19 October 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL REPORT

The importance of Belonging- What does it mean to be inclusive?

Our school is a great school because we all work together to ensure every child can be successful. The importance of helping a child feel like they belong cannot be underestimated and I came across these resources recently that captures what it means to be inclusive and some things we can think about doing to ensure an inclusive community thrives at Yeronga State School.

Home Learning Policy

The above hyperlink will take you to the YSS Home Learning Policy. The new policy will be implemented in 2018. A committee was formed last year to review the Homework policy and this new policy has been developed to consider the feedback provided by staff, students and parents. Please take the time to read the policy so you can understand our intention in acknowledging that our children are developing into lifelong learners through activities inside and outside of school and that parents are a key partnership in promoting this mindset. We have also acknowledged the busyness of family lives and given the space for families to embrace parts of the learning in ways that suit them.

YSS Staff Innovation Grant

The YSS P&C and school have partnered to provide staff with the opportunity to apply for an 2018 Staff Innovation grant. This grant is allow staff to identify `passion’ or interest projects that they believe will help our school achieve the vision of Connected Individuals, Curious Learners and Community Minded Citizens. We will let you know in the coming wee

Internet Safety - Rebecca Sparrow

Rebecca Sparrow came to talk to our Year 5&6 children recently. Besides advising that they should hold off until a little older to be active on social media, Rebecca encourages everyone to turn of location services on their cameras to ensure they could not be tracked. I encourage you to visit her site to learn how to do this and some other great tips.

Residence on cnr Park and School Rd

The boarding house on the cnr Park and School Rd has been part of Yeronga for a long time. It is a private residence managed by the owner.

Some parents have raised some concerns about anti-social and dangerous behaviour they see from the tenants. If you see anything that constitutes an emergency, please contact 000 immediately. If you have any ongoing concerns, please contact Annerley Police Station on 3892 8222.

Debbie Spanner, Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL REPORT

Student Council Disco - “Summer Sensations”

Date: Thursday 2 November
Times: Prep to Year 2 from 5:00 – 6:00pm
Year 3 to Year 6 from 6:30 – 8:00pm
Ticket pricing: $5.00 pay at the door
Glow Products: On sale at both Junior and Senior discos
Disco Tuckshop Meal deals available
Sausage sandwich or Pizza and popper $4.00
Sausage sandwich or Pizza and can of soft drink $5.00
Cookies $1.00

Tips for your child when using their Ipad at home.

Create a space to use the Ipad. Use a desk stand to maximise good posture. Bedrooms need to be screen free areas.

Avoid using an Ipad an hour before bedtime – this applies to parents too.

Use the iPad to build a relationship with your child. Talk about the apps they have used. Have an Ipad time where you are fully present, talking, sharing and discussing what your child can do.

Set clear boundaries of when to use the Ipad and what apps to use. Boundaries help and guide your child.

It is essential that you own parental authority.

Be clear and consistent with regarding expectations.

Learn with your child – let them teach you. There is nothing better than your child feeling like an expert.

ICAS Results – English

Congratulations to the following students for ICAS English

Credit

Year 2 – Oliver, Hana, Asha, Eady, Safira, Hamish, Laura: Year 3 – Grace, Jayden, Milla: Year 4 – Tejasri, Clayton, Katherine, Jade, Andrew, Swaroop, Anna: Year 5 – Minna, Harvey, Tiggy, Alexander, Isabel: Year 6 – Sienna, YeJin

Distinction

Year 2 – Maggie, Zoe, Sam: Year 3 – Elizabeth, Clementine, Annabelle, Aden, Charlotte: Year 4 – Georgia, Milly: Year 5 – Huong, Lauren

High Distinction

Year 2 – Edward: Year 3 – Anna, Sofia: Year 6 - Yesmi

Be curious – ask question like “I wonder what would happen if.”

Debbie Cowie, Acting Deputy Principal

P & C REPORT

Trivia Night – 3 November

Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, blame it on the trivia night!!!

This is the night when Yeronga State School grown-ups get to let their hair down - guaranteed Sno Cone free zone. Grab your playground buddies and party like it's 1979.

The deets:

Friday November 3rd at the Yeronga Primary School hall - 7pm sharp

Cost: $10 (if that's not a 70s flashback I don't know what is) if you pay via flexischools or $15 on the night. Places are limited so get in early...

What to bring: a plate of 70s delicacies (there will be prizes but, seriously, bring something you might actually like to eat) , fantastic plastic or cash for the bar and your funkiest 70s threads.

