8 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL REPORT

LEARNING ASSETS

This year we are introducing Learning Assets, which incorporate our work on learning protocols last year as dispositions. We can no longer learn in exactly the same way as our parents and grandparents. It is essential that our children have the opportunity to develop `soft skills’ every day in classrooms. The five Learning Assets are:

• We are Researchers
  - curious, courageous, resourceful
• We are Thinkers-
  - open-minded, flexible, persistent
• We are Collaborators-
  - empathic, compassionate, reliable
• We are Communicators-
  - confident, responsive, respectful
• We are Self-Managers
  - resilient, responsible, reflective

Learning assets are skills that describe what the learner is doing. Each learning asset has three dispositions (shown above) describing the way learners are being, to successfully engage with each skill.

There are hundreds of lists available that try to capture the ` soft skills’ students need to learn. Our school is using Kath Murdoch’s framework of skills and dispositions for the inquiry learner. Kath Murdoch is a highly regarded expert educator in the field of inquiry based learning.

Each fortnight this term we will be focussing on one learning asset. Class awards that are presented on assembly will recognise children who are demonstrating the learning asset of the fortnight. This fortnight we are focussing on `We are Self-Managers’.

Ms Louise Vaggs, Yeronga State School Head of Curriculum, will introduce the learning asset each fortnight so you may choose to discuss the learning asset and its disposition with your children. Louise will also share information about our school’s inquiry learning journey to help parents understand what your child’s classroom learning might look like, sound like and feel like.

SCHOOL P&C PARTNERSHIP

A number of P&C Executive positions, including the P&C President roles, will become vacant at the next P&C AGM on Tuesday 20 Februrary. The partnership between the P&C and the school is a vital one to help our school to achieve the 2020 Strategic Plan. The School Leadership team and the P&C Executive form a dynamic team to work closely together to provide purposeful governance of the school community.

If you would like to know more about any Executive roles, please do not hesitate to contact the current P&C Executive members or the school office. I am looking forward to working with the 2018 P&C to help our school continue to grow from great to outstanding.

CONVERSATIONS BEFORE CONFLICT

One mantra I always endeavour to live by is `assume the best’. It is too easy to run up the ladder of inference when things are going wrong and enter a blame game.

In an environment where parents are reliant on trying to interpret a child’s perception of events, we can often put our own school experience over the top of their recounts and end up escalating a problem more quickly than we intend. The following three steps are suggestions by Judith Glasser, author of a great book called `Conversational Intelligence’ to help navigate through conflict.

1. Clarify the conflict by talking through each party’s stance. For example“It seems like we’re envisioning two different levels of risk. Tell me more about what you’re seeing as the potential pitfalls.”
2. Consult a neutral friend or colleague. Discussing the problem with someone else will make it seem smaller. The social interaction will also put you in a more collaborative, connected state of mind.
3. Reframe, refocus, and redirect the conversation. Use the conflict as a springboard to find common ground. Say something like, “Let’s leave this aside for the moment and think about another way to approach the issue.”

The ability to resolve conflict in such a manner are excellent opportunities to model being a self-manager to your children. Modelling how to manage normal emotions like anger, sadness etc in constructive ways is important to help our children to master emotional agility.

The school uses programs or strategies such as Bridge Builders and Zones of Regulation to help children learn how to manage emotions and address conflict in constructive ways. We want our children to be curious about their emotions and accept them as a normal part of life otherwise they run the risk of being emotionally rigid. A great TED talk by psychologist Dr Susan David highlights `The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage’ is worth a visit if you are interested in learning more about how to manage our emotions in ways that align with our values. One small tip she says is not to say `I am stressed’ but rather `I am noticing I’m feeling stressed’. The first way seems to say we are the emotion and I believe, catastrophises it more than we need too.

This TED talk does challenge the notion that we need to be happy and positive all the time - something to remember as we keep in the mind the need for conversations before conflict.

Nominations now open for Peter Doherty STEM awards

Awards of $5000 each are on offer in this year’s Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education.

Six categories recognise students, teachers, schools (both state and non-state), volunteers, mentors and organisations that demonstrate an outstanding and innovative contribution to STEM education in Queensland.

Nominations are now open and close Monday 26 March 2018, with winners to be announced at an awards presentation ceremony on Friday 10 August.

Debbie Spanner

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL REPORT

It’s been another productive week for us here at Yeronga State School, as we have focussed on developing the structures around our professional learning teams. It is certainly exciting to be a part of a team that is so dedicated and committed to delivering a challenging and relevant curriculum, through the provision of quality teaching and engaging learning environments. The time and energy that the staff at Yeronga State School have directed into building dynamic partnerships within their professional teams is a great strength and demonstrates a dedication to meeting the needs of our students.

