15 June 2020
Newsletter Articles
June PBL Focus
Principal’s Message
Dear parents and carers,
It has been lovely to meet so many parents as you are dropping your children at the gates each day. Thank you to our community for continuing to keep social distance measures in place and caring for everyone’s safety, health and wellbeing. This is a long edition of The Patter with many important pieces of information for parents. Please take the time to read it carefully.
Moving Forward: Changes announced by the NSW Department of Education
Schools are able to take another step forward towards normal operations with some changes coming into effect today. This is great news with a focus on increased activities for students in line with the government health advice.
Changes announced enable specific external providers and community users to access the school site where formal documentation has been provided to the school to ensure compliance with the health expectations for school sites.
From 15th June the following restrictions have been eased:
- Incursions/external providers can provide activities that support delivery of curriculum.
- School assemblies (limited to 15 minutes and no external visitors).
- Community use activities used by students such as dance classes, and student sport skills development, outside of school hours ( with limited adult attendance) where all documentation has been completed by the contractor.
From Term 3 the following restrictions have been eased but must comply with the changing government health instructions:
- All school sport and activities including competitions aligned with current health advice
- Inter-school student events and competitions (choirs, sport , debating, public speaking, performing arts, Selective Sports High School trials etc)
- SRE/SEE lessons
- P&C meetings – with a strong preference for on-line where possible
- Parent/teacher meetings which meet specific requirements and which are approved by the principal. Otherwise preference remains for online or telephone methods.
Term 3 Activities under consideration are also listed in the linked document above.
Parent/carer school pick up and drop off – Adult social distancing remains in place
Please remember that parents until further notice are required to drop off and collect their children at the gate and remain outside the school grounds. Thank you to all our parents who have followed the social distancing requirements during drop off and collection. We look forward to when we are able to support increased access to the school site.
If your child finds it difficult to separate each morning please drop your child at Gate 1 where there will be a teacher in attendance each morning.
K-2 are to enter via Gate 1
3-4 are to access via Gate 3.
5-6 are to access via Gate 2.
Multiple children in the family: Where there are two or three children in a family, please drop your children at one gate.
Terrey Hills & St Ives Park PS Sharing Collegial Practice
The Department expects every student and every teacher to grow in their learning every year. Teachers are continuing to advance their professional learning and professional practice through engaging in a range of professional development.
To support our teachers in their development of best practice, St Ives Park and Terry Hills PS teachers have been working through ‘Focus on Creating Texts’ modules to reflect on current approaches to teaching writing, exploring processes of making meaning through writing, and considering conditions that support learning to write.
In Week 6 our teachers across the two schools worked via Zoom to moderate writing samples to ensure consistent teacher judgement in assessment. This is an important strategy to support and enhance teaching practices across schools and an opportunity for teachers to engage professionally.
Thank you Mrs Vanessa Calendar
Mrs Calendar kindly took over the Uniform Shop co-ordination for 2020 and has been a marvellous asset to the school community on behalf of the P&C. It is with great sadness that we wish Vanessa and her family a fond farewell as they move interstate. The P&C presented Mrs Callendar with a gift for her willing support of the school.
We welcome Mrs Mercy Mutema into the uniform shop role.
SIPPS P&C Kindness and care
In Week 6 the SIPPS P&C provided the staff with flowers and a feast to say thank you to the staff for their support of students and families during Semester 1. This was gratefully received by the staff.
Staff sincerely appreciated this very thoughtful and generous act of kindness!
Kindergarten 2021
We are accepting enrolments for Kindergarten students for 2021. We would normally offer school tours throughout Term 2, however, we will offer these in Term 3 when restrictions ease.
In the coming weeks please look out for Pearls from the Park in the Newsletter and on the school Face Book page. As we are unable to conduct school tours at present we will provide a virtual guided tour at SIPPS via images. Please let your family and friends know if they have young children ready to start school in 2021.
Reporting to Parents – Semester One 2020
The reports for Semester 1 2020 have been adjusted in recognition of the impact of learning from home and at school during Terms 1 and 2. There is an extended timeline for schools to provide Semester 1 reports to parents. Our reports will be provided to parents on Wednesday 12th August 2020.
Reflecting the many adjustments required from students, parents and schools, this report will not grade student achievement using the A-E scale. This year Semester 1 reports will not include the Outstanding, High, Sound, Basic and Limited identifiers. The reports will focus on learning undertaken in English and Mathematics, with a general comment in line with the Department’s advice. it is expected that traditional school reports will be provided to parents in Semester 2.
Due to social distancing measures in Term 1 we were unable to facilitate parent / teacher interviews in the normal manner. Should parents wish to discuss student progress with their child’s teacher, please contact the teacher or school administration to arrange a 10-15 minute telephone conference. Teachers may also need to contact parents and will call to arrange telephone conference times.
School Planning – new school planning phase
All Principals will be trained in the new planning procedures in July and August this year. The current School Plan 2018 to 2020 will conclude this year. I will keep our community informed regarding the planning process and new school directions via The Patter. Stay tuned!
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) – Information for parents and carers.
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
- year of schooling
- category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
- level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
Students may be provided with individual scaffolds within their class with their teacher, an SLSO or the Learning and Support Teacher. Students may also receive supplementary support in small groups with the Learning and Support Teacher. The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability. The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process.
Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal .
https://www.nccd.edu.au/
Opportunity Class year 5 2021 – Important Dates
Formal information went home with all Year 4 students regarding applications for Opportunity Class Placement in 2021 in the first week of June.
Insert PDF
OC Flyer
Essential information for parents:
- this is an online application and must be completed by parents by Friday 26th June.
- no late applications can be accepted.
- please return the ‘Intention to Apply’ form to the school office.
Warm wishes,
Caroline English
Principal
Dates to Diary
No Upcoming Events
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools ICAS
Last week families were emailed information about this year’s ICAS competition. ICAS Assessments are online assessments, designed to recognise academic excellence.
Online Payment
In order to simplify and streamline the process, ICAS allow parents to order and pay through their online platform. Parents can pay for ICAS directly to UNSW Global. All parents wishing for their child to participate will be required to access and pay for the program through the ICAS site.
Sitting Dates:
Assessments will be conducted before the commencement of the school day.
Science: Thursday 20th August 2020
English: Thursday 27th August 2020
Mathematics: Thursday 3rd September 2020
If you wish your child to participate in any or all of these tests please go to: https://shop.unswglobal.com.au/pages/pps
Use the St Ives Park PS code: BYM767
Payments close on Thursday 2nd July.
Melissa Field
Stage 3 Teacher/
ICAS coordinator
Celebrating Student Success
Recognising Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
Weekly SIPPS STARS and winners of wristbands to celebrate student achievement of School Expectations – Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best.
Wrist Band Winner this fortnight was Amelia Edwardson.
Parents and Citizens Association
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
https://www.sippspandc.org/
If you have any queries or would like to get involved with the P&C, you can email us at: stivesparkpc@gmail.com
Uniform Shop
Thank you very much to Mrs Mutema who has kindly taken over the operation of the Uniform shop. The day for having your orders in by has changed to Wednesday evening.
Orders need to be in by the Wednesday evening.
Goods will be handed out to your child just before the end of school on the Thursday afternoon. If you have any questions please call the school office or send an email to the uniform email address below.
School Uniform items can be purchased every week by using the QKr! App.
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.
http://www.helpinghandsnetwork.com.au/