Dear Families,

I write this week’s newsletter from the Professional Development Network conference I am attending with our Deputy Principals, Tracy Freeman and Stef Kirk.  I reflect on the keynote message from Professor Pasi Sahlberg and theme of the two-day event, Hope. Pasi shared some sobering global data indicating we are in the midst of a declining trajectory of learning and wellbeing and a rising trajectory of screen time, sleep deprivation and behavioural disorders. The trajectory was well in place prior to the C-19 pandemic and for those who work with young people, is no surprise.  As a community of people who care deeply about our young people, the great disruptor of C-19 is an opportunity to rethink and reimagine what is necessary in addition to excellence for our youngest citizens. High quality education and high equity for all. Pasi left us with a couple of provocations;

Ask not how good is Billy, ask how is Billy good?

Ask not if Mary is ready for school, ask how is the school ready for Mary?

I am sad to inform you our much-loved music teacher Lauren Easey is leaving us to take up work in her new career of law. Lauren has brought great joy to the children and families of Yeronga State School for many years and we will miss her so very much. We have been so fortunate to have you Lauren and thankyou for the legacy you leave.

For the past few months a highly contested tender process to select a new YOSHC provider is now complete. I am pleased to inform you the new provider is Jabiru Community Youth and Children’s Services Association. Jabiru is a local, social for purpose, not-for-profit organisation with more than 35 years of history in Queensland. We look forward to working with Jabiru when they complete the transition to service period. This is expected to take place over the coming weeks. In the meantime, I wish to encourage our current excellent YOSHC team and PandC Executive who have committed to the crucial role of continuity of service and care to our families.

Have a wonderful week,

Eunice

We are already half way through Term 3 – we are looking forward to the last few weeks of school!

PREP ENROLMENTS -  2023

• Prep information session – this will be a one hour presentation of what being in Prep at Yeronga State School is all about. The date is Tuesday 30 August at 6pm in the Resource Centre.
• Prep interviews for 2023 will begin shortly. If you or someone you know is yet to enrol, please do so as soon as possible.

Book Week Parade

Last Friday, we began our Book Week celebrations.  Thank you to the Prep – Year 2 families for attending and encouraging their children to wear costumes.  Thankyou to the Year 6 children who also came down to see their Prep Buddies do their book week parade.  Another thank you to our student leaders, they did an amazing job helping Mrs Freeman get set for the morning of celebration.

Eyes Open Social Media

Over the past 2 weeks, Year 4, 5 and 6 parents and students have had the opportunity to engage in the Eyes Open Social Media workshops.  These workshops aimed at informing students and parents about the reality and dangers online, and provided practical ways to support our children to be safe online including; setting up private and safe social media accounts, responding to cyber bullying, and using parental controls. Our thanks to Trisha from Eyes Open Social Media for your support.  We look forward to continuing our partnership with Eyes Open Social Media to protect our students online. 

Art Parent Helpers Needed

During the last term of school we will be presenting the children’s artworks and their thinking behind their art work.  We are very fortunate to have our very own Art expert on our staff Mrs Greenfield!! As we get ready for our young artists showcasing their work Mrs Greenfield may need some assistance, if you are passionate about Art and assisting our children could you please email Tracy Freeman on tfree19@eq.edu.au

Looking forward to hearing from you all!!

Stef Kirk and Tracy Freeman
Deputy Principals

Parent Access to the School Grounds

Dear Parents

With the new building and pathways now open we are excited to welcome all parents collecting or dropping students to school to come to the front office (T Block) via the main entrance.

Access via the back of the building is reserved for Staff and Students only to ensure the safety of all our students.

Pathways from the main office double doors are open to guide you to your student’s room.

Swimming Lessons - Payment & Permission Due Friday

Friday (26th August) is the due date for returning swimming permission forms to your teacher and paying the swimming invoice. 

Students require both permission and payment to attend the Semester 2 swimming lessons. If you are unsure if you have paid please check QParents or your bank account. 

Students will require the equipment listed below;

• Goggles,
• bathing cap (no cap = no swim),
• change of underwear
• towel
• swim shirt / rashie (no rashie = no swim)
• sunscreen

If you are experiencing any financial difficulty and will not be able to make both payment and return the permission form by the due date please contact the office via rbenn127@eq.edu.au.

Excursion / Incursion - Missed Due Dates

Dear Parents

If there is an occasion where you have missed a school invoice or permission deadline you will be required to book in a meeting with the Principal to get approval to make a late payment or submit a late permission form.

To make this meeting please email the school on admin@yerongass.eq.edu.au or call the office on 07 3426 0333 between 8am – 3.30pm Monday – Friday.

