Dear Families,

Swooping Magpie

As you may be aware we have a very protective magpie causing distress and minor injuries to several of our students this week. Please be assured the safety of our students is our utmost priority. Whilst we respect the laws that apply to protected species, it is imperative that our duty of care to our students comes first when injuries are occurring. Recently, Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner commissioned a review into the management of protected swooping birds and the requirement that state licenced experts are contacted for advice. We have submitted a request for an assessment of the bird that is swooping the area between the Library, Prep buildings, ECDP and YSS Swimming Pool to Queensland Fauna Consultancy. Certain playground areas will be out of bounds to students until the assessment takes place. We have been advised it may take a few days for this assessment to occur. In the meantime; please refer to the advice provided by the Department of Environment and Science;

Staying safe

•  Wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses or shelter under an umbrella to protect your face from swooping magpies (painting or sticking large ‘eyes’ on the back of your hat can also deter magpies—but this won’t work for cyclists).
•  If a magpie swoops while you are cycling, it will probably stop swooping if you get off your bike and walk.
•  Avoid ‘defence zones’ by taking alternative routes during the breeding season.
• If you must enter a ‘defence zone’, magpies will be less likely to swoop if they are watched constantly, or if people walk in a close group.
• Use signs to warn others of the location of nests and defence zones, particularly in areas used by children and the elderly.
• Waving sticks or umbrellas in the air or attaching a brightly coloured flag on a long pole to your bicycle can stop magpies from swooping.

NAPLAN Student Reports

Individual student NAPLAN reports have arrived at school and sent home in labelled envelopes to students in Year 3 and 5. Please look out for these reports in your child’s bag over the coming days.

Should you have any questions regarding the reports please direct them initially to your child’s teacher.

End of term

It is hard to believe we are at the end of Term 3. Thankyou again for your commitment and collaboration as we continue to work together for the best for every child in our school.

Have a great Spring break. School returns on Tuesday October 5, 2021.

Eunice Webb
Principal

Thank you to all the parents and teachers that engaged in the parent teacher interviews.  These interviews allow the school and families to connect in a genuine and caring way – we all have the same goal – for your child to have a successful year at school.

CLASS ALLOCATIONS 2022

• Prep interviews for 2022 will begin next week. If you or someone you know is yet to enrol, please do so ASAP.
• Student allocation for 2022 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 2022, please write to Mrs Freeman (tfree19@eq.edu.au) by Friday 17 October.  Any requests received after this date may not be able to be considered.

PREP 2022 INTERVIEWS

Over the last two weeks we have been engaging in our Prep 2022 interviews.  It has been lovely to meet and welcome younger siblings as well as new families to our wonderful school.  The interview/ discussion give the school valuable information about new children to the school.  This term we will complete all interviews and the embark on our Kindy/ Early Educator visits.  We very much look forward to seeing the new children in their current setting.

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL DAY

Just a reminder that every Wednesday is Active School Travel Day.  We are hoping that active travel to school will start to pick up again.  Let us see who will win the gold star Active School Travel award these coming weeks. There will be a special Book Week dress up morning for Active School Travel on Thursday 9 September with special prizes being given for the outfits.  Children are welcome to wear their book costume all day if they would like to.

CLASSROOM REMINDER

Just a gentle reminder that we are still following COVID-19 safety practices, these include:

• Remaining in the downstairs areas for your children – if you need to talk to the class teacher at this time it would be better to send an email or arrange a time to meet
• When volunteering in the classrooms please sign in at the office first and follow COVID-19 handwashing protocols
• If you or your child are displaying any illness please do not come to school

BOOK WEEK PARADE

There will be a special Book Week Parade on 9 September at 9am for Years P- 2.  Children are encouraged to wear a costume that represents their favourite book/ book character.  We look forward to seeing the children in their wonderful costumes.

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL DAY

Just a reminder that every Wednesday is Active School Travel Day.  We are hoping that active travel to school will start to pick up again.  Let us see who will win the gold star Active School Travel award these coming weeks. There will be a special Book Week dress up morning for Active School Travel on Thursday 9 September with special prizes being given for the outfits.  Children are welcome to wear their book costume all day if they would like to.

Yabby Snapping Positive Behaviours

The first Term 3 newsletter included information about Yeronga Yabby Snap 

Snaps, which have replaced the thumbs-up awards.   Over the past few weeks, students have received Snap Snaps from staff to recognise positive playground behaviours aligned to our school expectations and learner assets.

Snap Snaps have been given to those students who have been behaving safely in the playground and toilet areas, and those who have disposed of their rubbish at the end of eating time and used the recycling bins correctly.   

*Students place their Snap Snaps in boxes [juniors or seniors] in the school foyer.

