NEWSLETTER 22 October 2015 Term 4 Week 3
Yeronga State School
Service
Before
Self
Quote of the Week
The beautiful thing about learning is
nobody can take it away from you.
- B.B. King
Date Claimers
October
28 Prep : Hands On Education
(Maths)
30 Chappy Pancake morning
30 Gala Day 3
30 2016 Booklist Orders closing—
(Sequel Books website)
November
02-04 Year 4 Camp Goodenough
Tweed hinterland, 8:00am3:00pm
03 Melbourne Cup
08 YSS Tennis Championships
(Prep-Year 6)
10 Year 4 Hands On Education
(Science 1B)
10 Year 5VW “Hoodwinked”
Pullenvale Excursion
11 Prep Orientation Morning
9:00am
12 Year 5M “Hoodwinked”
Pullenvale Excursion
17 Senior Swimming Carnival
17 P&C Meeting 7:00pm
Resource Centre
18 Cybersafety Day (Years 3-6)
19 & 23 Book Fair 3:00-6:00pm
Resource Centre
24 Junior Swimming Carnival
26 YSS Chess Tournament
27 Behaviour Reward Day—
Year 2s and 3s
27 YMCA Music Awards Night Yeronga High—6:30pm
December
01 Prep fun day at Yeronga Pool
01 Volunteers Afternoon Tea
2:00-3:00pm—”Chappy”
Payments Due …
 Outstanding Year 4 Camp
payments due now
 Outstanding Sports Gala Day
payments by Thursday 29
October
 Year 1 Twelfth Night Theatre
Excursion due by Thursday
12 November
From the Principal
Debbie Spanner, [email protected]
THANK YOU YERONGA STATE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Last Wednesday afternoon our school community, family and friends took some time to attend a
memorial for Archie Lane, one of our Year 2 students. The grief and sadness was and is
overwhelming at times after such a tragedy, and many of us struggle with how to express this. A
big thank you to Leah and Joe and their friends for showing us the way, allowing us to express our
sadness at Archie’s loss and our joy for having known him. Through music, rugby playing and
drawing (and a little dancing), Archie was acknowledged and remembered by all.
I would like to say a special thank you to my staff, especially Katie McDermott, for the incredible
support that they have given to others during this time. Katie, along with many other school staff,
have done all that they could and so much more, to reach out and help.
When families are facing challenging times, it is important that we reach out. I am so proud of the
many ways Yeronga SS community does this every day. The parent rep network is an incredible
source of support for many families, where people quietly organise some much needed help whilst
respecting others privacy. Thank you to everyone for the ways you make a difference every day,
modelling to your children the importance of caring for each other and showing us the sunshine on
what can be some dark days.
POWERFUL LEARNING
Last Monday our staff attended the Curiosity and Powerful Learning launch, the project that
Yeronga SS, along with 30 other Queensland State Schools are participating in. The importance of
lifting student learning through the collaborative expertise of all stakeholders is the big message.
During this project our school will be working with and visiting other schools to provide feedback
on what’s working and what else we can do to keep moving and improving.
On Tuesday some staff visited Ironside SS on Instructional Rounds, where we, along with Ascot
SS, Coorparoo SS and Indooroopilly SS, observed classroom and school practices and then
reflected an analysed what we saw, to deepen our understanding of the pedagogy underpinning
the Curiosity and Powerful learning project.
Next Wednesday afternoon these schools will visit our school to engage in the same practice. If
your children tell you there were many `important’ or `strange’ looking people traipsing in and
out of classes and talking to children you will know what it is about- fellow educators working with
us to help us become better at what we already do so well.
THE WORLD IS FLAT FOR THIS GENERATION
Last holidays I had the privilege of listening to Dame Jennifer Shipley, the first female Prime
Minister of New Zealand, at the ACEL Conference in Sydney. Given that she was one presenter
amongst my `go to’ education researchers like Michael Fullan, Andy Hargreaves and Alma Harris,
the fact that I’m talking about her is testament to her skill. A message that Dame Shipley shared
has made me reflect deeply: `The world is flat for this generation’
Thomas L Friedman published a book in 2005 titled The World is Flat- A brief history of 21st
Century that analyses globalisation and its impact on the world. It is referencing the fact that
world is a level playing field for those primarily involved in commerce where everyone has an equal
opportunity. Doing business in a world where historical and geographical divisions have become
largely irrelevant required a huge perceptual shift for individuals, businesses and countries. A
failure to do so almost certainly means limiting your future opportunities.
