Dear Families,

Sorry Day Assembly

On Thursday 26 May, at 9.15 all parents are encouraged to join us for our first National Sorry Day assembly. The ceremony marks the commencement of National Reconciliation Week 27 May – 3 June. Weather permitting the ceremony will be held in the new outdoor amphitheatre.

A reminder about the following position of potential interest to first nations families and community members;

Identified Position – Teacher Aide- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability

Yeronga State School is representative of broad cultural diversity. A strength and wonderful learning environment for our future global citizens. We have several staff who are experienced and work alongside the many families for whom English is an Additional Language to support the educational progress and engagement of students. In 2021 as part of the development of our school Reconciliation Action Plan, it was identified that we need to build on the strengths and capability of our first nations children and families to leverage the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Yeronga but also to enrich the cultural capability of all staff and students. Yeronga State School is seeking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person to fulfil an identified position for 10 hours per week. The identified position is Teacher Aide- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability. The role would encompass supporting individual student progress and providing input the school’s inclusive education strategic priorities. If you or someone you know maybe interested in applying for this position please email me with an expression of interest to Principal@yerongass.eq.edu.au .

Student Wellbeing

Each term the Yeronga State School leadership team are committing to organising parent information sessions to support student wellbeing. Of increasing concern to educators and families is the ability of our young people to manage safely and confidently, the online world. This term we are hosting a Triple P – Raising Resilient Children - Emotional Wellbeing and Cybersafety Seminar on Thursday 23^rd June at 6.00pm-7.30pm. The seminar is free. Please find the registration details in this newsletter along with preliminary information regarding further cybersafety workshops organised for later in the year.

I look forward to seeing you at this sure to be, valuable seminar.

Facilities

The new area is now open and being thoroughly enjoyed by the students. A few minor injuries are occurring as the students become familiar with their capabilities and inherent hazards. It is wonderful to see the inherent negotiating and navigating irregular terrain nature playgrounds afford. Please look out for PandC details regarding the official opening of the area. It is being proposed the opening incorporate a family fun afternoon and screening of Project Wild Thing. Keep an eye out for the invite. On behalf of the school community we thank past Principals, staff, PandC members, parents and especially Tessa Leggo for the commitment to nature pedagogy at Yeronga State School. Our current students and many students to come are fortunate indeed. I do need to remind families the area is licensed to YOSHC before and after school during the licensed hours of operation.

Have a wonderful week,
Eunice Webb
Principal

Eyes Open Social Media Safety Workshops

In term 3, Eyes Open Social Media Safety workshops will occur for students in years 5 and 6, and year 7 students from Yeronga State High School. These workshops will focus on Education about the possible risks & dangers associated with social media use and assistance, helping parents to add adequate privacy & security to your social media and gaming accounts.

These workshops will occur in 3 stages:

Stage 1: Student Awareness workshop – year 5/6/7 students– 4/8/22 9:15-10:15am

This session covers the 5 primary risks and dangers online including Inappropriate material and current laws, identity theft and fake accounts, predators, bullying, digital footprints and the permanent nature of content, practical ways to manage issues and reduce chances of harm.

Stage 2: Parent Awareness workshop  – year 5/6/7 parents – 4/8/22 6-7pm

Similar to the student workshop, this sessions covers the above 5 risks, but delves further into these issues from a parent lense. 

Stage 3: Student and parent workshop – year 5/6/7 students AND parents – 18/8/22 6-7pm

This workshop is a hands on practical session where participants bring in their devices and we teach them step by step how to apply privacy and security for personal account/s to significantly reduce the risks and dangers.

These workshops are free, so please come along. 

If you DO NOT wish your child to participate in the school workshop, please email Deputy Principal Stef Kirk: skirk70@eq.edu.au
There will be more information to come about registering your participation to the parent sessions.
For more information on Eyes Open Social Media Safety workshops, please see their website: https://eyesopensocialmedia.com.au/

Yeronga State High School Creative Writing Workshop

On 4^th May, some year 5 students joined the Yeronga State High School creative writing workshop today. Students with a passion for creative writing nominated for this Masterclass, covering writing fundamentals, to plan, draft, write and edit a story throughout the day. We eagerly await for the publication of their stories.

Year 2 – Make and Meld Incursion

In week 3, all Year 2 classes were excited to listen to the presenters and watch them create a new toy from scratch using a variety of materials.  They learnt a lot about hammering, screwing, and sawing! This incursion lends itself to the year 2 Inquiry unit on forces and materials. As designers, the children were set the challenge to plan the construction of a toy with a moveable part that also has at least one recyclable material. In early June, all children will have the opportunity to make their toy with the ‘Make & Meld’ crew when they return.  We look forward to seeing the end results!

New Play Area – The Outdoor Amphitheatre

The beautiful new play area behind the library is complete!  A huge thank you to the P&C for funding this project. We are calling this space the Outdoor Amphitheatre.  The Outdoor Amphitheatre will be accessible by the year 2 and 3 students during play times.  All other year levels will access this as an outdoor learning space during class.

Please be mindful that this space is licensed to YOSHC before and after school, so is out of bounds for all other students at this time.

Stef Kirk and Tracy Freeman
Deputy Principals

Parent Café

You are welcome to come to the parent café (a café on wheels at the moment) in the junior school every Tuesday morning 8:30am to have a cuppa and chat.  Most weeks it is staffed by Mr Spence (Guidance Officer), Ms Ainsworth (P-2 Inclusion & EAL/D) and myself. Next Tuesday, we will be joined by Mrs Cowie (Librarian/STEM/IT HOC) and the following Tuesday will be Mrs Wise (Yr 5-6 Inclusion). That’s a lot of interesting people to inspire some great conversation!

Conversations

Speaking about conversation, I love to have a chat and find it easy to talk (which is really important in my job!), but not everyone is like me.  Engaging in conversation with our kids can be exceptionally difficult at times, so here are some useful tips…

• When your child comes to you to talk, where possible give them your undivided attention by stopping what you are doing and looking at them while they speak
• Allow your child to finish talking before responding or even cutting them short helping them to find their voice and be heard 
• Look for body language that might give you clues about how your child might be feeling and follow up on it with a question
• Spend time each day talking about the little things that aren’t so important, so that they can be comfortable sharing the bigger things
• Ask open-ended questions to invite a larger story, not “how was school?” but, “what was the best thing that happened today?”
• Encourage everyone in the family to take turns and share about their day at dinner or breakfast, or while driving in the car
• Role model positive communication skills, and include your children in conversations where possible e.g. What do you think about it?

Let me know how you go with this. I’m happy to chat about it!

Coming up

13/6 Sub and Drink Deal Lunch

29/7 Chappy’s Movie Night

To help support the Chaplaincy program, you can purchase an Entertainment membership to access hundreds of offers for everything you love to do.  Follow this link…   www.entbook.com.au/2220w76  

Blessings, Chappy Jenny
Email – jennifer.bennett@suchaplaincy.org.au
Facebook and Instagram – Community_Chaplain