17 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL REPORT

Congratulations to the students in Years 3 and 5 for completing the Naplan tests to the best of their ability. Students who have been absent on the three days of testing will have another opportunity to complete the tests on Friday. The results are distributed to schools in Semester 2.

My stay at Yeronga State School is almost over. Thank you to everyone for making me feel at home. I have enjoyed my time here. It has been wonderful to be a part of formal ceremonies and other more relaxed activities. Thank you to the P&C and their volunteers for a successful Mother’s Day stall and the air-conditioning in the prep classrooms and tuckshop.

To state the obvious, this is a good school. What makes a school a good school? Based on my experiences, schools that not only have the student at the heart of decision making but also plan for success, develop the capacity of the staff and also base decisions on evidence are the schools that are most successful. Two years of research from the reviews conducted by the School Improvement Unit have strong evidence to prove that planning, capacity and data are criteria for success. This school ticks all the boxes. The staff are committed to the success of all students. The school’s Strategic Plan and Improvement Plan are thoughtful and based on data trends and feedback from the community. The school has implemented the agenda gradually. Curiosity and Powerful learning has been in place since 2015. Inquiry units in Prep, Year 5 and 6 have met with a lot of success and students are enthusiastic about their learning. It is also exciting to see the Year 2 students using iPads with skill and confidence. As these agenda items roll out throughout the school, the trajectory of success will continue.

Good schools aim to get better and be great schools. I know that this school is working on strategies to develop consistent mechanisms for curriculum delivery and reporting to parents. I would like to wish the school all the very best in the future.

Michelle D’Netto
Acting Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL REPORT

Mother’s Day Celebrations

Our students enjoyed carefully selecting items from the recent Mother’s Day Stall to take home as a sign of their appreciation for mothers and other special people in their lives. A sincere thank you to the Yeronga State School P&C for their exceptional organisation of this stall, which is certainly value by the students. Thank you also to all members of the school community who sent in donations.

The Prep students invited their mothers and other special visitors to a morning of pampering last Friday. There were a wonderful range of pampering options on offer including fingernail painting, shoulder rubs, class performances and individual gifts. The morning culminated with a delightful picnic for each Prep class.

NAPLAN

Well done to our Year Five and Three students for putting in their best effort whilst completing the NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) which was held this week. We were impressed by the level of determination and persistence displayed by these students. The results of the NAPLAN testing will be sent home to parents later in the school year.

Athletics Trials

Athletics Trials for students in Year Three- Six have begun. These trials are an opportunity for students develop their skills across the different athletics events and possibly gain selection to represent their sports house at the Athletics Carnival. The Senior Athletics Carnival is being held on Tuesday 19 June. A ‘Discus Day’ will be held for selected students on Thursday 14 June and the 800m events will be held on Friday 15 June. Prep- Year Two students can look forward to the Junior Athletics Carnival will be held from 9am-11am on Thursday 21 June.

Head Lice

Please note that an email has recently been sent to all parents in regards to head lice, as we have had some incidence of head lice being detected by families within our school community. Please support us by carrying out regular checks on your child.

Disco

Our Student Council have set the date for a Disco later this term. It will be held on the night of Thursday 28 June, with the Prep-Year Two students able to attend from 5pm-6pm and the Year Three- Six students able to attend from 6.30-8pm. The theme for the disco is ‘Fantasy’- so students can start coming up with their best ideas for imaginary characters (as there will be prizes for the best costumes- the more creative the better)!

Yeronga State High School Open Day

We look forward to working in partnership with our local High School as the Year Five and Six students attend the Yeronga State High School Open Day being held on Wednesday 23 May (9am-2.30pm). Our class teachers will accompany the students on this day as they get to have a ‘sneak peek’ into what they can expect for the next chapter of their schooling journey. We thank the staff at Yeronga State High School for affording our students this exciting opportunity.

Class Recycle Bins

The Green Team at Yeronga State School have been working industriously to set us up in readiness for classes to use paper recycling bin, continuing to maintain our focus on being ‘Global Citizens’. This involves the collection of paper waste in each classroom, which is then emptied out into the recycling bins on a regular basis. The Green Team have done a fabulous job in educating us all, through a thoughtful performance on both Junior and Senior Assembly, to spread the message of the importance of developing sustainable practices within and beyond our school community.

