25 January 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL REPORT

Welcome back to school

The beginning of 2018 school year has been brilliant. I have to congratulate all staff, students and parents for the many ways you helped set up for a successful year. The school routines have been adopted quickly and everyone is busy doing their best with the learning challenges being provided.

A special welcome to a number of new staff: Mrs Kate Paynter and Mrs Marie Robertson (Deputy Principals), Mr Nick Landbeck (4L), Mrs Leanne Ford (1F), Miss Kate Thomas (1T), Ms Andrea Beuno (Spanish P-3), Ms Massiel SALFATE VENEGAS and Lauren Easey (Music Teacher). Welcome back to Vidisha Bhatia (2BR), Robbie Spence (Guidance Officer) and Rachel Wise (5W). We know you will be an asset to our Yeronga SS team.

A special welcome to our new families as well. It was wonderful to see so many of the new Prep families at the Prep Picnic last Saturday. Thank you to our P&C Exec for doing such a fantastic job of coordinating the event.

2018 SCHOOL PRIORITIES

Adopting an Inquiry Stance(adopting a growth mindset that includes questioning, deep thinking and thoughtful processing)

Maths, English, Inquiry- Prep, Year 5 and 6
Challenging Learning Tasks
BYOi-Pad- Year 2
Curious, risk taking writers
Caring, positive and inclusive school community

Our priorities this year are continuing with the journey towards our 2020 vision of Connected Individuals, Curious Learners and Community Minded Citizens. Staff are engaging in professional learning activities to help develop their capacity in these areas. We will also present some parent education sessions from time to time to deepen understanding of our priorities.

The School Parent partnership is a vital one and we know that strong, supportive and positive home school partnerships impact on academic and social and emotional well-being. I encourage you to check the school calendar for the many opportunities coming up this term to build a strong partnership. Reading the fortnightly school newsletter will also help you keep abreast of the many happenings in our school. It is published each even week of term. I look forward to seeing many of you at the school gate or at Parent Information Evening in a few weeks.

School Narrative

Many families, staff and children communicate a positive narrative about how caring, inclusive, high achieving and innovative Yeronga State School is and how proud they are to attend here. A school’s narrative and individual teacher narratives, child or family narratives, are created by the stories we tell when we communicate with each other, face to face and on social media. This year I encourage everyone to follow the school rule of being respectful to model positive, helpful interactions for our children.

In 2018 I would ask all of you to adopt an `assume the best’ mind set when you experience frustration with how things are being done. Make contact with the school office or myself, to seek clarification on why something is happening or not happening in a manner you would prefer. This will eliminate the negative energy that can be so draining and also honour the commitment of the many volunteers, staff and students who embrace the school’s `Service Before Self’ motto. We are so lucky to have such committed people working together to do their best for the school with the resources we have.

Strategic Plan

As we begin the school year, you may like to revisit our 2020 School vision and Strategic Plan. The strategies listed have evolved quite a bit, including adopting Curiosity and Powerful Learning theories of action rather than pursuing Productive Pedagogies because there is such alignment. The school Annual Improvement Plan will be published shortly.

New building

The new music block, two classrooms, toilet block and meeting room building was handed over at the end of the holidays. We are truly lucky to have such great facilities and the children are enjoying the new amenities especially. We are aware that parents are curious about the facilities. Next Tuesday 30 January, parents are welcome to come on a walking tour through the building. We will assemble on the top oval side of the building at 2:30pm.

Debbie Spanner

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL REPORT

What a fabulous start to the term we have had. A highlight for us has been visiting and meeting students in their classrooms and in the playground. The strong sense of community and the ethos of caring for each other in our school has been evident in these interaction. We have been made to feel so welcome and are really looking forward to the year ahead. Thank you to all students, parents and staff for your efforts to ensure a successful start to the school year. Yeronga State School is certainly a wonderful place to be.

Uniforms

Yeronga State School maintains a student dress code, as supported by the P&C, which promotes a supportive environment at the school by fostering a sense of belonging.

Students are expected to wear full school formal uniform on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and full school sports uniform (house shirt) on Tuesday and Friday. The wearing of a school hat is essential for sun safety.

