Dear Families,

2023-2027 School Chaplain and Student Wellbeing Officer Program

At Yeronga State School we have received recurring government funding of $20000 per annum since 2009 to employ a school chaplain. Chaplain Jennifer Bennet has served the Yeronga State School Community since the start of 2011. Chappy has held the hands and hearts of the Yeronga State School community through two natural disasters, the 2010-2011 and 2022 Brisbane floods, the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 150^th School Celebrations, major school events such as Camp at School with Dad and Harmony Day, classroom social and emotional learning programs, family and child welfare, Christmas Hamper and staff wellbeing. Chappy is the Padre to the Stevens RSL and a familiar and trusted face in our community. Many of you will be familiar with Chappy’s fundraising events such as Pancake Day, Subway Meal Deal and Christmas in July Movie night. These fundraisers along with donor financial contributions have supported families in need as well as an additional two days per week of service.

On Monday 19 June, schools were invited to apply for new or continued funding for a school chaplain or student wellbeing officer. Community support for the funding application was required and with the due date falling in the second week after the school holidays, pressure was on to engage the community. Fortunately, a PandC meeting was scheduled the following evening and the application was tabled including the discussion of the existing chaplaincy program at the school. As there was no newsletter that week, a Schoolzine survey along with information about the role of Chaplain and Student Wellbeing Officer was sent to all staff and families in the final week of Term 2. The survey invited recipients to nominate for a Chaplain or Student Wellbeing Officer with a closing date of 14 July.  A reminder to the community to respond to the survey was in the Acting Principal, Mr Perry Trattos’s newsletter piece in Week 1 of Term 3. The results of the 122 responses received indicated a 2/3 majority vote for a Student Wellbeing Officer should the application for funding be successful. Successful schools will be notified in Term 4. I have not heard yet the outcome of the funding application and will inform the community as soon as possible.

Significantly, this means we will no longer have Chappy Jenny as part of the Government Funded program at Yeronga State School. I will be working with Chappy and Scripture Union to ensure a smooth handover for those families and staff who access Chaplaincy services.  For many of us, Chappy is an integral and much respected member of Yeronga State School. I invite you to express your acknowledgement and gratitude for Jennifer’s 13 years of service. In keeping with Chappy’s wishes not to have a public and formal farewell, please feel free to drop a letter of thanks or donation for a gift to the school office. Chappy’s last day will be Thursday 7 December.

New Fence and Gates - Feedback

Over the past few weeks students, staff and families have adjusted routines to work in with the school’s new security fence. This has been a significant adjustment for our community. Since the notification from the Department of Education that Yeronga State School had reached the threshold for the installation of a security fence, I have communicated updates via the PandC monthly meetings and the school newsletter. As expected it is not until a change impacts us directly, we are confronted by the reality of how it impacts us personally. We are slowly adjusting to the new routines. I will be providing a response to feedback regarding the new fence and gates at the PandC Meeting on Tuesday evening should you be interested and wish to have anything further clarified.

Emergency Response Plans

All state schools have a current School Emergency Response Plan (SERP) that requires Regional Director approval. All staff are familiar with the plan and practice Evacuation and Lockdown Drills each term as per the SERP procedures. On Tuesday our whole school practiced an off-site evacuation to the Yeronga Memorial Park. All 750 students and staff were evacuated and accounted for as per the plan within 15 minutes of the Evacuation Alarm being sounded. These plans are not published externally due to the confidential and secure information contained within them and individual student and staff medical and support needs. If you would like to discuss the SERP or any emergency procedure with me personally please do not hesitate to make a time to do so.

I look forward to catching up with you at the many ceremonies and events over the last few weeks of school.

Eunice