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As I write my newsletter piece for this fortnight, I reflect on all of the students of Yeronga State School and how much I miss their everyday presence in our school. I would like to personally offer a big ‘shout out’ to the students of Yeronga State School, both those who have been learning@home and those who have been here at school. Your remarkable ability to adapt rapidly to new learning styles, as well as all of the current uncertainty in our world, has been remarkable and I commend you (and your parents) for being so resilient. I know that you have been missing your friends, your teachers and your school routine. We miss you and cannot wait to see you back at school soon!
LATEST COVID RESPONSE
The government have made an announcement, which will allow us to start to make plans for the gradual return to school of students. Please note the following important information:
-From Monday 11 May 2020, students in Prep and Year One will return to on-site learning
-Students in the following categories will also be able to attend school under the current
learning at home arrangements (i.e. accessing the learning@home materials with supervision):
- Children of essential workers when they are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made. Essential worker means any worker who must continue to attend their workplace for essential business.
- Vulnerable children
-All other students in Year Two- Year Six will continue with learning at home arrangements at this time.
-If low transmission rates continue, students in Year Two- Year Six will return to school from Monday 25 May 2020. Confirmation of this further step will be made by Friday 15 May 2020.
-Classroom teachers will not responsible for providing an alternative home-based learning program for students in Prep and Year 1, where parents elect to keep these students at home. However, if parents of these children contact the school, their teacher may wish to discuss with them ways they can best support their child at home. Parents will be able to access the learning@home resources via the Education Queensland website.
ANZAC DAY
Unfortunately, in 2020 we were not be able to commemorate ANZAC Day in the same way that we normally do. I hope that families were able to enjoy our Yeronga State School ‘virtual’ ceremony and be involved in other ways, such as the RSL ‘Light up The Dawn’ ceremony. The poignant photos that students shared of the different ways that their families commemorated and honoured this day in 2020 were certainly moving. We look forward to commemorating ANZAC Day at Yeronga State School in 2021, as a significant part of our 150th birthday celebrations.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
My gratitude and recognition go to the 2020 School Captain team, as they negotiate their way through this difficult time, as our school leaders. The Yeronga State School Captains and Vice Captains have been very creative in putting together their daily morning announcements remotely. It is commendable to see them each approach it in different ways, which are both engaging and inspiring for all the children. Gaining an insight into their hobbies and challenges has been motivating.
I would also like to congratulate the School Captains for the wonderful job they did with the Anzac Day ceremony this year. It was challenging to work remotely, however their ability to maintain traditions in a digital format was a credit to their commitment to the Yeronga State School community.
THANK YOU MRS COWIE
I would also like extend my sincere thanks to Mrs Debbie Cowie (our Head of Curriculum for Digital Technology) for a number of reasons. Firstly, Mrs Cowie put together the ‘virtual’ YSS ANZAC ceremony, which was presented in such a thoughtful and respectful way to represent the importance of this day for our school community.
Mrs Cowie has also been an ‘absolute rock’ for staff, parents and students during our move to online learning. She has negotiated the many challenges with endless grace and provided guidance to so many of us, at all times of the day and night. Thank you Debbie!
LOOKING AHEAD
I will continue to endeavour to keep our school community as up to date as possible over the coming weeks, as we work to return to school as “normal”. Take care of yourselves and your families.
Kate Paynter
Acting Principal
P&C meeting: Tuesday, 19 May
Our next P&C meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm on Tuesday, 19 May. With every chance that social distancing measures will still be in place then, it is highly likely that we will use our newly acquired video conferencing skills to give members the opportunity to join from the comfort of their own homes. Please keep an eye on your inboxes and the Parent Rep messages for details.
Tuckshop – we are open
Thank you to our wonderful community who has supported the Tuckshop during these weeks of home learning. Our Tuckshop Convenors, Stacey and Yvonne, have been keeping us entertained with their Facebook updates in between preparing lunches for students, teachers, parents and carers.
Please remember students are NOT able to bring money to school during this time. All orders must be purchased through Flexischools including frozen items. Cut off time for orders is 8:00am. The new Click & Collect option is available for students Learning@Home and their family members - enjoy the pleasure of having your favourite lunch item provided by the Tuckshop team in the comfort of your own home! Please press the "click & collect" icon before selecting your menu item. This ensures the Tuckshop will have your order ready for pick up at 11:00am. For more information on Click and Collect please see the attached flyer.
