11 October 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL REPORT

Welcome back to Term 4. I hope everyone had a chance to relax over the break.

Staffing Term 4

Tracy Freeman will be on leave for the first three weeks of this term and Louise Vaggs will replace her in the Deputy Principal role during this time. Louise Vaggs will be replaced in the Head of Curriculum role by Liz Kemp. This is a great opportunity for these staff to step into further leadership roles within our school.

We also welcome back Katie McDermott this term. Katie has been gaining experience overseas and will now take over 2W for the rest of the year.

Year 6 Senior Leaders Program

A reminder to parents that all students in Year 5 are eligible to become senior leaders by completing an application form that must be signed by staff against set criteria, to apply for the senior leader badge. Senior leaders engage in many activities, including peer mediation, prep buddies, sports room monitoring and are regularly consulted regarding school matters. Further information regarding this process will be emailed out to Year 5 parents this week. Year 5 Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children what they would like to do during this process. Please refer to the Student Leadership Handbook to help you with this. We wish the Year 5 students every success as they begin their leadership journey.

Regional Leaders` Symposium Term 3

In the last week of Term 3, I attended Regional Leaders` Day with the deputies. The theme for the day was “Our World is Changing – 21st Century Skills and Dispositions”. Some of the messages that resonated with us included the value of many practices that are already happening at Yeronga. The first speaker talked to us about critical thinking and collaborative inquiry – things that are happening each day in our classrooms at this school. We were reminded that the future is collaborative and this is why collaboration is such an important learning asset for all of us to develop. He also stated that the most significant event in a classroom at any moment is what is happening in a student`s mind – the thinking. We know our students and we ourselves need to be thinkers and need opportunities to question and problem solve. The teaching for thinking to deepen learning is key to the CPL (Curiosity and Powerful Learning) work we do here at Yeronga. Another common theme from the day was that our world will always need people who are compassionate, who can empathise with others and who care. These are the skills that will not be able to be programmed into robots or other artificial intelligence models. These are skills we need to foster and skills we value at Yeronga State School. As a community we can feel very proud of the work that is happening in this school.

“Education is not preparation for life: education is life itself”

John Dewey.

Carmel Herbert
Acting Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL REPORT

It was wonderful to see the ‘spring in the step’ of our students and staff as we kicked off Term Four on Monday. We have so much to look forward to over the coming term including swimming lessons and carnivals, Nude Food Day, Gala Day and Prep Orientation for 2019.

Our staff this term will continue to be involved in a range of professional development initiatives this term including Inquiry learning, CPL (Curiosity and Powerful Learning) which includes linking with other schools in the CPL cluster and 6 Traits of Writing.

Classroom Awards – Update for 2018

Please note that during Term Three our staff completed a review process of the Class Awards. This was necessary to ensure that the awards are:

• the result of a transparent selection process
• based on consistent criteria (detailed below)
• aligned to assessment processes (A-E scale) mandated by ACARA
• a true recognition of student academic achievement

Academic Awards

Effort Awards

Citizenship Award – Walker Award

New Furniture in Year Three

There was much excitement in the 3C, 3LW and 3D classrooms yesterday as a delivery of new furniture was made at the start of the term. This new furniture will enable our students to learn more effectively in a collaborative way and allows flexibility for students to be able to move and change positions within the learning space. It also looks amazing too!

Student Council News - Great Book Swap and Free Dress Day

The YSS Student Council are busy planning for the forthcoming school disco. The Disco will be held on Thursday 15 November. The theme for the Disco will be ‘Come dressed as a Farmer or Farm Animal’. All funds raised will be donated to drought relief for farmers.

Have a fabulous first two weeks of Term Four!

Kate Paynter and Louise Vaggs

P & C REPORT

pandc@yerongass.eq.edu.au

2019 Senior Shirts

All orders for the 2019 Senior Shirts must be finalised by tomorrow, Friday 12th October. Please ensure your form and payment are completed and returned directly to the Uniform Shop or to the P&C Payment Box.

P&C Meeting

The next P&C meeting will be held at 7pm in the Resource Centre on Tuesday 16th October. Please feel free to come along to hear what's been happening in the school community.

Bunnings BBQ

Thank you to everyone for contributing to the BBQ on Saturday, including our volunteers at the BBQ and those that helped behind the scenes. We sold 686 ‘sausage in a blanket’ made from 49 kg of beef sausages, 35 loaves of bread, 16 kg of (hand sliced!) onion and 5 L of sauce. And we raised about $1500, despite the weather!