Assembly

Assemblies have started for the year. These are a wonderful opportunity for parents and the school community to come together and hear about the happenings in our school.

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

Juniors (Prep – Year 2) – Monday 2:15pm
Seniors (Year 3 – Year 6) – Thursday 2:15pm

Please note there will be no Senior Assembly held on Thursday 15th February due to the Leadership Induction Ceremony held in the morning.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Parent Information nights

Next week, we will be holding parent information nights to provide an opportunity for parents to find out year level specific information for the year ahead. Details are as follows:

Parent Information Evenings are a perfect opportunity to build relationships with their child’s teacher and hear information about the year ahead. Topics to be discussed include school priorities, Curiosity and Powerful Learning, communication between parents and teachers, home learning, year level curriculum, BYOD (Year 2), leadership opportunities (Year 5 and 6), camps and excursion information, assessment, reporting and NAPLAN information (Year 3 and 5).

Before and After School Arrangements

All students who are not attending Yeronga Outside School Hours Care (YOSHC) should aim to arrive after 8:30am. If students arrive between 8:15am – 8:30am they need to sit under C Block to read or talk quietly. No students should be in the school grounds before 8:15am.

Parents who need to drop students at school before 8:15am need to enrol in YOSHC. It is a great safety concern to have children who are unsupervised in the school grounds. YOSHC is open every morning from 7am.

After school all students need to be collected by parents/carers at 3pm. Students remaining at school after 3pm must be with a teacher (e.g. sports training), their parent or attending YOSHC. Parents who are later than 3:15pm collecting their children, will need to collect them from the school office. Please note that the school office closes at 3:30pm. All student and parents who are not part of the YOSHC program need to have left the school grounds no later than 4pm.

We understand that family life often involves unexpected changes to routines. We appreciate the efforts our families make to manage their schedule to work within these times, and thank you for your understanding around this very important safety matter.

Help keep our children safe

For your child’s safety please ensure that students only enter the school grounds via the pedestrian gates (not the through any of the car parks). Cars are not to park in the school grounds. Street parking is available for parents. We also have a 2 minute – Stop, Kiss and Go area on Park Road.

The safety of our students is our priority, as these spaces have continual vehicle movement it is imperative that no student, even with and adult, walk through these areas.

We thank you for your assistance in keeping our school a safe place to learn, grow and have fun.

Upcoming Events

We would love to see you at our upcoming events this term. They include:

• Thursday 15th February – Student Leadership Induction 9am
• Tuesday 20th February - P&C Meeting and Annual General Meeting – 7pm
• Friday 9th March – International Women’s Day Breakfast – 7am
• Monday 19th March – Junior School Harmony Day Assembly
• Thursday 22nd March – Senior School Harmony Day Assembly

Next Term

• Tuesday 24th April - ANZAC day ceremony

We look forward to seeing you again at these events in our wonderful school.

Kate Paynter and Marie Robertson

P & C REPORT

pandc@yerongass.eq.edu.au

COLES SPORTS FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Yeronga State School has registered for the Coles Sports for Schools Program starting later in the month. Coles shopping vouchers can be deposited in boxes that will be centrally located throughout the school. The more vouchers we receive, the more sporting equipment we can purchase. The P&C would be delighted if one or two parents would like to co-ordinate this project. It is be a simple matter of counting up the vouchers and returning them to Coles. Volunteers can contact Ruth Bennett ruthbennett4105@gmail.com or 0403 252 536.

EASTER RAFFLE

Information will be coming home over the next weeks about the Easter Raffle 2018. This is always a very popular event in the school calendar and a great fundraiser for the P&C. Last year we raised $3 300. Let’s go Yeronga and aim for $3 500

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!

Sarah van den Burg

FROM THE OFFICE

School Carparks and Road Safety

Safety of our students is always a top priority for the school. We have noticed that parents have been using the staff carparks to drop off and pick up their children. This is a very concerning practice.

Please be aware that parents are not to use the staff carparks at any time in the morning. YOSHC families can use the carparks after 3.30pm if there is a carpark available.

Remember:

Stop Kiss and Go is at the front of the school. This is a 2 minute zone and parents must stay with their vehicle. Be sure to move to the front of the zone before dropping off or picking up to allow the zone to be used efficiently.

