Term 1

Monday 2^nd – 4^th March- MTB Thredbo

Monday 9^th March-  Labour Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 18^th  March – Regional Swimming Sports Wangaratta

Thursday 19^th March- BMX Bike Show

Friday 20^th March- Folk Festival Parade 6pm

Saturday 21^st March – Community Dinner (Memorial Gardens)

Sunday 22^nd March – Folk Festival Market

Wednesday 1^st April – House Cross Country

Thursday 2^nd April -  Cross Country – Back Up Day

Thursday 2^nd April – Last Day of Term 1

Friday 3^rd April- Good Friday Public Holiday

Term 2

Monday 20^th April – First Day of Term 2

Wednesday 29^th April- Smile Squad

Thursday 30^th April – Smile Squad

Wednesday 6^th May – School Photos

Thursday 14^th May- Incursion (Science of Snot)

Wednesday 10^th  to Friday 12^th June – 5/6 Camp

Friday 12^th June-  Regional Cross Country

School Council

Nominations have now closed for School Council. The number of nominations received matches the number of available positions; therefore, an election will not be required this year.

On behalf of the school community, I would like to sincerely thank our councillors who are completing their term in March: Orrin Pritchard, Kate Stagg, Janine Lerch and Ainsley Jones. We greatly appreciate the knowledge, time and commitment you have given to supporting school initiatives and improvements. Thank you for your valued contribution to our school community.

I would also like to introduce our School Councillors who will commence and/or continue their roles following our meeting in March: Matt Flower, Sophie Dewar, John Costenaro, Sarah Caplice, Andrew Davison, Bernie Wilson, Hayley Gosling, Ewan Kelly, Angie Vincent and Sarah McAlister. Michael and I look forward to working with you over the coming months.

NAPLAN

Our Year 3 and 5 students participated in a practice NAPLAN session yesterday to familiarise themselves with the online testing format and ensure devices are ready for testing to commence on March 11. Earle and Brendan led both groups and were impressed with the students’ ‘can do’ attitude and persistence throughout the session.

Providing students with a practice session allows them to become familiar with the structure of NAPLAN and helps to reduce some anxiety surrounding the assessment. At Yackandandah Primary, we view NAPLAN as just one source of learning data that assists us in tracking trends over time; however, it is the minute-to-minute, day-to-day learning across the entire year that truly matters.

Above all, we encourage our students to simply do their best.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Stace Hogan
Acting Principal

This week:  Claudia Grech and Thomas Killen

Next Week: Grace Pritchard and Felix Anderson

Congratulations to all our award recipients.

WE ARE FAIR

Tom Murphy - for always being ready for learning, always applauding others’ achievements, and always giving things his best effort.

WE ARE LEARNERS

Halle Smith-Deans - for demonstrating sustained effort in all areas of learning and always being ready to learn.

Mia Bebbington - for really bringing her ‘A Game’ to our reading fluency – your reading voice is top-notch!

Olivia Fewster – for her outstanding participation and enthusiastic approach to learning new skills during this week’s lacrosse lesson. Your positive attitude and willingness to challenge yourself were fantastic to see!

Will Hutchings – for his incredible energy and consistent effort throughout this week’s lacrosse lesson. Your determination and effort clearly stood out!

Cody Ellingham - for organising his recording in mathematics challenges in such a way to assist in identifying patterns.

Savannah Lockett - for demonstrating the value of learning by applying herself diligently to every task and persevering until she fully understands and achieves her goals.

Joshua Ditton – for working really hard to learn new sounds, letters and numbers.

Hudson Lefoe-Daniels - for having a red hot go at all of our classroom activities. 

Frankie Edwards - for showing so much growth in your confidence since settling into school.

Grace Gadd - for striving to learn by listening effectively on the floor and putting 100% into class activities.

WE SHOW RESPECT

Dash Lockett - for demonstrating active listening in all classes and contributing to a calm and quiet classroom.

Amber Wallace - for bringing a calm focus to her learning and ensuring her best efforts are applied to every task.

Hugo Dickeson - for demonstrating the value of respect by treating everyone with kindness, including others in all activities, and consistently showing consideration and care to every member of our class community.

Hazel Perry – for following classroom rules, trying her best, sharing ideas and helping others.

Noah Bulman - beginning Foundation with a focused and respectful approach to learning. Well done, Noah!

