As we mark the half way point of Term One, it is timely to reflect on the mammoth start to the school year here at Yeronga State School. Staff have been focussed on building positive connections with students in order to maximise achievement through creating comfortable and safe learning environments, which are conducive to meeting students' developmental, emotional and academic needs. As parents, you play an essential role in the education of your child and I hope that you have been able to meet and begin building a strong partnership with your child’s teacher. Research proves that strong parent home partnerships have a positive impact on both the academic and social emotional wellbeing of children.

LEADERSHIP INDUCTION

It was my great pleasure to acknowledge the students who will be representing our school this year as Senior Leaders and/ or in various formal leadership positions, during our Leadership Induction ceremony last week. These students were selected by their peers and school staff to be the leaders of our student body for this school year.

Approximately 70% of our Year 6 students received leadership badges and 20 students from Year 3-6 received Student Council badges as their class representatives. My message to those students in Year 6 who did not receive a Senior Leader badge last week, is that I encourage them to work towards receiving their badge. As a school we will support these students in this process, as we believe that everyone has the capacity to be a leader.

Our student leaders will be expected to exemplify our school expectations of being responsible, being respectful, being safe and always doing their best. I am confident that the students who received their badges will rise to the expectations that we have for them and we will be a stronger, more effective school community with their input. Leaders cannot and do not work alone. Our student leaders will need the support of staff, fellow students and family to accomplish all that they are required to do and overcome any challenges they face. We all have a role to play in supporting and helping our student leaders as they step up to their leadership positions.

We must help set them up for success through our own actions and words each day. I know that our Yeronga State School community is a caring, supportive community and we will support these leaders to achieve all that they are seeking to do.

PLANS FOR 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR YERONGA STATE SCHOOL

2021 will be a monumental year for Yeronga State School, as we celebrate 150 years since the opening of our wonderful school. We have a committee busy making plans for our 150th Birthday celebrations and they have some important dates for you to mark in your diary in preparation for next year.

Date Claimers:

Foundation Day Assembly- Friday 5/2/21

ANZAC Day Ceremony- Friday 23/4/21

Fete – 22/5/21

Alumni Afternoon Tours- Saturday 11/9/21

Bushdance- Saturday 11/9/21

Ballgames- 14/9/21

Staff Gala Dinner- Saturday 9/10/21

DENTAL BUILDING

Whilst we await news on the next stage in the development of the former Dental building, we have been working closely with the Metropolitan Region Facilities staff to ensure that the site is well-maintained. We are pleased to note that a regular maintenance schedule has been established, as well as additional security patrols will be carried out in order to keep this area safe and well monitored.

QUADRENNIAL SCHOOL REVIEW

During Term 3 this year our school will be taking part in a Quadrennial School Review. School reviews complement the department’s four-year school planning, reviewing and reporting cycle. Schools are generally reviewed in the year that they are due to update their four-year strategic plan. This will be an important process for us to undertake here at YSS as we review our 2017-2020 Strategic Plan and prepare a new plan for the following four years. Findings and feedback from the review will provide valuable input into this process.

School reviews consider a school’s performance against the nine domains of the National School Improvement Tool. The tool was developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in consultation with all states and territories, including Queensland. It is evidence-based and provides schools with a consistent framework from which to consider their improvement agenda. Community feedback will be an essential part of the review, with parents, students and the community encouraged to have their say.

OUR COMMUNITY IS AS STRONG AS YOUR CONTRIBUTION

On Tuesday last week we had our first P&C meeting of the year, including the AGM where all Executive positions lapsed and the selection of the P&C Executive for this year occurred. The annual P&C report highlighted the great contribution that the P&C and our parent body make to the school. The strong partnership with the P&C and school working together towards common objectives is what makes our community so strong.

