Dear Families,

ANZAC Day

Firstly, thank you to all who attended the school and community ANZAC Ceremony and march this year. I am always humbled by the reaction of the students to these very formal and solemn occasions. These formal acknowledgements of history are at once emotional and solemn reminders of the terrors of what we are capable of doing to each other as much as the reminders of what we are capable of withstanding and prevailing over. Peace, reconciliation and rightful acknowledgement of suffering, dispossession and generational trauma must always have its place in the raising and education of our children. Lest we forget.

Identified Position – Teacher Aide- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability

Yeronga State School is representative of broad cultural diversity. A strength and wonderful learning environment for our future global citizens. We have several staff who are experienced and work alongside the many families for whom English is an Additional Language to support the educational progress and engagement of students. In 2021 as part of the development of our school Reconciliation Action Plan, it was identified that we need to build on the strengths and capability of our first nations children and families to leverage the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Yeronga but also to enrich the cultural capability of all staff and students. Yeronga State School is seeking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to fulfil an identified position for 10 hours per week. The identified position is Teacher Aide- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability. The role would encompass supporting individual student progress and providing input the school’s inclusive education strategic priorities. If you or someone you know maybe interested in applying for this position please email me with an expression of interest to Principal@yerongass.eq.edu.au .

Power of Inquiry – Kath Murdoch visit

Last week we had internationally recognised leader in Inquiry Learning Kath Murdoch work in classrooms throughout the school. In the session I observed, 6M students engaged with Kath in Question Formulation Technique (QFT).  Kath presented students with a focus for discussion and then students responded by generating questions about the inquiry concept (Cause and Effect/ Natural Disasters) QFT is a simple but powerful thinking routine that puts the neuroscience of how learning sticks into action. The students in 6M were clearly proficient question generators and as Kath and those of us observing agreed, a result of a classroom climate where the optimal emotional state for learning of ‘relaxed alertness’ pervades.  It makes me proud everyday to see the balance of progressive pedagogy, robust literacy and numeracy routines and student-centred care at Yeronga State School.

NAPLAN Online – 2022

Next week, students in Year 3 and 5 will undertake the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy Assessments online. Year 3 will continue to sit the Writing Test on paper with all other Year 3 and Year 5 Tests administered on 1:1 iPADs. I wish to thank and congratulate all our staff who under the direction and support of Head of Department- Literacy and Numeracy Liz Kemp, have ensure the required infrastructure and devices are ready and the students and staff familiar with the format for the tests.

Have a wonderful week,
Eunice Webb
Principal