10 February 2022 - Term 1, Week 3
News from Mr Johnson
Welcome Back to the 2022 School Year
Dear Parents,
It is an absolute delight to welcome students and families back to Ironside. The re-connection and warmth around the school is wonderful to see.
Parents, thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we start 2022 with more COVID impacted practices. Limiting time on site for parents and visitors, assemblies and other measures put in place to start the year, will be reviewed by the department three weeks from now. I’ll share any new information promptly with our community as adjustments are determined.
SCHOOL VALUES
The Ironside Star – The Ironside Way clearly identifies and names our core values and the aligned behaviours.
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 THIE 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 150th celebrations on the 9th of October 2020, every student contributed to the artwork that displays our values.
LEARNING AND TEACHING
I would like our parents to be reassured that should students be absent due to COVID or quarantine, their access to the curriculum and the associated support continues through their classroom teacher. Teachers will work with students and their families, negotiated with those individual families, to maintain a continuity of learning over any time away from school.
The Learning@Home materials are the direction to families only when they are choosing to keep children home due to their own concerns. School has resumed face to face, therefore these materials support families who are making the choice not to access schooling on site.
MEET THE TEACHER SESSIONS - 2022
Due to the requirement of limiting gatherings on site for the first month, ‘Meet the Teacher’ sessions will be conducted via Teams.
Parents can expect an invitation to attend a session, scheduled for 30 minutes (maximum), to meet the teacher virtually by the end of week five.
To avoid any confusion, we are still working on a ten (10) week term, this is what we are calling ‘Week Three’. Meet the teacher sessions are anticipated to be completed by Friday 25th February.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
As we enter another election cycle of the Ironside School Council, I’d like to acknowledge the following people for their valued leadership, strategic contributions and service to the school.
Mrs Sarah Holland, Chair. Sarah completes her tenure on the school council with her final year being in the role of chair. During my principalship I have been strongly supported by Mr Richard Jolly, Mrs Laurel Zaicek, Mr Andrew Hoyling and Mrs Sarah Holland as our School Council chair(s).
Mrs Sally Adams also completes her two-year term on the School Council at this time. I’m very grateful for the support, contribution, leadership and service that and Sally and Sarah have given over the last two and three years respectively.
Mrs Terri Avis completes her term on the School Council as an elected staff member. Sincere thanks for your service Terri, representing the Ironside staff voice at the most strategic level.
Partnering this school newsletter will be the Notice of Elections along with a Nomination Form as we look to elect two parent members and one teaching staff member to the School Council for the 2022/23 term.
Finally, it is absolutely delightful to have Ironside reconnected to its students and families for 2022.
Stay safe and well. Warm regards.
Damian Johnson, Principal.
Fundraiser
Ananya (Year 5C) has set up a fund raising page to support The Wesley Hospital Choices Cancer Support Centre through a hair donation campaign.
We are delighted to inform the school community and provide this information for consideration of support.
We wish Ananya all the best in achieving her commendable goal. If you wish to donate please see link below.
News from Mr Murdoch
Dear parents and caregivers,
Welcome back! Congratulations to our Prep – Year Two students who have settled back into school routines nicely after the unusual delayed start to the year.
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 of 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.
Arrivals and Departures 2022 – Prep, Years 1 & 2
Students may arrive at school from 8:30am onwards and will be supervised by school staff. Students are to wait in their dedicated waiting areas.
- Prep - Prep Precinct (outside classrooms)
- Year 1/2 - Under G Block
PREP Arrivals:
Using the entrances at either Swann Rd or Hawken Drive, parents and Prep students may make their way to the Prep Precinct from 8:30am. Parents, we ask that you observe our “Hug and Go” stations, and let our Preppies independently make their way to the 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.
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.
* The playground equipment is not to be accessed during this time. Prep students are expected to wait in front of their classroom.
* It is important for parent 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.
School starts promptly at 9:00am. A 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:
At the end of the school day, Prep students will be waiting in the 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 they 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.
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 hat 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).