GE Mallan Meats kindly sold us the sausages at a discount and Woolworths Moorooka and Coles Fairfield both supported us.

Jo Thompson

MONEY MATTERS

Payments Now Due

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

Unmatched Payments

Over the holidays, we have had over 30 payments made with incorrect or missing invoice numbers. This creates a delay in payments being allocated to student accounts. We highly recommend parents and guardians use QParents for all payments. Correct amounts and invoice details are automatically loaded and this system allows payments to be allocated to your child’s account faster.

Nicki Allardyce

FROM THE OFFICE

Procedure For Late Arrivals

Our school rolls are marked by the classroom teachers by 9:00am daily. If your child is not at school by this time, it is highly likely you will receive an SMS indicating that your child is absent. Your child’s safety is our first priority and therefore any unexplained absences receive our immediate attention. If you receive an SMS, please contact us immediately so we can follow up your child’s whereabouts as quickly as possible. I encourage you to `assume the best’ if you know your child is at school.

All late arrivals (after 9am), from Prep through to Year 6 students, must report to the Senior school office for a ‘late’ slip before going to their classrooms. The school office logs the arrival and you will receive a slip to take to the class teacher. It is important to note that even 5 minutes late each day means your child is missing nearly half an hour of schooling a week. That quickly adds up over the course of a year. Late arrival also disrupts the teaching and learning of all students so please help by being on time.

Notifying of Student Absence

Please remember to advise the school of all student absences by 8.30am. We cannot assume students are attending sporting events, open days etc so please ensure these are also reported. Our preferred way to receive this information is through QParents. Once you have set up your QParents account, you can download the app and advise an absence from your phone or IPad, as well as from your computer. You can also advise absences in advance i.e long weekends, holidays, off campus activities.

2019 Enrolments

The enrolment process for 2019 is well underway and we ask all current families who will have a child starting next year, to complete an enrolment form ASAP. If you are aware of any families looking to start at Yeronga State School next year, please let them know to contact the office as soon as possible. Enrolment forms are available here, our website or from the school office.

Extra-Curricular Music and Year 6 Photos

Photos for our extra-curricular music groups and Year 6 cohort will be taken on Wednesday 17 October. All students are to wear their best formal uniform and band/string students are to bring their instrument. All students who have their photo taken will receive an envelope from MSP after the day. Please follow the instructions on the front of the envelope to order.

2019 Student Resource Scheme

The Student Resource Scheme has been implemented at Yeronga State School to ensure that all students have the necessary resources to support their educational requirements. It is also intended as a convenience to parents/caregivers to provide a more economical option to purchasing resources and consumables each year.

Contribution to the scheme is voluntary. Parents/caregivers are under no obligation to join, however they will need to purchase and provide all necessary textbooks and resources for the students if they elect not to join the scheme.

The Student Resource Scheme operates at this school under the policy and guidelines of the Department of Education and Training (DET).

Please read the Student Resource Scheme letter and the Student Resource Scheme Agreement Form attached (do not print or return this form to the school).

If you wish to participate in the Student Resource Scheme please use the link below to complete your details.

Invoices will be sent to those participating in the Student Resource Scheme in term 4. Do not pay until you have received your invoice.

Orders must be received by Wednesday 31 October 2018. No late orders will be accepted.

Are you leaving?

To ensure we are able to plan successfully for next year and to try to avoid the necessity to renegotiate classes after Day 8, it is important for us to have accurate information regarding student enrolments for 2018. Please advise class teachers or the school office if your children will not be returning for 2018. We understand that plans may change between now and the beginning of next year, however families who know they are leaving can help us plan for a successful 2018. Thank you for your help.

AROUND THE SCHOOL

Faraway Visitors

A select group of Injune State School students visited Yeronga State School on September 10th to take advantage of our Rise tennis program before heading off to their school camp. PE Teacher Michael Tucker said all the kids love playing tennis and it was a perfect way to start their week. Injune State School is located 560km west of Yeronga!

Congratulations Willow

Willow in Year 4 competed at National clubs for Gymnastics Trampoline from the 20th - 22nd September, held at the Gold Coast this year.

She is now Australian Champion for level 4 trampoline! It was an open event with some athletes being in their late teens.

