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Dear Families,
This will be my last message to you this school year. May I start by extending a sincere thank you for welcoming me as your permanent principal this year. It has been a year of challenges, some thrilling, some not so. In every situation, I have been deeply encouraged by the engagement of the Yeronga State School students, staff and families. The school culture that has been built over the 150 years of the school’s fine history is one we can all be proud to be a part of.
This year we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the school through some highly significant events. As the everchanging face of the global pandemic continues to impact, we were fortunate to be able to host the 150th Year key events. Who can forget the exhilaration of coming together as a community for the fete. This was made extra special due to the significance of the occasion. The 150th Celebration organising committee made up of past and present school staff and parents, and led internally by Chappy Jenny, has been a colossal achievement. I know, that the memorabilia, archival footage and historical treasures that have been painstakingly collated and catalogued over the past few years in preparation will be a testament to the ongoing pride of this great school.
So many student achievements have been celebrated throughout the year. Made possible by the dedicated staff, students and supporting parents. Yeronga State School has a legacy of excellent achievements in sport, athletics, performing arts and academic achievement. So many honours and championships claimed at a regional and state level over 2021 with Yeronga State School in top position. It was an honour to present many of our students with certificates of recognition at the Annual Award Ceremonies held over the past week. What a joy it was to see so many proud families filling the hall to join in the celebration. Proud mums, dads, siblings, grandmas and grandpas. Thankyou for your presence. It was also an honour to announce to the community our incoming School Captains for 2022. I look forward to formally inducting all of our student leaders in February 2022 at our Student Leader Induction Ceremony.
I cannot go without acknowledging the heroes who ensure the wellbeing and best interests of our children front and centre every day. Our PandC staff and army of volunteers who provide care before and after school to our children, made with love tuckshop meals, perfectly fitted uniforms, environmental stewardship, lost property organisation, parent communications through the Parent Representatives and the many, many, volunteers who help out in the library and classrooms every day. We thank you for all you do for our children.
Next year we will have some new and exciting changes to our general curriculum offerings which are responsive to the revised Queensland Curriculum and Reporting Framework whilst expanding and deepening our work aligned to our school vision – Connected, curious and community minded citizens who make a positive difference to our world;
-Two full-time Health and Physical Education Teachers
-A full-time Head of STEM (new Curiosity Centre)
-Introduction of a Visual Arts Teacher
-Increased Music Teacher allocation
-A full-time Guidance Officer
-A Full time Head of Special Education Services
-First Nations Teacher-Aide
-Part-time English as an Additional Language teacher
-Part-time Gifted and Talented Support Teacher
We are expanding student and teacher leadership to align with our four school wide priorities; sustainability, wellbeing, outdoor play and curiosity and creativity. We aim to ensure every student leaves Yeronga, knowing their strengths and developing the learner assets that will carry them through life. That is, to be an effective self-manager, collaborator, thinker, researcher and communicator. Similarly, at Yeronga State School we are deeply committed to ensuring every student’s literacy and numeracy progress is rigorously tracked and responded to. We are refining our whole school approach to tracking and monitoring student data, engagement and inclusion to ensure a highly individualised approach to student learning – know the curriculum, know the student, vary the pathways.
Of course, none of this is meaningful unless young people are firmly grounded in a sense of belonging and unconditional positive regard from and for their community. I extend to you a hearty invite to consider being involved in the life of the school in whatever capacity you can. Be it through a formal PandC Executive Role, Volunteering at the tuckshop, being a parent representative or attending assemblies and school events. Together we are always better.
Our school assembly will change to Fridays at 9.00am from next year. This is hopefully supportive of busy families being able to stay on occasion (or every week) for assembly and parent café after assembly.
Finally, to all our families and students who are leaving us this year, thank you for the role you have played in making our school what it is. I trust the memories of Yeronga State School be fond ones and may your child’s education here be all you had hoped it would be. To all of you returning in 2022, I look for to welcoming you back for another wonderful year.
