Welcome to IPS

Our community and the commitment of our teachers, staff and students make IPS a very special school. There is always something exciting going on and the best way to keep informed is to read the newsletter, monitor COMPASS and keep an eye on Class Dojo.

Talking to your children is also a great way to find out what is going on at school so you don't miss events.

We have a Working Bee coming up on the 28th of February and there will be plenty of tasks to be done after the long summer break. We have a new School Council so head over to the IPS School Council page to see who's who.

Every class NEEDS a Parent Rep. A role description is on the Parent Representative page. We are also compiling a database of parent volunteers so if you have a skill or interest that might benefit your child's school please let the office staff know.

The PFA will be meeting soon and are looking for new members (and a convener). A program of events for everyone has been loosely mapped out on the PFA News page along with a heartfelt plea from myself and Miss Kelly for assistance.

House Captains and Vice Captains will be attending a Leadership Conference in March (GRIP) at the Melbourne Convention Centre . We have a reminder about the importance of the Parent Payment Contribution. Some advice on the best times to approach teachers. All this is just on this page!

You should also check out the Student Voice page for contributions from the students, our Stars of the Week page and discover who our Semester One Junior school Councillors. Our JSC reps will receive their badges at Monday's assembly on the 16th of February.

Parent Payment Contribution

While all government schools receive base funding, IPS provides a wide range of enhanced programs and resources that rely on parent voluntary contributions. At this stage, we have not yet met several of our budget targets, including those supporting digital learning technologies and key curriculum programs.

If you are still considering the level at which you are able to contribute, we ask that you reflect on the significant educational benefits these contributions provide for every child at our wonderful school. Your support directly enriches learning opportunities across classrooms and specialist areas.

Further information is available via this link.

The contribution form can also be downloaded.

IPS School Council

Welcome to Andrew McDonald, Anthony Sekulov, Catherine Granger, Jane Dowling and Marta Kondarios, who join Jenna Milligan, Meiliana Lukman, Naomi Ewington and Justine Convery in their second year as School Councillors.

Alongside Nick King, Pam Wright and Mark Kent, they form your duly elected 2026 School Council.

Meeting dates and further information can be found on the IPS School Council page, which will be updated regularly throughout the year.

Traffic Safety - The Kiss & Go zone

Traffic is a big issue for our school particularly at drop off and pick up.

Important Traffic & Parking Reminder

The widened area of Ailsa Grove at the bottom of the hill is designed for turning vehicles. It is not a parking space. Please be patient and wait your turn to use the turning circle, and refrain from using neighbouring driveways.

We kindly ask families to allow enough time for drop-off and pick-up so there is no need to rush. Please remember that reversing carries an inherent risk and significantly increases the likelihood of an accident.

Kiss & Go Zone Reminder

The Kiss & Go zone is a short-term stopping area. Drivers may stop for no longer than two minutes while students enter or exit the vehicle from the kerbside doors.

During peak periods, drivers must remain in their vehicle at all times and may not leave it unattended.

Did you know?

The Kiss & Go area is not a parking space. Fines and demerit points apply if a vehicle is left unattended for longer than two minutes. Bylaws officers regularly patrol the area during peak times. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep our students, families, and neighbours safe.

Celebrations and sharing food

For reasons relating to food allergies, student safety and the significant financial impact on some families, we respectfully request that under no circumstances are birthday cakes, cupcakes, sweets, gifts or toys to be brought onto school grounds — including within the OSHC program.

Our staff have a range of thoughtful and inclusive strategies to acknowledge and celebrate students’ special days in ways that ensure all children feel safe and included.

I apologise if this request may seem firm; however, the wellbeing and safety of every student must always remain our primary concern. We encourage families to consider celebrating birthdays and other special events at home or in a local park where you can do so freely.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Many of our students are anaphylactic and food allergens pose a very real threat.

SunSmart - BRING YOUR HAT TO SCHOOL

We are a registered SunSmart school and children must wear wide brimmed hats in Term One and Term Four. Children without hats will be directed to the shade cloth areas at the top of the school near the Waterdale Rd building. Hats are required for Physical Education classes and Sport.