A handy hint to help remember which days to wear which uniform, is to take a photo of each uniform and place it on the fridge with the days listed beside.

Further information in relation to the student dress code can be found in the YSS School Handbook.

Behaviour

Yeronga State School is committed to providing a safe, respectful and disciplined learning environment for students and staff, where students have opportunities to engage in quality learning experiences and acquire values supportive of their life long wellbeing.

Our school community has identified the following school rules to teach and promote our high standards of responsible behaviour.

• Do Your Best
• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible
• Be Safe

Teachers have spent time during the week discussing the behaviour expectations for Yeronga State School with their class.

Assembly

This year we will operate our weekly assembly as two groups:

• Juniors (Prep – Year 2) – Monday 2:15pm commencing 5 February
• Seniors (Year 3 – Year 6) – Thursday 2:15pm commencing 1 February

We will also be holding a special Leadership Induction Assembly on Thursday 15 February at 9am.

We look forward to parents joining us.

Parent Reps

At Yeronga State School, we firmly believe in the power of a strong connection between home and school. To help facilitate this connection we ask for two parent representatives from each class.

Parents Reps will be a means of communication between the P&C and parents, as well as offering a welcoming face to new families within the school. We encourage interested parents to consider volunteering for this important role – please see your child’s teacher.

Once Parent Reps are confirmed, families will be put in touch with the Parent Reps for each class through the confidential class e-mail distribution list.

A Parent Rep information night will be held with the Parent Rep Co-ordinator, Jodie Swan, at 7pm in Resource Centre on Thursday 8 February.

Home Learning

Yeronga State School has a new ‘Home Learning Policy’ rather than a homework policy to provide opportunities for parents to partner with their children in learning.

Home learning may consist of the following 4 parts dependant on your child’s year level:

1. Reading
2. Mathematics
3. Curiosity projects
4. Specialist Subject task

Further information on home learning will be shared by your child’s teacher in the coming weeks.

Parent Information Nights

In week 4 we will be holding parent information nights to provide an opportunity for parents to find out year level specific information for the year ahead. On both evenings there will be the opportunity for parents to meet with the Leadership Team in the hall, as well as meet the teachers in the classroom. Details are as follows:

Tuesday 13 February- Year 3/4/5/6 (including 2/3T)
6.00-6.30pm Leadership Team in the Hall- Talk for Year 3/4 parents
6.30-7:15pm Year 3/4/5/6 Teachers to run information sessions in classrooms
7:15pm Leadership Team/ Specialist in the Hall- Talk for Year 5/6 parents

Thursday 15 February- Prep/Yr 1/Yr 2
6.00-6.30pm Leadership Team in the Hall- Talk for Prep parents
6.30-7:15pm Prep – Year 2 Teachers to run information sessions in classrooms

We are both committed and enthused about being part of the Yeronga State School community and look forward to working with you throughout the year.

Kate Paynter and Marie Robertson
Deputy Principals

Welcome Kate Paynter

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I was interested in becoming a teacher from a very young age, when I would regularly ‘role play’ team teaching with my older sister. Funnily enough we are both now teachers. I left secondary school and gained entry into Social Work at University, which I deferred for twelve months in order to go on a ‘gap year’ exchange to work as a boarding school housemistress at a school in England. It was during this year away that I came to the realization that I definitely wanted to work in the field of Education. I decided to change my University placement and study teaching, with a major in the area of Special Education, due to a strong interest in the area of disabilities.

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

I started my teaching career in the town of Biloela in Central Queensland. It was a wonderful start for me and I enjoyed being a part of this vibrant rural community for four years. Following this I took leave for two years and went to live and teach in London at a school called Normand Park Primary in Fulham. I still keep contact with some of the delightful students I taught during this time. I then returned to Australia and settled in the town of Dalby, on the Darling Downs, approximately 2.5 hours’ drive west of Brisbane. I have spent the previous 16 years there and last year made the momentous decision to move from Dalby to Brisbane. During my time in Dalby I worked as a Teacher, Head of Special Education Services (for ten years) and for the final 5 years was a Deputy Principal at Dalby South State School. I will miss the Dalby South community greatly, however am excited about the prospect of becoming a part of the Yeronga State School community over the coming years.