Bridge Builders:
Bridge Builders® is a school-wide proactive program aligned to the Australian Curriculum (Personal and Social Capabilities), implemented sequentially from Prep–Year 6. Students are explicitly taught to apply conflict resolution strategies, communicate using a common language and build their confidence to solve interpersonal problems.
Bridge Builders® at Ironside State School is a whole school approach that promotes resilience and self-worth. It encourages students to respond appropriately and challenge conflict behaviours and to develop positive and safe relationships. It is embedded into the everyday life of the school.
Bridge Builders - Skill of the week: Behaviour is a choice
Taking responsibility for the choices we make is a sign of maturity. The primary school years are an ideal time to introduce both an understanding of possible choices and the skills needed to show that children have control over behaviours. Simply put, children can either choose to be friendly or they can choose to cause a conflict.
We need to provide clarity for children in what choices are friendly and those that cause conflict. We must not assume that children understand the differences. It is vital to teach the language of friendly and conflict choices, so that these can be discussed as they arise.
With younger children, it is extremely important to help them understand by modelling appropriate language, tone and body language.
“Empowered for Life”; Jocelyne Chirnside
Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 Parents: Bridge Builders Online
To support families with younger children, Ironside State School provides access to the Bridge Builders Online Program. This program is designed to help students with resolving everyday conflict and will be implemented during the course of the year with students accessing material both during class, and outside of class time.
In the coming weeks, teachers will be sending unique licence keys and invitations to access this program at home.
Kind regards,
Scott Murdoch
Deputy Principal P-2
News from Mr Davey
Dear parents and caregivers,
I'd like to officiailly welcome back all of our families after the delayed start to the school year. It has been wonderful to see all of our students back at school, eager and ready to learn.
With the retirement of Mrs Vecchio at the end of 2021, I am absolutely delighted be able to re-join the Ironside community as the Deputy Principal for Years 3 and 4. I look forward to meeting many families and students over the coming weeks as we settle into another exciting school year.
I would also like to formally welcome the new families joining the Ironside community this year.
Parent Information Sessions
As mentioned by Mr Johnson, parent information sessions will be conducted through Microsoft Teams. Please keep an eye out for an email from your child’s teacher that will contain an invitation to the session.
Inquiry Learning in Years 3 and 4
This semester, our Year 3 and 4 students are continuing to develop their skills as inquiry learners by answering ‘big questions’ in HASS.
Year 3 Big Question:
Are we ‘one’ or are we many?
Year 4 Big question:
How does the past shape the future?
I look forward to bringing you updates as students complete their cycle of inquiry.
Library News
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.
Students in Prep – Year 2 will require a library bag for borrowing.
Religious Instruction
Religious Instruction will commence in Term 2 (Week 2) this year. This is an option available to all students in Years 1-6.
Faith groups who are offering RI from Term 2 are:
- Buddhist
- Catholic
- Combined Christian
- Islam
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: pdave16@eq.edu.au AND sfaus0@eq.edu.au It is possible to change groups/cease attendance at any time.
News from Mrs Bairstow
WELCOME BACK!!
Despite an interrupted and unusual beginning to the year, we have had a wonderful start to our shortened term 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 six 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 2022: Moosa Mehta and Miyami Navuku, and our two Vice-Captains: Marcus McKimmie and Nadia Hyat. I am sincerely looking forward to working with these students as they pave out their own leadership paths in 2022.
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 positions, election and selection process, terms of service, roles and responsibilities. Year 5 parents, as you are aware, there is a “change” to the selection process below for your child’s year level in 2022.
Students will be emailed a link from their classroom teacher next week, 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 next week, please email me directly at jbair51@eq.edu.au so I can forward your child the appropriate link.
LIFE ED – SEXUAL HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION
Between February 22 – March 10 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 are include Puberty, Evolving Friendships, Discovering Identity & Human Reproduction. The following link provides and outline of the “Talk About It” program, and details how the program is aligned to the curriculum standards. https://lifeeducationqld.org.au/our-programs/talk-about-it/
We are fortunate to have an 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 $35
In past years, Life Ed have run a session for parents in conjunction with the program. Due to current restrictions we are unable to offer that option onsite. I will be in contact with Life Ed around other support options for parents very shortly.
