4 February 2021 - Term 1, Week 2

News from Mr Johnson

Dear Parents,

WELCOME BACK TO THE 2021 SCHOOL YEAR
It is an absolute delight to see you within the school grounds. The re-connection and warmth around Ironside is palpable.

Parents thank you for using our ‘Green Zones’ before school and immediately prior to student collection and departure. Remember our key fundamentals to school departure if traveling by car:

• Siblings align to the youngest member of the family
• Prep to Year 2 collection and departure – Hawken Drive and Swann Road
• Year 3 to Year 6 collection and departure – Central Avenue

SCHOOL VALUES
A key action for the development of the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan was a review, refresh and recommitment to the core values of Ironside. This review included all staff, student voice - represented through all Year 4-6 students of 2020 and parent voice – represented through the Ironside School Council and Parents and Citizens Association.

The review overwhelmingly recommitted to the Ironside Star – The Ironside Way. As part of this work we have clearly identified and named our core values. As part of the student free days at the start of 2021 we captured and completed the language and expectation statements (the behaviours) that are the Ironside Way.

At Ironside State School we value – KINDNESS, DIVERSITY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT.

As an Ironside STAR we / we are:

Safe and Kind;

• RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT WAY
• WORDS AND ACTIONS HELP, NOT HURT
• MAKE FRIENDLY CHOICES, NOT CONFLICT CHOICES

Treasure Diversity;

• DIFFERENT PEOPLE NEED DIFFERENT THINGS
• APPRECIATE THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS
• CELEBRATE & SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE

Act with Integrity;

• DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING
• TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR CHOICES
• BE HONEST

Respectful;

• TREAT OTHERS LIKE WE WANT TO BE TREATED
• BE POLITE AND USE OUR MANNERS
• CARE FOR SELF, PLACE AND OTHERS

As a part of our 150^th celebrations on 9 October 2020, every student contributed to the artwork that displays our values.

As a key action, in both finalising and launching the Ironside State School 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, all families can expect to receive a hard copy of both the Strategic Plan and the Ironside Way. I’ll ensure these pillar documents are to families as soon as possible following print production.

MEET THE TEACHER SESSIONS - 2021
Next week we will be hosting our annual ‘Meet the Teacher’ sessions. These will be during the following days and times. TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY 9-11 February.

Tuesday 9 February:

• Year 3 – 4:30pm – 5:15pm
• Year 4 – 5:15pm – 6:00pm

Wednesday 10 February:

• Prep – 3:30pm – 4:15pm
• Year 1 – 4:30pm – 5:15pm
• Year 2 – 5:15pm – 6:00pm

Thursday 11 February:

• Year 5 – 4:30pm – 5:15pm
• Year 6 – 5:15pm – 6:00pm

All the very best for the fortnight ahead. Personally, I’m delighted to be back into the routine after a lovely summer vacation. Thank you for the warmth and generosity you have brought with you, through the school gates, as we commence another school year and strategic cycle.

Ironside Gala Dinner

Welcome back to school. The Ironside P&C look forward to a great year with the community. Don't miss out on the first P&C event of 2021, the celebration of Ironside 150th Anniversary. A very worthy milestone. Ticket sales close soon on Friday 12 February.

The Ironside P&C AGM will be on Tuesday 23 February at 6:30pm in the staff room. All are welcome!

News from Mr Murdoch

Dear parents and caregivers,

Welcome back!  It has been a fantastic start to the new school year.  Well done to our Prep – Year Two students who have settled back into school routines.

As a school, we would like to take a moment to extend a warm welcome to those that are joining the Ironside community this year – particularly our newest students, the Preps. 

For some, in these early weeks of school, it can take a little longer getting to know new teachers, classmates and routines.

The start of a new school year involves a big change for your child. It is normal for children to have strong feelings as they start to think about these changes, such as excitement about the prospect of going to school as well as nervousness about what lies ahead.

