Welcome back to another fabulous term at Yeronga State School. Many exciting things are planned for this term. Keep an eye out for your child’s class newsletter over the next few weeks, which will provide details about any forthcoming events for their class.

School Disco

Thank you to those families who were able to support the Student Council Disco held in the last week of Term 2. We had some wonderful interpretations of the ‘Celebrity’ theme with outstanding costumes! Our students had lots of fun and the night was a tremendous success.

Preservation of our New Nature’s Play Area

We need your help!

Our new Prep and Year One Nature’s Play area is proving to be very popular with the children. The Prep and Year One students have enjoyed the being given time to explore, work together and create within this amazing new space. Unfortunately, during the last few weeks of Term Two we have had concerning reports of children playing unsupervised in this area and also some of the new plants have been pulled out. Our Prep and Year One students voiced concern that their new area was not being respected, in the way that they had envisioned.

Therefore it is timely for us to share with the school community our expectations around before and after school play. As a whole we are focussed on how we can maintain and preserve this new area in the long term, as well as keep our children safe. We ask our school community to assist us in preserving this precious area 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
• 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 8:45am.

Thank you in anticipation for your support.

New Buddy Bench

Yeronga State School has been extremely fortunate to receive a new ‘Buddy Bench’. Mr Graham Perrott MP arranged this generous donation for our school, with the assistance of The Men’s Shed at Sunnybank and Salisbury Rotary. We offer our sincere thanks to them and to our groundsman Mr Sutherland for installing the bench.

The purpose of a ‘Buddy Bench’ is for students to sit on when they are seeking a playmate or would like to invite others to join their activities. Children who are feeling lonely can sit on the bench as a clear signal to others on the playground that they are in need of social connection. Keep an eye out for the new bench in the Junior playground!

We would love to see you at our upcoming events - mark the dates in your diary!

They include:                         

• Junior Athletics Carnival from 9-11am (23/7)
• Prep Information Sessions at 9.15am and 6pm (12/8)

Active School Travel

We have a busy term ahead for Active School Travel.  The Bike Riding Train and the Walking Train are still happening for the term. Please see the timetable below for the teachers who will be travelling with the Walking Train for the next two weeks:

Week 2 – Tracy Freeman & Ruby Owen

Week 3 – Annabel Wheeldon & Brittany Richters

Ms Wheeldon and Mrs Harland walked with the biggest group to date in Week 1 of this term. All of these students received a Smiggle lucky dip prize.

Prize News

During the last week of Term 2, the active school travel captain attended the Junior Assembly to draw the scooter raffle that Nicole Johnston kindly donated.  The lucky winner was Evie in Year 1.  She was very happy to receive this prize and went to collect her new scooter over the holidays.

This term in AST:

• Launch of the AST maps – Week 3
• Class ‘Star Award’ – for the class with the highest number of students actively travelling to school (the classes that win this trophy the most will have a scooter/ bike session at school in Term 4)
• Active School Travel breakfast – date to be confirmed

NAIDOC Celebrations

During the Week 10 Junior Assembly the lower school celebrated NAIDOC week with a presentation from Aunty Jeanette Fabila.  Aunty Jeanette Fabila engaged the children with movement and dance and also showed traditional dress and designs.  The children enjoyed having the opportunity to ask Aunty Jeanette Fabila questions about her culture.

Amberley RAAF Base Visit

On Sunday 21 July our School Captain team were fortunate to participate in a tour of the visiting United States Aircraft at the Amberley Air Base. This occurred due to an invitation made by the United States Consulate-General and a successful nomination by our school to be a part of this unique and once on a lifetime opportunity. Our School Captain team were able to interact with members of the US Air Force and were given a close up look at an F 22 ‘Stealth’ Fighter plane (which is not generally allowed without high level security clearance).The Air Force representatives were extremely professional and engaging in their interactions and Morgan, Liam, Georgia and Hamish gained some invaluable insight.

 

All the best for Term Three!

Kate Paynter and Tracy Freeman

Deputy Principals