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WELCOME BACK
It is hard to believe that Term 4 has dawned and we only have 10 weeks to finish the 2019 school year! We are having a very positive year, with classrooms calm and productive.
STUDENT FREE DAY
Monday 21 October is a Student Free Day. Students do not attend school on this day as staff engage in professional learning activities. Yeronga State School staff will be busy:
- reflecting on Kath Murdoch’s 10 practices of an Inquiry teacher
- reviewing concrete, pictorial and abstract representations in Maths,
- under going essential skills training in behaviour, including examining strategies that work for children with ASD, ADHD, anxiety and trauma experiences
- planning for 2020 using the School Improvement Hierarchy
EXCURSION PERMISSIONS
Recently we have received community feedback in relation to the permissions required for each school activity. The requirement for a completed permission form in addition to payment is a directive from the Department. As much as we would like to streamline the process and use payment as permission our hands are tied.
All staff involved aim to make this process as easy and time efficient as possible. We appreciate your kindness and patience when dealing with Teachers and the Office Team.
CPL STEM STRATEGIC NETWORK
We need a reliable pipeline of specialist STEM skills; but we also need informed workers, users and consumers who have the curiosity and imagination to be part of the broader STEM economy. This must be underpinned by lifetime engagement for all Australians with STEM, beginning in childhood and constantly renewed as knowledge and technologies expand.
(Office of the Chief Scientist STEM: Australia's Future, September 2014, p21)
A strong foundation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is seen as essential for our students. Children need expertise in the individual subjects as well as opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary action. This means they participate in learning where they apply the discipline knowledge from each area to create solutions to problems or challenges. A key facet of STEM is the opportunity to use the general capabilities of critical and creative thinking and problem solving. At Yeronga State school we have been providing quality learning opportunities in the individual subject area, and have developing general capabilities through the inquiry units. We are linking with fellow CPL Network schools to share expertise and create opportunities to expand STEM in our schools. The Network is currently developing a vision and clarifying purpose to ensure sustainability moving forward. We will have a Strategic Planning session this Thursday.
2020 Enrolments
Please let us know if you are leaving Yeronga State School in 2020. This information helps us to plan staffing and class placements effectively. We appreciate your support in keeping us informed.
YEAR 5 CAMP
School camps are a brilliant time for children to learn about resilience, courage, social skills and their own capabilities. Facing new situations and new challenges continually means that children have to take risks and regularly be outside their comfort zone. This can be difficult at times and children often don’t realise what they have learnt until they reflect later in life.
Parents are sometimes a little surprised when children return from camps as the children are often over tired and can appear ambivalent about whether they enjoyed it or not and often quite non-committal. Be patient. Let them tell you about it when they are ready and really listen to them as they begin to share what they did. You should find that they have been on a huge learning journey and have returned a little more independent. Be incredibly proud that your child has been able to go on such an adventure because you helped them be ready for it.
Next week Year 5 will attend camp, with two classes going at the beginning of the week and two at the end. Thank you to Ms Massellos, Mr Curness, Mr Landbeck and Mrs Paynter for taking the children to camp. Ms Kerri McGuire will be replacing Ms Wise at camp as Ms Wise will be supporting her Year 6 students. I am looking forward to joining the children at the beginning of the week.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM SUPPORT
One third of students from Year 3-6 participate in our Instrumental Music program. The Strings program begins in Year 3 and the band program in Year 4. The program is a unique feature of QLD State school education, with students provided with free tuition and great opportunities to learn to perform in an orchestra or ensemble. The current demand to participate exceeds the staff allocation we have for tuition and the IM team recently approached the P&C for support to expand the program.
The Instrumental Music team are very grateful for agreement for additional support annually, in order to expand placements for additional 6-8 students annually. The Instrumental Music program will be all the stronger for this support.
The Green Team
Yeronga State School is a finalist in the 2019 Cleaner Suburb Awards. The Green Team, ably lead by Nicole Deayton are responsible for the many ways our school is seeking to be Cleaner and Greener. Thank you all for your support of these initiatives and efforts in voting to support this application.
Baby News - Harper Marie Hicks
We were delighted to hear that Mrs Kayla Hicks’ baby girl Harper Marie arrived safely on the first Saturday of the holidays. Kayla is doing very well and looking forward to visiting later in the term to show 2H, staff and her past students her beautiful daughter.
Debbie Spanner
Principal
Here’s hoping that our Yeronga State School families have all enjoyed the school holidays and are all geared up for an eventful and productive Term Four. We look forward to working closely with you all to achieve success for our students throughout the term.