*Student Leaders lucky dip four Snap Snaps from the box on assembly and these students receive a Tuckshop Voucher.

*Deputy Principals count all Snap Snaps in the boxes.  The class with the most receive the Yeronga Yabby class trophy for the fortnight.

*All the end of the term, the classes [one class in junior school and one class in senior school] will receive a whole class celebration.

This fortnight, the junior class with the most Snap Snaps was 1M, and the senior

class was 4L.

 

Hamish,  Roshini, Charlotte and Thomas were the lucky tuckshop voucher winners whose Snap Snaps were randomly selected from the Snap Snap box at assembly.    

Tracy Freeman, Stef Kirk, Lyn Wood
Deputy Principals  

Upcoming Payment & Permission Due Dates

Payment & Permission Due - Friday 10 September (Tomorrow)

1. Gala Day 

Payment & Permission Due - Friday 17 September (Last Day of School)

1. Swimming – Prep – Year 6
2. Year 5 Camp 
3. Year 6 Toohey Forest  
4. Year 2 – Go with the Flow 
5. Year 5 & 6 Senior Talk – Life Ed Incursion

Payment & Permission Due - Friday 8 October (Week 1 Term 4)

1. Year 4 – Bugs R Us – Pullenvale Excursion

Swimming PERMISSION LINKS 

Please click on your child's class to access the Permission Link. 

MAGPIE ON THE GROUNDS

As some members of the community might be aware we have a magpie on the school grounds that has been swooping students and parents. Over the last week, the magpie has been most active in the Year 2-3 Nature Play area and the Prep 5 eating area.

As previously mentioned in the Principal’s report and in an email to parents dated 09/09/2021, the school has received advise from the Department of Environment & Science (DES) and the Department of Education Senior Workplace Health & Safety Advisor that the most favourable course of action is to try to live with the magpie during the 4 -6 weeks of nesting.

However, the school has recently received additional information from the DES that if the magpie activity is classified as extreme a DES registered bird relocator can be contracted to remove the male bird form the school grounds. The male bird is relocated up to 100km away.

School Administration has contracted the services of a bird relocator and the process has started to get the magpie swooping classified as extreme with the intention of relocating the bird. Due to a large demand for the bird relocator at this time of year the process may take up to 5 working days.

School Administration has tried very hard to balance the environmental concerns for native species with the health and safety of our students. We thank you for your concern and feedback during this time as we have searched to find a solution that meets departmental and legislative requirements.

The Office Team 

RUOK? Day 9 September…

While RUOK? is very much a scripted question, it still is a relevant and purposeful way to engage and start a meaningful conversation.  Reach out to those in your life who you know might be struggling or finding life difficult or challenging. Or maybe you have noticed that someone isn’t acting as they would normally, or are they withdrawn or agitated.  Push past their first response to RUOK and be brave, commenting on the changes you’ve noticed.  It’s not about having all the answers, but more about showing you care by just sitting and listening.  Offer to help where you can, or if necessary encourage them to talk to a professional. 

Happy Holidays…

Despite the challenges of restrictions around Covid-19, I hope that you enjoy the coming spring break and have time to have holiday fun with your family ready for the last few months of the year, which is often the busiest.  Here’s some cheap ideas you might like to do with your family…

• Plan an outdoor adventure
• Cook a 3-course fancy dinner
• Learn some magic tricks or circus tricks
• Do something kind for a neighbour or someone in need
• Print some photos and make a scrapbook
• Look through an Atlas together
• Write a song and record it
• Take a bike-ride, scooter or walk somewhere different
• Plant a new garden
• Bake a cake and invite some friends over to share
• Camp in the backyard
• Have a “word of the day” and use it all day
• Make some greeting cards for special days coming up
• Find a new outfit in an op shop
• Learn a dance
• Create a fairy garden
• Start a gratitude journal
• Paint some old furniture
• Find some new jokes

Enjoy your holidays! 
Blessings, Chappy Jenny
Email jenniferb@chappy.org.au 
Facebook and Instagram – Community Chaplain

Nude Food Day prizes

Well done to everyone for the massive effort on Nude Food Day on Monday 23^rd August.  404 students came to school with no rubbish at all which is absolutely outstanding!

As always, our sponsor, The Source Bulk Foods at West End will provide two giant 

amazing jars of package-free treats for the winning classes in the junior and senior school.  The winning classes will receive their prizes and those who have brought no rubbish will go into the draw for the individual prizes on assembly.  The winning classes will also get to take the glory and enjoy the Golden Bin trophy!

Make No Rubbish Monday

Every Monday is now Make No Rubbish Monday!  Why?  To reduce the amount of rubbish in our school, to teach our students good habits for the future, to eat less packaged food and make healthy fresh food choices!  Many of our families bring Nude Food every day, but we’d love everyone to get on board for our Make No Rubbish Mondays!

