From the Principal

Welcome to IPS

Welcome to Term 3 at IPS.

During the break some minor works were carried out including the resurfacing of our school hall  and repairs to the roof of the students' toilets in the gym. Unfortunately, Leo (school handyperson) is still recovering from his fall last term. However, we were very fortunate to have Andrew Tieman and Nathan Watts volunteer their time to have our school looking fantastic and prepared for the students return.

Professional Practice Days

The Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022, currently being finalised by the Fair Work Commission, provides teachers with three professional practice days in 2022, two professional practice days in 2023 and one professional practice day in 2024 and beyond.

Professional Practice days provide teachers with release from their scheduled duties (all duties which would have been otherwise scheduled, including teaching) to focus on the improved delivery of high-quality teaching and learning.

The work undertaken on these days will be consistent with Departmental and school priorities and selected from the following areas:

• planning
• preparation
• assessment of student learning
• collaboration
• curriculum development
• relevant professional development
• peer observation including feedback and reflection

With COVID-19 and flu impacting Victoria, you are no doubt acutely aware of the continued workforce pressures we are facing going into Term 3. Following the positive feedback on a common professional practice day in Term 2, 2022, the department is recommending schools hold one of the two further 2022 professional practice days on the same day for all teachers as they are well aware that we are unable to replace staff at this time.

The second Professional Practice day will be organised in line with previous practice. The thinking being that with better weather and increased vaccinations / boosters that schools will not be facing the same staffing pressures.

What this means for IPS is that there will be a second student free day this term (on top of the scheduled curriculum day). Apologies in advance if this causes inconvenience, but rest assured we will provide as much notice as possible regarding the date so that you can make arrangements. Stay tuned.

Parent / Teacher Interviews 

Parent / teacher interviews will be held in Week Three and will be online. Bookings will open next week on COMPASS. The main reason for holding these conferences online is to protect teachers from illness as we are having incredible difficulty finding replacement staff. Thank you for understanding.

Winners of 2022 Victorian Resilient Australia awards announced

The spotlight was placed on leading resilience initiatives at last week’s 2022 Victorian Resilient Australia Awards.

The awards recognise and promote outstanding initiatives that build whole of community resilience toward disasters and emergencies through collaboration and innovation.

This year’s winners were:

• School Award winner: Ivanhoe Primary School for ‘Where's Wally? House Points Hunting!’
• Mental Health and Wellbeing winner: Phoenix Australia for ‘Helping the helpers support others: Building local capabilities after the Victorian Black Summer Bush Fires’
• Community Award winner: The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) for the Multicultural Resilience Program
• Government Award joint winner: Safer Together for ‘Community Based Bushfire Management: A place-based approach to reducing bushfire risk in Victoria’
• Government Award joint winner: Bushfire Recovery Victoria for the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Program

Read more at this link.

Thanks everyone for getting involved in the fun during lockdown and remote school.

Community Trivia Night - Saturday 27th of August

We haven't been able to enjoy one of these for a while. This a a great night run by the PFA and is an opportunity to get together with other parents, partners and friends (without the kids) and indulge in an evening of frivolity and laughter. Don't just save the date! Buy a ticket and book a table!

Weekly Literacy and Numeracy Tips - Numeracy

Making patterns

Recognising and making patterns are important maths skills for exploring numbers, shapes and symmetry.

Activities include:

• Identify and explain visual patterns on clothing, wrapping paper, buildings, crockery, cards and furniture. Create a scrapbook to refer back to for ideas during arts and crafts.
• Use coloured pegs, blocks, beads or cutlery to begin a pattern for your child to continue. Once confident, ask them to create a pattern of their own.
• Try to incorporate some patterns in rhythm. Create a clapping pattern and ask your child to copy and then create their own pattern.
• Encourage your child to draw, create and describe their own patterns. Use them for borders on greeting cards.

The Victorian Maths Challenge is a fun and engaging way for families to engage in real life mathematics and explore problems together: Victorian Maths Challenge. Here is a short list of good websites to help begin your online search for resources:

• Home Page - FUSE - Department of Education & Training (select Early Childhood or Primary Students tabs)
• Resources for Primary and Secondary Students - ABC Education
• ICT Games Educational games for Infant and Junior school children

Information evening 

Charles LaTrobe College information evening is on the 28th July.

Changes to  Department vaccination requirements

As you would be aware, following advice from the Acting Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government recently announced changes to the pandemic orders.

There will no longer be a mandated vaccination requirement for staff working in mainstream schools. This change came into effect Friday 24th of June.

With almost 100% of school staff now vaccinated across Victoria, this will cause little change to our school practice. As part of the changes, parents and carers who have COVID-19 can transport their non-COVID-19 children via private vehicle to their primary or secondary school when an alternative person is not available to assist.

This means that parents and carers will be able to leave COVID self-isolation to take their non-COVID-19 child to school via a private vehicle. 

The parent or carer must travel directly to and from the school only. They must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless it is reasonably necessary to leave the vehicle to walk the child to and from the entrance of the school safely. They must wear a face mask at all times.

Please use the gate designated to you child’s year level. Feel free to phone the school on 94991880 if you need your child to be collected from your vehicle.

Family members are asked to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases to the school, the Department of Health and our own testing portal. 

You must also let the school know if your child is a close contact. Students who are close contacts and want to attend should still take 5 RATs over 7 days and wear a face mask whilst indoors at school if they are aged 8 years or over.

Students should continue to stay home if they are unwell, even if they test negative on a RAT.  Thank you for your support as we continue to make the adjustments required of us.

Finally

Thank you to Mrs Morrison for her work with Year 4 as teacher and team leader, for her commitment as a school councillor and as a valued colleague. Mrs Morrison has taken a position with the Visiting Teacher Service for the remainder of this year. We welcome Ms Mowat who will ably take the reins of Year 4M. 

Wearing a mask at school is now optional. Again this is a Department of Education decision and not one made by us. Personally, I encourage the wearing of masks, but recognise the impracticality of teaching and communicating with one on. Therefore it is at the discretion of the wearer. This also applies to parents entering the school grounds. Regardless of whether you choose to wear a mask or not please maintain social distancing.

Accidents do happen and we are seeking crutches for our First Aid room. If you have any which you are not using any more, we are happy to have them.

Swap shop is open for second hand uniform sales. Save yourself some time and money and puchase items for a fraction of their original cost. Speak to our office staff for details.

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