8 February 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a brand new school year. In 2016, teachers are working extremely hard to plan programs that are future focused and positively engage students in their learning. Features of our quality teaching practice in 2016 will include the use of:

• Learning intentions & success criteria
• Learning goals clearly articulated and developed with students
• Quality feedback including self-assessment and peer critique systems and strategies

• Project-based, conceptual learning
• Differentiated/integrated learning
• Across stage groupings in Literacy and Numeracy
• Assessment ‘for’ learning and ‘of’ learning – Evidence-based approach

Thank you for your continued support of our school. Together we can achieve our vision of inspiring and nurturing successful lifelong learners.

To the families who have joined our school for the very first time in 2016, I extend to you a very warm welcome. I’m delighted that you have chosen to send your child/ren to St Ives Park Public School. To all those who are returning to SIPPS, welcome back.

Welcome Kindergarten 2016

What a great start! 25 excited Kindergarten students had their first day at SIPPS on Monday. They looked so ready for ‘big’ school and very smart in their new school uniforms - thank you parents! Thank you also to the Year 6 buddies for their caring support of our new Kindergarten students.

Thank you P&C parents

Last Monday, our P&C parents provided morning tea for the new parents. “New Start, New Connections” was a great success. New parents felt warmly welcomed and existing parents had a chance to meet new families to our school.

Classes & Staff 2016

Congratulations to students for displaying their personal best efforts and positive approach to transition back to school. Thank you also to all parents and teachers for promoting the positivity and resilience that is necessary for embracing change and challenges that coincide with the start of a new school year. The classes are listed with corresponding teachers’ names below:

KM – Kindergarten – Miss Moule
1/KA - Mrs Kathie Anderson (Assistant Principal K-2)
1E – Miss Stephanie Emerson
2FT- Mrs Melissa Field (Mon, Tues & Wed) and Mrs Stephanie Took (Thurs, Fri)
3S – Mrs Tahnee Shanahan
3/4F – Miss Amanda Forsyth
5/6G – Mr Christian Guzman
5/6H – Mrs Leanne Hayllar (Assistant Principal 3-6)

Support Staff & Office Staff

Learning & Support Teacher – Mrs Jeri Apter (Mon, Tues, Wed morning)
Teacher Librarian – Mrs Virginia Allman (Thurs, Fri)
EAL/D teacher – Mrs Naomi Duggan (Mon, Tues)
Music teacher – Mrs Judy Buckle (Tues, Wed)
LOTE Korean – Mrs Euna Park (Mon)
School Administration Manager – Mrs Trudi Morris
School Administration Officer – Mrs Susan Aylmer
General Assistant –Mr Ian Gilkes (Thurs & Friday fortnightly)
School Counsellor – Mrs Merryn Taplin (Wednesday fortnightly)

Executive Team:

We have in place an executive staff structure that allows for the leadership and co-ordination of the K-2 and 3-6 teams. If you have any issues, questions, concerns or support you should first contact your child’s class teacher, if you wish to pursue the matter further the Assistant Principal is your next point of contact and beyond this you may wish to make an appointment to see me.

Student Leadership Team :

I would like to again extend my congratulations to our student leadership Captains, Vice Captains, Prefects and House Captains. I look forward to working with these talented students this year as they represent all students at SIPPS.

Captains: Sean and Lua
Vice Captains: James and Zoe T
Prefects: Tyler W and Jessica

The 2016 House Captains are:-

Banksia David and Jude
Grevillea Zoe Y and Owen
Waratah Patrick and Alex

Our SRC leaders for 2016 are:

Lilla , Jimmy and Tahlia

Parent Information Evening

Please don’t miss the opportunity to meet your child/ren’s new class teacher and learn about important school/class routines, opportunities and expectations.

Date: Tuesday 16 February
Times & Locations:
5:30 – 6:30pm K-2 classrooms
6:30 – 7:00pm Whole school information in hall
7:00 – 8:00pm 3- 6 classrooms

Please be advised that teachers will not be available to answer questions about the progress of individual students during these sessions.

Band

After great success in expanding our school band program last year, Bandemonium will once again run our school band program in 2016. This year will see the introduction of a training band as well as a senior band for our more experienced students. The program commenced today for our junior band members. Senior band and tutorials start tomorrow, Tuesday 9 February. Please contact Bandemonium for further details go to:

Swimming Carnival

Once again this year, we have scheduled our school swimming carnival to take place at Galston Pool on Monday 15 February. The swimming carnival note was sent out to parents/carers of grades 3-6 and eligible students in grade 2 last week Monday.

Thank you

Our school community eco- garden is a wonderful initiative that was expanded last year thanks to our very active Eco-committee and parent volunteers. Thank you to parents and students, organised by Samantha Romer who generously gave their time during the summer holidays to look after the school’s chickens.

We need more volunteers from our school community to assist us in their ongoing upkeep of our gardens. We are calling for parents or grandparents who have some time to spend in the garden with students during the week to contact the school on 9144 4085.

