10 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

September PBL Focus

Principal’s Message

NAPLAN update

Last week we were advised that Individual Student NAPLAN Reports will be distributed to schools from Thursday 13 September

Friendly Feedback

SIPPS always welcomes feedback as an endorsement of what we are doing well or as an opportunity to hear about what we could be doing better. Feedback in all its forms is well-received if it is delivered in a way that is consistent with the school expectations of Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best. Thank you to those who provide constructive informal feedback to the school during the course of regular conversations with staff and more formally at P&C meetings or via written communication to the school. Recently we received an email with the following endorsement:

“Both my children have been at St Ives Park Public School since kindy. And I am very happy with the school. We find the teachers are kind, enthusiastic. They show love in the students and their teaching. Although it is not a big school, the students have every opportunity to take part in all sorts of activities, band, dance, choir, sports. My children love going to school. I certainly recommend St Ives Park Public School to other families.”

As an additional opportunity for members of our school community to connect, socialise and offer some friendly feedback, I will be hosting ‘Cuppa & Catch-up’ sessions at 2:40pm on alternate Monday afternoons in the staffroom. The first one will be next Monday 17 September.

Construction Work in and around SIPPS

The school and the P&C have been working together on two initiatives to improve school facilities and safety for students and SIPPS families. These projects are:

1. Refurbishment of school playground space in consultation with P&C playground committee, Student Representative Council and Department of Education. This project will include installation of synthetic turf and new fixed playground equipment on the lower playground that sits between our hall and library blocks. A recent pre-construction meeting confirmed that work will get underway soon.
2. Relocation of children’s pedestrian crossing. This has been achieved through school community consultation with Kur-ing-gai Council. The council has conducted pedestrian traffic audits and advised us that the crossing will be moved a more convenient and practical location closer to Willis Ave.

Construction work will soon be underway and SIPPS. Families are advised that there will be limited access to some areas and construction traffic in and around the school. In the interest of safety, please take extra care when arriving and departing the school grounds and follow instructions from staff members that are managing the building site.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.

Thank you School Administration & Support Staff

Last week was SASS recognition week. Thank you to the many members of our school community who popped in to show their thanks to the team of Rhonda, Sue, Wim, Jenni , Tayla and Mr T who do so much to support teachers, parents and especially the students in our school.

Fathers’ Day

Thank you to the P&C volunteers who hosted another successful Fathers’ Day Breakfast event. This year SIPPS Dads had the chance to visit open classrooms and receive a bespoke gift from their child/ren. It was a wonderful morning to share joy and gratitude for the important part dads, granddads and uncles play in the lives of our students.

Spelling Bee

SIPPS was honoured to host the regional finals of the Premier’s Spelling Bee last Wednesday. Thank you to Mrs Woodwell who organised the event. I would also like to extend my thanks to Miss Emerson and school leaders, Declan, Matilda and Amy for their official roles in the proceedings on the day. I would also like to extend my congratulations to Charlie, Hashem, Sophie and Sabrina for representing SIPPS at this level and achieving their personal best in spelling.

Fiver for a Farmer

Over $920 was raised last Thursday to support drought relief thanks to the mindfulness of our Stage 1 students. Students in 1/2 Blue and 1/2 Red wrote letters to suggest the school have a fundraiser to help struggling farmers. Their initiative was put into action and at our K-6 assembly this Wednesday we will make a special presentation to Danica Leys, Chief Executive Officer of the Country Women’s Association of NSW.

Best Wishes
Gillian Tegg

Celebrating Student Success

Gold Award

Congratulations to Gemma on attaining her SIPPS Gold medallion. This is the top honour awarded to students who consistently follow the schools expectations of Respect Responsibility and Personal Best. Gemma will be joining her family and me at the Principal’s Gold Morning Tea along with Term 2 recipients on Thursday 27 September at 10:30am.

Sharing our Success

Our last K-6 assembly was an outstanding presentation of student learning and achievement. We were delighted to have Joanne Gardiner; Principal of Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School there to see Eliza and Aidan’s excellent presentation on Cab-ra-nanga, SEWS new Aboriginal Garden.

Alicia, Chloe, Eva, Julian, Ayaan, Johnny, Andrew X, Hamish H, Maya P, Max P

The following students have collected 100 catch cards and been awarded their 2nd Wristband.

Keira O, Zec, Henry W, Blake, Evelyn, Woody, Jenson

Inspiring & Nurturing Successful Lifelong Learners

Canberra Bound

Today Stage 3 students and teachers embarked on the biennial tour to Canberra. This excursion supports their learning of Democracy. An excited crowd of students, parents and staff met early this morning to see them off on their way. We look forward to hearing about their experiences in the nation’s capital when they return this Wednesday afternoon.

Peer Support Update

Week 7

This week we further develop the range of strategies we can use in challenging situations.This session focuses on step 3 of the model, Proceed. In order to learn from situations and move forward children need to go beyond thinking of strategies and action them. Children recognise despite the use of a range of strategies, sometimes they cannot change the situation. At these times, it is important to accept the situation and move forward with a positive outlook.

Encourage your child to follow through with strategies they have discussed and planned to use. It is important to then help them evaluate if this has worked or if they need to try a different strategy.

Week 8

In this week’s final session of the Peer Support module Moving Forward children will reflect on what they have learned over the past seven weeks.The students will make a cube to remind them to draw on their strengths, achievements and people who support them when faced with challenging situations. These protective factors promote confidence and motivate students to approach new situations where they can then apply the Pause, Plan, Proceed Model.

