Deputy Principals

As we mark the half way point of Term One, it is timely to reflect on the positive start to the school year here at Yeronga State School. Staff have been focussed on building 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 we 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.

School Induction Ceremony

It was our 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 two Leadership Induction ceremonies held last week.  These students were selected by their peers and school staff to be the leaders of our student body for this school year. We were joined at the ceremonies by a number of parents in order to celebrate and recognise the student leaders for 2021. Our 2020 school captains, Libby and Ben made a return to their primary school to “pass the baton” to our new captains.

Our student leaders will be expected to exemplify our school expectations of being responsible, being respectful, being safe and always doing their best.  We are 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.

Before School Expectations

It is timely for us to share with the school community our expectations around before and after school play. We ask our school community to assist us by adhering to the following guidelines:

• The Prep and Year 1 Nature’s Play area is out of bounds for all children before and after school (this aligns with our procedures for the Senior Natures Play area)
• No student should be in the school grounds before 8:15am unless attending YOSHC or another approved extra-curricular activity
• All students who are not attending YOSHC should aim to arrive after 8:30am
• Children are not allowed to be playing on any playgrounds, both senior or junior, prior to 8:30am (if any children in Yr 1 – Yr 6 arrive between 8:15am - 8:30am they should be seated under C Block).
• Children in Prep and Year 1 only are allowed to be on the Prep and Year 1 play equipment between 8:30am – 8:45am (this does not apply to Nature’s Play – this is out of bounds).
• Prep children should be signed in at the classroom by a parent at 8:50am.

Thank you in anticipation for your support.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent teacher interviews are a wonderful opportunity for you to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and learning goals for the year.

Interviews will be held during weeks 7, 8 and 9 of this term and an e-mail will be sent during the next fortnight, advising you of how to book.

Parent Information nights

It was wonderful to see so many parents in attendance at the parent information evenings held over the last two weeks.  We have received positive feedback from a number of parents who were pleased with the format and information provided. We continue to welcome your feedback to help us refine these evenings further to ensure they meet the needs of our school community.

Student Council- Free Dress Day

Our Student Council representatives are holding their first Free Dress Day for the year. Students will be invited to come along in free dress and bring a gold coin donation to support the YSS Fete Committee. It has been scheduled for Friday 26 February (which is next week on Friday). The theme will be to “come dressed in clothing from your choice of a decade within the last 150 years” (in line with our 150^th celebration)! All funds raised will go towards the 150^th anniversary Fete this year. Please ensure that students are wearing a shirt with sleeves and closed in shoes.

Upcoming Events

We would love to see you at our upcoming events during this term.

They include:                    

• Senior Cross Country (Wednesday 17^th March)
• Harmony Day (Thursday 18th March)
  
  

Active School Travel

Yes, it's that time of year again! The time to get your skates on, bikes dusted off , legs skipping or walking to our beautiful school precinct.  Active School Travel is starting on Wednesday morning, the 10th of March, and there will be two stations open for our intrepid travellers. For the Upper School it will be under C Block, and for the Junior School, it will be on the green artificial grass in front of the Year One Building. We hope that you will actively travel every Wednesday and come and say a big hello to our new Active School Travel captains – Let’s get active in 2021!
 

Being Kind

During the junior school assembly last week, we focussed on looking into what it means to be kind and safe on the playground.  Over the remainder of the term, your children will inquire into this and come up with behaviours that are safe and kind in the playground.  The generation and discussion of ideas will provoke thinking about being kind and the school rules.  We look forward to sharing the children’s ideas with the school community in the near future.

Enjoy the next two weeks!

Kate Paynter and Tracy Freeman