Also be on the lookout for Stacey and Yvonne's colourful and quirky dress up creations throughout the coming weeks - head to the P&C Facebook page for their latest antics (and don't forget to like and follow us while you're there :-)).
Uniform Shop – Open for Flexischools purchases
While the Uniform Shop is closed during these Learning@Home weeks, you can still purchase all uniform items via Flexischools and your order will be delivered to YOSHC for you to pick up. You will be notified when your order is ready for collection.
We now have our navy winter jumper and trackpants in stock in all sizes. Our very popular microfiber jacket is on its way and we are looking to have them at the Uniform Shop at the end of May. Thank you for your patience and stay safe.
YOSHC - please update bookings for return to school
With Prep and Year 1 students returning to school on Monday, 11 May, and Years 2-6 students proposed to return on Monday, 25 May, please let the YOSHC team know (yoshc@live.com.au) as soon as possible whether your children will be starting back at YOSHC. This will greatly assist with ensuring enough staff are available and rostered to care for children returning to care from Learning@Home.
In the meantime, head to the new YOSHC Facebook page for the latest YOSHC@Home videos created by our wonderful YOSHC team with fun and educational activities for kids to enjoy at home - everything from yoga, singing and a Wild West workout, to cooking and craft activities. And don't forget to like and follow the page while you're there! :-)
Mother's Day stall postponed
Unfortunately due to social distancing measures in place we need to postpone our much loved annual Mother's Day Stall. Given the fun it brings to the young and not-so-young in our community, we are keen to look at holding a stall for kids to shop for their mums and significant adults when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Ideas and suggestions for what you'd like are welcome and appreciated - please email yerongasspandc@gmail.com with your suggestions for what you would like.
We wish all the amazing mums, step-mums, grandmothers, God mothers, and all those who have taken on the role of mother and carer for our YSS kids a very happy Mother's Day for this Sunday, 10 May.
YSS turns 150 in 2021! Commemorative Booklet contributions invited
Lots of exciting activities are being planned to celebrate Yeronga State School's 150th birthday in 2021!
One of the first initiatives underway is a special publication being compiled to capture an informal history of the school over the past 25 years or so. Written contributions to the publication are invited from present students, past students, parents, teachers, and others who have been involved with Yeronga State School. The writing can take any form reflecting the writer’s memories of their time at the school and a variety of contributions are being sought. For more information please contact Carla Walker by email: history@yerongass150.com.
Fun fact: The original school name was Boggo School. It was the first school on Brisbane's south side and opened as a small wooden school with 70 students on 6 February, 1871. The school catered for students from Annerley, Moorooka, Dutton Park, Fairfield and Yeronga. In 1886, Mr St Ledger, Headteacher at the time, made a representation to the Department of Public Instruction to have the name changed to Yeronga State School.
Events throughout the year are planned to allow those with a connection to the school to reconnect and reminisce.
Hamish Townsend and Kym Mansfield
Yeronga State School P&C Co-Presidents
ysspandcpresident@gmail.com
Invoices & Credits
Assistant Director-General, Finance - Chief Finance Officer: Duncan Anson has released the following information:
With respect to specific events such as excursions, domestic and overseas trips, schools need to refund amounts paid by parents where the event is no longer proceeding. Fees in schools are managed and administered locally by each individual school and can cover a variety of services and resources. Depending on the type of resource or service — and whether it will still be used or the activity will still go ahead — will determine whether a full or pro rata refund should be given.
Yeronga State School has been following this directive whereby full refunds or credits have been issued for those excursions that never took place – Year 3 Toohey Forest; Southside Beginners Band Workshop and Choral Honours. Partial credits will be issued for Gala Day Term 1 for 2nd and 3rd trials and for Swimming Lessons Term 1 2019. Swimming Lessons were suspended after Week 7 so refunds/credits will be issued for lessons in Week 8 – Week 10. I would like to emphasise that the Office staff are working hard to process these adjustments in a timely fashion but we are small team and there are many, many invoices to process. It is our intention to complete this process by the end of Term 2.