May each and every one of you have a restful and peaceful break with family and loved ones. Take time to relish the small and precious moments together. They are fleeting yet we all know they are real treasure of our lives.
Sincerely,
Eunice
Principal
CLASS ALLOCATION 2022
Thank you to parents who have emailed in requests for the class placement of children in 2022.
We wish to remind you as to how classes are organised in the school. Classes are formed honouring teachers’ tacit knowledge and understanding of each student’s individual needs, whilst recognising the very strong pastoral care of staff in supporting students. Our teachers know students best in the school context and our process is driven by the discernment of our teachers with an understanding of students’ individual needs and also the needs across the cohort to establish classes for 2022. All requests are considered within the broader context of all the children in the school. We have the best interest of children at the heart of what we do.
On Wednesday 19 January parents will be emailed the class that they will be in for 2022.
We do look forward to another great year at Yeronga State School!!
GET SET FOR PREP SESSIONS
Over the last two Tuesdays, the Prep teachers have been running half hour sessions with the Prep 2022 children. The purpose of this is to establish a smooth transition for new little ones and their families entering the Yeronga Learning Community. The sessions supported parent/ teacher relationships as well as enabled the new children to get to know the Prep Teaching Team. We welcome the new families and loved seeing the children’s smiling faces.
THANK YOU
A huge thank you to the wonderful volunteers that helped out last week at the swimming carnival. From time keepers, to scorers, to sno cones and spectators. We appreciate your support and could not have done it without you all.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Survey Results
We sincerely appreciate the 107 families who participated in our Reconciliation Action Plan Survey, which was published though Schoolzine. The de-identified data collected has provided us with a clear indication of the work to be done in the RAP process, and to establish priorities.
For those who may not have seen the survey, the Yuggera Culture in Community Cluster, Yeronga State School’s Kalari Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group, and school staff are developing our Reconciliation Action Plan [RAP].
Our survey respondents knew that Yeronga State School is built on Yuggera Country, which is south of the Brisbane River. What needs to be explained, based on the survey, is what a Reconciliation Action Plan is.
Reconciliation strengthens relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians. https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/what-is-reconciliation/
The Queensland Government’s commitment to reconciliation involves the recognition of businesses, community organisations, educational institutions and government agencies going above and beyond their core business to foster reconciliation and pave the way for a better future for our state. Thousands of organisations have formalised their commitment to reconciliation through a Reconciliation Action Plan. https://awards.premiers.qld.gov.au/qra/
A Reconciliation Action Plan [RAP] is a formal statement which provides a structured, nationally recognised, tried and tested model for a workplace to formalise commitments to reconciliation. A RAP helps to create a community with shared values, goals, and a common language for reconciliation. https://www.narragunnawali.org.au
https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation-action-plans/who-has-a-rap/
Yeronga’s RAP working group will continue to use your survey responses when developing the RAP. Following the links above will provide more information, and you are welcome to contact Lynette Wood: lwood41@eq.edu.au or 3426 0333 if you have any questions.
Tracy Freeman, Stef Kirk and Lyn Wood
Deputy Principals
2022 Stationery Order
We would like to remind parents/carers to check either emails in relation to the 2022 booklist.
We ask that all Prep orders be ordered separately to all other year levels. This will allow Prep packs to be delivered to the school.
TO ORDER YOUR STATIONERY CLICK THE LINK – Yeronga State School 2022 Resource Lists
WHEN CAN PARENTS DELIVER STATIONERY BOXES TO SCHOOL?
There will be staff available to accept student stationery on the below dates & times:
20 January 2022 - Thursday Morning: 8am – 9am
21 January 2022 - Friday Morning: 8am – 8:30am
Friday Afternoon: 11am – 1pm
There will be signs on each classroom door indicating where classes will be located. Please ensure that stationery is delivered either in a box or in a bag with the students full name on it.
If you are not able to make these times please bring your stationary on the first day of school.
Please note: On the afternoon of Wednesday 19th January all families will be emailed their class allocations along with a map of the class locations.
