Dear Families,

How quickly the weeks are passing. Shortly students and teachers will be finalising assessment tasks for the year prior to the end of year reports. The Australian Curriculum is a standards based curriculum designed so that students have opportunities to learn and demonstrate what they know and understand by the end of the academic year. The Australian Curriculum is designed to challenge students thinking and application of knowledge and skills in each of the 8 learning areas. It is important that parents understand the rigour of the Australian Curriculum is challenging. Whilst a student may be very capable demonstrating knowledge on a traditional ‘test’, demonstrating knowledge in the context of the curriculum, working collaboratively or independently through a task requiring organisation, planning and focus over time can be a challenge for some students. It is the application of knowledge and understanding that is a core quality of the Australian Curriculum and that the end of semester report card for each student is measured against. I encourage you to explore the information available to parents on the Australian Curriculum website. https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/parent-information/

Today I was delighted to spend some time in Year 4 classrooms. It was wonderful to see the students engaging in their inquiry projects and observing the learner assets in action. Their confidence as learners at Yeronga State School is always wonderful to me. I was a surprised to hear the comment ‘I’m nervous about Year 5’ when I asked if they were excited about their next year. When I inquired further the response was because of NAPLAN! The student then elaborated, we didn’t do NAPLAN in Year 3 because of COVID. Evidently a fear of tests and what is perceived as ‘high stakes’ assessment is on our student’s minds. This is of concern to me. We know our young people face an increasingly uncertain world. How can we provide them with a sense of assurance as life-long learners rather than focussing on the outcome of a point in time test. Whilst the following resource is aimed at teens, you may find some tips to support your child come to terms with the place of tests in their schooling.

We the Differents - Tips to survive exam block

Exams can be a stressful time, but the good news is there are ways your teen can tackle them head on and avoid those last-minute cram sessions. It could be finding the right study space, taking short breaks or getting their body moving. The We the Differents website has some great tips on how to survive exam block. Your teen will also find a collection of articles to support them to find their different, know what’s on offer, get the right support and make the most of their education.

It was an honour to attend the Flag Raising ceremony at Yeronga State High School on Monday. I commend the school for this important step in the spirit of reconciliation in our community and look forward to the installation of our new flag poles to host the first nations flags at YSS in 2022.

Have a great week!

Eunice

Nude Food Day – Monday 8^th November

This Monday is Nude Food Day! Bring a nude lunchbox to school to keep our environment clean.  There are class and individual prizes for nude lunches.  For more information, please see the information for parents, and 'how to' guide. 

World Teacher Day

Last week we celebrated World Teacher's Day. We all have a favourite teacher we can think of throughout our lives. A teacher who encouraged us, supported us, made us laugh, and taught us valuable lessons and have contributed to who we are today. We are very thankful to the many wonderful teachers here at YSS, who inspire and nurture our students every day. Thank you to our wonderful school community for the delicious morning tea. What a treat!

We are halfway through the last term of the 2021 school year.  This term is flying by and we are in the middle stages of planning for events such as the Prep and Year 1/2 Christmas Concerts, the Academic and Effort Awards, Sports Awards, welcoming new families in the Prep Orientation and farewelling our Year 6 students and families at Graduation. We are also working to create transition times for children transitioning to the next year level – our inclusion teachers are a very important part in this process and we thank them for all the energy, effort and care they put into this space.

AFTER SCHOOL ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

Just a gentle reminder to follow school rules before and after school.  We love having children in the school grounds after school and understand that it is a lovely time to connect with families in the community.  However, there has been some little children climbing the outside stair banister of the Year 1 building and we are asking parents to ensure that their children do not do this as we want to ensure all children are safe.  We thank you in advance for this.

SWIMMING

Just a reminder that swimming will recommence for Week 6 and Week 7 of the school term.  Please ensure your child arrives at school with their swimmers, towel and goggles.   We are very proud of our children and how they have been demonstrating respectful, responsible and safe behaviour during their swimming lessons.

AWARD CEREMONIES

Our academic and effort award ceremonies will be held in the last two weeks of the school year.  Please see the criteria for the Awards below.  To acknowledge all the wonderful work our children, do in the space of Spanish, Physical Education and Music there will now be a year level award to recognise and value student achievement in these specialised subject areas.

Effort Awards

Citizenship Award – Walker Award

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL NETWORK

Yesterday YSS hosted the deputy principal network for the region.  We had visitors from many schools across the region.  During the day, we asked the visitors to reconnect with their moral purpose around why they do what they do, we shared the Yeronga way and our strategic direction – linking in with inquiry based teaching and learning and assessment for learning practices.  Deputy principals then heard from guest speakers ‘Dr Cam Brooks’, ‘Laurelle Woollet’ and our very own ‘Clare Triggell’. The highlight of the day was visitors attending classrooms to see the teaching team engaged in the ten pedagogical practices of an inquiry teacher which includes listening to student voice.  The following feedback was shared with teachers and students:

• Engaged learners
• Students working constructively in teams
• Curious teachers
• The confidence of the students was outstanding
• Great buzz of learning occurring
• Expectations very clear
• Learner assets displayed and referred to by both teachers and students
• School priorities coming together
• Student input
• Students demonstrating their thinking in various ways
• Students having the confidence to ask open ended questions

It really needs to be said ‘We are just so incredibly proud of our teaching team and our students (they are literate, numerate, curious and agentic)’.

