Dear YSS community

Thank you for a great turn out to our parent/teacher interview evenings over the last two weeks. There was a ‘buzz’ in the air with obvious rich conversations and I trust you and our staff both walked away with clarity of the next steps to further support student learning and wellbeing.

Student Code of Conduct

Our school, like any other state school in Queensland, is required to have a Student Code of Conduct that includes the school’s behaviour policy, with information about school rules, consequences and processes for addressing bullying and the use of technology. Our 2020-2023 Student Code of Conduct will be outdated at the end of this year and we are currently reviewing our Student Code of Conduct in preparation for next year and beyond. 

Our revised Student Code of Conduct will still reflect our collective fundamental belief that everyone has the right to be safe at school, all children have the right to learn and teachers have the right to teach. Our classrooms are supportive and caring learning environments and we are persistent and consistent in addressing behaviour concerns to ensure this is maintained. We do understand that changing circumstances impact on a child’s behaviour and take into consideration factors such as age, home environment and disabilities when considering next steps.  

We have sought feedback from students and staff and we will be seeking feedback from parents/carers at our next P&C meeting on Tuesday 15 August.

Queensland Health guidelines

Due to the tricky season of increased illnesses in Queensland, I am sharing the ‘Time out – Keeping your child and other kids healthy’ digital poster. The poster also includes ‘exclusion periods’ for managing COVID-19 and influenza. Please save this link so you can refer to if/when needed.

School Opinion Survey

The number of anonymous parent/carer responses for the School Opinion Survey has grown by over 50% since the last newsletter, to a total of 134 responses.  Thank you for taking the time to provide us feedback.

Please note, the cut-off date for completion is 18 August. If you would like to provide your feedback, please check your emails.  The invitation was sent a few weeks ago from the Department of Education, not the school, and it will have the subject line School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2023. 

Take care

Perry

Parent Teacher interviews marked the mid-way point of Term 3.  We would like to thank all families that attended the interviews to gain insight into curriculum learnings as well as student progression.  It was so lovely to see so many families engaged in conversation on the night.

We are looking forward to eventful weeks in the lead up to the September holidays. 

SCHOOL EVENTS FOR THE NEXT FORTNIGHT

14/8  - 18/8  – ICAS English

15/8 – P&C Meeting

16/8  – Ekka Day (No School)

18/8 – P-Yr 2 Assembly, Kummara 2pm – 3pm

21/8 – 25/8 – ICAS Spelling and Science, Bookweek

21/8 – Prep 2024 Information Session 6pm in Resource Centre

22/8 – Student Council Fundraiser – Free Dress

23/8 – Instrumental Music Information Night 6:30pm

23/8 & 24/8 Yr 2 Make & Meld Incursion

25/8 – Gala Day, Bookweek Parade for Prep – Yrs 4

PREP 2024 INFORMATION SESSION

• The Prep 2024 information session will be held on Monday 21 August at 6pm in the Resource Centre. This is a repeat of the first information session which was held back in April this year.  If you have not attended and would like to learn about what a day in the life of a prep student looks like please join us.

PREP 2024 DISCUSSIONS

• Prep discussions for 2024 will begin next week. If you or someone you know is yet to enrol, please do so as soon as possible so that the new prep child can have the smoothest transition to their primary school years of learning.

2024 CLASS ALLOCATIONS

• Student class allocations for 2024 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 2024, please email Mrs Freeman (tfree19@eq.edu.au) by Friday 6 October – please include the subject line CLASS ALLOCATIONS CONSIDERATIONS 2024.  Please note that class allocations are taken very seriously by our teaching teams and decisions are made taking into account many educational considerations, therefore requests are for consideration only. Any requests received after this date may not be able to be considered.
• If you are planning on leaving the school in 2024 please also email tfree19@eq.edu.au with the subject line 2024 CHANGE OF ENROLMENT.

