YAS Term 2 Week 5 Newsletter

A Note from the Principal

Dear Families

At the time I write this newsletter article, it is officially halfway through term 2 and we have so many positive YAS news and updates to share. 

Governing Council MND Fundraiser Success

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our recent Motor Neurone Disease (MND) fundraiser organised by the Governing Council. The event was a tremendous success, raising $ 671.30 to support research and care for those affected by MND. We are proud to be part of such a compassionate community with families and local businesses Forktree Brewery and Aldinga One Stop Pet Shop digging deep.

Many of our teachers got on board with the ice bucket challenge at school and I had the pleasure of representing YAS at the Yankalilla Football & Netball Club Big Freeze event, experiencing even more ice buckets! Thank you so much to all the staff, students and families who came out to watch and support. What a wonderful community we have.                            

$5K Community Bank Fleurieu Grant for Outdoor Community Kitchen

We are thrilled to announce that Yankalilla Area School has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Community Bank Fleurieu. This grant will be used to develop an outdoor community kitchen at Amaroo Farm, which will serve as a fantastic resource for both our students and the wider community. This project will enhance our learning environment and provide opportunities for hands-on education in sustainability and healthy living.

Reconciliation Week

Our school recently celebrated Reconciliation Week with a series of engaging activities aimed at fostering understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Students participated in yarning circles in our Indigenous Garden, storytelling sessions, Indigenous Dance presentations and class activities; all of which were designed to deepen our appreciation and understanding of the importance of reconciliation. Thank you to all who contributed to making this week meaningful and impactful.

Ticket Tube: Student Reward and Recognition

Introducing our Ticket Tube! An R-12 approach to recognising the great things our students do. Students receive a raffle ticket for displaying positive behaviours, school values and respect/kindness to others. A winner from each sub-school is drawn from the raffle tickets every week, then all the tickets are placed in the tube.

Once the tube is full there will be a whole-school reward...we don’t have long to go now until our first reward.

National Volunteer Week Morning Tea

This term we celebrated our valued volunteers with a morning tea at Cockatoo Café.

Our volunteers support a huge range of areas in the school including the canteen, farm, art, reading/literacy, excursions and camps.  Their time, energy, and big hearts make a lasting impact on our students and staff alike.

We are truly lucky to have so many members of our community involved in our school and I thank our volunteers for their time and expertise. 

Important Reminders

As we near the end of the term, please be reminded of the following:

Semester 2 Changeover: For our Years 7-11 students, the changeover to Semester 2 will occur in Week 9. Students will receive new timetables reflecting semester 2 changes in week 8. 

Reports R-12: Student reports for Reception to Year 12 will be uploaded to Daymap at the end of the term. Please ensure you have access to Daymap to review your child's progress. If you need support with the Daymap app, you can pop into the school or call our IT department to make a time for 1:1 help and trouble-shooting.

Warm regards,

Haley Przibilla

Principal

Pastoral Care Worker Note

Great news!

We are looking to establish a Parents and Friends (P&F) group at Yankalilla Area School. 

P&F groups support the school through a variety of activities. These may include morning teas, fundraising events, Sports Day BBQ, Mother’s / Father’s Day stalls. P&F can provide a positive social connection for our parents and friends community as well as offer a welcome to families that are new to our school community.  

We encourage families to get involved with the P&F. Whether you can give an hour a week or an hour a year, our P&F would love to hear from you. 

We welcome parents of children from all year levels to join us. 

A P & F group will build and enhance the strong sense of community we have at YAS. 

For further information, please contact Wendy Lindsay, our Pastoral Care Worker at school or email wendy.lindsay412@schools.sa.edu.au 

  You are invited to come along THIS Thursday 5th June, at 10am at Cockatoo Cafe (at the Home Ec Centre).

We look forward to welcoming you!

Introducing New Staff Member

“Hi, my name is Robyn, and I am the new School Mental Health Practitioner at Yankalilla Area School. I have joined the excellent staff in the Wellbeing Team as part of the Department for Education’s School Mental Health Service, which has recently increased mental health supports in public high schools.