Stef Kirk and Tracy Freeman

Deputy Principals 

Volunteers…

Each year, school staff let me know the people who have volunteered to help them in their classroom, on excursions, with extra-curricular activities, and P&C events.  While it is a small token of our thanks, a certificate is provided to recognise the valuable contribution made to our school community. If you haven’t received your certificate before the end of November, please speak to a staff member.  We don’t want anyone to be forgotten, and hope to honour all those who have made a contribution so that the school is the best it can be for our students.

Actually, volunteering provides us all with a greater sense of wellbeing and helps to build confidence and self-esteem, knowing that we have made a contribution to the community.  Further, it helps us to develop skills and experiences, and gives us opportunity to meet and connect with other people.  So next year, take advantage of any opportunities and embrace these positive outcomes by finding a way to volunteer within the school community.  What can you do to help in 2022?

Donations…

Thank you so much for the donations already given towards our Christmas hampers for families in need.  I have enough goodies for 1 hamper which is a great start to this community project.  Please continue to bring those special food items, gifts, and decorative items to the baskets in the admin foyer.  You may like to make a small purchase each time you do your weekly shopping. It would be wonderful to put together many more hampers.

Coming Up…

15/11 Sub and Drink Meal fundraiser – envelopes been handed out, or you can download and print the attached form. Order forms and money can be dropped into the green box in the library by Thursday 11 November.  Next year, subway have assured me their new online ordering system will be ready to use.

SUBWAY Student Order Form

Blessings, Chappy Jenny

Statements & Outstanding Payments

Statements will be issued in the upcoming weeks. A reminder that if your statement shows a negative amount (ie -$15) this is a credit and does not require any payment. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the office.

If you do have any outstanding payments it would be greatly appreciated if you could attend to payment. Should you wish to pay in instalments please contact Ruth by email rbenn127@eq.edu.au or by phoning the office on 3426 0333 so that arrangements can be made.

The Office Team 

NUDE FOOD DAY this coming MONDAY 8^th NOVEMBER

This will be our last NUDE FOOD DAY for 2021.  Put it in your calendar and get ready to win some great individual and class prizes thanks to our amazing sponsors The Source Bulk Foods at West End! 

Why do we do Nude Food Day?  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 Nude Food Day this Monday 8^th November!

How do you make a NUDE lunch? 

1. Choose your REUSABLE container and make sure it has your NAME on it!
2. Fill your container/lunchbox with fresh, yummy food that has NO PACKAGING! You can buy in bulk to reduce packaging, pack homemade goodies or simply remove the packaging and put it in the bin at home.
3. Fill your reusable drink bottle with your drink of choice!
4. ENJOY your yummy, eco-friendly food! Now you know how, you can do it all the time!

Email and social media are great ways to keep in touch with our school staff but sometimes what we say and do can hurt, intimidate or overwhelm others.

Aggression of any kind, either physical, verbal or online is unacceptable in the workplace, so it’s unacceptable in schools.

Remember, we’re all on the same team.

Your child, our student. One team.

Find out more about how we can all work and learn positively together. QLD.gov.au/schoolsoneteam

Running Club

Running club will continue, unless the weather makes it impossible to safely continue, 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.

Swimming Resumes in Week 6

School swimming lessons resume in week 2, for Prep to Year 6 students, at Yeronga Park Pool. Lessons will continue until the end of week 7 (week ending 19 November). A big thank you to Yeronga Park Pool for their cooperation in organising and teaching lessons to our Prep to Six students and for the use of the complex for our carnivals, free of charge, and our behaviour celebrations at a very friendly price.

Please send your child with all of the appropriate equipment. These items are noted on the swimming information which was released last term.

Ball Games Appology

My Apologies to Miss Mac’s Monarchs who were the best dressed team in the Year 3 & 4 ball games carnival this year. They did not receive recognition in the original ball games round up and deserved that recognition for the work they did with their costumes.

Representative Sport Dates Release (Important)

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

Swimming Carnivals

Swimming Carnivals will be held in Week 8 of this Term please see below dates and schedule. As this event is off school grounds and is water based, permission will be required for your student/s to participate. An email will be sent home with permission links for each class. Please complete this as soon as possible so your student/s can participate in the carnival.

I will again need parents to help out in timing at the senior (years 3 to 6) carnival and to help marshall and start races in the junior carnivals for years 1 and 2. There will be special operating procedures for these people inside the complex which I will pass onto them before the event. If you wish to help at these events please email me cbate12@eq.edu.au . Remember that places will be limited. All COVID safe plans will be followed during the event. 