BOOK WEEK EXCITMENT

On Friday 25 August, we will conclude our Book Week experiences with the Book Week Parade for Years Prep to Year 4.  This parade will be held on the lower school oval and begin at 9am. Parents are welcome to attend and children can come dressed as their favourite book character for the day!! Please see below for the fun we had last year!!

INFLUNEZA

As we approach the Ekka session, please keep students home from school if they are displaying symptoms of cold or flu:

You'll usually get symptoms 1 to 3 days after getting infected and may have:

• a fever
• a sore throat
• a dry cough
• headaches
• muscle or joint pain
• tiredness or exhaustion.

Children are more likely to have nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Students absences can be reported through QParents or on the student absence line 3426 0333

http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/childhood-illnesses

TERM 3 STUDENT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT

Term 3 statements will be emailed early next week. As we approach the end of the school year, I would like to remind all parents to ensure any outstanding invoices are paid in full. At present Yeronga State School has more than $11 000 in student debt.

Just a reminder that a negative amount is a credit on the student account. This amount does not need to be paid.

Payment can be made through BPoint www.bpoint.com.au/payments/dete or QParents.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact me 3426 0333 or email rbenn127@eq.edu.au. All communication will remain strictly confidential.

I recently completed refresher training by the eSafety Commissioner around preventing and responding to cyberbullying and was reminded of the great resources that they offer Australians for online safety. I recommend that you take a first or another look at their website www.esafety.gov.au and check out the pages for Parents and for Kids to be confident in supporting your family with online engagement and cybersafety.

eSafety regularly offers free webinars of 30 to 45 minutes duration for parents and carers across a number of topics including consent, gaming, and social media use. Their research has identified that one in five young Australians aged between 8-17 years have reported to being socially excluded, threatened, or abused online. So importantly, at the top of each page across the website is a red button to easily report any issue of online abuse. The factsheets also offer steps that can be practically taken to help resolve cyberbullying issues. One particular article that is useful for families with students who love being online is “Screen Time”, which can be found in “Issues and Advice” under the Parent tab, helping families to achieve a healthy balance towards online and offline activities.

While this is a fantastic resource, please also bring your concerns to school staff, or if necessary to the Qld Police. And I’m here to help too.

Blessings, Chappy Jenny

Email – jennifer.bennett@suchaplaincy.org.au

Facebook and Instagram – Community_Chaplain

Book Week

19 – 25 August             Lets celebrate all things Books. Here is the school timetable, what can you do at home to celebrate the love of reading. Here are some ideas.

• Have a family read-a-thon. Challenge cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents.
• Read together as a family. Turn off all devices and schedule a family reading time.
• Read a book of funny poetry. All books count.
• Build a reading fort. An easy way to do this is by placing two chairs with the backs facing inward (towards each other). Then drape a blanket over the chairs.
• Adopt a reading friend. Maybe this is a new stuffed animal. Or a favourite stuffed animal or toy. Let children read to their friends.
• Read to a pet. Or sign children up to read to the pets at a local animal
• shelter (some offer this type of program).
• Cook a recipe for a food from the book.

So many more ideas here https://www.readabilitytutor.com/making-reading-fun-for-struggling-readers/

Premiers Reading Challenge

A reminder that all sheets need to be returned by 28 August. They need to be handed into the library.

Instrumental Music Information Evening 

The Instrumental Music Information Evening for families with students who are interested in joining the school’s Strings or Band program in 2024 will be held on Wednesday August 23 at 6:30pm in the school hall. Current Year 2s are eligible to apply for the Strings Program (in Year 3 2024) and current Year 3s can apply for the Band Program (in Year 4 2024). This is in alignment with Queensland Education Department Policy. If a student wishes to be considered for selection in the 2024 Instrumental Music program, it is highly recommended that the student and one caregiver attend the information evening. This will ensure all families have a comprehensive understanding of the program and are aware of the commitment and costs involved.      

