Welcome back to school

2020 is off to an excellent start. I extend a sincere thank you to 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: Ms Felicia Chapman (Yr 1), Mrs Emma Moller (Yr 1), Mrs Clarissa Fraser (Yr 1), Mr Cameron Peterson (Yr 1), Mrs Tammy McNeil (Yr 1), Miss Jessica Watkins (Yr 2), Mr Luke Marchment (Yr 2). Welcome back to Mr Aaron Hartin (Yr 5) and Miss Louise Vaggs (Deputy Principal- Acting). We know you will be an asset to our Yeronga SS team.

A special welcome to our new families as well. I look forward to meeting many of the new Prep families at the Prep Picnic this coming Saturday. Thank you to our P&C Executive for doing such a fantastic job of coordinating this forthcoming event.

2020 SCHOOL PRIORITIES

Last week I had the privilege of spending 3 days of professional development and learning with school staff. The level of commitment and dedication staff have to the school improvement agenda and wanting the best for every child is awe inspiring and I feel honoured to lead such a fabulous team. The positive energy, level of collaboration, cooperation and professionalism demonstrated by all meant that we have laid a great foundation to keep striding towards our vision in 2020.

Emphasise Inquiry Focussed Teaching

• Curiosity and Powerful Learning Whole School Theory of Action
• Prep, 5&6- Multi- Disciplinary Inquiry Units
• Year 1-4 – HASS, Science, Design or Digital Technology Inquiry Units

Using Assessment for Learning (A4L) to deepen our Inquiry Stance

• Inquiry
• Maths – Creating Courageous and Resilient Mathematical Thinkers
• Writing

Creating a Connected Community

• High Expectations and Authentic Relationships
• Creating a caring environment – children looking after each other and the natural environment
• Promoting Active and Proactive Leadership – school level, classroom level, teacher and students
• Communication Techniques
• Consistency of expectations

Our priorities this year are continuing with the journey towards our 2020 vision of Connected Individuals, Curious Learners and Community Minded Citizens. Staff will continue to engage in professional learning activities to help develop their capacity in these areas.

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 ‘odd’ 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 continue to follow the school rule of being respectful to model positive, helpful interactions for our children.

In 2020 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.

Parent Representatives

Our Parent Representative Scheme will continue this year as a way to support the class and connect children and parents in our school community. The role of the Parent Rep is to strengthen the parent-school partnership, create a welcoming class atmosphere for new families and promote parent involvement within our school.

Class teachers will be talking to parents over the next week or so, as they seek two parent representatives for their class. If you are interested in being a parent representative, please let your child’s class teacher know. Jodie Swan, our parent representative coordinator, will be holding an induction for class parent representatives on Monday in Week 3. Thank you in advance for your willingness to support the school community if you choose to take on this role for your class.

Parent e-mail addresses will be distributed to class parent representatives to form the class e-mail distribution list. Parents can choose to opt out by notifying their class representative after the first communication. E-mail addresses are not distributed to other class members parents as all e-mails are blind copied.

Roll on 2020

It was wonderful to observe the looks of joy on the faces of students this week, as they farewelled the school holidays and embraced the possibilities of the year ahead here at YSS. There is a real sense of hope, optimism and excitement around the corridors of our school. All the best to everyone in our school community for an amazing year ahead.

Kate Paynter

Acting Principal