Invoices for Student Resource Scheme, Band Levy and Strings Levy are still to be paid in full as the resources purchased by these fees are used year round and have been utilised during the online learning phase. If families are experiencing financial hardship and would like to discuss alternative payment options, please contact the Business Manager, Ruth Bennett, rbenn127@eq.edu.au.
Have your details changed?
It is imperative that the office has up-to-date information for parents and emergency contacts. Trying to find current phone numbers may lead to delays in students receiving medication or care that is needed. Ideally one emergency contact should be a neighbour or family friend. The office also issues important messages via email, as well as classroom notices, invoices and online permission forms.
Please take a moment to ensure your details are correct. Parent email address and mobile number, and student address can be updated directly through QParents. If you need to make any changes to or add an emergency contact, please email the office at admin@yerongass.eq.edu.au ensuring student name and class is included.
Triple P Positive Parenting Seminar:
Don't forget to register for the FREE online parenting seminar 'Raising Resilient Children - Focusing on Cyberbullying).
Want your children to be able to cope better with life’s ups and downs? Like to give them the skills to help prevent and deal with cyberbullying?
Don’t miss out – free to book now - Register below
Date: Tuesday 12 May (Next Tuesday)
Time: 6:00pm-7.30pm
To register - CLICK HERE
Parent Teacher Interveiws
Parent Teacher Interviews have begun this week. Thank you to all the parents who booked through the online system. If you missed out on booking a telephone interview please contact the teacher directly via email to arrange another convenient time to speak with them.
This morning we had a few issues calling out to parents. This was a nation wide issue. Telstra fixed the issue this morning which means teachers can continue with the interviews.
Office Team
Yugara word of the week:
Mother: Budang (Boo-dung)
COVID-19 measures have meant that a lot of mothers have had to add ‘teacher’ and ‘IT helpdesk’ to their daily support for their little ones. With Mothers’ Day coming up this Sunday the 10th of May, Kalari would like to acknowledge the strength and love of mothers at YSS and all around the world!
ANZAC Day celebrations 2020
The 25th of April was ANZAC day. We all know what ANZAC day is about but did you know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Australians have fought in all wars in which Australia participated. Often, after serving their country, they would return to Australia to find themselves still having to fight for equality, freedom and recognition.
Local Quandamooka woman Oodgeroo Noonuccal, also known as Kath Walker, from Minjerriba (Stradbroke Island) served in the Australian Women's Army Service in the middle of World War II as a signaller. Oodgeroo Noonuccal later went on to become a famous author, activist and public figure. You can learn more about Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Indigenous Australians’ involvement in military service here:
https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/fighters-fringe
Keen to learn more about local history during COVID-19 lockdown?
This is the first week in a while we’ve been able to get in the car and get into the outdoors for picnics with the family in the local area. Why not read up on sjome of the Indigenous history of the southside suburbs we live in? Here’s a great resource to get you started and to talk about with the kids:
What is Kalari?
Kalari means ‘message stick’ in Yugara language and is name of the YSS Indigenous Working Group.
Happy Mother’s Day… for all the special women in our school community.
The 2019 Barnados Mother of the Year winner, Maria Worner was nominated for the award by her daughter, because she explained that her Mum knew what children needed… that “children don’t need money thrown at them and gifts. They need real support with school, learning to trust, doing the right thing, boundaries and simply being loved.” Being a mum is a difficult job at the best of times, and comes with great highs and lows. I applaud your efforts in caring for your family, and want to encourage you to hang in there as you give often without much appreciation. I’m looking forward to checking out the 2020 winners.
Entertainment Book
Need a great last minute Mother’s Day gift? Purchase an Entertainment Book digital membership, and you will be supporting the Yeronga State School Chaplaincy Office. There are still so many restaurants open for takeaway during Covid-19 season for you to take advantage of the offers. So order through the website https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/2220w76.
Online Learning
I hope that you have had a chance to check out the student version of Chappy’s Chat. Each week students can listen to me read a story, and then complete an activity sheet inspired by the story. The activities include: something creative, something physical, something to connect, and something to think about.
Keeping in touch
As always, and during this extraordinary season of change, please let me know if there is something I can do to help, if you need someone to chat with, or if you need a referral to a community or support organisation. Contact me through the school office, or email me directly at jenniferb@chappy.org.au You might also want to follow me on Facebook or Instagram for a daily wellbeing message - checkout “Community Chaplain’.
