15 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

March PBL Focus

Catch cards are placed in a K -2 box and a 3 - 6 box. Each fortnight at lines after lunch a card is pulled out of each box giving us our SIPPS stars.

Principal’s Message

Parent -Teacher Interviews

Parent-Techer interviews are planned for next week. They are 10 min sessions and parents are requested to keep to the time limit. Parents may use the app to log interview times across the week. Tuesday is the day staff are available until 6pm. Other days and times staff are available is at their discretion and balanced around their commitments. There are enough slots for students in each class.

Please don’t forget that parents are able to request interviews throughout the year not only during interview week.

Assistant Principal Panel

There will be a panel formed this term to begin the formal process to employ a substantive Assistant Principal to replace the vacancy created by Mrs Sheehy’s resignation. The panel will consist of the panel Convenor / School Principal, a staff representative, an assistant Principal at another DET school and a SIPPS parent representative nominated by the P&C Executive.

SIP – School Improvement Plan

The School Improvement Plan is in the final stages of formulation. This is the plan which will lead our directions for the 2021 – 2024 timeframe at SIPPS. Every DET school in NSW has system-negotiated targets which underpin their plans in the areas of reading and numeracy and these relate to NAPLAN results and student growth targets. Schools also are expected to achieve Wellbeing and Attendance targets. Students are expected to be in attendance more than 90% of school days and 85% of students are attending at this marker in Term 1 2021. The wellbeing targets are directly linked to the Tell Them From Me student surveys.

All parents were surveyed in 2020 to identify community expectations, thoughts and directions. Summative survey results were published in The Patter in 2020. These results were followed up by small group Focus group meetings to discuss the anticipated planning with community representatives.

Students participated in small focus group discussions in 2020 and the leadership team have been consulted on the School Vision this week. The School Vision for the plan is derived from the system expectations for student learning and amalgamated with parent survey and focus group results. Staff supported the complex School Vision statement as part of the consultation process.

Staff have been working on the formulation of the directions during Semester 2 2020 and have discussed findings from student and parent focus groups in order to guide our planning.

The Director Educational Leadership visited last week to discuss the system derived data and the information gathered through student and parent consultation. This document must be completed and published on the school website by the end of this term.

OOSH Tender completed – Before and After School Care

Tender process completed late in 2020 and care provided updated their forms and procedures for all families. Helping Hands have now been officially reinstated for the contract period. Thank you to the panel participants.

Did You Know?

Finn in Year 3 recently participated in Regional track and field events including:

800m, Under 9s 100m, 60m hurdles, discus, shot put and long jump.

He was very successful and has been chosen to participate at STATE level under 9s 70m, 100m, shot put and long jump. Keep your fingers crossed for Finn!

NAPLAN

During week 9 this term, year 3 & 5 students will be participating in the online practice tests program. This involves students taking part in two 45 minute tests in. This is in preparation for the online NAPLAN tests which will be taking place from 11th - 14th May in Term 2.

During the practice and NAPLAN testing windows students in yr 3 & 5 will be required to bring a set of headphones from home. Many students already have their own personal headphones stored in the classroom, but if this is not the case we ask that parents please ensure their child has a set for week 9 this term and week x next term.

More information about online NAPLAN testing can be found in the attached flyer.

Leanne Hayllar
Assistant Principal

Clean up Day

Schools Clean Up Day 2021

SIPPS staff and students enthusiastically participated in Schools Clean Up Day on Friday 5th March. Each class was responsible for tidying up a part of our school. We were busy, primarily collecting plastic rubbish such as straws and food wrappers. Students learnt the importance of correctly disposing of rubbish, in order to keep our environment beautiful and healthy. Our next eco-friendly initiative is to start up ‘Trash-free Thursdays’ to reduce the amount of plastic used at SIPPS. Students will be encouraged to bring in a lunchbox free of food packaging such as glad wrap and plastic bags, and instead bring in reusable containers and wraps. The class with the least amount of packaging will be rewarded each week.

