7 September 2020
Newsletter Articles
September PBL Focus
Principal’s Message
SASS Recognition Week 24th to 28th August
In Week 6 it was the SASS recognition week. At SIPPS our School Administrative Support Staff include:-
- Mrs Rhonda Fazzolari (School Administration Manager)
- Mrs Sue Aylmer (School Administration Officer)
- Mr Wim van Bussell (General Assistant)
- Mr Michael Takach (School Learning and Support Officer)
- Mr Dean Ohtaro (School Learning and Support Officer)
As you would be well aware, the support staff here at SIPPS are very obliging and offer a wide range of care to our students, parents and staff each and every day. The staff enjoyed providing them with a party to celebrate and thank them for all their hard work.
Thank you to all the members of our SASS staff for your constant care and support of our school community!
Welcome Mrs Underhill and Thank you Mrs Woodwell
Mrs Katie Woodwell has supported and guided the learning of our Kindergarten Rainbow students in 2020. As you are aware, Mrs Woodwell left last Friday to begin her maternity.
Please welcome Mrs Louise Underhill who began teaching Kindergarten Rainbow today. Mrs Underhill comes to St Ives Park Public School with a wealth of experience in teaching, previously working in a range of positions, most notably at Hunters Hill Public School. Mrs Underhill has already worked with Kindergarten Rainbow students on many occasions and is therefore already acquainted with the lovely Kindergarten students.
What Works Best?
The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation has updated the 2014 What Works Best document for all DoE schools in 2020. This document will underpin the new planning cycle for teaching and learning in NSW public schools. Staff have started unpacking the eight themes. The themes include:
- high expectations
- explicit teaching
- effective feedback
- use of data to inform practice
- assessment
- classroom management
- wellbeing
- collaboration.
These themes and strategies are known to improve student’s school experiences and learning. These themes are embedded into the School Excellence Framework. CESE aims to provide teachers with the latest research and evidence-based practices, outlined in the ‘What Works Best’ resources, to assist them as they guide students to achieve academic success.
Healthy Harold
Hooray ! Healthy Harold has been to visit SIPPS in 2020. Libby and Harold shared all their knowledge in the PDHPE curriculum area, with different learning content for each of the stages.
The Stages participated in learning directly linked to the NSW curriculum covering the following topics:
Kindergarten - My Body Matters
Stage 1 - Making Good Friends
Stage 2 - All Systems Go
Stage 3 - Decision Making
GOT Game: Dance has now started
Within the social distancing guidelines we welcome a new specialist dance teacher from GOT Game. Although the format of the final presentation is planned, we may have to be creative in 2020 and have a video of the dances if the health guidelines have not eased for Term 4.
ICAS Testing almost complete
Thank you to Mrs Field for organising and administering these non-essential assessments. The ICAS assessments are externally conducted and not a part of the NSW Department of Education. Students from Years 3 – 6 participated in the assessments again at SIPPS in 2020.
2020 Tell Them From Me – Parent Opt-out for student participation
The Tell Them From Me student survey asks questions about factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other outcomes. It aims to help improve the learning outcomes of students. The survey is designed to measure, assess and report insights from the student point of view at the school and system levels. The focus of this NSW survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.
Parents who do not wish for their child to participate need to complete the hard copy note which was sent home to each family on 3 September and return it to the Administration Office by COB Wednesday 9th September, 2020.
https://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/images/FAQs/TTFM_Student_Survey_FAQs_Parent_and_Carers_T12018.pdf
Hats and Summer Uniforms
Students are able to wear their Summer uniforms from Monday 14th September (week 9) this term. If there are warm days between now and this date, parents will be advised via SchoolZine notices when students may wear their Summer uniforms.
Hats are a focus at SIPPS. All students are required to be responsible and wear their hats in the playground at recess and lunchtimes. The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) practice requires teachers to actively support and teach students the expected behaviours in the school setting. All staff are currently actively teaching these expectations. After the two week teaching period, students will be expected to be responsible for wearing their hats and being organised before going to the playground each and every break.
SIPPS School Photos
Looking forward to seeing all our students looking refreshed, sparkling and ready for photos on day one Term 4. School photo day is Monday 12th October, which is Day 1, Term 4, 2020. All students are expected on Monday 12th wearing their full Summer uniform. Photo day was postponed from earlier in the year, when all school photography was cancelled. There is no Staff Development Day / Pupil Free Day to start Term 4 each year.
