Welcome to IPS

School tours

This week we reinstituted school tours for propective families for the first time in over a year. Three tours were conducted for families by our senior students. The feedback from our visitors on the capacity of our students to give them a glimpse inside our great school was extremely positive.

Our students are proud of their school as we are proud of them.

The next round of school tours for propective families are scheduled for Thursdsay 22nd of April. 9.30am, 10am and 10.30am. Bookings through the school office.

School Review

The school review is all but completed. The final steps will be to take advice from the reviewer and the panel on the formulation of the next School Strategic Plan. A formal report will be published in the newsletter and on the school website after it has been tabled at School Council. Below is a snapshot of the context and the work.

The School Review is an independent, objective, consistent and reliable view of the school’s performance that involves staff, parents, students and members of the Department of Education led by an independent facilitator.

The previous Strategic Plan included key improvement strategies to move each student to the next point on the appropriate learning continuum, and incorporating effective curriculum planning and evidence-based instructional practices that work, in every classroom.

The review confirmed that implementation of IPS practice had promoted successful learning for all students. The comparatively strong 2019 NAPLAN and teacher assessment results combined with information indicating effective strategy implementation provided evidence for the Panel to reach this conclusion on final validation day.

Feedback from parents during the focus group meeting endorsed the picture painted by the 2019 and 2020 Parent Opinion Survey data. Parents generally made positive comments on the variety and effectiveness of media and apps used by the school for communication with them.

Parents illustrated how the school had been able to pivot in the COVID-19 lockdown and remote learning context to ensure effective communication occurred. Some parents highlighted this as a strength, mention that the school’s strong communication frameworks helped support parents and students. While this was the general perception, some mixed ‘lived’ experiences were mentioned—citing variation in communication approaches, frequency, and effectiveness across the school.

Parents specifically highlighted the school support of student wellbeing. This was a strong focus endorsed by parents with links drawn between high levels of wellbeing and student learning and other student outcomes. Support was highlighted through mention of the school climate generally, and a range of specific activities. The latter included extra-curricula programs including the music program, robotics, and sport. Student leadership opportunities were also highlighted as a positive feature of the school.

As you can see the review is a very comprehensive tool. The end result will be a series of recommendations and goals to help us continually improve our practice.

There are always areas for school improvement but the school review experience has validated the collective work of the staff at Ivanhoe Primary School of which we can all be justifiably proud.

What do we value?

Another video in our student voice and agency series.

Hana in Year 6 speaks about what opportunities she likes about Ivanhoe Primary School.

JSC report

There is a Free Dress Day next Monday 29th March.

Sensible shoes and wide brim hats must be worn. (No open toed shoes)

Reminders

Barefoot Bowls is this weekend!! 3pm Sunday at Ivanhoe Bowls Club (John St). If you forgot to register, DON"T WORRY! You can still come - just bring your $10 cash to the Bowls and give it to Cat on Sunday.

The Premiers' Reading Challenge is back. See the PRC page of this newsletter.

Finally

Teasing

Returning to school has posed some challenges. In the absence of opportunities to socialise some children have found it difficult to resume friendships and play sensibly.

There has been a slight increase in incidences of teasing and less respect for individual differences. Most times, when inappropriate behaviours are pointed out to students that is enough to get everyone back on track.

How you can help

I would appreciate it if all parents would be vigilant regarding lapses in sensible language and use any opportunity to encourage self-reflection and fair play in everyday interactions but especially at school.

Devices and the web

There have been a couple of incidents where inappropriate internet surfing has resulted in anxiety for some students. While we can control the school internet access, we rely on families to keep children safe at home. It might be time to remind your child(ren) that cyber safety agreements are for home as well as school.

How you can help

I have put four tips as conversation starters for parents on the Internet Safety page of this newsletter.

Access in Term 2

I am hopeful that next term we can ease on site restrictions further and allow access to school assemblies and other currently closed events. Staff and students have been flexible and accomodating in adjusting programs and behaviours to make our school work. Of that I am extremely proud.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Mark Kent

Principal

National Ride2School Day

Wrap up!