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WELCOME MICHELLE D’NETTO – NEW ACTING PRINCIPAL
I am stepping into the shoes of a very good leader. I am sure that you would have been surprised by the news regarding the change of guard. Kate would have led the school over the past few months with dignity, knowledge and a sense of calm. I will be privileged to work with her again in Yeronga.
My substantiative school is Runcorn State School, but I have spent the past ten months as principal of Bulimba State School. All three schools have something in common: a culture of inquiry. I look forward to joining the team. My passion is being with students and teachers and steering the teaching and learning in schools. I am sensitive to the changes that families and schools have undergone during the last few months but also confident of the resilience of our workforce and their ability to support students as they return to school.
Though sad to leave Bulimba, I know that I will be supported by the amazing team at Yeronga and look forward to my time here.
Michelle D’Netto
LATEST COVID RESPONSE: RETURN TO SCHOOL FOR YEAR TWO – YEAR SIX
Please note that the Queensland Government today announced that students in Years 2–10 will return to school on Monday 25 May, 2020. We are thrilled that the classrooms of Yeronga State School will be filled with students once again! Our sincere thanks to the entire school community for your ongoing support during this time of significant upheaval.
Please see below the operating guidelines for YSS from Week 6 onwards:
|
Community Wellbeing |
Actions |
Reason |
|
Student Attendance: for Prep -Year Six (whole school) |
Return to on site learning in classrooms for all students. If parents choose for students to remain at home and participate in learning at home, parents are required to advise the school of absence. The class teacher will not be able to be responsible for providing alternative home based learning- parents are advised to access the Department of Education’s learning@home website. |
Queensland Government directive |
|
Parents Requested to Drop Off and Pick Up outside of School Buildings |
Parents are respectfully asked to assist the school in maintaining ‘social distancing’ measures by dropping off and picking up students outside of the school classroom buildings and dropping off outside the school grounds if possible (i.e. by not coming up the stairs and into corridors) and only coming up to the school office if it is essential. Maintain contact with school staff by email or phone. The school asks that no non-essential persons enter the school grounds. The following locations have been set aside as morning drop off points (at 8.45am) and afternoon pick up points. Parents are asked to drop off/collect students and then leave the school grounds immediately. Teachers will meet the students at these designated spots and take them to classroom locations as well as return them to these locations at the end of the day: Prep- outside Prep classrooms (Parents are asked to stay at the bottom of the Prep classroom steps and not come up on to the verandas or into the classrooms. Prep Teachers will stand at the door of their classroom and provide access to students at 8.45am. Students only will be asked to step up on to the veranda with their bags. No sign in processes by parents will be required. Parents are asked to wait away from the Prep stairs at the end of the school day and children will be sent down when a parent is sighted. This will help us ensure that the community is practising physical distancing measures) Yr 1- on artificial grass beside the Year One building (Parents are asked to not come up the stairs into the Year One building or into the classrooms. Year One Teachers will stand at the bottom of the Year One building at 8.45am. Students only will be asked to move inside with their bags. Parents are asked to wait away from the building at the of the school day and ensure that you are practising physical distancing measures) Yr 2 - outside of buildings/ bottom of stairs- own classrooms Yr 3- bottom of stairs- own classrooms Yr 4- bottom of stairs- own classrooms Yr 5- outside of buildings/ bottom of stairs- own classrooms Yr 6- bottom of stairs- own classrooms |
Minimise contact. Parents encouraged to limit contact across whole school community. |
|
Parent volunteers in class |
No class parent volunteers to attend school until further notice. Thank you for your assistance to date. |
Minimising exposure |
|
No sharing of food |
Reminders to all students before every break. Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles. |
Hygiene and allergies |
|
Sick school children |
STAY HOME for any illness Any students arriving at school sick will be sent home ASAP to follow Qld Health guidelines. |
Cross contamination risk |
|
Flu-like symptoms |
If a student or staff member presents to the office with flu-like symptoms they will be isolated from other students and staff, as appropriate, and immediate contact made with parents, sent to hospital/Drs ASAP. |