From an education perspective, we need to undergo a significant perceptual change too. Dame
Shipley was using this phrase to describe what must happen for education, to give an insight into
the future for our children. Understanding that our children will need to engage with existing and
developing countries and be able to resolve complex, global problems, including the economic
problem of a significantly aging world population, means schools need to review how we do
business and what we spend our time doing. Literacy and numeracy is incredibly important given
that these underpin the key skills of communication and problem solving required for our future
world however they alone are not enough. As we begin the journey with Curiosity and Powerful
Learning, we will be grappling with how to make sure the education we are providing is what our
children need for their future and developing our capacity to provide it.
Continued…..
From the Principal (continued)
EVERY DAY COUNTS
I would like to remind parents of the importance of attending school every day. If your child misses one day per fortnight, it equals 20
days per year. This equals 4 weeks of school each year and over 13 years of schooling your child misses nearly 1.5 years of school.
Where possible, make appointments outside school hours and stress the importance of coming to school every day from the beginning.
Poor attendance habits established in primary school transfer over into poorer attendance in teenage years.
SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Q School App is a great way to access the school website, newsletter and school events. You can now download the QSCHOOLS app
and subscribe to receive the latest news from our school on your smart phone or tablet. QSchools is free and available from the iTunes
store and Google Play.
Download it now to be as up to date as possible. You can read our newsletters online, receive important alerts the school sends out to
parents (e.g when the camp bus is due back, pupil free days, etc) or even read our tuckshop menu.
Download it now. Once installed follow the instructions below to list us as a favourite, to ensure you remain as up to date as possible.
 Once installed go to school search
 Click on name search
 Click on the magnifying glass in the top right hand corner
 Type in Yeronga
 Then click on Yeronga State School
 Then add us as a favourite by clicking on the star in the top right hand corner of our page.
We look forward to continuing to improve our home/school communication. QSchools app is one such tool.
ADVANCING EDUCATION
Join the conversation on the Queensland Government’s Advancing education action plan. Working together will ensure the best rollout
of the plan’s actions across early childhood services and schools. View Advancing education and the #codingcounts discussion paper to
expand coding and robotics in Queensland schools, and offer your feedback through an online survey at http://
advancingeducation.qld.gov.au/
WORLD TEACHERS DAY
Thank you to the many families that celebrated World Teachers Day with us last Friday. All staff felt very special and having it at this
time allowed every to enjoy the day without the spectre of report cards hanging over their heads!! Thank you also to Steve and the Evo
gang for donating coffee vouchers. We appreciate the support and generosity.
SCHOOL FACILITIES UPDATE
Next week work will begin on the addition of a lift to allow access to the second level of our senior school. Over the holidays
adjustments were made to doorways to ensure the buildings were wheel chair accessible as well. This work should be finished by
February next year. The addition of a ramp from Park Road is dependent on costs.
Debbie Spanner, Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Carla Walker, Deputy Principal, [email protected]
Camping with Dad
The energy and excitement on the school oval from 1.00pm Saturday was contagious. A sea of tents had visitors to Yeronga Park
wondering what was happening at YSS.
Two hundred members of the school community spent the weekend camping at our annual “Camping with Dad” event.
Chappy Jennifer has run the event for a few years now with the help of David and Evelyn Heape and once again organised some fun
games for the afternoon as well as dinner and breakfast.
This year we had the support of a local scout group who had a “campfire” activity after dinner to provide some entertainment.
Thank you to Chappy Jennifer for organising the event, to the LCC committee members who came along to help with the food, to the
Dads who helped with the BBQ and all those who helped in any other way to make this a very special school community event.
Orientation Morning – 11 November
New enrolees for Prep 2016 will be attending our Orientation Morning on 11 November.
Invitations and information will be emailed to parents prior to the day.
Preps for 2016 will spend time in the Prep classrooms from 9.00am to 10.30am.
We look forward to welcoming the new members of our school community.
Health and safety
Even though we have moved into the warmer months there still seems to be a number of
viruses and illnesses around. I would just like to remind everyone to please keep everyone safe
by covering coughs and regularly washing your hands.
Child shaped cut outs
What a delight the child shaped cut outs are on the fencing on the corner of School and Park Roads. They certainly get the attention of
those passing by which was the intention. Slow down, children work and play here. Congratulations to the parent group who
coordinated this initiative and to Mrs Cowie and the teachers for coordinating the painting and the students who created them.
There are still about 100 cut outs to be done to continue the theme along the fence to the tennis courts and these will be completed
later this term by our older students. Watch out for these in the weeks to come.
