21 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

May PBL Focus

Principal’s Message

Mothers’ Day

Congratulations to the P&C for a successful event last Friday to celebrate Mothers’ Day. It was great to see so many SIPPS mums enjoying a delicious morning tea with their children. Thank you to Mrs Stobo and teachers for helping students present their mums with a special artwork.

School Uniform & Sun Safety

Wearing the correct school uniform with pride gives students a positive sense of belonging to a particular school and creates an identity for the school in the community. It is also a way that students demonstrate the school expectation of Respect as it is a reflection on how they value themselves and others.

Students can also demonstrate Responsibility by looking after items of school clothing and for remembering to wear a sun-safe school hat. At SIPPS, students have the option to wear either the school broad-brimmed hat or school legionnaire-style cap.

Please be advised also that students should change into black school shoes after sports training or dance rehearsals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursday and those students who play PSSA soccer must not wear soccer boots during recess or lunchtime play on Fridays. Thank you to our P&C Uniform Shop volunteers and parents for your assistance in ensuring our students look and feel their Personal Best every day at school.

Tell them From Me Survey

Recently Years 4 to 6 survey participated in the Tell Them from Me survey. This survey measures 20 indicators based on the most recent research on school and classroom effectiveness. The biggest growth was seen in indicators measured under the Social-Emotional domain. These related to student evaluation of Homework Behaviour, Effort and the provision of High

Skills and High Challenge learning opportunities. Trend data also shows that all drivers of student outcomes have improved.

Anti-bullying Strategy Review

Recently we updated school procedures for responding to incidents of bullying. Please see the following information.

Playing our part to build a national picture of child health

In early 2018, our school, along with thousands of others across the country will begin preparations for the fourth Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The AEDC measures five key areas of development in children during their first year of full-time school to build a national picture of health and wellbeing. Since 2009, the census results have helped communities, schools and governments plan services and target support for children and families.

Teachers are trained to assess each child and answer questions. Children don’t need to be present so no class time is missed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information for the census. Teachers’ individual assessments are then analysed by the AEDC and reported as anonymous groups of children in the final report.

In other communities across the country, census results have helped communities to plan new playgrounds and parental services; schools are seeing improved student performance through new literacy programmes; and governments are using the results as evidence to develop better policies for children.

Teachers have also noticed practical benefits in the classroom. Some said in previous years that completing the assessments made them more aware of the needs of individual children and the class as a whole. Others reported that the census results are useful in planning for transitions to Year 1 and for developing class programs.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.

To find out more about the census and how communities are using the data to help children and families visit the AEDC website:

If you have any questions, you can contact Mrs Tegg on 9144 4085 or stivespark-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au.

Best Wishes
Gillian Tegg

Celebrating Student Success

Congratulations to Margot, winner of the first 2018 wristband for collecting 50 catch cards

Recorder Ensemble

Last week students from SIPPS Recorder Ensemble braved the early morning chill and travelled to the Salvation Army Hall in the City to rehearse for their upcoming performance at the Sydney Opera House. These students have worked extremely hard, both at home and during Tuesday lunchtimes, to learn and memorise three pieces which they will perform on Sunday at the Festival of Instrumental Music alongside hundreds of other students from all over New South Wales. Congratulations to the students, whose behaviour on public transport during peak hour was a credit to them and their school. We very much look forward to hearing their performance at the Opera House.

Bravo!

Congratulations Dancers

This week we received confirmation that our senior dance group successfully auditioned for the 2018 Sydney North Dance Festival. Congratulations to Mrs Shanahan and dancers. The festival, held at the Glen Street Theatre runs from 25 June to 6 July.

Inspiring & Nurturing Successful Lifelong Learners

Welcome to the third instalment of ‘Kindergarten Korner’; a celebration of learning achievement in Kindergarten. Thank you to Ms Sheehy and Mrs Meyer for this initiative.

Thank you to Mrs Cronin for teaching Kindergarten a road safety song that was performed for the school.

Leadership camp

We walked into the auditorium at Collaroy Centre where there were 180 school leaders, about to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity!

On Monday the 1st of May - Tuesday the 2nd of May the 6 school leaders went to leadership camp.

There were lots of exciting things we did there such as leadership workshops and activities.

My two favourite activities were the zip line and outdoor laser tag.

I really enjoyed listening and learning from a special guest we had visit us...
Mr. Mark Scott, who is the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education!
I loved hearing about the experiences and the different careers he had before becoming the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education.

Leadership Camp was a great way to make many new friends! We got to sleep in cabins and become good friends with lots of new people!

Leadership camp was definitely one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had! I am extremely honoured that I was able to attend this special camp!

Matilda – School Vice-Captain

K RED

This term, the Kindergarten Red Monkeys were introduced to the Beebots and they have been having so much fun with them! The Beebots are used to help teach students about early computing and programming skills. The students need to navigate their Beebot around race tracks, treasure maps, shape and alphabet mats. Here are some photos of the Monkeys in action, navigating their Beebots around the different mats.

Ms Meyers

3/4 Blue – STEAMING Ahead

This term, 3/4 Blue are participating in the Young Engineers’ program. Mary explained to Mrs Tegg that in last week’s lesson the students were using mechanical engineering techniques to transform linear energy into rotational energy.

Notes from the Office

• Term 2 Invoices were sent home last week - please check your child’s school bag.
• Lost Property Alert! Please check the name on your child’s jacket, jumper and hat. Please ensure that the item of clothing belongs to your child. There have been number of labelled items lost due to being left in the school grounds or placed in the wrong bag. If you do find clothing that does not belong to your child please return to the school office.

Parents and Citizens Association

Mother's Day Morning Tea

We hope our Mums enjoyed the Mothers Day morning tea. Thank you to our volunteers who baked and hosted the event. And the artwork gifts were fantastic!

Canteen Re-Opens Mondays

We're delighted to confirm that the canteen is now open on Mondays . The windows will be open at recess and lunch orders available for lunch time. See attached menu.

Voluntary Contribution

You should have received your annual P&C Voluntary Contribution ask, via a box of tea. With the closure of our playground and grassed area outside the hall in desperate need of work, we are focusing our fundraising this year on new outdoor play areas. You can contribute via the usual methods, or now also via Qkr! app.

Order your 2018-19 Entertainment Membership through SIPPS

Help us raise funds for our school by buying an Entertainment Membership (Book or Digital) through us. You'll receive hundreds of valuable offers for restaurants, cinema, school holiday activities and much more - and help our fundraising the same time. Hurry, Entertainment Memberships sell out quickly.

Next P&C Meeting

Wed 20 June- 7:15pm in the staff room.

Get in Touch

If you have any queries or would like to get involved with the P&C in 2018, please get in touch at

stivesparkpc@gmail.com

Bunnings BBQ and Cake Stall – Sunday 10th June

HELP NEEDED

Are you a king of the BBQ? A baking masterchef? Or perhaps just a friendly face?

We need your help at our combined Bunnings BBQ and Cake Stall on Sunday, 10th June (at the Belrose store).

We need donations of lovely baked items to sell AND parent volunteers to sell the goodies and fire up the BBQ on the day.

Please see the email sent from your class parent for further details.

Uniform Shop

sippsuniform@gmail.com

Any volunteers are always welcome.

Pop in to the Uniform Shop, and stock up on everything you need for Term Two and Winter weather.

We have Winter uniforms, new and used, including NEW girls' green uniform trousers. SPECIAL pricing on Netball skirts and Active Legionnaires Hats.