Dear Yarrabing Families,

As we move into the crisp, spring days of November, I want to take a moment to reflect on how much we’ve accomplished together so far this school year and share some exciting things to look forward to in the weeks ahead.

A Strong Start to the foundation of Yarrabing Secondary College

It has been a wonderful start to the foundation of our school. Our students have settled into their secondary school routines, and it’s been inspiring to see their curiosity, creativity, and determination in the classroom. Whether they’re exploring new ideas, challenging themselves with academic goals, or building strong relationships with peers, it’s clear that our school community is thriving.

I’m especially proud of how our teachers have worked collaboratively to implement engaging and rigorous lessons that keep our students motivated and excited about learning. As we enter the tenth month of the school year, we encourage all our families to stay involved and connected with teachers to continue supporting your child’s growth.

Upcoming Events

Term 4 is always a term full of activities that bring our community together.

Here are a few events to mark on your calendar:

End of Year Celebrations

Research is very clear as to the importance of celebrating success in everything that we do in life. In schools, and at in new schools in particular, it is critically important that we celebrate and recognize the outstanding things that students accomplish, both inside and outside of the College. The recognition of students’ success foster strong relationships among students, families, the college, and the community and creates a positive school culture where students feel valued. We as a school intend to continue to add further new events to our program that demonstrate the multitude of talents that our students have as we grow.

Our Yarrabing SC Awards Ceremony afternoon is planned for 13 December 2024 in the college’s Theatrette in the Community Hub Building. I am hoping that this Awards Ceremony will become a very important celebratory event in the future.

Student Activities and Wellbeing Program during the last week of term

During the last week of school this year, the college will be running a three day Activities and Wellbeing Program where all Year 7 students will have the opportunity to participate in a range of recreational and wellbeing activities.

This will be a great way to end the year participating in fun activities that will be cost free. Students will be choosing their activities for each day from a list of onsite offerings that will consist of both passive and active activities. I know from many years of running such a program that many of our students value it enormously.

Focus on Wellbeing

As we move into the warmer months, it’s important to remember the significance of social emotional wellbeing. As a school we continue to focus on developing student mindfulness and resilience, both of which are essential for academic and personal success. We encourage students to take time to reflect, practice self-care, and reach out for support when needed. We also intend to be providing resources for families on how to support mental health and well-being at home through our newsletters and website.

Additionally, our school counsellor, Peri Georgakakis can be contacted if parents want information on how to build resilience in children, as well as how to manage stress and anxiety.

Thank You for Your Continued Support

Thank you for your ongoing support in making Yarrabing Secondary College a positive, safe, and enriching place for our students. Whether you’re volunteering, attending school events, or helping your child at home, your involvement is crucial in creating the best possible learning environment.

As we look ahead, I am excited to see what the rest of our Foundation year holds for us. Let’s continue to work together to make this school year, our first year, a memorable and successful one for all of our students.

John Mitsinikos

College Principal

Arts

Bronwyn Turnbull - Curriculum Leader