Dear Families,

School events this time of year bring great joy and pride to us all.  As I have the privilege of joining our students with teachers at the many celebrations of talent and effort; Athletics days, Choir, Band and Strings performances, class culminating showcases etc. I am reminded once again, why I love my job so much. As educators and caregivers, we share the delight and awe of watching our children and young people find their place in the world through personal effort and drive. This innate ability of all children to learn and achieve is supported by opportunity and adults who hold them with unconditional positive regard and belief in their potential. What a privilege!

There is growing alarm and concern from educators, professionals and families on the effects of social media and unsupervised access to the internet on the safety and mental health of young people. At Yeronga State School we are increasing our controls at school to limit the capacity for our students to be exposed to and engage with content that is not part of their required teaching, learning and assessment of the Australian Curriculum (AC). At Yeronga State School the device for engaging our students with the AC Digital Technologies and ICT capabilities standards are iPads. We have invested heavily over the years to provide access to 1:1 devices in an equitable way for all students as well as building the bandwidth and wireless network throughout the school to maximise the portability, creativity and flexibility iPads. With the support from our families, we have moved from a 1:1 BYOD device program commencing in Year 2 to school owned and managed 1:1 devices. From Year 4 this year we commenced the hire scheme of the devices for the purpose of taking them home to complete home learning tasks. Coming up at the next PandC meeting will be an opportunity for families to provide input into the future priorities for our school as we navigate the digital landscape over the next few years for our students. Please look out for communications from the PandC in this newsletter. If you are curious about what the Australian Curriculum digital technologies and information communications curriculum covers, please go to the following links.

Digital Technologies - Sequence of Content.pdf

Information and Communication Technology Capability.pdf

Have a wonderful week,

Eunice

Parent Workshop – Junction Park State School

Junction Park State School has extended an invitation for parents to attend a parent workshop - Dolly’s Dream – Parenting in the Digital age.

Please see the information below and use the QR code to register your attendance if you are interested.

Group Online Chats

Many students utilise online chat forums to connect with their friends outside of school. On this weeks senior assembly, Miss Kirk spoke with the students about how to communicate respectfully during online chats.  Some key takeaways for our discussion include:

1. Be kind
2. Think – would you say it in person?
3. Respect people’s rights to disconnect, and leave group chats.
4. Is it appropriate?

We also explored 5 top tips from the eSafety commisioner to stay safe online.

Kitchen Garden

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers for your support with the kitchen garden.  A big day’s work has resulted in the gardens coming together nicely.  We’re excited to get plans together for planting in term 3.  Watch this space!!

Reconciliation Week 

National Reconciliation Week’s theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue. 

It is imperative that we continue to call out racism wherever we encounter it, and to actively reinforce the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across this continent.  

This week in recognition of Reconciliation Week, some of our First Nation students attended student led digeridoo and dance workshops at Yeronga State High School with other local primary schools.  5BN and 6M were also lucky enough to engage in a workshop with Indigenous Artist Jess McKinnon where they learnt about the story of the boomerang and represented their own stories on personalised boomerangs to take home.  

Our Sorry Day assembly was also a wonderful opportunity to come together to recognise the historical and present narrative of reconciliation in Australia.  If you are interested in joining our school RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) team.  Please contact Deputy Principal Clare Triggell cttri0@eq.edu.au.

Around the Classrooms

Sustainability Legacy Committee free dress day

• Free Dress Day on Wednesday June 5 for World Environment Day
• Wear blue and green for Planet Earth
• Gold coin donation
• Monies raised will go to the kitchen garden                         

Staff Spotlight

Lost Property

There has been a large influx of lost property over the past few weeks - jumpers, water bottles, lunchboxes and lots and lots of hats!! If you are missing any item at all, there's a fair chance its hanging out in the downstairs area of A Block (the old admin building)

If you are able, please come and help us alleviate the growing pile!

Catering for The Big Play - 6^th May

The tuckshop is offering a selection of snacks for The Big Play which can be ordered via Flexischools.

Please note - orders close Tuesday 4^th June 9am!

THE MENU 

Cheese  and cracker                  $2.50

Hummus and vegetable sticks         $2.50

Double chocolate chip muffin         $2.50

Anzac Biscuit                       $2.00

Sea salt chips (Red Rock)             $3.00

Egg & Lettuce sandwich              $6.50

Ham & cheese                      $6.50

Chicken, seeded mustard mayo, Avocado

and Lettuce                         $6.50

Uniform Shop

Please note the Uniform Shop will be closed NEXT THURSDAY 6^th May.

Orders for clothing items can still be made via Flexischools.

Tuckshop Garden Working Bee 

A massive thank you to everyone who gave up time on their Saturday and offered up their muscle and their great company for the Tuckshop Garden Working Bee. It was so appreciated.

The garden beds were all constructed and many many barrow loads of soil was transported.

There are still a couple of finishing touches to be completed before they are done, but we are very nearly there.

A special thanks to Cedryk Vaquette for securing the grant money to make this possible and for organising the working bee.

P&C Vacant Roles

Yes, we are still on the hunt for a secretary! 

Please contact Alex at President@yerongasspandc.org.au if you are interested or if you are just starting to take pity on us.  We'd love to meet you!

Not currently part of the P&C?  Sign up here  -  P&C Sign UP- to  be the first to learn about whats happening around the school.

Querida / Dear families/care givers,

Please see below information from James Cook University (JCU) offering year 5 to year 12 students an opportunity to participate in an online language course, there are 100 scholarships up for offer. I have attached the application form for those interested.

