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Dear Parents and Carers
The official report for the school review was received last week. Here is a snippet:
A learning culture of inquiry that values curiosity is pervasive throughout the school.
There is a collective belief that every student is capable of achieving and making real world connections when challenged to take risks in their learning. All students are valued and praised for the active contribution they make to class learning.
The complete executive summary can be located on the school website. It is very pleasing that the positivity and culture was evident and captured in the report. Watching the classes work in teams while painting their wooden people for the fence, was just one example to collaboration.
Thank you to volunteers that support the learning in the school. Your work and contribution is priceless. Please can I ask that you come via the office and complete the COVID questions.
Punctuality and Attendance
Being organised and being a self-manager are features of the school’s learner assets. These assets are taught and referred to regularly. Being punctual is an aspect of being organised. Students go into class at 8.50AM so that they are ready to begin learning at 9.00AM. Sadly, several students are arriving late. Not only do they miss out on class learning but also find themselves in a ‘catch-up’ mode. To get the best from every day, please be on time.
Attendance is also a very important issue. EVERY DAY COUNTS. An accumulation of missed school days disadvantages the student’s learning significantly. Acceptable reasons for a student being away from school is if they are sick, particularly during these COVID times. Please support your child to be the best learner that they can be.
Spark their Future
To support parents and carers of young people, the department has released the evidence-based Spark their Future website. This website provides engaging, non-confronting information and support to help parents keep their child engaged with learning and education pathways.
Articles have been developed through extensive research and in collaboration with subject matter experts, including guidance officers and behaviour experts, and other agencies, such as the Queensland Family and Child Commission and the non-state schooling sectors, to develop joint articles featuring education and youth policy leaders.
Articles are targeted at parents of teenagers, when disengagement is most prominent, and upper primary students, when signs of disengagement begin to emerge.
COVID-19 update
In the interest of clarity, the following reminders and actions that all of us should prioritise, have been circulated to all families:
- Students who are unwell must remain at home. If at school, parents will be asked to collect the sick child.
- Adults and children who are unwell must not come into the school grounds.
- 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. 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.
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.
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.
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
- No parents or carers should be on verandas or in buildings.
- At 3.15pm parents will be asked to leave the premises.
- No children should be on the playground equipment before and after school.
- All parent volunteers and visitors must come and sign in at the office and complete a COVID safe survey.
- Parents and carers who have children at before or after school activities must also drop/pick up-and-go. At all times social distancing must be observed.
- The school will continue with cleaning protocols.
- We will continue to monitor guidelines around music, sport, library and sharing spaces.
- Make sure that your child can log into OneNote from home.
Michelle D’Netto
Over the last few weeks we have enjoyed a multitude of additional experiences here at Yeronga State School, including the Life Education visit to classrooms, the Year 5 Big Bang ‘Hoodwinked’ excursion to Pullenvale as well as the Year 6 camp and the Prep excursions to Toohey Forest. All these experiences add and continue to build on our main focus here at Yeronga, which is creating students who are literate, numerate and curious.
NOIIE SYMPOSIUM
On Tuesday 11 August a teacher from every year level and a specialist representative attend the NOIIE (Network of Inquiry and Indigenous Education) Symposium at Griffin State School. The symposium included school presentations of inquiry in action and ignite sessions to inspire and share actions that make a difference to our children. A guest speaker who was of particular interest to the Yeronga team was Kath Murdoch as she spoke about the cultural markers of an inquiry school and the ten pedagogical practices of an inquiry teacher. Teachers were also privileged with visiting the Griffin classrooms. It was encouraging to see their staff and students so willing to open up their classrooms to us during the symposium. It was certainly heartening and affirming to hear all of the glowing feedback received.
CLASS ALLOCATIONS 2021
- Prep interviews for 2021 will begin next week. If you or someone you know is yet to enrol, please do so ASAP.
- Student allocation for 2021 will commence shortly. If you have any information of an educational nature you would like us to consider when we decide where to place your child for 2021, please write to Mrs Freeman (tfree19@eq.edu.au) by Friday 9 October. Any requests received after this date may not be able to be considered.
