Dear Friends,

Welcome back to school. It is always a wonderful experience for school staff to notice the maturing of students that takes place over the midyear break. Especially our youngest students. I am sure some have grown inches taller over the break!

We celebrated NAIDOC this week with learnings and activities taking place both inside and outside of the classroom. What a privilege to be an Australian at a time when finally, the richness, wisdom, talent and achievement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are acknowledged with shared national pride. This week on assembly I shared with the students my experience living and teaching in the Torres Strait with my husband and sons in the late 1990s. I will never forget that emotional flight home to Brisbane over the aqua Arafura Sea and the bright red earth of Cape York. It was 2000 and the rest of Australia was well and truly preparing for the Sydney Olympics. Christine Anu’s version of My Island Home was playing on the aeroplane. Every line in that song is evocative of the seafaring cultures of northern Australia. What a privilege to have learned from our Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal families and friends. We still yearn for the people and place.

Over the past few years, the leadership team and teachers guided by Liz Kemp our Head of Curriculum English and Mathematics have targeted school resources and professional learning to the explicit instruction of reading and writing. This has been a work of ‘staying the course’.  We are now seeing the results of consistency and schoolwide instructional practices. This Year’s NAPLAN results are cause for celebration and affirmation of the difference YSS and its teachers are making. The upward trend in our results in those areas of whole school focus is affirming. Student reports are expected to arrive over the next week.

Thankyou to all those families and PandC members who spoke with the School Reviewers during the School Review. The Summary Report will be uploaded to the school website for your interest. The Executive Summary Report outlines the key affirmations from the review and key improvement strategies to be incorporated into our 2025-2028 School Strategic Plan.

Have a wonderful week.

Eunice

Eyes Open Social Media – Student and Parent Workshops

In term 3, Students in years 4/5/6 and their parents will have the opportunity to engage in a workshops about online safety. 

A Social Media Safety Awareness session will be offered to students in years 4, 5 and 6.  This session covers the main risks and dangers on social media and empowers participants to make the best choices to reduce these risks.

A night time Parent Social Media Safety Information Session will be offered to parents. This session covers the main risks and dangers on social media and empowers parents to make the best choices to reduce their own risks and the risks for their children.

A night time Security and Privacy Setting Workshop will be offered for both Parents and Students to attend together.  This session is a practical hands-on session where parents and students bring in their personal mobile devices. Participants will be shown how to add privacy and security to their accounts step-by-step for a social media site to reduce the risks and dangers that were covered in the first awareness session.

More information about dates, cost, student consent and how to register for these workshops will be emailed home to parents next week.

Outdoor Learning and Play Legacy Committee Fundraiser

The Outdoor Learning and Play Committee are raising funds for a sensory pathway between the library and the hall.  Sensory pathways are great for movement regulation, combine movement with learning and will incorporate Yeronga State School values.

They are hosting a Denim Day fundraiser on Friday 26^th July. Come dressed in your best denim with a gold coin donation.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

Students and teachers have exploring NAIDOC themes this week in classrooms and in the outdoors.

The 2024 NAIDOC theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.’

The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

100 Days of Prep - 19th July

Next Friday, 19^th July,  Prep students and staff will celebrate the completion of 100 days of Prep for our 2024.  Students are welcome to dress up in the ‘100’ theme and there will be a parade at the Junior assembly that morning. 

Prep Vision Screening 25^th – 30^th   July

Prep vision screening will be held at school in week 3.  If you missed the online permission form, paper forms can be collected by the office and need to be returned early next week in order for your child to participate.

Under 8’s Day

What a wonderful morning of celebration we enjoyed at our Under 8s morning on the last day of term 2! Thank you to Yeronga State High School, Southside Athletics Club, Scouts, Carina Soccer Club, Yeronga Pool, teachers, teacher aides and families for supporting a fun and successful day.

Thank you Mrs Stabe for organising a such a wonderful experience for us all.

Prep 2025 Information Session - 6pm on August 5^th

Our second Prep information evening session will be held on August 5^th at 6pm.  All interested families are invited to attend.  Please ensure all enrolments have been completed in the next two weeks as arrangement are now being make for our 2025 classes.

