Yarrilee State School From Mrs Campbell

At Yarrilee State School our motto “Learning is our Future” reflects our contemporary school that holds onto strong traditions and values. We develop each and every child to be literate, numerate and active, healthy, engaged citizens. As a large primary school in the Hervey Bay cluster, we offer quality innovative curriculum programs. Our extension, support & extra-curricula programs are aimed at supporting & engaging students at all levels. Some examples include Yarrilee Voices; Strings, Brass & Woodwind ensembles; Guitar group; Puzzlers Club; Girls in ICT’s; Robotics; Re-engage program; Opti Minds; Peer mentoring; Leadership Development; Hervey Bay Zone and Wide Bay Regional sports representation.
We have:-
• A strong focus on literacy & numeracy preparing today’s learners for their future.
• New curriculum units based on the Queensland Studies Authority’s Essential Learnings.
• The latest innovative technology to complement student learning.
• A strong focus on healthy eating, daily physical activity & excellence in all sports.
• Great facilities complete with a new music block & a fully equipped recording studio.
• Teams working and learning together across all stakeholders – staff, students & parents.
• Leadership developing across all ages.
• A committed staff who pursue excellence.
• High expectations.
• Engaged and positive students.
Yarrilee is a great school in a great location!

Welcome to 2009 From Mrs Campbell

My name is Mrs Ann Campbell and I am the new Principal (permanently appointed) to Yarrilee. I have been an Administrator in a number of schools of varying sizes over the past 14 years. I am originally from Brisbane and have spent the last 11 years in Central Queensland (Tieri/ Emerald) & Yeppoon (Cawarral / Taranganba). My relocation to Hervey Bay is one of choice as my husband & I wish to be closer to Brisbane to our only son and our families.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the staff for their warm welcome & for the support I have received over the past week as “the new kid on the block!” I look forward to individually meeting all students & parents in the near future. I have visited each class/ cohort & am extremely impressed by the pride that our students have in themselves, their school and their uniform. Thanks parents for preparing & organizing our students so well for their start to school. It really does make a difference having your support.

As Principal of Yarrilee State School, I feel immense pride in being part of a committed school community that constantly strives to make our school the great school that it is. We continue to grow in enrolments as we excel at providing quality public education in a safe & supportive environment.

We focus on our vision – Learning is our Future - developing each & every student to be literate, numerate & active, healthy, engaged citizens. As a large primary school in the Hervey Bay cluster of schools, we offer quality innovative curriculum programs across a range of classroom settings. Our extension, support & extra-curricula programs are aimed at supporting & engaging students at all levels. Some of these programs include the Yarrilee Voices; Middle/Senior & Junior Choirs; Reef Guardians and Healthy Schools projects; Leadership programs; Maryborough Technology Challenge and OPtiMinds; Instrumental Music Program; & active participation in our Hervey Bay sports association.

Students work from integrated units of work that incorporate the Essential Learnings, recently developed by the Queensland
Studies Authority. These units have a strong focus on literacy & numeracy preparing today’s learners for their future. Our classrooms have networked computers, digital cameras, data projectors & laptops that students use to complement
their learning.

This year our school will implement the Smart Moves policy (an Education Queensland Initiative) aimed at healthy eating & daily physical activity to fully develop our students as active & healthy citizens. Our facilities continue to be enhanced with additional classrooms & a new music block to house classroom music & our instrumental music program. This block is also equipped with a recording studio. Our staff are committed to excellence & constantly engage in professional learning to ensure their planning & pedagogy meets the needs of today’s learners.

Yarrilee is a great school in a great location!

Welcome Back to a busy semester 2! From Judy Robinson - Principal

I extend a warm welcome to all our new families and welcome back to Yarrilee our returning families. I trust all have had a well earned break and are ready for what appears to be a very busy term 3.

My holidays were extremely busy with my family as we took in a lot of the icons of Sydney - Sydney Habour, Circular Quay, Taronga Park Zoo, the Monorail and of course the State of Origin and some theatre. Whilst is was rewarding it is always nice to be back home and into the routine of school.

This week will see our children particpate in the Interhouse Athletics Carnival - a fiercely contested event on the school calander. I wish all competitiors the best of luck and look forward to congratulating the winning house on Tuesday afternoon.
Our instrumental students will also have the opportunity this week to join with other schools to refine their learning and skills as they particiapte in the Bay State School, Brass,Woodwind and Percussion workshop. These students will be under the guidance of our instrumental music teachers. The workshops will be conducted at the City Musicians Hall with the final concert being on 28th July at the Baptist Hall.

This week also sees our second group of seniors undertaking Toast Masters. This is an extra curricula activity with student attending the course after school in their own time. We thank parents for their support of our students and recognise that public speaking needs practise. I look forward to your final presentations and your growth and confidence over the next few week.

I trust all familes will enjoy the week and know that we will see many children having the opportunity to excell in a range of activities this week. Good luck to you all.

Welcome back! From Anne Greiner - Deputy Principal

Welcome back for Term 3 to all of our Yarrilee families. I trust you had a most enjoyable time with your children while they had their mid year break. I certainly enjoyed some time to spend with my family and do some of the things I enjoy. I was reminded by one of my friends who I hadn’t seen for 12 months, how important it is to maintain those friendships we form in our younger years. A 14 year research project at Flinders University found that a network of good friends is most helpful in prolonging life among our ageing population.
It is great to think that some of the friendships that your children are forming in their primary years will be maintained and enhanced throughout their lives. So many virtues like trust, honesty and cooperation can be developed through these very important childhood friendships. Some time to just play with their friends is so important!
I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Yarrilee families. We look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure positive outcomes for your children.

Long Service Leave From Bob Hodge - Principal

I am on Long Service Leave for Terms 3 and 4 so this will be my last blog entry for the year. I am visiting Los Angeles for my son’s wedding so life is pretty exciting!

I know the school has been left in good hands with Anne Greiner as Deputy Principal and Judy Robinson as Acting Principal during my absence.

I look forward to catching up with everybody later in the year.

The Mighty Maroons!! From Bob Hodge - Principal

It’s so good to be a Queenslander!!!!

Disco From Bob Hodge - Principal

Friday night was great - “Get down, Gerry Brown”, the DJ from The Sunshine Coast, had everybody jumping. Where else can you have so much fun for $2.00?

Under 8s Day at Yarrilee! From Anne Greiner - Deputy Principal

Last Thursday 24 May, our Early Learners and Junior School celebrated  how great it was to be under 8  with a fantastic array of activities. Students, parents and staff spent the morning painting, making music, dancing, drawing, making kites and face painting to name a few. A special thank you to the staff who put a lot of time and effort into their various activities and to the Senior School students who assisted. There were some tired but happy little people at the end of the day.

Football and School Results! From Bob Hodge - Principal

Wasn’t that State of Origin football great - as a proud Queenslander, I have to say that! Our school’s rugby league team also had a big win this week in the NRL Development Cup so the Qld team were only copying us. Like most Queenslanders, I was pretty despondent at half time when the Blues were 18-6 up, but persistence paid off for the home team in the end.

It’s a bit like that with school results. There are plenty of talented students around who don’t give 100%. Those students who work hard and practise persistence will do better in the end - just like the Mighty Maroons! 

Yarrilee Voices From Bob Hodge - Principal

Another “Gold”!!  There’s no stopping Yarrilee Voices, our auditioned choir. Mrs Rostedt has the magic touch, I think. Congratulations to the students who took out the gold “gong” in yesterday’s Choral Fanfest heats. We’re all very proud of you.