Dear Families,

How lovely it was to welcome our newly enrolled students across the school this week. This year we welcomed 115 of our youngest community members into Prep. It has been a very smooth start to the school year, assisted always by the excellent preparation from families and teachers. It is not uncommon for the first couple of weeks to be met with some resistance as students adjust to the pace and demands of their new routines. Fatigue is genuine and consistent routines that support healthy eating, movement and sleep go a long way to the successful adjustment.

New Strategic Plan and "Stay and Play" afternoon

This year we commence our 2025-2028 School Strategic Plan:

Belong  Engage  Achieve

We will be launching the new plan with our ‘Stay and Play’ afternoon on Friday the 14^th of February.

Please join us for an afternoon of connecting;

2-3pm – Open Classroom – parents are invited to attend their child’s classroom

3-5pm – PandC Barbeque and family fun

Our priority this year is a schoolwide focus on the teaching of reading. Whilst I and the teaching staff will be engaging in current research and teaching methods, we will be asking all families help reinforce a love of reading at home.

Consider - introducing new authors via short audio books in the car

             - bedtime routines that involve being read to (even 12year old)

             - special trip to the bookshop to buy a new book

             - modelling reading books as an alternative to digital

             - discuss new vocabulary and ideas represented in books

             - donating books to the library or starting a book swap

Parent Rep Volunteers

An important role at our school supporting busy families to engage in school life is the role of Parent Representative (Parent Rep) for each class. Typically, there are two Parent Rep volunteers who put their hand up to coordinate various social activities and assist with school to home communications for the year. Our Parent Representative Coordinator is Becky Wallace who does a wonderful job summarising all the important messages from the school for distributing this to the class parent representatives. The class parent representative then includes additional class specific information from the class teacher.

Please consider volunteering for this role and let your class teacher know by the end of next week (Week 2) if you are willing to take on this role. Once we have the parent reps confirmed Becky and I will organise a time to meet as a group.  

Have a wonderful week,

Eunice

Setting Up for Success

This week, classes across the school have been actively preparing for success.  Students have been examining learning assets and our collective sense of belonging and contribution within our school community and classrooms.

Students in 1S have taken a deep dive into our school rules, and brainstormed ways to be safe, respectful and responsible students.

Students in 4/5P this week have explored the learning pit.  The learning pit helps students to understand that learning is a journey, and even when something seams hard at first, they can develop a strong sense of self-efficacy and engage in challenging tasks.  It helps students to build resilience, determination and curiosity with learning. 

4W have focused their discussions on being great self-managers, and challenging themselves to let go of old habits and bravely face new challenges for the year ahead. 

Prep students are exploring their new school environment, and have enjoyed getting to know their new friends and teachers, and what is means to be part of Yeronga State School.

We’re all looking forward to a great year of belonging, engagement and achievement ahead.

School and Vice Captains 2025

Ellia, Sophie, Morry and Harrison are the 2025 School and Vice Captains.  They’re looking forward to spending some eating times with each year level over term 1, to get to know all the students across the school.  Great idea captains!

Student Leadership Induction Ceremony

On Monday 17^th February at 9am, year 6 students in formal school leadership positions will be inducted into their positions at the Leadership Induction Ceremony.  Student Councillors from years 3-6 will also be inducted into their positions for the 2025 school year. Parents and community members are invited to join us for this special occasion.

School Rules and Expectations

At the start of the year, it’s a good time to brush up on the school rules and expectations.  Our 3 school rules are; Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible.  Staff and Students use the matrix below, aligned to our learning assets to guide our behaviour and interactions with others during the school day.

Read Write Inc

Yesterday afternoon, we hosted an information session for Prep parents, providing an overview of our phonics program, 'Read Write Inc'. We extend our gratitude to Ms Annabel Wheeldon for her leadership in implementing Prep RWI over the past four years, yielding significant progress in reading across the Junior School.

This information will be emailed out to all parents and further information sessions will be held this year.

AFL Premiership Cup at Yeronga State School

Thank you to the Brisbane Lions Team for giving YSS families the opportunity to have photos with the Premiership Cup this morning!

Learning Assets

We have been exploring the importance of our learning assets at school.  Next week students will be unpacking how we take on different roles to add to the success of classroom.

Welcome to our Prep 2025 Students

We have had a wonderful start to the year with all Prep students happy and engaged in their learning and play.  Thank you to our families for helping us set students up for a successful start!

We appreciate the partnership with our families to model and support important student safety expectations. Please note a couple of important messages regarding the school site;

Dogs on school site

Historically Yeronga SS has been a ‘dog friendly’ school welcoming dogs on to the school site. This was initially brought in as an inclusive action for a student who had an assistance dog. This included an active Dog Awareness program to help children understand the potential benefits and risks of dogs on the school site. Family dogs while not encouraged are still welcome under the following conditions;

Understand that some children fear or actively dislike dogs. They may also have allergies or feel uncomfortable around pets for other reasons.

Family dogs accompanying owners before and after school must be on a short leash and remain on grassed areas. Do not bring your dog into congested areas where children and adults are gathering.

If walking from one end of the school site to another please go via the external footpath or via the oval areas to avoid the congestion of the path areas.

Any time your dog displays barking or aggressive behaviour at school they will be required to remain off the school site in future.

Smoking and Vaping

Smoking or vaping is prohibited on the school site including near entrances to the school site. For the comfort and safety of the community do not smoke or vape near the school site.

Before and After School Play Areas

Jabiru and other external facility hirers are licensed to use the outdoor play areas before and after school, between the hours of 7.00am and 8.30am and 3.30 pm and 6.00pm. These areas are out of bounds to all other students before and after school unless for a planned event.