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

Families with school-aged children who do not have current internet access at home, may be eligible for the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI). To ensure all students have equal opportunity for online learning, the SSBI offers eligible families free nbn broadband access. For more information or to check your eligibility, call the National Referral Centre (Monday to Friday) 1800 954 610 or visit the SSBI website.

Staff Spotlight

The Wonderful Evelyn in 4H continues to brighten our newsletter with staff shout outs! Thanks Evelyn.

Our Year 1 classes enjoyed their excursion to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary this week. They explored animal features and habitats and learnt about the importance of sustaining environments for living things.

Thank you Mrs Lindsay and Year 1 teachers for organising the day and a big thank you to our wonderful parent helpers for attending!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, year 6 students visited Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre and participated in the Energy Futures program.  

Australia’s Energy Future focussed on one of the biggest challenges facing humans over the next 50 years – energy. The program commenced with students testing their current understanding in relation to energy use in the home and how Australia generates its electricity needs. 

Students rotated through three different energy focused activities:

1. The Green Energy Lab, a purpose-built educational resource, that showcased a variety of renewable energies including hydro, wind and solar. Energy transformations occurring in these electricity generation methods were given particular emphasis. Using energy data loggers (PowerMates), students made and tested predictions of energy consumption of a number of appliances.

2. Students conducted an investigation involving the design, construction and testing of a model wind turbine. Students measured the power produced and, in doing so, identify variables affecting the performance of the turbine.

3. Students discovered the concepts of conductivity and insulation, by designing, constructing and testing series and parallel circuits that composed of electrical components including light bulbs, switches, batteries, buzzers and resistors. With all this knowledge, students were tasked with evaluating a range of renewable energy sources and recommending the best options for Australia’s Energy Future.

This learning is linked to the Australian Curriculum through the physical science achievement standard as well as our whole school conceptual focus of sustainability.

The year 6 students are to be commended on their willing engagement, clever thinking, and excellent behaviour. A great day of science!

2024 Instrumental Music Information Evening- Year 2 and Year 3 families  

The 2024 Instrumental Music Information Evening for families with students who are interested in joining the school’s Strings or Band program in 2024 will be held on Thursday August 29 at 6:30pm in the school hall. Current Year 2 students are eligible to apply for the 2024 Strings program and current Year 3 students can apply for the Band program. Current Year 3 students who are already participating in the Strings program are not eligible to join the Band program next year. If a student wishes to be considered for selection in the 2024 Instrumental Music program, it is highly recommended that the student and one caregiver attend the information evening. This will ensure all families have a comprehensive understanding of the program and are aware of the commitment and costs involved.     

Parents will be able to register their interest in their child participating in the program at the information evening. If you are unable to attend, you will need to email the strings teacher Tamsyn Eastgate at teast42@eq.edu.au or the band teacher Alex Grodecki at agrod3@eq.edu.au prior to the information evening to ensure that we know that your child would like to apply for the program.    

Participation in Instrumental Music at Yeronga is in high demand and there are limited places available. The selection process involves aural testing of all year 2 and 3 students, consultations with classroom and specialist teachers, and physical testing on the string or band instruments that allows students the opportunity to try out different instruments and determine their physical capability for an instrument. 

Junior Strings and Band Workshops

At the end of last term, the year 4 strings and band students had at a lot of fun at some regional strings and band workshops. The band students joined with two other schools for a giant beginner band workshop day at Yeronga State High School and the strings students combined with 10 other local schools to form a massed string orchestra and choir at Coorparoo State School.

Congratulations to Michael N. for his selection for the Queensland Conservatorium State Honours Ensemble Program South East Queensland for advanced musicians in high school and year 6. Michael spent many hours in string orchestra rehearsal at the Conservatorium over June 1-2 with renowned conductor Loreta Fin and then performed five pieces in a concert on stage at the Conservatorium Theatre.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Premier’s Reading Challenge is on! Please download the reader form and have your completed form  into the library by 23 August. Prep to Year 3 students need to read or have 20 books read to them and Year 5 – 6 only need to read 15 books. All our students can easily make this and earn them selves a certificate.

ICAS

Yeronga State School will be offering students the opportunity to participate in ICAS English, Mathematics, Science and Spelling. Unfortunately, due to clashes in our school Calendar we will not offer Writing and Digital Technologies. All tests will be run before school between 7:45 and 8:45. A final timetable will be sent out once we have numbers confirmed.