Kate Paynter and Marie Robertson

P & C REPORT

pandc@yerongass.eq.edu.au

Building Fund Appeal

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far to the Building Fund Appeal. It’s been a fabulous start however we still have a long way to go to be able to air condition the next part of the school. If you still haven’t donated, please consider doing so via our easy online GiveNow link.

Some families have asked to give by direct bank deposit instead. If you prefer to do this, please follow the instructions via our bank deposit link.

Remember, you’ll be provided with a fully tax deductible receipt that you can use come tax time!

Business Donations to the Building Fund Appeal

We have had some enquiries from local businesses wanting to support the P&C in our attempts to provide a cooler, air conditioned environment for our kids. If you have a local business or know of any local businesses that would be interested in making a fully tax deductible donation to our appeal please contact us at yerongasspandc@gmail.com. We will provide you with a certificate of appreciation that you can display in your business, an acknowledgment in the newsletter and provide a link to your service on the P&C Facebook page.

Fete Information Night

Some of the outgoing fete committee will be sharing their experience, tips and tricks for organising an awesome fete on Monday 28th May at 7pm in the Resource Centre. If you are interested in helping (either just a little, or a lot) please come along to meet up with other interested people and hear what is involved and how you can contribute. If you’d like to be involved but can’t attend, please let us know at yerongasspandc@gmail.com and we’ll pass your details on to the new team.

Prep and Tuckshop Air-conditioning

Thank you to Chris and the team from CHRIS air-conditioning for installing air-conditioning for us over the weekend. They’ve done a fabulous job and I’m sure the prep kids and teachers will really appreciate it when the next heatwave hits. I’d also like to thank their families for allowing them to get it all finished on Mothers Day for us. You’ve really been a joy to work with and we’re thrilled to finally have it installed.

Mother’s Day Stall

Huge thank you to everyone who donated to the Mother’s Day Stall and Kristen and the team of mums who helped coordinate and run it. The kids certainly seemed to enjoy choosing their gifts and hopefully all the special recipients loved their presents. We managed to raise $1766 on the day which is a new record. Thank you once again to everyone involved.

Junior School Snow Cones

The snow cone machine certainly got a work out at the junior school cross country carnival. Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers and a total of $468 was raised. There were many happy, sweaty faces on the day! Thanks once again to Lauren and Juliet for coordinating.

Painting Working Bee

We’re hoping to freshen up the small music room used for extracurricular music with a fresh coat of paint. If you’re a closet DIYer, a painter by trade or if you just enjoy a spot of painting we would love to try and get a couple volunteers together to do this. If you have a spare tin of neutral paint that you’d be able to donate we’d also love to take it off your hands. Please get in touch with us at yerongasspandc@gmail.com if you can help.

Fairfield Family Picnic

The Fairfield Family Picnic will be held on Saturday 26th May from 2-5pm. We have been asked to contribute by running the snow cone stall. If you are able to help on the stall for an hour or two we would really appreciate your help. Please sign up online at the link below.

This is a great community event for the whole family.

Jo Thompson

MONEY MATTERS

Payments Due

The following excursions and invoices are now due. Please use BPoint or QParents to finalise these amounts as soon as possible.

2018 Student Resource Scheme – various amounts
Religious Instruction - $6.90
Year 5 Camp - $200.00
Year 2 Big Bang - $7.00

Online Payments

We would like to thank parents and guardians for using the online payment systems – BPoint and QParents. We hope you are finding it much easier to pay for invoices and avoid doubling-up in payments. This systems also makes it much easier for us as payments are immediately allocated against the correct invoice and student.

Nicki Allardyce

FROM THE OFFICE

Don’t forget every Wednesday is Active School Travel Day at Yeronga State School

Walk, ride your scooter or bike, catch public transport (even if it’s just one stop) or carpool by grabbing a lift with another family.

It’s 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.