Cash 4 Cans Recycling

Thank you to all the families who bring their eligible containers in from home to contribute to our fund raising.  We have raised well over $1000 for our school.  Please make sure you discuss with your children what goes in the bin, that no rubbish or food goes in, just eligible containers, as Mr Sutherland has to clean out the rubbish when emptying the bins.  If the containers are contaminated with rubbish, the company who collect them won’t accept them and they will all end up in landfill.  

Library Recycling Hub

We also accept, batteries, phones, cords, e-waste, felt pens, ink cartridges and bread tags in the library recycling hub! 

Holidays are Imminent

Have a great holiday and keep safe over the break.

Running Club

Running club will continue, until landscaping works commence on the lower playing areas, this term on Tuesdays, from 3:15 to 3:45 and Thursdays from 7:45 to 8:15. Mr Sutherland will hold his sessions on Fridays from 7:45 to 8:15. Remember that all of these sessions will occur on the main, or years 3-6, oval.

Representative Sport Dates Release (Important)

The trial dates for term three of 2021 are listed below.

Ball Games Program

Please see the program below and remember that parents are welcome as long as they maintain the social distancing requirements.

Prep to Year 2

Year 5 & 6

Year 3 & 4

Important Sporting Dates Term 3 & 4, 2021

13 & 14 / 09 / 2021 - District Boys Cricket

14/09/2021 – YSS Ball Games (Reserve Day 17/09/2021)

15 / 09 / 2021 - District Girls Cricket

15 / 10 /2021 – Gala Day 2

TBA – Gala Day 3

17 / 10 / 2021 – Paper nominations due for 11 & 12 years District Triathlon

22 / 11 / 2021 – Junior ( Yrs 1 & 2) Swimming Carnival

24 / 11 / 2021 – Senior ( Yrs 3 – 6) Swimming Carnival

6 / 12 / 2021 – Prep End of Year Swim

7 / 12 / 2021 – Years 1 & 2 End of Year Swims

8 / 12 / 2021 – Years 3 – 6 End of Year Swims

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC RECRUITMENT FOR 2022

It’s that time of the year again where the recruitment process begins for any current Year 2 and 3 students who are interested in joining the Strings or Band program in 2022. Current Year 2 students are eligible to join the Strings program next year while current Year 3 students are eligible to join the Band program next year. Current Year 3 students who are already learning a string instrument in the String program are not eligible to also join the Band program next year.

The recruitment process for both year levels is a three-step process:

1. Aural testing – strong aural skills are beneficial when learning a musical instrument
2. Instrumental Music Information Night – Wednesday, October 13 @ 6pm in the Yeronga SS Hall
3. Physical testing – students try playing the instruments available to see if they are physically capable of holding them and making a sound on them.

The Instrumental Music teachers also consider observations made by class/specialist teachers when offering students a place in the Instrumental Music Program.

The Year 2 and 3 students sat the aural test last week (families of absent students will be contacted soon to be informed of the catch-up exam date). The 2022 Instrumental Music Information Night for families with students who are interested in joining the Strings or Band program in 2022 will be held on Wednesday October 13 at 6pm. The information evening will be held in the school hall or via Zoom if COVID restrictions at the time mean that we aren’t able to hold the information night in person. If a student wishes to be considered for selection in the 2022 Instrumental Music program, the student and one caregiver MUST attend this evening. This will ensure all families understand the commitment and costs involved with participation in the program. Some students who received high results for their aural test will receive an invitation to the information evening but please remember that this aural test is not determinative and the information evening is open to all Year 2 or 3 students interested in joining the instrumental program.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Toby A (Viola), Alexander C (Clarinet), Sam J (Euphonium) and Maggie S (Clarinet) for being accepted into the Primary Years State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) in November.

Also, congratulations to Alexander C, Philip T, James Y, Mathilda P, Abigail W and Safi L for being accepted into the Metropolitan Choral Honours Program in October.

What a fantastic bunch of hard working and talented musicians we have here at Yeronga!

MUSIC DATE CLAIMERS (Subject to COVID restrictions)

October 24 – Senior Choir @ MusicFest from 10am at Coorparoo State Secondary College

October 26 – 28 – Metropolitan Choral Honours Program (selected Year 6 students only)

October 31 – Strings @ MusicFest from 10am at Ferny Grove State High School

October 31 - Junior Band @ MusicFest from 10am at Coorparoo Secondary College (NOTE: This date is the new, rescheduled date)

Friday November 19 - Big Play (Senior Band, Junior Band, Strings)

Friday November 26 - Big Sing (Junior and Senior Choir)

Father's Day stall and Crazy Socks Day THANK YOU!