I am a mental health Occupational Therapist, and I have been working with adults and young people for about 20 years. I live locally on the Fleurieu and am looking forward to spending more time on the stunning Western side of the peninsula and meeting this community.

I work with high school students individually or as part of a group to talk through issues impacting on their learning, family life or relationships. Support may focus on feelings of distress and worry, depressed or changeable moods, or depleted energy and motivation. Sessions are offered over a term in duration, which is flexible but usually a maximum of 10. The aim of sessions is to develop coping strategies to better understand the situation and manage challenges and uncertainty, while exploring what is important to the student. Parents/guardians are encouraged to be part of the process, depending on the students’ needs. I can also assist the Wellbeing Team to support students and their families to access other community resources and services.

If students would like to be referred to the School Mental Health Service, they or their parents/guardians can contact the relevant home-room teacher or year-level leader in the first instance.

National Reconciliation Week 2025 at YAS

Yankalilla Area School recently marked National Reconciliation Week with a series of activities aimed at growing understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of in-class activities and discussion, engaging with resources that highlighted the significance of reconciliation and the importance of cultural awareness.

A highlight of the week was the visit to the school's Indigenous Garden down in our school farm, where students had the opportunity to connect with the land and learn about native plants and their cultural significance. For some, this was the first time they had had an opportunity to visit the garden and be involved in a yarning circle.

The week culminated in a performance by Imbala, a group renowned for their storytelling through music and dance. Their presentation offered students a unique insight into Aboriginal traditional dance, stories and our collective responsibility in our country’s reconciliation journey, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

These activities were part of the school's ongoing commitment to integrating Aboriginal perspectives into the curriculum and promoting cultural inclusivity. Through such initiatives, Yankalilla Area School continues to nurture an environment where all students can connect, belong, and grow with pride.

9 A-Side Football

We recently took 50 Year 7–12 students to the 9-a-side football carnival, and they all did a fantastic job representing our school. The Year 10 boys and Year 11/12 girls had strong performances, both finishing 3rd. The Year 7/8 girls showed plenty of spirit and came 8th, while the Year 7/8 boys tied for 7th. It was a great day out, and we are really proud of the way all our students played and conducted themselves.

Jess Mikulcic

Make Bullying History Presentation

Yankalilla Area School was honoured to host Brett Murray, a distinguished advocate for bullying prevention, who delivered his impactful "Make Bullying History" presentation to our Year 7, 8, and 9 students. This engaging session aimed to educate and inspire students to take a stand against bullying and foster a culture of respect and kindness.

Brett's presentation reflected on his own personal experience with bullying. His candid account resonated deeply with students, offering a powerful reminder of the impact bullying can have and the importance of resilience and empathy. Brett's story is one of hope teaching students that their past does not dictate their future as well as demonstrating how personal challenges can be transformed into a force for positive change.

This session not only educated our students on the seriousness of bullying but also equipped them with practical skills and strategies to create a more inclusive and supportive school culture. By understanding and addressing the root causes of bullying, our students are now better prepared to contribute to a safe and nurturing learning environment.

Yankalilla Area School is grateful for Brett Murray's visit and remains dedicated to continuing efforts to make bullying a thing of the past. We look forward to building on this momentum with further initiatives that empower our students to lead with kindness and integrity.

Making Friends and Building Social Resilience at school: 5 Simple Tips

When we were little, making friends can be as simple as standing a metre away from someone and asking, “Do you want to play with me?” As we grow older, friendships can become a bit more complex. Making and maintaining connections takes more effort—but the good news is that friendship skills can be learned, just like any subject at school. Here are my five simple tips to help you along the way:

1. Start with a Smile

Friendships often begin with something as simple as a warm smile, eye contact, and a friendly “hello.” Small gestures like offering help or showing kindness can open the door to new connections.

Tip: Try sitting with someone new at lunch or inviting a classmate to join your group during a project. Remember, others might be just as nervous as you and will appreciate your effort to include them.

2. Find Common Interests

Connecting over shared interests makes starting a conversation much easier. Join one of our break time clubs, like Monday Disco, Sport’s Shed, Games on the Green or Art Club and surround yourself with people who enjoy the same things you do. Talking about your favourite activities helps conversations flow naturally.

