Friday 21^st February – Division Swimming Sports

Wednesday 26th February – No school for Foundation students

Wednesday 5^th March – Regional Swimming Sports

Monday 10^th March – Labour Day Public Holiday

Friday 21^st March – MTB – Falls Creek

Thursday 27^th March – School Cross Country 

Friday 28^th March – School Cross Country (Back up day)

Friday 4^th April – Last day of Term 1

Monday 21^st April – Easter Monday Public Holiday

Tuesday 22^nd April – First day of Term 2

Friday 25^th April – Anzac Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 7^th May – School Photos

Friday 30^th May – Division Cross Country

Friday 13^th June – Regional Cross Country, Benalla

Nominations have closed for school council. There were four positions open and we received four nominations. This means the four who nominated are automatically elected. I would like to thank all school council for their service on behalf of the school community. Thanks to Chris Summons who will retire from School Council this year. Chris has provided valuable advice, particularly relating to building management. He has also given significant time and expertise in working bees and related areas. Most recently Chris gave up a Saturday to install new basketball backboards at school Thanks Chris! The elected school councillors, who will commence their new term in March, are John Costenaro, Matt Flower, Sarah Crispin and Janine Lerch.

We have been updating our child safety policies. The policies are largely generated by the Department of Education with some leeway for local variation. The updated policies are located on our website HERE. Your feedback on policies is always welcome.

Please remember that we do not send out statements for the school contributions (formerly called school fees) as this is what the Department of Education expects. If you are unsure what the contributions are, the document outlining the contributions for each year level “2025 Parent Payments” is HERE.

Our school is located in a high-risk bushfire area. Part of the Department of Education’s strategy to reduce the risk is to check potential fire risks at schools. Following the most recent check, there were some risks identified at our school. In particular, vegetation close to the school building. As a result, contractors have been engaged by the Department to remove the shrubs in front of the Art Room (old building facing High St).

Michael Edwards

Principal

Medication and Management Plans
An email was sent out in January about the medication held at the school for students. This is to ensure that we have the most current information and that all Management Plans / medications are up to date. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work together to ensure your child’s well-being at school. New Asthma Management plans will be sent home today.Should you have any questions feel free to contact the office.

Grade 6 Shirts
The Grade 6 shirts are expected to arrive next week. We are asking families that have not yet paid, please pay the amount owing so your child will be able to receive their shirts as soon as they arrive. You can use the school saving bonus for these, please let the office know.

Have a great weekend!

 Kerryn & Sandra

This week’s helpers are Freya Vorbach and Spencer Dowsley

Next weeks helpers are Will Maybury and Billie McInerney 

WE ARE FAIR

Hallie Dowdle for always taking turns when working with a partner and also being a great support to your classmates with learning new things!
Indi Stagg For demonstrating the value of fairness by modelling active listening and turn taking in class maths games. What a fantastic classmate!
Neve Allan for demonstrating the Value of Fairness by displaying initiative to work with your peers and carefully explaining our fluency task.
Essie Haslett for offering to help others learn some new technology tricks. Thanks Essie.
Pippa Graham: being a team player, working hard and encouraging others in group tasks. You're a natural leader, Pippa!

WE ARE LEARNERS

Lillian Pretty For demonstrating the value of learning by listening carefully to instructions and maintaining focus to complete activities. Amazing work Lillian!
Harvey Thornton For working hard and persevering to improve his reading skills independently.
Marley Flower – For focused transitions and a growth mindset when completing learning tasks
Dara Freeman for consistently displaying impressive work habits and social interactions.
Amber Wallace for identifying important features about her recorded maths data. 
Georgia Dowsley for demonstrating the Value of Learning by creating your own organised and systematic approach to finding the multiple ways 4-digit numbers can be renamed.
Will Black For creating some wonderfully artful sentences in writing, gaining confidence in sharing his answers and writing in class. 
Taidhg James Hillier for demonstrating the Value of Learning by: consistently applying a strong effort to writing tasks to ensure his drafts are clear and include the focus for the lesson
Jake Blair: always displaying excellent work habits, such as being organised, neat book work & listening to instructions.

WE SHOW RESPECT

Casey Cooper for completing your class job-being in charge of the Hydration Station so well and getting so good at our morning routine!
Josie Neumeyer- always taking the time to carefully put away, organise and tidy the class resources.
Billie McInerney For always being a respectful classmate and allowing others to learn. For always having a go at all class learning activities with a positive attitude. 
Maeve Van Duinen for demonstrating the Value of Respect by: treating others with kindness and consideration, and displaying genuine attentiveness when listening to her peers and teacher

At Yackandandah Primary School, as part of our tiered model of support, we run an SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) program. In SEL, students learn about themselves, how they can respectfully interact with others, coping strategies and regulation skills for when things aren’t going to plan, as well as learning, celebrating and accepting difference. You’ll often hear me talk about this being the ‘good stuff’. This learning is crucial to children’s development and really brings a strong sense of identity and connectedness to school.  When there is a learning happening in this space, our school has a culture of inclusion and acceptance.

