Principal report
Dear Parents and Carers
RETURN TO SCHOOL
It has been great to have everyone back together at school this week. Its obvious students are pleased to be back with their friends, their teachers, and their routines. The school welcomes two new students, Rahni in Year 3 and Tilly in Year 1.
LEVEL 3 RESTRICTIONS FOR PARENTS
The school is still operating under Level 3 restrictions….so, a big thank you to our wonderful parents for not entering the school grounds and to kiss and drop the students off outside the school gate. The same applies at the 3.00 pm pick up time. We appreciate your support. If you are collecting your child/ren in the afternoon, students will only be able to leave the school grounds if you are in line of sight. Please make sure that your child/ren know which gate you will be collecting them from. I will let you know when parents are allowed back on site and update you on any other changes that may occur.
As part of Level 3 restrictions, during class breaks students are sitting together and playing only with their classroom cohorts, in specific designated areas. These play areas rotate each day. For example,
Coloured balls - (Kindergarten / Year 1)
Handball courts - (Year 2 and 3)
Ninja Warrior Course / Library- (Year 4)
Tennis / Basketball courts - (Year 5)
Back Oval - (Year 6)
Assemblies
Formal Friday Whole School Assemblies will be discontinued until further notice. We are holding a small morning assembly on Monday’s, in classroom groups, outside only under the shade sails.
Personal hygiene / Water bubblers
We are regularly reminding students about hand washing and sanitation. Our cleaning staff are doing additional daily sanitisation of high touch areas such as desks. We are also reminding students of the need to cover coughs and sneezes. While imperative for Covid-19, these small processes are standard good hygiene practice anyway.
As well, please be aware that our water bubblers have been turned off to reduce the risk of cross infections. Iced cool water is always available from our serviced water fountain in front of the Tuckshop. To use this it does mean that all students are required to bring their own water bottle each day. Please assist students to make this a part of their daily morning organisation.
Cancelled events and activities
As previously advised (and in accordance with current rules), the following planned events are now cancelled:
Native stingless bees
Australia’s own native honey bees, Tetragonula and Austroplebeia, are tiny (3 - 5 mm), black and stingless and have made a lovely hive inside one of our Cypress Pine trees on the back oval. While I seek further advice from the Department I have placed a small area out-of-bounds from the students. While the school does not have any reported students who are anaphylactic, we need to be vigilant and aware. Please let the office know if this may affect your child.
“How was your day?”
Let’s change the way we talk to our kids when they get home. Instead of “How was your day?”, or “How was school?” try asking something else! Here are some suggestions:
What was the best part of your morning session?
What was the best part of your play time today?
Who did you sit next to while you ate your lunch?
What was something kind that you did for someone today?
What work are you most proud of that you did today?
Kindergarten 2022
We are now accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2022. If you have child ready to begin school, you are welcome to collect an enrolment from the school office or alternatively you can apply online at
https://979973f0-2e79-4924-92db-b33beaed046c.filesusr.com/ugd/736b54_96be50dcd1fa42aa9f82fcfeed3a35c7.pdf.
School tours can be organised through the office on 6646 6149. We have had to adjust our Kindergarten Transition Program due to current restrictions. Please see the attached flyer for amended dates. Students must be enrolled to take part in our Transition to school program. We are looking forward to seeing everyone for our first transition on Wednesday 27 October, from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.
2022 Enrolments
It is now increasingly important that families seek to secure enrolments for the coming year. School planning is already underway for 2022 in the background of our operations. To be able to best prepare for our students, their classes, and the allocation of school resources, it is most beneficial to have a firm understanding of student numbers for the new year. If your child will not be returning next year please either advise myself or their classroom teacher.
Attendance
Even with Covid restrictions, all students and staff are expected to be at school unless they are unwell. Every day counts. Getting to school on time and regular attendance helps students to:
develop a sense of belonging
develop and maintain friendship
be more engaged at school
progress with their learning
be more aware of career and life options
What small thing could you do to improve your child’s attendance from last term?
Staying connected
Please check the calendar at the top of our newsletter for our Upcoming Events. Don’t forget to download the School Stream App, our primary source of communication, so you don’t miss any news. You can also join us on Facebook for our social information.
Until the next newsletter ….. Phil
Wellbeing week 11-15 October
In support of national Mental Health Month, the DoE are celebrating Wellbeing Week from 11 - 15 October. This initiative offers students, parents and staff the opportunity to pause, and take time to reflect on ones wellbeing and consider the wellbeing of others. Parents can find the One-Stop-Shop of Wellbeing Week 2021 here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/wellbeing-week-11-15-october-2021
School hats for sale
You can now purchase your IPS school hat through the school office. These wide brimmed, Pemulwuy Microfibre surf style hats are $10.00 each and are sized in S/M or L/XL. Payment can be made via POP (please put child’s name & the word “hat” in the reference field), cash or EFTPOS at the office.
Class K/1 news
Home Reading - This week all students in Kindergarten and Year One have recommenced home reading.
Library - It is pleasing to see the majority of students bringing in their library books to exchange each week, however this term our class goal is to have 100% of students returning and borrowing on a weekly basis. Our class library day is once again on a Wednesday.
Water Bottles - It is important that students bring a water bottle to school daily. Due to Covid restrictions, the bubblers are not accessible at the moment.
Lynne
Class 2/3 News
Hello everyone,
I hope all is going along ok in your homes? If you need help please reach out for it. It is so important that during difficult times we look out for one another and support each other.