Kate Paynter

Acting Principal

School Induction Ceremony

Last Thursday at the School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony we were joined by a number of parents, family members and students to celebrate the student leaders for 2020. We also hosted some special guests including: Mr Graham Perrett (federal member for Moreton), Councillor Nicole Johnston and Mr Terry Heath (Principal of Yeronga State High School) to present leadership badges. Our 2019 school captains, Morgan J and Liam C made a return to their primary school to “pass the baton” to Libby C, Ben T, Willow H and Aiden S. Our Year 3-6 cohort were excellent self-managers and the audience behaviour was commented on positively by many of our guests.

Fire Evacuation Practice

Last Thursday at school we had our first fire evacuation drill for 2020. The purpose of these drills is to ensure that all staff, students and visitors are familiar with evacuation procedures so that they can be followed calmly and safely in genuine emergency situations. Thanks to all staff and students for following procedures calmly.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent teacher interviews are a wonderful opportunity for you to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and learning goals for the year.

Interviews will be held during weeks 9 and 10 and an e-mail will be sent during the next fortnight, advising you of how to book.

Parent Information nights

It was wonderful to see so many parents in attendance at the parent information evenings held over the last two weeks. We have received positive feedback from a number of parents who were pleased with the format and information provided. We continue to welcome your feedback to help us refine these evenings further to ensure they meet the needs of our school community.

Halogen Young Leaders Day

On Monday 24th February Student Council Representatives from Years 3-6 attended the Halogen Young Leaders’ Day at the Brisbane Conference Centre with Ms McDermott and Miss Vaggs. During the day we had the opportunity to listen to a number of keynote speakers and participate in activities to inspire and encourage us in leadership roles.

Active School Travel - Let’s get active!

The AST Crew launches Active School Travel

Active School Travel’s ‘AST Crew’ of super travellers were special guests at our Junior assembly on Thursday 20 Feb and will be encouraging the senior school to get active on Thursday 27 Feb. Our students will discover how they can actively travel to school by walking, cycling, scootering, car pooling or using public transport.

Remember every Wednesday is our Active School Travel Day. Each child receives a passport and gets a stamp once a week on Wednesday, when they actively travel to school. The more stamps they accumulate, the more rewards they get! We are also having an inter-class competition, so actively travel with us each Wednesday to join the fun.

The inter-class star competition winners for Week 4 was P2. Congratulations to P2!!

Not only will we all arrive healthier, happier and ready to learn, the streets will be safer with fewer cars. Active School Travel is one of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life for all children. Learning to move is as important as learning to read.

The teachers of Yeronga will be starting the Walking Train this term. The walking train assembles at the River City Cycles shop across from Yeronga Train Station – assemble at 8:10am and begin walking at 8:15am. Thank you to the following teachers.

Class Assembly Performance

The class assembly performances are a lovely way for your children to demonstrate some of the learning that they have been engaging in over the year. The junior assembly starts at 2pm in the hall. Please see the timetable below to see when your child’s class performance is scheduled.

Junior Assembly Performances 2020

Religious Instruction

Religious instruction (RI) is offered at the school and is beginning in Week 6.

The faith group/s that provide/s religious instructors to deliver an authorised program is/are listed below:

Students are allocated to RI based on information provided by parents on the completed Application for Student Enrolment unless other written instructions have been provided to the school. The religious instruction permission form has been emailed out to you and you are required to complete the consent form every year.

Students who are not participating in RI will be provided with other instruction in a separate supervised location. Other instruction must relate to part of a subject area already covered in class and may include, but is not restricted to:

• personal research and/or assignments
• revision of class work such as creative writing or literacy and/or numeracy activities which could include online programs currently accessed by the students of that school
• wider reading such as independent reading appropriate to the student

Parents will be advised of any changes to the RI and other instruction programs to ensure they are able to make an informed decision on their child’s participation.

Learning Asset Morning Tea

The students at Yeronga State School are demonstrating their learning assets every day by being flexible thinkers, communicating and collaborating, researching and self-managing. To highlight these learning assets students in certain year levels will be asked to attend a morning tea with the Deputy Principal, Principal and head of Curriculum Inquiry to celebrate their achievements. This week 2 students from every Prep class and Year 6 class have been invited to attend the morning tea Friday 28 Feb and their special golden ticket has been sent home. At the morning tea we will ask the students how they use the learning assets and why they think they help them to learn.