Public Health requirement |
|
Increase to cleaning allocations for schools |
Provision of additional cleaning hours by Education Queensland from 23/3/2020. |
An additional allocation from EQ- daily plan has been developed. |
|
All incursions and excursions excursion |
All cancelled or postponed until further notice. Any possible new dates to be confirmed at a later date. |
Following EQ directive |
|
Handwashing |
Students to be directed to wash hands with soap and paper towel before and after each break time. Staff who move between classrooms are asked to wash hands between each class. |
Health and Safety advice |
|
School Events/Activities |
STATUS |
Reason/ Further info |
|
Assembly (P-2 & 3-6) |
Cancelled until further notice |
Large gathering of people. ‘Virtual’ assemblies will be held in classrooms until further notice. |
|
YOSHC |
Ongoing |
Will continue at this stage. To follow government guidelines regarding ‘social distancing’. P&C and organisers to confirm if any changes. |
|
Classroom supervision |
MODIFIED |
Incorporating physical distance where possible. Student seating to be considered so not in close proximity, where possible. Hand washing prior to and after each break. Line ups after breaks so not too close together to other students. |
|
Resource Centre |
CLOSED |
Closed until further notice. No Library lessons at this stage. Class weekly borrowing of books to occur in smaller groups. |
|
Inclusion Teacher Support |
Ongoing |
Inclusion Teacher support for students as required. |
|
Specialist lessons: PE lessons |
MODIFIED |
Outdoor PE lessons only
|
|
Specialist lessons: PE, Music & Spanish |
MODIFIED |
Specialist staff to go to classrooms to deliver lessons. |
|
School Choir, Band and Strings (all ensembles) |
Cancelled until further notice |
Large group
|
|
Spelling Mastery |
Cancelled until further notice |
Cross class groupings |
|
Instrumental Music |
To continue |
IM lessons to begin again from Week 6. Hygiene practices in place between lessons. |
|
P&C Tuckshop |
OPEN |
P&C will communicate information as needed. |
|
Report Cards |
MODIFIED |
An alternative report card format will be provided to parents in Week 10 of Term Two (to be sent by email). |
|
Interschool sport including District Team rep events |
CANCELLED |
All events cancelled until further notice. |
|
Pre-Service Teachers |
Cancelled until further notice |
Limit non-essential personnel in school. Universities have been contacted. |
15OTH CELEBRATIONS
PLEASE SHARE WITH ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO IS A FORMER STUDENT OF YERONGA STATE SCHOOL!
The Yeronga State School community is looking forward to celebrating our 150th Anniversary in 2021. We have a range of exciting events planned and are keen to make contact with as many former students of YSS as possible. If you are a former student, we ask you please click on this link to enter your details into the YSS Alumni Database:
https://yerongass.schoolzineplus.com/form/485
SCHOOL DROP AND PICK UP REMINDERS
As we are starting to get back into the rhythm of school can we please just send a couple of gentle reminders in regards to school drop off and pick ups:
- All bikes and scooters are to be walked through the school grounds.
- Students to use pedestrian entry gates only – not walk through the staff car parks
It has been a lovely start back for the Preps and Year 1 students and we thank you for ensuring that you leave the school grounds directly after school drop off and pick up.
PREP AND YEAR ONE TEDDY BEAR PICNIC
Last Friday, the Prep and Year One teachers and students enjoyed a ‘Teddy Bear Picnic’ to celebrate their first week back at school. The teachers and students all enjoyed a socially distanced dance followed by a class picnic.
REPORT CARDS
Yeronga State School Assessment and Reporting will be adjusted to reflect the modified nature of learning at during Semester One, 2020. The Education Queensland requirements for academic reporting have been revised for Semester One, 2020. Yeronga State School will report on the following areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Music and Spanish. The ratings given will be indicative of the progression of the achievement standard outlined in the Australian Curriculum, and will be based on anecdotal evidence, teacher judgement and assessment completed in class during Semester One. Reports for students in Prep will not have an achievement rating for subjects delivered during Semester One. An overview of the content covered during Semester One for English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Music and Spanish will be provided. This will be provided instead of individual comments in each learning area. The report card will contain an achievement, effort and behaviour rating, as well as an overall comment. The report card will not reference attendance for Semester One. Effort and behaviour ratings will be included in the report card for each individual learning area reported on. The overall behaviour rating will be accompanied with a comment.
