7 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new school year of wonderful learning opportunities for students at SIPPS. To the families who have joined our school for the very first time in 2017, 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.

Already on my rounds, I am seeing students very settled in their new class groups and successfully engaged in their lessons. SIPPS 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 2017 will continue to 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.

Welcome Kindergarten 2017

What a positive start! 25 excited Kindergarten students had their first day at SIPPS last Thursday. 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 Thursday, 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 2017

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:

KH – Kindergarten – Mrs Sarah Henman
1S - Mrs Jodie Sheehy (Assistant Principal K-2)
1/2E – Miss Stephanie Emerson
2FT- Mrs Melissa Field (Mon, Tues & Wed) and Mrs Stephanie Took (Thurs, Fri)
3/4SE – Mrs Tahnee Shanahan & Miss Dianna Eim
3/4F – Miss Amanda Forsyth
5/6S – Miss Silvia Shin
5/6H – Mrs Leanne Hayllar (Assistant Principal 3-6)

Support Staff & Office Staff

Learning & Support Teacher – Mrs Lucy Little (Monday and Tuesday)
Teacher Librarian – Mrs Virginia Allman (Thurs, Fri)
EAL/D & Learning Support teacher – Mrs Simone Strong (Mon, Tues)
Music teacher – Mrs Megan Cronin (Tues, Wed)
Visual Arts teacher– Mrs Ann Stobo (Thurs)
School Administration Manager – Mrs Trudi Morris
School Administration Officer – Mrs Susan Aylmer
General Assistant –Mr Ray Thatcher (Thurs & Friday fortnightly)
School Counsellor – Mrs Beatrijs Dewulf (Monday)

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 the 2017 student leadership team. I look forward to working with these talented students this year as they represent all students at SIPPS. They are:

Captains: Rachael & Aden
Vice Captains: Ella & Patrick
Prefects: Sarah & Milan
SRC leaders: Scott, Meshma & Darcy
Banksia House Captains: Cherry & Will
Grevillea House Captains: Claire & Alex
Waratah House Captains: Marit & Leo

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 21 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.

Swimming Carnival

Our school swimming carnival will take place again at Galston Pool on Monday 20 February. The swimming carnival note was sent out to parents/carers of grades 3-6 and eligible students in grade 2 today. It is also available via the following link.

Thank you

Thank you to the parents and students volunteers who looked after our eco garden during the holidays. We welcome 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 a PDF version on the website below:

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

School Calendar

The school calendar is available via the Schoolzine app.

School Times

8:40am – Students may arrive at school
9:10am – Lessons begin
11:10am – Recess
1:00pm – Lunch break
3:10pm – School concludes

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

The school is not responsible for supervising students on playground equipment before or after school. For safety reasons, children under 5 years of age are not permitted to use the equipment at any time. Direct supervision (clear line of sight) by a parent/guardian within 10 metres is required for all children using the playground equipment after 3:10pm. We kindly ask that all children and families not attending OOSH or another school program/event 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. 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. There is no pedestrian access to the school via the staff car park. We have two school gates on Acron road that provide safe access for students and parents.

Road Safety

If your child needs to cross Acron road they must go via the school pedestrian crossing. Children have been hit by cars when responding to parents who have called them across the road. Please park your car, come to school and walk with your child across the road via the school pedestrian crossing rather than taking the risk.

Medical Plans and Conditions

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

The Department of Education 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.

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 15th 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 at all times which includes black school shoes and school hat. Sport uniforms are worn on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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.

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 should travel during school holidays. If travel during a school term is unavoidable, please ensure you have completed an Application for Extended Leave form and attached relevant travel documentation. Approved 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 the school principal.

Notes from the Office

The Swimming Carnival note for Grades 3 to 6 and Year 2 eligible students will be coming home this week. Please complete and hand in to your child’s teacher.

Stewart House School Clothing Appeal Date of 1st Collection is 7th March

Stewart House has been working in partnership with The Smith family for more than 50 years. Their recycling operation helps schools in NSW run clothing drives to collect good quality clothes and accessories for resale or export in Smith Family stores. School clothing drives are an important source of good quality new and near-new clothing, helping to keep their stock levels high.

Stewart House is a children’s charity providing support to 1,800 public schools students in need each year. With infrastructure and staffing support provided by the Department of Education and communities, Stewart House relies on donations from school partners and the community to cover the cost of many of its programs.

Plastic bags went home Monday 6th Feb and if you have any donations please drop them into the school office.

Thank you

Chess

Chess starts on Thursday 9th February 1pm to 1.50pm.

Band

Band is starting soon for 2017

We have vacancies available on a number of instruments including saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet and trombone.

If you are interested in joining, or need to return your forms please contact us.

Band will be commencing soon so don’t miss out on this exciting new opportunity at school.

Contact: sally@bandemonium.com.au or call 0403 542 494

Parents and Citizens Association

Tennis Courts

SMITH FAMILY CHRISTMAS TOY COLLECTION

Thank you so much for all the wonderful toys and books donated for the Smith Family Christmas collection last year.

With everyone’s generosity, 3S packed many boxes full to the brim and delivered them to the warehouse in Sydney to be sorted. George and Hannah handed our toys over to the Smith Family volunteers. The toys and books were then put into age categories and each child would receive one large and one small toy on Christmas day.

Sonya

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will be open fortnightly – the next date being Wednesday 15th February from 8.30 am to 9.30 am.

Canteen

The canteen is closed at present and its future is under discussion by the P & C.

Community Notices

FREE OPEN TRIAL FUN FRENCH CLASSES!
Monday 6th and 13th February

Bonjour!

There are FREE OPEN trial French classes for new students being offered on Monday 6th and 13th 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.

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 the link below to book your spot online.

The lessons are held at the school each week and are taught by an experienced tutor and native speaker of the language.

French K to Y6 Mondays 3.15 – 4.15pm

Activities in our classes are fun! A new theme is followed each term and your child learns through role play, cultural projects and lively games and songs. Our expert teachers provide the best environment for children to develop their self-confidence and enjoyment in their chosen language.

Your child’s participation in bilingual learning programs will also develop their overall literacy skills and a positive learning attitude.

Merci!