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

My daughter Harriet is 11 years old and in 2018 she will start secondary school. My partner John is a Veterinarian and he travels extensively for his work, which is based in the Northern Territory. John has three sons- Quinton who is studying nursing and twins James, who is a graduate Engineer and Keegan, who is in his final year of studying Medicine. We spend a fair amount of time travelling in order to catch up as a family! Most of our time at the moment is focused on settling in to our new home in Brisbane.

What do you like to do on the weekend?

I am an avid swimmer and like to fit in training sessions as much as I can in the early mornings and on the weekend I like to take part in longer distance ocean swims. It’s a great way to clear your head! Time with my family and catching up with friends over a meal is the highest priority over the weekend. I am not known for my culinary skills, although I can cook a steak on the BBQ and whip up a salad!

Where is the most exciting place you have visited?

I travelled a lot during my early years and some of my most unforgettable destinations include Edinburgh, Stockholm, Barcelona, Prague and Singapore. During more recent times my most memorable adventures have included a 10km ocean swim in Fiji to celebrate my 40th birthday, exploring the Northern Territory (including Litchfield National Park, Arnhem Land, Kakadu, Uluru and Kata Tjuta), as well as a fabulous skiing trip to New Zealand last year.

Kate Paynter

Welcome Marie Robertson

I am very excited to be appointed to the role of Deputy Principal at Yeronga State School. I have moved to Yeronga State School from Petrie Terrace State School where I worked last year as the Head of Curriculum.

At the start of 2017, I moved back to Brisbane from Central Queensland where I was Principal of Bauhinia State School, a small rural school, for 4 years. Before that, I was part of the teaching staff at Moura State School in Central Queensland as well as North Lakes State College here in Brisbane. It was a big move back to the bright lights of the city for my husband and myself after spending 8 years out west. We spent last year settling back into the swing of city life and are still thoroughly enjoying eating out, the availability of fresh bread and Sunday trading!

I have been very impressed with the commitment of the P & C to the school, the welcoming staff and the happy students. Yeronga State School is a wonderful place to be and I look forward to working with the school community to deliver learning that enables each child to develop as connected individuals, curious learners and community-minded citizens.

Marie Robertson

P & C REPORT

pandc@yerongass.eq.edu.au

Dear Parents and Carers

On behalf of the Yeronga State School Parents and Citizens Association (P&C), I extend a big welcome and our best wishes for a fantastic first term to all new and returning families! We encourage you to get involved in the school community. To help you do this we have created the Yeronga SS P&C Facebook page to help you stay on top of all P&C events throughout the year. Please 'like' us so we can keep you as up to date as possible with key activities for your kids and you.

It was lovely to see so many prep families at the picnic on Saturday. It's was a great morning and wonderful way to welcome our 2018 preppies to the Yeronga community. Thank you to the McCarthy, Tidey, Bennett, Mansfield and van den Berg families for their assistance on the day with setting up, running and packing up.

The last few months of the school year was quite a busy time for us and a number of things are on the cards for the start of the year.

Firstly we would like to acknowledge the many years (25 years I believe!) of service given by one of our valued YOSHC staff members, Tina Hall. Tina has moved on from YOSHC and we are certain she will be sorely missed, especially by the children. We would like to thank Tina for her dedication to making YOSHC a wonderful place for our kids and wish her all the very best for whatever adventures she pursues next.

Secondly, we will be moving ahead with air conditioning tenders for the prep buildings and our tuckshop this term. Over the holidays we were pleased to receive our heritage listing approval for our overall air conditioning plan, which means we can make further inquiries into progress around this issue for the wider school throughout the year. For families who are new to our school and may not be familiar with the huge amount of work, research and effort that has gone into this issue over the past 2 years, I would strongly encourage you to take the time to familarise yourself with our COOL SCHOOLS information which can be found on our YSS Cool School Review facebook page.