This week, I went along to a professional development day in Wangaratta to learn more about the program, Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships. The program is endorsed by the Department of Education and provides a suite of lessons in the SEL space. It was great to learn about ways we can continue to use this program in our school and promote respectful relationships. Over the past few weeks, classroom teachers have been talking about our school values with the children and the importance of everyone doing their best to follow these 3 guiding ways. You might like to ask your child what the school values are and get them to share with you what they mean and how they look within our school.

We Show Respect
We are Fair
We are Learners

Have a lovely weekend.
Stacey Hogan
Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader      

News from the Art Room

The theme for the 2025 Folk Festival Street Parade will be all things BLUE and BLUES MUSIC related, so the Art room is gearing up to become a BLUE clothing Op Shop!!
We will be designing and dreaming up COOL BLUE themed costumes and making BLUES MUSIC related instruments! We would love to achieve a colour coordinated look to the parade this year, by having the colour BLUE as the dominant visual. Of course, blue can be paired up with other colours and patterns too. 

We would love families to start collecting blue, blue with colourful patterns and blue denim clothing to donate to the Art room Op Shop. We will be de-constructing and re-combining clothing to make fashionable BLUE wearable artworks. If the garment is for sharing and cutting up, there's no need to name them, however, if your child wants to wear that particular item of clothing in the parade, please clearly label and name it, including your child's class. Here are some wearable artworks that Mandy has been working on over the holidays. Clothing destined for de-construction can be of any size and shape!!

Next week's Hot Lunch will be Fried Rice, yummo!

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered so far, it's been a great start to the term. Please remember to give a copy of your Working with Children Check to the office prior to your volunteer shift, and keep an eye on your email and messenger accounts for any reminders.

We have 2 volunteer shifts left to fill for the term. Please reach out if you are able to help :)

Hannah Glanville-Jones
YPS Hot Lunch Coordinator
ypshotlunch@gmail.com

Hello Families,
We have now opened bookings for the April school holiday!
Dates are Week 1: 7^th – 11^th April, Week 2: 14^th- 16^th April.
Please note that OSHC will not be running the Thursday 17^th April (due to staff shortage) and The Friday 18^th April (Good Friday). I have already sent out emails to families who use our service.

Holiday Program is below. We are capping numbers for educator: child ratio, so please book in early to ensure your child's spot. 

23^rd February        James Wall  
27^th February        Kinu Edwardes
28^th February        Dylan Hewitt  

Yackandandah Soccer Club
Expressions of Interest for miniroos Saturday competition 2025.

With the soccer season (4 - 12 year olds) just around the corner we are calling out for expressions of interests for miniroos!

The season starts on Friday May 2, with Friday night trainings from 4.30pm, not including public or school holidays and the miniroos competition is on Saturday's in Wodonga.

Please check our Facebook page for more information and details - Yackandandah FC (not Yackandandah Netball Football Club) or email us at yack_fc@outlook.com

We are looking forward to another wonderful year.

AUSKICK - Yackandandah

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has 100,000 temporary jobs available across Australia at the next election.
Although the date for the election is yet to be announced, we need to ensure we have the temporary workforce to run the event.
There are jobs available before, on and after election day in metro, regional and remote areas.
We are seeking your help to spread the word about these jobs. All jobs are paid, no experience is required and training is provided.

To help spread the word there are promotional resources that you can:

• share on social media
• add to newsletters and websites
• print and display

Please read our ‘Users Guide’ before using these promotional resources.
If you or anyone you know are interested in applying, please visit aec.gov.au/electionjobs

Cathy | Office Assistant

Division of Indi | VIC Divisional Offices
Australian Electoral Commission
T: (03) 8584 1503

Children’s Choir

Yackandandah Folk Festival Community Choir

Do you like to sing?
We would love you to join us each Sunday afternoon in February and March to sing with the Yackandandah Folk Festival Community Choir. There is both an adult and children’s choir who perform together at the Yackandandah Folk Festival on Sunday 23^rd March.

We have the wonderful Aaron Silver and Sarah Wallis leading the children’s choir again this year. It promises to be lots of fun and a gentle, supportive environment for all ages.

Where:                      Yackandandah Public Hall (36 High St, Yackandandah)

Rehearsal Dates:     Sundays - 2^nd Feb to 16^th March

Time:                          Children - 2-3pm
                                    Adults    - 2-4pm
Performance Date: Sunday 23^rd March (Yackandandah Public Hall at midday, which is a FREE concert).

DON’T WORRY IF YOU CANT MAKE THE FIRST REHEARSAL, YOU WILL CATCH UP QUICKLY.

Please contact Cheryl Graham – 0408 393 105 for more information.