From the Principal

Welcome to Ivanhoe Primary School

It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back to school. While many of our restrictions have relaxed it is still important to remind children of healthy hygiene practices, such as washing hands before and after eating and after going to the toilet. 

On pick up and drop off please do not remain longer than necessary so that social interaction is limited. We are still experiencing cases of covid, and if we can limit the number of staff that are impacted this will be better for the the students education.

While masks are no longer compulsory, you and your children are welcome to continue wearing them if you choose to. Hand santiser will continue to available in classes. The following is the most recent communcation from the Department of Education and the Health Department.

Changes to mask wearing for primary school students

From 11:59pm Friday 22 April 2022, face masks are not required in any school setting.

This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so.

Household contacts (close contacts)

Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine.

They can return to school as long as:

• they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period
• wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above, unless they have a valid exemption.

Students who return a positive RAT result during this period must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

Rapid antigen test program

The rapid antigen test (RAT) program for schools has been extended for the first 4 weeks of Term 2. Schools will receive their RAT allocation for weeks 3 and 4 of Term 2 by Friday 6th May 2022.

Update to testing and screening requirements for students and staff

Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have completed their 7-day isolation period now do not need to undertake RAT screening for 12 weeks from the end of their isolation. This period was previously 8 weeks.

Vaccinations - third-dose vaccination requirements for staff

Vaccination is the best way of ensuring our schools remain as safe as possible.

All school staff are required to have 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccination or an exemption.

Visitors

Parents, carers and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if not performing work or volunteering at the school. Information about vaccination requirements for volunteers is available at COVID-19 Vaccinations - Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites. 

2021 Annual Report to the School Community

Last night the Principal and Leadership Team of the school presented the 2021 Annual Report to the community. This was an online meeting. The Annual Report is an opportunity to share the year’s achievements and progress and an opportunity to reflect on the school’s performance and understand where and how school improvement efforts have impacted student outcomes.

The  Annual Report is a regulatory requirement for all government schools and reflects the Education State’s commitment to building pride and excellence in all government schools through transparent communication with school communities.

Information presented in the Annual Report details the school’s performance over the past year and shows trends across four years in three student outcome areas:

• achievement
• engagement
• and wellbeing.

The school’s academic achievements are demonstrated through teacher judgments of expected student achievement against the Victorian Curriculum F-10 in English and Mathematics, and NAPLAN data. These data sets show the school’s academic achievements compared to the performance of other schools.

The Annual Report is a legislated document and is provided to the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) by the Department. Following school council president attestation, the Department runs a quality assurance process to ensure that Annual Reports meet the quality assurance criteria required by the VRQA. After which it will be published on the school's website and as a link in the school newsletter.

Mother's Day Stall is on the 4th of May!

Dear IPS community,

Next Wednesday the PFA will be running our annual Mother’s Day Stall. This is an opportunity for students to buy an inexpensive gift for a special female in their lives. They are welcome to buy for Grandmothers too.

The stall runs during the school day, with the assistance of parent volunteers, who can help children with their purchases.

Children will visit the Mother’s Day stall during the school day with their classroom teacher.

The gifts range from $1 - $8. Items available include jewellery, photo frames, magnets, hand cream, gardening sets, bookmarks, cushions, sports equipment, phone jails and MUCH MORE! 

If you would like your child/ren to have the opportunity to participate, please send along some money in a labelled envelope or wallet and a bag, to take their goodies home in.

The stall will also be open during Recess on Thursday 5th May. 

We hope you enjoy a nice surprise on Mother’s Day!

Mother's Day Breakfast is on the 5th May!

Don’t forget Mother’s Day is fast approaching including our wonderful Mother’s Day breakfast on Thursday May 5th.

Please get your orders into the canteen (just like ordering a lunch order) during the first week of term so we have time to get organised!

Anticipating a big turnout we have found some more tables and chairs. BUT DONT FORGET TO ORDER EARLY.

More information on the Canteen News page of this issue of Inside Ivanhoe.

