Dear Families,

Thank you to those who faced the sudden downpour when the storm hit right at the start of the Community Forum on Tuesday evening. While we had only a small group attend, the opportunity to collate ideas and develop consensus around what is most important to families was very insightful and helpful information. The next evening our teaching staff engaged in the same process with many similar ideas and values emerging. Over the next week our student representatives and non-teaching staff will engage in the workshops. When we have completed engaging with stakeholders, the information will be collated and shared. The data will inform key priorities for school improvement in the areas of Belonging, Engagement and Student Achievement as we create our 2025-2028 School Strategic Plan. 

These workshops have provided rich contextual information about the opinions and held aspirations of our students, families and staff. Quantitative information provided through system generated data sets such as the School Opinion Survey is additional information that we use to help form a picture of emerging trends and themes. The below Parent/Caregiver Opinion Survey conducted in August this year shows very high levels of satisfaction on key items. One theme that has emerged from the School Opinion Survey data and the Community Forum has been in the area of partnership and communication between the parent/caregiver and the classroom teacher. This is an example of what would then be a legitimate improvement priority for the Strategic Plan. 

I look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday the 26^th either volunteering on the stalls or voting. Just a reminder, this is an opportunity to raise cost neutral revenue for the benefit of students. Your contribution to the cake stall is received with gratitude. Please look out for details in this newsletter.

World Teachers Day- This coming Friday we celebrate the incredible commitment our teachers undertake each and every day in their classrooms with students. Thankyou to the PandC for organising the annual teacher’s morning tea and to the many families who have volunteered to contribute to the shared table.

Have a wonderful week,

Eunice

2025 Class Allocation considerations

Parents and Carers are encouraged to use the form below if they have any considerations you would like the school to know when allocating students to classes for 2025. This information will be considered alongside staff recommendations when allocating students to classes.

This form will close on Friday 1st November 2024.

You can access the form here: https://yerongass.schoolzineplus.com/form/994

Departing Students

In preparation for 2025, can you please notify the school if your child will not be returning to Yeronga State School in 2025. You can notify us via email on: studentdepartures@yerongass.eq.edu.au

Please provide the following information:

Student Name:

2024 Year level:

2025 Departing to (school name):

Learning Assets at Yeronga State School

Our learning assets are crucial for fostering a culture of inquiry and engagement in learning. By emphasising the importance of real-world connections, collaboration, and student agency, these assets empower teachers and students to engage in meaningful learning experiences. They encourage critical thinking and creativity, enabling students to take ownership of their learning journeys. A focus on learning assets allows reflective practice among teachers and learners, enhancing our ability to adapt and innovate in moments of deep learning. Learning assets help cultivate a dynamic and supportive learning environment, prep that prepares students for the complexities of the modern world.

We encourage you to talk about the learning assets at home in order to build connections with learning at school.  This week we encourage families to focus on what it means to be a good communicator.

Here are some ideas:

• pose questions to identify and clarify issues, and compare information in their world
• pose questions to expand their knowledge about the world
• pose questions to clarify and interpret information and probe for causes and consequences=

Prep 2025

Get Set For Prep sessions occur over the next few weeks.  We are looking forward to getting to know our new learners a little more across these days.  Enrolled families have received an email to book into these sessions.

A reminder that we encourage all enrolled students to attend our Prep Orientation morning on 11^th November at 9:15am so they can meet their new classmates.

Read Write Inc in the Early Years

The Read Write Inc. program, developed by Ruth Miskin, is a powerful tool for transforming early literacy education. By focusing on systematic phonics and structured reading strategies, it equips children with the essential skills to decode and comprehend text effectively. The program emphasizes engaging, age-appropriate materials and a strong emphasis on assessment, ensuring that instruction is tailored to each child's needs. Additionally, the interactive and supportive teaching methods foster a love for reading, making literacy accessible and enjoyable for all learners. Overall, Read Write Inc. empowers educators and students alike, laying a solid foundation for lifelong literacy.

 Election Bake Sale

Staff Spot Light

Book lists by Year Level:

On Tuesday 15th October, year 6 school and vice captains along with year 6 student councillors visited the RSL Sub Branch at Annerley. We were fortunate to speak with and interview veterans of the Australian Defence Force. We learnt about their experiences and the roles they played. Some were on peacekeeping duties whilst others served in active duty.

The veterans gave us different perspectives about the challenges they faced and what serving for their country meant for them. On behalf of our classes, we asked them various questions. Some included:

What does Remembrance Day mean to you?

How does revisiting these memories make you feel?

What emotions did you have during active duty?

