Principal Message

Welcome back everyone to another exciting and busy year ahead for students, staff and families in our wonderful community. The school year has started really well and I am pleased to communicate the great start that students have made in class by engaging in curriculum and following the school rules in the playground.

Our school rules are an important reminder for students in both the classroom and the playgrounds. Please feel free to remind your child of these at home. 

• "I will be safe"
• "I will be kind"
• " I will be responsible"
• " I am here to learn"

Welcome Back School Picnic

We are so excited to welcome families back on-site for a community event for the first time in three years. Yarrabah welcomes you and your family for a picnic in the courtyard and junior playground on the 25th of March from 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm. This is a great chance to spend time with family and friends in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding.

We have booked food trucks for the night and light musical entertainment if you are in a rush to prepare a picnic.

COVID19 Update

As you are all aware, we have had some positive cases of COVI19ed report this year. All cases reported to school will continue to be publicised on Compass. Please continue to use the rapid antigen testing kits provided to each family to help keep your child and family safe during this time. A testing kit is available for each week your child attends. If you need a kit, make an enquiry with the office.

Yarrabah School has a well-considered and approved Covid19 Safety Plan. The school will continue to do everything we can to ensure your child is working in a safe environment, is happy coming to school and engaged in the learning tasks set. 

Staff News:

Details of staffing and their contacts will soon be found on the school website.

Student Behaviour:

My expectation of student behaviour is reflected in the school purpose statement. Yarrabah school will maximise student potential by providing an individualised safe learning environment that promotes active learning, encourages adventure, independence and self-esteem. 

I am placing increased focus on a positive and safe learning environment for all students. We have all returned to school and everyone deserves the chance to learn and work in a safe place. 

Students at Yarrabah are expected to maintain appropriate behaviours that are respectful, kind and supportive of their peers, staff and families. The staff use a framework of school wide positive behaviour support to assist children in achieving positive behaviour outcomes. The school will not accept bullying, swearing, violence towards others or property damage. In these circumstances, each family will be contacted by the principal and a meeting arranged to discuss the circumstances. I will personally attend or allocate a principal nominee to assess, plan, teach and evaluate behaviour plans for the purpose of supporting your child.

My expectations of staff to support positive behaviour is clear. Staff will always focus on the positives, the abilities and the achievements of students. There is no time or place for staff to focus on what a student canNOT do well. Staff will continue to provide students positive feedback and redirection towards behaviour that is prefered rather than non-desirable.

The Parentship

Becoming partners in the process of educating your child means staff can better understand the daily challenges of a parent and parents can better understand the wellbeing and support needs of staff to be the best they during education hours.

Through the newsletter, I will unpack the parentship and encourage your contribution through surveys, polls, special web events and onsite meetings.

To start, I'd like to invite interested parents or carers to join me to present to staff the challenges of raising a child with a disability. Working as a small team, we will look to develop a short presentation (45min) for staff. If you would like to volunteer, please let me know. The presentation will occur on our curriculum day (26th April).

Principal Award:

Each fortnight a student will have demonstrated amazing individual outcomes against one or more of our school rules and in their learning. 

This week the lower junior section and I would like to celebrate the achievements of Justin Lewis.

Justin has settled in beautifully to his new classroom and to school life. He has come to school ready to learn each morning and has engaged in classroom programs and routines. He particularly enjoys developmental play and literacy. Well done, Justin!

Kind Regards,

Matthew Harris

Principal