P&C AGM: Tuesday, 20 February 2018

The P&C Executive team overseas P&C activities throughout the school year. Executive positions include President, Vice President (usually 2 people hold this position), Treasurer, Correspondence Secretary, Minutes Secretary.

P&C meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month (except December and January) at 7:00pm in the school Resource Centre (library).

At the 2018 AGM on Tuesday, 20 February, several P&C Executive team members will be stepping down from the committee to make way for new parent representatives. Three current Executive team members are happy to continue (if members would like them to) and they're really friendly! However, we are looking for a new P&C president in particular. Please let us know if you would like to join the team - we'd love to hear from you. In accordance with the P&Cs QLD Constitution, all nominations for executive positions should be received in writing prior to the AGM, via the P&C Executive Officer Nomination Form.

The 2018 AGM will be followed by our first general meeting of the year.

Please contact us if you are interested in taking on a more active role in the P&C but would like more information around roles and responsibilities, at yerongasspandc@gmail.com.

2018 P&C Membership

All 2017 memberships will lapse at the AGM. We've made it easy for you to join the P&C or renew your membership via our online 2018 Membership form (ideally before 20 February).

It only takes a minute (or less) to complete - just completing the form to become a member helps and there is no obligation to attend meetings (although we'd love to see you if you're able). Membership numbers help us with grant applications and allows us to keep you updated with copies of monthly minutes.

Thank you to those who have already joined for 2018!

Just One Thing

The P&C is committed to supporting our school and kids. We are keen to ensure every family has the opportunity to get involved and experience our active and friendly community. One of the things that makes Yeronga State School such a great place is our active and friendly school community. Our school is as strong as everyone’s contribution and the Yeronga SS P&C aims to provide a range of opportunities for you to enjoy connecting with your school community.

There are many different ways you can help to make our school great, big and small. We invite every Yeronga SS family to nominate to do 'Just One Thing' during the school year to assist the P&C to make a big contribution to our kids and school, via our 'Just One Thing' survey. It only takes a couple of minutes to click on your 'One Thing' add your contact details and press 'Done' - easy!

Tuckshop News

Welcome to 2018. The tuckshop is expecting another busy year kicking off in week 2 for Year 1 and above.

Prep students will be able to start ordering in week 3 - please note no frozen items to be ordered for prep students till Term 2. A friendly reminder that if you would like to order sushi for a Thursday it will need to be ordered on Flexischools by the Wednesday beforehand by 1pm. No bag orders for sushi.

Any questions or concerns, or to volunteer please feel free to come and see Tracy and Stacey at the tuckshop. Alternatively email yerongasstuckshop@gmail.com.

Thank you in anticipation of your valuable help. We look forward to enjoying an awesome 2018 school year with you.

Yours sincerely

Sarah van den Berg
President, Yeronga SS P&C

FROM THE OFFICE

Changes To Credit Card Payments

All excursions and events require payment and if required, permission forms to be returned by the due date or your child will not be permitted to attend.

In 2018 schools are no longer able to accept credit card details over the phone or in person if paying outside of normal receipting hours. Credit card payment details will no longer appear on excursion and camp letters sent out by the school.

Credit card payments made out of receipting hours can be processed by BPOINT IVR (1300 631 073). This is a bank hosted phone service. When contacting the 1300 number the caller will need their customer reference and invoice details which can be found on the student invoice.

We are also no longer able to provide our school bank details for those parents who choose to do internet banking.

Payment Boxes

Payment boxes are located downstairs in the Admin block and also on the 1st floor of L Block (Junior School). Payments for all school events can be placed in these boxes including P&C and Chappy Jenny events. Spare copies of excursion notes/permissions are also available at these boxes.

Over-the-counter receipting is processed from 8.15am to 8.45am on the ground floor of the Administration Block. Payments placed in the payment boxes are processed daily and receipts are forwarded to your child’s class teacher to distribute. As office staff are processing absences and other queries, we are unable to process payments at the office until after 10.00am.

