker and weaving in and out of the markers back to their team. Once there they will give the barrel to the next in line so that they may complete the course. One point is given for each person through. Teams keep having as many turns as possible, tallying their points, until the whistle blows to stop. The amount of times the course is completed will equal the amount of points each team has scored.

Activity 3 The “Every Drop is Precious Relay”

A minimum of 6 children are assembled in line. On the whistle the first child will pick up the cup and run out to the reservoir over the hay bales. Once there they will draw a cup of water and take it back to their bucket and pour it in. When they have completed their turn they will pass the cup to the next person in line. Teams keep having as many turns as possible, tallying their points, until the whistle blows to stop. Markings on the bucket will indicate how many points the team has scored.

Activity 4 Rubber Boot Throwing

A minimum of 6 children are assembled in line. On the whistle the first child will pick up the rubber boot, throw it as close as possible to the target circle. The target will be two circles, one inside the other. The inner circle is worth 10 points and the outer is worth 5 points . Once they have completed their turn by retrieving the rubber boot the first person will pass the rubber boot to the next person in line. Teams keep having as many turns as possible, tallying their points, until the whistle blows to stop.

Activity 5 “Running Cheek to Cheek”

A minimum of 6 children are assembled in line in pairs. On the whistle the first pair place the gator skin ball between their faces. They must weave in and out of the markers and go around the turnaround marker and return to their team weaving in and out of the markers with the gator skin ball between their faces. If the ball should fall they must pick it up before continuing. Each pair through will score one point for their team. Teams keep having as many turns as possible, tallying their points, until the whistle blows to stop.

Sunnybank District Sporting Trials

The representative pathway for school sport is for children from 10 to 12 years of age. Yeronga is part of a very strong district which consists of 28 schools from Yeronga State School to the Calamvale area. In contact and skill team sports those aged 11 and 12 possess the advantages of size and speed, if not skill on most occasions. Selectors are choosing those with the skill and the resilience to compete at a higher level. Remember that selectors give up their time for these trials meaning that it is important for us to send only those ready to go to a higher level. Very seldom is it appropriate to send students for experience. An indicator of readiness for participation at a higher level would be being among the best 3 or 4 players in most games for your club under 12 teams.

In order to be selected to attend a District Trial, children should make themselves known to me (Mr Bateman) for either a selection trial with the appropriate teacher or so that they may be given the appropriate forms. Remember that children must give at least two weeks’ notice that they wish to attend a district trial to allow for a school selection trial to be held in the event of a great deal of interest being shown in a particular sport.

Important Sporting Dates

Yeronga State School Discus Finals 15 June (8 years to 12 years)

Discus Finals Timetable

Yeronga State School 800m Finals 16 June (from 1:45)

Cameron Bateman, P.E. Teacher

GALA DAY 3

Senior and Junior A Division Soccer

The Yeronga boys proved on Gala Day 3 that size doesn’t matter. Facing Sunnybank Hills and Stretton College with nearly double our school enrolment numbers and Algester who also have nearly 1000 students. This challenge only encouraged the Yeronga boys to dig deeper and work harder for each other all day.

Senior Boys

The Senior Boys played in three really tight and tough matches for 1 win and 2 narrow losses. The boys did win the A2 division premiership which is an excellent reward for their hard work.

Junior Boys

The Junior Boys also faced strong competition all day and had to work extra hard to overcome their opposition. The final match against Stretton proved to be the game of the season with both teams having several chances to win the game. Yeronga prevailed in a thriller 1-0.

After completing the season undefeated including the three matches against the larger school division the Junior Boys are now District Champions. This means they have the opportunity to represent Sunnybank District in an attempt to qualify for the South East Queensland finals. We wish the team all the best in their future journey.

Mr Curness, Coach

Soccer Boys B Team

This semester the junior and senior boys B soccer team participated in a series of competitive Gala Day events. On all occasions both teams, due to absence or injury, played with fewer starting numbers than their opposition. However, this did not deter the boys and on a number of occasions both teams were able to achieve a win or draw result. However, more importantly when the boys lost it was clear that they had gained the respect of their opposition, who recognised the extra effort the boys put in in order to try and compensate for their disadvantage. Overall it has been a successful Gala Day considering the odds at which we played each time. As a coach I could not be prouder of the boys. Best and fairest goes to Bill S. (Junior) and Anas M. (Senior) for showing great determination and sportsmanship every time they stepped on to the field. Special mention must go to Charlie D. and Harrison A. who repeatedly showed great tenacity every time they played in the senior team against older and sometimes significantly larger opponents.