PREP EXCURSION
This week the Prep children went on their first school excursion. Excitement levels were high as they were leaving on the bus (from both teachers and students). Once at Toohey Forest the students transformed into bush investigators and used their senses to investigate habitats. Lots of inquiring fun was had by all!
Tracy Freeman and Louise Vaggs
Deputy Principals
Athletics Trial Information
Running Club
Running club has 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. Mr Sutherland will re-commence his sessions also this week. They are held on Friday mornings from 7:45 to 8:15.
Representative Sport Dates Release (Important)
As part of the “road map” out of COVID representative sport dates have now been released. Please do look below if your child is interested in any of the sports listed.
Athletics Age Champions
Congratulations to our age champions. This year’s system rewarded those who tried as many events as possible and finished in the top achievement bands.
9 Years
Boys Finn Southwell
Girls Madison Muir
10 Years
Boys (Tie) Luka Stankovic & Angus Wolf
Girls (Tie) Phoebe Howard & Samantha Cahill
11 Years
Boys Andrew McLennan
Girls Willow Head
12 Years
Boys Aiden Shearer
Girls Isla Hellowell
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.
Athletics Record Breaker Summary
Congratulations to all of our wonderful record breakers
|
Event |
Old Record |
New Record |
Record Breaker |
|
11 Years Girls 800m |
2:45.94s |
2:40.66s |
Willow H. |
|
11 Years Girls 1500m |
6:08.95s |
5:47.34s |
Willow H. |
|
11 Years Girls High Jump |
1.19m |
1.22m |
Willow H. |
|
11 Years Girls Long Jump |
3.79m |
3.88m |
Willow H. |
|
9 Years Boys 1500m |
6:35.91s |
6:27.16s (6:08.04s fastest) |
Ben H. |
|
9 Years Boys 1500m |
6:27.16s |
5:58.99s |
Nick P. |
|
10 Years Boys Shot Put |
8.77m |
10.23m |
Hunter S. |
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.
Important Sporting Dates 2020
– Regional Hockey 10 September 2020
– Regional Basketball 8 September 2020
-District Boys Cricket 14 September 2020
- District Girls Cricket 17 September 2020
-YSS Ball Games 15 September (Reserve Day 17 September)
Cameron Bateman
Sports Teacher
Book Week
Book Week is in Week 9, invoices for author visits will be sent out soon. Each student is asked to pay $7 for the author visit. We have Dr Cameron Stelzer (Prep and Year 1), Dave Lowe (Year 4 and 5), Nadia Sunde (Year 2 and 3) and Christine Bongers (Year 6) attending in Week 9 and on Thursday 10 September 2020 there will a Book Character Parade for Prep, Year 1 and Year 2. Please note that students will change back into the school uniform after the parade. Parents are also not able to attend this parade due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Premiers Reading Challenge
The Premier's Reading Challenge is on and we encourage all students to participate. Once forms have been completed they can be returned to the library. Forms are due back by 1st September 2020. Form can be downloaded form here https://readingchallenge.education.qld.gov.au/how-to-register/downloads-and-forms.
Q Super is running a competitions for schools to win an author visit or $500 in books. You can enter using this link: https://qsuper.qld.gov.au/campaign/prc2020.
Happy Reading,
Mrs Cowie and Mrs Hage
School Holiday Planning
Do you have some plans for the school holidays? While there is still a lot of uncertainty and even limitations to what you can do, there are still many possibilities to have some family fun during the holidays. And the good news is that to create special memories, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. There are lots of wonderful daytrips and things to do in and around Brisbane, exploring our own backyard. Here are fun some suggestions:
- Visit the Queensland Museum and Art Galleries to inspire your own creativity
- Smell the flowers as you explore Roma Street Parklands
- Check out Daisy Hill Koala Reserve, have a picnic lunch, and spot the koalas in the trees
- Pick up some new summer clothes in the city and enjoy a hot chocolate at a café
- Ride bikes along Riverside Drive and drop in to the West End markets (Saturdays)
- Climb one of the trails around Mt Coot-tha, and enjoy an ice-cream at the Summit Lookout
- Hunt for water dragons at the Botanical Gardens and plan a visit to the Planetarium
- Explore the Redcliffe Markets (Sundays) and swim in Settlement Cove
- Rummage for some treasures at an op-shop and donate your unwanted goodies
- Take the train to Southbank and enjoy a swim with city views
- Walk across the Story Bridge and check out Howard Smith Wharves
- Soak up the sun on a Gold Coast beach, and have fish and chips for lunch
- Catch a ferry to New Farm Park and play under the trees
- Fly a kite at Wynnum / Manly and take a stroll along the shoreline.