BPOINT User Information

Bpoint is the preferred method of payment. Eftpos, Debit and Credit cards, cheque or cash payments are also accepted. Please ensure when paying via BPoint that you log on to the following website. You must put the entire website address as this has the biller code. This link can also be accessed via the bottom of your invoice/statement.

BPoint payments must be processed in time to clear (usually 2-3 business days) before the due date for payment. If this is not done, your child might not be able to attend the activity.

If you have a credit on your account this will appear as a negative amount eg -$10.00. Please do not pay this amount. If you have a credit that you would like applied towards an outstanding invoice you must email the Business Manager, Nicki Allardyce nalla6@eq.edu.au requesting that this be done or send a note to the office.

REQUEST FOR REFUND forms for an excursion paid and not attended is available from the front office. Prepaid ticketed excursions are non-refundable. This may also include excursions where transport has been arranged.

QParents

Invitations to QParents will be sent out early next week. QParents is an online portal that provides parents with secure access to your child’s student details. Anywhere, anytime you can:

• View and update attendance and student details
• View and download report cards and invoices
• Make payments online

QParents is available from your smartphone, tablet or PC and it’s free.

Keeping Our Students Safe

If your child will be absent from school please notify the office ASAP by

• Calling the Absence Line – 3426 0366 OR
• Logging on to QParents

The Absence Line and QParents are a 24 hour service. If the school has not been notified of your child’s absence by 10.00am an SMS message will be sent requesting that you contact the absence line to advise accordingly.

Late Arrivals/Early Departures/Appointment processes

• If your child arrives at school after 9.00am you will need to get a “Late Slip” from the office.
• If you are collecting our child early and not returning to school you will need to get an “Early Departure Slip” from the office.
• If you are taking your child to an appointment/event during the school day and they are returning the same day you will need to sign the “Absence Register” at the office.

Employment Opportunity

We are seeking Teacher Aides to work at Yeronga State School in relief roles and also to support students in the ‘Flying Squad’ Program (which will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am - 1.15pm from Week 3).

If you are interested please send an Expression of Interest and Curriculum Vitae to Kate Paynter ( kpayn3@eq.edu.au ) by Wednesday 31 January.

MUSIC

Classroom Music & Instrumental Music News

Welcome back to all our continuing students and a special welcome to our new music students commencing this year! Lessons and rehearsals will commence in week 3, students will be given more details and timetables next week. Please note Junior Concert Band will not commence until term 2. Beginner strings students do not commence ensemble until week 6.

For those students who wish to sign up to Senior or Junior Choir, a sign-on sheet has been attached to the wall outside of the new music room. Students will need to write their names and class on the sheet to obtain a permission form to attend before-school rehearsals. Both choirs are non-auditioned and all students in years 2-6 are welcome to join. Rehearsals will begin in week 3 for all students who have returned permission forms.

This year we welcome new staff Lauren Easey (classroom music) and Alex Grodecki (Instrumental Music, pronounced “Grow-dead-ski”) to our music team at Yeronga State School.

Staff details are as follows:

We are looking forward to a wonderful year of music with your children!

Yeronga Music Team

RESOURCE CENTRE

Welcome back to the library. I am so pleased to be back in the library, with Faith Hage as my Teacher librarian partner. This year we have some exciting plans for our library, by turning our lab into a Curiosity Centre, championing they STEM agenda in the school. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and maths. Last year we introduced the robotics and drone clubs and I already have children wanting to sign up. These clubs will start in Week 3.

We received our first Mini Sphero’s and the students had a great time playing with them in the library. We were just using the freestyle app today but it won’t be long and we will be able to set up challenges and get to coding.

I am always looking for volunteer parents who will be able to support me in my endeavours to spark student’s curiosity. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to Margot Tidey who helped with Drones and Greg Cowell who helped with Robotics. These two parents gave up two days a week to help at lunch times.

If you have a passion in the STEM area and have some ideas, I would love to hear from you. Your help could be running a workshop once a week, once a term or once a year. My contact email is dcowi11@eq.edu.au

Deborah Cowie / Faith Hage

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Welcome back everybody. I hope the Summer Holidays were as exciting or as restful as you wanted them to be.

