2 May 2022

Newsletter Articles

May PBL Focus

Engage in learning. Make positive choices. Take care of your belongings.

Principal’s Message

ANZAC Day Assembly 27th April, 2022

Our SIPPS students, parents and staff gathered at the 2022 ANZAC Day commemorative assembly on Wednesday last week. It was a solemn occasion, honouring the men and women who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The Action Music SIPPS band performed Heroes and Remember the ANZACS to add to the mood of the ceremony. Our Student Representative Council leaders and students laid the bunches of flowers on behalf of each class.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget.

Industrial Action 4th May, 2022

SIPPS parents and carers are requested to make alternative arrangements for their children on Wednesday 4th May as teaching staff will be participating in the industrial action.

SIPPS parents and carers are advised that the school will be non-operational and no student supervision will be available. This means you will need to make alternative care arrangements on this day for your children.

Cross Country Carnival

Endurance was the word of the day as our keen cross country participants raced ten laps of the amended course. Fortunately, the sun was shining throughout the event and students enjoyed the house spirit. We were also delighted to welcome back parents to another school event.

Term 2 Teacher Professional Learning

Reading and Vocabulary influences success in learning

In the final two newsletters in Term 1, I shared with you the research behind reading and vocabulary in literacy development. In Term 2 staff will participate in professional learning which focuses on vocabulary to enhance reading and teaching students through modelled and guided reading.

Mentoring teachers in Mathematics

Throughout 2021 and 2022 SIPPS staff are working with Fiona Foley, Mathematics Association of NSW primary consultant, to enhance and extend our teaching of Mathematics for students.

On the Staff Development Day, teachers were working on the Launch, Explore and Summarise/ Connect teaching model. This model is concentrated on student centred structured inquiry which focusses on explicit teaching and planning to enhance student engagement and knowledge development.

Parent – Teacher meetings

Thank you to the parents who completed the end of Term 1 Parent-Teacher meeting survey for the school. Please remember that you may request a meeting with your child’s teacher at a mutually convenient time throughout the year.

Mother’s Day Stall

The planned Mother’s Day stall will be conducted on Thursday 5th May, 2022 which is a change from the previous day. Please remember to order online via Qkr!

Festive and Easter Hat Parade – Thank you

Festive hat adorned student’s heads from Kindergarten to Year 6, as we celebrated the end of Term 1 with the Festive and Easter Hat parade.

Thank you to our parents who braved the weather and joined the students and staff at our final event for Term 1.

Staying Covid Smart – More RATS for families in the coming weeks

Another bundle of RATs will come home with students soon. We cannot confirm the day as yet as we are awaiting delivery. The next set of RATs for families will come home with students to assist with symptomatic testing.

Current expectations in schools include:

• Masks are not mandatory for staff, students or visiting parents unless they are close contacts.
• Students who are close contacts may return when they are not showing and signs of Covid-19 symptoms AND have returned a negative RAT test each day for 5 days. Please see email dated 26/4/22 for further details.
• Parents at SIPPS are welcome on site. Please listen for the 9:05 am bell and leave the grounds before gates are locked each morning.
• All staff and volunteers must be double vaccinated as per the Public Health Order which remains in place until May 15th, 2022.

P&C

Next meeting will be held in the School Library on Wednesday 18th May from 7:15 pm and I look forward to greeting our community members at Gate 2 from 7pm.

Updates and Upgrades of school facilities

Bubblers and Refill stations

In 2021 the SIPPS P&C were successful in obtaining a grant to install bubblers and refill stations for our students. We are working with the company to arrange the installation this week. Soon all our students will be able to easily refill their water bottles with tap water throughout the day and access the new bubblers.

COLA Drainage

It is anticipated that the COLA drainage redesign and upgrade will go ahead these April school holidays with the expectation of completion before Term 2. Once this project is completed we anticipate students will have greater access and use of the COLA during wet weather. This project was delayed due to the 2021 Covid Lockdown.

Dates for your diary

Term 2

26th April – Staff return for Staff Development Day – Mathematics Association of NSW Primary Consultant working with staff on Mathematical strategy development and assessment.

27th April – ALL student K to 6 return to school for day 1 Term 2, 2022.
29th April - Cross Country @ SIPPS 1pm to 3pm
2nd May – First newsletter for Term 2
3rd May – Executive Director Susan Jeffrey visiting SIPPS.
4th May – Industrial Action by NSW Teacher’s Federation
5th May – Mother’s Day stall @ SIPPS. Please order on QKR!
6th May – Mother’s Day breakfast 7:30 am – 8:30 am
8th May – Mother’s Day
13th May – Applications Close for Year 5 opportunity class placement in 2023
13th May – National Walk Safely to School Day.
18th May – P&C Meeting in the school Library at 7:15pm. Enter via Gate 2.
3 – 12 May NAPLAN online 2022 for Years 3 and 5.