Another opportunity to check out is the Dream Team Day Camp offered by SU Camps for 3 days of fun at only $40 https://sucamps.org.au/camps/dream-team-day-camp-2020
I’m excited thinking about these activities, so you might even see me out and about with my family. Let me know what you get up to. Feel free to email me a photo of the family having fun together.
Exciting Things Coming up
1/9 Sub and Drink Deal - lunch is on its way next Tuesday morning ready for 1st lunch. Please have order forms in to the green boxes by 9am tomorrow (Friday 28 August). Thank you for your support in fundraising for the Chaplaincy program.
24/10 Chappy’s Camp at School will look a lot different this year. Instead of camping on the school oval, you are encouraged to keep the date and camp at home in the backyard or even in your loungeroom. Keep a look out for “Chappy’s Camp Showbag” on sale soon.
Christmas Hampers
This year I am putting together food hampers to give to some of our school families that need a little bit of help over the Christmas season, rallying the community spirit of generous Yeronga families. Collection of hamper items will begin after the holidays in term 4. Please let me know if you have any special ideas or are interested in helping with the project.
Blessings,
Chappy Jenny
Facebook and Instagram – Community Chaplain
Native Stingless Bees
Australian Native Stingless Bee (Tetragonula Carbonaria) Photo courtesy of honeyflow.com.au
When you hear the word ‘bee’, most people think of the European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), the famous producer of our tasty honey. However, Australia has nearly 2000 species of its own native bees. 11 species of our native bees are stingless and therefore completely harmless to those who have allergies to bees. All our bees are critically important to the pollination of our native plants and trees and are an essential part of our fragile ecosystems.
Yeronga Preps are currently learning about native plants and animals and embarking on a journey to create their own native gardens to attract native species and grow native plants. The Green Team have decided to spend the money raised from the Cash 4 Cans program on purchasing a Native Stingless Bee hive to enhance their native gardens.
A Native Stingless Bee hive can provide learning from a number of different areas of the curriculum, including the needs of living things, lifecycles, pollination, classification, ecosystems, biodiversity, food chains and many others. A Native Stingless Bee hive will be a valuable asset to our school.
For more information regarding Native Stingless Bees, see the following links.
https://www.aussiebee.com.au/australian-stingless-bees.html#question1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOfnGr_1ypM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2yOS6jTW0Y
The Native Stingless Bee hive, complete with security cage and roof to protect it, will cost a total of $540. We have already earnt $153 from our Cash 4 Cans program, so only $387 to go! Feel free to bring in your cans, plastic bottles or poppers from home to put into our Container Recycling bins to help us reach our goal. Or alternatively, if you are returning bottles and cans to a Container Refund Centre, quote our registration number: C10004300 and the money will automatically be assigned to Yeronga State School. Thank you for your support!
Father's Day stall: Seeking gift donations by this Friday, 28 August
With less than 2 weeks until the much anticipated P&C Father's Day stall we are now urgently seeking donated gifts - approximately $5 value - for the stall please. Gifts can be given to classroom teachers THIS week, ideally by Friday, 28 August.
It is the wide variety of donated gifts that makes the YSS Father's Day stall such a special and unique activity. On Thursday, 3 September, the stall will be like a big 'lucky dip' that brings joy to children and adults alike when our children choose a gift from the stall for their Dad or significant adult. Every child will be able to choose a gift from the stall, and each is asked to please bring $3 for the stall if they can.
Thank you to everyone who has already donated gifts - your support is appreciated. If you have the capacity to do so and would like to support others in our community, you are more than welcome to donate more than one gift for each of your YSS children to help ensure there are enough for every child.