Dear Colleagues & Friends,

Learning another language nurtures international mindedness and helps to create a harmonious society. The Academy of Modern Languages in partnership with the Department of Education International (DEi) will be offering short language courses for state school students (years 5-12) learning Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian and Spanish. The online language course will run from Monday 1 July until Friday 5 July. 

There are up to 100 scholarships generously provided by DEi for Queensland State school (college of academy). To register, please download the application attached. Completed applications must be sent to global.engagement@qed.qld.gov.au  by Monday 10 June 2024.

Please share this learning opportunity with your students, colleagues and wider school communities.

Regards

Florence

click to access application

Please do not hesitate to email me ( abuen4@eq.edu.au) if you have any questions regards Spanish.

Gracias

Señora Bueno

Fanfare Performance

 This week the Senior Strings and Senior Band had an excursion to Corinda State High School on Monday to perform at Fanfare, a State Schools competitive music performance. The students have been diligently preparing for this performance in rehearsals since the start of the year. Although the bus was 20 minutes late, we managed to arrive just in time! The students represented the school fabulously with their performances and they should be proud of their efforts. 

 The Senior Band was awarded a Silver Award and the adjudicator congratulated them on their confident sound and strong rhythmic pulse. The Senior Strings was awarded a Platinum Award with the adjudicator noting that they played with strong dynamic work and great stylistic contrast between the pieces. Well done to all the students! Many thanks also to parent volunteers Aja Wyman and Kathryn Luthi and piano accompanist Charise Holm. 

 The students also enjoyed the opportunity to be able to hear other local primary and high school ensembles perform. It was particularly useful for the students to hear some very impressive high school ensembles that demonstrated what students who continue on with their music in high school can achieve.  

Winter Concert

 Next Thursday June 6 is the school's Instrumental Music Winter Concert. All string ensembles and concert bands will be performing. The concert will be held at Yeronga State High School Cultural Center hall with performances starting at 6pm. Performers need to wear full formal uniform and arrive by 5:30 for instrument tuning and warm-up. The tuckshop will be selling snacks which can be preordered on Flexischools and there will also softdrink available for purchase with cash only. 

- Tamsyn Eastgate and Alex Grodecki

Queensland Youth Music Awards

Over the past week the Senior and Junior choirs have competed in the Queensland Youth Music Awards. Both choirs dazzled the audience with their singing and everyone should be very proud of their accomplishments.

It was a very tough competition and we performed to our strengths which is that we are an inclusive community of singers that encourages active participation and a raw enjoyment of singing. I had many other conductors and parents comment on just how much fun it looked like we were having. Mrs Webb and I were very proud of both the Junior and Senior choirs accomplishments and the exemplary behaviour that all of our performers displayed on the night.

Congratulations to all the singers – your hard work over the past 2 terms has well and truly paid off.

Junior Choir – Bronze Award

Senior Choir – Silver Award

- Courtney Truce

Senior Athletics Carnival 

Week 9 – Tuesday 11^th June

Junior School Sports Day

The classes from Prep to Year 3 will participate in the Junior School Sports Day on Monday 17^th June. Please use the timetable as a guide (please note times may vary). The students will participate in their class groups. This carnival is based on participation, development and fun.

 Junior Sports Day Timetable (Please note these times are just a guide).

Prep and Year 1. 

*Prep/1W Grade one students will join their buddy classes.

Year 2 and Year 3

11:50am Meet at main school oval (covered sheds at top of the oval).

Other Sports News

Regional Cross Country

Congratulations to our Eastern Taipans District Cross Country Team members who competed in the Met West Regional Cross Country. The students were:

11 Year Boys: Phoenix L , Toby C

11 Years Girls: Esha P , Kalani K ,

10 Years Boys: Oliver M-F , Harry G

10 Years Girls:  Milana S

All of these students did a fantastic job, adding lustre to the reputaions of themselves and the school. Thanks to all of the Mums and Dads who made sure that these students could attend and were at their best to compete.

A special congratulations to Phoenix L who won the 11 Years Boys event by a very healthy margin.

Qld AFL Carnival

Best of Luck to our Mollie W and Abraham C who are competing in the Qld AFL Carnival on the Sunshine Coast. Two great people and hard workers for whom our fingers are crossed in hopes of state selection.

As an aside Mollie W will finish this carnival on Sunday and then recover in order to be ready for the Qld Touch carnival in Rockhampton with Mr C. Fingers crossed for a successful carnival and maybe another Qld selection. All the best.

District Football

On Tuesday Finnley and Oliver had big day out representing the Eastern Taipans District Football (Soccer) Team. Well done boys!

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 be holding his sessions on Fridays from 7:45 to 8:15. Remember that all of these sessions will occur on the main, or years 3-6. Parents are most welcome to participate.

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.

Yeronga State School (YSS) District Trial Selection (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 Terms 2 & 3, 2024

31 May 2024 – Eastern Taipans District Girls Football 11 & 12 Years Rugby League

12 July 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10-12 Years District Boys & Girls Cricket Trials

15 & 16 July 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10-12 Years District Athletics Trials

23 July 2024 – Met West 10-12 Years Regional Girls Cricket Trials

24 & 25 July 2024 – Met West 10-12 Years Regional Boys Cricket Trials

27 & 28 August 2024 – Met West 10-12 Years Regional Athletics Trials

SwimAUS 2024 Australian Swimming Trials

Yeronga Hyde Road Kindergarten