You do not have to have a team beforehand and you sign up individually. Whilst we do recommend 3 weeks of 70s pop culture immersion prior to the event to give your team the "orange edge" there will be plenty of 21st century questions to keep you on your toes and of course there will be in between round activities for those who have other talents.

World Teacher's Day

Yeronga will be celebrating World Teacher's Day on October 31st. As usual we will be showing our appreciation for our teachers by providing a morning tea for them on this day. The P&C are looking for:

• Individuals to co-ordinate this morning tea.
• Commitments for donations of food and drink for this morning tea.

Responsibilities for co-ordinators include:

• organising and keeping track of donations/balancing sweet, savory and drink donations
• setting up staff room for morning tea on the morning of 31/10/17
• packing up staff room after the morning tea at the end of first break on 31/10/17

If you are able to help with a donation of food or drink on the 31/10/17, we have created an online sign up - please click on this link and indicate on the sign up if you are able to provide a sweet or savoury.

Help Needed

Senior swimming carnival will be held on November 20th from 9am - 2pm and we will be needing volunteers to run the snow cone stall on this date. Traditionally this is a hugely popular snow cone day and the proceeds go towards funding the P&C contribution for your children's year books the following year. Please mark this date in your diaries now. We know term 4 can get pretty crazy, so we're giving you plenty of notice! Have a great week!

Telstra Kids Fund

Telstra has just launched its next round of Telstra Kids Digital Grants.

Schools are eligible to receive up to $1 200 to help with a digital project that supports kids to be great digital citizens (cybersafety and online behaviour), explorers (code, robotics and making) and change agents (enterprise sills to use digital to solve problems). For the school to apply for the grant, we need someone (parent, Aunt, grandparent) who is a current employee of Telstra to sponsor the application. The grants are assessed on a first in, first served basis. The grants open on 30th October 2018.

If anyone would like to sponsor this digital grant application and is current fulltime employee of Telstra please contact Ruth Bennett on 0403 252 536 or rbenn127@eq.edu.au.

pandc@yerongass.eq.edu.au
Jo Thomson, P&C Committee

MONEY MATTERS

Payment Of Accounts

As we are now in the final term of the school year, it would be appreciated if prompt payment could be made of any outstanding invoices. Statements will be issued each fortnight. If you have any concerns or wish to pay in instalments please contact me on 3426 033 or email nalla6@eq.edu.au.

BPOINT Update

The BPOINT Web link that displays on the bottom of Customer Invoices has been updated. Parents/customers can select the link which will open the BPOINT Web Page and pre populate information into the BPOINT Payment Screen. The information pre-populated includes: Customer Reference Number (CRN), Invoice Number and Student Name. The ONLY data that the parent needs to enter is the payment amount.

Reminder

If you receive a statement that has a negative symbol (-$10.00) this is a credit on your account and does not need to be paid. If you would like to use a credit towards payment of an invoice please email nalla6@eq.edu.au giving permission for this to be done.

Nicki Allardyce, Business Manager

FROM THE OFFICE

Gala Day 3

Unfortunately the organisers of Gala Day have had to cancel the last one for 2017. A perfect day and forecast was needed today for the fields to become safe enough to play and that hasn’t happened. Reports from venues say there are puddles on the fields and lots of surface water. Despite tomorrow’s forecast the fields will still be unplayable.

For those students that have paid for tomorrow’s Gala Day, a credit will be put onto their account. Please allow 2 weeks for this to happen. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Endangering Children’s Lives

With the current weather we have had this week we have observed an increase in the number of parents/carers using the administration car park to drop students off before school. The car parks at the school are for staff access only. Using these as drop off points puts staff and students at risk of injury. As there is a bus stop as well as the pedestrian crossing next to the administration car park extreme caution is required. Keep our students safe and use the stop, kiss and go area provided.

Launching SchoolZine App

We are excited to be expanding our communication suite with the introduction of the Schoolzine App – SZapp.

By using SZapp, parents will have easy access to school newsletters, the latest school calendar and links to the absentee line and website. In addition, in the event of an emergency, change to the school routine or whole school reminders (eg school closure, postponement of Gala Day, photo day reminders) the app enables the school to send out messages to parents.

Once installed, ensure you go to the ‘Manage’ tab and select all the groups you wish to receive messages for. These can be changed at any time. You will also need to ensure Push Notifications are on for your phone, as well as the app.

