14 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message

Swimming Carnival

Splashes and swimming as students raced at our swimming carnival today. The teachers were delighted by the beautiful behaviour demonstrated by St Ives Park Public School students.

Thank you to Mrs Taylor for all the organisation and co-ordination involved in the carnival preparation. Thank you to our time-keepers for their support at the swimming carnival today, your assistance was very much appreciated.

Toilet refurbishment

Finally!

After significant interruptions to the planned schedule, due to lockdown in 2021, our D Block toilets are available for our students to use. Students have warmly welcomed the changes and modernised toilet facilities.

Toilet walls are a high gloss white tile, with grey floor tiles.

Cubicles meet the DoE requirements for student privacy and are a dove grey.

Students now use hand driers rather than paper towel.

While we are learning under the current cohort requirements, please be aware that our 3-6 students are utilising the D Block toilets at recess and lunch times. All students attending Helping Hands OOSH provider use these toilets each day.

An enormous thank you to the P&C for this joint P&C and school funded project.

Composite and Multi-Stage classes

All NSW Public Primary Schools are staffed using the one formula which is based on the number of students enrolled in the school. From this enrolment, staffing is allocated to primary schools each year.

Our school has frequently planned for stage-based composite classes, however, this year we have a slightly different arrangement due to enrolments. Stage-based or multi-age classes occur in schools for a number of reasons. These classes provide schools with more flexibility and options to ensure even class sizes and a balance of academic needs, gender, social and individual needs across year levels.

All NSW syllabus documents K – 10 are written and planned as stage-based learning. It is acknowledged and planned that students will progress through stages of learning and this is how the syllabus documents are written. Stages are listed here:

All classes, whether a single year level or composite class group, have children with diverse learning needs and abilities. No two children learn and develop at the same rate, as parents are aware within their own families. When planning for classes staff take into consideration the strengths, prior knowledge and needs of the range of students. In every class, there will be teaching and learning which occurs as a whole class, in small groups and at an individual level. Research demonstrates that high quality teaching and learning is key to a successful learning environment in any classroom, not the structure or composition of the class.

Out of Area Enrolments

The Department of Education’s Out of Area enrolments policy changed in September 2019.

There is a department wide focus on following the enrolments policy, identified reasons for enrolment within the guidelines and use of established infrastructure on each site. Out of Area Enrolments must go before the Enrolment Committee for approval and applications which meet the policy requirements may be approved.

Covid notifications to families

Schools no longer participate in contact tracing undertaken by NSW Health.

When students test positive on the surveillance Rapid Antigen Tests or PCR tests, parents are required under the Public Health Order to log the positive result through the Service NSW app and inform the school.

When the school is informed of positive cases a general letter to the K-2 or 3-6 cohort is sent home to all families in that cohort. The letter informs families that they should ‘monitor for symptoms’ and generally be aware that there are cases in the local community. This is the extent of the information I am able to share with our community.

You may have heard from friends or families at other schools that they have been informed when a grade has a positive case. This is because their schools are larger and their ‘cohort’ is deemed to be a particular grade, eg. Y3, which may include more than 5 classes. Our cohorts at SIPPS are K-2 and 3-6. This means there are three classes in each cohort. We have separate playgrounds and separate gates to manage our cohorts.

Learning From Home – due to Covid positive students or family contacts

When parents contact the school regarding student absences due to Covid positive cases or family contacts teachers are informed and they will contact families to inform families of Google Classroom planning and access to the Departmental online learning protocols.

Please be aware, student absences are marked in the rolls as:-

S for sick – unwell
U for unexplained – student absence has not been explained or no work submitted
F for flexible learning – where students have submitted their English and
Mathematics work via Google Classroom to their teacher when learning from home.

Teachers are required to make contact with students who are learning from home. Please ensure your child participates in the Google Classroom roll call and completes set tasks when learning from home.

Rapid Antigen test kits – round #2

Second distribution of packs of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for all students and staff occurred last Thursday and Friday.

The use of RAT kits to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff offers a quick and easy screening tool to help detect COVID-19. Use of RAT kits is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Instructions are included in the kits detailing how to use the tests, check the results and dispose of the tests safely. You can also download the instructions through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)External link website. The user guides will also contain a contact number for the suppliers if you need additional support.

