Dear Friends, 

On behalf of our school community I extend a warm welcome to newly appointed permanent principal of Yeronga State Highschool, Timothy Barraud. This is wonderful news and I look forward to working closely over the years with Timothy for the betterment and flourishing of our community. 

Student Leadership program 2022 and beyond…

The school leadership team continue to be committed to providing opportunities for all students in Year 3-6 to undertake leadership responsibilities that contribute to the betterment of the school community. For many years students in Year 3-6 have the opportunity to be elected to represent their class as a Student Council Representative and students in Year 6, more formal leadership roles. This important program that supports student agency and voice to decisions that affect their school will continue.

In 2022, the student leadership selection process and roles will look slightly different from what it has been previously. Formal leadership roles will continue to include; School Captains and Vice Captains, House Captains, and Performing Arts Captains with some minor changes to the selection process and criteria.

From 2022 at the commencement of the new school year, all students in Year 6 will be required to nominate for one of the four school priority area committees including; Wellbeing, Outdoor Play, Sustainability and Curiosity and Creativity. These committees will be supervised by one of the school leadership team and Year 6 teachers and meet twice per term. Through their active participation in the four Legacy Committees, students will be engaged in deciding on a legacy project in their final year of primary school and commit to fundraising and contributing to the committee goals through engaging with the students, parents, staff and community.

Students currently in Year 5 have begun their leadership journey this week at Currumbin Valley School Camp. Next week (Week 4), year 5 students will be briefed with the nomination and selection process for next years’ student leadership.

We’re excited to begin this process soon, and to work with our future student leaders. 

BYOD Consultation and Survey

Following the BYOD iPAD information evening earlier this term, all parents in Year 1 were invited to complete a survey regarding the BYOD iPAD program commencing in Year 2. This expectation to purchase an iPAD for children on entering Year 2 has been in place since the school introduced the 1:1 device program a few years ago. Following consultation with current Year 2 Teaching Staff, School Technician, Head of Digital Learning, Year 1 Parents and the school Leadership Team, Year 2 Students will not be expected to participate in the BYOD device program from 2022 on. The school will purchase iPADs for classroom use in Year 2. In response to feedback, parents will be asked to purchase an iPAD for children from Year 3. The initial cost to the school will be approximately $60 000. The school will purchase half of the required devices in 2021 in readiness for the 2022 school year and as funds become available, purchase more for the Year 2 cohort to use at school.

In order to ensure sustainability of the purchasing and asset replacement of iPADs the school administration is proposing the Introduction of a Voluntary Contribution scheme with DGR status for parents and community to contribute to the ongoing costs of digital resources and iPADS. Details will be tabled at the November PandC meeting.

School Facilities

At this stage the plan is for the school Administration, First Aid and Staffroom be open and operational ready for the start of 2022. As the first floor (classrooms and Curiosity Centre) will be still under construction during Term 1 2022 and the surrounding access still a worksite, classrooms will not be moving into the building until the full site is completed. It is anticipated this will be at Easter 2022 in readiness for Term 2.

Enrolments 2022

Please advise Tracy Freeman tfree1@eq.edu.au by the end of next week (October 28) if your child will not be attending Yeronga State School next year. This will enable the leadership team to begin finalising staffing and classes for 2022.

Have a wonderful week!

Eunice