From the Principal

Welcome to IPS

To our valued students in Year 3 and Year 5,  

During Week 7 and 8 of this term, you will sit your NAPLAN tests.  

Before you take these tests there is something very important for you to know. This test does not assess all of what makes each of you exceptional and unique. The mark you get from these tests will tell you how you did on that day, but they won't tell you everything.   

NAPLAN can't tell you that you have persisted and improved on something you used to find difficult.   

NAPLAN can't tell you that you brighten up your teacher’s day but we know you do.   

NAPLAN can't tell you how amazingly special you are but we know you are.  

The people who mark these tests don't know that you may love to sing, that you may love to draw, that you help your friends when they need you. They don't know that some of you can dance, speak another language, play music, are good at chess or can speak confidently in front of your class or at assembly.   

They do not know that you participate in sports or that you help your mum or dad or that you play with your little brother, sister or cousins. They do not know that you are caring, thoughtful and that every day you come to school to do your best, because these attributes cannot be tested.   

So, when you come to school ready to do your best at NAPLAN remember, “There is no one way to test all of the wonderful things that make you, YOU!”  

Thank you,  

Your teachers at Ivanhoe Primary School.  

NAPLAN timetable

Cubby House Number 2

Thanks once again to  Box Hill Senior Secondary College and Principal Warren Dawson for  Cubby House Number 2.  A most welcome addition to the Foundation play area. 

BHSSC runs several high end programs in the Arts, Sports Academies (Basketball, AFL/AFLW & Tennis) and also offers an industry-based training program for students from Years 9-12, which features a Trade Training Precinct. 

The cubbies are a part of the VET Building and Construction curriculum, related to the national training standards. The workmanship is clearly excellent. Thanks again to the Building and Construction teacher, Richard and his talented students who have built both  cubby houses as a part of their course of study.

Once again a HUGE thank you to our IPS parents Nathan and Kieran  for once again collecting  and helping get it into place. It will need painting at some point but the undercoat will stop the timbers deteriorating for now.

Working Bee Wrap Up

THANK YOU. We had the most participation by families since pre COVID.  

We had helpers to make sure all tasks were completed; including the very professional installation of 32 bike racks near the basketball court and the painting of the Cubby House in the Year 1 area. 

Other works completed include; pruning/weeding of the gardens around the gym and foundation playground, whipper snipping the grass behind OSHC, cleaning the drink troughs, topping up of soft-fall around the play equipment on the oval, raking and cleaning up the sand pits  (including the long jump pit), trimming low hanging branches along internal fence line and cleaning out of the old recycle bins, as well as staking and planting shrubbery in the raised garden beds across from and near the Treehouse.

Working Bees are quite a social event and there's generally a sausage sizzle BBQ cooked by a member of the principal class team. This time it was Mr King turning the snags.

Please diarise the Term 2 Working Bee - Saturday the 17th May 3pm - 5pm and join us.

School Review - Update

Day 1 of the School Review saw the Panel review the schools performance against the previous School Strategic Plan. The Panel visited Year 4 and Year 6 classrooms and observed maths lessons before visiting junior literacy sessions. 

The Panel validated self assessments against the departments standards of Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Assessment and Engagement.

The Panel met with focus groups of students and parents across the day.  

Day 2 of the School Review saw the Panel visit Year 3 and Year 5 classrooms and observe Literacy lessons. The panel met with Education Support staff, Teachers and more students focussing on teaching, learning and well-being.

Day 3 is the final day of the review process and is scheduled for Wednesday the 12th of March. What will follow will be a new set of long term goals and key implementation strategies to guide our journey over the next four years.

Pam and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all staff and teachers for their dedication and valuable contributions throughout the school review process. Their  insights, professionalism, and commitment to continuous improvement have been truly commendable.

A special thank you to the teachers who welcomed the panel into their classrooms to observe the learning in action. Your openness and willingness to showcase your teaching practices reflect the strength of our learning community and our collective commitment to excellence.

The thoughtful discussions, collaboration, and shared expertise of students, staff and parents throughout this process have reinforced what makes our school community so strong — our passion for student learning and well-being.