If you are worried that you will miss the deadline due to financial difficulties please contact the office as soon as possible. We are here to help and want to assist in anyway we can.

Father's Day Stall - 1st September Timetable

Thursday 1st September all students will be attending the Father's day stall at the Hall. Attached is the timetable.

Students in 5B will be attending the stall on Wednesday the 31st August 2022. 

Regards

Office 

Active Learning Centre and Outdoor Learning Area Open Day

Sunday Sept 11 10am - 2pm

Yeronga State School will be proceeding with the Open Day planned for Sunday 11th September. The day is designed as a chance for all parents and community members to visit the school and enjoy the new indoor and outdoor facilities that together will add so much to the life and operation of the school. Sausage sizzle and coffee will be provided by the P&C, and families are encouraged to enjoy a picnic in the new gardens. The morning will also see the first Yeronga SS Cubby House Building competition. Families are encouraged to bring materials to make cubby houses, with a prize awarded by Principal, Ms Webb. 

All cubby houses must use all compostable materials, no plastic or metal, yes to cardboard boxes, sticks, wood, etc

Get planning and collecting those materials.

Running Club

Running club has resumed in Term 3 and will continue until the end of term 4 unless the weather makes it impossible to run safely or public health restrictions return. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays, from 3:15 to 3:45, with Mr Landeck and Thursdays from 7:45 to 8:15 with Mr Bateman. 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.

District Athletics Representatives

Congratulations again to our Eastern Taipans District Athletics representatives; Felix B, Alex C, Nadia C, Finn C, Hudson C, Eve C, Lachlan G, Neve H, Cooper K, James M, Sophia P, Jesse S, Finn S, Aggie W, Mollie W, Violet C and Sophia G. These athletes will be competing at the Met West Regional Athletics Trial, over the 30^th and 31^st of August, in their quest for Met West selection. Good luck everyone!

Ball Games Day  14 September 2022

Please feel free to come and watch your children in the only class based event for year level supremacy. The timetable is as follows. Please remember that all year levels will be competing for a year level cup except the Preps who are non-competitive.

Ball Games Program

9:00: Prep to Year 2

Year Two Mixed Heat One

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

Year One Mixed Heat One

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

Year Two Mixed Heat Two

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

Year One Mixed Heat Two

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

Year Two Mixed Heat Three

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

Year One Mixed Heat Three

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

All Prep Mixed Heat (Approximately 10:30)

Under Over Ball, Tunnel Ball & Take & Put

Years 5 & 6: 11:45

Year 5 Mixed Heat One & Two

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Year 6 Mixed Heat One & Two

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Year 5 Mixed Heat Three

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Year 6 Mixed Heat Three

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Years 3 & 4: 1:45

Year 3 Mixed Heat One & Two

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Year 4 Mixed Heat One & Two

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Year 3 Mixed Heat Three

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

Year 4 Mixed Heat Three

Tunnel Ball, Leader Ball & Captain Ball

New Football Goals

A big thank you to Mrs Webb for the purchase of our new portable football goals. Please remember, though, that although these goals are metal they are not built to be climbed upon. Please do not climb on them as you will be endangering yourself, damaging the goals and be the unhappy recipient of a white slip.

Representative Sport Dates Release (Important)

The trial dates for term one of 2022 are listed below.

District Sport and COVID

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.

Important Sporting Dates Term 3, 2022

30 & 31/08/2022 – Met West Regional Athletics

2022 Instrumental Music Information Evening- Year 2 and Year 3 families

The 2022 Instrumental Music Information Evening for families with students who are interested in joining the Strings or Band program in 2023 will be held on Thursday September 1 at 6pm in the school hall. 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. If a student wishes to be considered for selection in the 2023 Instrumental Music program, there is the expectation that the student and one caregiver attend the information evening. This will ensure all families understand the commitment and costs involved with participation in the program.  

Participation in Instrumental Music at Yeronga is in high demand and there are limited places available, so a selection process needs to be followed to determine which students are selected for the program.  After attending the Music Information Evening parents can register their interest in their child participating in the program. At the start of term 4 instrumental music teachers will then conduct physical testing with these students where the students try out the different instruments available to determine how physically capable they are of holding and playing the instruments on offer. The Instrumental Music teachers also consider observations made by class/specialist teachers when determining which students to offer a place in the program. 

Chamber Strings Livestream performance

Our talented Chamber Strings students have entered a video-recorded competitive performance that will be livestreamed this week at 

8:20pm on Friday August 26 on the Southside String Festival's Facebook page

 (https://business.facebook.com/southsidestringfestival) 

The students have worked hard to create an impressive performance, so make yourself a cup of tea on Friday night and then tune in and be entertained with some beautiful music! 

Tamsyn Eastgate and Lauren Easey