5 May 2022 - Term 2, Week 3

Dear Parents,

International Breakfast is back in 2022!

International Breakfast is back and will be held on Friday 17^th June between 7:15am and 8:45am.  We are looking forward to many stalls representing our multicultural community. Vouchers will be on sale from 8^th to 16^th June both in the Oasis (credit card facilities will be available) and also online through QKR.

Our 1^st planning session will be on this Friday 6^th May in the EALD Room (9am – 10:30am) – Everyone is welcome!

If you are interested in coordinating or assisting with a stall, please contact Kylie Sommerfeld (EALD Coordinator) for an Information pack – ksomm2@eq.edu.au

It has been three years since our last International Breakfast and we are excited to host this special Ironside community event again in 2022.

Uniform Expectations

As we enter the cooler months, it’s timely to remind our families of the expectations around our uniform. If a school jacket or jumper is not possible (and this should be in the rarest of cases) then the required colour of jackets and jumpers is navy blue.

Along with adhering to our school dress code, remember to CLEARLY NAME AND LABEL your child’s uniform pieces.

This is the time of year when we start to see a constant and steady increase in lost property. Should uniform items be handed in, we want to return them to their rightful owners as quickly as possible.

Our school P&C is the endorsing body of our school’s dress code. Wearing our uniform to its highest standard is one visible way we can demonstrate our collective pride in Ironside.

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council meeting will be held this coming MONDAY 9^th MAY, 5:30pm in the staffroom.

The School Council members (2022) are:

Mr Rob Wootton, Chair

Mr Prasad Chunduri

Ms Megan Breen

Mrs Nilufer Krishnamoorthy

Mr Tugrul Durali, P&C President

Mr Peter Davey

Mr Brett Perrier

Mrs Shelley Lee

Mr Damian Johnson, Principal

Mr Paul Logan, BM (Secretary)

New requirements – COVID Close Contacts

If you are a close contact who is asymptomatic, you will no longer need to quarantine.

However, in the 7 days after becoming a close contact you will need to:

• wear a face mask while outside of your home, including when outdoors if you cannot physically distance
• notify your principal or supervisor that you are a close contact. Students must also let their school know.
• not visit vulnerable settings, such as hospitals, aged care and disability facilities, unless in exceptional or compassionate circumstances (for example, end of life visits).
  Please note schools and early childhood settings are not considered vulnerable settings.

It is recommended that you undertake a COVID-19 test on the first day you leave home, and every second day (e.g. days 2, 4, and 6) until you are no longer a close contact.

If you are a close contact with COVID-19 symptoms, you must stay at home. You will need to get tested and isolate until your symptoms resolve.

Face masks
Face masks are not mandatory in schools or workplaces for staff, students or visitors. However, anyone who is deemed a close contact must wear a face mask for 7 days.

Students over the age of 12 years who attend school while they are a close contact must wear a mask. Queensland Health recommends that children under the age of 12 also wear a face mask where it is safe to do so.

Please also remember that masks continue to be required in certain settings for anyone aged 12 years or older, such as when travelling on public transport. They are also recommended whenever you can't physically distance.

Anyone who chooses to wear a mask in a school or workplace will be supported to do so.

Revised library opening times for after school:

      Mon – 3.30pm

      Tues – 3:10pm

      Wed – closed

      Thurs – 3.30pm

      Friday - closed

Before school times remain the same every day 8.30 - 8.50am.

Dear parents and caregivers,

Bridge Builders – Skill of the week (Week 2): Asking them to stop

Finding and maintaining friendships is not always an innate skill, and getting along with everybody all of the time is impossible.  In life, conflict is inevitable.  Children may try to resolve problems, but without an understanding of what to do and how do it, a successful outcome for both parties is unlikely.

There are seven skills that children need to overcome personal and social obstacles and to build a bridge to move on from conflict confidently.  The first step in that process is “Asking them to stop”.

Asking someone to stop is something children can use in almost every conflict they have, however, it often doesn’t work as it is not done correctly or the other person is choosing to escalate the situation. It can be extremely helpful to give your child the tools to know how to ask someone to stop assertively. There are three keys factors that help this to be more successful:

• understanding the importance of body language,
• recognising tone of voice,
• using words that are powerful.