Prep children may also be feeling sad or angry about leaving early childhood education and care. This includes letting go of relationships formed with educators and other children, as well as a change to their familiar routines. Some common feelings children have during transition to school can include:

• excitement
• sadness
• anger
• anticipation
• fear or anxiety

Understanding and helping your child to handle the feelings associated with starting or returning to school will help to reduce their stress and can provide them with positive coping strategies. 

Arrival and Departure 2021 – Years 1 and 2
Green Zones
Parents who wish to wait with their child before school, and those who arrive early for collection after school, will use the Green Zones. These are:

• P-3 Grassy Patch
• 4-6 Oval area parallel to Central Avenue

At the playing of the music (8:55am) parents can see their children to the classroom door. The first bell (9:00am) is the clear signal that learning and teaching has begun and parents are requested to make their way outside the school grounds.

Alternatively, students who are dropped off to school are to wait in their normal before school waiting areas. Students are to arrive no earlier than 8:30am and will be supervised by school staff.

• Prep - Prep Precinct (outside classrooms)
• Year 1/2 - Under G Block

If using the green zones in the afternoon please talk with your child/ren to meet them in the green zone before heading home.

On the map attached to this newsletter, you will see our 2021 departure points and 'Green Zones'. Departure points are for students who will be collected by car.

• P-3 Swann Road and Hawken Drive

Families with siblings at Ironside align to the youngest child in the family.
PREP Arrivals:
Using the entrances at either Swann Rd or Hawken Drive, parents and Prep students must wait on the Green Zone (Grassy Patch) until 8:55am.

* The playground equipment is not to be accessed during this time. Prep students are expected to wait beside their parents.

At 8:55am, the first bell will ring (typically this is music), signalling for students to make their way to class. Prep parents are able to escort their children to their classroom.

Students are to place their bag on the bag rack and organise their belongings as per the classroom routines. Teachers and educational support officers will be there to assist children, particularly in the first weeks of school.

* It is important for parents to leave this work to the students and teachers. Should your child seek your assistance, direct them to listen and follow the teacher's instructions.

At 9:00am, a second bell will ring (this is a standard school bell), signalling to students that they should be ready to enter the classroom and start their day. Upon hearing this bell, it is expected that parents promptly vacate the Prep Precinct and school grounds.

PREP Departures: TERM 1
At the end of the school day, Prep students will be waiting in the Green Zone (Grassy Patch) for parents, known adults or siblings to collect them.

Students will be in class lines. Signs and markers will help to locate and collect your child.

Parents, known adults or siblings are to speak to the supervising adult and state who they are collecting.

* This is a matter of student safety and needs to be conducted in an orderly manner. Patience during this process will be greatly appreciated.

Things to note (Prep):

• If your child attends before or after school care - the OSHC educators will ensure that students arrive and depart class safely.
• For students that access the care provided by Playhouse - the educators will ensure the safe arrival and departure as per their advice.
• If your child attends a program provided by an external provider after school (dance, tennis, etc.), the duty of care remains with the parents accessing this service.
• Students are to be collected promptly by 3:00pm at the end of the school day.

In the event of inclement weather, Prep students should have a raincoat in their school bag. Umbrellas are a hazard to other Prep students. Students with umbrellas will be asked to close them due to safety concerns.

Each classroom teacher will have their own routine and expectations before the school day starts i.e. putting bag on rack, placing water bottles and ‘crunch’ containers in the appropriate spot.  Your classroom teacher will practise these with the students.

Your part in this process is to allow your child to manage these little routines on their own and to ensure conversations are had with your child about what they need to do.  These conversations and preparation are vital to ensure your child’s readiness for routine changes later in the year.

If your child is experiencing difficulty or uncertainty, remember we are here to help and support.

Arrivals and Departures: STOP, DROP and GO zones
Please be mindful of our STOP, DROP and GO zones which are located on Hawken Drive and Central Avenue. These zones are designed to keep traffic moving during peak times in the mornings and afternoons.