10,000 STEPS CHALLENGE FOR OUR STAFF
The staff of YSS are very excited to be stepping off this week in a six week ’10,000’ steps team challenge. If our efforts as a staff last year are anything to be guided by, we are a competitive bunch! Our best wishes to the staff taking part.
The 10,000 Steps project aims to increase the day-to-day activity of Australians by encouraging the use of step-counting pedometers or activity trackers to accumulate "incidental" physical activity as part of everyday living. Queensland Health provides CQUniversity with the funding to run the 10,000 Steps program. The program is facilitated by CQUniversity’s Physical Activity Research Group, a team of health professionals, academics and graduates, who coordinate the dissemination of 10,000 Steps, assisting individuals, workplaces and communities around Queensland and beyond to be more active. For more information you can read an article by researchers on The Conversation - Health Check: do we really need to take 10,000 steps a day?.
LOOKING AHEAD
We 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.
VALE JANE GAMBLE
Jane Gamble will be fondly remembered by the Yeronga State School Community as a loving parent and as a dedicated Teacher Aide. She was known for her incredible talent as an artist, which she shared with many Yeronga students through after school art classes. Every time you walk through the entrance of A block you pass the artwork that she devotedly created with our students. Our thoughts go out to Jane’s family at this sad time.
Kate Paynter and Tracy Freeman
Deputy Principals
POSITION VACANT
We currently have vacancies for:
- Relief Teacher Aides
Relief teacher aides are required to cover in classes when permanent teacher aides are away. This position would be casual in nature with no guarantee of hours. Please submit your resume with two referees to rbenn127@eq.edu.au or contact Ruth Bennett, Business Manager, ph: 3426 0333 for further information. It is a mandatory requirement that all Education Qld employee’s have a Blue Card.
- Casual AO2 Administration/IT Officer
The position would be based in the school office and would directly report to the Business Manager. Key skills would include the following:
- Excellent customer service
- Ability to be flexible with working hours
- Skills with Excel and Microsoft are essential
- Knowledge of OneSchool and Schoolzine would be preferable but not essential
- Ability to work to deadlines
- Working With Children Blue Card
Please submit your resume with two referees to rbenn127@eq.edu.au by COB Friday 29th May 2020 or contact Ruth Bennett, Business Manager, ph: 3426 0333 for further information.
Office Team
Yugara word of the week:
Hand – Marra (mah-rah)
Reconciliation in Australia has long been symbolised by a Sea of Hands, and so it’s appropriate that, for this newsletter, we include the Yugara word for hand – marra. It reminds us that we can all put up our hands in support of reconciliation.
Next week is a big week in the Australian calendar. It begins with National Sorry Day on 26 May. This commemorates the day in 1997 that the final report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal Children from their Families was tabled in parliament. That a National Sorry Day be held each year was one of the recommendations of this report, also known as the Bringing Them Home report, and that has happened every year since 1998.
National Sorry Day is always followed by National Reconciliation Week which runs for 27 May to June 3. These dates commemorate two important milestones in Australian history – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court’s Mabo decision.
The theme for Reconciliation Week in 2020 is ‘In This Together' and it hard to think of a more relevant theme in this time of a global crisis. It reminds us that we are connected and whatever our circumstances and wherever we are, we are all in this together.
2020 marks two decades since Australians came together all over the country to walk across bridges and roads in solidarity and support for reconciliation. Twenty years later, it’s good to remember that reconciliation is a journey that we are all in together.
If you’re interested, you can take a look at a Reconciliation Week e-book reading list and Reconciliation Week online viewing list.
What is Kalari?
