From the principal

Dear Parents & Community

Welcome to Term 2 2019 and our new look "Inside Ivanhoe" Newsletter.

One thing that we are really proud of is the option to change the language it's written in. So if English isn't your first language scroll down to the bottom of this page and select a language that suits you. I daresay it is not perfect but it is a step in the right direction to continue to develop communication and build relationships with all our community members. 

Welcome back to school after what I hope has been a lovely break. The first week back has been disjointed due to the various public holidays however quite a bit has happened. Year 6 attended the ANZAC Service at the Repatriation Hospital and i must say I have never been prouder of a group of students in the way they listened, learned and demonstrated respect for those who have given us son much.  We held "Welcome Wednesday" which was an opportunity for all the students to participate in House and fun activities.

A lot has been accomplished while you've been away. 

WHILE YOU WERE AWAY

The Foundation playground surface has been rubberised. Much of the broken asphalt around the Ailsa Rd gates and the Tree House has been replaced. The hall / indoor basketball court has been resurfaced. All of the children's and staff bathrooms and toilets have been professionally sanitised. Plans are progressing well for the new senior school hub of eight classrooms and amenities 

(There is a working bee this Sunday 28th from 9 am - 12 pm to finish off some stuff so I hope you can join us for that).

EVENTS

An updated calendar of events including the Election Day Mini Market, PFA events, NAPLAN and other school happenings will be published soon. Please put a copy on your fridge so you don't miss those that are relevant to you.

DIGITAL LEARNING

On another note thank you if you have volunteered the Digital Learning Technologies Co-contribution THANK YOU  the school is just about to install two more Smart boards / Projectors for the Foundation Students as well as lease some 3D Printing equipment and purchase CAD software for the older students. Check out the DLT page for more information.

If you were intending to make that contribution it is  not too late and this can be done directly through COMPASS at this link  Pay Now / Click here  or the school office. 

COMMUNICATION & STUDENT VOICE

We've talked about taking the newsletter to the next level (and although you will still be able to print a copy and see it on the school notice boards and website) the new online version will work well on most devices. I'm going to ask the students to provide a regular editorial managed by the students themselves. (Stay tuned)

ANZAC Day Acknowledgement  

The school observed 1 minutes silence at 11 am on Wednesday 24th April, the day before ANZAC Day.

Year 6 students walked to the Repatriation Hospital to attend a special service.

There will be a short presentation at the following Monday Assembly. 

Street Libraries – Our IPS literacy initiative is ready to go.

The kits have arrived and we have a small crew of volunteers ready to go.

On top of this, one of our families successfully applied for a grant for books to seed our street libraries to the tune of $1000 dollars. Thank you Kerri Fuller. Parent of Sophie and Phoebe.

What an amazing way to kick start our literacy initiative.

If you have yet to let the office know who can help build our libraries now is the time

Premier's Reading Challenge

As we all know, reading gives children the fundamental skills they need to succeed and thrive in a literate culture. The Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge is now open and Ivanhoe Primary is excited to be participating. The challenge is open to students of all ages. Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers, and children from Years 3-6 are challenged to read 15 books. All students who meet the challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers. If you would like to participate in the Challenge, please inform your child’s classroom teacher and they will provide their username and password to log on. The Challenge concludes on September 6th. Happy reading!

Banking Competition

“WOOF! I need a name!”   

We are asking for your help to name our Banking Dog.  He/she needs a name so that he/she becomes more friendly and alive.  To do this, we are holding a competition.

HOW TO ENTER:

Anyone who participates in IPS’s School Banking can enter.  Just complete the below form and return it with your banking on Tuesday.  Mr Kent will announce the winner at assembly on Monday 13th  May 2019.

Student Name:                 …………………………………………………………… 

Student’s Class:                …………………………………………………………...

Student’s Banking ID:     ……………………………………………………………

(if known)

Name for Dog:                   ……………………………………………………………

Creative Writing

We have some keen writers at IPS that might be interested in this. 

On behalf of Mental Health Foundation Australia, schools are invited to participate in a Creative Writing Competition. This competition is open to all the Victorian Schools enrolled in Year 5-12.

The terms & conditions and the entry form is available on the website. The creative piece must be uploaded on the website by filling up the form.

Entries open 1st May 2019 onwards. For more information visit the website or click the link: https://www.mhfa.org.au/CMS/creative-writing 

NAPLAN 14 - 16 May

All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are expected to participate in the annual NAPLAN assessment. Some students may qualify for adjustments that reflect the support normally provided for classroom assessments. You should first discuss the use of any  adjustments for your child with your child’s teacher. A formal exemption may be granted for a student with disability that severely limits their capacity to participate in the assessment, or for a student who has recently arrived in Australia and has a non-English speaking background.

Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance.

NAPLAN is about assessing learning progress in literacy and numeracy.

If your child is in Year 3 or Year 5 you should have received a brochure this week providing more information.

Help your child prepare by reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and by reminding them on the day to simply try their best. 

More information will be made available shortly. 

Student Attitudes To School

We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of our school. The Attitudes to School survey is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education and Training to assist schools in gaining an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Our school will use the survey results to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience.

The Department has updated the survey for 2019 to include important new measures that are known to influence student engagement and performance. Students from Year 4 to Year 6, at our school will participate in the survey. Your child will complete the survey online during school hours using a purpose built secure online survey tool.  It is important to note that we are not in any way “testing” your child. Your child has the right to refuse or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during, or after completion of the survey.

Your child will be provided with a unique login to complete the survey. The student login is an assigned identifier that may be used by the Department to combine data for research purposes only. Your child’s privacy and the confidentiality of your child’s survey responses will be protected at all times. No identifiable personal data is included in the survey response file.

The survey results will be reported back to the school in Term 3. No student can be identified in the results reported to schools or in any other report of the data. Ivanhoe Primary School survey results will be communicated to parents through annual reporting and interesting data aspects may be used to run focus groups and or be shared via the school newsletter. Last year we used the survey results in our development of the school’s 2019 annual implementation plan.

This year the Attitudes to School Survey will be conducted at our school over the period Monday 28th April to Friday 3 May. The survey only takes 20-30 minutes to complete and occurs during your child's class time.

Please speak to your child’s teacher if you would like more information or visit the Department of Education and Training website:

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/management/Pages/performsurveyat.aspx.

Working Bee

There is a school Working Bee next Sunday 28th for Parents of Year 6 Students. For many of you this may be the last opportunity to contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of your students school. Please come along and join us for a couple of hours of simple labour to keep the students play areas and buildings clean and safe. Start 9am anf finish around midday.

School Council Sub Committees

Want to contribute to the success of IPS. Sub Committees of Council include Canteen, Facilities, Out of Hours School Care (OHSC), Education and Finance. Committees meet a various times in the week before School Council. If you would like more information please see the principal or any of the school councillors.

FINALLY

On behalf of the staff I wish you and your children a fabulous start to term, always remember we are partners with you in your children's primary school education and that a positive relationship between parent, teacher / staff and child enhances the experience for everyone.

I hope to see you in the school grounds. 

Mark Kent

(Principal)