Dear Families,

Welcome back! I do hope you enjoyed the extraordinary weather over the holidays. It has been delightful to touch base with the students and hear of their many varied experiences enjoying the outdoors over the break. Richard and I enjoyed our regular camp on Straddie Main Beach. This time with our eldest granddaughter Ollie, joining us for her first beach camp. Many hours were spent pretending to be kangaroos jumping about the dunes!

The open classrooms for Instrumental Music, Classroom Music and Art Studio were very well attended by parents on the last Wednesday of Term 1. It was a wonderful informal opportunity to get a glimpse of the curriculum demands for these really important and enriching subjects (curriculum areas).

Similarly, the Junior School Cross Country was as delightful as ever and so lovely to see the Year 6 student leaders helping out and running alongside the children. Our House Captains and little participants really earned those snow cones! A huge thankyou to the PandC volunteers who made that lovely and much anticipated treat happen once again.

The Easter Raffle was a highlight as was Chappy Jen’s Hula Hoop competition! This simple competition really instigated a joyful vibe throughout the school and a reminder how a simple physical activity with a dose of personal challenge is a very good thing for body and soul. It brought children together and all were happy and amazed at the accomplishments of others. Congratulations Remy – 54 minutes and 30 seconds of uninterrupted hula!

The removal of K Block in the junior school has finally been completed over the break. The final touches will be limited to finishing off and making safe and suitable the area for students to play on. Down the track there is opportunity to consider the entire junior school outdoor play and the potential refurbishment and upgrade of the area.

This term ends with the Semester 1 Student Reports to parents. At Yeronga State School our teachers are focussing intensely on improving student outcomes through assessment for learning processes. We aim for our students to respond to the following questions with clarity and understanding at any point during the teaching and learning cycle.

What are you learning?

How are you going?

Where to next?

When students take ownership of their learning and next steps, progress is rapid and lasting.

Have a great week,

Eunice