School Watch
The School Watch program encourages everyone to look out for and report any after-hours crime in our schools. During the holidays we encourage all in the community to help keep our grounds and buildings safe.
Look, Listen, Report. Call School Watch on 13 17 88.
If you see a crime in progress, call Triple Zero (000).
THANK YOU
The Yeronga State School Administration Team would like to say thank you to all parents and carers for working with us in 2021.
Early in 2022 the office will be sending around a reminder email to all parents with school procedures for 2022. Please keep a look out for this.
The school will repen to the public on 20th January 2022.
We hope all have a safe and happy holiday.
Yeronga Administration Team
COVID-19 SCHOOL CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT
In the event of the school being closed due to a positive case of COVID-19, parents and caregivers will be notified via:
SMS, Schoolzine and email.
All parents and caregivers are asked to inform the office of any changes to contact details.
Kind regards,
Eunice
Principal
The 2021 journey…
And so another year has passed us by, and it has come with a lot more difficulties and challenges than most of us expected. Reflecting on my year, I have learnt to let go of some of the things I’ve always done, and even to adjust some of my expectations. I’ve also found courage to step out and be brave and try new things which has brought a sense of achievement and even hope for some exciting changes in the future.
It can be helpful to look back at your journey across the year, to reflect and consider the direction you are headed, and decide what changes need to be made for the coming year, while making sure to not get stuck in the pain or regret that you might feel for things that didn’t go so well. So when you look back at your year, what have you learnt about yourself? How can you use that knowledge to help you prepare for next year and into the future?
Thank you…
Thank you to the wonderful YSS community for your generosity towards the hamper project. We have enough goodies to encourage 11 families and help them through this season. Thank you also for your ongoing support for the Chaplaincy program and all the projects across the year. I’m looking forward to the new year as I continue to support the needs of the community, and also add some extra fun. I’m really hoping that Camp at School returns in 2022 after being cancelled for the last 2 years!
Please feel free to contact me over the holidays via email if you have any needs, as I would like to keep up with what is happening, particularly in supporting families and staff through any difficult periods. I hope that the summer holidays will give you time to be refreshed and energised for 2022, and that there is lots of fun, joy, and happiness for your family and loved ones as you spend time together. All the best for the season, and let’s hope that 2022 is a brighter and happier year.
Blessings, Chappy Jenny
Email – Jennifer.bennett@suchaplaincy.org.au
Facebook and Instagram – Community_Chaplain
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 Carnivals
Senior Swimming Carnival: Lawson! Lawson! Lawson!
Congratulations to our blue house. I joked a while ago, during a period of Kendall dominance in athletics, about re-naming the athletics trophy to the Kendall Cup. Well Lawson have only not won the swimming once since 2011. That is an incredible 9 out of 10 years. It is a mighty effort and long may the success continue although the other houses are all coming closer. To sum up Lawson was 1st with 783, Evans was 2nd with 733, Kendall was 3rd with 698 and Paterson 4th with 664.
Mighty Mighty Samantha C
This year we farewell one of Yeronga State School’s greatest swimmer. Samantha C and her brother have had a similar effect on our record books to the Healy-Johnsons of not so long ago. Well this year Sam has done something no one, boy or girl, at Yeronga SS has done, since I began keeping records from 2003 to the present; she went under the 30 second barrier. To add a little more context to the achievement; she is only 11 and the records include both boys and girls up to the age of 13. It’s a mark that could stand for a very long time. Congratulations on your achievement Samantha! Keep working hard and as well as being a local hero you could be a local Olympic hero in 2032. My fingers are crossed for you and Hayden, but don’t forget to allow yourselves some time just to enjoy sport.