Gates and Car Parks

All gates are opened before and after school to assist with the arrival and departure of students. Gates are locked at 3.30pm except for the pedestrian gate next to the administration block for those families still exiting the school site and for those families attending Jabiru.

All carparks are for Staff only (unless disabled parking is required).

Welcome back to the library.

At YSS our students have library lessons and library borrowing sessions. This term library lessons will be a weekly 30 minute lesson for year 3 to 6 students who will be learning digital literacy skills for online learning.

The following aspects of the Digital Literacy Curriculum will be covered, through using Teams, OneNote and Qlearn

• Managing digital wellbeing
• Locate and store information
• Create, communicate and collaborate
• Managing, storing and protecting content and digital data.

Prep – Year 3

Will have a separate borrowing session. Where they will borrow two library books and home readers. Every student needs to have a library bag. This help protect our books and sets good habits for the future.

Running Club

Running club will commence next week (2) and continue until the end of Term 4 on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Mr Bateman. Mr Sutherland will advise when he is ready to commence his sessions on Fridays. The sessions will take place unless the weather makes it impossible to run safely. Sessions will be held on Mondays, from 3:15 to 3:45 and Tuesdays 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. Remember that all of these sessions will occur on the main, or years 3-6 oval. Parents are most welcome to participate.

Congratulations to Our National Place-Getters

We have two new National place getters in discus and shot. We all should congratulate Nina and Clara J. It’s an outstanding effort in two quite technical events. They competed at Nationals in Sydney at the end of last year. Nina placed second in the discus and Clara placed third in discus and second in ShotPut. Congratulations to the girls again on truly outstanding sporting achievements.

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 Term 1, 2025 (Preliminary)

7 February 2025 – 10 – 12 years District Boys Netball Nominations Due

10 February 2025 – 10 – 11 years District Boys & Girls Netball

10 February 2025 – 10 – 12 years District Girls Netball

12 February 2025 – 10 – 19 years District Swimming

25 February 2025 – 10 – 12 years District Girls AFL

26 February 2025 – 10 – 19 years Met West Regional Swimming

28 February 2025 – 10 – 19 years District Squash Nominations

4 March 2025 – 10 – 12 years District Boys & Girls Basketball

5 March 2025 – 10 – 11 & 11-12 years District Boys & Girls Rugby League

12 March 2025 – 10 – 12 years District Boys AFL

14 March 2025 – 10 – 12 years District Boys & Girls Golf & Hockey Nominations

20 March 2025 – Yeronga State School Cross Country Junior (Prep to Y3) & Senior (Years 4 to 6)

28 March 2025-Gala Day 1 for Years 5 & 6

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.

The Yeronga State School P&C extends a warm welcome to all new and returning parents and care givers in our wonderful school community. Joining the P&C is a great way to get involved in your school community, keep up-to-date with what’s happening at the school, contribute to your child’s education and make new friends.

The YSS P&C is a group of volunteers working together to improve the facilities and opportunities available at our school. By participating in the P&C, you are supporting the school community. In return, you may be supported by the school community to learn new skills and take on new responsibilities. Participating in the P&C gives you an opportunity to share in the school’s decision-making processes and shape the school’s future. Your contribution to the P&C can be as large or small as you can manage.

Did you know...

• At Yeronga State School, the P and C manages the Tuckshop and Uniform Shops

• The P&C provides funding for the instrumental music and visual arts programs. 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

• The P&C contributes to the 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&C runs sausages sizzles, end of term events, family fun days and other events through the school year

Tuckshop Volunteers and Updates

Our tuckshop can only exist if we have volunteers, and therefore, we welcome you to join in on the fun of being a tuckshop volunteer. We have a very friendly and fun environment and working in your child tuckshop is a fabulous opportunity to meet other parents at the school. You will also have the bonus of seeing the enjoyment on your child's face when you are serving them from behind the counter.

Volunteer are rostered on twice a term from 9am - 11.30 am, you choose your day that suits you.  Days available Tuesday,   Wednesday,   Thursday   and   Friday.

No experience is needed, some of our tasks,

Making muffins, cutting up fruit salad, making sandwiches, packing orders and washing dishes.

Come into the tuckshop and have a chat and a cup of coffee or tea or you can contact Tracy by email tuckshop@yerongasspandc.org.au

Grandparent are welcome to volunteer their time but will require a volunteer Blue Card and sign in at the main office.

The Tuckshop  2025 has a 5% increase to most of the items due to raising food prices.

We look forward to feeding your children.

 The Tuckshop staff

Coming up:

NEXT P&C MEETING Tuesday 18 February

Our first meeting for 2025 is also the P&C AGM. At this meeting, all executive positions will be declared vacant and nominations for those positions considered and voted on. You must be a P&C member to nominate and vote.

The executive team consists of a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice-President/s. If you are interested in nominating for any of these roles, or have any questions please email president@yerongasspandc.org.au

The P&C is also able to appoint members to non-executive positions, such as Event Co-ordinator or grants co-ordinator.  If you have a flair for events management (big or small!) or grant writing, (or indeed any other skills you’d like to put to use to help our school community) the P&C would love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with the Secretary (secretary@yeronongasspandc.org.au) or President if you are interested in these roles.

If you are a P&C member and have an item you would like to add to the next meeting agenda please contact the P&C Secretary at secretary@yerongasspandc.org.au and come along to the next meeting.

Please note that 2024 members will need to re-join for the 2025 year.

Join up here P&C Sign UP

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