From the Principal

Welcome to IPS

National Reconciliation Weeks runs from 27th May to 3rd June.  It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. It is a time for us to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. 

This week a focus of our learning has centred around understanding histories, cultures and achievements and strengthening respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Student's created purple Native Hibiscus (the symbol of Sorrto decorate the entrance to the school

On Monday, myself and Ms Fray along with a group of students, attended the National Sorry Day Healing ceremony on  at Malahang Reserve.  Along with students from many other local schools, we listened to Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Charles speak and explain the meaning behind Bridging the Gap and Sorry Day as a National Day of Healing, to commemorate the Stolen Generations. Whilst the mayor of Banyule Council, Elizabeth Nealy gave a speech about ongoing efforts towards reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. 

We then particpated in the smoking ceremony where we learned about how smoke is used to cleanse and how we should cleanse the soles of our feet with smoke as our feet are in contact with country.

Rondelle teaching Mrs Wright how use the smoke to cleanse.

The afternoon culminated in a Dreamtime performance, with Aboriginal music and dance. Students were taught how to perform some of dances and in the photos below you can see how they perfected the kangaroo, the lazy kangaroo and the emu!

Last Saturday's Working Bee

The working bee last Saturday saw families give up their time to help out and complete some much needed work.  Whilst it was a smaller crew of volunteers this time, we did get through the list of jobs. On Monday morning, students came into a tidy school yard with some well-tended plants and new plants, lots of extra mulch under playgrounds to provent injuries to children,  as well as some new soccer nets and our oldest cubby house near the Bee Hive got a makeover!

The school grounds are so lovely that a couple of Tawny Frogmouth Owls have decided to make it home right in front of mine and Mr Kent's office!

Thank you to the families who generously gave up their time to help out. 

Last Chance to Buy Trivia Raffle Tickets

If you can't make it to the PFA Trivia Night this Saturday you can still support our fundraising initiative by purchasing tickets in our Trivia Night Raffle.   Look out in the school yard on Friday for your last chance to buy tickets!

Amazing prize packs to be won! All funds raised will be added to our proceeds from Trivia Night and go towards purchasing a new portable stage for the use of all IPS students at music events, graduations and performances.

Are you going to be a lucky winner? 

Liquid-filled fidgets to School are a 'no-no'.

Students are not to bring liquid-filled fidgets to school. We had one explode last week, luckily in the toilets, and we just don’t know what’s in them. If it happens in the classroom the goop and soft beads that look like popping pearls/sweets go everywhere. 

Fidget toys are generally fine but not those filled with fluids or beads.

Chess Tournament

Northern Star Chess are hosting an interschool chess tournament at Viewbank Primary School on Tuesday 17th June.  (See details on our Community Page.)

We will be hosting another interschool chess tournament on 14th August, here at IPS.  Keep an eye out in forthcoming newsletters for details.

Talking the Talk - a parent seminar

Based on more than 25 years experience as a Sexual Health Nurse & over 18 years as a Sexuality Educator, Vanessa and the team have designed inclusive education presentations and resources to suit a large variety of ages, diversity and situations.

Based on current research, literature and resources, combined with real life experiences of the tens of thousands of conversations Vanessa has had with people about sex and sexuality, TTT sessions provide a foundation for positive child, adolescent & adult sexuality.

Recycling Bottles and Cans

Do you recycle your bottles and cans. IPS has partnered with CDS Vic for some time and has raised  $524 just by recycling bottles and cans. You can download the AP join up and have your recycling contribute to the IPS total. All money goes to student programs including camps and excursions. 

CDS Vic is part of the Victorian Government's $515 million investment to transform the state's waste and recycling sector. Funded by contributions from the beverage industry, the scheme contributes to Victoria's target of diverting 80% of all material away from landfill by 2030 and represents a significant milestone in our journey towards a circular economy.

Victorians use more than 3 billion drink containers every year. Sadly, many are not recycled, ending up in landfill and as litter in local communities across our state.

CDS Vic aims to:

• Increase recycling and reduce litter, cleaning up our environment
• Be convenient and accessible with many types and locations of refund points across Victoria
• Bring new jobs and economic opportunities for individuals, charity and community groups

Find out how to get involved at https://cdsvic.org.au/donating  search Ivanhoe Primary School in the search donation partners box under the category of education.

Ivanhoe Park Upgrade

Banyule council have plans to upgrade Ivanhoe Park as part of the Ivanhoe Sports Precinct Pland and Banyule Youth Space Plan.  They are interested to hear from young people about the type of youth space they would like to see and how they would use it.

You can have your say either at one the of pop ups at Ivanhoe park on:

• Saturday 31 May, 11am – 12 noon
• Sunday 15 June, 11am – 12 noon

Alternatively, by visiting the Banyule City Council engagement page.

School Tour Dates

Are you looking to join us for Foundation in 2026?  

Bookings are now being taken for school tours with a Principal in Terms 2 and 3:

All tour times are from 12pm to 12.45pm. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning the office on 9499 1880.

Finally

This afternoon, we hosted 40 children at our second Kinder Playdate of the year. Children came along with a parent to enjoy some playtime with our Foundation students.  During the playdates, the pre-school children learn a little bit about school, classrooms and teachers with the aim of familiarising themselves and feeling happy and comfortable about coming to school before our official transition program begins.   

Just look at how settled our visitors are!

There is another playdate scheduled for 12th June.  Please call the office to book a place. Next term, we invite local kinders to bring along their students for a number of excursions to our school to find about what is like to learn and play at IPS!

Don't forget, enrolments for Foundation in 2026 are now open.  Please get your enrolment forms in as soon as possible. 

If you have a child of a current student beginning next year, please don't wait until later in the year to enrol as early accurate figures allow us to plan classes and staff appropriately. 

Thank you for your continued 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.