Follow the link for further information on how to install SZapp.

If you have any issues installing SZapp, please email npavl0@eq.edu.au.

Chess Tournament

The 2017 Chess Tournament will be held on Friday 24 November. This year the tournament will be run by Chess Mates and is open to all students from Prep to Year 6. Start time is 8.55am in the Resource Centre and it is expected to finish by 1.00pm. Students should have their name marked off the roll in their classroom and go to the Resource Centre with their lunch as soon as possible.

If your child would like to participate please complete the attached nomination form and return with payment by Monday 20 November to the Office Payment Box. Nomination forms will also be available at the payment boxes.

Have your details changed?

It is imperative that the office has up-to-date information for parents and emergency contacts. Trying to find current phone numbers may lead to delays in students receiving medication or care that is needed. The office also issues important messages via email, as well as classroom notices, invoices and online permission forms.

Please take a moment to ensure your details are correct. Parent email address and mobile number, and student address can be updated directly through QParents. If you need to make any changes to or add an emergency contact, please email the office at admin@yerongass.eq.edu.au ensuring student name and class is included.

MUSIC

We wish Brandenburg Strings and Miss Charise Holms all the best for their competition performance this weekend at Centenary High School. This groups of our most experienced players has never sounded better and they will represent Yeronga with pride.

Mrs Robyn Rosewarne (band – testing year 3s) and Miss Holms (strings – testing year 2s) will complete their instrumental music testing next week and offers will be sent home in week 5.

Thank you to all current families involved in Instrumental Music who sent back responses regarding their intentions for 2018. Invoices for 2018 were sent in week 1. The participation contribution for all is $50, with those using school instruments invoiced an additional $90.

Music Photos

Thank you also to families who ensured music students were ready and looking their best in the music uniform last Thursday. The photography company sent through this information:

Jane Plumridge, Music Specialist

RESOURCE CENTRE

Once again the library needs your help. We have a lot of new books that need covering so they can be borrowed by the students. I have been trying my best this year to cover them and I have managed to cover 2000 books but I still have a lot of books left to cover. If you could donate some of your time to covering it would be really appreciated. Please come and see me in the library or email me fhage4@eq.edu.au to arrange a time for you to help.

As Halloween approaches the need for spooky books has increased and we are using this enthusiasm to run a writing competition.

Writing Competition Term 4

Theme: Halloween
Genre: Narrative
Write a creepy or gory story for Halloween!

Word Count:
Year 1-2 300 words max
Year 2-3 500 words max
Year 5-6 800 words max

Deadline: Tuesday 31st of October (Halloween)

How to submit: Via the entry box in the library or via email to fhage4@eq.edu.au please have your name, class and writing competition in the subject line.

Prizes

*subject to discretion of judge*

Year 1-2 Book Pack
Year 3-4 Book Pack
Year 5-6 Book Pack

Good Luck

Faith Hage, Teacher Librarian

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

State Athletics

Congratulations to Margaret G on her outstanding Athletics season. She concluded with an appearance in the 800m final and an appearance in the 1500m.

School Swimming

Swimming lessons continue successfully. These are being held at the times stated in the permission note, with the exception of a minor change to 5JK. They now go later in the day with the other year 5 classes at 12:30 on Thursdays. Please remember to refer to the list on the permission note so that your children have everything they need for their lessons.

Swimming Carnivals

Preparations are underway for these very important event on the Yeronga State School Calendar. Students need to be thinking, exactly which events they would like to swim in this year. Please remember that for the senior (years 3 to 6) carnival in particular.

Preparations are beginning for these very important events on the Yeronga State School Calendar. Students need to be thinking, from the commencement of lessons, exactly which events they would like to swim in this year as once the program is written there will be very little room for changes. If children wish to withdraw from events that they can swim they will need parental permission. A form will be uploaded to the school web page for this purpose. Please remember that as this year’s carnival will be held in the 25m pool at Yeronga Park there should be less concern over the completion of 50m events.

On a lighter note the big question is; who can end Lawson’s 6 year dominance in swimming? Can Kendall, who won Cross Country and Athletics? Can Evans, who almost won the Athletics? Could Paterson, who are yet to chalk up a win this year? Only time will tell who will be the winner of our new swimming trophy.

