Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term 3 and I hope that all students had a restful and enjoyable break. I am sure that they are eager to begin the amazing activities and units of work that have been planned for all students. Teaching and learning is our core business and the school takes this very seriously. The curriculum is delivered through inquiry and is aligned to the Australian Curriculum. The commitment to developing literate, numerate and curious learners echoes in the priorities for the year:

• Assessment for learning to deepen the inquiry stance in inquiry,
  
  writing and maths and 
• Creating a Connected Community 

Teachers work with curriculum leaders to develop locally relevant and engaging work that promote investigations and inquiry. They engage in data conversations to ensure that the tasks and strategies are appropriately geared for the students and have a positive impact on learning.

We continue to balance the needs of teaching with that of the safety and wellbeing of all students. As per the letter sent on Friday 10 July, measures have been put in place for the first week to ensure this safety. You may be aware of some media stories in our community over the past few days, I want to reassure you that the priority for all staff at Yeronga SS is for the safety and wellbeing of all children. I have been working closely with the Department of Education to ensure we have good practices and procedures in place so that our staff and children can get back to their normal school routines and focus on the children’s learning and development.

It is a timely reminder that all volunteers and visitors in school grounds must sign in at the office. This is a requirement of The Department of Education.

We continue to manage the operations of the school in line with the COVID-19 Roadmap. We request that adults remain 1.5m apart and not enter buildings. Avoid gathering at gates or stairs nears classrooms. Parades will begin this term but only for students and staff. The update sent prior to the school holidays remains current.

Our school review

Our school is scheduled for a review in Week 3 of Term 3- 27/28/29 July. The Department of Education regularly reviews the teaching and learning practices of Queensland state schools. The reviews are conducted by the department’s School Improvement Unit. The reviews do not rate or compare schools, but provide us with independent feedback so we can continue to improve learning outcomes for students. The information that they gather and the recommendations made, will assist the school develop the next quadrennial plan.

All schools have a review at least once every four years. Key findings from the review will be made available to parents and the community on our school website. The review team like to hear from the school community and I encourage anyone who is interested to have their say. Your feedback is important and will help us continue to deliver a great education for students. Feedback can be provided to the review team by phone or in person. All feedback remains confidential. Please contact the school office closer to the date if you are interested in speaking to a reviewer.

More information about the review process is available from the department’s website at www.schoolreviews.eq.edu.au.

School Opinion Survey

Parents and Caregivers are invited to participate in this year’s School Opinion Survey and have a say about schooling during the COVID-19 lockdown.  You are also given the opportunity to provide feedback about our school more generally.

Participation in the survey is anonymous and you are encouraged to take this opportunity to have your say.  The survey form has been designed so that it can easily be completed on a computer or smartphone. The online survey will be available until Friday, 17 July 2020, and should take less than five minutes to complete.

To access the survey, please click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:

Parent survey – https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/form/Parents-HaveYourSay.

Please contact the school if you have any questions about the survey.

Elyse Griffiths - Grey Wolf Award

Elyse Griffiths, a Cub Scout at Kurilpa Scout Group, has earned the Grey Wolf Award.

To attain the top award in each of the five Sections in Scouting reflects initiative
in tackling this challenge, sustained effort over many months and years, plus
self-discipline, teamwork, and leadership.

Only a small percentage reach this level. These are the top achievers among Scouting's 47 million members globally.

The youth members are well supported by their volunteer Leaders, their families, and often their teachers, but ultimately the decision to strive to be among the few who reach this level in Scouting is a personal choice, and often an indicator of future success.

Welcome Cathy Hegarty

The school would like to welcome Cathy Hegarty, the new Spanish teacher for the upper school. Cathy comes to us with much experience in the teaching of both Spanish and Japanese.

COVID-19 travel restrictions

In accordance with Stage 3 of Queensland’s Roadmap to easing COVID-19 restrictions, any person travelling to Queensland from Victoria must quarantine in a hotel at their own expense for at least 14 days.

Any staff member who elects to travel to Victoria will be required to access recreation or long service leave to cover the 14-day quarantine period on their return to Queensland. Where no leave is available Special Leave No Pay will be recorded. Staff should review the Leave Guide on the OnePortal COVID-19 pages for more information.

People travelling from other states may enter Queensland after completing and signing a border declaration.

Michelle D’Netto

Week 1 Term 3 2020

Welcome back to another fabulous term of learning, caring, growing and achieving at Yeronga State School. Many exciting things are planned for this term. Keep an eye out for your child’s class newsletter over the next few weeks, which will provide details about any forthcoming events for their class.