Carla Walker, Deputy Principal
MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Jayne Plumridge, Music & Technology Specialist
Music News – Instrumental Recruitment
Recruitment for both the strings (year 2) and Band (year 3) will be completed by week 8. Year 2 have played string instruments and
learned about the other instruments in Concert Band. They will not get to play if choosing strings. Candidates will be seen by
Mrs Tamsyn Eastgate in week 5.
Year 3 will finish recorder assessment in week 5, play all the instruments and make a choice of two in week 6 and see Mr Bevan
Messenger in week 7.
This year we are taking 12-14 string players and approximately 24 band players.
All year 2 and 3 families were emailed an information brochure last week and have been invited to nominate their child via email to
[email protected]
Combined Choir
All three choirs are gearing up to perform together as a massed choir at the YMCA Music Awards Night on 27 November. We will try to
get together at the end of assembly time when assemblies finish before 2.45pm. Stella Voce and Cosmio singers are also invited to attend the last 15 minutes of Piccoli rehearsal in weeks 5, 6 and 7 if they are at school at 8.15am. Piccoli students rehearse in the Hall
and are very keen to show older choristers their fabulous skills. Further information will be emailed home to these groups.
Jayne Plumridge, Music and I.T.
YEAR 3 SCOOTER SKILLS TRAINING
As part of Brisbane City Council’s Active School Travel program, Year 3 students participated in a Scooter Skills Training session on
Monday 12/10/15.
Students learned the basic scootering skills and knowledge needed to ride a scooter safely and confidently. They completed the 60
minute session led by trainers and participated in safety checks of helmets, wheels and handles; scooter control, signalling and riding
manoeuvres; safely crossing intersections and the road; and footpath etiquette.
Scooter licenses were earned and a fun time was had by all!
FROM THE RESOURCE CENTRE
Deborah Cowie, [email protected] and Miss Louise Vaggs
Minecraft Monday
Year 4 you are invited to attend Minecraft Monday in the library next week first break. This session will allow you to explore minecraft
with others who share your passion. Places are limited so please book by writing your name on the booking sheet on the D block door.
Book Fair
Book Fair starts Tuesday 17 November and wish lists and booklets went out this week. Have a look at what you might like and be ready
for book fair to begin.
Superhero Displays
We have superhero displays around the library last week and this week showcasing some of our new arrivals, come in and find your
own super book to read.
Faith Hage, Acting Teacher Librarian.
YEAR 3 EXCURSION – MT COOT-THA BOTANICAL GARDENS
On Tuesday 20 October, Year 3 visited the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha as part of their learning this semester. Students used
directions and map reading skills to locate and investigate the Children’s Hide and Seek Trail. They participated in Lessons in the
Gardens with education officers and visited the Exotic Rainforest, Japanese Gardens and Arid Zones. Students explored the features of
these climate types and the needs of people who live in these climates. They also made links to aspects of the Japanese culture as
studied in Kumiko and the Dragon and to the valuing of the environment as studied in The Lorax. Poetry writing and sketching were an
added highlight. Thank you to all teacher aides and parent helpers. A great day was had by all!
Year 3 Teachers
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Cameron Bateman, P.E. Specialist, [email protected]
SWIMMING LESSONS
Swimming has commenced for term 4. Lessons are being held in the time slots advertised in the swimming letter. Please remember to
refer to the list on the permission note so that your children have everything they need for all of these lessons.
SWIMMING CARNIVALS
From the first week or swimming lessons, preparations began for these very important events on the Yeronga State School calendar.
Students should be thinking, from the commencement of lessons, exactly which events they would like to swim in this year as once the
program is written there will be very little time for changes. Students must be timed for any events in which they wish to swim the 50
metres.
The Senior Carnival is scheduled for 17 November and the Junior Carnival for 24 November.
Although these dates sound distant they are drawing nearer.
In view of this I would again like to formally ask for helpers for the day.
I have been blessed, over the years, with fantastically skilled helpers like Kristen Jennings, Peta Nipper and Ruth Bennett to name but a
few. Luckily these helpers are with us for a good deal longer, but it would be lovely to have others to help shoulder the burden. It
would also be great to have more parents to come along this year to learn from these people and to make light work of the carnival in
future years.
The Yeronga State School Senior Swimming Carnival (The Swimming Carnival)
On Tuesday 17 November 2015 the Senior Swimming Carnival will take place. If you are able, please take the time to attend.
There will be an area of shade set aside for spectators. For those who like to take a more active interest in sport there are still
vacancies in the ranks of our officials. Please contact the school office, Mr Bateman or Mrs Spanner if you are able to officiate—phone
3426 0333.
What follows is a nuts and bolts guide to the day and the competition itself for the children and their parents.