Parents will be able to register their interest in their child participating in the program at the information evening. If you are unable to attend, you will need to email the strings teacher Tamsyn Eastgate at teast42@eq.edu.au or the band teacher Alex Grodecki at agrod3@eq.edu.au prior to the information evening to ensure that we know that your child would like to apply for the program.Please note, if you do not attend the evening and we do not hear from you prior to the meeting, we will assume you are not interested in having your child progress further in the selection process for the Instrumental Music Program in 2024.  

Participation in Instrumental Music at Yeronga is in high demand and there are limited places available. The selection process involves aural testing of all year 2 and 3 students, consultations with classroom and specialist teachers, and physical testing on the string or band instruments that allows students the opportunity to try out different instruments and determine their physical capability for an instrument.  

AUSTA Junior Strings Festival 

Congratulations to Paraw H, Mackenzie M, Frances L, Lachlan F and Tristan J for their recent solo music performances at the AUSTA Junior Strings Festival at St Peters Lutheran College. Each student had diligently practised their music and courageously presented a well-polished performance. The students each received an adjudication report from a AUSTA professional member and a trophy in recognition of their efforts.   

Upcoming Instrumental Music Events 

Friday 18 August- Junior Strings Junior Assembly performance 

Wednesday 23 August- Instrumental Music Program Information Evening 6:30pm 

Thursday 24 August- Chamber Strings YSHS Strings Workshop Excursion with Camerata performer 

Wednesday 30 August- Chamber Strings YSHS Performing Arts Evening performance 

5-7 September- Southside Senior Music Workshop at Chandler Theatre- Year 6 strings and band students 

Running Club

Running club has resumed and will continue until the end of the year 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 and Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:15 with Mr Bateman. Mr Sutherland is now holding 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 Results

Congratulations to all of our District Athletics competitors. Usually the top 3 competitors will qualify for regionals unless there are students absent from events due illness or injury or a higher representation clash or a qualifying standard has not been met. Congtatulations to those who have qualified to compete at Regionals for the District Team. Your names and events qualified are displayed below.

Commiserations and well done to our other fantastic athletes who did not qualify. Please do not forget to complete your forms ready for submission on your first day of competition.

                                                                        Football Goals

Please remember, 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 2023 are listed below.

Yeronga State School (YSS) District Trial Selection Policy (Years 4 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.

 Rebel Sport Community Givebacks

Just a quick note to publicise our involvement with this scheme and how it works. For some time now Yeronga State School has been part of the above mentioned scheme. The scheme gives the school credit for purchases of equipment at Rebel as anyone who purchases equipment and nominates Yeronga State School as the recipient of Community Kickbacks. I am purchasing Footballs and Netballs with this credit this term. It is an easy way to contribute resources to our school especially if you enjoy spending time and money in sports stores like myself. Thanks to all of those who purchased at Rebel over the break. We have a very useful amount for equipment.

Important Sporting Dates Term 3, 2023

29 & 30 August – Regional Athletics

11 September – YSS Ball Games Day

Are you looking to get involved with the school?

Want to learn some new recipes?

The Yeronga Primary School tuckshop has a paid position available.

Part time

3 hours per week on a Friday morning

For more information, please contact Chris by sending an email to president@yerongasspandc.org.au

Community_Souths_Juniors_Cricket_Blast.pdf

Community_Souths_Juniors_Super_6_s.pdf

Community_Souths_Juniors_Super_6_s _pdf 2.91 MB

Community_ASC_Spring_2023_QLD_South_Advert.pdf

Community_ASC_Spring_2023_QLD_South_Advert _pdf 816.81 KB

Yeronga State High School 

Yeronga Celebrates is a biennial event that our school community always look forward to. Yeronga State High School is an incredibly diverse school community where everyone takes immense joy and honour in celebrating all the unique cultural backgrounds. It's also an opportunity to be unified by pride in our children and to celebrate all the richness and benefits we get from being such a diverse community. This year we are CELEBRATING on Friday 18 August! For the first time, we are inviting the community to be a part of this event too!