These zones are clearly signed and parents are to remain in their car during arrivals and departures.

Parking in the STOP, DROP and GO zones is a hazard and safety issue to students and other members of the community.

For more information: https://ironside.wistia.com/medias/v2wprtgjp4?wvideo=v2wprtgjp4

Year 1 Parents: 
One of the systems we use at school to keep students safe is the use of a yellow bucket hats in Prep.  This helps to keep Prep students easily identified in the playground to make sure they are in the right place.

There are some Year 1 students who are still using this yellow bucket hat which is causing some confusion in the playground.

We kindly request that you purchase the appropriate blue hat used by our Years 1 – 6 students at your earliest convenience.

These hats are readily available for purchase at the uniform shop or via the Qkr app.

Thanks in advance for your co-operation with this matter.

https://ironsidess.eq.edu.au/facilities/uniform-shop

New uniforms can be ordered online via the online app Qkr! http://qkr.mastercard.com/.

Please note the Uniform Shop cannot accept cash.  Payment can be made by EFTPOS in store and via use of the Qkr! app (online).

News from Mrs Vecchio

Welcome to 2021!
It’s been an absolute delight to welcome students and families back to school.
Special welcome to all of the new families who have joined our school community!

INTERNATIONAL PARENT GROUP
Great news … “International Parent Group” has restarted! The purpose of the group is to strengthen connections between families, the school and wider community, especially for families who have joined us from overseas or interstate. Parents have an opportunity to get to know one another, learn about the way our school works, the Australian Curriculum and expand their networks outside of school.  It is a supportive space where parents can also practise their English language skills.

All interterested parents are invited to the weekly “chat and cuppa” sessions hosted by the EAL/D Team.  A QR code has been set up to help parents sign-in to the group meetings.

When:  Fridays 9:00am – 10:30am
Where:  EAL/D room (off A Block)

LIBRARY OPENING HOURS
The school Library is open before school on Monday to Friday  8:30 – 8:55am.  Students are expected to wait in their year-level waiting areas for the Library to open.

After school hours are 3:00 – 3:30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Students are expected to exit the Library and wait in their designated pick-up areas before 3:30pm. 

PARENT WAITING AREAS AFTER SCHOOL
As communicated via numerous ‘newsflashes’, “green zones” have been designated as parent waiting areas after school.  Refer to the map (below).  Parents are asked to respect this new school procedure and not gather on classroom verandas or outside classrooms. 

“MEET THE TEACHER” PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

“Meet Your Teacher” parent information sessions are planned for during Week 3.  All sessions will be held in your child’s classroom – sign-in sheets at the classroom door.  The schedule has been previously emailed as a ‘newsflash’ and is repeated below:

Tuesday 9 February:          4:30pm Year 3;              5:15pm Year 4

Wednesday 10 February:  3:30pm Prep;                4:30pm Year 1;                  5:15pm Year 2

Thursday 11 February:       4:30pm Year 5;            5:15pm Year 6

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
Under current guidelines, parents are welcome to attend school assemblies as long as physical distancing is maintained.  Assemblies are held on Friday mornings 9:15 – 9:45am. Merit Certificates or STAR awards will be presented to students in respective year levels. 

During the term, there may also be performances by instrumental music groups, choirs and other special presentations. Staff who manage the various programs communicate this information to parents.

We are all excited to get back to the ‘new normal’
and look forward to a wonderful year of great learning.  

News from Mrs Bairstow

WELCOME BACK!
We have had a wonderful and smooth start to 2021 in the upper school.  We are excited to see our Year 6 students in their senior shirts, smiling and ready for the fun and challenging year of leadership ahead.  We are also excited to welcome all of our seven Year 5 classes into our sector.  We are enjoying getting to know you, and we are confident you will flourish throughout the year.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Firstly, official congratulations to our two School Captains for 2021:  Aaron Ding and Alankrita Mishra, and our two Vice-Captains: Narra Amor and Madeleine McPhail.  I am sincerely looking forward to working with these students as they pave out their own leadership paths in 2021.

