As we mark the half way point of Term One, it is timely to reflect on the mammoth start to the school year here at Yeronga State School. Staff have been focussed on building positive connections with students in order to maximise achievement through creating comfortable and safe learning environments, which are conducive to meeting students' developmental, emotional and academic needs. As parents, you play an essential role in the education of your child and I hope that you have been able to meet and begin building a strong partnership with your child’s teacher. Research proves that strong parent home partnerships have a positive impact on both the academic and social emotional wellbeing of children.

LEADERSHIP INDUCTION

It was my great pleasure to acknowledge the students who will be representing our school this year as Senior Leaders and/ or in various formal leadership positions, during our Leadership Induction ceremony last week. These students were selected by their peers and school staff to be the leaders of our student body for this school year.

Approximately 70% of our Year 6 students received leadership badges and 20 students from Year 3-6 received Student Council badges as their class representatives. My message to those students in Year 6 who did not receive a Senior Leader badge last week, is that I encourage them to work towards receiving their badge. As a school we will support these students in this process, as we believe that everyone has the capacity to be a leader.

Our student leaders will be expected to exemplify our school expectations of being responsible, being respectful, being safe and always doing their best. I am confident that the students who received their badges will rise to the expectations that we have for them and we will be a stronger, more effective school community with their input. Leaders cannot and do not work alone. Our student leaders will need the support of staff, fellow students and family to accomplish all that they are required to do and overcome any challenges they face. We all have a role to play in supporting and helping our student leaders as they step up to their leadership positions.

We must help set them up for success through our own actions and words each day. I know that our Yeronga State School community is a caring, supportive community and we will support these leaders to achieve all that they are seeking to do.

PLANS FOR 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR YERONGA STATE SCHOOL

2021 will be a monumental year for Yeronga State School, as we celebrate 150 years since the opening of our wonderful school. We have a committee busy making plans for our 150th Birthday celebrations and they have some important dates for you to mark in your diary in preparation for next year.

Date Claimers:

Foundation Day Assembly- Friday 5/2/21

ANZAC Day Ceremony- Friday 23/4/21

Fete – 22/5/21

Alumni Afternoon Tours- Saturday 11/9/21

Bushdance- Saturday 11/9/21

Ballgames- 14/9/21

Staff Gala Dinner- Saturday 9/10/21

DENTAL BUILDING

Whilst we await news on the next stage in the development of the former Dental building, we have been working closely with the Metropolitan Region Facilities staff to ensure that the site is well-maintained. We are pleased to note that a regular maintenance schedule has been established, as well as additional security patrols will be carried out in order to keep this area safe and well monitored.

QUADRENNIAL SCHOOL REVIEW

During Term 3 this year our school will be taking part in a Quadrennial School Review. School reviews complement the department’s four-year school planning, reviewing and reporting cycle. Schools are generally reviewed in the year that they are due to update their four-year strategic plan. This will be an important process for us to undertake here at YSS as we review our 2017-2020 Strategic Plan and prepare a new plan for the following four years. Findings and feedback from the review will provide valuable input into this process.

School reviews consider a school’s performance against the nine domains of the National School Improvement Tool. The tool was developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in consultation with all states and territories, including Queensland. It is evidence-based and provides schools with a consistent framework from which to consider their improvement agenda. Community feedback will be an essential part of the review, with parents, students and the community encouraged to have their say.

OUR COMMUNITY IS AS STRONG AS YOUR CONTRIBUTION

On Tuesday last week we had our first P&C meeting of the year, including the AGM where all Executive positions lapsed and the selection of the P&C Executive for this year occurred. The annual P&C report highlighted the great contribution that the P&C and our parent body make to the school. The strong partnership with the P&C and school working together towards common objectives is what makes our community so strong.

Kate Paynter

Acting Principal