Dear Yeronga Families,

A very warm welcome back to the school year. To all of our new families, I trust your start with our school community has met your hopes and expectations. I am immensely proud of our school and community. We are intentionally focussed on the whole child as a person. I believe every child enrolled in our school has innate strengths capable of enriching their own life and the lives of others when encouraged and supported to do so. I look forward to working with you and our team to ensure your child is all the better now and into the future for being at Yeronga State School.

This year is an important year for our school as we undertake a full school review. Over the review year, extensive review of the progress made over the past four years will take place as will co-design of our new School Strategic Plan that will take us through to 2028. This review year will involve students, staff, families and community members. The more collaborative and consensus building the process is, the more likely a robust and effective our strategic guide will be. I am excited to be engaging with our community to set the direction for the next few years over 2024.

The official forum for consultation on school matters with our community is the Parents and Citizens Committee (PandC). The committee is made up of members and executive committee responsible for the leadership and administration of parent and community voice within the school. I encourage all families to become a member of the Yeronga PandC so that you may have a say in decision making and have a direct say in matters of concern to our community. Please look out for information regarding the upcoming meeting on Tuesday 20 February at 7pm in the school library.

Stay safe over the long weekend,

Eunice

Changes to Play and Eating times

This week, students have learnt about some changes to the play and eating times at school.  For term 1, we are undergoing a trial of switching our eating and play times.  We are hopeful, that students will enjoy a longer play time, and eating in their airconditioned classroom with their teacher and classmates.   

Munch and crunch / brain break will still occur at around 10am daily, so we continue to encourage students to bring a fruit or vegetable snack to school each day. Some students are reporting they are getting hungry with eating a little later.  Students might like to bring a few additional snacks for munch and crunch.

Changes have been made to the bell times to reflect this new arrangement, and these are outlined below. 

• 8:55 – Song
• 9:00-Bell – start 1st session
• 11:00-bell – start play
• 11:35 – 5 minute whistle warning
• 11:40-Music – back to line up for eating
• 11:50-bell – start 2nd session
• 1:20- bell – start play
• 1:45 – 5 minute whistle warning
• 1:50-music – back to line up for eating
• 2:00- bell – start 3rd session
• 3:00 – Bell – end of day
• 3:15 – music - exit grounds / Jabiru

Yeronga State School staff agree there are many positive outcomes related to this change in eating and play times including:

• Positive interpersonal relationships
• Dedicated time in classrooms to discuss social situations
• Extended play time at each break for all students
• Positive environmental benefits (less rubbish, more composting)
• Calm transitions into learning after play
• Research suggests that Schools that have adapted this model report that students eat more fruits and vegetables, drink more water, waste less food, and are better behaved on the playground and classroom.

Our thanks to Tracy in the Tuckshop for making adjustments to the tuckshop schedule to accommodate this change.

This is a trial for term 1, which will be guided by staff, student and community feedback as we review and refine to move forward. 

If you wish to hear more about our trial, we encourage you to come along to the first PandC meeting on 20^th February at 7pm, where your feedback will be welcomed. 

Whole School Behaviour Matrix

The first couple of weeks at school is an opportunity to set students up for success.  The first step in facilitating standards of positive behaviour in a whole school approach to school discipline is communicating those standards to all students. At Yeronga State School we emphasise the importance of directly teaching students the behaviours we want them to demonstrate at school. Communicating behavioural expectations is a universal behaviour support - a strategy directed towards all students designed to prevent inappropriate behaviour and provide a framework for responding to unacceptable behaviour.

In order to raise awareness of these expectations and embed exactly what these behaviours look like in different situations, a matrix of behaviours has been developed. These expectations are communicated to students via a number of strategies, including:

• Explicit behaviour lessons conducted by classroom teachers;
• Reinforcement of learning from behaviour lessons on School Assemblies and during active supervision by staff during classroom and non-classroom activities.
• Display of matrix in every classroom.

Running Club

Running club will continue until the end of the year unless the weather makes it impossible to run safely or public health restrictions return. Sessions will be held on Mondays, from 3:15 to 3:45 and Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:15 with Mr Bateman. Mr Sutherland will probably be holding his sessions on Fridays from 7:45 to 8:15. I will wait for him to confirm before I commit him to that time. Remember that all of these sessions will occur on the main, or years 3-6. Parents are most welcome to participate.

District Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to our students who will compete at the Sleeman Swimming Complex on the 7^th of February to qualify for the Eastern Taipans District Swimming Team. Congratulations to the following students;

Danny Mc, George T, Archie C, William T, Christopher N, Tane D-S, Felix B, Natalia A, Madeleine A, Charlotte R, Emily H, Isabel T, Mollie W, Lexie B, Zelda M, Skye W & Hope Mc.

