Dear Families,

Please enjoy the holiday break with the children.  Now more than ever, the holiday break is a time for our young people to get outside and play. Recently Georgia, Madeleine, Kaitlin and Hannah, took action on an issue at school. They collectively wanted to improve the Nature’s Play areas around the school and worked over a weekend to run a bake and sell store in their neighbourhood. The girls raised $23.05 for the Student Council to put towards the outdoor learning and play legacy committee. Thank you and congratulations girls!

Recently I have been reading The Anxious Generation -How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. In The Anxious Generation, Haidt describes how, between 2010 and 2015, childhood and adolescence got rewired. With the advent of smart-phones and social media, time engaging face-to-face with friends and family plummeted, and so did mental health. He purports this has taken place incrementally in three junctures since the 1970s. Starting against a gradual loss of declining childhood freedom and free-play, as parents (and educators) over-supervised every aspect of their children's lives off-line (depriving them of the experiences they most need to become strong and self-governing adults). Ironically, against a drastic increase in under-supervision and freedom on-line.

I support our PandC and school staff for taking on this issue in partnership as a school community. In the absence of legislative guidance on the issue for primary school age students, we can design solutions for how our students continue to access technology as they learn and engage with the curriculum, whilst protecting them from harm. I look forward to seeing many of our parents at the upcoming forum run by our PandC on this topic.

Next semester we say farewell to some much loved and long-term staff. Teacher, Ms Lindsey Jobbins has been a staff member at Yeronga for 10 Years and recently accepted a transfer to Serviceton South State School. We wish Lindsey all the best in her new adventure and thank her for her commitment to YSS over so many years. Sadly, we say goodbye to our much-loved Tarnee Southwell. Tarnee has been successful in the acting Head of Special Education Services position at Sherwood State School. Again, we wish Tarnee all the best in her new role. This week we farewelled Sherrie Sward who has had a long association as parent and staff member for nearly 25 Years. I know our community share with me sincere best wishes for a wonderful next phase in your lives.

Please look out for the email on Wednesday with your child’s Semester Report. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Have a wonderful last week of term and a safe and happy holiday.

Eunice Webb

Principal