“FENCE” PEOPLE OF YSS- 150^th PROJECT

As a part of the preparations for our 150^th year there is a plan to decorate 150new “Fence” people – to add to the iconic collection already on our school fence. The students in Prep- Year 4 (+ some of the student leaders) will have the opportunity to take part in this exciting project! Our current Year 5 and 6 students took part in this project when they were in Prep and Year One.

The plan is for this to occur during Weeks 5-10 of this term. A group of parent volunteers (led by Sue and Jeremy Tape) will kindly support us in this project. They will set up under the Year 1 building and work with students at set times to complete the painting of the “Fence” people in small groups. We look forward to seeing this exciting project come to fruition.

NEW DISABLED ACCESS CAR PARK IN ADMIN STAFF CAR PARK

A new disabled access car park has been added to the A block staff car park – you will note that it has been clearly marked on the ground. This has been added to ensure that our school carpark provides equal access and is not being discriminatory in providing access. It is important to note that you may only park in this space if you the holder of an Australian Disability Parking Scheme permit. If you are not the holder of an Australian Disability Parking Scheme permit, you must not park in this disability parking space. People with limited mobility need this spaces to easily get in and out of their vehicle as needed.

15OTH CELEBRATIONS

Be a part of the YSS 150th Commemorative Book-   all current and past students, parents, teachers, and others who have been involved with Yeronga State School at any time are invited to contribute written pieces sharing your memories of your time at the school, for a special commemorative book to be published for the 150th year in 2021. Please email contributions and questions to Carla Walker at history@yerongass150.com. The deadline is Friday 4 September.

SCHOOL UNIFORM REMINDER

Is your child wearing the correct uniform/ shoes for the start of the new school term?

Our school prides itself on our student dress code. We wish to remind parents of uniform expectations and request your cooperation in preparing your child for school by ensuring that they are meeting the school uniform expectations.

Please note the following important information:

• Closed black shoes such as sports shoes or leather school shoes are to be worn with the formal dress uniform. Black or white joggers are the preferred colour of joggers for the sports uniform. Laces must match the shoe colour.
• Navy school jumpers and navy track pants are the winter school uniform.
  
  
• Students’ hair is to be neatly presented and tied back if longer than shoulder length, using blue or gold hair accessories for formal uniforms and the appropriate sports colour for the sports uniform. Coloured hair is not appropriate for school.
  
  
• In cold weather children may wear plain blue or white skivvies or shirts under their uniform and girls can wear navy blue tights or full length leggings. Some children choose to wear singlets or t-shirts under their uniforms for extra warmth. These must be navy blue or white in colour and are not to be visible.
  
  
• The only acceptable jewellery items to be worn at school are watches and one set of sleepers or studs worn in the ear only. This ruling is for safety reasons particularly during sporting and physical activities.
  
  

Why does school attendance matter?

Regular school attendance gives students a better chance at life. Students achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day because:

• they have increased access to learning opportunities
• they maintain friendships
• they stay connected to the curriculum progression
• they develop self-efficacy as a learner
• they have better long term life outcomes.

We wish you and your child/ren a successful start to Term 3.

Kate Paynter and Tracy Freeman

Deputy Principals

2021 Enrolments

The enrolment process has begun for 2021 and ask all current families who will have a new child starting next year, to complete an enrolment form ASAP. Enrolment forms are available here, our website or from the school office.

Once the enrolment form is completed, please deliver to the office together with a copy of Birth Certificate.  If you are aware of any families looking to start at Yeronga State School next year, please direct them to the office for further information.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop currently has 4 size small senior shirts available for purchase at 50% off. The shirts are for the current Year 6 cohort. If you are interested in purchasing any of them please visit the uniform shop or email the team via yerongassuniformshop@gmail.com. 

All stock is now in and is available for purchase.

Office Team

Districts Athletics Cancellation

We will continue to hold our virtual carnival and give our students the opportunity to set records. However do please read the Important Sporting Dates below for updated information on other sporting trials.

Athletics Trial Information

At the moment we are carrying out a process that will allow us to collect distances and times for Athletic events for our children. This process was developed primarily to identify students who would be eligible for District Athletics, through meeting qualifying distances and times, but also allows us to calculate house participation points. 

The process for collecting these distances and times consists 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 finals will not be held, but times and distances will be collected, points for participation will be allocated and records can be broken. 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)

Inter-House Participation Scores  Following Term 2

Running Club

Running club will re-commence this term, Mondays and Tuesdays 3:15 – 3:45,  but only students whose parents can collect or deliver them, in person or through YOSHC, should attend. This condition is necessary to ensure the safety of the children.

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

– Regional Hockey TBA

– Regional Basketball TBA

-District Boys Cricket 23 July

- District Girls Cricket 17 July

-YSS Ball Games 15 September (Reserve Day 17 September)

Cameron Bateman
Sports Teacher