To donate $5 in lieu of a gift, please pop this in an envelope with your child's name and class into a P&C payment box (Grade 1 building or Admin building) or to a YOSHC Coordinator (a P&C volunteer will go shopping on your behalf). Should you prefer to do so, you are also welcome to make an online donation at www.bit.ly/yssdonations.
Please contact stall coordinator, Kristen, at kristenmjennings@gmail.com with any questions.
'Gingerbread fence people' painting - seeking helpers for Preps, Grade 1's and Senior Leaders
With the first two days of 'gingerbread fence people' painting complete, our grade 3 and 4 students have done themselves proud with their creative and colourful contributions.
Parents and carers are invited to be part of the fun by helping to supervise the children as they paint their 'fence people'. There are still three days of painting scheduled and extra helpers are especially needed for the Prep and Year 1 painting sessions:
- Week 8 - Monday 31 August - Year 1
- Week 9 - Tuesday 8 September - Prep (see the schedule for individual class painting times)
- Week 10 - Thursday 17 September - Year 6 Leaders.
Please signup here: www.signup.com/go/bubxRfV, and head to the P&C Facebook page for a sneak peek at some of the new 'fence people' soon to adorn our school: www.facebook.com/YerongaSSPandC.
P&C excited by Queensland Government dental building funding announcement
At the P&C meeting on 18 August, P&C members were delighted to learn that the Queensland Government has allocated funding to renovate the old dental building on YSS grounds during 2021 to meet the growing needs of our school.
Hon Mark Bailey confirmed the announcement of $8.7 million in his presentation to members and followed up by posting a video to Facebook with P&C Vice-President, Darren Cosgrove, and Treasurer, Amy Smith - view the announcement here: (www.facebook.com/1408935539376139/posts/2683538025249211/).
Thank you to the school leadership and all the P&C members who helped to advocate for this on our school's behalf through drafting emails to Minister Bailey and Education Minister, Hon Grace Grace - and joining meetings with the Ministers - and to everyone who questioned and discussed the dental building with Minister Bailey at P&C meetings to demonstrate the importance of this for our school.
'Imaginasium' nature play / loose parts play resources coming to YSS
The P&C is proud to fund the 'Imaginasium' loose parts play pod for Yeronga State School and our children.
Recently the Imaginasium supplier, Wearthy, posted a Facebook video showing the resources that will soon be on the way to YSS (www.facebook.com/1697625717152828/posts/2668681810047209/).
Thank you Immediate Past President, Jo Thomson, for sourcing the Imaginasium for our school and children. We look forward to sharing the news of its arrival!
How the P&C supports Yeronga State School
We are often asked how P&C funds are used to support our school, which is a question we are pleased to answer.
After undertaking an extensive program of planning, fundraising and installing air conditioning in every YSS classroom from 2015 to 2019 (through fundraising, grants and profit from the P&C's businesses - Tuckshop, Uniform Shop and YOSHC), this year the P&C has provided $10,000 to the instrumental music program, and a further $10,000 for sporting equipment for the school - this is in addition to our commitment to funding the Imaginasium loose parts play container (approximately $12,000).
Soon the P&C will engage a Landscape Architect to design the 'Old Netball Courts' oval refurbishment (behind the library and hall). This project will also incorporate new P&C-funded Nature Play areas to restore the highly eroded banks surrounding the oval. We are keen to bring this project to fruition as it will benefit and provide a much needed oval upgrade and fun play spaces for all YSS children.
In conjunction with QCAN - the peak body for Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) programs in Queensland - we are also investigating how we can renovate spaces for the benefit of the school and YOSHC to ensure we can meet the growing needs of our community. It is anticipated the P&C will invest significant funds into renovating a large space so it will be more functional for both the school and YOSHC - the current front runner under consideration is the ground floor of L block (the large brick grade 1 building and the most iconic building on the school grounds). This space was the original home of YOSHC! P&C members and our school community will be consulted as plans progress.
The P&C has recently undertaken a strategic planning process and we look forward to sharing the new plan with our community. Development of Nature Play spaces and 'future proofing' YOSHC have been identified as key priorities that are important to our members and the broader school community. These will be exciting initiatives for us to progress.
