From the Principal

Welcome to Ivanhoe Primary School,

 100 days of school

Today Foundation students celebrated 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL.

Students and teachers dressed up and participated in a parade for parents outside the treehouse. For many children, the number 100 is a big milestone. Whether it's counting to 100 for the first time or realising you just hit your 100th day of school, it's a big deal!  Check out some of the students creative centenary fashions.

More photos next week.

Reminder : Friday 11th August is a Pupil Free Day

As part of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, teachers  receive two days in 2023 when they are out of the classroom to focus on the improved delivery of high quality teaching and learning. The teachers Professional Practice Day is a day where each teacher is entitled to be released from scheduled duties, so they can focus on work selected from the following areas: planning, preparation, assessment of student learning, collaboration, curriculum development, professional development, and peer observation. 

A parenting talk

On Tuesday evening a parenting talk was given by child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Andrew Wake titled "How to talk with your child when they disagree". This was a well attended event where Andrew, also the author of "The Good Enough Parent" shared strategies to help reduce conflict. He concluded with a Q&A at the end of the session.

Andrew's book "The Good Enough Parent" is available to purchase online from his website https://drandrewwake.com/books/the-good-enough-parent/  On his website is a series of insightful newsletters that are definitely worth a read.

Andrew has delivered one of two sessions to our staff designed to add to our understanding and confidence when dealing with the emotions and behaviours we encounter in our daily work.

Parent Opinion Survey

We want our parents / caregivers / guardians to tell us what they think.

Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents / caregivers / guardians think of our school. The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education, that is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional but we encourage families to participate. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies. 

A random sample of approximately 30 per cent of parents / caregivers / guardians has been selected to participate in this year’s survey. The links have been sent to families today. 

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey is open from Monday 7 August to Friday 8 September 2023. 

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. The survey results will be communicated to parents / caregivers / guardians through the Annual Report to the Community.

 Last year we used the survey results to plan more effectively communicate to the community. Please speak to me if you would like more information.

SolarBuddy Program - Lights for Learning

1.4 billion people globally don’t have access to electricity.

Today our Year 6 students learned about extreme energy poverty - experienced by 786 million people around the world. They  explored the role of renewable energy in helping to combat the four pillars of disadvantage associated with energy poverty - education, health, environment, and economics.

This immersive learning experience began with a compelling presentation followed by the assembly of SolarBuddy lights,. Finally making a connection with the recipients of the completed solar lights by writing a letter to accompany their gift.

Students were guided through this journey to global citizenship by Origin’s energy foundation volunteers, who shared their knowledge of renewable technologies and real-world experience of STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths), including its potential humanitarian impact.  Designed for children, the assembled SolarBuddy lights are easy to operate, carry and charge. Without them, remote communities rely on dangerous and unsustainable sources of fuel like kerosene, diesel, wood or candles. 

The lights assembled by our Year 6 students will help children from remote communities in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu to study safely when the sun goes down, improving their prospects of using education to break the cycle of poverty, and protecting their health.

Mrs Wright and I visited the class and our students told us they felt good about doing something positive for those less fortunate, at the same time developing capabilities in accordance with the Australian Curriculum:

• Critical and creative thinking

• Personal and social capability

• Ethical understanding

• Intercultural understanding

Thank you to Chris New, Maddie's in 6Ks father for approaching the school with this wonderful opportunity.

Please read the students contributions, and check out the photos on the Student Voice page of this edition of Inside Ivanhoe.

Annual IPS Trivia Night - Saturday 12th August

Get in quick for a night filled with fun and frivolity!

An event not to be missed. This is a great night out, where you can enjoy the company of others, make new friends, have a lot of fun and generally have a good laugh in a great venue not too far from school.

Please volunteer as your time to help us make it a fantastic fair!  Many hands make light work!  Contact our PFA Coordinator, Andrea Thomas on 0431 953 720.  

Stall donation items are being sought for the follow stalls:

Father's Day Stall – 30th Aug

Father’s Day Breakfast – 31st Aug

It is time for Dads and Special Men to enjoy our annual IPS Father’s Day breakfast! 

Come along to the school hall on Thursday 31st Aug between 7:30am - 8:30am, breakfast orders will be available through My School Connect (same as placing a lunch order and must be placed before Friday August 25th to give us time to get supplies and prepare). 

We’ll also have a coffee van to buy a barista brew if you need it.

Please note: 

• We need to pack up at 8:30am to get the hall (and kids) back in shape in time for classes, so please arrive with time to enjoy and be finished before 8:30.
• You need to order food and juice in advance, no orders or changes on the day and please remember to order for you and the kids too!
• So that we’ll have room for everyone we’re celebrating on the day, where possible, please limit to Dads/Special People and IPS students (and younger siblings).

Don’t worry, Mums don’t have to be left out!

We need some Mums to help on the day, show the Dads 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 6:30am and 9am, please contact Veron Teo – veron.listx@gmail.com (0401976755).

If you’re having problems with placing your order, please contact Annette in the canteen on 0413 047 049 (but please wait until you see the menu is available).

Thanks – and see you there!

Finally ...

We hope you'll join us at our next events, including:  Trivia Night, Fathers Day Breakfast, and our IPS Fair. Thank you for your support.

Have  a great week.

Mark Kent

Principal