From the Principal

Welcome to IPS

Industrial Action Tuesday 24 March

The Australian Education Union has called on its members to take strike action on Tuesday 24 March 2026. Based upon the information provided, 23 of our teaching and support staff will be taking part in the strike action. This will result in significant disruption for all on this day.

The following classes will not run on 24th March. 

Students in the classes below are not required to attend.

Before School Care and After School will not operate on 24th March.

The school will endeavour to provide a program for students in the classes where the teacher is not taking industrial action (i.e. those not listed in the table above) although there will need to be significant modifications to the day. 

If keeping your child home will cause you difficulties, in particular if you are a critical services worker, please get in touch as soon as possible. 

The attachment below is information from Ivanhoe PS AEU members to provide some context for the action they are taking.

Mark Kent / Pam Wright

Message from the School Council President 

School Staff Pay and Conditions

As your School Council President, I see firsthand the incredible passion, energy, and dedication our staff bring to our school every day. They are the heart of our school, and we are incredibly lucky to have them.

As parents and carers may be aware, staff at our school who are Australian Education Union (AEU) members have been negotiating, alongside teachers, education support staff, assistant principals, and principals from public schools around Victoria, with the state government and Department of Education for improvements to pay and employment conditions. Negotiations have been occurring over the last seven months, and the state government has not made any offer at all to this point in time.

It is a difficult reality that Victorian public schools are the lowest funded in Australia and there are significant staffing shortages across Victoria. Victorian public school teachers are also the lowest paid teachers in Australia, with many education support employees and school leaders paid less than their colleagues in other state and territories who do the same role. AEU staff are seeking improvements not just for themselves, but to ensure we can continue to attract and keep the very best educators for our students.

AEU members are seeking pay increases and reductions to excessive workloads, with the aim of ensuring the retention of existing employees and the attraction of the next generation to enable the ongoing provision of a high-quality education to students. Because there has not been any offer, AEU members are taking industrial action, with the union calling a statewide 24-hour stop work for Tuesday 24 March.

The AEU has written to our school council outlining some of the issues that school staff need resolved, including school funding and staffing shortages, as well as pay and conditions. Choosing to stop work is never a decision our teachers take lightly; they care deeply about our students and regret the impact this has on families. 

As a School Council, we stand behind our staff. We believe they deserve fair pay and manageable workloads that reflect the vital work they do. You can read the AEU’s letter here.

For specific information about how the industrial action will affect our school’s operations, including supervision arrangements and any changes to normal routines, please refer to the communications recently shared by our Principal, Mark Kent.

School Holiday Program will not operate these holidays.

We need to inform families that, due to circumstances beyond the control of Ivanhoe Primary School, LeapKids will not be operating a Holiday Program during the upcoming term break (Monday 6 April to Friday 17 April). This was confirmed with us late last week.

We understand that this will be a significant inconvenience for many families who rely on holiday care, and we sincerely apologise for the short notice.

Unfortunately, it has not been possible to secure an alternative provider in time for these holidays. However, two nearby schools; Alphington Primary School and Ivanhoe East Primary School have kindly made places available for Ivanhoe Primary School families in their holiday programs, which are run by TheirCare.

To support families, we have asked TheirCare to provide an online parent information session about TheirCare and the holiday program. This will be a helpful opportunity to ask questions, particularly for families who are new to our school.

Information Session

Date: Tuesday 24 March 2026

Time: 7:30 PMZoom Link: Click link here 

Meeting ID: 4431342981

Passcode: ja53Z6

The provision of a holiday program will be on the agenda of our next school council meeting. Should you have any questions please contact Mark Kent (Principal)

Ride 2 School Day Friday 20th March

National Ride2School day is coming up this Friday!

We're excited to encourage all students to take part in National Ride2School Day by riding, scooting or walking to school. It's a fun way to stay active, build confidence and reduce traffic around our school. Whether it's your first time or you're a regular rider, we'd love to see as many students as possible get involved. Don't forget to wear a helmet if you are riding! We can't wait to see everyone rolling in!

The Ride2School leaders will also be handing out stickers and fruit to all participants.

Ride 2 School leaders were presented with their badges at assembly on Monday morning.

