Dear Families,

Security Fence Activation

Commencing Monday 30 October will be changes to the way visitors and staff access the school site.

All gates will be open between the hours of 6am and 9.15am and 2.45pm and 3.30pm.

At all other times gates will be locked.

 *with the exception of the pedestrian gate beside T Block and A Block carpark which will remain open for authorised users such as before and after school activities and Jabiru parents and staff during service hours and locked by Jabiru staff at the end of service each evening.

During school hours, students, parents, visitors and staff will be required to enter and depart the school site via the school administration block on Park Rd. Students arriving late and departing early must be delivered and collected from the school office during school hours 8.55 and 3.00pm.

For the month of November this will be a trial operation period with feedback sort directly to the principal@yerongass.eq.edu.au.

I understand these changes will be an historical cultural change for our school community who have enjoyed free access to the school site 24 hours a day for play and recreation.  I am saddened too that due to unrelenting damage to school property and members of the public with ill intent, we have had to implement these changes at Yeronga State school. I trust you agree and will work with us to ensure the safety of student, staff and visitors as we go about providing the best care and education for our Yeronga State School children.

World Teachers Day

This Friday our school community will celebrate the contribution of our teachers. A remarkable profession throughout the world, teachers work to ensure the foundational educational success of every child in their class whilst providing diligent and loving care to each young person as para-parent. Teaching is vocation that is becoming more and more complex as our world changes.   I thank our PandC and Parent Reps for coordinating the Annual Teacher’s Day Luncheon in appreciation of our teachers this Friday October 27^th. Your appreciation and support is immensely meaningful to us.

Equity and Excellence

All principals across the state participated in a full day of engagement and key messages from our Director General and Assistant Director Generals this week. The Equity and Excellence Strategy launched at the end of 2022 and the accompanying rolling operational changes that will follow was unpacked. This document will be driving the way Queensland Education is delivered over the next decade and is an important policy document for all stakeholders to be familiar with. Please find attached a copy of the Equity and Excellence Strategy.

Last weekend Australia voted for or against The Voice to Parliament. The result of the Referendum does not diminish our purpose and commitment  at Yeronga State School to deliver the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration External link, ensuring equity and excellence for our first nations students with unwavering resolve as we create together a school community that is culturally safe,  inclusive and strong. 

Have a great week 4.

Eunice Webb

Principal

Prep 2024

Prep discussion have now finished.  We enjoyed meeting our wonderful 2024 Prep students and their families and look forward to welcoming them to Yeronga State School.  Get Set for Prep bookings are filling up fast, thank you to those families who have registered.  We trust you will find these sessions beneficial as your child prepares for the exciting year ahead.  

What’s On

The next two weeks are filled with exciting learning opportunities and extracurricular events. 

Week 4 and 5

23^rd October: Year 6 Senior Photos and Music Group photos 

24^th, 25^th, 26^th, and 30^th October: Year 5 Hoodwinked excursions

30^th Oct  - 1^st November: Year 5 Camp Group 1

1^st Nov – 3^rd November: Year 5 Camp Group 2

2^nd November: Outdoor Learning and Play Legacy Committee Fundraiser

3^rd November: Year 1 Fire Visit

Week 6

6^th November: Prep Orientation 9:15am – 10:15am

9^th November: Choir Soiree (Years 2 – 6) 4:30pm – 6pm

Congratulations

Well done to our YSS Girl’s AFL team who made it through to the QLD School Cup State Grand Final round, played in Maroochydore last weekend. The girls were amazing and ended up in 5th place, a great result for a State competition.

Thank you once again to parents Necole Wolf and Joel Archbald for your tireless efforts with the team. Thank you to our wonderful parents for transporting and supporting the team.

Bugs Are Us!

Yeronga State School students and teachers were part of a citizen science project last year, where insects were collected and sent off for identification.  A species of insect, never before seen in Australia, was found on our grounds.  As an extra exercise, the young citizen scientists (YSS students of year 4, now year 5) were asked to draw and write their interpretation of insect adaptation to their environment focusing on our results.  Information about this new species can be found here  https://checklist.pensoft.net/article/107524/

Awards Ceremonies

It’s almost that time of year again when we celebrate student achievements at our annual awards ceremonies.  Save these dates…we hope to see you there!!

• Year 3&4 Academic Awards – Friday 1^st December at 9am
• Year 5,6 & Sport Awards – Friday 1^st December at 12:00pm
• Year 1&2 Christmas Concert – Monday 4^th December at 9am
• Prep Christmas Concert- Tuesday 5^th December at 9am
• Year 6 Graduation – Tuesday 5^th December at 6:00pm

Life Ed Parent Information Session

Life Education sessions will be occurring for year 5 and 6 students in week 8.  A parent information session is available at 8am on 21^st November in the 6K classroom.  This is a great opportunity to become familiar with the content that will be taught to the students, so that follow up conversations can occur at home. 