School & District Events for Students Aged 10 – 12 years This Term (Except School Swimming Carnivals (open to all in the correct year levels)

Gala Day 3 20 October
Qld Boys Cricket 5 to 9 November
Senior (Years 3-6) Swimming Carnival 20 November
Junior Swimming Carnival (Years 1 & 2) 30 November
Year 1 Behaviour Celebration (TBC) 30 November
Prep Water Rampage 1 & 5 December
Year 2 Behaviour Celebration (TBC) 7 December
Break up Day Swims (Years 2 to 6) 8 December

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.

Cameron Bateman, P.E. Teacher

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

Active School Travel Breakfast - Friday November 3

Celebrate what a great year of Active School Travel we have had at Yeronga State School this year with a free breakfast on Friday November 3.

There'll be muffins, fruit and juice served in the tuck shop area from 8.15am.

A walking bus leaving from outside River City Cycles on Fairfield Rd (corner of Cowper St) at 8.10am or maybe you could ride a bike or scooter, catch public transport or car-pool with another family.

If you are driving, try and park away from the school grounds and walk the last few hundred metres.

I wonder if we will get any classes with 100% of students actively travelling to school that day?

Scooters at Lunchtime - Prep to Yr 2

On Friday 3 November, students in Prep, year 1 and year 2 can bring their scooters to school to use at first break.

Don't forget your helmet!

Active School Travel Survey

Active School Travel (AST) is all about creating healthier, more active students and parents, greater road safety awareness among students and families, and safer streets and reduced traffic congestion at the school gate.

The award-winning program promotes road safety and sustainable and healthy travel modes such as walking, cycling, scootering, carpooling and public transport.

We are always looking for ways to encourage more families to participate in the AST program.

Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey to help us grow AST at Yeronga State School.

CHAPPY’S CHAT

Mental Health Week (8-14 October)

I don’t know if Mental Health Week was a blimp on your radar last week, but there were many news articles, social media discussions, events and activities happening across the week. World Mental Health Day was also celebrated during this week on the 10 October as an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health to raise public awareness of mental health issues.

So what does it mean for you and your family? Unfortunately, 1 in 5 Australians will experience some form of mental health issue or illness in their lifetime, and about half of all Queenslanders. We all know people, maybe it is a friend or family member that lives with mental illness. As a community we can support our friends, help reduce the stigma around mental health, and put measures in place in our lives to improve quality of life for our own wellbeing and mental health.

There are lots of on-line resources. A great starting point is www.beyondblue.org.au Check out www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au who have 100 ways to value mental health. And also, www.mindhealthconnect.org.au give great tips for good mental health, which are:

• Build relationships
• Exercise and stay healthy
• Develop gratitude
• Identify and use your strengths
• Create flow with enjoyable activities (think work, hobbies, creative arts and sports)
• Give to others
• Spirituality or religion
• Seek help

Mental Health Week is a great reminder that we can do something to improve mental health in our communities, our families, and for ourselves. So what measures will you take to make a difference?

Blessings, Jennifer Bennett
jenniferb@chappy.org.au

GREEN TEAM

NUDE FOOD DAY SUCCESS!

Our first ever Nude Food Day went off with a bang! Thank you to everyone who got on board and sent their children to school with a 'nude' lunch (or the best you could manage...every bit helps!). It's great to see the kids getting so excited about healthy and earth friendly food! There was so much excitement with so many students showing off their 'nude' lunches.

Even the parents loved it...'it was actually easier than the usual process...Just fewer steps re wrapping or selecting and arguing over pre-packaged selections...'

Our 'Nude Food workshop' at lunchtime was very popular with long lines of students waiting to make their own fruit kebab! Some students even went out on a limb to try some more exotic fruits like white mulberries and grapefruit (all the fruit was kindly donated by Food Connect).

And Liby, our resident artist, has begun what will become a magnificent piece of artwork with all the plastic bottle tops you have all been saving and returning. I say 'begun' because we didn't have enough bottle tops to finish, so please keep collecting and placing them in the little bin at the tuckshop on tuckshop days. We'll aim to finish it in the coming weeks so that we can have a beautiful artwork to display in our school that is also a reminder to us to be mindful about how we consume!

The winners of the class and individual competitions will be announced on assembly soon after we've tallied the results from the litter audits! But I can tell you so far the results are looking pretty awesome!

SCHOOL BANKING

12.10.2017 : 62 Bankers

Junior Banker of the Week – Jack 1Q
Senior Banker of the Week – Sophia 3M

19.10.2017 : 61 Bankers

Junior Banker of the Week - Eve P2
Senior Banker of the Week – Margaret 5H

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Holland Park High School Open Morning Tour

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