Yeronga Park Swimming Carpark – has a pick up zone at the back near the school gate; and Parking is available on Honour Av, School Rd, Park Rd and surrounding streets – checking the council signs.

Please also remember to always cross the road using the pedestrian crossing or at the lights. Crossing the road from behind a parked vehicle can be very unsafe and dangerous.

We ask for your help ensuring that all our students get to school and home again safely.

Payments

The Payment Desk is open every day from 8.15am – 8.45am at the back of A Block near the Year 5 classrooms. You can pay using your credit card or cash (no change available). Boxes are open all day and students can drop off their payments with the exact amount in an envelope into the ‘Office Box’ at any time (be sure to include name, class, event name). We will process the payment the next day and send the receipt through to the class.

The schools preferred method of payment is QParents or BPoint.

BPoint details are:

To pay over the phone please call 1300 631 073

To pay over online please go to -

You must have your invoice and Customer Reference Number (CRN) number with you. (CRN number will be found on the bottom left hand corner of the invoice)

To access QParents you must follow the instructions sent in the QParents email. Once you have set up your account, you can view all outstanding invoices at any time, view payments made, download school report cards and advise absences.

The office will only take payments AFTER 10am each day. We appreciate your understanding as we are very busy in the morning.

SchoolZine App

This year we will continue to use the SchoolZine app to communicate payment reminders, change to school routine (e.g. swimming carnival, excursion leaving at 8.30am), as well as any last minute information (e.g. excursion back late). Please follow the instructions below to install the App on your phone.

ROBOTICS CLUB

Robotics Club got off to a great start this year. It was wonderful to see lots of first time attendees from grade three and the return of our experienced grade six robotics engineers.

We started off with a brief overview of the Lego Mindstorms EV3 robots and a friendly 'battlebots' competition.

Some of the activities we will be doing this year include:

• Building EV3 robots
• Coding using the EV3 visual programming language
• Learning how the EV3 sensors and motors work
• Coding using Scratch
• Coding using Python

Robotics Club takes place in the computer lab at the library every Tuesday and Wednesday during first break. All students in grades 3 to 6 are very welcome to come along and join in the fun.

Greg Cowell

MUSIC

It’s been a very busy three weeks down at Music Rooms. Instrumental Music lessons along with Cosmio Singers and Stella Voce rehearsals began this week. It has been pleasing to see many students arrive eagerly, promptly and prepared for rehearsals.

Cosmio Singers and Stella Voce both started learning three new songs in their first rehearsals. Cosmio Singers commenced “Sleep”, “My Little Boat” and “Shoo Fly/Get That Fly!” and Stella Voce commenced “The Tailor and The Mouse”, “Dem Bones” and “Whisper”. All Choir members are encouraged to check out the choir blog via the link below to gain access to all of the materials that they will need to help them with practising these pieces at home. Each post on this blog is password protected from the general public. The password was given to all members on the choir permission form that was sent home last week but if you/your child has forgotten this, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at leeas0@eq.edu.au for a reminder.

Finally, permission forms to attend before-school choir rehearsals are now overdue. Please drop any overdue forms to the office or to Mrs Easey as soon as possible.

Yours in Music,

Lauren Easey
(Music Specialist)

RESOURCE CENTRE

Library books

A remark made by one of our new students this week was “wow, not even the public library has the whole set of the books I love to read”. This comment makes us feel extremely proud as we work hard to keep our library up to date and with a good range of books. We constantly give students messages about looking after the library books and the library equipment, and ask that you reinforce those messages.

We have a procedure for missing or lost books. We are aware that sometimes you may be scanning away and the system is not registering the book returns. So if your child has had a notice or been told that they have books outstanding please contact us. Our first step is to check on the shelves in case this has happened. If we cannot find the book on the shelf then we remove that book from your child’s name and mark the book as missing. We then allow a grace period of a term before we ask that you either replace the book or make a $20 donation to the library. Please do not pay the donation before one term and when your do pay mark the transaction clearly with the message “replacement of library book”, your child’s nameand the name of the book. In our experience, the book usually does turn up. If you pay before one term it becomes too complicated to return your donation.

BYOipads

Over the past week, there have been many new learnings for our Year 2 students, as well as the teachers and myself. We began with using “Book Creator” to be able to record our learning. This app allows you to create a book or video by adding, text, drawings, and sound to their work. It also means that you as a parent can also add feedback in a quick and easy way. Just click on the + click on text to type your message or on the sound recording to record your voice message.

Check out the video on the Book Creator Team’s website.

