From the Principal

2021 Foundation enrolments are now open. 

If IPS is your local school, please feel free to contact us by phone  or email. You can contact us for an enrolment pack or to book a virtual tour through Tel: 9499 1880 or Email: ivanhoe.ps@education.vic.gov.au 

In the meantime, enjoy a quick tour of some of the areas close to our Foundation students' hearts. We are very proud of all our students and love to give them a voice. Enjoy.

Foundation Transition Orientation Dates:

Session 2 - Thursday 12th November – 9:10-10:00am

Session 3 - Tuesday 15th December – 9:10-10:30am

Keep an eye out for more vignettes of our current students showcasing our school.

*The Evening Foundation Information/School Readiness Session where you will meet your child’s teacher on Monday 14th December at 7:00pm. 

(Hopefully in person but we will have to see.)

At this stage face-to-face transition activities are restricted and different for Melbourne and Regional Victoria. 

Welcome to  IPS

As restrictions ease across metropolitan Melbourne we try to impliment our regular programs within the shifting guidelines. Specialist classes have been operating in the classrooms, pre-service teachers wear masks while teaching, school photos have been held outside, class dress up and book week parades have been spaced out on the oval and whole school assemblies broadcast online without singing the National Anthem.

All things considered the IPS community has resolutely embracd this new normal and "carried on". The Department of Education and training recognises that "...the events of 2020 have had significant impacts on our students, staff and school communities. 

Term 4 will continue to be a challenging time for schools, with a staggered return to face-to-face learning and the potential for continued disruptions. However, term 4 will also be a critical time for the re-engagement of students, the re-establishment of school routines, and undertaking the steps necessary to prepare for and complete successful transitions into 2021."

The three priority areas for the Education State are Learning catch-up and extension, Happy, active and healthy kids and Connected schools.

While the IPS 2021 Annual Implimentation Plan will focus on theses priorities  they coincidentally sit nicely with the results of our Pre-Review School Evaluation. Learning, wellbeing, community, student voice and agency. Unfortunately the remainder of the school review process has been rescheduled by the DET for Term 1 next year.

Capital works

COVID has held up the completion of our beautiful new classrooms and the building on Tate Street will be completed in January / February rather than November. I had the pleasure of a brief tour of the structure last week with Ross the site manager. See below.

There is some significant landscaping and drainage works that will accompany the build which will positively impact on the area surrounding the our new learning areas. One of the first of the old relocatables to be removed will be the one sitting on the basketball court.

The rear of the Waterdale Rd Building, although lovely is gradually falling into disrepair and we have sought quotes to refurbish paintwork, re-render,  replace gutters and downpipes and  rotting timber windows. Much of the work to keep our school's physical spaces functional would not be possible without your support through your voluntary contribution.

The Grade 6 gift

Every year our graduating Grade 6 students leave a parting gift for the school to enjoy. In previous years gifts have included the outdoor seat in the front garden, murals and artworks. The students generally fundraise the purchase price. However, this year that is not possible and Bunnings has come to the party with a beautiful magnolia tree that the students will plant down at the new senior school building before the end of the year.

Here are Liam and Murphy accepting the magnolia tree on behalf of Year 6 and IPS.

Book Week

This year we will be creating a video to display all the wonderful book week costumes at our school. To make this possible, it would be great if you could record a 2 second video OR take a photograph of your child in costume displaying the characteristics of their character/the theme. For example, Alice in Wonderland looking for the white rabbit or Billy from ‘Billy was a dog’ acting like a dog.

Filming with a phone, digital camera or laptop should be suitable. Ideally, the video/photograph must include the full body (to show off the costume) and it is preferred if filming can take place in a communal area of the home (preferably not in bedrooms).

Please note: Should you wish to upload your child’s video/photograph, it will be shared with the community as part of a virtual parade. By submitting a video/photograph, you are giving us permission to share on YouTube as an unlisted video, meaning that anyone with the link may watch it.

Please submit by 5pm Friday the 23rd of October to allow time for collation.

Check out "Spoonville" in the front garden of the school next to the Street Library.

Staff safety of paramount importance

While we require all students to practice safe hygiene all adults working at the school are also expected to do their utmost to contribute to and model safe practices.

Therefore all DET staff working on-site at Victorian Government schools are required to complete a new eLearn module 'School infection prevention and control during coronavirus (COVID-19)' as a priority during Term 4. This module provides coronavirus (COVID-19) infection control training specifically designed for Victorian government schools. It will ensure that staff are provided with the facts and are aware of the precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk of transmission when working in schools.

Year 3 express their gratitude

Year 3 students wrote gratitude letters to health workers on the frontline of COVID defence and what they received in return demonstrates the power of the written word and kind thoughts. Attached are just a small sample of what our students got back in the mail.

World Teachers Day is October the 30th.

On Friday 30th October, our school  recognises World Teachers’ Day and  celebrates the continued dedication and support our teachers provide our students. 

This year World Teachers’ Day has the theme ‘Teachers: leading in crisis, reimagining the future.’ This theme reflects the continued commitment teachers have made to their students and as education leaders, throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

While this year has been difficult for us all, World Teachers’ Day is a great way to say thank you to our teachers for their support and efforts in helping students adapt during this challenging time. 

Ivanhoe Primary School will be celebrating World Teachers’ Day and you and your child(ren) can get involved by sending a message of thanks to a favourite teacher by using the hashtag #WTD2020 on social media. Or send them a note and make someone's day.

In the video below, a few notable Victorians visited their childhood schools before coronavirus (COVID-19) to meet up with their favourite teachers and share their stories on how they helped them to grow and learn.

Farewell from our School crossing Supervisor Yvonne

Hello All Students, Families, Carers, and Community of Ivanhoe Primary School.

It is so good to see you all back at school and I have missed all your smiling faces and laughter at the school crossing these last months. The streets are getting busy again and the crossing is very busy and works well.

For those of you who use the crossing, you will have noticed that we are not using our whistles anymore and must give voice and hand signals instead. Please be extra attentive to these instructions and watch out for the GREEN Man (walk) and RED Man (don’t walk) as they are important for you to pay attention to so as to cross safely.

I have decided to take some time off and have accepted an offer for 6 months working with our library YPRL working out of Diamond Valley and delivering wonderful books to lovely people in the community who can’t come themselves into the library and collect them. I will be working each day in the week, so it means I won’t be able to work at the school crossing as well. My boss will make sure that a good person will take over from me for the 6 months I am away.

Have a wonderful Term 4 dear friends.

Yvonne.

Finally

Today was a marvelous example of the community coming together to celebrate a single event. The number of students who dressed up for Bookweek was quite phenomenal given how difficult it is to find constumes etc. Students from Foundation to Year 6 and all the staff showed that the spirit and enthusiasm of IPS has not waned during our time away from school.

However, if for any reason you are feeling down or struggling to get your good spirits back there are mental health services and supports available. Hence the list below.

Thank you all for supporting the school and each other.

Mark Kent

Principal