Dear Friends,

We have reached that time of year where we are considering our progress as a school and the individual progress our students have made over the course of the academic year. When arriving at Yeronga State School at the beginning of 2021 as Principal I was fortunate to inherit a great state school serving a great community of families. Intentionally over my first two years, I have considered what is next for our school and what is the purpose of a great primary school education. What do our young learners need and what opportunities do we want them to experience as part of their formative education. How do we meet the needs of our diverse learners? How do we engage every child so that they leave each year to the summer break with a positive self-regard as a learner? It is important that children first and foremost are progressing satisfactorily with their literacy, numeracy, thinking and social and emotional learning skills.  Opportunity to learn and demonstrate what they know and can do against the Australian Curriculum learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science History, Geography, Technology, Health and Physical Education, Languages and the Arts and associated year level standards is also our core business.

When I talk to our students, it is recalling the events and the opportunities where they are fully immersed in a whole of body and mind ‘hands on’ learning experience they are most animated and able to articulate the learning process in a real and tangible way. This is why at Yeronga State School we are introducing more ‘learning labs’ such as the ‘Frog Pond’ area our Year 1 students, teachers and parents have been rejuvenating, the curiosity centre, visual art space, and performing arts space. This, alongside expert teachers to support all students including students with exceptional learning needs is what you will see over the next year and beyond. Another example is our YEP (Yeronga Excellence Program) ensuring our most highly able students are receiving the targeted instruction for their ‘next steps’ in learning. We are consistently, seeing our Yeronga State School students returning from regional and state-wide competitions be it in sport, music, and most recently mathematics with wins that are both thrilling and humbling.  Congratulations to Ms Wise and her charges, Nathan, Mathew, Andrey and Oliver for taking out Gold in the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers Maths state-wide competition this week!

Coming up this term is our showcase of visual arts across the school. As founding chair of the Gallery of Children’s Art, I can’t tell you how excited I am to bring our first whole school Art Soiree to Yeronga. Our Art teacher, Jess Greenfield and supporting staff and students have worked tirelessly over the year to develop every child’s artistic practice. Please mark Saturday the 26^th of November in your diaries. It is sure to be a wonderful event.

In recent school newsletters you will have seen reference to our schoolwide focus on positive student behaviours. As a whole school we have focussed on reinforcing expected Yeronga State School behaviours and consistent practices for responding to unacceptable behaviour. This is being positively and actively reinforced for all year levels across the school. It is important to us that all parents are aware for Prep and Year 1 students, developmentally appropriate practices for our youngest students are applied. We know that the majority of children are able to self-regulate when expectations are clear and consistently reinforced. We know that for some children, modified strategies are required and behaviour support may look different. Our aim is for all children to feel safe, secure and happy at school and especially in the early years, learning prosocial behaviours in order to get along with others. We recognise these expectations need to be taught and positively reinforced until routines are internalised and children are able to self -regulate. We value your partnership and cooperation to ensure Yeronga State School is a positive school learning environment for all students.

Have a wonderful week,

Eunice