No doubt these students have been doing some training over the holidays and are about to become a lot more serious as the term begins

Football Goals

Please remember, that although these goals are metal, they are not built to be climbed upon. Please do not climb on them as you will be endangering yourself, damaging the goals and be the unhappy recipient of a white slip.

Rebel Sport Community Givebacks

Just a quick note to publicise our involvement with this scheme and how it works. For some time now Yeronga State School has been part of the above mentioned scheme. The scheme gives the school credit for purchases of equipment at Rebel as anyone who purchases equipment and nominates Yeronga State School as the recipient of Community Kickbacks. I have purchased Footballs and Netballs with this credit this year. It is an easy way to contribute resources to our school especially if you enjoy spending time and money in sports stores like myself. Thanks to all of those who purchased at Rebel over the break. We have a very useful amount for equipment.

Representative Sport Dates Release (Important)

The trial dates for terms Three and Four of 2023 are listed below.

Yeronga State School (YSS) District Trial Selection Policy (Years 4 to 6)

Yeronga State School (YSS) District Trial Selection Policy (Years 4 to 6)

The representative pathway for school sport is for students aged 10 to 12 years. Yeronga is part of a very strong district which consists of 28 schools (Eastern Taipans District).

In most sports we are encouraged to send only 2 students from the school that demonstrate a very high level of ability. The majority of these teams are under 12 teams. A good guide for this is:

• A representative club player
• A top performer in your sport outside of school
• Playing in higher age groups
• Consistently demonstrating outstanding performances in interschool sport fixtures and training sessions in the highest division.

In order to be considered to attend a District Trial students should make themselves known to either (Mr Bateman or Mr Curness) at least 2 weeks prior to the trials.

Important Sporting Dates Term 1, 2024

 7 February 2024 – Eastern Taipans District Swimming

 19 February 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs District Netball

 20 February 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District Basketball

22 February 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District Touch

23 February 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District Squash (nominations due)

26 February 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District AFL

1 March 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District Golf (nominations due)

5 March 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District Tennis

6 March 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 11 Yrs Boys & Girls District Rugby League

TBC 2024 - Eastern Taipans 11 to 12 Yrs Boys & Girls District Rugby League

8 March 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10 to 11 Yrs Boys & Girls District Hockey (nominations due)

Welcome to Prep families

As a welcome to new Prep families in 2024, the P & C is organising a catch up at the school on Saturday 3rd February from 9am to 11am. Come along and meet some other families. It is also a great chance for Prep students to make friends. Meet outside the Prep classrooms. 

Volunteer at the Tuckshop

Tuck shop volunteers needed. 9am-11.30am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. 

There’s nothing worse than hungry kids! We are keen for help to fill those empty tums. Regular volunteers are amazing but we know that for some people you get a free morning once in a blue moon so we love our one-off volunteers as well. If everyone helped just one morning a year we could keep the hungry kids at bay and our tuck shop convener would be one very happy lady. So pick a date, email tuckshop@yerongasspandc.org.au and have some fun with fellow parents. 

Tuckshop price increase starting term 1 2024

Due to increased costs to purchase food, drinks and packaging, menu prices will increase 15% on 2023 prices. 

Road Safety

School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers

With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.

School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7–9am and 2–4pm, with some operating all day between 7am–4pm.

Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.

Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours. 

When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:

• Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
• Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.

Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.  

You can also help children become more road safety aware by:

• Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school. 
• Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths. 
• Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so. 
• Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older). 
• Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road. 
• Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used. 

Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.

YERONGA STATE HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

YTour Parent Information Sessions and Open Day

Join us for an immersive experience at our Y-Tours! We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you and your family, providing a firsthand look at our exceptional facilities, introducing you to our esteemed leadership team and student leaders, and showcasing the unique Yeronga difference. This event is not just a tour—it's a chance for prospective parents to engage in meaningful discussions about subjects, explore aspects of the school, and gather essential enrolment information.

All families are warmly invited to attend. Y-Tour sessions will be shared on our Facebook page, Instagram page and school website. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at enrolments@yerongashs.eq.edu.au. Looking forward to sharing the Yeronga experience with you!

Click on the link below to secure a spot if you’d like to attend one of our YTour sessions. Thank you.

https://yerongashs.schoolzineplus.com/form/48

ENROL NOW

Please email our Enrolment Officer at enrolments@yerongashs.eq.edu.au to make an appointment for an enrolment interview session. For enrolment interviews, please bring:

Your child that is being enrolled

Birth certificate/passport/travel documents

Most recent school report card/NAPLAN reports

Enrolment application documents

To watch the Yeronga State High Video, please click the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxI0tsaM6Ss&t=2s

To watch Y Yeronga (Why Yeronga Video) please click on the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYNam89UzIY

WDNA Netball Come and Try Day

https://registration.netballconnect.com/userRegistration?organisationId=7f8337b3-85e5-43c4-b65c-d6b50dab3458&competitionId=24050042-f3c4-49b9-9536-0ac4e54226e5

Girl Guides Australia