Dear Friends and Families,

Welcome back to our final term of the school year. It’s a little hard to fathom that we are here and considering what learning and progress the students have made over the course of the year. Our students continue to make exceptional progress with our 2022 NAPLAN results and A-E Academic reporting results some of the highest in the Metropolitan Region. I am proud of our team and our balanced approach to teaching and learning. We continue to prioritise the targeted use of school resources deliberately and strategically to ensure every student is making the necessary literacy and numeracy progress, whilst ensuring they are developing the skills and dispositions to navigate an increasingly complex world. At Yeronga SS we do this through our Learner Assets and direct instruction of social and emotional learning. We know that our students thrive when they feel secure and safe first. Part of this is knowing what is expected and that routines are predictable and consistently managed. This secure base is a good place from which to respond to change and uncertainty if and when it arises. As mentioned in my Term 3 Week 9 Newsletter message, we are refocussing on routines and respectful behaviours and relationships across the school.   

Over Term 4 we will be reinforcing this by;

• Communication to students, staff and parents regarding our process for responding to minor and major problem behaviours
• Direct teaching of respectful behaviour utilising the Department of Education Respectful Relationships Education resource.

Please look out for updates on what will be covered in these lessons via regular inserts in the school newsletter.

One change in how we implement our response to minor problem behaviours you may notice is that if your child attends a ‘reflection conversation’ an email will be sent to the parent/caregiver from the classroom teacher alerting them to their attendance. The Reflection conversation is conducted during the lunchbreak and is a facilitated conversation with a dedicated staff member. The purpose is to assist the student to reflect on their behaviour choice and consider alternatives to manage any future situations more effectively. If a pattern of ongoing minor problem behaviour is occurring, the Deputy Principals will manage this in partnership with the parent/caregiver and if necessary our inclusion staff. It is important that understand for some children the ability to self-manage and self-regulate emotion and behaviour is difficult and requires a variety of adult supports and adjustments. For these students, an individual behaviour or risk management plan is put in place in collaboration with parents and school and regional support staff.

We are entering that time of year where we prepare for the transition of students to their next phase of learning. As we prepare for the farewell of our Year 6 students, the incoming Prep students and the transition to the next year level for our remaining students, we invite you to communicate any considerations for your child in regards to class placement for 2023 to Tracy Freeman, Deputy Principal. If your child is not going to be with us next year, please ensure this is also communicated so we can plan accordingly.

Have a great start to term 4.

Eunice Webb

Principal