GREEN TEAM

Nude Food Day Prizes

Nude Food Day prizes up for grabs! This year's sponsor 'The Source' Bulkfoods at West End have generously offered these beautiful stainless steel nude food lunchboxes and insulated drink bottles as prizes for our individual competition. To enter the draw, the kids just have to come to school with a totally nude lunch. They've also offered an array of plastic free snacks and treats for the winning class, the class with the least amount of rubbish! Nude Food Day...Tuesday 16th October (week 2 of term 4).

Nude Food Day

If you're stuck for ideas on how to make your child's lunch a Nude Food lunch for next Tuesday, see the link for a nude food recipe book!

Bottle Top Collection

If you've been collecting bottle tops for Liby's artwork, please send them along to the tuckshop by THIS FRIDAY so that Liby can get started on the artwork next week. Please make sure you only send bottle tops and that they are clean.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Run Club

Run club will be on again this term. Meet Mr Sutherland at the senior school oval at 8am for some fun and fitness. All students and parents are welcome.

Keep Honing Those Cricket Skills

Mia G and Harvey P will be busy just now practicing for the state cricket championships. Best of luck to them. They will not be letting any chances for practice pass them by.

Swimming Commences in Week 3

Swimming lessons are being held at the times stated in the permission note. Please remember to refer to the equipment list on the permission note so that your children have everything they need for their lessons. Children should have a complete change of clothes, swimming togs including a rashie for lessons, goggles (essential), towel, sunscreen, bathing cap (will be supplied), deodorant (for older students) and flip flops or thongs (much preferred). Rashies are not required for races at carnivals, but students should cover up when not racing.

Swimming Carnivals

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 compete in as once the program is written there will be very little time 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 the carnival will be held in the 25m pool at Yeronga Park there should be little concern over the completion of 50m events.

On a lighter note the big question is; who can end Lawson’s 7 year dominance in swimming? Can Kendall, who won Cross Country? Can Evans, who 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.

Eastern 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.

Next Year’s Early Sporting Trials

It is a little way off just now, but worth noting that there will be a one in seven year change next year (2019) with the Northern Territory hosting the National Athletics. This means that it is most likely that both the Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals will be held in term one. District Cross Country will be held in week 10 of term 1 and District Athletics will be held in week 5 of term 2. This will mean a considerable increase in the workload for all in term 1 including students. It’s particularly worth noting for those training toward representative honours in Athletics and Cross Country.

Important Sporting Dates

Gala Day 2 – 19 October
Gala Day 3 – November 2
Yeronga State School Senior Swimming Carnival (Years 3 – 6) 20 November
Yeronga State School Junior Swimming Carnival (Years 1 & 2) 29 November

Cameron Bateman

CHAPPY’S-CHAT

Welcome back to school for term 4. I hope that the year finishes well for you and your family, and that you enjoy the coming end of year functions and festivities. Please keep in touch with me and let me know if I can be of any help.

Camp at School with Dad – 27&28 October

Each year, I host the mega event of the year “Camp at School with Dad”. It is a fun way for Dads (or granddads, uncles, or other significant male role models) to spend time with their children, as well as have the opportunity to meet lots of other Dads and their kids from across all year levels. The top school oval is transformed into a sea of tents and activity.

While there are some serious campers, there are also many families who are new to the camping experience and find that this is an easy way to go camping; with lots of other families, close to home, toilets at hand, and no cooking needed. All you need to bring is your own tent, bedding, camp chairs, toothbrushes and torches.

This year as an added bonus, I have a keen fisherman coming to do a fishing masterclass. There will be the usual Chappy games where the kids get to embarrass their Dads and manly prowess is on display. Kurilpa Scouts are again involved this year with activities and camp fire.

Registration forms have been sent home, paper copies are available at the payment boxes, and the download link is attached. Numbers will be limited to the first 100 families who register. Registrations are due by Friday next week – 19 October. Looking forward to seeing you at camp!

96Five School Excursion Wrap Up

What a great way it was to bring term 3 to a close with an exciting event, a yummy breakfast, and beautiful weather. It was so interesting to see and engage with a live radio broadcast. Some of our students and staff experienced it up close with interviews, chatting with the announcers, participating in live competitions and reading the weather reports. And our choir performed beautifully and did our school proud with their performance of “Little Black Bird”.

Thank you for your support of another fundraising event for Chaplaincy.

Jennifer Bennett

SCHOOL BANKING

Remember, to bank every Thursday to earn some great prizes.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Rhee Taekwondo - The Family Martial Art

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