6 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

February PBL Focus

Principal’s Message

Welcome back to the 2018 school year which will be full of wonderful learning opportunities for SIPPS students. I was delighted last week to see returning students eager to be back at school as well as some equally eager parents!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to many new students and their families. Thanks to the hardworking efforts of our P&C Uniform Shop Coordinator and parent volunteers, all students looked very smart in their school uniforms.

This year we also welcome the following new staff members; Mrs Katie Meyer, Ms Cassy Smith, Miss Katie Woodwell, Mrs Adrienne Reid and Miss Tanami Sonter.

Welcome Kindergarten 2018

What a positive start! 30 excited Kindergarten students had their first day at SIPPS last Friday. 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.

Classes & Staff 2018

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.

2018 SIPPS Staff List

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.

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

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

Young Engineers – New STEAM Initiative

This semester students in Years 1 to 6 will take part in the Young Engineers program. These weekly sessions will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) basics. Young Engineers provide an engaging, hands-on learning platform. The educational goals are achieved by using LEGO® and K’nex® assembly kits uniquely designed by our staff, demonstrating the scientific principles in a fun and accessible fashion; combining experiments that form scientific intuition with stories that capture the imagination. Classes will take place on Mondays in our STEAM Learning Studio. The program cost of $60 per student will be invoiced to parents across two terms.

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 in the link below.

Student Leadership Team:

I would like to again extend my congratulations to the 2018 student leadership team. I look forward to working with these talented students this year as they represent all students at SIPPS. They are:

Swimming Carnival

Our school swimming carnival will take place at a new venue this year. It is scheduled for Monday 19 February at Kuring-gai Aquatic Centre, West Pymble. The swimming carnival note will be sent out to parents/carers of grades 3-6 and eligible students in grade 2 this week. It is also available via 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 Calendar

The school calendar is available via the Schoolzine SZapp.

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 playground equipment cannot be used by students before or after school or on weekends or during school vacation periods. This is a Department of Education safety regulation.

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. Parents are kindly requested to send all correspondence for students through the school office during school hours. Students are not permitted to use mobile phones during school hours.

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. For more info about UV and protecting your skin, visit the link below.

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 21st 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.

Parent Volunteers

We welcome assistance from parent volunteers for various activities and events during the year. If you wish to be involved in this way you must ensure that you have lodged a completed Declaration for Volunteers form with the school office.

Photographing student performances & Sporting Events

Parents/carers are permitted to record school approved performances and sporting events. For legal reasons, photographs, video and audio recordings are for parents’ own use and not for publication on social media such as and not limited to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. We kindly request that parents do not disrupt event proceedings or obscure the view of other audience members while taking photographs/recordings.

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.

Active Kids Initiative

The NSW Government is helping kids get active with the new Active Kids program.

From 31 January 2018, parents, guardians and carers can apply for a $100 voucher per calendar year for each student enrolled in school.

The voucher may be used with a registered activity provider for registration, participation and membership costs for sport, fitness and active recreation activities.

The voucher can be used at any time during the calendar year it was issued.

To use the voucher, give your voucher details to an approved Active Kids Provider.

The program runs year-round, so kids can get active at any time!

Primary Ethics

Could you be an ethics teacher for St Ives Park PS? We are seeking volunteers so that ethics classes are available for families who have requested them. Please see the link for more information.

Celebrating Student Success

Recognising Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

Watch this space for our weekly winners of wristbands to celebrate student achievement of School Expectations – Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best.

Inspiring & Nurturing Successful Lifelong Learners

Young Engineers’ Program Starts

Today 5/6 Blue were the first starters for this term’s Young Engineers’ program. They built and programmed pirate ship models: The focus initially being Mechanical Engineering progressing to Electrical engineering and finally Software Engineering.

Notes From the office

Stewart House Clothing appeal is on again – bags will be handed out to the children this week to bring home. If you have any second hand clothing items Stewart House would be very grateful. Please bring any bags to the school office and Stewart House will pick them up on the March 6 2018.

If there have been any changes to your circumstances such as change in address, phone numbers, your child’s medical information or emergency contact information please advise the school office as soon as possible.

Parents and Citizens Association

Tennis Courts

Uniform Shop

2018 Dates

The Uniform shop will be open week 3 (Wednesday the 14th February) as usual from 8.30-9.30am.

From week 5 the Uniform shop will open every second Tuesday beginning Tuesday 27th February at 8.30 am.

Antony Wood and Di Fisk will be running the uniform shop after Matt’s departure.

Any volunteers are always welcome.

Please also return any used uniform in tidy condition to either the uniform shop or the school office.

Community Notices

St Ives Football Club

Registrations are now open at St Ives Football (Soccer) club for the winter season.

We form our teams for U6s and U7s socially so you can play with your buddies. We have teams for older players too, all levels are catered for. Active kids rebate is available. Don’t delay as teams are formed soon.

Email info@stivesfootball.com.au