(Click this sunsmart link)

2026 Term 1 Working Bee 28th February 3pm-5pm

Working Bee – We’d Love Your Support!

Please come along to our upcoming Working Bee. In the lead-up to the day, a job sheet will be published online outlining the tasks to be completed, with an opportunity for families to nominate an area they would like to assist with.

Students who lend a hand will earn house points for their efforts, and we’ll be firing up the BBQ with a sausage sizzle to thank everyone for their support.

We look forward to seeing you there!

PFA Events & Community Building Opportunities

Parents and Friends Association (PFA)

IPS is proud of our wonderful Parents and Friends Association (PFA), which plays an important role in bringing our school community together. Through events, fundraising and shared initiatives, the PFA helps create strong connections between families and supports great experiences for our students.

We’re currently looking for parents and carers who may like to get involved in the PFA in one of the following ways:

PFA Convenor

We are seeking a friendly and enthusiastic Convenor to help lead and support the PFA.

The role involves:

Coordinating and running PFA meetings
Supporting the organisation of school events and activities
Encouraging parent involvement and participation
Helping create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all families

This role can be shared between two people, making it flexible and manageable.

Committee Members

We are also inviting parents and carers to join the PFA as committee members. Committee members help by:

Sharing ideas and helping shape school events
Building connections and friendships within our school community
Supporting projects that directly benefit students and staff
Developing skills in teamwork, communication and event planning

Being part of the PFA is a rewarding way to contribute to school life, meet other families and make a positive difference.

If you’re interested in getting involved or would like to know more, we would love to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Mark Kent and Sue Kelly

Check the PFA News page for upcoming events!

Know Our Values & Be Proud of our School

Persistence - Not giving up when things become challenging.

Persistence is not giving up, having more than one go at something, trying again when you get something wrong or just practicing to do your best.

Resilience - Being able to recover quickly from setbacks.

Resilient people often feel good about themselves. There is a difference between people who bounce back easily and those who get frustrated. If you can learn to bounce back you’ll do better at everything in life.

Confidence - Believing in yourself and what you can achieve.

Self-confidence is the belief in yourself and in your abilities. That you can do it. When you experience success, you feel good inside and you want to do better.

Independence – Being able to achieve things on your own.

Our aim is to ensure that every student is able to develop into an adult capable of looking after themselves, to thrive on the challenges that life throws at us, to experiment sensibly with risks and develop your own ways of doing things successfully.

Respect - Showing consideration for others.

Respect is thinking and acting in a way that shows others you care about their feelings and their well-being.

Junior School Council

Our Junior School Councillors will be presented with their badges at the Assembly on Monday the 16th of February. Meet the JSC.

Environmental Leaders and Specialist Leaders

Our Environmental Leaders and Specialist Leaders will be presented with their badges at the Assembly on Monday the 23rd of February.

Volunteering in, and out, of the classroom

Each class needs a class representative to help get things done! Contact your child's teacher if you are interested. If you're happy to help out every now and again, or you're interested in social get-togethers, you might want to consider adding your contact details to your child's class rep list. Keep a look out for the request coming soon!

We welcome and value families who would like to volunteer with us. Take a look at our classroom helpers information along with our Child Safe Volunteer information and please do volunteer. You'll find it really rewarding.

Staying Safe Online

Staying safe online is everyone’s business. In doing some reading into resources available online I came across the following link where you may find some practical hints to help you help your child.

"Threats to children’s internet safety include invasion of privacy, cyberbullying, sexting and harassment. Options to protect your children include parental controls, apps and tracking software. But the most effective way to keep your kids safe is to talk with them about online risks, how to avoid them and how they can come to you when something goes wrong."

I am not endorsing any of their products, just flagging it as useful information to consider.

consumernotice.org/data-protection/internet-safety-for-kids/

Finally

Our official school communication channel is via COMPASS. It is recommended that you download the mobile COMPASS app so that you get alerts and don't miss important messages.

Our Meet the Teacher sessions (Wednesday 18th February) for families of students in years 1 to 6 (only) will be open for families to book a session on COMPASS on Thursday 12th February. COMPASS bookings will on close on Monday 16th February at 4pm.

Please contact us if you're having difficulties with using COMPASS. We always happy to help.

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.

Italian

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