Day for Daniel – Friday 27^th October

Day for Daniel is on Friday the 27^th October.  To raise awareness for child safety, we encourage everyone in our school community to wear red on this special day.  The Daniel Morcombe Foundation has some terrific resources to talk about safety at home.

Outdoor Learning and Play Fundraiser

Senior Photos and Music Group Photos

The Brandenburg Senior String Orchestra and Stradivari Junior String Orchestra performed at MusicFest schools ensembles competition this weekend. The students had spent many weeks rehearsing together at school and practising at home in preparation and they performed with great confidence and musical expression. It was lovely to have Yeronga's depth of musical talent recognised with both ensembles receiving Platinum awards, the highest award possible! 

Thank you to parents who assisted on the day including Josh Duck helping tune instruments. Thank you to all our wonderful parents for supporting students with their home practise and for transporting students to the event.  

Running Club

Running club 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.

Regional Athletics Round up

Congratulations to those who qualified to compete at States for the Regional Team. Our successful qualifiers for the regional team were; Lachlan G, Phoenix L, Mollie W and Tom G. All of these people performed very well, but at such a high level everything must fall in line to achieve selection. Nevertheless Tom G made it through and was selected, but is unable to compete. We congratulate Tom on a sensational year. He decided to take his running very seriously. No doubt Tom will also have other representative running, through Toowong Little Athletics, this summer. Keep on working Tom!

Upcoming Swimming Carnivals

As always we will need parental help staffing these carnivals. We are fortunate that the parent body has always been very generous in volunteering time. For the Senior (Years 3 – 6) Carnival, on 27 November, we will need timers. For the Junior (Years 1 & 2) Carnival, on 28 November we will need marshalls / checkstarters. If you can help please email Mr Bateman; cbate12@eq.edu.au .

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 terms Three and Four 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 regularly among the best 3 or 4 players 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 have purchased 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 & Term 4, 2023

 20 October – District Triathlon Trials (11-19 Yrs) Paper Nomination

28 – 29 October – Regional Triathlon Trials (11 – 19 Yrs)

27 November – Yeronga State School Senior Swimming Carnival (Yrs 3 – 6)

28 November – Yeronga State School Junior Swimming Carnival (Yrs 1 & 2)

Thank you

Thank you for the donations towards the Gift Hamper Campaign, with enough goodies collected so far for one hamper. I’m hoping to hand out 12 hampers or more in the last weeks of the school term to Yeronga families who need a bit of cheer and encouragement. So please purchase a few extra items when you go grocery shopping next and bring them in to the baskets in the admin foyer.  Donations should be non-perishable special foods items (not your usual pantry items), gifts (books, small toys, games, etc) and decorative items (decorations, serviettes, bon-bons, etc.).

An Attitude of Gratitude

Harvard Medical School published an article, “Giving thanks can make you happier”, saying that gratitude is “strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness”. While each day brings challenges and difficulties, you can still make a decision to choose an attitude of gratitude and a happiness mindset. Practicing gratitude for the many good things in your life helps to shift your focus from negative to positive emotions and thoughts, which helps to bring an improved sense of joy and happiness. 

We can also choose to do things each day that positively impact on our overall sense of happiness and contentment. Find joy in the little things, beauty in nature, appreciation for the people in your life, and contentment with daily blessings. Include positive activities in your day like mindfulness, prayer and contemplation, being generous, being helpful, and connection with good people. What can you do to help you to have an attitude of gratitude, and help to improve your day?

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." - A.A.Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Blessings, Chappy Jenny

Email – jennifer.bennett@suchaplaincy.org.au

Facebook and Instagram – Community_Chaplain

Art Soiree

The P&C will be supporting the Art Soiree Opening Night 5-7pm on the 25^th Nov, which is an adult only event. The P&C will be selling wine and beer at the bar as well as cheese platters. 

BYO Glass - Please help us reduce waste and costs by bringing your own unbreakable keep cup.

Please Sign up to help behind the bar or serve Cheese Platters:  https://signup.com/go/doEXdes 

Tuckshop Eftpos

The Tuckshop now has an eftpos machine for morning orders if you miss the Flexischool cut-off. 

P&C Meeting

The last P&C Meeting for 2023 will be held on Tues 21^st Nov, 7pm in the library. 

Lost Property

Parents and children have until Week 8 when all lost property items will then be sorted and everything will either be repurposed or recycled.  

List of P&C Events, Term 4

Wk 4

World Teachers Day, Friday 27^th Oct  - sign up  https://signup.com/go/kJrTMih 

Wk 8

Art soiree in conjunction with the school, Saturday 25^th Nov – sign up https://signup.com/go/doEXdes 

Week 10

Zooper Doopers last day of school 3pm, Prep / Grad 1 area