Window for sitting dates:

What is ICAS?  

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.

Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.

To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)

How to participate in ICAS  

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:  

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (com/products-icas/) 
2. Read the Privacy Collection Statement below.
3. Read the terms and conditions here: (com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf) 
4. Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas here: (icasassessments.com/pages/pps)  
5. Enter our school’s access code –EPM691  
6. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.  

Please note that the ICAS subject areas shown for selection are at the school’s discretion.   

After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.  

ICAS results and certificates
All assessments will be conducted online, at school. We will notify you of the date(s) that we will run ICAS assessments, and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. Your child’s ICAS certificates will be delivered to school. Once we have received them, we will present them to your child to bring home. The back of the certificate will show your child’s ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”. - Use these to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent. 

Privacy collection statement  
The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure.

ICAS Assessment is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd (We, Us, Our).

To deliver assessment products, Janison will require your child’s School to obtain your consent to provide Janison with certain personal information of students. Janison will collect, store, use, disclose and otherwise deal with such personal information in accordance with its privacy policy (below). We are aware of our responsibility to protect personal information related to children and students from being disclosed when we deliver an ICAS Assessments product. Unless you, as the child’s legal guardian consents, we will not:

• collect any personal information or data of children other than the information we need for the successful completion of an assessment, test, or exam.
• transfer any personal information we obtain from a child in the delivery of assessments and tests to any jurisdiction outside of Australia.
• share any personal information relating to children with any third parties (except for those third parties necessary for us to carry out our Services or provide our Products e.g., medal engraving).
• use any personal information or data relating to children for marketing purposes.

You can view our full privacy policy at https://www.janison.com/privacy-policy/.

We may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com or by contacting icasassessments@janison.com.

We are excited to be offering ICAS to our students this year and look forward to celebrating their achievements. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions.  

Kind regards,

Debbie Cowie

Teacher Librarian

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.

District Athletics

Congratulations to all of those selected. Please remember to be at the venue at least one hour before your event.

Qld Cross Country Carnival

This week Phoenix L will compete at the Qld State Schools Cross Country. I wish him all the best. As a great teacher once said to me though when you prepare thoroughly luck doesn’t affect the result and Phoenix does prepare very thoroughly

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 3, 2024

12 July 2024 - Eastern Taipans 10-12 Years 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

P&C FORUM - Tuesday 18th June - Curiosity Centre

A big thank you to the parents, teachers and school leadership team who attended the special P&C Forum late last term to discuss the Use and Safety of Online Learning Tools & Devices within YSS.

This was a great opportunity for a frank and honest discussion between the parents and school leadership team with a number of common questions and concerns emerging.

The P&C Executive Team are currently working to summarize the main themes for further discussion and consultation with the School Leadership team.

A very big thank you to Eliza - our wonderful Facilitator, who has brought her considerable expertise to ensure the night ran so smoothly.

Please watch this space for developments ...

2nd Hand jumpers at Uniform Shop

The uniform shop still has some second hand jumpers on sale for $5. Pop in and see Anthea on Monday mornings or Thursday afternoons to grab one before they are all snapped up.

Uniform Shop Price Rise

Due to rising supplier costs, there has been a slight increase on some uniform items.

There has been a concerted effort to keep the price rise to a minimum and a lot of items have remained at the same price.  

Could you be our next Fete or Fun Fair Convenor?

Yeronga School has held some legendary Fetes - and a fantastic Fun Fair over the last decade and we are looking for a new team of volunteers to keep the tradition alive!  If you have the organizer streak within you, we'd love to chat to you.  There is even a comprehensive handbook to assist!

Please get in contact at vicepresident1@yerongasspandc.org.au to find out more.....

Next P&C Meeting Tuesday 23^rd July

Our next P&C Meeting has been postponed a week and will take place Tuesday 23^rd July at 7:00PM in the Curiosity Centre.  We very much hope to see you there!

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.

Mater Parent Aide Unit

Kids are back in school, so school zones are back in force. Remember to slow down and watch out for kids, especially around buses, parked cars, and at busy school drop off zones.