Library

Library News

What an exciting Term 3 we have experienced to date. Book Week has been our focus with lots of piratical and literacy activities undertaken in Library to tie in with the 2018 slogan of Find Your Treasure. Students really enjoyed discovering some of the hidden book treasures in our Library. Themed treasure bags were given to each class containing books that had won awards in past Book Weeks. It was a great way to introduce students to some great Australian picture books hiding on our library shelves. Congratulations to all the great books that won and were honoured in the various categories for the Book of the Year awards.

K-2 enjoyed the Book Week Musical performance TREASURE HUNT! This was an interactive and educational performance that explored the issues of sustainability and our relationship with the natural environment as well as celebrating how books & reading can create understanding and bring people of different backgrounds together.

Stages 2 and 3 welcomed Jules Faber, well known Australian illustrator and cartoonist, best known for his illustrations in the popular children’s series Weirdo, authored by Anh Do.

Jules inspired the students to believe that everyone can draw and that by breaking the task down into manageable pieces the results will be great. "Turn the impossible into reality... break it into small pieces, like a pizza!" (Jules’s quote)

The caricatures Jules created of the teachers were a great hit as were Jules’s hands on drawing sessions with the students. I am sure they will look at the Weirdo series with a greater insight as a result of meeting and interacting with Jules.

The 2018 Premier’s Reading Challenge is now finished. Congratulations to Matan, Matilde and Amy who independently completed this challenge in their own time showing much perseverance and determination.

On Thursday, September 20, 2018, stop what you’re doing for one hour and pick up a book. The Reading Hour initiative is to enable everyone in the community to either rediscover or introduce themselves to the benefits of reading. Take the time to learn, grow, escape and relax.

The benefits of reading are positive and significant.

“Most vital human functions are accompanied by pleasure, and reading is no exception. I’m proud and delighted to be an Australian Reading Hour Ambassador for 2018, and to use the opportunity to gently remind the adult community that young people deserve that pleasure every day. They also need it, because no other activity will better equip young people to embrace their futures in a sometimes dark and uncertain world with optimism, resolve and creativity. Our stories have saved us in the past, and in the minds of young readers they can again.”

Morris Gleitzman
Children’s Laureate and 2018 Australian Reading Hour Ambassador

Virginia Allman
Teacher-Librarian

Notes from the Office

Children's crossings

These are part-time crossings which operate just before and after school hours, as well as other times such as school excursions and lunch times. They are highlighted by red flags with the words CHILDREN CROSSING on them.

When the flags are displayed you must slow down and stop before the stop line if a pedestrian is on or entering the crossing. You must not proceed until all pedestrians have left the crossing.

You must not stop on or within 20 metres before or 10 metres after, a children’s crossing.

Combined children's and pedestrian crossing

Some pedestrian crossings are used as children’s crossings at some times during the day. The display of CHILDREN CROSSING flags means that the children's crossing is operating.

When the flags are not displayed the crossing operates as a normal pedestrian crossing.

Parents and Citizens Association

Father’s Day Breakfast

It was great to see so many Dads join the kids for breakfast and to visit their classrooms. What amazing artwork gifts arranged by the teachers. Thank you to Felicity, Tracy-Lee, Nicole, Samia and Lisa who put on this event for our special Dads.

Next P&C Meeting - Wed 19 Sep

Some of our hard working P&C and Canteen Committee will no longer be able to remain in their P&C roles next year. So we need fresh new recruits to join the team, no matter what your skillset or availability. It is a great way to get to know more people in the school, have your say and make a difference. Please join us at the next meeting and find out what we're all about, before the AGM in a couple of months. If you would prefer some meetings to be held at 2:15pm (rather than 7:15pm) next year, please let us know.

Parents Casino Night - Sat 3 Nov

We are in need of some fantastic prizes to make this night - so are asking for your help. Can your business donate? Have you got signed memorabilia or some quality wine at home that you are happy to pass on? Do you have contacts who can sponsor us? Please get in touch with the P&C on the below email.

50th Jubilee

SIPPS will turn 50 in 2019! We are putting together a committee to plan the celebrations to mark this occasion. Please get in touch if you can help out.

Get in touch with the P&C:
stivesparkpc@gmail.com

Uniform Shop

sippsuniform@gmail.com

Any volunteers are always welcome.

Helping Hands OOSH & Vacation Care

"A warm hello from the team at OOSH,

We are so thankful for the amazing grounds we have at St Ives Park. Each afternoon much team work and athleticism is developed on the SIPPs oval with epic games of Capture the Flag and Soccer. We love seeing the older children encourage their younger friends to have a go. Lately we have been focusing on Sportsmanship and awarding not simply the most skilled players or those that win the game but those who play in a fair, respectful and generous way.

At OOSH we have introduced OOSH Cards. They are awarded each session to children acting with respect, fulfilling their responsibilities and personal best. The cards are collected in the OOSH Star Jar and two names will be drawn out of the jar at the end of the week and allowed to choose a prize. We hope to continue to celebrate the marvelous things that are happening at OOSH and all grow in the process!

As always we welcome any feedback or questions!

Grace and the OOSH Team.

PS. “Here is the upcoming Holiday Program!"

Kind Regards,
Grace De Wet and the OOSH Team.

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 currently have children in most year groups waiting to attend ethics classes. We are seeking volunteers so that classes can be created or continued for these children, and to ensure that there are ethics teachers for the new school year.

Ethics teachers receive full training by Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit organisation approved to design curriculum and training for the ethics program. Training consists of a two day workshop and short online modules. Lesson materials are provided. Suitable volunteers have an interest in children’s education and development of critical thinking skills and must be available at 11.15 on Wednesday of each week during the school term.

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.

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

Past and present teachers have commented on how rewarding it is working with the children during these classes.

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