From the Principal

Last Day of Term is the 19th of September (2.30pm finish)
19th September Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day - gold coin donation
6th of October - Term 4 commences
Saturday 22nd November 12-5pm - IPS Fair

Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day

Don't forget to wear your footy, sports or local sports team colours tomorrow.

Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day is a national fundraising event in September where thousands of Australians come together to show their support for kids with cancer.

So pull out your jumpers, scarves and beanies and bring a gold coin donation to help us support this great initiative if you're able to.

See you in your footy colours for a great last day of Term 3.

Welcome to IPS

Last week in the newsletter, I wrote about how each of us can play a part in building a caring and connected community. At Ivanhoe Primary, we are proud to see our students not only growing in their learning but also developing the ability to look after themselves and one another.

Persistence and resilience remind us that while everyone faces challenges, we can keep going—with the encouragement and support of others. A kind word or a thoughtful gesture can make a real difference, often more than we realise.

This spirit of care and connection doesn’t stop at IPS. Many of our students are also involved in clubs, sporting teams, scouts, and other community programs, where working together and thinking of others is just as important. These experiences help shape young people who contribute positively both within our school and beyond it.

As I reflect on this spirit of care and connection, I want to illustrate to our students that it’s not the responsibility of just young people to be kind and look after our world, but all of us need to play a part. Adults included! Small things can make a huge difference. As educators, parents and significant adults in our childrens' / students’ lives, our message carries greater weight when we walk the talk. Here's a story that I remember very fondly.

Here is a short story about making a difference. Back in 2016, Mr McKay and I set off on an adventure to deliver some very simple but much-needed school supplies — notepads, pencils, skipping ropes, and sports equipment—to one of the poorest schools in Vietnam.

Why Vietnam? I’d travelled through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam by motorcycle, but it was in Hanoi that I met Linh, a man who became a close friend. Linh was passionate about providing educational opportunities for children in his country, and he also shared my love for riding. Together, we dreamed up a plan: Linh would find the most remote and disadvantaged school he could, and our job was to get there.

What we saw when we arrived has stayed with me. Our students carry bags and books to school. The children there carried their own chairs to school. There was just one table for the whole class, no electricity, and holes in the walls that served as ventilation. Where we gather on Monday mornings around our flags, we gave this school a Vietnamese flag to raise proudly. The two teachers were overcome with joy at this small gesture.

The local farmers came to greet us too. We didn’t speak Vietnamese, and they didn’t speak English, but somehow none of that mattered. Through smiles, gestures, and shared moments, we connected—and in doing so, we were reminded that learning, friendship, and community are things that truly cross every language and culture.

Somewhere along the border of Vietnam and China, there is a little school that now has play equipment, books, pencils, toothbrushes—and a flag flying proudly above its front door. Inside, you’ll also find a copy of our own Ivanhoe Primary School history book, "Slab Hut to Red Brick".

At our Monday assemblies we often speak about the importance of community. It’s worth remembering that while our school community is special, it is also part of a much larger world community. As our students grow into adults, they will have opportunities to make a significant difference—not just here at IPS, but in shaping the future beyond our school gates.

I hope Mr McKay and my short video demonstrates that even the smallest acts of kindness and effort can make a real difference to others, no matter where they are in the world. By living out our simple school values each day, and by talking about them with others, you are setting yourself up for a positive and fulfilling life.

Small actions can make a big difference. Don't be discouraged by the size of your actions; they can have a significant impact on someone's life.

School Breakfast Clubs Program

Exciting news from IPS; we are now part of the school breakfast clubs program run by Foodbank in partnership with the state government.

More information will follow next term, however, at this point we are asking if anyone in our community has a large fridge/freezer or one or the other that they would like moved on to the school to support this amazing initiative.

If you can help please contact Nick King directly either at school or via the main office phone.

Student led fundraiser and club

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.

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 close of business Friday 19 September 2025.

A New Shed - Parents making a difference.

A HUGE thank you to Kieran, Mike, Jordan, Denny and Tim who answered the call and helped Leo put up the new OSHC shed. Not quite just putting the roof on as the job had been described to me. Rather assembling the whole thing. Thank you on behalf of the IPS School Community.

Finally

Thank you to our wonderful community of families, teachers, and staff for making this term a success. With some time off from school to reset and recharge, the holidays are a special time for families to spend time together.

Some parents worry about filling the long days with their children. However, it can often be a matter of being inspired and getting organised. Here is a link to a whole lot of ideas for Melbourne School Holiday activities that children both big and small might enjoy.

https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/family-and-kids/school-holidays