THE COMPETITION
Please advise and remind children of their age for the carnival.
i.e. the age they turned or will turn this year e.g. 2003 – 12 years.
Children cannot compete in the same 50m and 25m event.
e.g. 50m and 25m freestyle - not permitted; 50m and 25m in different strokes - permitted.
50m events will be swum from the deep end to the shallow.
25m events will be swum in the 25m pool.
25m swimmers will slide in before the starter commences, hold the end of the pool and then push off when the whistle goes.
They must leave the pool immediately upon finishing their race and then wait on the deck in front of their lane for the judges.
Trophies for Championships are the 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 years boys and girls age championships, Champion House and the
Yeronga Gift.
Age Championships are earned by the most successful swimmer over Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly.
The Yeronga Gift is an open freestyle event for boys and girls who swim the eight fastest times in the 50m Freestyle.
Relays - There will be one relay (6 x 50m freestyle) event for girls and one for boys made up of a swimmer from each age group
(9, 10, 11 and 12). Team members may swim in any order.
1 point will be awarded to each swimmer who participates in the heats.
2 points will be awarded to each swimmer who participates in the finals (50m events only).
This meet is a Carnival event for 2015.
Our school swimmers are eligible for the District Meet in 2016 and will be chosen for this on times.
THE LOGISTICS
1. We will need assistance to set up at Yeronga Park Swimming Pool from 7.30am and also with officiating from 9:00am. If you can
help with either of these tasks it would be much appreciated.
2. Children must wear togs under their uniform to school.
3. Children must bring a towel, underclothes, drink, morning tea and lunch in a swimming bag. The canteen will be selling to the
children, but for those competing, a packed lunch would be more convenient.
4. Children should be ready for departure to Yeronga Swimming Pool at 8.40am. First events to be marshalled at 9.00am. All children
of the correct age will attend.
5. On arrival at the pool, report to house area and remove uniform.
6. All children participating in a 50m event will be called to the marshalling area at the school end of the 50m pool, and then be
divided into their heats. When their time comes all children participating in a 25m stroke or kickboard event will be called to the
marshalling area at the kiosk end of the 25m pool, and then be divided into their heats.
7. Finals will not be conducted for any events with places being decided by the fastest times.
8. There will be a 45 minute lunch break following the Yeronga Gift.
9. Teachers will commence returning children to school following the Presentation. If you wish to take your child home earlier, please
inform your child's teacher.
10. Awards will be presented after the conclusion of the last events.
Winners of 50m events; Championship trophies for girls and boys aged 8, 9,10,11 and 12 ; Winning House; Yeronga Gift.
11. There are no individualised ribbons for 25m events. There are no finals for any events.
12. The event order will be 50m Freestyle Events, Breaststroke Events, Yeronga Swimming Gift: (Boys/Girls Open Freestyle Race
(eight fastest times swum in 50m heats for boys and girls)) , Backstroke Events, Relay, Butterfly Events, 25m Freestyle Events,
Kickboard on front, Breaststroke Events, Kickboard on back, Backstroke Events, Butterfly Events and Presentation.
Cameron Bateman, PE
CHAPPY NEWS
Jennifer Bennett, School Chaplain, [email protected]
Camp at School with Dad…
Thank you to so many families who came to camp and made it such a great success and lots of fun again this year. With 100 Dads
attending with 150 children, the camp was moved to the top oval after 5 years of being on the Junior School oval. Another first was a
fantastic campfire managed by the Kurilpa Scouts.
As a primary school Chaplain, I look for opportunities to encourage families to be engaged with their children. Camp each year gives
such an occasion for Dads to spend time with their children. As I walked around the camp site, it was wonderful to see Dads and their
kids setting up their sites, eating their meals together, having fun making paper planes, kicking balls, as well as doing some of the silly
activities I organised like painting their faces and nails in their team colours.
If you check out the website www.kidsmatter.edu.au you can see how children benefit when they connect with their Dads.
It recommends some important ways that fathers connect with their children through:
 Engagement – direct contact with the children
 Accessibility – being available to their children even when they are not in physical contact
 Responsibility – taking a role in looking out for their children’s care and welfare.
Dads who are involved with their children also experience greater well-being and satisfaction with their lives, marital stability and
relationship happiness.
Coming Up…
1 December : Volunteer’s Afternoon Tea
Please note there are no more Chappy Pancakes for 2015!
Blessings, Chappy Jenny
SCHOOL BANKING
SCHOOL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
14.10.2015: 76 Bankers
Junior Banker : Harry Langton (P5)
Senior Banker : Emma Christando (4MN)
Date :
Events :
22.10.2015: 85 Bankers
Junior Banker : Tobias Lichtwark (P3)
Senior Banker : Ruby Wakim (5M)
Our volunteer mothers work
every Thursday to vend
deposits and we thank them
for their time.
