29 April 2021 - Term 2, Week 2

News from Mr Johnson

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to the new term. I hope the Easter holiday break was enjoyed by all families. These two (2) long weekends in a row are certainly keeping the full return to routine (both work and home) in a ‘working towards’ phase!

Uniform Focus
During this term we will be having a school wide focus on the best possible wearing of our school uniform.

Last term the P&C (who are the endorsing body of the School Uniform Policy) undertook a survey of parents regarding the school uniform and the range of options.

The clearest summary of that survey information I can provide is:

• Maintain the current offerings – there is no tension for any significant change to either alter or economise the current school uniform offerings;
• Increase the focus on attention to detail and the correct wearing of the uniform in its combinations.

In order to best prepare for a focus on the school uniform. What has emerged is a need for clarification, particularly with the wearing of blue shorts.

Blue shorts are an offering that enables us to provide a unisex uniform option as per the state-wide policy.   While grey shorts are the ‘traditional’ Ironside boys short, blue shorts are a completely acceptable choice for either boys or girls. Grey shorts are not preferred or ‘more appropriate’ than blue.

I am aware that this lack of clarity exists among our school staff also. I am working with our teams, teaching and non-teaching, to quickly bring us all to a place of consistent understanding.

With our clarity emerging, I’d like to focus on the following in regards to the uniform.

• No jeans

The Ironside Tracksuit (jacket and/or pants) is the school’s winter option.

Generally, the school uniform is very well worn. I appreciate the commitment of families to the student dress code. This is a cornerstone of the collective pride we have as members of the Ironside State School community.

We are updating and aligning our website and links to reflect consistency and inclusion of all uniform options. I am aware this is a work in progress and appreciate your patience as we ensure the resources and language that is published on our website is fully reflective of our intent.

ANZAC Day Assembly
Last Friday the whole school came together to commemorate ANZAC Day for 2021. I mentioned to the staff and students how this was the first time in a long time we had gathered as a whole school for an assembly.

I want to share and acknowledge my pride in ALL our students for their conduct, behaviour and participation on the day. Guests and parents whom I spoke with, all commented on the beautiful way, the Ironside Way, in which our ceremony was held and how our students participated.

I want to make special mention of our School Captains: Alankrita, Aaron, Madeleine and Narra along with our bugler, Thomas. The roles and responsibilities you undertook for ANZAC Day are both high pressure and deeply important. Each of you are to be congratulated for the ‘mature beyond your years’ leadership displayed. On behalf of our school community, please accept my sincere thanks and gratitude for a job very well done.

With regards to the long weekend ahead, if you are heading away travel safely and enjoy the time together as family and friends.

All the best for the week ahead. See you on Tuesday for week three.

The Pocket - Early Education and Care

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Cross-country Winners

Ironside's Years 3-6 Cross-country event took place on 19 April at Robertson Park.

News from Mr Murdoch

Dear parents and caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 2!  I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter break.  It has been lovely to see how seamlessly P-2 students have settled back into school routines.  We look forward to a positive and productive term ahead.

Bridge Builders - Skill of the week: Share & Take Turns
Not sharing or not taking turns is often one of the biggest causes of conflict in a home. Helping children to recognise that when they choose this skill there are three benefits for them including:

1. They might share with you.
2. You become better friends.
3. You feel good.

You can build your child’s sharing skills by watching for and praising good turn-taking, encouraging fairness and explaining about sharing. Help your child to practise this skill through simple activities that involve sharing and taking turns like kicking soccer goals or shooting basketball hoops.

When your child does try to share, be specific with praising what they shared and add ‘You must feel so proud of yourself to be so generous. Well done.’

 “Empowered for Life”; Jocelyne Chirnside

Around the classrooms – Prep: 
In Prep we have been learning about our letters and sounds and how we can use them to assist us in reading during our reading rotations. We have also been learning about shapes and positional language in maths. One of our highlights each week is our gross motor time where we use activities such as throwing balls, running, balancing on blocks to develop our skills and help us to learn.

Around the classrooms – Year 1: 
The Year 1 Ironside School swimming carnival took place this Tuesday. We were lucky enough to enjoy our carnival after it was postponed last term.