We now need to elect and select all other leadership positions to fill our Student Council, and beyond.  Below is a table summary of the positons, election and selection process, terms of service, roles and responsibilities.  The House Captain position will be held for a whole year.  This is a change to past years.  Due to the interruptions cause by Covid last year, the 2020 House Captains remained in the role for the whole year – which had many benefits to the PE program and the Student Council.  

Students will be emailed a link from their classroom teacher in the coming days, asking them to select positions that they wish to nominate for.  Students are also asked to write a brief summary about why they believe they would make a good leader. Teachers will be spending class time to guide students through the process, ensuring that everyone has ample opportunity and access to apply.  Should your child be absent in the next few days, please email me directly at jbair51@eq.edu.au so I can forward your child the appropriate link.

LIFE ED – SEXUAL HEALTH AND RELEATIONSHIPS EDUCATION
Between March 1 – March 16 the school will be offering Sexual Health and Relationships Education for our Year 5 and 6 students through Life Education Queensland. The information here aims to help you understand the content of this session. The school recognises that you are the primary educator of your child on issues surrounding their sexuality, however we believe we can work together to help children stay safe by encouraging healthy attitudes. The “Talk About It” program by Life Education includes information on puberty incorporating physical growth and emotional changes, relationships and the concept of self.  It is designed to help students understand and cope with this important phase of development. 

The program is designed to assist young people develop a positive attitude towards their own sexuality and provides them with information on how to look after themselves during this stage of their development.  The lessons being conducted will focus on the physical, social and emotional changes experienced during puberty and helping students understand and cope with this important phase of development. The program covers content from the Health strand of the Australian Curriculum and topics covered include Puberty, Evolving Friendships, Discovering Identity and Human Reproduction.  Please find attached to this newsletter, a flyer with some information about the “Talk About It” program, and a document that details how the program is aligned to the curriculum standards.

We are fortunate to have a very experienced educator from Life Education conducting the sessions which have been tailored to the needs of our school and students.  Classroom teachers will always be present in the room during sessions as well.

Year 5 students will partake in two modules entitled “Who am I?” and “Welcome to Puberty”.  The cost for this will be $27.

Year 6 students will partake in three modules entitled “Discovering Identity”; “Surviving Puberty” and “The Journey of Human Reproduction”.  The cost for this will be $34

We would also like to gauge the interest in providing a session for parents in conjunction with the program, which is historically, a popular option with our families.  Depending on interest, it would likely be held at 5.30pm during the program instruction period. Please indicate your interest in attending a parent session by emailing Mrs Bairstow at jbair51@eq.edu.au.

A letter (including detailed content within the modules), invoice and permission slip will be sent directly to all Year 5 and 6 parents in the coming weeks.

STUDENT DIARIES
All students in Years 4 – 6 have been provided with a 2021 Ironside Student Diary.  Students are encouraged to use this as a tool to support the skills of organisation and time management.  Each teacher will require students to use these diaries in different ways.  Some like them to be sent home daily, others use them more as a support at school.

We are thrilled with the product we have designed this year, and thank Academic Media for their continued service and high quality products.  You will note this year that the diary has a wellbeing theme throughout.  Each newsletter this year, I’d like to highlight for parents, the activities and content that aligned to the wellbeing focus.  I hope this can act as a tool to open up communication in this space in your home.

This fortnight says:

          Know yourself:  “I live in my own little world, but it’s okay – they know me here” – Author unknown

          Wellbeing activity: Stop overscheduling.  One of the biggest stressors for kids is being overscheduled.  Kids need downtime to rejuvenate.  Their brains and bodies need to rest.

          Empower your thinking: “If you want to destroy something, then destroy your negative thinking.” (Lopamundra N, Age 15)

Wellbeing activity:  Make time for play.  Do play that isn’t pressured.  There’s no lesson, competition or end goal.  Combine play with physical activity which is critical for well-being.  Some ideas include: riding your bikes, throwing around the baseball, wrestling and hiking.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
Religious Instruction will commence on Friday 12 March (Week 7).  This is an option available to all students in Years 1 – 6. 