Kalari means ‘message stick’ in Yugara language and is name of the YSS Indigenous Working Group.
Athletics Trial Information
Due to the current circumstances and rules affecting our community we will be unable to hold our Yeronga State School Athletics Carnival. However there is a strong chance, if the current progress in battling the COVID 19 pandemic is maintained, that the District Athletics Carnival will go ahead. Therefore we need a process which helps us identify students for districts without having large crowds.
At the moment we are preparing a process that will allow us to collect distances and times for Athletic events for the children who would have participated in those events at our Yeronga State School Athletics Carnival. This process has been developed primarily to identify students who would be eligible for District Athletics, if it is held, through meeting qualifying distances and times. Only 2 students can be nominated for field events (Discus, Shot, Long Jump & High Jump) and 3 students for Track events (100m, 200m, 800m & 1500m).
The process for collecting these distances and times will consist of putting year 4 to 6 students through athletic events in their weekly PE lessons. Remember that this is, at best, a virtual carnival as times and distances can be collected and, all being well, points for participation can be allocated, but the rules regarding social distancing and crowds do not allow for any parental spectators. It is regrettable, as we have a helpful and responsible parent body, but this is an extraordinary year.
Weekly Groupings and Events for Athletics Trials (Schedule may change due to weather)
|
Week |
Events |
|
6 |
High Jump |
|
7 |
Discus & Long Jump |
|
8 |
Shot Put & 800m |
|
9 |
100m & 200m |
|
10 |
1500m |
|
Reserve TBA |
|
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
This year we are celebrating 30 years of Chaplaincy in Queensland schools. I am just one of 550 chaplains bringing hope to over 800 school communities across Queensland through one-on-one support and extracurricular activities. Usually once a year Qld Chappies meet together for a 4 day conference, and once a term gather for training days in our smaller regions. I also meet with a smaller cluster of Chappies from nearby schools to connect and share ideas. I then work quite closely with the Chaplain at Yeronga State High School, particularly as we have families that are across both schools. So thank you for all your support, engagement and encouragement as I continue to work through Covid-19. I love the work that I do in this school, working with you in supporting our children, families and staff.
Keeping in touch
For more Chaplaincy-styled wellbeing messages, follow my social media posts at “Community Chaplain’ on Facebook or Instagram. And as always, 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.
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.
Entertainment Book
My fundraising options have been very limited because of Covid-19, but you still have an opportunity to support the YSS Chaplaincy Office by purchasing an Entertainment Book digital membership. There are still so many restaurants open for takeaway, and there are lots of discount offers for store purchases as well. Order through the website link… https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks/2220w76
Blessings,
Jennifer Bennett
The past few weeks have been weird and disconcerting, but we hope that you have allowed yourself some quiet time or time in nature to enjoy the slower pace of life (for some).
All this extra time on our hands is a good time to strike up a conversation with your child about how we used to live our lives pre Covid-19 and how we might do things differently when life goes back to normal.
Clean up Australia is calling on all of us to Step Up and make a pledge towards reducing our waste contribution. Could you Step Up by saying no to straws? To bringing your own water bottle? To composting? To buying recycled, to choosing not to buy fast fashion or refusing to purchase fruit and vegetables pre-wrapped in plastic?
How will you Step Up?
https://www.cleanup.org.au/StepUp
There are so many ways to Step Up! And thousands of small steps together make a big difference! Together we can all be part of the solution.
We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our Y-Tours. We welcome families to explore our facilities, meet our leadership team, student leaders and experience the Yeronga difference. This is a great opportunity for prospective parents to discuss subjects, the school and any enrolment information.
All are welcome to attend. Morning/afternoon tea will be provided.
Please click HERE to fill out a registration form if you'd like to attend our Y-Tour Enrolment Information Session. (Number restrictions apply - This is in line with the progressive easing of restrictions as part of the Government's response to COVID-19.)
If you have any queries, please email us at office@yerongashs.eq.edu.au or contact our office at 3249 1400.
Thank you.
NOTICEBOARD