From the Principal

Welcome to IPS 

Kindness and Respect in OUR school is important!

At Ivanhoe Primary School, we talk often about the importance of kindness and getting along with others—both in the playground and in the classroom. Our values guide us to treat each other with respect and to create a safe, welcoming place for everyone.

Lately, we’ve seen some niggling, unkind behaviour and sadly, some bullying. This is not how we behave at our school. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and happy when they come to school each day.

Our focus is on building community, supporting each other, and looking out for one another. We encourage our students to pause and think about their words and actions, and to make choices that reflect kindness and care. By doing this, we make our school a place where everyone can learn and play happily together.

R U OK Day at Ivanhoe Primary School

Today at Ivanhoe Primary School we recognised R U OK Day.

 A national initiative that reminds us all to stay connected and support each other’s wellbeing. The simple but powerful message—taking the time to ask “Are you OK?”—fits closely with our school values of confidence, persistence, respect, resilience, and independence.

By encouraging children to look out for their friends, listen carefully, and show kindness, we strengthen a culture where everyone feels safe and supported. Respect and confidence are at the heart of asking and answering this important question. Resilience and persistence remind us that challenges are part of life, and that we can lean on each other when things feel tough. And through independence, our students are learning to understand and express their own feelings while also recognising how to support those around them.

Days like today are a timely reminder that we can all play a part in building a caring and connected community. At Ivanhoe Primary, we are proud that our students are growing not only in their learning, but also in their ability to look after themselves and each other.

In our classrooms and in the yard, students talked about how asking a simple question like “Are you OK?” can make a big difference to someone’s day. 

We learned that it’s not just about asking the question, but also about listening carefully to the answer and being a supportive friend.

That:

• It takes confidence to start a conversation.
• Respect helps us listen and show kindness.
• Persistence and resilience remind us that everyone faces challenges, and we can keep going with help from others.
• Independence means recognising our own feelings and knowing when to ask for support.

Our students shared thoughtful ideas about how they can support their friends, classmates and family members. Together, we are building a school community where everyone feels safe, valued and connected.

Our Biennial School Fair – Building Community and Supporting Our School

The Ivanhoe Primary School Fair is just around the corner! Our Biennial Fair is always a highlight on the school calendar—a wonderful way for families, friends, and neighbours to come together, enjoy a fun day out, and celebrate the vibrant spirit of our school community.

As well as being a fantastic community event, the Fair plays an important role in raising much-needed funds that directly support our students and school programs. Every stall, activity, and helping hand makes a real difference.

We encourage all parents, carers, and friends to get involved—whether by volunteering time, donating goods, or simply spreading the word. Together, we can make this year’s Fair another great success.

Remember, Our Fair can’t happen without the support of our amazing community.

More on the Fair Page click here

Parent Opinion Survey Last chance

Our school is conducting the annualParent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey and is seeking your feedback. The survey, offered by the Department of Education, is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement.

Please check your email to see if you were a member of the random sample of families that was sent an invitation to complete the survey. 

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will remain open online until Friday 19 September 2025.

Your opinions are important to us and will contribute to identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies. 

The department will use the results from the survey for research purposes and to improve outcomes for students. The survey is being conducted online and only takes 20 minutes to complete.  If you require assistance in completing the survey, please reach out to your child’s teacher, or the school if you require assistance in another language.

I am putting out this reminder as only 10 responses have been received.

Updated Policies

Please take some time to have a look at our latest policies that have been updated on our website.

Updated school policies:

• Complaints Policy
• Child Safety Resources
• Community Code of Conduct Policy
• Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures

Prep bags 2025 survey

Each year, the Department of Education gives every Prep student attending a Victorian government school a bag full of goodies to celebrate this milestone in their education journey. The educational resources and information in the bags are aimed at helping Prep students and their families have a great start to the year.

The department is inviting parents and carers of current Prep students to complete a short survey about the 2025 Prep bags, by 11:59 pm on Sunday 26 October 2025.

Your feedback will help the department learn what families liked and what can be improved in 2026. You can have your say at Prep bags 2025 evaluation survey.

The survey takes 5 to 10 minutes. It is voluntary. Responses are anonymous and will not be shared with third parties outside the department. For more information about this year’s Prep bags, refer to Prep bags.

Finally

We want all students to remember:

• Use kind words and kind actions.
• Look out for your friends and classmates.
• Ask for help if you see or experience unkind behaviour.

• Make choices that help everyone feel welcome and safe.

   

When we show kindness and respect, we help build a school community where everyone can learn and play together. That’s what makes Ivanhoe Primary such a great place to be!

Thank you for your continued support.

Mark Kent

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.