Faith groups who are offering RI this semester are:

• Buddhist
• Catholic
• Combined Christian
• Islam

As the last week of Term 1 is a short week for Easter, the Term 1 dates for RI lessons will be 12, 19 and 26 March.  In terms 2 – 4, RI will run from Weeks 2 – 9 each term, as it has in previous years.

These dates are:

• Term 2:  30 April – 18 June
• Term 3:  23 July – 10 September
• Term 4:  15 October – 26 November (finish Week 8 due to end of year school assemblies in Week 9)

 The time allocations for instruction on Fridays will remain the same:

Yrs 4 – 6:  9.50 – 10.20am
Yrs 1 – 3:  10.20 – 10.50am

All RI volunteers must hold a current Blue Card, and are inducted through the Queensland Government “Mandatory All-Staff Training program”.  Classroom teachers remain in the room at all times with volunteers and students.

Students will be enrolled into the RI group aligned with the information provided on the enrolment form at the time of enrolment.  Should you wish to change the RI group that your child attends, please submit this advice in writing to:  jbair51@eq.edu.au AND tdewo0@eq.edu.au It is possible to change groups / cease attendance at any time.

Students who choose to not attend RI classes will be supervised by classroom teachers in classrooms, completing alternative work and activities.

AWARD WINNERS, 2020

2020 required us to think outside of the box with many of our events.  Our graduation awards ceremony was filmed and sent to the Year 6 families for viewing.  It was a special morning with many highlights.  In the weeks leading up to this ceremony, the Year 6 and specialist teams spend a lot of time and effort in determining who the award winners for the year will be.  There are specific criteria for each award, and they are held in high esteem.  Congratulations, again, to these 2020 graduates who received awards last year:

Chappy's Corner

Hello wonderful Ironside school community. I hope this finds everyone well and that the holidays were enjoyed by all. It has been so wonderful seeing the students again since the break and hearing about all their holiday adventures.

It saddens me to say; I will be finishing at Ironside as of next week. I have decided to return to full-time studies to enable me to be involved in overseas missions assisting orphans and children living on the streets. 

It has been such a pleasure and a privilege to be part of Ironside and to get to know the wonderful students, staff and families within the community. Ironside really is such a wonderful community and I will very much miss and think of you all a lot. There will be a new chappy to take over the role in the near future.

One of the biggest highlights during my time at Ironside would have to be the Chappy’s Movie Nights Under the Stars where we had great nights out watching ‘Inside Out’ and ‘Sing’, eating yummy treats and singing and dancing along to the films. I also loved seeing students enjoying a delicious breakfast with their dads for Father’s Day and seeing the accompanying band and choir performances. I very much enjoyed participating in the Ironside International Breakfast, as well as sports carnivals, excursions, the Ironside 150^th Year Anniversary, Chappy Week celebrations and the International Parent group.  I have been privileged to have general chats and pastoral care sessions with students to see how they are going and to support them in any way possible.

I would like to thank Damian Johnson, Jenny Bairstow, Larissa Vecchio, Scott Murdoch, and all the teachers, staff, students and families at Ironside for welcoming me so warmly into the community. Thank you to the wonderful Ironside Chaplaincy Committee, in particular to Chair Person David Moore and all the wonderful volunteers who have supported me over my years here. I wish you all a wonderful rest of 2021 and hopefully see you again in the future.

Please feel free to contact me at katies@chappy.org.au if I can be of any help or if you would like for your child to be able to meet with the new chaplain when they start. In the meantime, if your child is needing additional support, please do not hesitate to talk with your child’s classroom teacher about ways that we might be able to support them.