Every child should have an Active School Travel Passport which is stamped each time they actively travel.

Passports can be stamped in the Senior School (under the Grade 3 building) and in the Junior School (outside the Grade 1 building). When children accumulate enough stamps they get a great reward.

2019 Enrolment

We are starting the enrolment process for 2019 and ask all current families who will have a new child starting next year, to complete an enrolment form ASAP. Enrolment forms are available here, our website or from the school office.

Once the enrolment form is completed, please deliver to the office together with a copy of Birth Certificate. If you are aware of any families looking to start at Yeronga State School next year, please direct them to the office for further information.

School Photo Update

As part of the school photos in April, photos were also taken for Student Council, Senior Leaders etc. Parents will be sent an additional envelope in October (after our music photo day) including all additional photos their children have been in during the year.

MUSIC

Music News

Things are getting very busy in the Music Department. As you may already be aware, our first formal performance for the year is quickly approaching. This year, we are doing things a little differently and holding a combined Junior/Senior Ensemble Showcase. The Showcase is at 6pm on Friday, June 15 at Yeronga State High School. All of the extra-curricular music ensembles are involved in this event including the Cosmio Singers, Stella Voce, the Senior Concert Band, the Junior Concert Band, Stradivari Strings, Brandenburg Strings and, the Chamber Strings group. A note with further details will be emailed home by the end of this week to the parents/guardians of all participating students. If you do not receive this email, please do not hesitate to contact me at leeas0@eq.edu.au. It would be lovely to see a large, welcoming crowd at our Showcase to support our talented music students so please lock this date into your diary.

Strings News

The Southside Junior Strings Camp is coming up at the end of the term. The camp is for any strings players at the school in their second year of playing and is held at Coorparoo State School on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 of June. Camp forms need to be handed back to the office by June 1. Families will then be invoiced the $50 fee by the school.

We're looking forward to sharing some of the music we've been learning with the school community at some upcoming school assemblies. The string ensembles are scheduled to play at the following assemblies:

Week 6, Junior Assembly, Monday May 21- Brandenburg Ensemble
Week 7, Senior Assembly, Thursday May 31, Chamber Ensemble (Group D)
Week 8, Junior Assembly, Monday June 4, Stradivari Ensemble

Congratulation to Huong Mai who has been accepted into the Middle School State Honours Ensemble Program. We hope the program is a great experience for you!

Lauren Easey

RESOURCE CENTRE

2018 Premier's Reading Challenge is on again!

This year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge has begun Monday 14 May and closes on Friday 24 August 2018.

GETTING STARTED

1. Each student must fill out their School Reader Record Form as they complete each book.
2. Students to return their completed reading record form to their teacher or the library by Friday 24 August 2018.

The school is running a competition for the student who complete the challenge first. These first finishers will receive a book prize.

Prizes are available for first finishers in prep-year 2 and year 3 to 6.

Thank you for your involvement in this year's Premier Reading Challenge. Let’s make 2018 the biggest year to date!

Mrs Hage

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Regional Cross Country Participants

Congratulations to Margaret G, Alexander P, Elijah H, Chloe P, Harry C and Harry A who will shortly compete for Regional selection. Well done and don’t miss a chance to train.

Athletics Training

Athletics training has commenced on Monday afternoons (3:15 to 3:45) and Thursday mornings (8 to 8:30) and will continue until the Senior and Junior Athletics Carnivals. The dates of these two carnivals can be found below.

Athletics Selection Trials (Years 3 o 6)

These are now in progress and the following schedule is to inform students what they will be doing in each of the following weeks. These trials are to select the finalists and relay teams from each House for our Senior Athletics Carnival to be held on 19 June.

Yeronga State School Senior (Years 3-6) Athletics Carnival Day 19 June

As with all of these events we would like to extend an invitation to all parents to attend this carnival. 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.

11:00am - 30 min lunch break
11:30am - girls field rotations and boys Sprint, 200m heats & finals
1:30pm - 15 minute break
1:45pm - boys’ and girls' Gifts
2:00pm – relays
2:45pm - presentations

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.