What food did you have and what were your rations like?

Did you operate any machinery?

How intense was your training?

The veterans gladly shared their experiences and we will use this information to share with our fellow year 6 cohort. This will help us all to write an essay or poem about what Remembrance Day means to us.

Bookfair

Hosting scholastic bookfairs helps us earn points to be able to buy extra resources for our library. By hosting two bookfairs a year we get a third of the sales back into the school.

Our second bookfair is coming soon. The containers arrive on 05/11/2024 and students will be able to create their wishlists during library lessons, library borrowing and break times. We emphasize that these are wishlists only and not must have lists, however, they do give great ideas for birthday and Christmas presents. You can choose to pay online or through eftpos. No cash purchases please.

Sales will be open on

Thursday 3:00 pm– 5:45pm

Friday 8:00am – 8:45am

Monday 8:00am – 8:45am (with students) 8:45 am– 9:30am Adults only

Monday 3:00am – 4:00am

Thanks you for your past support which has helped us get so many new resources. It is appreciated.

Art Soiree 2024

Join us for the Art Soiree on Friday, November 22, 2024, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This adults-only event will include refreshments and cheese platters provided by the P&C.

We're thrilled to have Yeronga parents, (and Brisbane’s finest musicians) -  Andrew Garton and John Russell, and the Sound Poets  perform from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Enjoy an evening of live jazz while viewing the artwork created by our students in the specialist Visual Arts program.

The exhibition will remain open for families to enjoy from Monday, November 25 to Thursday, November 28, every afternoon from 3pm to 5:30pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity for children to showcase their artwork to family and friends.

Art Soiree - Get Involved


If you're interested in joining the Art Army to help with the Art Soiree please contact Gil Amor - gerlinda.amor@gmail.com.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Hanging artworks on Thursday, November 21, and Friday, November 22, anytime between 9am to 3pm
• Assisting at the bar or preparing cheese platters.

A big thank you to everyone who has already volunteered. Your support for the Art Soiree is what makes this community event so special.

Please contact Jess Greenfield jgree516@eq.edu for more information.

Kids Collective Young Emerging Art Show Finalists

Congratulations to Sarah Matthews-Frederick (4L) and Ahnagi Kefford (3D) whose pieces ‘Vivid Dream Creature’ and ‘Home’ have been selected as finalists in the Kids Collective Young Emerging Art Show at Red Hill Gallery. Their work will be on display at the gallery from October 26th alongside other talented young artists.

State Athletics Championships

Congratulations to our 5 athletes on their achievements at the recent State Athletics.

Clara J: 2^nd Discus and 3^rd in Shot Put (10 years Girls)

Nina J: 3^rd in Shot Put (10 Years Girls)

Hyuga B: Long Jump 8^th, High Jump 16^th and semi-finals in 100m (10 Years Boys)

Mollie W: Semi-finals in 100m and 200m (12 Years Girls)

Phoenix L: 1500m 7^th

Clara and Nina will be heading off to Sydney in late November to complete in the Nationals. We look forward to hearing about their next adventure. Good luck girls.

Running Club

Running club will continue until the end of  week 8 (November 20) on Mondays and Wednesdays and Week 10 on Fridays, 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.

Metropolitan West Athletics Representatives

Congratulations to all of the students listed below who have competed for the Metropolitan West Athletics Team in the Qld State Schools Athletics; Hyuga B, Clara J, Nina J, Phoenix L and Mollie W. Unfortunately only some of this tremendously talented group could qualify for the state team due to the calibre of the other athletes. We were lucky enough to have Clara J and Nina J qualify. What a tremendous achievement. These students will compete for the  Queensland Athletics Team in Sydney on 28^th of November to the 2^nd of December.

Upcoming Swimming Carnival

As always we will need parental help staffing our Senior (Years 3 to 6) Swimming carnival. We are fortunate that the parent body has always been very generous in volunteering time. For the Senior (Years 3 – 6) Carnival, on 4 December, we will need timers. If you can help please email Mr Bateman; cbate12@eq.edu.au .

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 & 4, 2024

18 October – Gala Day 3

25 October – Gala Day Reserve Day

4 December 2024 – Yeronga State School Senior (Competitive) Swimming Carnival

Thank you everyone who continues to support our P & C by coming along to meetings, volunteering their time at events and getting involved in P and C fundraisers.

At our last P and C meeting, members voted to continue to support the Visual Arts and Instrumental music programs in 2025 and to continue our support of the care and community fund:

• The P and C will provide $7000 to assist our wonderful strings teacher, Tamsyn Eastgate to continue to provide the school instrumental music co-curricular program. Students in the program benefit from the opportunity to learn the skill of playing a musical instrument. They also participate in a school string ensemble or band where they develop teamwork skills and have the opportunity to represent the school at music performances.