Blessings,
Jennifer Bennett
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 (All upcoming events postponed. We will advise you of dates when events of this nature are permissible)
All representative sport cancelled until after June 30
– YSS Athletics Trials (Years 4 – 6) TBA
– YSS Athletics Trials (Years 4 – 6) TBA
– YSS Athletics Trials (Years 4 – 6) TBA
– YSS Junior Cross Country (Prep – Year 2) TBA
– YSS Athletics Trials (Years 4 – 6) TBA
– YSS Junior Cross Country Reserve Day (Prep – Year 2) TBA
– Gala Day Reserve Day (10 – 12 years) TBA
– YSS 1500m (Years 4 – 6) TBA
– District Softball TBA
– YSS Senior Athletics Day 1 TBA
– YSS Senior Athletics Day 2 TBA
– YSS Junior Athletics TBA
Cameron Bateman
Sports Teacher
CLASSROOM MUSIC
What an interesting start we’ve all made to Term 2. Well done to those students who have been diligent with completing the home learning activities that I’ve set for you in the Content Library of your OneNote. Grade 3 in particular, I’ve been impressed with the quantity and quality of work that is being shared with me in your personal One Note Music folders. If you have any issues or questions about the work that has been set for your child, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at leeas0@eq.edu.au. Please remember that your child only receives a 30 minute music lesson per week which would equate to around 20 – 30 minutes of learning at home per week.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
As you should be aware, our Instrumental Music teachers are each conducting lessons through their individually chosen learning platforms. If you are having issues with keeping up with your requirements for Instrumental Music, please contact your teacher (Mrs Rosewarne, Mrs Eastgate or Mr Grodecki) for their assistance.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR STRINGS, BAND AND CHOIR NEWS:
At this time of the year, all of the Yeronga State School ensembles are normally preparing for the Combined Winter Showcase. Held annually at the end of Term 2, this showcase is an opportunity for the Junior and Senior Bands, Choirs and Strings to all display the amazing talent that we have here at Yeronga. It has been decided that even if social distancing measures were relaxed by June 12 (the planned date for the Combined Winter Showcase), that due to so many missed rehearsals, the children will simply not be at a stage ready to perform by this date. Therefore, we have regretfully cancelled the Winter Showcase for 2020. We do however have the Big Sing (on November 27) and the Big Play (on November 20) at the end of the year so please save these dates in your calendars.
In addition, the QYMA competition that Stella Voce were entered to perform at in May has now been confirmed as cancelled for 2020. Thank you to those who RSVPd so quickly to this performance. We will just have to try again for this one in 2021.
Finally, for the Year 6 students who were selected for the Metropolitan Choral Honours Camp back in March, this Camp has NOT been cancelled. The Music Resource Centre are planning to reschedule this Camp to a date in Term 4. If however, you have changed your mind about this excursion, please send me an email and I will let the Music Resource Centre know.
Yours in Music,
Lauren Easey
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is on again this year and I encourage all students to participate. All you have to do is record the books you read during the period of Monday 11 May to Thursday 27 August 2020. The form can be located from the link below.
https://readingchallenge.education.qld.gov.au/how-to-register/downloads-and-forms
All entries are due back to the library by Friday 28 August 2020.
Along with a certificate from the State Premier, every student to return a completed entry form will go into the running to win a book pack supplied by the library. Good Luck
Book Club
Don’t fear Book Club is still here. Online ordering of Book Club is to be done via the Loop Service. You can download the app or order via the Scholastic Website.
Due date for LOOP is on or before 11/05/20.
Here is the link for the Digital Issue 3 Book Club brochure your school community;
https://scholastic.com.au/book-club/virtual-catalogue-1/
In line with the cashless school practices Book Club will no longer be accepting cash payments. All orders are to be made via the online platforms listed above. Please remember that all orders placed through the Book Club program generates money for the school library to buy resources for the students to read. 20c out of every dollar spent comes back to the library and is used to purchase reading materials. Thank you in advance for your support.
Clickview Permission Form
Happy Reading,
Mrs Cowie and Mrs Hage
NOTICEBOARD