Stephanie Took and the SIPPS Environment Club

Library

Issue 2 brochures have been distributed to students via their class teacher. All orders for Issue 2 need to be entered online via the Scholastic LOOP facility by Friday 19/3/21.

Virginia Allman
Book Club Coordinator

PSSA

PSSA is on every Friday morning! Teams have been chosen and students have been practising their skills.

This year, Mrs Field is the Junior teams coach and Miss Emerson is the Senior teams coach.

Training is on every Friday morning for those in the team at 8:30am, please be prompt as it is an essential part of being a part of the team.

Thank you
Stephanie Emerson

The New PSSA shirts are now available to current PSSA team members.

Sizes are: 8, 10, 12, 14 and Adult XS and they are available on QKr! now.

We have sample sizes in the office for students to try on as well as in the Uniform shop. They are a similar size to the current red sports shirt. They are only to be worn on a Friday.

If any parents of students in the PSSA team cannot buy them for any reason, please contact the office.

Notes from the school office

Please ensure that at least one family member has the Schoolzine App on their phone to enable the school to send through any updates from the school office in case of an emergency.

Please have the school email saved in your favourites to ensure that our emails do not end up in your junk file: stivespark-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Please label all of your child/children’s belongings such as lunch boxes, lids and containers, hats, jumpers and bags.

Please advise the office of any changes to your phone number, address and/or child’s medical condition as soon as possible.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the school office

on 02 91444085.

Chess club has begun Wednesday Lunchtime. Please see the flyer below.

Schoolzine app – Please download the schoolzine app. The school uses this app for payment of fees, viewing of school newsletters, absentee notes, school alerts

Qkr! app – Please download the Qkr ! app – this app is used by the P & C for the ordering and payment of school uniform items and for Canteen ordering and payment of items.

Canteen

Canteen is open on Mondays only and only for lunch orders at this time.

How to Order

All orders must be placed via Qkr! No other orders will be accepted.

Qkr! orders must be placed prior to 8.30am on the Canteen day. Instructions on how to download and use Qkr! are below.

To assist the P&C Canteen volunteers, please ask your child to give their reusable canteen bag or lunch box to their teacher in the morning.

Please label the bag or lunchbox with your child's: (i) Name (ii) Class and (ii) Order.

Contact us

Please contact the SIPPS P&C Canteen at canteensipps@gmail.com

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will open every second Friday starting in Week 2 from 8.30 am to 9.30 am approx.

If you are ordering online please have your uniform orders in by the Wednesday evening of even weeks ie Week 2, 4 etc of the school term.

Goods will be handed out to your child just before the end of school on the following friday afternoon. If you have any questions please call the school office or send an email to the uniform email address below.

sippsuniform@gmail.com

Helping Hands – Before and After School CAREs

Helping Hands Network: Before and After school care & holiday programs AT your school

Welcome to Helping Hands Network!

Our compelling programs will empower your child to explore, navigate, experiment and engage in a diverse range of experiences before school, after school and during the school holidays. We focus on building knowledge, skills and behaviours that help prepare your child for a world yet to be imagined…

You can be confident that your child is in safe hands with our highly experienced and passionate educators. Whether your child attends Helping Hands Network daily or only occasionally, each visit is an exciting new adventure with fabulous food, awesome clubs, activities, mindfulness and so much more.

Join us during the school holidays

Helping Hands Network holiday programs are jam-packed with a huge variety of thrilling excursions, incursions and in-house activities. We offer the ultimate school holiday experience with ‘holiday must dos’ like rock climbing, cartooning, cultural workshops, movie days and zoo visits that will have your child grinning from ear to ear. You can be sure of your child’s safety, with Helping Hands Network’s 1:10 educator to child ratio on most excursions – more educators, more fun!

Enrolling with Helping Hands Network is easy and completely free. Head to our website to find out more or to book in today.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family at Helping Hands Network.