Bridge Builders - Skill of the week (Week 3): Ignore and Don’t React

Ignoring or not reacting to conflict is much easier said than done.  Without clear guidance about how to do this, and when to do it, many children will quickly say, “That doesn’t work.”  This means that they lose a powerful toll that does have its place in dealing with difficult behaviour.

Ignore and Don’t React should be used either when the child doesn’t know the other person and there is no need to resolve, or when the other person is trying to get a rise or reaction out of them.

Some tips for effectively ignoring and not reacting are:

• Take a deep breath and relax your body
• Don’t look at the person
• Think of something else
• Move to a safe place

When children choose not to react they are showing they have the power to stay emotionally calm.

 “Empowered for Life”; Jocelyne Chirnside

English in Year 3

This term sees our Year 3 students working through the phases of inquiry to answer the big question – How can we persuade our classmates?

Students are using their skills as an inquiry learner to:

• understand how authors use language to persuade and express feeling and opinions
• explore how technical language can be used to persuade
• explore the structure of persuasive texts
• understand how evidence can be used to support a point of view

English in Year 4

This term sees our Year 4 students working through the phases of inquiry to answer the big question – How do authors persuade us to be interested in their products?

Students are using their skills as an inquiry learner to:

• Explore different types of advertising (still, moving and packaging)
• Explore the concept of target audience
• Analyse advertising to identify target audiences, the characteristic ideas and persuasive techniques used, including vocabulary and images and visual composition
• Explain how images and vocabulary are used to engage the interest of target audiences
• Explore media artworks that take the form of television-style advertisement, which persuade a targeted audience
• Use vocabulary and images to create a package for a target audience
• Create a television-style advertisement

All students in Years 3 and 4 will be using the Learning Assets below to help complete their inquiry.

NAPLAN

Next week, students in Year 3 will participate in NAPLAN.  2022 is the second year that all students in Year 3 are participating in the online version of the NAPLAN program. As per last year, students in Year 3 will complete the writing component using pencil and paper. 

The testing dates are as follows: 

                Tuesday 10 May:  Writing 

                Wednesday 11 May:  Reading 

                Thursday 12 May: Conventions of Language 

                Friday 13 May:  Numeracy

There will be the opportunity for students to "catch up" due to absence until Friday 20 May.  If they are necessary, catch up sessions will be run according to numbers, device availability, and supervision capability. 

In preparation for NAPLAN Online, all students recently participated in an omnibus trial which provided them with access to sample questions similar to those in the live testing modules.  Our learnings from this trial will help us to ensure the smoothest running of the tests throughout the testing window. 

Things you can do to help your child to have the most settled and prepared start for participation in NAPLAN are: 

TECHNOLOGY: 

HEADPHONES 

- All students require functioning headphones. These were part of the booklist, and are necessary for many audio questions across all tests. Please check that your child has these at school. 

WELLBEING  

- As always, healthy sleeping and eating routines support maximum opportunities for success in school activities. 

- Keep conversations at home positively framed and focused on a "low anxiety" approach. This can be challenging, as the media is saturated with news of NAPLAN at this time of year.  This however, presents itself as an opportunity for families to discuss and reflect on the process.  We encourage you to focus conversations on "doing your best" and applying  a growth mindset to challenges. Test anxiety is widely proven to negatively impact results and student wellbeing, and the conversations we have as adults with children about can be very powerful in a positive way. 

Thank you for your support as we support this group of students through their first NAPLAN experience. If you have any further questions, please contact your child's teacher, or myself at pdave16@eq.edu.au 

YEAR FIVE NAPLAN – NEXT WEEK – WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO HELP?

Next week, students will participate in NAPLAN.  2022 is the second year that all students in Year 5 are participating in the online version of all four tests in the NAPLAN program.

The testing dates are as follows:

                Tuesday 10 May:  Writing

                Wednesday 11 May:  Reading

                Thursday 12 May: Conventions of Language

                Friday 13 May:  Numeracy.

There will be the opportunity for students to "catch up" due to  absence until Friday 20 May.  If they are necessary, catch up sessions will be run according to numbers, device availability, and supervision capability.

In preparation for NAPLAN Online, all students recently participated in an omnibus trial which provided them with access to sample questions similar to those in the live testing modules.  Our learnings from this trial will help us to ensure the smoothest running of the tests throughout the testing window.