A letter (including detailed content within the modules), invoice and permission slip will be sent directly to all Year 5 & 6 parents in the coming weeks.
If you wish for your child to not participate in this program, please advise your classroom teacher via email so alternative supervision arrangements can be made during the class’ Life Ed sessions.
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.
CONGRATULATIONS LIBRARY MONITORS
Congratulations to Olive (6B) and Una (6C) who earned their Library Monitor badges this week.
News from the Uniform Shop
News from HPE
Representative Sport at Ironside
In addition to HPE classes and interschool sport, students at Ironside can put their names forward for consideration to attend Northern Eagles district trials. The opportunity to attend ‘The Big 3’ (Cross country, athletics, and swimming trials) are determined by their performance at our school carnivals in their respective sports. Students also have the opportunity to nominate themselves as a candidate to represent Ironside at a number of other sporting trials.
It must be made clear that these trials are not a chance to go out and try something new. These trials feature some of the best talents in their respective sports. As a school, I am usually instructed by the convenors of each sport to send no more than 2 or 3 of my absolute best students if I believe they are of district standards. I make that determination based on years of experience and the level of play in an outside of school organization. If there is a lot of interest in a particular sport, I will hold a trial at school to determine the 2 or 3 students that I can send to the district trial.
Below is the schedule of district trials so you are aware well in advance to when they are taking place. You will be able to find this document permanently on the school website as well. I will usually get sent the paperwork about a week in advance of the actual trial. At that point, an announcement will be made over several days and an email will be sent out to all students to let them know that they can come and register their interest in the trial with me. The schedule of trials as well as any currently available trials will be always posted on my office window for the students to check.
If you have any further questions about representative sport, please feel free to get in contact ( jclar577@eq.edu.au ) and I’ll gladly help out.
Thank you.
Music News
We are very excited to welcome back all our musicians to their respective choirs, orchestras and bands. The staff and their days and ensemble are as follows:
Two instrumental teachers, Ms Trudy Weekes (Strings Wed – Fri and Music Coordinator) and Ms Allely (Band Mon, Tues, Fri).
Two classroom music teachers: Mrs Huxley (Piccole Voci – YR 1 choir, Voci Dei Bambini – Yr 2 Choir) and Ms Keomahavong (Canto Voci, Belle Voci, Voci Musicali and Intermediate Band).
We also have Ms Todd a Year 6 teacher who takes Junior Strings (starting term 2).
Instrumental
Rehearsals have begun of for all our intermediate and senior bands and orchestras. Lessons have begun for year 5 and 6 band students and year 2 string students. Next week lessons will begin for string students Year 3-6.
Choral
Expressions of interest have gone home this week with letters given directly to students and also sent home via schoolzine newsflash for two of our choirs: Canto Voci (Year 3 and 4 choir) and Belle Voci (Year 5 and 6 choir). The Piccole Voci (Year 1) and Voci Dei Bambini (Year 2) choirs will begin in Term 2.
Rehearsal Schedules
Year 4 parents –Band Recruiting
Year 4 students are eligible to join the Band Program starting this year.
Over the next two weeks Year 4 students will be shown a video about the instruments. Students will then bring home a ‘Expression of Interest Letter’ and parents will receive an email with a link to the same letter. On the ‘Expression of Interest Letter’ you will find a link and QR code to our 2022 Program Information video. This video will provide an overview and important information for the 2022 Instrumental Music Program. If you are interested in the program, please follow the links on the ‘Expression of Interest Letter’ and submit your response by Friday 25th Feb (Week 5). Spare letters will be available from the office.
In Week 6, the Band teacher will complete practical testing with students during class time. Using this information, along with information from the classroom music teacher and classroom teachers, offers will be made to suitable students. These offers will be emailed on Friday 11th March.
In Week 8 Tuesday 15 March 6pm we will hold a parent information evening for successful applicants to the program. Please put this date in your diary.
For further information, please contact Mrs Jennifer Bairstow at jbair51@eq.edu.au Follow this link to find out how music will benefit your child’s brain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng Also go to: http://www.anitacollinsmusic.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/BiggerBetterBrainsProject/
