Welcome to IPS

As we begin to wrap up the school year, the past week has seen a full agenda of events. International Day kicked off the events last week, Foundation Information Night on Monday, Meet the Teacher Day on Tuesday, Staff v Students Basketball match on Wednesday and the announcement of the House Captains for 2026! It doesn't end there either with the Year 6 Graduation Evening to be held later today and the annual End of Term Picnic on Friday - Phew!

Take some time to read through this newsletter and browse the photos and videos. The dedication and enthusiasm of our staff, the talent and compassion of our students and the diversity and support of our families is what makes IPS so special.

Thank you to Mrs Harvey for her expert (slightly questionable) refereeing and to Mrs Pearce for being such an entertaining MC!

Head over the Student Voice to see who won in the Staff v Students Basketball match...

International Day

Last Thursday the whole community enjoyed a spectacular day of cultural immersion. Students, teachers and families delighted in representing their cultural backgrounds through costume and dress.

During the day students were engaged in multicultural activities such as Indonesian Puppet theatre, Art, Games and Dance and Chinese Dragon Performances.

Students enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and to understand that what makes IPS so special is the inclusion of so many different backgrounds and cultures and the feeling that we all belong.

Learning about culture and diversity didn't just end with International Day. Students in 1L have been learning from families who volunteered their time to come into school to talk about a variety of different cultural traditions and enthralled the students!

Student Leadership

This week, the successful candidates for the 2026 Ivanhoe Primary School House Captains were announced. Candidates participated in a rigorous process of written applications and participation in interviews with teacher panels. The panel were impressed with all applicants who should be extremely proud of their efforts throughout the process. The panel was particularly struck with the maturity and confidence of all applicants.

There will be other leadership opportunities at the start of next year as we appoint additional student leaders as Sport, Art, Music and Italian captains, as well as Junior School Representatives and Environmental Leaders.

We look forward watching the 2026 Ivanhoe Primary School House Captains thrive in their new leadership roles next year. The captains will be formally presented to the entire school at a House Lunch in Week 11 on Thursday 18 December.

It is with great pleasure that we present to the Ivanhoe Primary School community the 2026 House Captains.

House Lunch

Transition to 2026 Classes

Last Tuesday the whole school spent time transitioning to their new classes for 2026. The excitement and anticipation (along with a few nerves) in the air could be felt, the moment the school gates opened. Students chattering, hoping and predicting what 2026 might be like. The day was a huge success and whilst it may take some students a little more time to adjust to the changes, everyone was settled, happy and looking forward to working with new classmates and teachers. Our future Foundation students joined us for a couple of sessions too and we were so impressed with their resilience and enthusiasm.

2026 Classes and Teachers

Class	Teacher(s)
FD	Rosemarie De Francesco
FG	Georgia Groves
FH	Jordan Haynes
FM	Sarah Murphy
1AS	Ashleigh Kegele, Steve McKay
1K	Sue Kelly
1L	Luisa Di Giovine, Vicki Lamont
1RB	Megan Richardson, Lowri Belson
2E	Mollie Easton
2N	Maria Nedelkovski
2O	Steven O’Callaghan
2RT	Rotem Gam, Tracy Kahlefeldt
3C	Emily Chau
3J	Jo Kittler, Jo Harford
3M	Fiona Millar
3R	Rhianna Critchley
4B	Penelope Blanas, Lowri Belson
4K	Liz Kennedy
4P	Leighton Pearce
5CK	Catrina Camakaris, Kirstie Fray
5M	Kieran McKissack
5T	Chrissy Temple
5W	Susan Winter
6M	Jamie McDonald
6RJ	Rhonda Harvey, Jo Anderson
6T	Jeremy Tottenham

AMEB Certificates

Requiring purposeful, focused work over a period of months, attaining an AMEB exam certificate is a fine achievement. Congratulations to Chloe (2S), Hudson (3O), Raffaela (4O), Sally (4K), Archie (5R), Charlie (5B), Miara (5R), Niamh (5M), Oliver (5M), Olivia T (5T), Olivia PC (5R), Toby (5T), Zara (5R), Adam (6H) and Vivaan (6H)!

Strings performance at Assembly

The Start Up Strings group performed “Footprints in the Snow” and “Bow Rock” with great focus and precision in assembly.

Congratulations Start Up Strings!

Pop Up Christmas Strings

The Mangbows Strings group performed impromptu Christmas Carols in yard this week. Students and parents were delighted and some of our younger students enjoyed singing along and dancing.

End of Year Picnic

End of Year Picnic 5:30-8:00pm on Friday 12th DecemberIt looks like the weather is going to be kind to us this year for the annual end of term picnic!Come and enjoy - this Friday the 12th December from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.Bring a rug and some food or indulge in some simple canteen fayre and icy poles!Please take your rubbish home with you (our bins will already be overflowing from the school day).

2026 School Council Election

Elections for School Council are held in February each year with the School Council of this school comprised of 10 members elected by parents of the school and 4 members of staff. Principal is a member by right of office.

We have been fortunate over the years to have maintained a strong and engaged School Council. Every year, half the School Council is renewed creating room for new community members to join.

Likewise, Sub Committees of School Council open their doors to new members. Our Sub Committees of School Council in 2026 include: Finance, Education, Facilities and Out of School Hours Care.

The School Council is responsible for assisting the Principal and staff in supporting the school, in particular it is responsible for offering advice on the school’s educational programs, administration and expenditure of school funds as set out in the annual budget.

The overseeing of the long-term development of the school and the current maintenance of facilities is a task that rests primarily with the Principal and School Council.

Please consider nominating, or agreeing to be nominated, for School Council. We meet on Wednesdays and the proposed dates for 2025 are on the Dates For The Fridge page in this edition of Inside Ivanhoe as well as below.

2026 School Council Meeting Dates

Venue: Collaboration Space / 6.30 pm correspondence tabled / Meeting Time: 7 pm.

Term 1

25th February

25th March

Term 2

29th April - single agenda item Annual Report

13th May

17th June

Term 3

12th August

9th September

Term 4

21st October

25th November

9th December SC Dinner

(Single agenda item *draft budget presentation)

* 6.30 pm correspondence tabled for 7pm meeting start.

Year 6 Graduation Evening

We look forward to sharing the year 6 graduation evening with students and families and would like to thank our sponsors for the evening; Bunnings Fairfield and McDonald's for their generous donations.

Both Bunnings Fairfield and McDonalds have proven to be terriffic community partners and their contributions have helped make this milestone celebration extra special for our students and their families. McDonalds have donated hundreds of dollars-worth of vouchers for award winners and Bunnings have donated a Maple Tree and a beautiful pink rose bush to the school.

We wish our graduating students all the very best for the exciting journey ahead in high school and thank them for the positive contributions they have made to our school.

Finally

End of Year Picnic

We really look forward to celebrating the end of the school year together at the annual End of Year Picnic this Friday.

The picnic will be held on the oval from 5:30-8:00pm on Friday 12th December.

Bring a rug and some food or indulge in some simple canteen fayre and icy poles.

Please take your rubbish home with you (our bins will already be overflowing from the school day).

Thank you to the whole community for your ongoing support.

Pam Wright

Co 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.

Art

Foundation Art