Mr Newby, Coach

Soccer – Senior and Junior C

Senior C

The Senior C boys’ soccer team again tried their heart out over the final two Gala Days for this semester. Across their final six games the team continued to improve throughout. Playing one or two men short in a number of games meant an extra special effort was required. It was great to see teamwork come to the fore as strategies were worked out during breaks and plenty of encouragement was offered between team members. Holding oppositions to drawn positions and scoring were achievements to be celebrated. Well done to all members of our Senior C team!

Junior C

Our Junior C boys’ soccer team again remained competitive throughout the final six games of the semester one sport season. Often playing against experienced opposition they did themselves proud by winning over half their games, which was a great achievement. In their other games they remained competitive right up until the final whistle often going down by only one or two goals. Again great teamwork and encouragement for one another was evident during and after games. Congratulations to the members of our Junior C team!

Mr Hartin, Coach

CHAPPY’S CHAT

Chappy Week

Thank you for the support I’ve received this week for Chappy Week. It’s been a lot of fun having different lunch time activities to engage with the students and to highlight Chaplaincy at school. The money raised through the Treasure Hunt fun has helped to pay for the cards, gifts or flowers that I regularly send when families and staff are needing some encouragement or support through hard times. It is an important part of my job to be available to make home visits, hospital visits and attend funerals, etc. It is an honour for me to connect with and support our school community.

Qld Father of the Year Competition

While it is my job to help, it is something that we can all do to be there for each other and increase our “sense of belonging” to this school. When you are doing drop-off or pick-up, coming to an event, check in with the other parents from your class. Introduce yourself to a new family, or someone you haven’t yet had the chance to meet. Give a smile, say hello, ask some questions, show some care and concern. It’s too easy!

Don’t forget to nominate a deserving dad or father figure for the 2017 Qld Father of the Year Competition presented by SU Qld. The Queensland winner will win a five night family holiday at Sea World Resort and Water Park. In 2014, a wonderful YSS Dad was the regional winner for Brisbane South. Do you know an inspirational father to honour and nominate? Check out

Colouring-In Competition…

This year there is also a colour-in competition coinciding with the nomination process. A YSS winner will be selected from both the junior school and senior school, with one entry being submitted for the state-wide competition. Please download the entry form attached to this newsletter.

Coming dates…

23 June - closing date for Qld Father of the Year Colouring-In Competition
28 July - Chappy’s Fun Night Out screening the movie “Moana”
9/10 September - Camp at School with Dad.

Blessings, Jennifer Bennett
jenniferb@chappy.org.au

STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Marg Malouf, EAL/D Teacher

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I think I was always destined to be a teacher. I always loved ‘playing school’ as a child. Also I went to a very small primary school and I was always the one teachers chose to ‘teach’ the children who were having problems understanding their school work. There were a few migrant Italian children as well and I was forever on the veranda with them ‘teaching’ them English. So I feel like I have come full circle as that is my job now too, which I love.

What other schools have you worked at or where else have you worked?

I started teaching in 1978 in a small school in North Queensland called, Alligator Creek. I then transferred to Albany Creek, Birkdale South and Algester, in my role as classroom teacher. I have taught in both the junior and senior sectors of the school. I began my role as the EAL/D teacher in 2010 and have taught in various schools including, Rocklea, Collingwood Park, Runcorn Heights, Warrigal Road, Mt Gravatt East and Yeronga.

Who is in your family? What do you like to do together?

I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters who all live in Brisbane. We are a close knit family and love getting together. The family is a now a large one totalling 50 and we always have the greatest of fun and laughs when we are together. My son, Nick, is getting married on the 27 June in Fiji and I’m very excited.

What do you like to do on the weekend?

I love going out for breakfast, lunch or dinner with friends or family. I like walking around our beautiful city and riding my bike for exercise. I try to get away on the weekends as much as possible and enjoy the great outdoors. One of my favourite getaways is the north coast.

Where is the most exciting place you have visited?

Travelling is something I love to do. I have been very fortunate and have travelled extensively. When I was much younger I taught in London for 3 years and spent a great deal of time travelling Europe, which I think has some of the most beautiful countries in the world. Some of the more exciting places I have visited are Turkey, Egypt, South America, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and the USA. My next big trip is to Cuba this year in September.