Updated Health Guidelines for schools - August 19th
A brief synopsis is provided below:-
|
Changes |
Continue with restrictions |
On Hold |
|
All students and staff with symptoms need to be tested and provide negative Covid test results prior to returning to the school setting. Students to remain in their cohorts – eg. K-2, 3 & 4, 5&6 for all learning activities. No singing or chanting. No woodwind or brass instruments or recorder groups. SRE/SEE no singing or chanting. Dance lesson with new restrictions. No social events permitted. |
Pick up and drop off to continue with current practices All adults are to socially distance. Parent / teacher meetings via telephone P&C meetings continue on-line only. School assemblies – no more than 15 minutes and no external visitors Presented in class: Merit Awards Wristbands Bronze / Silver / Gold Awards Library books may still be borrowed following the health guidelines for best practice. Band – online Canteen – online orders only Uniform shop – online orders only Community Users – with restrictions in place and at the discretion of the Principal. |
Peer Support – on hold for Term 3. Ku-ring-gai PSSA Winter sport cancelled. All P&C events and functions. Inter-state excursions – 5/6 Canberra excursion cancelled for 2020. |
Our parents have been very supportive by remaining off site as requested. Parents please telephone or email the school or staff for support or guidance in answering your enquiries. Student drop off and collection from school gates only.
Enrolments 2020 – Note to all parents
Most of our families have now returned their 2020 enrolment intentions slip. Thank you so very much. This is of great assistance for planning, staffing, classes and school organisation.
Any families who have not returned their child/ren’s enrolment 2020 slip are asked to do so with some urgency. This is vitally important for the school to be able to identify numbers of students for 2020. We receive our teacher allocation according to the numbers of students who are enrolled in our school. Please return the notes by 25th September, 2020.
Stay safe and well,
Caroline English
Principal
Kindergarten
Mrs Woodwell and Mrs Underhill have been planning the remainder of the year together.
K Rainbow are very excited to have Mrs Underhill who is starting next week. Mrs Woodwell wishes all of K Rainbow and the parents all the best for the rest of 2020.
Kate Woodwell
Dates to Diary
No Upcoming Events
Celebrating Student Success
Congratulations to Eloise who has achieved a Gold Award.
Inspiring & Nurturing
Successful Lifelong Learners
A note from the Music Room
So far this term Kindergarten, Stage 1 and Stage 2 students have all had the opportunity to perform for the school community via video and Google Classroom in items rehearsed last term especially for Education Week. I was so proud of the students’ performances in their videos, and I hope parents enjoyed them too. Until last week, when restrictions on group singing in schools were introduced, the whole school was learning a song - Feed Your Imagination – in preparation for Book Week celebrations early in term 4. At the moment, instead of singing the song, students are playing percussion instruments to accompany the recording.
Kindergarten
For the remainder of the term Kindergarten students will focus on distinguishing between rhythm and beat and will begin playing on our rainbow coloured chime bars.
Stage 1
Students in Stage 1 will also concentrate on developing their skills in playing tuned percussion such as the chime bars pictured above as well as xylophones. We will be learning songs specifically written for this purpose by Australian music educator Jon Madin.
Stage 2
Ukulele lessons will begin this week for Stage 2. Students will learn to play the chords C, A minor and F this term and will be able to play along with a variety of repertoire.
Stage 3
The focus for the remainder of the term will be creating a soundtrack for a children’s book in the Book Week theme Wild Creatures, Curious Minds. Students will work in small groups to compose and perform their sound effects using percussion instruments and other sound-sources.
Stage One
We hope that everyone has now had the opportunity to read their child’s mid year academic reports. If you would still like to discuss your child’s learning, please feel free to contact their class teacher to organise a suitable time.
Students had the chance to visit Healthy Harold last Friday where they learned some strategies about starting and keeping friendships. All students were given a booklet that they can complete at home. Please see Google Classroom for the photos.
Google classroom is now being used for homework. If you are experiencing any problems accessing this at home, please let us know. Students need to log into the student portal as themselves in order to access all of the classroom topics.
For example:
Username: john.smith
Password: ****
We are also continuing to upload a range of still photos and videos to the Google classroom site. We are also attempting to include merit awards and wrist band presentations onto the platform. We do hope that you enjoy these insights into your child’s learning experiences.
Kind Regards,
N. Mills, L. Cippolone, S. Took
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.
Please can all overdue school fees be paid by Friday 11th September. If you are unable to pay please contact the office to discuss. Thankyou
Thankyou to the P&C for organising the Father's Day gift voucher donations. Two vouchers per class have been sent home to the lucky das.
Father’s Day Draw Winners - Voucher for St Ives Shopping Centre
Kindergarten – Laila and Adriana
1 / 2 Yellow – Andrew and James
1 / 2 Emerald – Patrick and Tyler
3 / 4 Aqua – Jessica and Alena
3 / 4 Purple – Brahm and Felix
5 / 6 Pink – Noah and Theo
5 / 6 Blue – Charlie and Nathan
Uniform Shop
Uniform 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.
Canteen
All orders only available for recess and lunch. There will be no canteen service and no cash payments at this point. All orders will be through Qkr!
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/