The care and generosity of our school community shone through in spades with the P&C Father's Day stall on Thursday, 2 September. Every child was able to select a gift for their Dad or significant adult thanks to many families donating more than one gift for each of their YSS children, and also more than $3 per gift on 'shopping day'. Thank you so much for your support, generosity and kindness.

We hope all gift recipients enjoyed their gifts as we wished a happy Father's Day to all dads, step dads, mums who are dad, granddads, God fathers, families whose dads are no longer with us, and all those who have taken on the role of father and carer for YSS kids.

Sincere gratitude to Kristen Jennings for your stellar coordination of the stall, including shopping, wrapping, and 'covid safe' organisation on the day. Usually a wonderful team of parents helps our children to select their gifts from the stall in the hall, but this year Kristen coordinated Senior Leaders to take a tray of gifts to each class to minimise risk to our community.

Thank you, also, to all the children who wore a wonderful array of crazy socks to school on 2 September and made gold coin donations to support the 2021 senior graduation. Such a colourful way to support our children!

YOSHC Spring Holiday Care bookings open for September-October break

The YOSHC team is excited to be able to offer an exciting Holiday Care program including select excursions and incursions over the Spring September/October school break. For more information and to make your holiday care bookings please head to: www.yoshc.com/holiday-care.

All excursion and incursion providers have covid-safe plans in place and the YOSHC team will closely monitor health announcements to ensure the safety of all children.

RISE holiday camps 

YSS extracurricular sporting program provider, RISE Sport, is offering a Football Camp (soccer skills program) over the Spring school holidays. Promising fun, exciting and engaging activities and games to bring a greater appreciation of the game and the opportunity for children to unleash their inner Ronaldo, Messi or Beckham, the football camps also come with a free RISE gift for each child who registers.

Football Camp details:

• 20-23 September (week 1) , and/or 27-30 September (week 2)
• Ages: 5 years to 14 years of age
• Time: 8:00am – 12:00pm
• Location: Moorooka State School – Senior Oval – Beaudesert Road, Moorooka (plenty of parking inside school grounds near oval)
• Pricing: $140 per child for 4 day camp or $40 per day for casual booking
• Please note: Camp will be on rain, hail or shine!
• For more information or to register: https://www.rise.com.au/holiday-sports-camp/.

LAST CHANCE lost property

Your chance to be reunited with all those lost items!

Lost property is available to be checked throughout the term at your leisure under the main administration building stairs area (A block downstairs). We encourage you and your children to have a regular look for lost items - volunteers regularly tidy the area to ensure items are sorted to make it easier to find them.

At the end of term, our wonderful volunteers collect all items and place them on a last chance display. If you are missing any uniform items, hats, lunch boxes, bags or other items please ensure you look for them on or before the last chance display. After the following times the items will be given away or uniform items may be made available for sale through the second hand stock in the Uniform Shop. Where possible volunteers return named items to students but this can't be guaranteed.

Last chance display - Week 10:

• Thursday, 16 September - 2.30-3.30pm AND
• Friday, 17 September (last day of term) - 2.00-3.00pm
• Outside the uniform shop (if it is bad weather, under the building next to the uniform shop).

If you are unable to attend the final display dates, we encourage you to check leading up to the last day of term or network with some other families who may be able to check for you. This is volunteer run so if you would like to assist, please email operations@yerongasspandc.org.au.

Lost property under the stairs in A block

2022 Senior shirt orders

Being a senior allows our students to wear a special commemorative polo for their senior year at YSS. All year 5 classes have been visited by our Uniform Shop Convenor, Yvonne Starr, who gave an in-class presentation about the senior shirts and handed out order forms.

To ensure your 2022 senior receives their senior shirt orders must be submitted by the deadline on Monday, 11 October 2021, as at least 16 weeks of lead time is needed for orders to arrive in time for delivery to senior students on the first day of school in 2022. Should the order form not have arrived home, a copy is attached to this newsletter. Forms can also be collected from the Uniform Shop, or via email to Yvonne at uniformshop@yerongasspandc.org.au. Payment and sizing can be made via Flexischools but the order form is mandatory to confirm the order - the name you write on the form for your child is how their name will appear on the shirt. 

Yvonne is also kindly opening the uniform shop at second break each school day during weeks 9 and 10 in term 3 for students who would like to be sized up for their senior shirts. Students grow a lot between term 3 in grade 5 and the end of year 6 so please ensure you double check the sizing and always go at least one size bigger than your child needs now. For further information or questions please contact Yvonne at uniformshop@yerongasspandc.org.au.

Kym Mansfield and Hamish Townsend
Yeronga State School P&C Co-Presidents
president@yerongasspandc.org.au
www.yerongasspandc.org.au