Smile Squad six-month fluoride varnish visit

The Smile Squad team are heading back to our school to complete six-monthly fluoride varnish applications for those students who have provided consent. Fluoride varnish applications help make sure students have the best chance of preventing tooth decay, so we’re excited Smile Squad are coming back.

Visit dates are:

Wednesday 29^th April and Thursday 30^th April 2026.

Consent for this fluoride varnish application was provided when students’ initial consent forms were returned. However, if anyone has changed their mind and do not wish to receive a fluoride varnish application, they can contact us directly to let them know. Please contact the Smile Squad team via:

Phone:02 6051 7398
Email: smilesquad@awh.org.au

The Smile Squad team look forward to visiting soon.

This week's Hot Lunch was BLT/MLT Rolls.     

Many thanks to Tash for taking over as kitchen lead for the day, to parent volunteers Lisa, Stacey and Jayne, and the student helpers for this week, Sara and Felix. 

Last week Zac D and Taidgh did an amazing job at Hot Lunch, thanks boys!

It's fabulous to have lots of new faces in the kitchen this term. Many hands make for a fun and easy roster :)

Our Art Room has been buzzing with colour and creativity as students prepare for the upcoming Folk Festival Parade! Inspired by Mary Blair’s Unique Fair, these vibrant artworks are now proudly up on the walls in the Art Room. Students have explored bold colours, imaginative designs and playful patterns to create pieces full of joy and festival spirit. Be sure to stop by and take a look!

Folk Festival Fairytales inspired by 'Mary Blair's Unique Flair!'
The Yackandandah Folk Festival Street Parade will be on Friday 20^th March at 6pm, students are to assemble on the High Street, opposite the school oval, prior to the parade from 5:45pm onwards.

Students can dress up as any fairytale character they like - think of all those fantastic book character costumes from years past that might be suitable - or students in Year 2/3, Year 3/4 and Year 5/6, have the option of wearing their Mary Blair designed t-shirt that we are printing in the art room.

Free face painting will be available, for all kids marching in the parade, at the Rotunda in the Memorial Gardens from 3:30pm.

Thanks Caz

Yackandandah Folk Festival 2026: Friday 20^th March until Sunday 22^nd March.

Hoping you are all getting excited about the Festival and YPS Sunday Market!

Road closure information:

3pm Friday: High Street will be closed between Wellsford and William Street.

4.30pm Friday until 6pm Sunday: High Street from Bells Flat Road to Williams Street.

6am Sunday until 6pm Sunday: Wellsford Street: Hammond Street to Windham Street. (YPS Market)
Please assist our wonderful Festival and School volunteers who are setting up these streets by not leaving your vehicles in High Street on Friday or Wellsford Street on Saturnday night.

Community Dinner & Sunday Market – Volunteers Needed

Our Folk Festival weekend is fast approaching, with the Festival Dinner at the Memorial Gardens on Saturday night  the 21^st March and the Sunday Market on the 22^nd March to follow. These events are a major fundraiser for our school and we’re seeking volunteers.

If you’re available to lend a hand, please complete the Google Form via the link provided below to let us know when you can help.

https://forms.gle/djMKzLr5SwimD3Kw7

Division Swimming Carnival, Wodonga

Good luck to the 29 students who are competing at the Division Swimming Carnival today in Wodonga. The event will begin at 10:00am and finish around 2:00pm. Brendan and Robyn W will be supervising the event.

For those who make it through to the Regional Swimming Carnival, the event will take place on Wednesday 18^th March in Wangaratta. Your child will receive more detailed information of this event today at Division.

MTB Interschools (Mountain Biking)

Next week from Monday to Wednesday we have some students representing our school in the MTB Interschools event at Thredbo.

There are different events that competitors can register for, including:

• Rockshox Downhill
• Fox Flow
• Specialized All-Mountain
• Maxxis Pump Track

Good luck to Ewan McInerney, Zack and Hugo Dickeson, Hughie Vorbach, Georgia Dowsley, Frey Holden, Cobie Flower and other students that may have registered that I’m unaware of. I hope you all manage to stay upright on your bike and have a blast on the tracks! We look forward to hearing all about it upon your return.

27^th February        Kinu

28^th February        Dylan

1^st March               Hush

4^th March               Henrietta