Thank you for your time, energy, and unwavering support. Your contribution is truly appreciated, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this review on our school's future.

Mural

The mural that the students had input into is really taking shape. It is getting a lot of attention from the students. Our Artist Lee is there most days so the students can ask her questions and see the progress first hand. Be sure to check it out when you are picking up or dropping off your children. It's the retaining wall neat the Hall and the Canteen.

Parent Payment Contribution

While all Government schools receive funding, IPS runs many programs  and resources that rely on the parent voluntary contribution. We are yet to meet many of our budget targets, including digital learning technologies and curriculum contributions. If you are still considering to what level, you are able to support the school program please also consider the educational benefits the contribution affords every child at our wonderful school. The form is at this link.

School Photos - 21st March 

School photography day is coming up soon. Sibling, group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below. 

Three easy payment methods: Visa, MasterCard or PayPal 

To order, visit: www.advancedlife.com.au And enter online order code: TMA QV8 A9V 

• Online orders - Do not require an envelope 
• Sibling Photos - Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. We provide your school with a list of sibling orders right up to the day of photography. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope, found with the photographers first thing in the morning on photography day to the photographer. Please also inform the school so they are aware to schedule your children in for a photograph. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at your school. Please note not all schools offer sibling photos. 
• Late fees – A late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately. Please refer to the cut-off date on the flyer. 
• Package delivery - School photographs will be delivered approximately 8-10 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing, the post-production process and additional photography days at your school. 
• Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advancedorder site, click on the “Order School Photos Here” button. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9-digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past. 

advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to Ivanhoe Primary School for placing your trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience as fast as possible, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience, please contact us at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact. 

Class Rep Q & A - Every Class needs a rep

Find out a little more about being a class rep from Emily, who has done this a few times!

Emily's Q & A 

Is it a lot of work?

Like most volunteer roles, you completely control how much time you commit to being a class rep at IPS. 

Even just assisting in setting up a class WhatsApp group for all of your class’s parents and carers to join is a fantastic way of connecting the parent and carer cohort. 

Wait a minute. It’s a Fair year – doesn’t that mean there will be SO much to do?!

Not at all! There is one extra task added to your responsibilities in a Fair year (more on this below), but ultimately, it is the responsibility of the Fair Committee to run and organise the Fair.

So what is this extra “Fair responsibility” you speak of?

Your class will be assigned a stall to run at the Fair by the Fair committee. There are many ‘how to’ guidelines and instructions relating to your particular stall which the Fair Committee will provide you and guide you through, however the main duty you will be responsible for is liaising with all parents and carers in your class to create a roster of who can help run the stall on the day. If there are enough volunteers, it is possible to be allotted only 30 minutes of stall duty – plenty of time remaining to enjoy the Fair with your family. Quite often, two classes are assigned to run the one stall so you have plenty of people to support with what needs to be done.

What about producing an artwork masterpiece with the class for auction at the Fair?

 Not this year! The Fair Committee has decided that this is no longer the responsibility of the Class Rep but do not fear! Each class will still be producing wonderful pieces of art to raise extra money at the Fair, however, creation of each masterpiece will happen under the guidance and leadership of the class teacher (with any parent assistance entirely optional).

Hmm, ok, I’m thinking about it…

Excellent! We would love you to be a Class Rep this year. Please reach out to your class teacher on Dojo to let them know. It is a wonderful way to connect with, and assist in connecting, the IPS community; something we all value and may it long continue…

Please help.

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.

Finally

Schools and families face challenges ensuring the digital safety and wellbeing of children. The increasing number of apps solely designed to manipulate children is very disturbing and schools are often on the back foot as they are dealing with challenges as, and when they they arise. However, IPS endeavours to be proactive by running professional learning for staff on curriculum days and at staff meetings. We want to support families and parents as well.

Last night 25 families attended our IPS Cybersafety evening. Steven Villani from Evolve Education provided practical advice and tools as well as exploring opportunities to test some potential responses and solutions.

On the left are some research articles you might like to google.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mark Kent

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.