Things you can do to help your child to have the most settled and prepared start for participation in NAPLAN are:

TECHNOLOGY:

BYOD 

-ALL BYOD devices MUST be brought to school during the testing window.

-All BYOD devices must be FULLY CHARGED overnight for the beginning of each day.  Students will need to have their chargers with them at school during the day as well.

HEADPHONES

- All students require functioning headphones. These were part of the booklist, and are necessary for many audio questions across all tests. Please check that your child has these at school.

WELLBEING

- As always, healthy sleeping and eating routines support maximum opportunities for success in school activities.

- Keep conversations at home positively framed and focused on a "low anxiety" approach. This can be challenging, as the media is saturated with news of NAPLAN at this time of year.  This however, presents itself as an opportunity for families to discuss and reflect on the process.  We encourage you to focus conversations on "doing your best" and applying  a growth mindset to challenges. Test anxiety is widely proven to negatively impact results and student wellbeing, and the conversations we have as adults with children about can be very powerful in a positive way.

Thank you for your support as we support this group of students through their first NAPLAN experience. If you have any further questions, please contact your child's teacher, or myself at jbair51@eq.edu.au

MICHAEL JEH – LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS – YEAR 6

For several years, Michael Jeh has been a valued guest speaker at Ironside, who visits our Year 6 students and leads them through a workshop -  ‘Life Skills’ - which aims to develop knowledge and skills about self-concept in the context of a changing social world. 

Topics covered during the workshop include:

• Safe and unsafe social media and online behaviours
• Successfully navigating adolescence and the transition to high school
• Coping with peer pressure and bullying
• Acknowledging how bystander behaviour contributes to bullying
• Being a kind, resilient and positive teenager

We have always had glowing feedback from students, parents and teachers in relation to the content and delivery of Michael’s work.  For further information and testimonials please go to www.michaeljeh.com

Michael visited our school today and will welcome parents to his information session this evening, in the hall.

DATE CLAIMER FOR GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS

Families are advised that Year 6 graduation celebrations will take place at school on the evening of Tuesday 6 December.  Students receive their Year Books on the following day for signing.  There is a Year 6 pool party and games day scheduled for Thursday 8 December, during school hours.

Yes…after 2 years we can finally say that our International Breakfast is back!

Just some quick facts –

• What is International Breakfast?

This is special event which has been held at Ironside SS for over 20 years. It is an opportunity for everyone to share and taste foods representing our many cultural groups across our school community.  Stalls are set up by our families representing our many cultural groups and is coordinated by the International Parent Group.   Each stall provides a selection of breakfast or snack type foods.  1 voucher is exchanged for 1 serving of food.  Everyone is encouraged to wear cultural dress on the day. 

• Date – Friday, 17^th June, 2022

• Time – 7:15am until 8:45am

• Location – Stalls will be set up in and around the Hall, under the Library basement and the near L block playground.  Families usually love to sit on the oval sharing food and time together.

• Vouchers –  Vouchers are sold in strips of 3 vouchers and cost $6 per strip.  This is a cashless event so vouchers need to be purchased prior to the day.  Vouchers will be on sale in the OASIS from Wednesday 8^th June until Thursday 16^th June (before and after school).  We strongly encourage purchasing vouchers before the day.  EFTPOS Machine will be available for sales made in the OASIS and an online facility will be set up also (details to come)

• Any profit from the event is given to a charity which is chosen by the International Parent Group.  An example of the charities supported over the years have been – the Royal Children’s Hospital, Harmony House, an orphanage in Thailand, Tsunami devastated regions, a school in Africa

• If you would like to see photos of our last International Breakfast (2019), these can be found in the walkway into the EALD Room

• If you would like to volunteer to help with the event and/or on the day, please just let me know
  

Please join us again this week in the EALD Room!  Everyone is welcome from 9am until 10:30am as we take this opportunity to reconnect with each other and begin preparations for our International Breakfast.  For further information, please contact me via email at:  ksomm2@eq.edu.au.

Kylie Sommerfeld

(EALD Coordinator)

Beginner Strings Workshop

Don’t forget the Junior Strings Orchestra is having a workshop next week on Wednesday the 11^th of May.  It will be in the hall from 12-3pm.  If you collect your child from their class you will need to collect them on Wednesday from the hall.  Don’t forget to bring your instruments!