Kind regards
Caroline English

Assistant Principal’s Message

Year 5 Opportunity Class 2023

Applications for placement in a Year 5 opportunity class in 2023 are now open and will close on Friday 13 May 2022. If you wish to consider this option for your child, applications must be completed by parents online. To apply, go to https://shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au/ and follow the instructions.

Got Game

Students will continue to engage in Got Game sessions each Tuesday. In Term 1, the focus was gymnastics with students enjoying moving their bodies and using a range of different apparatus and equipment.

For Term 2, the focus moves to athletics, where the students will hone their skills in preparation for the Athletics Carnival later this term. Students are reminded to wear sport uniform each Tuesday.

Scope IT

Students are very excited to begin the Scope IT lessons this term. All our K-6 students will participate in sessions each Monday that develop their knowledge of coding and computational thinking. Students use a range of software and websites that allow them to problem solve, think critically and apply their mathematical thinking as they work their way through lessons.

NAPLAN

Years 3 & 5 will participate in NAPLAN testing during week 3 & 4. Students need to ensure they bring their headphones to school for participation in the tests. If your child does not have access to a pair of headphones, please notify the school office before Friday 6th May.

Warm regards,
Alison Wright & Leanne Hayllar

Stage 3 Highlights

Our Year 6 jerseys arrived! We are proudly wearing them and love the design we chose.

Library

Issue 3 of Scholastic Book Club has been distributed to all students at SIPPS.

If you would like to order any books from this Issue, please place your order online by Monday 9th May 2022 at the latest.

If you are unsure as to how to place an order via LOOP, please visit the website or ring Scholastic on 1800 021 233.

Every purchase families make allow our SIPPS library to accrue bonus dollars that are used to buy student requested books from the catalogue.

Mrs Allman
Book Club Coordinator

Band

What an exceptional day all the children had at the SIPPS Band Intensive on Tuesday 26th, 2022.

Band Intensive is a three-hour day of music making, fun and learning to progress our skills on our chosen instrument.

Lots of amazing resilience was shown from the musicians, as they gave their first public performance in two years at the completion of the Band Intensive.

Beginner band performed – Merrily We Roll Along, Go Tell Aunty Rhody and Hot Cross Buns.

Senior band – Remember the Anzacs and Heroes March in preparation for the Anzac Day ceremony this week.

Coming up:.

The Senior band is practicing for their debut performance at the City of Sydney Eisteddfod, held at the Chatswood Concourse in June.

Kind regards

kate@actionmusic.com.au

Notes from the school office

School photo day is Monday, 6 June. Further details regarding ordering will be sent later this week. All orders are to be placed online – no cash is to be returned to school.

P & C

Have your say direct to the Dept of Education – Tues 3 May, 10am. The P&C have arranged for Susan Jeffery from the Department of Education to come to SIPPS at 10am on Tues 3 May. This is a fantastic opportunity to provide your feedback direct to the Department. Please complete this form with your feedback and let us know if you can join us in person. If not, the P&C will make sure your feedback is shared:

Mother’s Day Stall - Thu 5 May

Opportunity for the kids to treat mum / their special person by purchasing a gift from our stall during school hours. (Dad or Mum – you’ll first need to pay for them via Qkr! before 3rd May).

Mother’s Day Breakfast – Friday 6 May, 7:30-8:30am.

Breakfast is on us. Please however still book your free ticket via QKr! for catering planning and bring along gold coins for activities on the day. We are looking forward to hosting our special mums / special person onsite!

Uniform Shop – Time to get your Winter Uniforms

Winter uniforms are expected to be worn from week 2 of term 2. So, check what the kids have grown out of and order your new uniforms on Qkr! to be delivered to school bags. Download your Uniform Checklist.

Canteen

Canteen is up and running for term 2, and it's not all about the chicken nuggets! There are a lot of lovely fresh food and frozen treats available too. Please order via Qkr! for a yummy canteen lunch.

If you would like to volunteer, please go to https://volunteersignup.org/RPMXA and put your name down on the Monday that suits you. One volunteer is required every Monday from 10:30am - 1pm. Remember that you need a current Working with Children Check to volunteer.

Federal Election – Sat 21 May

It wouldn’t be an election without a school BBQ and cake stall. Please sign up for a shift HERE and we’ll share more details closer to the time. Thanks in advance.

Share your stories

We would love to share more regular and varied stories of our kids’ passions and successes on the school’s social media channels. Please share photos and a short blurb of their achievements – fundraising, sporting, musical, artistic, and more. Send to stivesparkpc@gmail.com

Next P&C Meeting

Wed 18 May 2022, 7:15pm, in the school library.

Community