10,000 Steps YSS Team Tournament
You may notice many of our Yeronga State School staff ‘out and about’ wearing pedometers, which will measure their daily physical activity. They are taking part in a six week 10,000 Steps Team Tournament, with the aim of walking at least 10,000 steps each day. It’s great to see that so many of our staff are keen to take part and be active role models for our students. No doubt there will be lots of fun (and friendly rivalry) as the staff encourage each other in this team challenge.
Extended Student Absences- Attendance Matters
Please note that if students are going to be away for a period of more than ten days, parents need to complete an Exemption from Compulsory Education form, which is available from the school office and needs to be signed by the Principal. Let us know if you have any queries about this.
Student Council- Real Life Inquiry
Last term our Student Council representatives in Year 3-6 started their own ‘real life’ Inquiry in an effort to address the problem that we have related to inappropriate use of our school toilets. The Student Council representatives committed to working through a problem based Inquiry Cycle, in an effort to come up with some problem solving actions. They have finished conducting an investigation of this issue within our school and have come up with the following ‘top solutions’, which are currently being enacted.
Top Solutions
- Class Teacher to keep a ‘Toilet Register’ (who goes to the toilet and when).
- Year 6 students in the role of ‘Toilet Monitors’. Check on in intervals through the day (written checklist/ cleanliness record).
Other possible solutions
- Class job i.e. one student to remind all students in the line to go to the toilet at the end of the lunch break (then not to go during class time).
- Encourage students to go to the toilet between eating and play time.
- Use of a bathroom pass.
- Start of the year/ each term: teachers to make expectations in the toilets very clear.
- Use of toilet paper dispensers that limit the amount that can be taken out.
We look ahead to an exciting few weeks on the horizon with Year One Big Bang Science, the Year Two Excursion, Year Five Currumbin Camp, Year Six Big Bang and visit to the RSL and Gala Day Three.
Have a terrific first two weeks of term!
Kate Paynter and Tracy Freeman
Deputy Principals
Bonjour from Binjour!
During my recent long service leave it was great to be able to pay a visit to Louise Vaggs at Binjour Plateau State School, located 15 minutes from the Queensland citrus capital of Gayndah, where she is currently working as the acting Principal. Louise is making great gains with the students there and has certainly made a positive impression on the entire community! See a few pictures below from my trip.
Mrs Kate Paynter
P&C Meeting - Tuesday, 15 October
We are now on the home stretch of the year and still have some great sharing and planning ahead and next P&C Meeting NEXT Tuesday 15 October in the Resource Centre (Library) at 7:00pm. All are welcome to attend. This will be the second last P&C meeting for the year and we'd love to see you there.
World Teachers' Day - 25 October
Our school will celebrate World Teacher's Day on Friday, 25 October. This is a great opportunity to show our appreciation for our teachers by providing a morning tea for them on this day.
Grillex promotion - help us win new seating for the grade 1 playground
We really need new seating around our grade 1 playground to facilitate community building between children and families. The space is very open and exposed around the playground where parents wait for their kids to finish school. We have one buddy bench in the area for children to show they would like to play with others. Extra seating will enable more children to meet and will support community building between parents and children through offering a more comfortable place for parents to connect and supervise their children before and after school. We will be forever grateful to Grillex for enhancing these important connections for our children and community.
- Grillex recommends getting together some creative students to design our outdoor make-over, and sending their design/s with a photo of space we wish make-over to win@grillex.com.au
- Let other people from our school know about the competition. Each person can enter once, so please share this competition to your YSS friends and family to boost the chance of our school being selected as the winner. Let's all put our entries in at https://grillex.com.au/win!
Air conditioning
Hamish Townsend and Kym Mansfield
Yeronga State School P&C Co-Presidents
ysspandcpresident@gmail.com
2020 Student Resource Scheme
A big thank you to the Yeronga families for there massive effort in paying off the 2019 Student Resource Scheme (SRS) invoices.
Registrations to participate in the 2020 resource scheme have now closed. All the families who have registered will shortly receive an email outlining more details around the scheme and a contract will be send home to be completed and returned to the office. Please note that this contract MUST be completed to participate in the resource scheme for 2020.
Outstanding Payments
We'd like to thank all our parents for their prompt attention to invoices that have been sent out. To confirm if you are up to date with your payments we will be sending out a statement tomorrow (Friday 11 October). Please look out for this via email. Preferred payment is via QParents or BPoint (located at the bottom of each invoice.)
Please note that if you receive a statement with a NEGATIVE amount ( e.g. -$20) this means that you have a CREDIT on your account which can be used to pay another invoice.
If you would like to use a credit please email rbenn127@eq.edu.au to confirm which invoice you would like the credit to be applied to.