Kindest regards,

Chappy Katie 😊        

HPE

Throughout the year, there will be district trials for various sports.  These are events where I am asked by the convenor of a particular sport to send a small number (usually two) of our most talented Ironside sutdents in that sport to the trial in order for them to select a district team.  That district team will then go on to represent the district at the regonal competition.

This year, the process for this will be when I receive an email from the convenor asking myself to send students, I will send an email with all the paperwork attached to all eligible students in years 4-6.  If they think they meet the criteria of being a top talent in that sport, they can print off the parerwork, bring it home to be filled out and signed and then brought to me.  I will then determine if they are of the standard that is expected at district trials and then sign their paperwork and send them to the trial.  Please note that district sport is of a very high competitive level and is usually for students that play the sport extensivly outside of school.

Choir

YEAR 2 CHOIR - VOCI DEI BAMBINI
The Year 2 Choir will commence on Monday (8th February), with regular Monday rehearsals.

The rehearsals will be in the school hall during first break playtime.

Any children from Year 2 are welcome to come along to join up, and collect an information note to take home to parents.

YEAR 1 CHOIR - PICCOLE VOCI
The Year 1 singing group will commence shortly. More information to come in next week's newsletter.

Community Providers

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is now open, please visit us, no need to make an appointment!

Uniform Shop Open Hours
Wednesdays 2:30pm-3:30pm and
Fridays 8:30am -9:30am

Uniform orders can be placed online via the Qkr! app.
 
Orders placed by 5:30pm on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday will be respectively delivered to the classrooms on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  

Orders for Year 6 Polos will strictly close 5pm Wednesday 10 February 2021 this will be the last order, no additional orders will be placed and we do not keep stock so order now to avoid disappointment!

Ironside Swim Club

2020-2021 SEASON
Re commences Friday 12 February 2021
Ironside State School Pool
5:45pm doors open, Free Swim at 6pm, and races start at 6.30pm sharp

Ironside Swim Club meets every Friday night throughout term 4 and term 1.
What’s new for 2021?
Since restrictions have been lifted, we are pleased to announce that we are back at full capacity, and back running with a regular program. We still need to trace people at the pool and this is done through the nominations sheet,

Oh and the BBQ and sweet shop will be back in 2021!!

Annual participation fee has been reduced to $25 per swimmer, and it’s not too late to register for this season, please register via Qkr! Once registered you will be added to the email list and can nominate your child for races.

What remains the same?
Ironside swimmers will continue to get the opportunity to participate in a comfortable, friendly environment in timed 25m for 50m races in various strokes.

Swimmers receive points for participating and improving their times.

The club is affiliated with Swimming Queensland (SQ) for those who want to join SQ and compete in other meets as Ironside Club Members.

We are not a learn to swim school, please contact – gpswimschool@gmail.com

Register now via the “Qkr!” App! (under P&C heading)
For inquiries email:  ironsideswimclub@gmail.com or refer to the Ironside State School website https://ironsidess.eq.edu.au/extra-curricular/clubs/ironside-swim-club

Tuckshop

**NEW** Daily Special on Fridays – Japanese-Style Beef Curry
Made from all fresh ingredients and served hot on the day. Order from Qkr! while supplies last!

Our new delicious Japanese-style Beef Curry is made from beef, onion, potato, carrot and spices (mild) served over medium grain rice.

Ironside OSHC

Inspiring Lunchboxes
Do you want some help and motivation to create healthy and enjoyable lunchboxes for your kids? We all know this can be tricky! Alison works at Ironside OSHC as an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and will be running a Parent Workshop to provide you with the inspiration, knowledge and skills to help you prepare great lunchboxes your kids will enjoy.

Wednesday 10 February 2021 from 6-7pm
Ironside SS Hall
Ticket: $5 per parent

Sample lunchbox foods are provided for parents to trial on the night

Childcare provided

Register via the QKR app: Parent Workshop ‘Creating Healthy and Enjoyable Lunchboxes’

If you have any queries email: contactus@ironsideoshc.org.au

Community Information