The Junior Strings will then commence weekly rehearsal as well as their lessons on Friday 13^th of May.  Rehearsal begins at 8am in the spare prep classroom bottom floor.

Fanfare Preparations Workshops

Each ensemble will have a workshop in preparation for their Fanfare performance (see calendar).  These workshops will be particularly important this year as we have had reduced rehearsal time with the interruptions of Term 1.  The workshop takes place in the hall from 12-3pm.  Teachers have been informed of students participating.  It will be the student’s responsibility to catch up any missed work the next day when they return to class. Parents will receive a letter with more details. We are looking forward to seeing the students achieve a lot in these intensive workshops.

Year 4- Beginner Band Students

The time has come and the beginner band program is starting next week with lessons for Year 4 band students on Friday 13^th May.  There will be many excited new band students ready to go, don’t forget to have your instrument, music and any other requirements ready for your first lesson.  We hope and expect you will enjoy the musical journey you are about to embark on.

News from Mrs Huxley: Piccole Voci & Voci Dei Bambini

Our Year 1 Choir is called Piccole Voci – meaning ‘small voices’.

Our Year 2 Choir is called Voci Dei Bambini – meaning ‘children’s voices’

Last week we commenced both Junior Choirs, and the children had the opportunity to come along and see what being member of the Choir is all about.  We had a wonderful start last week, with lots of excitement and enthusiasm from the children.

The children have been reminded that being a part of the Choir is a commitment to attend rehearsals each week.  We are working toward a mini-soiree (concert) at the end of this term. Friday 24^th June 10:15am, for approximately 30 minutes. 

An email correspondence list is currently being compiled, and Mrs Huxley will contact families of all enrolled students, once we have finalised our group numbers. If your child has come along to rehearsals and expressed interest to join, then you will be receiving an email before the end of this week.

Soloists for Senior Choral Soiree

The auditions for solos for the senior choral soiree will be held during break times in week 4.  There will be announcements for the pieces over the speakers during the day and an email will be sent home detailing the solos on this Friday.

SHEP

State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) - Middle School  will be running form June 3 - 5 at QLD Conservatorium Griffith University.   A big congratulations to Indie-Rose C, Katelyn L and Nathan S on receiving a place at this fantastic event.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!!!

Tuckshop Volunteers Needed in 2022

Volunteers are always needed and welcomed to assist at Ironside’s Tuckshop, which is run by Ironside P&C. Helping at the Tuckshop gives you the opportunity to:  

• Meet other parents and meet members of the teaching staff  
• Interact with your child and their peers at school
• Become familiar with the layout and organisation of school
• Provide students with nutritious food at a reasonable cost
• Help generate Tuckshop revenue for the P&C used to benefit Ironside students

We welcome mums, dads, carers, and grandparents to lend assistance in the Tuckshop.  

Volunteering is a great way to get involved in our school community.  

REQUIREMENTS

Department of Education Queensland mandates that proof of COVID-19 double vaccination is required for all volunteers working at school. P&C requires all rostered Tuckshop volunteers to complete a 1.5-hour food and safety course (at no charge to you) before volunteering. The online course can be completed at your own pace.

If interested in volunteering at the Tuckshop, please email convenor, Olivia Qin, at pandctuckshop@ironsidess.eq.edu.au. Volunteers are generally rostered one day per week, one day per fortnight or one day per month. Volunteer hours are Monday to Fridays, 9:00am to 11:00am. Tuckshop is open from 8:00am, so you are welcome to come before 9am.  

Thank you for supporting your Ironside Tuckshop! 

Turkish Lessons

Turkish Lessons commenced at Ironside State School in week 1 Term 2.

It was a pleasure to meet our students for the first time. I was excited as much as they were. 

We spent two lessons getting to know each other, how to greet one another and talk about ourselves. 

Our lessons concluded with a visit from the Australian Turkish Ambassador and Honorary Consulate meeting the children. 

Lessons will continue to be held at Ironside State school for students from Years 1 to 6 every Thursday from  4:30pm to 5:30pm

Regards, Turkish Language Teacher

Mrs.Dikmen

nihan8@gmail.com