Our Class - is growing once again. Up to 21 students. The students really respond well to established routines. They like to know what is happening and how to achieve the desired outcomes. Ultimately with lots of positive encouragement they want to do their best and please. Thus, we continue to provide predictable routines whereby the children are building on established skills as well as learning new outcomes.
Homework - is a weekly task and is very manageable for all students to complete. It is given at the beginning of the week and returned on a Friday.
Home Readers - sit in a number of boxes in the classroom. It is up to your child to borrow these books and take them home. Then we hand it over to you. It is extremely obvious to us when we are doing reading groups in class what children have been practising reading aloud at home. We did discuss this with a lot of parents during our Term 1 interviews.
Have a great week. Di
Class 4 News
Hello everyone,
Water bottles - It is essential that students bring a water bottle to school every day. Due to Covid restrictions, the bubblers are not accessible at the moment. Students may refill their bottles from the water purifier as required throughout the day.
Homework - The new sheet has gone home today and is due back next Tuesday. I really encourage students to read at home on a daily basis. Students are often required to read aloud in front of their peers and regular reading assists them in gaining the confidence and skills to read in front of others.
Home Learning Packages - Please keep an eye out in your child’s bag this week for the purple folder containing all home learning packages that were undertaken last term. I can see students and their families spent many hours completing their work. All work has been marked, stamped and stickered and is worth having another look over.
Have a lovely week.
Kristy
Class 5 News
Hello everyone.
The class have settled in very well to their final term and I am happy to say that they have taken their work ethic to a new level. Well done A Team!
Writing - The students have commenced their unit on Poetry. They have been learning the difference between fixed and free verse. This week we are having fun with shape poetry and Raps!
Reading - The students are enjoying the story “Hitler’s Daughter”. It has provoked some great conversations on and around moral dilemma’s.
Homework - Homework sheets both Literacy and Numeracy were sent home yesterday. All sheets are to be completed and returned for marking on Friday.
Camp Refund - Notes for a full refund on deposits for the Canberra Excursion were sent home last week. Please ensure that you complete the form and send to school ASAP.
Water bottles - It is essential that students bring a water bottle to school every day. Due to Covid restrictions, the bubblers are not accessible at the moment. Students may refill their bottles from the water purifier as required throughout the day.
Have a great week
Bek
Class 6 News
Hi everyone. The students have returned to school settled and are working very hard in class - well done to all!
Great news - The final Transition Day to Maclean High School is going ahead on Wednesday October 27th. This is wonderful for our students. It will be a full day of activities this time and the students will share a BBQ as well. Note to follow.
Homework continues as usual.
All students must bring their own water bottle to school please.
The students are doing a unit of study on drugs and alcohol this term. I encourage all families to discuss with their child the many issues around drugs and alcohol.
If you have not yet done so, now is also the right time to initiate a respectful discussion about sex education with your child. I suggest beginning the talk with the human reproductive system and how reproduction occurs. This discussion should be in private without other siblings around and conducted in a supportive and informative manner. Having this conversation now may help to open the door for further conversations with your child around this topic as the teenage years progress.
Regards, Chris.
Library/Technology
BOOK CLUB
Issue number 7 of Book Club is now in circulation. There are plenty of options to choose from and also will help in getting you prepared for Christmas. I will be placing the final orders at the end of Week 4, so you have about 3 weeks to get your orders in via me in the library or via the online ordering system called LOOP.
Book fair
If Book Club doesn’t interest you, that is not a problem, because I have a Book Fair arriving at the end of Week 4. This will be a perfect opportunity to make some book purchases for Christmas, especially when your nearest book store is Grafton. You can save yourself $10 in fuel and make your purchases at our school. It is important to note that 30% of all purchases goes back to the school to buy new resources and improve your child’s school library.
Robotics and Teamwork
The years 4, 5 and 6 have all now created groups and have begun building their Mindstorm robots and designing a logo that will represent their robot. The students will first build the basic robot and then use their creativity to extend on that robot using lego and other materials found in the library. The students must design their logo on paper and then recreate it digitally using Canva. They will also be required to create a 3D design of their logo to be printed out with our 3D printer. All of these tasks will be achieved with a partner or in a group of 3. They will also be required to code their robot to maneuver through an obstacle course successfully.
I hope everyone has a great week and is enjoying the rain as much as my freshly urea fertilized grass is.
Mr Jones.
Tuckshop news
Unable to volunteer but wanting to help out? The IPS Tuckshop operates on a very minimal budget with all labour on a volunteer basis, with all proceeds raised each week going back directly to the school. In the past the Tuckshop funds have directly assisted in buying classroom sets of readers and assisted in covering excursion costs for buses (which are always enormous!). How can you help? By helping to lower costs, with food donations or operational items, the Tuckshop is able to donate more funds back to the school and it’s students. The Tuckshop uses items such as serviettes, disposable plastic teaspoons (which are washed and recycled each week), large garbage bags and brown paper lunch bags, to name a few, every week. Food items always in rotation are Cruskits, rice cakes, English muffins, Milo, Quelch icypoles and vegemite. The Tuckshop are also very happy to accept any surplus fruit or vegetables from home gardens, if anyone may have those.
If you could offer some time to assist in the tuckshop, or wish further information on ways to help, please see the Office Staff or contact Karla on 0405638768. Thank you
Banking news
School Banking takes place on Tuesdays.
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