Kay Wheatley, Year 2 Teacher

My first teaching position was at a wonderful country primary school on Phillip Island, Victoria, where I taught a composite Year1/2 class. It was a fabulous introduction to my career being at a small school, with a warm, friendly staff, closely connected to the community. I was then moved, almost every year, to a new school and a new position by the Education Department.

During this time my love of travel, photography, and a desire to see the world took me in a very different direction. I was granted one year’s leave without pay to undertake a life-changing journey. For four months, I travelled with seventeen others on a modified army-truck from Kathmandu through Asia and the Middle East, then briefly through Europe, to London. The diverse cultures I experienced and the unique places I visited were extraordinary. I then spent another seven months travelling extensively throughout Europe, before returning home via Canada and the USA. Seeing (part of) the world, broadened my cultural, intellectual, and spiritual education in a way I could have never imagined.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” — Saint Augustine

On my return, I worked in a prep class with a delightful group of students from many different cultural backgrounds, yet my thirst for travel and new adventures continued. I stumbled across an article in The Age newspaper about living and working in Japan and this immediately became my new goal. At the end of the school year. I handed in my resignation to the Education Department and never looked back.

As my plane approached Japan, I began to feel quite nervous – I only knew three words of Japanese, had nowhere to stay and no job – but then, through a beautiful setting sun I could see the outline of Mt Fuji, which felt like a warm welcome, giving me a feeling of contentment, and that all would be well. Japan became and continues to be very important to my life. Living and working there for four years, gave me the opportunity to marinate in the culture and to learn about it authentically. During this time, I taught at a senior high school, university and also conducted English lessons for members of the prefectural government. I was provided with many once in a life-time opportunities and an avenue to meet my husband, Brad.

On my return, I worked as the Education Officer at the Consulate General of Japan Melbourne, a fabulous job, however I had to leave as Brad was posted to Brisbane as the Senior Engineering Officer of the F111’s. My career then took another turn, when I completed a course in teaching English as a foreign language to adults. During this time, I also created my own homestay and English language program for Japanese students visiting Australia. Brad was then posted to Canberra and we were delighted with the birth of our first child, baby Kate.

Back to Brisbane, with Brad now the Chief Engineer of the F111’s, and the birth of our son Ben, soon after. Kate began her schooling at a small, local Lutheran school, and I began working there as a supply teacher, which became 15 years working for Lutheran Education. I began teaching for Education Queensland last year, when I accepted a contract as teacher of a Year 4 BYO iPad class at Wellers Hill. I am now delighted to be part of the Yeronga State School community and its wonderful environment.

ARCHIVES MATTER

In 1963 the Head Teacher, Mr Eric Mauch, put a proposal forward to introduce a house system for intra-school sporting events. Three houses were named: Lawson (blue); Paterson (yellow) and Evans (red).

Lawson

Henry Lawson, born in 1867, was an Australian writer and bush poet. Lawson became famous as a bush balladeer and his most popular poems are still recited today – ‘Andy’s gone with cattle’ and the short story ‘The Drover’s wife’.

Paterson

Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson was born in 1864 and was a friend of Henry Lawson. Every school student would know Paterson’s most famous work, ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Paterson also wrote the verse ‘Man from Snowy River’ and ‘Clancy of the Overflow’.

Evans

George Evans was born in London in 1863. In 1881, Evans migrated to Queensland and purchased a farm on the Darling Downs. Evans wrote bush ballads but never reached the heights of success like Lawson and Paterson. A memorial to Evans has been erected in Webb Park,

Toowoomba.

In 1971, a fourth sporting house was established. The house was Kendall and the colour chosen was green.

Kendall

Henry Kendall was born on the banks of the Yackungarrah Creek near Ulladulla, New South Wales. One of Kendall’s most famous poems is 'Bell-Birds'.

School & Sporting Captain 1992

Ruth Bennett, Archives Coordinator

SCHOOL BANKING

08.06.2017: 73 Bankers
Junior Banker of the Week: Digby T. (2HW)
Senior Banker of the Week: Phoenix T. ( 4CJ)

15.06.2017: __ Bankers
Junior Banker of the Week: Nicholas P (Prep 1)
Senior Banker of the Week: Aidan B (3C)

COMMUNITY NOTICES

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