Age Champions
Age Group |
Place |
Recipient |
8 Years Girls |
1 |
Charlotte (3W) |
|
2 |
Bethany (3C) |
|
3 |
Emily (3W) |
8 Years Boys |
1 |
Archie (3I) |
|
2 |
Harvey (3I) |
|
3 |
Christopher (3I) |
9 Years Girls |
1 |
Mollie (3C) |
|
2 |
Josephine (3W) |
|
3 |
Saanvi (4N) |
9 Years Boys |
1 |
John (3W) |
|
2 |
Felix (3D) |
|
3 |
Jarvis (3D) |
10 Years Girls |
1 |
Layla (5C) |
|
2 |
Sophia (5C) |
|
3 |
Charlotte (5C) |
10 Years Boys |
1 |
Oliver (5L) & Jesse (4M) |
|
2 |
Toby (5B) |
|
3 |
Jackson (5L) |
11 Years Girls |
1 |
Samantha (6M) |
|
2 |
Saskia (5TW) |
|
3 |
Abigail (6HW) |
11 Years Boys |
1 |
Angus (6Q) |
|
2 |
Matthew (5b) |
|
3 |
Jordy (5TW) |
12 Years Gils |
1 |
Eady (6K) & Georgie (6M) |
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
Maggie (6K) |
12 Years Boys |
1 |
Alexander (6Q) |
|
2 |
Liam (6Q) & Oliver (6M) |
|
3 |
|
Junior Swimming Carnival
Apologies to all parents and students for the cancellation of this event. I know it was a disappointment, but the weather has again played a part in a sporting event in 2021. When possible we do try to re-schedule these events, but we simply have run out of time and could not secure a booking at the pool. Fingers crossed for better weather and less COVID impacts on events in 2022.
Important Sporting Dates Term 4, 2021
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
Keep and eye out for the release of dates for district sports early in 2022, there are plenty of opportunities! The first few are:
3 / 2 / 2022 - District Swimming Nominations close
4 / 2 / 2022 - District Golf (paper nominations)
8 / 2 / 2022 - Regional Golf
9 / 2 / 2022 - District Swimming Trials
11 / 2 / 2022 - District Squash (10-19 years)
For more, please Click Here
Cameron Bateman
THE BIG SING AND BIG PLAY:
It's been a wonderful few weeks of music performances with the Big Play and Big Sing concerts. We had hundreds of Yeronga musicians and singers perform pieces that they have spent months preparing in rehearsals. The performances were enjoyed by all and highlighted the love of music and spirit of excellence that is fostered through the school instrumental music and choir programs. Congratulations to the following major award recipients:
Chorister of the Year: Mathilda P
Strings Player of the Year: Brian Z
Band Player of the Year: Alexander C and Maggie S
Congratulations also to the following Music Spirit award winners:
Choir: Stevie K, Olive S, Angus S, Safira L, Emmaline F, Lachlan F, Amelie P, Isabel T
Band: Victoria W, Ainsley H, Oliver C, Eva L, Arabella R, Andrey G, Finn C, Dylan C
Strings: Ariel M, Ye Bin Y, Indigo M, Abbie P, Saskia A, Claire E, Stevie K, Neve H, Alex C
CONGRATULATIONS:
Congratulations to Toby A (Year 5), Otto B, Alexander C, Maggie S and Meegan T (Year 6) who last weekend participated in the Primary State Honours Ensemble Program at the Queensland Conservatorium. This program brings together the most talented primary school musicians from state and private schools throughout Brisbane. The students had an intensive weekend of learning repertoire under an experienced conductor and then presenting a concert on the final day.
Congratulations also to students who recently had AMEB exam performances. Indigo M in Year 5 who completed her Grade 1 viola exam and Ariel M in Year 5 who completed her Grade 3 violin exam.
2022:
We have already had some queries from parents about ensemble rehearsal times/days in 2022. Unfortunately, this cannot be confirmed until early 2022 when the timetables of each Classroom/Instrumental Music Teacher are finalised (we all have to work together to share the rehearsal spaces on our days that we are at Yeronga). We thank you for your patience with this and we will be in contact as soon as we have worked out a final schedule.
Finally, thank you all for your support for the Yeronga State School music program in what has shown to be another year marred by the uncertainty that COVID has brought us. The resilience and tenacity of your children is inspiring and we look forward to another exciting year of music making in 2022.