Gala Days (10 to 12 Years Students)

Gala Days for Semester One have reached their conclusion. However we have boys and girls football teams who have won the cluster (what used to be known as our district). We await details to see where and when these teams will play off for regional supremacy.

It is also important that children begin thinking about their gala day options for semester 2. These will include: AFL (for boys and girls), Cricket (for boys and girls), Netball (for girls) & Touch (for boys and girls).

District Representative Sport Opportunities

Students turning 10 – 12 years old in 2018 are able to nominate to attend Eastern Taipan District sporting trials. Athletes who compete at district trials must have a high level of ability in their chosen sport.

If your child is interested in participating in a selection trial, contact Mr Bateman a month before the trials. Dates can be found on the Eastern Taipan District website and below. District Convenors expect each school to only nominate students who have exhibited a very high level of ability in that sport. Whilst your child may be at the highest level at club sport, this is no guarantee they will be selected to try-out for District Team. Our school has 2 sports convenors who understand the standard required and for this reason we only send children who demonstrate that high level of ability.

Qualification for Track and Field, Swimming and Cross Country district trials are finalised after the school carnivals.

Important Sporting Dates (District and Regional Dates for 10 to 12 Year Olds Only)

District Tennis: 22 May
District Rugby Union: 28 May
Regional Cross Country: 1 June
Regional Touch Trial: 4 June
Regional Girls and Boys Football: 5 June
Regional Tennis: 5 June
District Girls and Boys Softball: 7 June
Regional Rugby Union: 13 June
Regional Golf: 14 June
Regional Girls Softball: 21 June
Regional Boys Softball: 22 June

Cameron Bateman

CHAPPY’S-CHAT

This week I have had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the Northern Territory and be involved in some community projects. The most exciting for me was to visit an Indigenous Community within Uluru National Park and work at the Mutitjulu School. The school is in the shadow of Uluru, and it is very visible to the whole community.

As part of my visit I was able to do some small group activities and lead lunch-time activities. I tried to encourage the teachers, gave them gifts, and helped with some lesson prep. For the students, I had treats and also activity sheets completed by students from our school (describing their favourite food, shops, things and activities) and left with them the same activity to complete and return back to us. It will be interesting for our students to see what children in a remote location identify as their favourite things in life. I hope that this is the start of many future interactions between our schools. When I tried to describe YSS, the Aboriginal children were shocked with the size of our school (there were only 20 students in attendance on that day), and that there were children from so many different countries around the world. They also couldn’t understand that no dogs were allowed in the classrooms, as the children’s dogs could wander happily in and out of the classrooms.

Apart from the dogs and a layer of red dust nearly everywhere, the classrooms looked very similar to our learning spaces. They had similar programs for much of their learning. I saw charts, noticeboards, messages the same as what we see at our school particularly around behaviour, values, reading, and even morning notices. Some of the children were also doing their NAPLAN tests.

I regularly teach YSS students about “how to feel good” and help them to write their own “Relaxation Menu”. That includes working out ways to calm your body to feel good, doing things to feel happy, and also finding ways to help other people. This week away for me has been about helping other people, and I have learnt so much about different cultures, about how to help others in crisis situations, and encourage those serving in remote communities who feel isolated and drained. We don’t all need to make a trek into the middle of Australia to help others and learn valuable life lessons. There is always great need around us, and many opportunities to help others. As you step out to meet someone else’s need, you will learn and grow as a person, and it will also help you to find a new level of happiness.

Upcoming events…

Don’t forget about the sub and drink lunch deal next Tuesday 22 May. Envelopes need to be returned to the special stand-alone boxes near the usual payment boxes provided by Friday 18 May. All funds raised are used entirely for the Chaplaincy program to operate at Yeronga State School. Thank you for your support.

22/7 Sub and drink lunch
3/8 Chappy’s Movie Night
21/9 Chappy Pancakes
27-28/10 Camp at School with Dad (please note - revised date)

Blessings,
Chappy Jenny

Jennifer Bennett

SCHOOL BANKING

Remember to bank every Thursday to earn some great prizes.

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