Dogs at school

Whilst Ivanhoe Primary School understands that many families in our school community keep dogs as pets, to ensure that our school remains a safe and inclusive place for everyone, we have in place a number of rules that we expect all families to follow if they wish to bring their pet dog onto school grounds: 

• pet dogs must be leashed at all times and in the control of a responsible adult 

• pet dogs must not be tied up on school grounds or left unaccompanied 

• families that bring dogs to school that exhibit signs of aggressive behaviour, bark, or jump may be asked to remove the dog from school premises.

The Principal has the authority to prohibit certain dogs from school grounds or modify this policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, students and members of our school community at any time.

This excerpt comes directly from the IPS ‘dogs at school policy’: Dogs-at-school-policy-template-june-2022

There are different procedures within the policy that address both assistance dogs and strays.

This policy is scheduled for review by school Council by May 2028

Celebration of Diversity (16-29 March) at Ivanhoe Primary School

Over the coming weeks, our school will be bursting with conversation, and connection as we celebrate Diversity in all its glorious forms! We’re bringing together powerful events that each honour the many ways people think, learn, live and belong: Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16–20 March), the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD – 21 March), Harmony Week (16–22 March), and Cultural Diversity Week (21–29 March) - Victoria’s biggest multicultural celebration, proudly led by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Each event has its own unique message, and together they create a rich tapestry of learning and inclusion that we value greatly at IPS:

• Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026: “Moving From Awareness to Action”This year encourages us not only to understand different ways of thinking, but to actively build environments where every learner’s strengths are recognised and valued.
• IDERD 2026: “Mobilising Political Will”Marking the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, this theme highlights the global responsibility to take meaningful action against racism.
• Harmony Week 2026: “Everyone Belongs”A reminder that Australia’s cultural richness is something to celebrate, and that belonging, respect and inclusiveness help every one of us thrive.
• Cultural Diversity Week 2026: “Culture Connects Us All”This statewide celebration invites Victorians to share stories, traditions and lived experiences to strengthen understanding and connection across communities.

Across our Celebration of Diversity, IPS will be alive with learning that honours who we are - as individuals, as families and as a diverse school community. 

Classroom learning / activities:

• Art and creative storytelling to explore diversity
• Considering “brain strengths” and celebrating how people learn in different ways
• Thoughtful discussions about fairness, inclusion and identity
• Learning about historical events that help us understand justice and human rights
• Reflecting on how we can make IPS an even more inclusive place for all!

These experiences help our students build empathy, curiosity and confidence, and ensure that every child sees themselves reflected and valued. Diversity, whether cultural, racial or cognitive, is not only present in our community - it is one of our greatest strengths.

We look forward to sharing the wonderful learning, conversations and creativity that emerge from our Celebration of Diversity. Thank you for being part of a community that embraces and uplifts every child’s unique story!

Talking to your child about diversity...

• “What’s something interesting you noticed about other people this week?”
• “Did anything make you think differently about someone else?”
• “What’s something you learned about yourself or others?”
• “How did you see people being themselves in different ways?”
• “What’s something from school this week that stayed in your mind?”
• “Did you create or talk about anything you enjoyed?”
• “What moment made you feel proud or excited?”
• “What’s something you’d like to tell me more about?”

Talking about different ways of thinking & learning...

• “What made you think, ‘Wow, people really learn differently’?”
• “What did you notice about how your brain works?”
• “How do you see people using their strengths in different ways?”
• “When did you see someone solve or approach something differently from you?”

Talking about belonging & inclusion...

• “What helped you feel comfortable or included today?”
• “What did you see someone do that made school feel welcoming?”
• “What makes you feel like you belong?”
• “What kind of environment helps people feel safe and accepted?”

Talking about fairness & respect...

• “What did fairness look like to you this week?”
• “What makes you feel respected?”
• “How do you know when someone is being treated kindly?”
• “What helps people feel heard or understood?”

Take a sneak peek at one of the activities that the students in year 1 have been doing this week on the Student Voice page.

Kinder-Foundation Playdates

Our very popular playdates kick off this year in term 2.   Children who expect to start school in 2027 along with their parents are invited join our play sessions.  It really is a great way for students and their parents to get to know the school and each other. Children have fun playing in the Foundation classrooms with a parent or carer. Use the QR code to sign up!

ICAS

Dear IPS Families of Students in Years 3-6,

We know our students are amazing, so we’re giving them the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition this year.

What is ICAS?  

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies.

 Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.

 To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)

How to participate in ICAS  

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:  

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)  
2. Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf) 
3. Use this link to log directly into the shop and start registering:https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/STL697
4. Visit our shop and use our PPS code to log in: STL697
5. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.  (there is an option this year to also purchase past test papers to practise with).

