Welcome back to IPS

Term 2 begins with a re-focus on learning. Apart from one wet day the sun has been shining and we have been able to relax some of our procedures and rules related to COVID. Gate restrictions have eased and parents are now able to come into the school grounds to drop off and pick up their children.

If you are interested in the local high schools and their Open Days etc I will put them on the Community News page if and when i receive them.

It has been an absolute pleasure to have the time to stop and chat with families in the mornings and afternoons and to witness how quickly our community is bouncing back and supporting one another after a year that none of us wish repeated.

While it is important to be mindful that simple practices around hand washing and social distancing are simple measures we can all take to keep each other safe we can be grateful to live in a country that is well placed to continue to thrive and be healthy.

CELEBRATIONS AND SHARING FOOD For reasons relating to food allergies, health and safety, as well as the significant financial impost, families are respectfully requested that under NO circumstances are you to supply birthday cakes, cupcakes, sweets, gifts and toys etc. on school grounds – including at the OSHC program. I apologise in advance if this seems harsh, but the wellbeing of every student must be our primary concern. Consider celebrating birthdays and other events at a local park or in your own home.

Be mindful that many of our students are anaphylactic and food allergens pose a very real threat.

Our IPS School Values of Respect, Independence, Confidence, Resilience and Persistence are being applied and promoted in every classroom as well as in the playground. Welcome back to school. We are stronger when we work together.

Open Invitation to "The Beehive"

On Wednesday the 28th of April at 9.30am the State Labor Member for Ivanhoe, Anthony Carbines, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Carers & Volunteers will officially open our Senior School Building. Also present will be representation from the Department of Education, Maddison Architects, McColl Smith constructions and project management from the VSBA.

Students, staff and community will assemble on the soccer pitch in front of The Beehive for the ribbon cutting event.. All welcome.

ANZAC DAY

This Anzac Day we’ll come together, in person and in spirit, to commemorate the men and women who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

The Australian War Memorial has created some opportunities for school students to commemorate and learn online on this important day. (See the ANZAC DAY page)

Students have been involved in ANZAC activities throughout the week and Year 6 will hold a small presentation at next Monday's assembly where the school will hold a minutes silence for those who served in all conflicts.

Capital Works

Rather than try to grow grass on our oval from seed we opted to lay a hardy turf which should be ready to use in about 5 weeks. The younger students are busy looking after our new grasses and other flora using the watering cans we purchased in bulk from Bunnings. The way the students have embraced looking after their environment is admirable.

School Photos

There are still some group photos to be completed and these have been scheduled for April the 30th in the morning. If your child is part of a leadership group or choir these photos will be taken then. If you are unsure then please call the office.

Classroom Helper Program suspended for now

Previously parents had to undertake a school provided parent training program to help in the classroom. Due to COVID restrictions and changes to some of the ways in which our teaching practices are structured this program will not run in 2021.

We believe that parent assistance and shared expertise is very valuable so we are currently discussing how we might create and encourage these partnerships and have you involved in the school programs without risking health and safety.

Shortly an online / PowerPoint will replace the face to face training (for now) and will be made available once we have developed it. Stay tuned for updates.

After familiarising yourself with the PowerPoint you can then approach your child's teacher to explore the ways you can support the class.

This is an exciting development that we look forward to putting into place as soon as possible!

2020 Annual Report to the Community

The 2020 Annual Report was presented last night to the School Council and interested community members. The 2020 Annual Report includes the following information:

School Profile

student enrolment information
the school’s ‘Student Family Occupation and Education’ category
a summary of parent responses in the Parent Opinion Survey, shown against the statewide average for Primary schools
school staff responses in the area of School Climate in the School Staff Survey, shown against the statewide average for Primary schools

Achievement

English and Mathematics for Teacher Judgements against the curriculum
English and Mathematics for National Literacy and Numeracy tests (NAPLAN).

Note: NAPLAN tests were not conducted in 2020

Engagement

Student attendance at school

Wellbeing

Student responses to two areas in the Student Attitudes to School Survey:

Sense of Connectedness
Management of Bullying

Results are displayed for the latest year and the average of the last four years (where available).

Now endorsed by School Council the 2020 Annual Report is accessable on the school website. Click Here.

Needless to say we are very proud of our staff and what they were able to achieve in a very difficult year. It is not lost on the staff the part parents and students played in the the learning process. School is a partnership between staff and families. The results speak for themselves. Ivanhoe Primary school is a local school in a global village and we can all be proud of our school and our students.

THERE IS A FAIR PLANNING MEETING ON WEDNESDAY THE 12TH OF MAY.

Finally

As restrictions ease remember there are still some rules:

Only parents / grand parents of students receiving awards or special acknowledgement will be able to attend school assemblies in the hall on a Monday morning.

Please note children must not come to school before 8.45am as they will not be supervised (unless they are attending strings lessons with Liz Bonetti or choir with Mrs Morrow).

Parents can only enter classrooms with an appointment and must sign in at the office for Covid tracing purposes.

Only pedestrian gates will be open from next week.

While we encourage students to enter and exit through their current gates we acknowledge that this has proved difficult for some families so entry and exit will be family choice. Rather than have a staff member on most gates there will be 2 or 3 roving staff on duty from 8.45am.

Students are supervised after school until 3.45pm at which time they will be enrolled in the OSHC program and a fee may be charged.

Great to see everyone back at school.

Mark Kent

Principal

Community News

Updated

Chess is back next week

Open Day at Kew High School

Native Plant & Book Sale