Upcoming Events

We would love to see you at our upcoming events during this term.

They include:

- Harmony Day (Thursday 19th March)

- Senior Cross Country (Tuesday 10th March)

Enjoy the next two weeks!

Tracy Freeman and Louise Vaggs

Deputy Principals

Hamish Townsend and Kym Mansfield

Yeronga State School P&C Co-Presidents
ysspandcpresident@gmail.com

POSITION VACANT – CASUAL SCHOOL CLEANER

We are currently recruiting for school cleaners to join our team. Cleaners work between 5.30 – 8.30am and 2.30 – 5.30am. As a casual cleaner you may be required to work both shifts during the day or only one shift (morning or afternoon). At this stage, we have a vacancy for between 6 -9 hours per week with the possibility of an increase in hours in the future.

No experience is necessary and full training will be provided. A ‘Working with Children’ Blue Card is mandatory for State School employees.

For further information about the position, contact the Business Manager Ruth Bennett: rbenn127@eq.edu.au or 3426 0310.

GALA DAY - PAYMENT & PERMISSION

Gala Day invoices have been emailed to parents today. The amout for this semester is $40.00. We encourage all families to check their emails to find the invoice for Gala Day.

Payment is due on Wednesday 4 March 2020 (next Wednesday). 

The first Gala Day will be on Friday 6 March 2020. 

Venue Confirmation: Girls Soccer will be competing at the Souths United Soccer Club Runcorn for all Gala Days.

Please note that Payment and Permission must be given for students to attend. If you have not yet given permission please do so via the links below. 

PERMISSION Links Below:

Teeball       Softball       Soccer Girls     Soccer Boys    Basket Ball

Kalari – Celebrating Indigenous culture at YSS

Anniversary of the National Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Yeronga State School understands the value of saying sorry when someone or a group of people have been hurt or treated unfairly.

This month, Australians remembered the anniversary of an important event that happened twelve years ago. On 13 February, 2008, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the National Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the injustices of past government policies, especially the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. These children are now known as the stolen generations, and the apology reminded us of the importance of acknowledging past wrongs as we move towards a more just and hopeful future.

Yugara word for this week

Did you know that Yeronga SS is located on Yugara country? In each newsletter entry Kalari will share with you a Yugara word. This week the Yugara word is molum, pronounced ‘mow-lum’, means ‘child’ in Yugara language.

What is Kalari?

Kalari means ‘message stick’ in Yugara language and is name of the YSS Indigenous Working Group.

Kalari aims to increase the acknowledgement and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history at YSS, through an inclusion of Indigenous perspectives and in line with the YSS school values.

Kalari is made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous volunteer parents and anyone can join! For more information or to get involved about contact Aren Healy at mamaaren101@gmail.com.

‘Our YSS Community & Inclusion’ – Please complete the survey!

In 2017, Yeronga State School adopted an inclusion model of support for students across a range of backgrounds and abilities. The role of Inclusion Teacher was introduced, and a reflection process was implemented to ensure best practice. The Inclusion Teachers are currently enacting an inquiry process to ask: What is the narrative around inclusion in our school community? How can we communicate our message to the community?

As such, the purpose of this survey is to hear from our school community about inclusion at Yeronga State School, and to seek feedback on what our next steps might be. We ask that the school community completes the survey at the following link: https://s.surveyplanet.com/fn1LBTOl. It’s a great way to have your voice heard on this important topic.

We appreciate your support!

The YSS Inclusion Team

Welcome back everybody. I hope the Summer Holidays were as exciting or as restful as you needed them to be.

Cross Country Training

Cross Country Training has begun and will climax with the School Cross Country on 10 March. Sessions will be on Mondays from 3:15 to 3:45 and Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:15 with Mr Bateman and Fridays 7:45 to 8:15 with Mr Sutherland (from week 3). These sessions are run free of charge.