 Please note that the ICAS subject areas shown for selection are at the school’s discretion.   

After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.  

ICAS dates, results and certificatesAll assessments will be conducted online, at school. In due course, we will notify you of the exact date(s) that we will run ICAS assessments, and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. Please read the following sitting windows that each assessment is required to be conducted in. If your child is not going to be attending school during that window, do not enrol them in the assessment.

Your child’s ICAS certificates will be delivered to school. Once we have received them, we will present them to your child to bring home. The back of the certificate will show your child’s ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”. - Use these to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent. IPS ICAS registrations will close at 11:59pm on Friday, July 10th.

No student will be able to register for ICAS at IPS beyond this date.

Booking into the OSHC Program

With program numbers growing it is now more important than ever that ample notice is given when making a booking for your children, particularly for casual bookings. Due to regulations Outside School Hours Care programs must run at a 1:15 ratio, 1 educator for every 15 students.

Our rosters are put together with this in mind ensuring we are within ratio for the following week based on current bookings. We are seeing an increasing number of bookings coming in with less than 24 hours notice which makes it incredibly difficult to find an extra educator at short notice, risks putting us over ratio and puts added pressure on our educators.

Bookings MUST be made 24 hours prior otherwise there is a very strong possibility that your child may not be able to be cared for in the program.  We do understand that occasionally, emergencies occur and sometimes a late booking is unavoidable, however if we are not able to meet the legal 15:1 ratio then we will be unable to take a late booking and families will need to collect their child from school.

 The more notice we have, the less stress there is for everyone. Please help us and organise your bookings as early as possible and within 24 hours so that we can staff the program. Read more on the OSHC Page.

Thank you from Lexi (OSHC Coordinator and Sarah OSHC Assistant Coordinator)

PFA Events

Our school PFA organise some wonderfully exciting events for the community enjoy.  Take a look at what's been planned.  Make sure you get involved in supporting these fun events or even volunteer a little bit of your time to join PFA.  See the PFA page for more information.

Presentation of the 2025 Annual Report

The 2025 Annual School Report to the community at 6:00pm will be presented online on 25th March.  

This presentation is open to all members of our community and a link will be distributed via Compass and included in a future newsletter.

The Annual Report provides an overview of the school’s performance in 2025 and covers:

• Learning
• Wellbeing
• Engagement
• School finance

Following the community presentation, School Council will formally endorse the Annual Report. It will then be published on the school website, and a link will be shared in the newsletter so families can access it easily.

We encourage interested community members to attend the online presentation and learn more about the work and achievements of our school. Use this link to join us, https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m9f85cf9b2edb0105d1cfcd3224351fd0

Finally

As part of our Celebration of Diversity this week, our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, Ms Fray lent me a book this week called 'Bernie Thinks in Boxes' by Jess Horn.  It is a beautifully illustrated story book that explores neurodiversity and how children make sense of the world and I wanted to share it with you.

The story follows Bernie, a young girl who understands her world by organising everything into “boxes.” She has different boxes for places and experiences—like school, home, the park, and even meals. When things stay in their proper “boxes,” Bernie feels calm and in control.

However, Bernie becomes overwhelmed when her boxes start to overlap, for example, seeing her teacher outside of school or attending a birthday party in the park with school friends. These situations don’t fit neatly into her system, causing confusion and anxiety.

With support (especially from her mum), Bernie learns to adapt by adjusting her “boxes” and allowing for flexibility. This helps her regain a sense of control and understand that things can belong in more than one place.

The book highlights:

• Different ways of thinking (especially neurodivergent perspectives)
• The challenges of change and unpredictability
• The importance of support, understanding, and flexibility

Ms Fray will be using the book to support year 1 students learn more about neurodiversity. Whilst the story is written for children, its messages of understanding, support, and the importance of embracing diversity and inclusion resonate strongly with us all. Understanding how some people think differently and how that in turn, can dictate their behaviours can help us see things from another perspective.

Sometimes we can tend to be a little judgemental of the others. In stressful situations our emotions can get impede our logic, but if we take time to calm and try to approach situations with curiosity and understanding we tend to get much more positive outcomes. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Pam Wright

Co Principal

http://www.ivanhoeps.vic.edu.au/ 

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Victoria and pay respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.