Year 5 Camp
Year 5 students will be heading to camp next week. In preparation for this please see below the form 'Camp Information for Parents' on what to bring.
Important Dates
1. Year 5 Camp - (5C & 5M) 14-16 October 2019 (5L & 5W) - 16-18 October 2019
2. Year 6 Big Bang - 14 October 2019
3. Year 6 RSL Veteran - 17 October 2019
4. Gala Day 3 - 18 October 2019
5. Pupil Free Day - 21 October 2019
6. School Photos for Year 6 Cohort & Music/Band/Choir Students Photos - 23 October 2019
7. Year 5 & 6 Life Ed - 28 - 31 October 2019
In last fortnight’s newsletter Senora Rodriquez Cardenas message was printed without her receiving credit. She was the author of the message regarding the Spanish competition.
A note on the MLTAQ Languages Competition from Sunday 9th September 2019
MLTAQ is the Modern Languages Teacher Association in Qld that organizes every year, language competitions for students from grades four to twelve.
This year eleven of our brilliant students from grades four, five and six, represented YSS for the very first time in the primary Spanish Speaking competition as follows:
Year 4
Emmeline C
Aimee K (highly commended)
Nakshathra P (highly commended)
Yi B Y (1st place Medal)
Year 5
Sofia C
Charlotte D (2nd place medal)
Milla P (highly commended)
Clementine T
Year 6
Freya B
Angus K
Chloe L
All the students mentioned above, were very committed and represented YSS with great responsibility and high standards. The entire school recognized and celebrated the achievement of the above mention students and respectively congratulated them during school assembly during the current week (week 9).
Muchas gracias Señora Yanirza Rodriguez
Last term the junior and senior girls’ AFL teams travelled to Calamvale Community Collage for Gala Day 2. The girls had a fantastic day and remained undefeated by the end of the day. With each game, the girls developed more confidence on the field, improved their skills and got better at working as a team. Despite the heat, the girls constantly showed outstanding grit, determination and sportsmanship. They should be very proud of their hard work and achievement! Well done girls!
Senior Girls Netball.
Congratulations to our senior netball girls on two very successful gala days.
It was with mixed emotions that twenty-four hours prior to our first gala day one of our senior teams lost 6 players due to their participation in the SEQ Soccer Finals. Whilst we were thrilled to hear that the girls had made the SEQ final however, this meant that our remaining girls had to either forfeit or restructure teams and play in positions out of their conform zones. Our YSS girls took on the challenge and played a magnificent first round securing four wins, two draws and one loss.
Unfortunately, I was unwell and was not able to attend the 2nd gala day. A big thank you to Mrs Kelly Stoddart, Ms Hannah Hamilton and Mrs Kirsten Jennings for supporting the girls in my absence.
Our teams played hard and showed great sportsmanship. All teams experienced mixed results on the day, however it was with great pride that I heard that our YSS girls once again stepped up and played like champions.
I am looking forward to our third and final gala day in term 4.
Welcome back to our very busy Term Four. There are many items worth reading about to ready yourselves for the conclusion of the year.
Ball Games
Congratulations to all of our staff and students on a wonderful day. It is a unique day as there is the usual sporting success and disappointment mixed with fun and fashion. Well done to all of the parents and carers who were able to attend. The results were as follows:
Year One
First Place:1BR - Richter’s Rockstars, Second Place: 1M - Mac's Monsters, Third Place: 1W - Warriors
Fourth Place: 1P – Pandas & Fifth Place: 1O - In Outer Space
Year Two
First Place: 2BT – Blazing Thunderbolts, Second Place: 2R - Rock Stars, Third Place: 2H - Hyper Heroes, & Fourth Place: 2K - Karate Kids
Year Three
First Place: 3N – Newby’s National Newbs, Second Place: 3D - Dunns Dudes, Third Place: 3M - M&M’s
Fourth Place: 3/4L -Wise LEGO multi masters.& Fifth Place: 3K – Roaring Lions
Year Four
First Place: 4R - Henry’s Hippies, Second Place: 4C - Chase’s Outerspacers, Third Place: 4HW - Wise’s Warriors, Fourth Place: 4J - Jumbo Jets & Fifth Place: 3/4L -Wise LEGO multi masters.