Junior School - Monday 22 November 2021

• Year 1 - 9am -11am 
• Year 2 - 11:45am - 1:15pm 

Senior School - Wednesday 24 November 2021

• Year 3 & 4 - 9am - 11am 
• Year 5 & 6 - 12:00 - 2:30pm

Proposed Swimming Carnival Schedule

Important Sporting Dates Term 4, 2021

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

Last chance to buy Trivia Night tickets – Saturday, 13 November

At the time of writing there were only 15 tickets left for Trivia Night! Don't miss out on the social event of the year. 

This is a great chance to meet other parents, show off your obscure knowledge of 90's boy bands, daggy dance and dress up to the theme of 'Lost in Music: from Beethoven to Beyonce'.

To make the night run as smoothly as possible we need a little bit of help from our friends... Please sign up here - https://signup.com/go/eJtUAME - to be a marker, do a shift on the bar or help with set up and pack up. You'll not only have loads of fun but receive a warm inner glow being part of the team that brings this terrific night of fun and friendship to our community.

• Date:  Saturday, 13 November, 2021
• Time:  Doors open 6:00pm (trivia to finish by around 10.00pm, doors and dancing close at midnight)
• Location:  YSS school hall
• Tickets:  $10 per person via Flexischools
• Details:  Drinks for sale on the night, and BYO food. Prizes on offer for best dressed table (max 10 peeps). Tickets are booked individually not by table so just book for yourself, rock up and find some friends on the night.

Book tickets via Flexischools and for all your Trivia Night news follow the Trivia Night Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/249131160501465. Please contact Rachel at rackllmack@gmail.com.au if you have any questions.  

Final P&C meeting for 2021 - Tuesday, 16 November

Our final meeting for 2021 will be held on Tuesday, 16 November at 7:00pm in the Resource Centre (school library). Please join us to meet fellow parents, be the among the first to hear news and updates, have your say, and consider joining the P&C Executive team in 2022. There will be several roles up for grabs!

Seeking Swimming Carnival Sno Cone volunteers

Our ever-popular Sno Cones stall will be again held at the Junior and Senior School Swimming Carnivals (weather and covid permitting):

• Junior Swimming Carnival - Monday 22 November, 9.00-11.00am
• Senior Carnival - Wednesday 24 November, 9:00am-3.00pm.

The children love their $2 sno cone treats on the warm swimming carnival days after their races, and there are plenty of opportunity to volunteer in various roles throughout the day.

You could be the set-up crew who assists with moving equipment before needing to run off to work… or you could be the crushing ice crew making delicious treats handing them over to those little smiling faces.  

To sign up for one of the coolest volunteering opportunities of the year please head to:

• Junior Swimming Carnival Sno Cones: https://signup.com/go/wAkwGfH
• Senior Carnival Sno Cones: https://signup.com/go/pjhAjyQ

‘Just One Thing’: How would you like to help in 2022?

Our P&C 'Just One Thing' survey is a window into the myriad of ways you can get involved throughout the year. We are getting in early for 2022 because some volunteering opportunities start during the summer school holidays, eg Prep Welcome Picnic and back to school Uniform Shop opening.

You are invited to nominate your 'one thing' you would like to do to support our school community in 2022 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YSS2022JustOneThing. This is a super easy way for you to nominate the activity/ies that appeal to you - simply tick the option/s you would like to do, enter your details and submit. A P&C representative will be in touch with you at the appropriate time. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YSS2022JustOneThing

THANK YOU: World Teachers' Day morning tea

Sincere thanks to all parents, carers and families, and the YOSHC team, for your donations of a delicious array of morning tea items to spoil our wonderful YSS teachers in celebration of World Teachers' Day. And a massive thank you to all YSS teachers for supporting our children in their learning journeys every day of the school year. We were pleased to be able to let you know how much our families and children appreciate you.

The P&C was delighted to receive a lovely message of thanks from Head of Curriculum - Inquiry, Clare Triggell, for our community on behalf of the teaching team: 

"The teachers of YSS would like to pass on our sincere thanks to the parents and caregivers in our school community.  We were blown away by the wonderful assortment of treats provided for our World Teacher’s Day morning tea. We were humbled by the generous response of so many and grateful for the opportunity to get together with colleagues to enjoy the feast.

Many thanks to Anna Rimpau for the hours spent setting up the staff room, it looked lovely. We also appreciated you coming back to pack up afterwards!"

150th Anniversary Book - order your piece of history today

Have you ordered your copy of the 150th Anniversary Commemorative Book?  This special and colourful souvenir is a great keepsake to celebrate your connection with Yeronga State School, with fun facts, recollections of the past, and stories about the present.  Order your book from the Uniform Shop (Monday 8:30-9:30am & Thursday 2:30-3:30pm) or through our 150th website… https://yerongass150.com

P&C Website and Facebook for information and latest news

To keep up-to-date with YSS P&C information, news, updates and activities, please bookmark the P&C website - www.yerongasspandc.org.au - and 'like' and 'follow' the P&C Facebook page: www.facebook.com/YerongaSSPandC. These are key sources of information for our school community and are regularly updated by the P&C team.

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