A wise once man said; “a run a day is the key to cross country success”. Not only has this maxim filled our trophy cabinets with district cross country trophies, but it has also meant that children wanting to participate in other sports had the baseline fitness that made those other sports easier and meant that coaches could concentrate on skills.

Gala Days

Gala Days are well and truly on the horizon. The dates for these very important days are, weather permitting, 6 March, 27 March and 8 May. The sports offered will include Boys and Girls Football (Soccer), Girls’ Softball/Teeball and Basket Ball. Children need to start committing seriously to training for their chosen sport.

Swimming

Swimming has begun. It has been offered to years 1 to 6 students as we are no longer being impacted by the National Athletics in Darwin.

Students will need goggles, a bathing cap (No cap no swim), a rashie, togs, towel, sturdy bag, spare underwear & Flip Flops (thongs).

These sessions provide high quality swimming instruction across the school. We will be implementing these lessons, in conjunction with the staff of Yeronga Park Pool for years 1 to 4. This means the instructors will take the lessons for all children from Year 1 to 4 to enhance those childrens’ competence in Aquatics. Not only are these children being given expert stroke correction in small ability specific groups, but also water safety knowledge and skills.

Thanks again to Yeronga Park Pool for its continued support. They not only discount our lessons, but also give us our carnivals and various play days free of charge.

Senior Cross Country Day 10 March (Reserve Day: 12 March)

As we have a chance of hot, humid weather continuing we have decided to maintain extra safeguards for the impacts of heat.

As well as having drinking water on course we have scheduled a reserve day. This date is noted above. If we deem the heat predicted on the set date to make it unsafe for our students to run then we will move the cross country to our reserve day. Unfortunately we will not be able to make a decision until we are very close to the set date due to the fickleness of the weather. If our reserve day proves to be unsuitable then we will look at a selection trial involving only those wishing to attend the District Cross Country with our School Cross being delayed until the weather becomes more Autumnal.

All children will be expected, unless medically unable, to participate in the Cross Country. The children who are 8 years old will run a smaller course inside the school grounds. The children who age from 9 to 12 years will be given the option of running a long course (outside the school grounds) or a short course (within the school grounds). Those who opt for the short course will be identified by a fluorescent vest they must wear. The difference between the course options is that the long course option allows children to qualify for the Yeronga State School team for the Eastern Taipans District Cross Country, to compete to be Age Champion and to more greatly help their sporting house’s total.

Please remember that the team for the Eastern Taipans District Cross Country will not be settled for a week or more after the Yeronga State School Cross Country as we may have a number of children absent on the day and our policy is to allow those either absent due to illness or higher representative honours the opportunity to be considered for a place in teams at a later date.

ORDER OF EVENTS FROM 9.00 am

1. Boys Born 2008

2. Girls Born 2008

3. Boys Born 2009

4. Girls Born 2009

5. Boys Born 2010

6. Girls Born 2010

7. Boys Born 2011

8. Girls Born 2011

9. Boys Born 2012

10. Girls Born 2012

Absence From Cross Country

If you know that you will be absent from the Cross Country day and are keen to have a time recorded please see Mr Bateman so that this may be done before the 10th of March. If you are ill on the day you will need to collect a form from Mr Bateman to have a time recorded after the event to be considered for District Selection. We will be using the times of the top 8 in the 10, 11 and 12 year events for comparisons.

Cross Country Day Helpers

If you would like to volunteer time to help either as a check point attendant or a finish line official your help would be most appreciated. It is always great to have extra pairs of eyes and ears available. We have been blessed, for many years, with wonderful volunteers like Ruth Bennett. Thank you Ruth for so many great years of selfless service.

Rebel Sport Community Givebacks

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.

Yeronga State School (YSS) District Trial Selection Policy Special Consideration (Years 3 to 6).

