14 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

PBL Focus for November

Principal's Message

Welcome new students

This term has seen a number of families join our school community and their children have made a settled start to their schooling at SIPPS. We continue to receive many new enrolment enquiries and look forward to starting 2017 with good numbers from which to form our classes.

It is also important to know if there are any students not returning to SIPPS in 2017. Please contact the office or return the slip below if your child will not be returning to our school next year so we can factor this into our planning. If you are aware you may be returning late for the commencement of Term 1, please also contact the office for an Extended Travel Leave application.

Gold Awards

Congratulations to George and Lara for achieving the SIPPS gold medallion for achieving excellence in following the school's expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best. This great accolade was bestowed upon these worthy recipients at last week's assembly where we also had an outstanding drama performance from 3S.

Parent Survey Results

Thank you to parents who responded to the recent Tell Them From Me Survey. I will present the report derived from data collected in this survey at the P&C annual general meeting next Wednesday 16 November at 7:15pm.

Staffing news

Mrs Kathie Anderson recently notified the school that she will be retiring and the conclusion of the 2016 school year. We are therefore now working through the recruitment process for a new Assistant Principal at St Ives Park Public School.

Remembrance 11 Nov

Please take the time to read articles below about the wonderful learning programs and opportunities enjoyed by our students in the last fortnight. Thank you to the teaching staff who continue to ensure that they are inspiring and nurturing our students toward successful lifelong learning every day at SIPPS.

Best Wishes
Gillian Tegg

Inspiring & Nurturing Successful Lifelong Learners

Coding Club and Robotics

This semester our coding club students have continued to develop their coding skills during our lunchtime sessions. This week our coding students had a go at using some of our newly purchased robots. Thanks to our P&C the school is now equipped with a range of robotics products and kits ready to integrate into our K-6 programs.

'Coding is very fun because it teaches students how to use computers, iPads and other technology. We have been using the Scratch program to and create projects. This week we learnt how to code a robot while having fun. We made Dash the robot move, speak and had lots of fun. I like coding robots and coding lessons because I feel like it teaches me how to understand more about technology. Here is what a few of our coding students think.'

Matan

'We went to coding this week and had a go at controlling the Dash robots using the iPads. We did two types of activities. The first one we dragged different actions to make Dash change colour, move, talk and listen. The second activity we used a controller to make Dash move and change his colour. We could spin him around as well.

I think Dash is a cool robot. He is really fun to play with. I enjoyed using the controller the most because you can really see how you can move him.'

Jamison

STAGE 1 EXCURSION TO THE ZOO 2ND NOVEMBER

I went to the zoo and I saw a green tree snake and a lizard. I also saw an anaconda and a red belly black snake. Next I saw a black bear, an otter, an elephant and a seal. I also went on the sky safari.

Lucas KA

At the zoo I saw lots of animals. One of them was a meerkat. I saw two of them playing together. There was also a bear. It was having a nap. We went on a bus to the zoo and we took the bus home.

Edie KA

For our excursion we went to Taronga Zoo. We saw elephants, giraffes, snakes, lizards, fish, birds, tortoises, crocodiles and the seal show. When we were going home on the bus Sam had a bleeding nose. At school we played on the equipment and then I went home. I told my mum that I had a fantastic day!

Hanmo 1A

Yesterday I went to the zoo with Year 1, Year 2 and Kindy. I was in Mrs Anderson's group. My favourite part was the sky safari. I learnt that leaf bugs like to rest upside down. I saw the seal show. One of the seals did a back flip and a front slip. I also saw a seal jump really high. My favourite animal was the fishing cats. I had a fantastic time at the zoo!

Elizabeth 1A

Year 1

On Wednesday the 16th of November, Mr Ash Manuel from Growing with Gratitude is coming to speak to 1E about gratitude, mindfulness and habits of happiness, as an introduction to a whole school initiative. 1E have been learning about 'Bucket Filling' in the lead up to our visit, and the importance of kindness and happiness as well as a smile. We will be performing an item at assembly on Wednesday the 23rd of November at 2:30pm to demonstrate what we have been learning about and we would love to have the school community come to watch us!

Stage 2 Colonial Walking Tour Excursion

On Tuesday 25th October Stage 2 went on an excursion into the city to examine The Rocks area as part of our History study into European colonisation of Australia and its impact on Aboriginal people. The students got to examine historical sites and make connections with how the land was utilised by the Aborigines before the arrival of the First Fleet and how convicts survived during the development of the Sydney colony.

During our excursion I got to pretend to be Surgeon John White. He was a surgeon who set up the first hospital and gave sick convicts fruits and vegetables. I enjoyed being Surgeon White because he was an important person in the time and it was interesting to learn about him.

Madeleine 3/4F

Smack! Poor John Ceasar just got hit with the cat o nine tails!