Cross Country Training

Cross Country Training will begin next week with the climax being the School Cross Country on 23 March. Sessions will be on Mondays from 3:15 to 3:45 and Tuesdays from 8:00 to 8:30 with Mr Bateman, Thursdays 8 to 8:30 with Mr Sutherland. The Friday sessions with Mr Sutherland are yet to be confirmed.

Mr Sutherland has also, in the past, established an elite running group. Mr Sutherland, who is a qualified personal trainer and an elite runner, in 10km events, is willing to run these sessions free of charge, at a time to be advised for those children whose mothers attend his fit for mums sessions. Otherwise the elite running group sessions for the children will be at the same cost as the fit for mums sessions or you could pay the fee once and receive a fit for mums session and an elite running session for your child.

Mr Johnson always said; “a run a day”. Not only did this fill our trophy cabinets with district cross country trophies, but it also meant that children wanting to participate in other sports had the baseline fitness that made those other sports easier. It meant that coaches could concentrate much more on skills.

Gala Days

Gala Days are well and truly on the horizon for Boys and Girls Football (What used to be called Soccer), Rugby League and Girls Softball and Teeball. The dates for these very important days are, weather permitting, 2 March, 16 March and 27 April. The sports offered will include Boys and Girls Football (Soccer), Girls’ Softball and Rugby League. Children need to start thinking seriously about which of these sports they would like to participate in as there will be a muster to canvas interest for the various sports.

Swimming

Swimming will begin in week 4 and finish in week 8 (a total of five weeks). Students will need a rashie, togs, towel, sturdy bag, spare underwear & Flip Flops (thongs).These sessions provide high quality swimming instruction across the school. We will be implementing these lessons, in conjunction with the staff of Yeronga Park Pool. This means the instructors will take the lessons for all children from Year 1 to Year 4 to enhance those childrens’ competence in Aquatics. Not only are these children being given expert stroke correction in small ability specific groups, but also water safety knowledge. These lessons will cost $7.50 per lesson.

Children in years 5 and 6 will receive lessons from Mr Bateman and their class teachers at pool entry cost of $2.50 per lesson. Thanks again to Yeronga Park Pool for its continued support. They not only discount our lessons, but also give us our carnivals and various play days free of charge.

The District Swimming Team

Our team for Districts has been finalised the Sunnybank District Swimming Trial to be held on 8 February. Congratulations to: Tejasri G, Alexsandra S, Clayton R, Ned W, Rupert H, Huong M, Margaret G, Georgia M, Elyanna A, Cairo V, Hayley R, Ines C, Milly B, Catherine K, Corey S, Oscar S, Liam C, Cameron W, Bill S, Seb B, Harry C.

Yeronga State School (YSS) District Trial Selection Policy Special Consideration (Years 3 to 6)

YSS’s mission is to provide all children with the opportunity to participate in sport in a way that is appropriate for the individual child. For most sport is a recreational pursuit. For some, more serious, sportspeople sport is very competitive and with success in this forum opportunities to take the representative pathway become appealing. The competitive pathway, however, is necessarily very selective as its function is to make reasoned judgments on whom is most ready to compete at a higher level. Therefore we believe that opportunities in the competitive forum must not exclude suitable candidates who are absent on a YSS trial day.

Remember that if your child is ill, injured, away on an in term vacation or on higher representative duties at the time of a Yeronga State School selection trial or carnival you are able to apply to have them considered for a Yeronga State School squad. All you need do is download the special consideration form from our website, complete the appropriate sections and return it to Mr Bateman personally or the administration desk. Remember that there will be a strictly enforced time limit of one working week following a trial for submission of this document for those ill, injured or on higher representative duties and that those taking in term vacations must submit before departure with teacher certified times or distances.

Standard Sporting Selection Policy

Each year many District Trials are held to select those ready to go on to a higher level in their chosen sport/s. A comprehensive list of these trials is presented, for your convenience, below. Remember that children must be between 10 to 12 years of age in 2018. In other words they must be turning or have already turned those ages in this calendar year to be eligible.

