Dear IPS Community,

On behalf of the staff of Ivanhoe Primary School I thank you for your involvement, your patience, your enthusiasm and your support throughout 2021. We come to the end of yet another year of lockdowns and remote learning peppered with periods of time onsite and can look forward to a brighter future.

There are many aspects of the 2021 year that have been very positive. The teachers, students and parents have all become experts with using Teams, WebEx, COMPASS, ClassDojo and other digital learning technologies. Parents have a much better idea of the patience and skills required of teachers, families were able to see how, and share in their child(ren)s learning via the remote learning environment.

If you were to look back over previous editions of "Inside Ivanhoe", I think you would be astounded by the number of educational opportunities that have continued to be afforded to students both on-line and on-site.

Please note that there are Curriculum Days on the 28th and 31st of January.

All students begin school on Tuesday 1st of February.

Any changes that affect the operation of the school that affect you will be communicated in the week beginning the 24th of January. You will not be bombarded with Education Department missives throughout January so we can all take some time out and refresh.

ICAS

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2021 ICAS assessments at Ivanhoe Primary School. Our school performed above the national average in all four of the academic assessments. These are academically rigorous assessments, and each student should be extremely proud of their efforts.

Special mentions must be made to the following students, who received the Principal’s Award for achieving High Distinctions. These students performed in the top 1% of students across the country.

Congratulations to:

Neil P 3OB (Digital Technologies)

Elizabeth B 4K (English)

Samuel R 5T (Science)

Louisa Y 3KC (Mathematics)

Leo H 4M (Mathematics)

Well done to all involved and we encourage you to get involved with ICAS again in 2022!

Edwina and Monika

Recently we were asked to provide some information to Community Child Care Roundtable magazine to capture the story of Edwina Coates and her involvement at Ivanhoe Primary School, and her dear friend and colleague Monika.

Apparently there was an overwhelming response with so many people wanting to write a personalised message to and about Edwina and Monika, they were not able to include them all.

Hot off the presses is the article (attached below). It's a great read and a testamony to a fabulous career in the service of the IPS community.

Also a little movie to go with.

Save the date!

"IPS Makes It" Competition winners

Congratulations to Elise, Natasha and Anton for their amazing Community creations!

Graduating students

It has been a rewarding experience watching you reach the end of your primary schooling. In 2022 you will commence the next educational chapter of your lives, one which will be challenging but very rewarding. Learn to know yourself and your capabilities. Nothing is impossible if you direct your thoughts and actions in the right direction. Focus on being your best self.

Thank you for what you have done for your school. Always remember you were a student at Ivanhoe Primary School. It is your school. Be proud of your time here. You will always be welcome to visit us. We are very proud of what you have achieved this year.

All the staff of IPS wish you every success.

The following is a reflection from two of our graduating students, Leroy and Sam.

Dates for diaries

2021 Term Dates

Term 4: 4th October - 17th December (1:30pm finish)

2022 Term Dates and Curriculum Days

Term 1:

Pupil Free Day 28th January - Curriculum Day

Pupil Free Day 31st January - Curriculum Day

(Students start 1st February) - 8th April (2:30pm finish)

Term 2:

26th April - 24th June (2:30pm finish)

Year 5 Camp Coonwarra (20th - 24th June)

Term 3:

11th July - 16th September (2:30pm finish)

Curriculum Day: 12th August

Term 4:

3rd October - 20th December (1:30pm finish)

Curriculum Day: 31st October

Year 6 Camp Canberra (7th - 11th November)

Year 4 Camp Alexandra (14th - 16th November)

Last Day of Term

The last day of Term is Friday the 17th and the students will be dismissed at 1.30pm.

The final assembly, preceding dismissal will be held on the oval. "Silly string" will have to wait until the graduating Year 6 students have sung their song. For reasons directly related to COVID safe practices e.g social distancing and mask wearing please only Year 6 parents can be on the Oval for the final "hurrah". Please be respectful of this request. Year 6 parents are to enter and exit from the double gates between OSHC and the Hall.

All other students (with the exception of siblings) will be dismissed from their current gates. Parents should wait near their gate and observe social distance rules. With one day to go it would be awful for someone to become ill and isolated for Christmas.

Students in year levels other than Year 6 will be escorted to their gate and dismissed at the conclusion of this brief ceremony by their teachers.

Finally

Thank you Judy Morecroft.

A retired school Principal, and friend of the family, has retired her drum kit and donated it to our school. Yesterday I asked resident drummers / graduating Year 6 students David V and Noah C to assemble, tune and play them. I'm sure they will get a great deal of use by many more budding IPS drummers in the future.

I encourage you all to rest, recharge, and enjoy some time with family and friends. We have all well and truly earned it. Whatever your plans, I wish you a peaceful festive season with family and friends and look forward to 2022 with excitement and curiosity.

Mark Kent

Principal

House Champions 2021