The students excelled in everything. They displayed great listening skills, waited patiently for their race, cheered from the side of the pool and most importantly they had a go and tried their best.

The display of sportsmanship and team spirit was exceptional.

A very special thanks to Mrs English and Mr Clarke-Okah for organising such an amazing event!

Around the classrooms – Year 2: 
In Science this term, Year 2 are investigating life cycles. After lots of discussion around “What would make an interesting class pet?”, we decided upon mealworms. Over the next few weeks, hopefully we will be able watch them completely metamorphose into darkling beetles. We were all very excited to receive three mealworms for us to observe. We have so many questions that we will spend this term being researchers to discover the answers to become experts in all things mealworm.

News from Mrs Vecchio

NGUTANA-LUI INCURSION
Year 4 students had a wonderful start to Term 2 through their participation in learning experiences with tutors from Ngutana-Lui Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Studies Centre. Tutors shared their wisdom on a range of topics to support Year 4 HASS studies: Natural Resources and Recycling, Role of Art in Recording Aboriginal Stories, Aboriginal Song and Dance, Importance 

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
It was lovely to welcome parents and family members to the ANZAC Day Commemorative Assembly.  Accolades must go to Chamber Strings, the Year 2 Choir, School Captains and Thomas D (6C) for their contributions to this moving remembrance service.

Assemblies are held on Friday mornings 9:15 – 9:45am, with the Term 2 schedule as follows:

LOOKING AHEAD … DATES TO NOTE FOR YEAR 3 AND 4 …
Week 4:  Tuesday 11 May – Friday 14 May – YEAR 3 NAPLAN TESTS
Week 6:  Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 May – YEAR 4 TARCOOLA TRACK WALKS
Week 8:  Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 June – YEAR 3 KARAWATHA EXCURSION

LIBRARY NEWS
Book Fair is coming!  See information below for details.

Instrumental Music Strings Term 1 Awards

Every week students work together in their small lessons groups on their practice, attendance and preparation for lessons.  From each year level one group receives the award for outstanding commitment to these goals.  The small groups below have earned the reward for term 1.  Keep up the great work.

Ironside State School Cleaner Position

1 x 30hrs per week (split shift)
5:00am to 8:00am
3:00pm to 6:00pm

Working with Children Blue Card essential and must be obtained prior to commencement. 

A criminal history check will also be undertaken for the successful applicant.

Prospective employees must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or hold a permanent residence visa.

Successful applicants will have a 3 month probation period

Email BSM@ironsidess.eq.edu.au for application package

Applications close 28 May 2021

Community Providers

Mother's Day Stall

Ironside Spring Fair

Tuckshop

Dear Parents & Carers,

Here are our new Term 2 online (Qkr!) and over the counter (at second break) menus.

The menus have been coded with three different colours related to the Smart Choices food and drink categories by Queensland Government for schools.

Green category = “have plenty” -- Encourage and promote these foods and drinks

Amber category = “select carefully” -- Don’t let these foods and drinks dominate choices and avoid large serving sizes

Red category = “occasional” -- Limit these foods and drinks to no more than two occasions per term

Linked is additional information about the Smart Choices program. It will help you choose healthy food and drinks when you place online orders for your children or send them with cash to make purchases.

Kind regards from your Tuckshop Team!

St Lucia Community Compost Hub

Please come to the Welcome & Information Day event:
When: Saturday 15 May
Time: 09:30 - 11:30.
Where: St Lucia Community Garden, Lex Ord Park South, 224 Indooroopilly Road, St Lucia
No bookings required.

Further information can be found at the following link: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on-and-events/event/st-lucia-community-composting-hub-welcome-and-information-day-151011578

Community Information

On Thursday, 6 May 2021 at 7pm, Councillor James Mackay is hosting a Free Movie Night featuring the upcoming movie JUNE AGAIN, at Eldorado Cinemas.

Limited Tickets are available, with a free choc top or popcorn included!

• Free Movie Night to celebrate Mother’s Day – bring your mum!
• New release Australian movie starring Noni Hazlehurst, Claudia Karvan and Stephen Curry
  
• Bookings essential: call 3407 0005 or register at www.jamesmackay.com/movie