• We will provide $10,000 to the visual arts program. The funds will allow our amazing art teachers, Jess Greenfield and Liby Elcombe, to purchase art resources to allow all students to be able to participate in the YSS Visual Art program. The funding will also allow for the servicing of the school’s old pottery kiln! 

• We will provide $5000 to assist the YSS Care and Community fund. This important fund provides financial assistance to help families who may be experiencing economic hardship and are finding it difficult to pay school invoices for incursions, excursions and school camps

The P and C are proud to support these important school initiatives.

Of course, our capacity to do so depends on having a successful fundraising and business model. We are always looking for new fundraising opportunities, so if you have a suggestion, please reach out directly to the P&C at president@yerongasspandc.org.au or come along to a meeting on the third Tuesday of every month.

Tuckshop news

After consultation with teachers in the junior school, the school leadership team and the tuckshop convenor, the tuckshop is reviewing the amount of ‘treat food’ children can purchase at one time. As a first step in this process, children will no longer be able to purchase more than two ‘Zooper Dooper’ iceblocks at a time.

Events coming up...

#DemocracySausage  - Election Day BBQ Stall 26 October

It is the countdown to delicious goodness from our YSS Tong Team. On Saturday 26th October, the P and C will be hosting our famous election day sausage sizzle outside the tuckshop. We’ll have also coffee cart ready to satisfy your caffeine needs! We need volunteers to cook, serve and sell. If you're coming to vote, come join us for a 2 hour volunteer spot and mingle with some other school families.

Click here to sign up: https://signup.com/go/wVVdMTc

Thanks to our Sausage Sizzle Sponsors – Lauren McHutchison at Atlas Real Estate , Yeronga Vet and our very own Jabiru OHSC!

2024 Prep uniform fittings – Volunteers needed

2025 Prep uniform fittings are coming up! This is a big job for our uniform shop staff, and we are looking for volunteers to help any time between 10am-3pm on the following days:

Monday 18 November, Wednesday 20 November, Friday 22 November, Monday 25 November, Wednesday 27 November.

Can you spare some time to help out and make the fittings a welcoming experience? Please let us know via email uniformshop@yerongasspandc.org.au

Mango Fundraiser

Coming in week 10. Watch this space for more details

Art Soiree – Friday 22 November

The Yeronga State School Art Soiree is one of the biggest events on the P&C social calendar.  This adult-only event will see us sipping wine, enjoying cheese, listening to a live jazz band, whilst enjoying the beautiful artwork. How deliciously civilised! Watch this space for tickets, volunteer sign ups (including hanging of your children’s own art work!) and more. Contact gilbojones@hotmail.com for more details.

Fete / Events Coordinator

Yeronga State School has had some legendary fetes and fun fairs. We are looking for a special someone (or someones) to be Fete or Event Coordinator going into 2025. There is a ‘Yeronga SS Fete Bible’ to guide you through the process, and lots of willing volunteers to help out.

Get in touch with the Vice President at vicepresident2@yerongasspandc.org.au if you are interested.

Your P and C Executive Committe are: Alex White, Teresa Chase, Ali Martin, Lisa Silvester and Michelle Bell. If you see us around the school, please come say hi!

NEXT P &C Meeting 18 November 2024 at 7pm in the Curiosity Centre.

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

Rise Sport

YSS_Rise_Sport.pdf

 

Yeronga State High School - Job Opening

Administrative Officer

Education (Organisation site)
Metropolitan South Region, Early Childhood and State Schools Division

Yeronga State High School is seeking an enthusiastic Administrative Officer to join our dynamic office team. We are looking for a receptionist that will deliver exceptional customer service to our internal and external customers. The Administrative Officer reports to the Principal, Business Manager or nominated delegate. This position is 8.30am to 3pm, 5 days a week.

Follow the link below for full details:

https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-MSR597974-24T

 

Fairfield Library - Little Stars Reading Club

Exciting news!

Little Stars Reading Club returns for 2024! With the theme “Become a story explorer” this program encourages families to talk, read, sing, and play with their children.

Launching Saturday 5 October, families can register online today.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=928901452595507&set=a.164176012401392

Register online: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/council-venues-and-precincts/libraries/library-programs/2024-gold-star-and-little-stars-reading-club-programs.

 

Digital Dilemmas

Australian Girls Choir

Smith Family - Saver Plus