Sunday, 8th November 2015
Prep-Grade 2
8:00am - 10:00am
Grades 3-5
10:30am - 12:30pm
Grades 6-7
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Venue : YSS Tennis Courts Entry fee $20.00
Enter online : www.rise.com.au
or email [email protected]
Entries close : Tuesday 3 November
::: PRIZES ::: SAUSAGE SIZZLE :::TROPHIES :::
PARENTS AND CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
[email protected]
EARN & LEARN PROMOTION: Thank you to all of those families and members of the school community that collected the Earn &
Learn points from Woolworths. We raised 35,400 points – more than double what was earned in previous years. These points will
purchase sporting and play equipment that can be used by all students at lunch times. Keep an eye out for the new equipment early in
2016.
SENIOR SHIRTS 2016: Completed forms for ordering the 2016 senior shirt must be returned by Friday 6 November. Shirts will be
delivered to Year 6’s in Week 1 Term 1 2016. Currently, Year 5 teachers have samples so students can try on for size. After this week,
sample shirts will be available from the Uniform Shop. Yvonne Starr, Uniform Shop Co-Ordinator, has asked that all forms are checked
and re-checked for names and sizes before being submitted. Once the order is processed there will be no changes.
PREP ORIENTATION DAY: Wednesday 11 November is the Orientation Day for our new prep families beginning in 2016. This is a
very busy day for the Uniform Shop and any volunteers that could give a couple of hours help from 10.00am would be gratefully
appreciated. Please email Yvonne Starr [email protected] or pop in to the Uniform Shop.
NEW SPORT SHIRTS: The new design sport shirts will be available for pre-order from Wednesday 11 November. Parents are
encouraged to visit the Uniform Shop and look at the sizes as the new shirts are a bigger cut than the current yellow shirts.
UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS: Monday 2.30pm – 3.30pm and Thursday 8.30am – 9.30am.
INTERNATIONAL TEACHER’S DAY: A very big thank you to all families who donated wine, food and money to the afternoon tea to
celebrate our wonderful teachers and the superb job they do for our children every day. A super big thank you to Steve from Evo
Espresso 100 School Road www.evoespresso.com.au who donated $200 towards coffee vouchers. Steve is always willing to help with
school events and his generosity and support is very much appreciated.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Australian Girls Choir Open Day
Congratulations to girls in Grade 1 and above who recently took part in the AGC assessment workshop at school. By now you should
have received your personalised assessment report either posted to your home or via your school, Girls in Prep will be receiving an
information flyer about the AGC Open Day and we hope that you will be able to join us! Everyone is welcome to come along to the
Open Day on Sunday October 25, which will give girls the opportunity to try a complimentary class and attend an information session.
Phone 3256 0207 for more information or visit www.aspagroup.com.au
ACTive Children’s Club (after school club)
Brazil Grumble is running a fantastic series of FREE workshops as part of the Active Parks program with Brisbane City Council to be
held in Yeronga Memorial Park. The program is running every Friday from 16 October to 4 December 2015, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
Bookings are essential : www.bazilgrumble.com.au
Kurilpa Scouts
Thank you for letting us host the fire at your “Camp with Dad” day! If you are interested in learning more about Kurilpa Scouts, please
see the information below and contact the Group Leader at [email protected]. We are right next door to Yeronga State School,
on the corner of Park Rd and Villa St., Yeronga.
Sections within Kurilpa Scout Group:
Section
Youth Age Group
Meeting Times
Leader name(Scout name)
Joey’s
6 - 8 year olds
Wed 5:30 – 6:30
Andrea Marklew (Ikki)
Cub’s
7.5-11 year olds
Wed 6:30 – 8:00
Josh D’Arcy (Akru)
Scout’s
10.5-14.5 year olds
Mon 6.15 - 8.15
Nick Lawrence (Biloela)
Venturer’s 14.5 to 18 year olds Mon 6.15 - 8.15
Damien Broderick
Group leader
Julie Segal(Rikki Tikki Tavi)
Grandparents’ Day : Sunday 25 October
Department of Communities celebrates Grandparents Day—This special day is a wonderful opportunity for grandchildren to thank their
grandparents for their endless love and support. Visit our website for more information : [email protected]
WORLD EDUCATION PROGRAM (WEP) Australia
Bring the world to you and host an Italian exchange student in 2016! Phone 1300 884 733 Email [email protected] Web
www.wep.org.au/host/