Dear Families,

Thank you for a great Semester 1. With the first full and uninterrupted semester of schooling for our students since 2019, we are in a great place as a school community. The vast majority of our students come to school each and every day ready to engage in the learning and play that is their Yeronga State School. For some of our students they arrive at the gate each day not feeling as though they have the agency we so very much wish for them. This is where partnerships are so important and trusting relationships are built with school staff, parents and caregivers to collaborate and advocate on behalf of the child. Please know we value the opportunity to collaborate and work alongside our parents until we arrive at a shared vision together for each young person at Yeronga State School.

Our ultimate vision for all students, staff and community members is that we are connected, curious and community minded learners and citizens who make a positive difference to our world.

On Wednesday afternoon you will receive your child’s Semester 1 Report via email. Please understand the reporting of student achievement against a 5-point scale is a national requirement of schools across the country indicating how their child is progressing in relation to the Australian Curriculum end of year curriculum standards. It is a summative overall rating and does not capture the full picture of your child as a young person’s inherent strengths and talents. Please view the report in this context and if you do have any questions, raise these in the first instance with your child’s teacher. The opportunity to discuss further and in more depth will occur during the parent teacher interviews early next term.

I would like to thank and acknowledge the following staff who will be leaving us at the end of the term; Year 6 teacher Ms Middle-ton Pol who is embarking on a career change to secondary school. Year 2 teacher Ms Lindsey Jobbins who is taking up another teaching role in the department and Year 1 teacher Ms Cath Spencer. We have several teacher aides who work diligently in a temporary yet highly valued capacity who will be finishing up at the end of the term. We truly thank you sincerely for your dedication and commitment to our students.

I am taking long service leave for all of Term 3 (next term). My elderly mother lives with Richard and I. We are renovating a living space for her and I will need to take the necessary time to attend to the many middle of the day, week day tasks involved. We have a great leadership team here at YSS who will continue to drive the literacy, numeracy, inquiry and student engagement programs forward in my absence. I am excited to welcome the acting principal to our school for Term 3, I know they will bring their own passions and strengths add their own value to our great school. The incoming person will be shared with the community on Monday.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Junior Athletics carnival and Under 8s Day next week.

Have a wonderful holiday with the children and I look forward to seeing you when I return in Term 4.

Eunice