Yours in Music,
Lauren Easey (Classroom Music Teacher/Instrumental Music Coordinator)
Tamsyn Eastgate (Strings Teacher)
Robyn Rosewarne (Band Teacher)
Alex Grodecki (Band Teacher)
Thank you everyone for your participation and dedication to being green!
The Green Team would like to thank everyone for all their support this year. Whether you:
- Brought a nude lunch on Nude Food Day, or any day, or every day!
- Picked up rubbish on your way to school or in our school grounds to help our school be clean and green!
- Brought your eligible containers to school to donate to our Cash for Cans program!
- Put your fruit or vege scraps in our classroom compost containers or in our school compost bins!
- Brought your batteries, bottle tops, e-waste, bread tags, textas or printer cartridges to our library recycling hub!
- Turned off a light or fan or anything electrical in a classroom to conserve power!
- Dug, planted, tended, watered, weeded or harvested one of our school gardens!
Every little thing you do makes a difference…
As Helen Keller said: “I can not do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something that I can do.”
Thank you from the Green Team
Yeronga Students 2nd in the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers Tournament state final!!
On October 28th, Oliver (6HW), Yebin (6Q) and Andrey (4N) competed in the finals against 20 schools following a series of earlier rounds.
The tournament focussed on a variety of a maths knowledge and application questions involving estimation, speed, problem solving and general knowledge.
Remaining calm they ended up in a close finish ..one point behind Rockhampton Grammar School and three points ahead of third placed Eagle Junction SS.
Rachel Wise
On sale Now! Special 150th showbag
Limited edition end of year YSS show bags are NOW ON SALE. Secure yours before the end of the school year!
These bags are the perfect memento for all children and families, especially Grade 6 as their primary school journey comes to end - get all your friends to sign them as year level memories.
At just $10 each, they are a bargain given the value of the individual 150th merchandise items within the package totals $20, including:
- Commemorative 150th calico drawstring bag
- fabric pens to customise your bag - can be used on the calico fabric and also other uniform items children will sign on the last day of school (and for naming clothing)
- zipped pencil/storage case
- 150th artwork postcard
- 2 x 150th stickers.
Head to the Uniform Shop to buy in-person, or to Flexischools (under Uniform Shop items) to order for delivery to your child's classroom.
Sno Cones – Prep / Year 1 / Year 2 - Tuesday 7 December
To ensure children in Prep to Grade 2 don't miss out on the sno cones that are usually served on swimming carnival days, the P&C has fortunately been able to reschedule the date for volunteers to sign up and to offer our children the opportunity for a sno cone treat.
Children wishing to buy a sno cones are asked to please bring $2 on the day - Tuesday, 7 December. For grades 1 and 2, this coincides with your free swim date. Teachers will take children to the sno cone area after their swim at the Tuckshop area.
Parents and carers are invited to please sign up to volunteer on the sno cone stall to ensure all children who would like a sno cone are able to buy one: https://signup.com/go/wAkwGfH
If you are available on the day please also just pop over and check if extra help is needed if the spots are full. Many hands make light work and you will bring much joy to our children! ?
YOSHC Summer Vacation Care bookings now open
The YOSHC team has an awesome four weeks of activities have planned for the summer holidays. With a new theme and activities planned for each Vacation Care day, there's lots of fun in store for everyone. Themes include:
- Little Scientists
- Music Galore
- The Amazing Race
- Old MacDonald’s Farm
- Kids vs Educators
- Native Australian Animal incursion
- Rock Climbing
- Christmas Fever
- Water Inflatables Day
- Zone Bowling excursion
- Hawaiian Luau... and much, much more!
The new online booking system - My Family Lounge - makes booking a breeze. Just login, book the days you need for each child and, voila, you receive confirmation straight away.
When logged into My Family Lounge via the web you'll find Vacation Care bookings under 'QK Enrol' > 'Casual bookings' > 'Add casual booking'. When using the My Family Lounge app go to 'Bookings'.
You can see how many places are available and book by clicking on each day in the calendar. Please reach out to the YOSHC team - admin@yoshc.com - if you have any issues with accessing bookings through My Family Lounge.




