2 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

March PBL Focus

Principal’s Message

Parent Information Evening

Thank you to our parents and community for your attendance at the Parent Information Sessions in Week 4. It was lovely to see so many parents in attendance. It was also delightful to be able to chat with some parents I had not met before at the informal tea and chat time between sessions.

Safety – Accessing the school premises

All members of the school community take safety seriously. It is important to set a good example for all students and younger siblings and therefore I kindly remind parents that they need to access school grounds using one of the two access pedestrian gates on Acron Road or the gate on Woodbury Road.

No parents or students should be walking through the staff carpark to access school grounds at any time.

Camp Out

Many families have already returned their Camp Out forms to the office for either the dinner and a movie evening or for the Camping event. Please return your form to the office and make your payments on Qkr! to secure your place. Our SIPPS P&C are kindly hosting this event and look forward to welcoming you to the party.

Tell Them From Me

This term, our school, like many other public schools in the state, will participate in a Department of Education initiative: the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

More information about the survey is available at the link below

The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. More than 6,300 schools in Australia and around the world have used Tell Them From Me to survey 5.4 million students. Capturing the voices of our students will help improve how we do things at our school.

I want to assure you that the survey is confidential. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. It will be administered during school hours between 9 March and 3rd April. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary.

A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the survey is being sent home with students. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form to school by Friday 13th March 2020. Copies of the form and FAQs are available from the link below.

The consent form and FAQs are available in 23 languages.

Year 6 Farewell

Each year a wonderful team of Year 5 parents volunteer to plan and organise the Year 6 Farewell. This is a very special occasion for our Year 6 students as they prepare to leave primary school and start their high school journey. The P&C would like to hear from any parents willing to coordinate or be part of the Year 6 Farewell Team for 2020. Please contact Sony Robson via P&C if you would like to volunteer.

Parent Communication

Class Parents: Each year we welcome and ask for parents to assist the school in a range of ways, one of which is by offering to be the class parent for your child/ren’s class/es. This is a lovely way to get to know your fellow parents and also an opportunity to work with your child’s class teacher.

Participation: If you are happy to be part of your child’s class contact list, please complete the form which will come home this week and return it to the school office. You are agreeing to be part of a class community private contact list. This is not a list which can be shared or published. Under the privacy laws, your personal email cannot be provided by the school to other parents, which is why you need to complete this external consent form.

Bandemonium Parent Communication

If your child is part of one of the two bands led by Bandemonium, you are kindly requested to use the link below to add your contact details. This list will enable our Band co-ordinator Stephanie Potts to communicate important information with you regarding band events and planning in a timely manner.

If you wish to participate in this added layer of support, please complete your details in the Google Form below.

Kind regards,
Caroline English

Celebrating Student Success

Recognising Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

SIPPS Stars for last week were Charlie D from Kindergarten and Ava C from ¾ Purple.

Inspiring & Nurturing
Successful Lifelong Learners

English as an additional language or dialect

Who are EAL/D students?

EAL/D (English as an additional language or dialect) students are those whose first language is a language or dialect other than English. EAL/D students come from diverse multilingual backgrounds and may include overseas or Australian-born students whose first language is a language other than English or children who speak an indigenous language. EAL/D students require specific support to build the English language skills needed to access the general curriculum, in addition to learning area-specific language structures and vocabulary. Schools are required to provide support for students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) so that they can fully participate in schooling and reach their full potential. This includes intensive English language support for newly arrived students and ongoing support for continuing EALD students.

The purpose of the EAL/D program:

The purpose of the EAL/D program is to provide personalised learning programs to help support and develop proficiency in the four macro skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking English whilst also helping build confidence in these areas. This includes specific targeted lessons on grammar, pronunciation, reading and writing skills. The goal of the EAL/D program is to improve the students' level of English to ensure their progression through the ESL Scales.

How students are supported:

At SIPPS, children who are identified as EAL/D learners and who require specific support are guided through weekly group sessions and students who qualify under the Newly Arrived Program receive weekly individual lessons. EAL/D students are supported in their learning through consistent feedback, assessment and personalised learning programs. In the program, children are taught different language skills, depending on students' English abilities, interests, and needs. All programs teach the following: conversational English, grammar, reading, listening comprehension, writing, and vocabulary.

Zone Swimming Carnival

Zone swimming carnival was held last Friday 28th

Margot qualified for 3 finals. She came 3rd in the 50 metre free, 4th in breaststroke and 4th in butterfly. All very close races! Callum was 10th in his freestyle final. Congratulations to all who competed.

Clean up Australia

Last Friday afternoon was clean up day! Students armed with gloves and garbage bags cleaned up the school grounds. They did a wonderful job and the school premises looks amazing thanks to their hard work.

Notes from the Office

Please make sure all school uniforms, lunch boxes – lids and containers, bags, drink bottles are labelled with your child/children’s name.

Parents and Citizens Association

Next P&C Meeting

7:15pm, Wed 18 March, in the staff room.

Meet others, share your ideas and learn more about what goes on at school.

Camp Out

Sat 7-Sun 8 March

Last day to sign up and pay. We have had a great response. Don't miss out on this favourite family event. If you can't fathom the camping part, there is also the option to just come for the BBQ dinner and movie. We need final numbers to plan for catering, so if you haven't already, please pay on Qkr! and send your completed form in to the office by Tues 3 March. No last minute payments on the night.

We also need volunteers to help cook the BBQ dinner and set up breakfast. Please sign up for a slot here: volunteersignup.org/RY7EK

CANTEEN

The roster for the remainder of the year is now available. Please, if you can sign up for even one shift - your kids will be delighted to see you behind the counter & we will be able to remain open!

Sign up here or email sony55@hotmail.com your availability!

SUSHI & SLUSHIE SPECIAL LUNCH

Order forms have been sent home with the students today - Monday March 2, and information regarding this special lunch will be sent to parents via email.

We are looking for parent volunteers to help on Tuesday 17 March (we’ll be rolling sushi and making our own slushies before serving to the children!). Should be a lot of fun! Please contact Sony if you can volunteer (10am until 2pm) sony55@hotmail.com

Tennis Court Bookings

Book here:

Contact for tennis court queries:

Stewart Duncan
e: sippstennis@gmail.com
p. 0408 649 464

Stay in Touch

To keep up to date with P&C social events, please make sure you have subscribed to receive P&C emails from our website at the link below.

If you have any queries or would like to get involved with the P&C, email us at: stivesparkpc@gmail.com

Uniform Shop

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 8.45am-9.30am. Further details about the school uniform are available from the school’s website.

sippsuniform@gmail.com

Helping Hands OOSH & Vacation Care

Helping Hands Network are the company who provide before and after school care at St Ives Park Public School.

All information about Before and After school care can be located on their website. Please click on the link below.