Year Five
First Place: 5/6W - Wise Lego Multi Masters, Second Place: 5C - Sea Eagles, Third Place: 5M – Mad Hatters, Fourth Place: 5L - Landbecks Lukes and Leias
Year Six
First Place: 6A – Alex’s Athletes, Second Place: 6Q – Quirks Queenslanders, Third Place: 6M - Middleton's Motorcycle Gang. Fourth Place: 5/6W - Wise Lego Multi Masters
Best Dressed Teams
Years 1 & 2
2BT – Blazing Thunderbolts
Years 3 – 6
4HW - Wise’s Warriors
Swimming Commences in Week 1
Swimming lessons are being held at the times stated in the permission note. Please remember to refer to the equipment list on the permission note so that your children have everything they need for their lessons. Children should have a complete change of clothes, swimming togs including a rashie for lessons, goggles
(essential), towel, sunscreen, bathing cap (essential), deodorant (for older students) and flip flops or thongs (much preferred). Rashies are not required for races at carnivals, but students should cover up when not racing.
|
Time |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
9 – 9:45 |
|
|
1P & 1M |
2R & 2BT |
|
9:45-10:30 |
|
3/4L |
3N & 3M |
4HW & 4R |
|
10:30-11:15 |
|
4C & 4J |
2K & 2H |
1BR |
|
11:45-12:30 |
6Q, 6M & 6A |
1W & 1O |
Preps 1 & 2 |
|
|
12:30-1:15 |
5L & 5M |
3K & 3D |
Prep 5 |
|
|
1:45 – 2:30 |
5/6W & 5C |
Preps 4 & 3 |
|
|
Swimming Carnivals
Preparations are beginning for these very important events on the Yeronga State School Calendar. Students need to be thinking, from the commencement of lessons, exactly which events they would like to compete in as once the program is written there will be very little time for changes. If children wish to withdraw from events that they can swim they will need parental permission. A form will be uploaded to the school web page for this purpose. Please remember that as the carnival will be held in the 25m pool at Yeronga Park there should be little concern over the completion of 50m events.
On a lighter note the big question is; who can end Lawson’s 8 year dominance in swimming? Can Kendall, who are winless this year? Can Evans, who won the Athletics? Could Paterson, who are yet to chalk up a win this year? Only time will tell who will be the winner of our swimming trophy.
Rebel Sport Community Kickbacks
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 nominates Yeronga State School as the recipient of Community Kickbacks. I have purchased cricket equipment, Footballs and Netballs with this credit. It is an easy way to contribute resources to our school especially if you enjoy spending time and money in sports stores like myself.
Gala Days
The remaining date in Term 4 is 18 October. Children should be continuing to train to maintain their skills and teamwork.
Important Sporting Dates
Gala Day Three: 18 October
YSS Ball Games Day (Prep to Year 6): 19 September
YSS School Swimming Commences (Notes coming very shortly): 8 October
YSS Senior Swimming Carnival: 26 November
YSS Junior Swimming Carnival: 3 December
Cameron Bateman
Sports Teacher
NUDE FOOD IDEAS!
Nude Food Day is coming up on Tuesday 22nd October. Your mission is to send your child to school with as little packaging as possible. There are great class and individual prizes to be won thanks to our wonderful sponsors The Source Bulk foods at West End!
If you’re confused or stuck for ideas, here’s a few to tantalise your kids’ tastebuds. Don’t they look healthy?
Maybe you can recognise your own child’s lunchbox from Nude Food Day last year?
Mental Health Week
Mental Health Week (5-13 October) and World Mental Health Day (October 10) are all about improving community awareness and helping to develop an interest in mental health and wellbeing. This is particularly important as 1 in 5 Australians are affected by mental illness, and campaigns like this help to reduce the stigma around mental health. If you are struggling it is important to seek support and professional help, and there are so many great organisations that you can access, including:
Lifeline – 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au
MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78 www.mensline.org.au
Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800 www.kidshelpline.com.au
Headspace - 1800 650 890 www.headspace.org.au
There are also many choices we can make in how we live, learn, work and play that can improve our mental health and wellbeing. As a starter, I’ve put lots of my tips together that I have shared in just this year’s newsletters. I hope you find something that helps you into a brighter future.
Chappy’s 2019 tips:
- Finding ways to relax, recharge, be happy, and choosing to be positive
- Letting go of frustrations, hurts and disappointments
- Extending words of encouragement and love to your loved ones
- Healthy thinking with positive self-talk, and keeping your mind from wandering
- Developing a circle of support with supportive family and friends
- Making community connections and friends
- Showing kindness to others and helping others
- Choosing healthy eating options (and school lunchboxes)
- Practicing gratitude
- Working towards life goals and dreams
Coming Up
25/10 World Teacher’s Day (how can your family honour your teachers)
26-27/10 Chappy’s Camp at School (registrations are now open, so get your forms in early to avoid disappointment)
19/11 Sub and Drink Deal lunch
Blessings,
Jennifer Bennett
NOTICEBOARD