We need some Dad’s to help on the day, show the Mums you care and come along to help us setup the tables and do some serving.  No cooks needed, our wonderful Annette in the canteen is taking care of all that.  If you can come along between 6:30 - 9am please contact Lance Greenwood – lance.greenwood@initiative.com.au 0410 660 196).

If you’re having problems with placing your order, please contact Annette in the canteen on 0413 047 049.

Thanks – and see you there!

Premiers Reading Challenge

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

***If you wish to participate in the challenge please notify your class teacher.

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Ivanhoe Primary is excited to be participating. The PRC application offers a range of exciting features including:

• access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs)
• a modern user-friendly interface
• rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
• the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 2 September 2022.

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge

Election Mini Market

On Election Day the Fair Committee and PFA will be running a BBQ and some stalls to raise much needed money to fix and replace worn out play equipment AND a cake stall run by the Year 6s to help send them all to the Canberra Camp. Can you help on the day? please contact .....

Lost Property is over-flowing

Please come and check the lost property box outside the old canteen. 

Shortly, named items will be taken to classes. Other items will be disposed of in due course.

The second Hand Uniform Shop has some fabulous uniform items and school bags on sale very cheaply. If you need an item speak to one of our super friendly admin team.

Nude Food

IPS are encouraging children to bring a rubbish free lunchbox to school. When planning snacks and lunches for the day, please help us minimise food and packaging waste by packing a waste-less lunch box. 

Each week, the class with the most cases of Nude Food will be awarded the coveted ‘Trash Trophy’ to take pride of place in their classroom. 

The class who tallies the most cases of Nude Food over the entire term, will be rewarded with a session of active play on either the oval or in the sports hall (at a time of their teacher’s discretion). 

Useful information and ideas for becoming a Nude Food family can be found at https://www.wow.sa.gov.au/activities/nude-food

Caught you being great!

Finn and Ryan FN

With the lifting of zoned play areas Ryan and Finn have been enjoying the additional freedom of the school's oval.

Both boys have been working hard in class but I was really impressed with their behaviour outside.

Parent Reps

We currently do not have class parent reps. These are parents who help the class teacher in a variety of activities. As restrictions continue to ease we will be looking for parent reps for each class. In the coming weeks we will publish more information regarding the role. 

Something to think about.

Weekly Literacy and Numeracy Tips

Research shows that families are the most significant influence on their children’s learning, development, health, safety and wellbeing. Your family can play a key role in helping your child prepare for school, and then succeed when they reach school.

These practical activities will help your child develop excellent reading and writing skills and help them speak well and be a good listener.

Through everyday activities at home you can also help them develop their numeracy skills, such as calculating and using numbers, recognising patterns, and using language to develop mathematical understanding.

These literacy and numeracy activities are excellent opportunities for you to model key learning values such as enthusiasm, persistence and curiosity.

These tips and activities can also be used by a child’s older siblings and grandparents, or other relevant people in a child’s life, to help develop their literacy and numeracy skills.

HELPING YOUR CHILD TO WRITE

Opportunities to write every day at home

Like reading, writing with your child should become an everyday activity at home.

Try some of these writing ideas:

• Write a shopping list or add items to a list.
• Keep a board to write and read family messages.
• Give your child a pad of sticky notes to write reminders for themselves.
• Plan and write your weekly menu together.
• Write captions for photographs in your family photo album.
• Write labels for your child’s art works and creations.
• Make words using magnetic letters and stick them on the fridge.
• Make and write greeting cards, birthday cards, and thank you notes.
• Keep a family calendar on display and write down family events.

Finally

It was lovely to tour some prospective families through the school today and look at our wonderful IPS through their eyes. The library was bright and cheerful, the Foundation students were working on sounds and creating autumn leaves. We stopped by the Music room where Mrs Morrow and Mrs Anderson were teaching the Year 2s a song. We saw students engaged in PE in the hall and then visited the Year 6 classroom where Mrs Harvey's students were working out a timeline of events. 

While I could speak for hours on the merits of IPS, our students are our finest ambassadors.

Have a fabulous day.

Mark Kent

Principal

• if you have lost a fitbit near the Year 2 gate on the 7th April it is at the school office.