School Information from A to Z

Please see the following link to the School a to z website. This is an informative site designed to provide parents with practical help relating to public schooling in NSW. It is available at the following link:

A number of messages follow as reminders about general operating matters. Please take the time to read and embrace them so we start and continue the year in a safe and successful way.

Best wishes

Gillian Tegg
Principal

GENERAL INFORMATION

Communication

The school’s newsletter (The Patter) is the main form of communication to parents. Please read it regularly. It will be emailed to each family every alternate Monday. You will also be able to access it on the school website

Please also download the schoolzine mobile app. Click the link for instructions:

School Times

Students are not permitted to be on premises prior to 8:40am unless they are booked into OOSH or have sports or music or dance training/practice. Supervision of students commences at 8:40am. Parents are asked to ensure that their children arrive at school between 8:40 and 9:05am. School commences at 9:10am. School concludes at 3:10pm for all students. All children must be collected by 3.10pm as staff supervision ceases at this time. Our ‘Helping Hands’ OOSH facility can take students on a casual basis who are not collected after 3:10pm if they have been registered. Registration is free and we encourage all parents to register their child.

Playground Equipment

Please note that the playground equipment is out of bounds for students after school unless they are directly supervised (clear line of sight) by a parent within 10 metres. At 3:30pm the OOSH is licensed to use the equipment and school grounds, so we ask that all children and families not attending OOSH to please leave the school grounds by 3:30pm.

Update to Parent Contact Information

The office needs to be notified of any changes to your personal details records immediately so that prompt contact can be made in emergencies. Please let the office know if you have changed any contact details.

Staff Car Park

This is strictly a no parking area. Car parking - Student Safety

Please park outside the school grounds where there is plenty of street parking. Please observe ‘no stopping’ and bus zones to ensure that you are not fined when the police or rangers make their patrols.

Medical Plans and Conditions

If your child is on a medical plan these need to be updated annually and signed by your doctor.

The DOE requires all students diagnosed with asthma to have a current Asthma Management Plan lodged with the school on an annual basis. Students with asthma should always carry or have available at Sick Bay appropriate medication, for example, reliever puffers. The same applies for Anaphylaxis and other Medical Conditions.

Anaphylaxis

This is a severe and sudden allergic reaction to foods, insect bites, medications and or latex products, which is life threatening. We have students at SIPPS who are allergic to peanuts and / or nuts. To assist us to manage their environment as safely as possible, we ask that you do not send your child to school with Peanut butter or Nutella and refrain from supplying snack bars or foods with nuts. Please reinforce our school policy about not sharing food with friends at school.

At SIPPs, we have some students who have allergies which are severe enough to warrant the use of an EpiPen (the emergency response) if they come into contact with the wrong foods. The safety of all St Ives Park Public School students is paramount and we ask that you please follow our request for a “nut free” school for these children.

Sun smart

All school students are required to bring and wear a school hat during outdoor activities including sport and playtime. No hat, play in the shade! All students need to protect themselves from UV radiation. Until around May UV levels in NSW are high. Protecting skin and eyes from UV in the first 15 years of life significantly reduces skin cancer risk later on. For more info about UV and protecting your skin, visit

Parents and Citizens Association

The Parents and Citizens Association fosters community interests in education, promotes closer liaison between the school and community and assists with providing school amenities and resources. Meetings are held monthly and advertised in the school newsletter. New families are welcome to attend as the P&C provides opportunities to meet other parents. The first scheduled meeting is Wednesday 17th February at 7:15pm in the staffroom.

Uniforms

SIPPS students proudly wear the red and green. Our Uniform Shop is run by parent volunteers and is located in the School Hall. Opening times are every second Wednesday in odd numbered weeks (i.e. 1, 3, 5 etc.) from 8.30am-9.30am. Further details about the school uniform are available from the school’s website. Students are requested to wear full school uniform which includes black school shoes.

Out Of School Hours (OOSH) Care

St Ives Park Public School is fortunate to have ‘Helping Hands’ providing a before and after school service. This important service is offered to you. If you or anyone you know requires this service please contact them on: Phone: 0475 838 226 or Email: stivespark@helpinghandsnetwork.com.au

Community Code of Conduct

It is important that we are all proactive in ensuring that our students enjoy a safe and harmonious school environment. It is up to all of us to model behaviour that is consistent with the school’s expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best. Please click here to see the SIPPS Community Code of Conduct.

Attendance Requirements

Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational potential and increase their career and life options. NSW public schools work in partnership with parents to encourage and support regular attendance of children and young people. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children.

Application for Extended Leave. Absences relating to travel will be marked as ‘Leave” on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year.

What if my child has to be away from school?

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:

• being sick, or having an infectious disease
• having an unavoidable medical appointment
• being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
• exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral)

Following an absence from school you must ensure that within 7 days you provide your child’s school with a written explanation for the absence. However, if the school has not received an explanation from you within 2 days, the school may contact you to discuss the absence.

Travel

Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during a school term is necessary, discuss this with your child’s school principal. An Application for Extended Leave may need to be completed. Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year.