Last week Stage 2 went on a colonial walking tour excursion. I liked how we got to pretend to be convicts from the olden days. I was Mary Reiby, she stole a horse and became a convict. Mary married a man named Thomas, together they became a lovely couple and had quite a few children! When Thomas dies he left Mary all of his money. With that money she helped sick children and bought lots of buildings. We had lots of fun at our excursion!

Zoe W 3/4F

"Come here everyone, gather round!" Caroline said. "I'm going to tell you a secret"…. Caroline was our tour guide and she gave us all characters we had to pretend to be. I was the famous captain of the First Fleet, Arthur Phillip! I had to stand at the front of the class numerous times.

My favourite story of all the ones Caroline told us was about John Freeman, who was the hangman. John Freeman was going to die and Captain Phillip gave him the chance to choose either to die or to become the hangman and hang his friends and fellow convicts. He chose to live and become the colony's hangman!

Annie 3/4F

Who was the person who came to Australia and made friends with the Aboriginal people? Arthur Phillip.

On Tuesday 3S went on an excursion to the city to learn about the first fleet. Each person got to pretend to be a person of that time. Everyone got some time to learn about the person they were pretending to be. When we were learning about the different people we would walk around the city and see exactly where they were living. Everyone learnt something new.

By Tamara 3S

Frowns flipping, butterflies flying, the bus stopped, we all knew where we were: THE CITY! When we hopped off the bus, found our guide and ate our fruit break we got people to act out. I was a surgeon called John White. I helped a lot of people with small pox. There were Aboriginals, Convicts and even some rich free settlers. We learnt a lot on our trip to the city.

By Zoe T 3S

Music

Have you heard of 'Music Count Us In – celebrating music education in Australian Schools'? This unique program exists to advocate for and celebrate music in Australian schools. At least 600,000 children from more than 2,500 schools (including St Ives Park) sang the same song on the same day at the same time which was 12:30pm last Thursday. Our school has been an enthusiastic partaker of this annual program and this year was no exception.

In Music, all children not only learnt the song but participated in units of work which further advanced their knowledge and appreciation of music. Years 3-6 children also learnt to play the introduction and interlude on their recorders. The song for this year was 'With Music All Around'. This song incorporates a well-known piece of classical music. As the children will be performing this song at the end of the year, I don't want to give too much away!

Ms Judy Buckle

Notes from Office

Chess 2017

Following the success of the extra curricula chess program this year, we are seeking expressions of interest for students K – 6 to participate in 2017. The program runs at lunchtime every Thursday and involves chess tutoring and the opportunity to test your skills in a game against your peers. Please see Mrs Anderson, send a note to the office or email kathie.anderson@det.nsw.edu.au if you are interested in enrolling your child.

Life Education

The Life Education van will be visiting St Ives Park Public school in week 7 this term. A Parent Information Session will be held on Tuesday 22nd November from 2:15pm. This session gives an insight into the scope and sequence of the program and highlights the benefits of Life Education for your child's health.

Year 6 farewell

Save the date for the Year 6 Farewell Dinner – Monday 12th December

Canteen

TERM 4 SPECIAL

This term we are selling Moosie Iceblock $1 (chocolate or blue moon flavours)

We also still have fried rice ($2.50) on the menu

We are also going to be mixing up our twisted frozen yoghurt flavours for some variety - any favourite flavour feedback appreciated!

The last canteen day for 2016 is Thursday 8th December!

Finally Melissa & I have had a rewarding year in canteen this year and we would like to extend our thanks to our small but dedicated group of volunteers. However we have decided not to run the canteen again in 2017 so if you are interested in knowing more drop us a line!

See you in the canteen!

Sony and Melissa
Sony55@hotmail.com
0410 465 508

Parents and Citizens Association

Tennis Courts

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will be open fortnightly – the next date being November 23 Term 4.

Community Notices

Ethics classes at St Ives Park Public School

Dear Parents and Carers,

Could you be an Ethics Teacher for St. Ives Park Public School?

We are seeking volunteers so that classes for K-2 and Years 3-4 can continue in 2017.

Ethics Teachers receive full training by Primary Ethics, which consists of a two day workshop and short online modules. Curriculum and access to teaching resources is provided. Suitable volunteers have an interest in children's education and developing their critical thinking skills and must be available at 11.30 – 12.15 on Wednesday each week.

In ethics classes, children learn how to think logically, disagree respectfully and support their arguments with evidence, rather than act according to blind habit or peer pressure.

Here is a quote from a current SIPPS Primary Ethics Teacher:

I'm regularly surprised and delighted at (the student's) reasoning and insights and it's lovely when even the most quiet students find their voice.

And a current Primary Ethics student:

I think primary ethics is important because it can teach you decision making skills that you might need in the future.

Children discuss topic such as:

• imagining how others feel
• how do we treat living things?
• what is laziness?
• how do we disagree in a respectful way?
• fairness

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to our school, please visit the link below or contact Cindy Smith, Ethics Coordinator for SIPPS, cindysasmith@optusnet.com.au