Hamish Townsend and Kym Mansfield
Yeronga State School P&C Co-Presidents
ysspandcpresident@gmail.com
Indigenous Literacy Day
Next Wednesday, September 2, is Indigenous Literacy Day, an annual celebration of Indigenous languages and literacy. It is one of the most important events for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which focuses on improving literacy levels in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This is the first year that Indigenous Literacy Day will run as a virtual online event, so anyone can join in.
Did you know that the Indigenous Literacy Foundation was started back in 2004 in Brisbane by a former teacher, Suzy Wilson, who owned Riverbend Books? From her small Reading Challenge, a big movement has grown.
If you want to know more, go to:
https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/indigenous-literacy-day.
Next weekend is Father’s Day, so our Yugara word of the week is father – Babun.
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.
Education Perfect and MLTAQ State Languages Speech Contest 2020
Year 4, 5 and 6 Speech Trials
Thank you to all the amazing students who have put their hands up to try out for a place in the 2020 State Online Speech Contest. Good on you for your enthusiasm and willingness to give it a go. The trials will be held in Week 7 for Year 4 and 5 and then in Week 8 for Year 6 as they are on camp.
Year 4 Spanish Speech Trial – Week 7
Tuesday, August 25th at First Break (From 11:15) in the Spanish building.
Year 5 Spanish Speech Trial – Week 8
Wednesday, August 26th at First Break (From 11:15) in the Spanish building.
Year 6 Spanish Speech Trial – Week 9
Tuesday, September 1st at First Break (From 11:15) in the Spanish building.
Listen carefully to the morning notices as the speech trial day and time will be announced over the PA. You will need to say/read the first few lines of your speech at the trial and we will notify you of the 4 chosen people from each year level before the end of the week. Make sure you check your emails as we will announce the place getters via email.
Remember that if you are chosen you need to then memorise your speech, wear your uniform, record your speech as a video and then upload it to the Education Perfect link you receive via email. If you are unsure please ask us to show you again in class.
Thank you all so much once again. It is a wonderful opportunity to use your languages skills and learn more while having fun. All background speakers who have also put their hands up to enter Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French and Italian are encouraged to write their speeches as quickly as possible and then record and upload them by 3pm on September 11. The speech contest closes then so you don’t want to miss out. We will be registering you soon. We are proud of each and every one of you. Keep shining your light brightly.
Sacramental Program– Confirmation
Children who are currently in Year 3 or above are eligible to enroll in the Sacramental Program. We will have the weekly sessions at the St Sebastian’s School Chapel. I will meet the children from 3.00pm to supervise them having a run around and then afternoon tea then we will proceed up to the chapel.
Due to COVID19 restrictions we ask that parents do not come into the school grounds and at 4.30pm we will deliver the children to the school pick-up zone in Rome St North.
Confirmation Sessions for Students
Wednesday 7 October 3.30pm to 4.30pm St Sebastian’s School Chapel
Wednesday 14 October 3.30pm to 4.30pm St Sebastian’s School Chapel
Wednesday 21 October 3.30pm to 4.30pm St Sebastian’s School Chapel
Wednesday 28 October 3.30pm to 4.30pm St Sebastian’s School Chapel
Wednesday 4 November 3.30pm to 4.30pm St Sebastian’s School Chapel
Confirmation Practice
Friday 6 November 6.30pm to 7.30pm St Fabian’s Church
Confirmation
Sunday 8 November 8.00am St Fabian’s Church.
Please email the Parish Office if you are interested to enroll your child in the Sacramental program. stsebastians@bne.catholic.net.au
Kirsten Carroll– Sacramental Coordinator
YSHS Enrolment Interview Sessions 2020
Our next Enrolment Interview session is on Thursday, 3 September 2020.
Please click on the link below to fill out a registration form if you’d like to attend one of our Enrolment Interview Sessions.
https://yerongashs.
Please bring the following along with your child:
- completed enrolment application
- past report cards
- proof of citizenship (passport, travel documents, birth certificate)
For all queries, please contact our office at 3249 1400 or email us at office@yerongashs.eq.edu.au.
Thank you
NOTICEBOARD