The representative pathway for school sport is for children from 10 to 12 years of age. Yeronga is part of a very strong district which consists of 28 schools from Yeronga State School to the Calamvale area. In contact and skill team sports those aged 11 and 12 need to possess the advantages of size and speed, as well as skill on most occasions. Selectors will choose those with the skill and the resilience to compete at a higher level. Remember that selectors give up their time for these trials meaning that it is important for us to send only those ready to compete at a higher level. Very seldom is it appropriate to send students for experience. An indicator of readiness for participation at a higher level would be being among the best 3 or 4 players in most games for your club under 12 teams.

In order to be selected to attend a District Trial children should make themselves known to me (Mr Bateman) for either a selection trial with the appropriate teacher or so that they may be given the appropriate forms. Remember that children must give at least two weeks notice that they wish to attend a district trial to allow for a school selection trial to be held in the event of a great deal of interest being shown in a particular sport.

Important Sporting Dates 2020

02/03/2020 – District Touch Trial

03/03/2020 – District AFL Trial (Boys)

04/03/2020 – District AFL Trial (Girls)

04/03/2020 – District Basketball Trial

06/03/2020 – Gala Day 1 (10 – 12 years)

10/03/2020 – Yeronga Senior Cross Country (Years 3 – 6)

12/03/2020 – Reserve Day: Yeronga Senior Cross Country (Years 3 – 6)

12/03/2020 – District Netball Trial

13/03/2020 – District Volleyball

13/03/2020 – District Hockey (Boys)

16/03/2020 – District Boys Touch

18/03/2020 – District Hockey (Girls) & District Girls Touch

23/03/2020 – District Cross Country Nominations

27/03/2020 – Gala Day Two (10 – 12 years)

01/04/2020 – District Cross Country

Cameron Bateman
Sports Teacher

Thank you for the great support for Chappy Pancakes this week. It was a successful event raising $300 for the Chaplaincy program to be able to help people in need in our school community.

Harmony Day

Harmony Day is fast approaching – it is only 3 weeks away!  This is a beloved day in our school calendar celebrating the diversity of cultures within our school, and how we can come together in peace and harmony.  On Thursday 19 March, there will be two school assemblies; Junior School Assembly at 9am, and the Senior Assembly in the afternoon at 1:45pm, both with a flag procession, year level performances, and songs by the junior and senior choir.  The assemblies are a very moving and fitting celebration of our cultural diversity, so I hope you can join with us on the day.

I have sent home letters this week to the parents of the children who have been selected to be flag bearers representing 84 different countries.  The process of selection is quite difficult, but priority is given to the oldest of students born overseas.

Cybersafety

Last week I participated in an eSafety webinar with other Chaplains working across Australia which covered topics including online safety tips, reporting cyberbullying, positive connections and coping strategies, and encouraging helpful bystander behaviour.  The eSafety Commissioner has great information and resources available from their website https://www.esafety.gov.au. They are also able to help with dealing with any cyberbullying and removal of images and other content where social media sites fail to help.  This independent body is the world’s first government agency to keep its citizens safer online.

Coming up

10/3    “Sub and Drink Deal” Lunch – envelopes handed out this week

19/3    Harmony Day Assemblies

Blessings,

Jennifer Bennett

jenniferb@chappy.org.au

Congratulations to our new Environment Captains for 2020! Each of them will lead one of four groups.

Clementine – Recycling

Elyse – Nude Food

Charlotte – Litter

Alex – Composting

SCHOOL RECYCLING

We have a very active Green Team in our school who have initiated a number of recycling streams. Please take some time to talk to your child about what they can recycle at school.

Classroom recycling: Students can recycle paper and pens in their classrooms and some classes compost their fruit and veg scraps in our school garden.

Library recycling: Students can recycle batteries, phones and cords, bread tags, pens and paper in the library (sorry no more bottle tops for the time being but this may start again later in the year).

Playground recycling: Students can recycle poppers, plastic drink containers and cans (any 10c refund containers) in the crates at playtime or directly into one of the recycling bins at the tuckshop, under the year 6 stairs or under the year 1 block. They can also directly put their fruit and veg scraps into the compost bin with the green lid (the one that is hungry!) in our school garden.

Thanks for helping to keep our school clean and green!