Thank you to all our families for supporting this important Covid Smart initiative. Please continue to monitor for symptoms between the Monday and Wednesday planned testing as required.

Parent Information Evening 2022

Information Evening is on Tuesday 22nd February, Week 5.

After consultation with staff and the P&C executive, considering the current Covid climate we will be conducting these meetings via a Webinar format in 2022. We need to ensure that our staff remain well and teaching their classes wherever possible.

ZOOM Session times:

5:00 pm Kindergarten with Mrs Follows
5:30 pm Stage 1 with Mrs Wright and Mrs Field
6:00 pm Stage 2 with Mrs Took, Mrs Taylor or Mrs Cipollone
6:30 pm Stage 3 with Mrs Taylor or Mrs Cipollone and Mrs Underhill

For parents who are unable to attend, the slides provided on the night will be available via the school website from Friday, 25 February 2022.

Parents/carers are partners in their child/ren’s education. Our staff would like to share their teaching and learning expectations, the curriculum requirements and advise you on how you can assist in the learning process. This is an opportunity for you to hear from your child/ren’s new class teacher/s and learn about NSW curriculum, important school/class routines, opportunities and expectations.

Summer Uniform

A general reminder that all students should be in Summer uniform during Term 1. This means on cooler days, students wear their Summer uniform and wear a green school jacket or jumper.

Hats are essential in our Australian climate. If students are not wearing their hats, they are required to stay under cover for their recess and lunch breaks.

School Times

8:40am – Students may arrive at school. Teacher on duty from 8:45am.
9:10am – Lessons begin
11:10am – Recess begins (30 min break)
1:10pm – Eating break
1:20pm - Lunch break (30min break)
3:10pm – School concludes

Key dates to start 2022

• 1/2/22 Students in Years 1 to 6 attend school.
• 1/2 - 3/2 Kindergarten Best Start interviews.
• 3/2 Classes formed with current enrolment numbers.
• 4/2 Kindergarten students begin their first day at SIPPS.
• 11/2/22 Stage Information Flyers sent home to parents
• 11/2/22 Google Classroom logins sent home by Friday
• P&C Meeting February 16th. Please see school newsletter for further information. Looking forward to meeting new parents at the St Ives Bowling Club.
• 22/2 Zoom Parent Information Evenings
• 7-18/3 Learning Plans
• 21/3 – 1/4 Parent Teacher Interviews – format to be advised (DoE to advise).
• 8/4 2pm – 3pm Festive and Easter hat parade

Kind regards
Caroline English

Library

Band

Wonderful news for all band musicians BAND IS BACK.

Welcome back!

A huge welcome back to Senior band musicians and congratulations to all the new beginner band students you have decided to take up and amazing opportunity to learn an instrument this year.

Band Rehearsal and sectionals commence in Tuesday Week 4 – 15/2/2022

Training Band - It’s still not too late to join.

No experience, lots of experience, we don’t mind, and all are WELCOME!

But before you decide on joining or continuing to play, we wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to the type of instruments you can learn in the Band Program.

We will do this in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Watch this YouTube video to learn about the different instruments in a band.

Step 2: Follow the link to our survey where you can let us know which 2 instruments you would most like to play

Step 3: Let our Conductors work through your preferences so they can create band groups that will make you sound amazing!

Step 4: If you would like to come and try an instrument from 9am this Monday please email kate@actionmusic.com.au and I will arrange a time or call 0419630511.

Creative Kids Vouchers -

You can now use your Creative Kids Voucher off the term 1 band invoice from Action Music. Please complete the google Doc before 12/2/22

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Kate Habkouk – Action Music – 0419630511

General information for families

Cyber safe families

The following resources are available to support families and their children in being responsible online users:

• Cyber safe families  – an overview of cyber safety
• Technology and wellbeing  – useful tips and tools
• Digital citizenship External link  – a collection of articles and resources to maximise students’ use of technology.

Notes from the school office

All school tours are on hold during lockdown restrictions.

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

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

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will be packing orders from Qkr! on Fridays, once a fortnight (odd term weeks).

We welcome donations of good quality, used school uniforms.

We have limited stock of second hand items, if you would like to order second hand items, please email sippsuniform@gmail.com

P & C

The campout will not go ahead this term

Community

St Ives Football Club

SIFC (Soccer) Registrations are now open for 2022, open to boys and girls.