In order to be selected to attend a District Trial children should make themselves known to me (Mr Bateman) or Mr Curness 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

District Swimming Trial: 8 February
Boys and Girls District Basketball Trials: 27 February
Regional Swimming Trial: 21 February
Gala Day One: 2 March
Gala Day Two: 16 March
Regional Basketball Trial 13 March
District AFL Trials: 26 March
District Rugby League Trials: 28 March
District Girls' Football (Soccer) Trials: 6 & 9 March
District Boys' Football (Soccer) Trials: 8, 9 & 15 March
YSS Senior Cross Country: 23 March
District Netball Trials: 19 April
Regional AFL Trial: 23 to 24 April
District Touch Trial: 21 May

Cameron Bateman

CHAPPY’S-CHAT

Hello and welcome to school for 2018…

I love that the new year brings an opportunity to start again with a fresh beginning. It’s a chance to make changes, try new things, initiate improvements, and have hope for a better year. Although we can be optimistic for a positive change, it is unlikely to happen without some thought, planning and deliberate, courageous steps in the new direction. So do you have some expectations for 2018? How can you be deliberate and courageous in making this happen? Who can you ask to help and cheer you on? We all need some encouragement in our life.

As School Chaplain, I’m here to cheer you on, and to help by providing pastoral care to students, families, and staff. This happens through social and emotional support, community development, mentoring and role-modelling, educational support, spiritual support, and extra-curricular activities. Throughout the year I will advertise in this newsletter the events that are coming up.

It was great meeting some of the new families to our school at the morning tea on our first day. If you missed that opportunity to meet me or find out more about Chaplaincy, please feel free to come in for a coffee and chat. I can be contacted through the school office or by email.

I hope that your children settle quickly this year in to class, routines and to learning, and that you feel part of a great community of people at our school. I look forward to engaging with you and supporting your family this year.

Coming up….

One morning only this semester… “Chappy Pancakes” on Tuesday 13 February. Pancakes ($2) and drinks (juice, tea and coffee $1) will be sold outside the tuckshop for breakfast from 7:30-8:30am. It is a fundraiser for the Chaplaincy Office, but it is also a great community event, and a yum way to start the day.

Blessings,

Jennifer Bennett

INDIGENOUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

At the first senior assembly of 2018, we have invited one of the School Captains from Yeronga State High School, and a former student of Yeronga Primary School, Dylan Hynd, to deliver the Acknowledgement of Country. Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for our school to show respect for Traditional Owners and to acknowledge the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country. Dylan is a young Indigenous man, but Acknowledgement to Country can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Later in the year, we will have a Welcome to Country ceremony at a School assembly in Reconciliation Week. Welcome to Country is an important ceremony at which Indigenous people are invited to welcome everyone to their country. We are proud that Yeronga State School is recognising Aboriginal culture and history in this way.”

SCHOOL BANKING

Remember to bring in your banking every Thursday. Bank books are given to the classroom teacher. Banking begins on Thursday 1 February.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

After School Art classes

After School Art classes will commence in week 2. There are still places available in Wednesday’s class for grades 1 & 2 and Thursdays class for grades 1-6.

Sorry Tuesday’s class is full. Classes run from 3-5pm in the school art room. Please contact Jane Gamble on 0419 018 021

Chess

Chess Mates classes are starting again at Yeronga State School, starting on the 1st of February.

Chess Mates specialises in teaching chess to children of all age groups and skill levels. Our team is dedicated to teaching chess in a fun and engaging way so that children of any age can join in regardless of experience level. We teach younger students through songs and stories, for older or more advanced students we teach openings, strategies and forward planning. We don’t focus on winning (in fact, we teach kids how to deal with winning and losing). Instead, we focus on making new friends and having fun while learning.

Classes are held on Thursday mornings from 7:50 - 8:40. The senior class location Year 3 - Year 6 is in the new classrooms and the Junior class Prep - Year 2 will be in the library. The cost of the classes is $8 where $2 is given back to the school's P&C.

If you have any questions about the classes please either e-mail info@chessmates.com.au or call Ash on 0415 256 452.

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