In some circumstances students may be eligible to enrol in distance education for travel periods over 50 school days. This should be discussed with your child’s school principal.

Inspiring & Nurturing Successful Lifelong Learners

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

The 2016 school year brings increased focus and practice of PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning). The PBL team led by Mrs Anderson have worked hard to consolidate and communicate the universal systems and expectations that underpin this outstanding program.

For our new Kindergarten students and new families to the school:

At St Ives Park our philosophy is “Inspiring and Nurturing Successful Lifelong Learners” which is supported by three positive expectations:

RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and PERSONAL BEST

SIPPS Merit award system: Click on link

Gold Awards also earn their recipients a place at the Principal’s morning tea to be held once a term. Students can earn these awards in the classroom, at sport, at PE, at music, in library or in EALD lessons.

Live Life Well @ School - Healthy Ideas

Notes from Office

Newsletter Distribution

Due to changes and an upgrade of the school’s email last year we have had to develop a totally new distribution list. The newsletter is uploaded to the school’s webpage but is also distributed to each family via our newsletter link letter. We anticipate some teething problems as the distribution list is finalised so if you do not receive the email link letter please let the office know.

Kitchenware

After several hospitality functions held in the staffroom last year we have been left with a number of items which belong to parents. There are several platters, plates and two glass water jugs. Please call in to the office and collect your items.

Swimming Carnival

School Swimming Carnival 2016 - Monday 15th February 2016

Venue :- Galston Aquatic Centre, 412 Galston Road, Galston

The school swimming carnival will be held for students in G3-6. Students in these grades who do not compete will attend to support their house.

Students in Grade 2 who are turning 8 in 2016 are permitted to attend, if they are able to swim 50 metres proficiently. If your child is turning 8 and cannot swim 50 metres confidently, they will stay at school.

Notes have been sent home. Please complete the Swimming Carnival entry form, fill in the permission slip and return, along with payment to the class teacher by Wednesday 10th February.

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to phone the School office.

Library

Welcome to all new families joining our school in 2016.

I am at St Ives Park on a Thursday and Friday in my role as teacher librarian. Students in all classes are timetabled for library lessons over these two days. Your child’s teacher will let you know when their class is scheduled to come to the library.

Borrowing and Reading

Students are encouraged to borrow regularly from our Library. There is a book for everyone; it might just be that your child hasn’t found that “gem” yet. At SIPPS we strive to match appropriate books to all our readers.

Please visit the Library before or after school with your child if you would like to be more involved with what they would like to borrow. I am happy to provide parents with borrowing rights if they would like them.

Library Bags

Students in K-2 are expected to bring a Library bag to their Library lesson to transport and protect their library books. We always have “spare” recycled plastic bags for those students who forget. Students in 3-6 are not required to bring a library bag.

Oliver Library System

We are now up and running with our new school library system, Oliver. Over the term, students in 3-6 will be given the opportunity to explore and familiarise themselves with the features and capabilities of this web based system that is being rolled out to all DET schools in NSW. Students can access Oliver at school or home by logging in with their school user name and password on their student portal. K-2 will be gradually introduced to Oliver later in the year.

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 1 Book Club brochures will be distributed to all classes this week.

All orders must be entered online, via the Scholastic website, by Tuesday 16/2/16. Cash and cheques are no longer accepted for Book Club payment. Families must use the online LOOP payment system. No paperwork or order forms are returned to school anymore.

There is an information flyer about Scholastic Book Club in this Bulletin which provides further details.

Virginia Allman
Teacher Librarian

Parents and Citizens Association Canteen

Tennis Courts

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will be open fortnightly – the next date being 10th February 8.30am to 9.30am.

Community Notices

St Ives Football Club (Soccer)

St Ives Football Club (soccer) 2016 registrations are now open. If you want to play, please register now at www.stivesfootball.com.au. It is always best to register early but is particularly important for Under 6 and Under 7 aged players as we don’t want you to miss out and be unable to play with your school friends. Teams form quickly.

Development options are available for U8’s –U13s.

Questions? Please contact Emma Dyer 0418 251 096

Mandarin Classes

FREE TRIAL FUN MANDARIN CLASSES!

Tuesday 9 February and Tuesday 16 February

There is a FREE OPEN Mandarin Class for new students running on Tuesday 9 February and Tuesday 16 February at St Ives Park Public School. This is a great opportunity for your child to give the class a try before deciding to enrol for the term.

Learning Mandarin is challenging and fun! It will help your child be better placed to participate in future opportunity in education and business. Our expert native teacher provides the best environment for children to develop their self-confidence and enjoyment in Mandarin.

Mandarin K to Y6 Tuesdays 3.15 – 4.15pm

We have limited spots available for Term 1. It’s quick and easy to reserve a place at a FREE Open Trial Class. Simply contact us on (02) 8005 1237 or email enquiries@thelanguagecompany.com.au. Alternatively, visit us at www.thelanguagecompany.com.au to book your spot online.

Xie xie!