AirDrop

One of our new learnings is sharing through airdrop.

It is important for students to be able to share their work or pictures with their peers and the teachers.

To help us

Please make sure that airdrop and Bluetooth is not limited in restrictions.

Make sure that your ipad is identifiable. (General>about>name – please enter your child’s name and class e.g. Debbie Cowie 2W) This helps students to know who they are sharing with.

Teach your child to always have receiving off until you want to share.

Finally talk to your child about not sharing with someone they don’t know or who may not want to receive 50 pictures of their pet turtle.

We will reinforce these messages at school.

Curriculum sound bite - ICT Capability

“In the Australian Curriculum, students develop Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability as they learn to use ICT effectively and appropriately to access, create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in all learning areas at school and in their lives beyond school. ICT capability involves students learning to make the most of the digital technologies available to them, adapting to new ways of doing things as technologies evolve and limiting the risks to themselves and others in a digital environment.”

We like to encourage our students to become creators as well as users of ICT’s. So when your child likes to play games on scratch encourage them to look into the back end of the programming and see if they can tweak the programmes and make them better.

Deborah Cowie / Faith Hage

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Cross Country Training

Cross Country Training has begun next with the climax being the School Cross Country on 20 March (To be confirmed). Sessions will be on Mondays from 3:15 to 3:45 and Tuesdays from 8:00 to 8:30 with Mr Bateman, Fridays 8 to 8:30 with Mr Sutherland. The Friday sessions with Mr Sutherland have just been changed.

Mr Sutherland, who is a qualified personal trainer and an elite runner, in 10km events, is willing to run these sessions free of charge.

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. Consequently coaches could concentrate much more on skills.

Gala Days

Gala Days are well and truly on the horizon for children interested in 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.

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 the 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.

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 and Joshua S.

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 (10 – 12 year olds)

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: 23 May (Apologies for the error in the previous edition)
District Boys' Football (Soccer) Trials: 23 May (Apologies for the error in the previous edition)
YSS Senior Cross Country: TBC
District Netball Trials: 19 April
Regional AFL Trial: 23 to 24 April
District Touch Trial: 21 May

Cameron Bateman

CHAPPY’S CHAT

Being Connected…

The new P&C campaign “just one thing” is an easy way for us all to get connected, be involved, and meet new families at this school. I encourage everyone to participate, but especially those who are new to the school community and would greatly benefit from finding new friends and developing a sense of belonging.

We know that it is important to eat well, to exercise and to get enough sleep, but social connection is also extremely important. It contributes greatly to our sense of well-being and physical health that leads to increased life expectancy, strengthened immune system, lower rates of anxiety and depression, and higher self-esteem.

Brene Brown, a respected Professor at the University of Houston recognises that “a deep sense of love and belonging is an irresistible need of all people”. She says that “we are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick. We are profoundly social creatures. We may think we want money, power, fame, beauty, eternal youth or a new car, but at the root of most of these desires is a need to belong, to be accepted, to connect with others, to be loved.“

So what will you do to be connected, or to feel a “sense of belonging” to this school community? If this is a difficult thing for you to do, please come and chat with me, or with your GP or other health professional.

Donations…

I have recently had a large donation of new back-packs and lunch boxes of various sizes and colours, so please let me know if your children would benefit from a new school bag. Also if your family are in need of any stationery, books, or other school items at any time throughout the year, please contact me.

Coming up….

13/2 “Chappy Pancakes” - next Tuesday morning 7:30-8:30am
Support YSS Chaplaincy by having a yum breakfast at school. Get in early to buy your pancakes ($2) and drinks (juice, tea and coffee $1) from outside the tuckshop. Stop and say hi to me!
9/3 International Women’s Day Breakfast for Year 5-6 women
Monday 19th March – Junior School Harmony Day Assembly
Thursday 22nd March – Senior School Harmony Day Assembly
27-29/3 Chappy Week fun

Blessings,
Chappy Jenny

SCHOOL BANKING

Remember to bring along your banking each Thursday.

COMMUNITY

Dylan Hynd,YSHS School Captain delivered the Acknowledgement of Country at assembly last week. Dylan is a young indigenous man and a past student of Yeronga Primary School, who reminded the children of why they do the Acknowledgement to Country each week when we gather for Assembly. Recently I had feedback from an Indigenous Elder in Canberra who attended our assembly last year. She was amazed to hear all our children say the Acknowledgement to Country each week and felt it was a beautiful practice.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Souths Chiefs meet the Stars

Overseas Exchange Student

Sapphire Netball Club

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