Tip: Create a list of conversation starters to use when you're feeling nervous or unsure. Try asking questions like, “What was your favourite song at the disco?” or “Have you seen any good movies lately?” or “What do you love to draw?”

3. Be a Good Listener

Good friendships are built on trust and trust starts with listening. Active listening shows you care about what the other person is saying. Remember to make eye contact, nod and ask follow-up questions.

Tip: Pay close attention to what your friend is sharing. It shows that you value their thoughts and helps build a deeper connection.

4. Handle Rejection Positively

Rejection? So what! It's ok to feel disappointed when someone doesn’t respond the way we hoped. Maybe they don’t want to hang out with us or maybe they have a bad day, either way, don’t take it personally.

Tip: Use these experiences as opportunities to learn and grow. Making friends takes time and patience. The right people will appreciate you for who you truly are.

5. Build Social Resilience

Resilience means being able to bounce back when things don’t go perfectly. Social resilience is about handling awkward moments, misunderstandings or setbacks without giving up.

Tip: Practice positive self-talk. If you ever feel left out or embarrassed, remind yourself: It’s okay to have difficult days. Everyone feels this way sometimes. I’m learning and growing stronger every step of the way.

Just remember

Making friends and navigating the ups and downs of social life is an important part of growing up. What matters most is being kind, staying true to yourself and not giving up, even when things get tough. Every smile, every kind gesture and every brave step you take matters.

So go ahead—say hello, join a club and take that first step. The friendships you build today can make your school journey happier and more meaningful tomorrow.

You can do this! Good luck!

Art News!

What an amazing piece of artwork!

Huge congratulations to Coco on winning the Police Credit Union Kids’ and Youth Art Competition!

We’re so proud of your creativity and talent!

Coco's artwork will be featured in:

The 2026 Police Credit Union Calendar

The 2025 Police Credit Union and SALA Exhibition. 

Yrs 7-12 Careers Week

📣 A Huge Thank You to Our Guest Speakers! 🌟💼

A big thank you to the incredible local professionals who visited our Year 7–12 students to share their career journeys and kick off National Careers Week in such an inspiring way! 🙌

• Trades – Locals Joshua Shute, Yasmin Clark & Tony Agnew
• Age Care – Team from Yankalilla Eden-Field Family Care
• Agriculture – Wes Hurrell Rockwella Farm
• Council – Team from Yankalilla Council
• Police – Sam Thorn Yankalilla Police
• Hospitality – Belinda & Aaron Mare Bello’s
• Childcare – Team from Yankalilla Community Children’s Centre

Your insights into day-to-day responsibilities and real-world experiences gave our students a meaningful glimpse into what it's like to work in your fields. From problem-solving and communication, to the importance of workplace safety, essential numeracy and literacy skills, and innovation in action—you helped show how rewarding and diverse career pathways can be.

Thank you for inspiring the next generation with your passion, knowledge, and generosity. 👏👏👏

Celebrating Mother's Day

A big thank you to our amazing SRC reps for manning the Mother’s Day stall! There were so many beautiful gifts available for purchase, and we’re sure the bought lots of smiles!

Hoping all our wonderful mums/grandmother/carers had a fabulous Mother’s Day!

Governing Council Supporting MND

On Friday 30th April at  Yankalilla Area School, our students and teachers took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness and funds for MND (Motor Neurone Disease).

A big thank you to our YAS Governing Council for encouraging the school community to get involved with a gold coin donation, and a special shoutout to Forktree Brewing for their generous support. It was fantastic to see so many students dressed in blue to show their support!

We’re proud to share that we raised $545.30 for this important cause — well done, YAS!

Amaroo Farm

Amaroo farm are pleased to welcome the latest addition of 5 Tamworth piglets. This is part of the farming pigs program which is run at our school farm.

Year 10-12 Basketball Day Carnival

Our Year 10–12 students had a great day out at the Basketball Carnival, with some strong wins and competitive games across the board.

Thanks to all the players, coaches, parents, and staff who helped the day run smoothly. It was great to see everyone involved and supporting their teams.

Well done to all who took part, and congratulations to the teams who came away with a few wins!