Uniform Shop: 2022 Back to School opening hours
To help families prepare for the 2022 school year, the Uniform Shop will be open the following additional days and times in January:
Last week of summer school holidays 2022
- Monday, 17 January – 9:00am to 12:00 noon
- Tuesday, 18 January – 12:00 to 3:00pm
- Wednesday, 19 January – 9:00am to 12:00 noon
- Thursday, 20 January – 12:00 to 3:00pm
- Friday, 21 January – 9:00am to 12:00 noon
First week of school, 2022
- Monday, 24 January – 8:30 to 9:30am, and 2:30 to 3:30pm
- Tuesday, 25 January – 8:30 to 9:30am, and 2:30 to 3:30pm
- Thursday, 27 January – 8:30 to 9:30am, and 2:30 to 3:30pm
- Friday, 28 January – 8:30 to 9:30am, and 2:30 to 3:30pm
Price lists and other Uniform Shop information are available on the P&C website: www.yerongasspandc.org.au/index.php/uniform-shop/
During 2022 school terms the Uniform Shop will continue to be open on Monday (8.30am to 9.30am) and Thursday (2.30pm to 3.30pm), and you will also be able to order via Flexischools at any time for delivery to your child’s classroom.
Last chance lost property end of year display
It’s that time of year where everything needs to be cleaned out and tidy for the new year to come. The last chance lost property display will be on Thursday, December - from 2.00pm until 3:30pm. Anything not collected will be donated or disposed.
Just One Thing 2022: How would you like to help?
As 2021 rapidly draws to a close, the P&C is already planning for 2022. Our '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 at the beginning of term 1, 2022, eg Prep Welcome Picnic, and there will be several P&C Executive position vacancies in 2022 which will need to be filled at the AGM on Tuesday, 15 February.
To sign up for these, and other volunteering opportunities that take your fancy for 2022, please head to: www.surveymonkey.com/r/YSS2022JustOneThing. It's easy - just tick the option/s you would like to do, enter your details and submit. Volunteering at school is fun and a great way to meet other wonderful YSS parents/carers.
2022 P&C membership
2022 P&C Membership is now open! If you're keen to hit the ground running in the New Year, it only takes a moment to renew your membership for 2022 - you're welcome to renew today, and it’s easy to do via the online form: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022YSSPandCMembership.
THANK YOU for your support
On behalf of the P&C, THANK YOU to all in our wonderful Yeronga State School community for your support throughout 2022.
This year we celebrated the school's 150th anniversary with the Foundation assembly, and the tremendous Fete which was enjoyed by thousands of people and showcased the talents of our children and our community. Raising $90,000 to support our school, the Fete was only possible due to the help and dedication of all within our school community - Fete Committee and family volunteers, teachers, the school leadership team, sponsors, and our broader community.
While the year has brought some challenges and event cancellations due to unfortunate weather and adaptations to covid restrictions, 2022 has also brought some major highlights including the renovation of the old dental building that will bring much needed and exciting new classrooms, STEM and arts spaces and administration spaces to our school, and the P&C-funded grounds renovation project that will provide new sporting, outdoor learning and nature play areas for our children and teachers.
After a hiatus in 2020, we also enjoyed the return of some much-loved community activities like the Trivia Night, Mother's Day and Father's Day stalls, and sno cone stalls.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the P&C and together you support our wonderful Tuckshop, Uniform Shop and YOSHC teams to provide vital services for our school community, and run a range of fundraising and community building activities, including the Easter raffle, World Teachers' Day morning tea, the Prep Welcome picnic, and Welcome Morning Tea for new families to our school.
Thanks to you and our fellow parents and carers, terrific teachers, and school leadership and administration teams, and all of our P&C staff team members, our school is a vibrant, connected and supportive community that comes together to provide a range of important resources to support our children and their education. Your contribution to our school community is immense and appreciated. We wish you a wonderful summer holiday and Christmas festive season and look forward to seeing you back at school in January 2022.
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
NOTICEBOARD