Ironside State School eNewsletter

News from Mr Johnson

Dear Parents,

TERM THREE – SCHOOL (GENERAL) INFORMATION
As we begin to return to an even more familiar normal, the following will recommence next term:

School Assemblies – Assembly will be held on Friday mornings commencing again from Week One. These will only be P-2 and 3-6 in alternating week format. We will be continuing to do our best by not placing our full 1105 cohort in the hall at once. As per our departmental guidelines, PARENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED to attend. We intend to investigate virtual ways to share events such as assembly, with our community.
Instrumental music lessons and ensembles will recommence with COVID-19 procedures in place. I am delighted to have Lisa and Trudy back ‘on site’ from next term.
Parents must continue to remain off our school grounds and not gather at arrival and departure time. We are maintaining our practice of ‘By Appointment’. You are welcome on site providing that you have:
- An agreed appointment (including volunteers to our shops etc.) and
- Presented to and signed in at the Administration Office – our records of who was on site and when are vital at all times, but particularly in the context of our current operating procedures. I appreciate your support with this.

TERM THREE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE INFORMATION
When school commences for the third term we are relaxing our arrival and departure procedures in relation to zones/areas. From next term we are asking:

Parents to use the school entry and exit point that is most convenient to their route to school.
Prep students and older siblings to be collected promptly at 3:00pm
Year 1-6 students to be collected from 3:10pm.
If using a vehicle – HAVE A WINDOW SIGN for the staff member at the pick-up zone to assist the movement of children to vehicles
Parents using a vehicle to drop off or collect children – STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE.
Our arrival and departure zones are:
- Hawken Drive (Front entry)
- Swann Road (Near the bus stop)
- Ironside Street
- Central Avenue

Apologies for any confusion I caused last week with the comment above regarding 3:10pm collection for Years 1-6. To clarify – ALL STUDENTS will be dismissed and finish their day at the usual time of 3:00pm. I am asking for parents of older students who collect children in cars to be mindful and allow the 3:00pm initial rush to be for the safe collection of our prep students.

I have been delighted with the support and adherence to the current arrangements. Thank you for your support. I am thrilled to be returning to the full school day in term three, partnering this with safe and efficient arrival and departure routines.

PARENTS – ENSURE YOUR CHILD KNOWS THEIR DEPARTURE ZONE

SCHOOL OPINION SURVEY – 2020
On Tuesday this week I sent out a link to the abridged 2020 School Opinion Survey. Due to the impact of COVID-19 the Department of Education has organised for a shorter more concise pulse survey to be completed. Please see the information and link below for your access to the Parent Survey for this year.

Parents and Caregivers are invited to participate in this year’s School Opinion Survey and have a say about schooling during the COVID-19 lockdown. You are also given the opportunity to provide feedback about our school more generally.

Participation in the survey is anonymous and you are encouraged to take this opportunity to have your say. The survey form has been designed so that it can easily be completed on a computer or smartphone. The online survey will be available until Friday, 17 July 2020, and should take less than five minutes to complete.

To access the survey, please click on the link below or copy and paste it into your web browser:

Parent survey – https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/form/Parents-HaveYourSay

Please contact the school if you have any questions about the survey.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS – THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT (slightly unusual) TERM!
Take care of yourselves and each other during the break. I remain deeply grateful and appreciative of the support shown throughout the entire community this semester.

School resumes for students on MONDAY 13 July.

SCHOOL DEPARTURE MAP

The Pocket - Early Education and Care

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Hi Ironside State School families!

Are you looking for a fabulous childcare centre?

The Pocket Early Education and Care, St Lucia’s newest child care centre is opening in early July.

Just a three minute drive from Ironside, our purpose-built centre offers a fun and supportive learning environment for your child, with state of the art facilities, engaged staff, nutritious meals prepared daily and our very own FUNdamentals program.

As an early learning centre, we at The Pocket believe that each child is unique. Because of this we cater to your child’s individual needs and developmental pathways, through our ‘learning by playing’ philosophy. This allows your child to better understand the world in which they live, through our planned early education programs which engages their capacity to participate, communicate, investigate, create, and reflect.

To support your child’s growing body as they develop and learn, we provide fresh, homestyle meals prepared on site, each day, by our Chef, Eliza. We also provide clear and regular communication daily about your child’s progress, routine and activities using Storypark.

Our degree qualified Early Childhood Teachers in our Kindergarten programme, ensures your child receives the best start to life before starting Prep. Our Centre Manager, Shandelle Banditt, and our friendly staff are committed to providing your child with incredible learning experiences in a safe and supportive environment that will foster a lifetime of benefits.

Educating and caring for your child 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year, 6.30am-6.30pm to support you and your family.

To join our Pocket community, call Elise, our Enrolments Manager, on 3568 5800 or 0476 997 332 or email enrolments@thepocketchildcare.com.au to discuss your children’s requirements.

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First Working Bee of 2020

10 July Working Bee

News from Mr Murdoch

Dear parents and caregivers,

Term 3, Departure Process
As per Mr Johnson’s recent newsletter articles, we are relaxing our arrival and departure process in relation to zones and areas when school commences in Term 3.

Families are to use the entry and exit points that are most convenient to their route to school i.e.

Hawken Drive (Front entry)
Swann Road (Near the bus stop)
Ironside Street
Central Avenue

Both in the morning and afternoon, staff will be positioned at these entry and exit points to ensure students make their way safely to and from class.

Prep Parents: Earlier this week, you should have received an email from your classroom teacher requesting advice regarding your preferred departure zone. Please ensure you have advised your classroom teacher by close of business Thursday, 25 June. This information will assist teachers in coordinating students and ensure they are in the correct afternoon departure zone at 3:00pm.

Year 1 & 2 Parents: Students will be dismissed from class at 3:00pm. Older siblings are to meet younger family members at the appropriate zone.

As a family, a discussion will be necessary to ensure your child/ren know which one of these four zones is their collection point.

If your child has an onsite afterschool activity, please make sure adequate family supervision is organised as per the arrangements with your external activity provider.

Bridge Builders Online: Prep and Year 1
At Ironside State School appropriate standards of behaviour are encouraged through the implementation of proactive strategies and programs.

Bridge Builders is a proactive program where students learn to apply conflict resolution strategies, communicate using a common language and build their confidence to solve interpersonal problems. Bridge Builders promotes resilience and self-worth, which encourages students to challenge inappropriate behaviour and develop positive and safe relationships.

At the beginning of the year, Prep and Year 1 families should have received an invitation to Bridge Builders Online. This online program contains a series of short videos and lessons families can access and help develop a shared language between school and home.

Please contact your classroom teacher if you require the access email to be resent.

2021 Prep Enrolment Process

Pre-Enrolment Information

Prep Information Evening: Typically, this is a general information session about our Prep program and enrolment process conducted in our school hall.

Due to the social distancing measures and health restrictions currently in place, we are making this presentation available online early Term 3.

ISS Website contains up to date enrolment information and Enrolment Packs https://ironsidess.eq.edu.au/Enrolments/Prep/Pages/Prep.aspx.

Enrolment Applications (from now)

Prep 2021 Enrolment Pack is available on our website.
Applicants must be currently living in the Ironside Catchment and be able to supply supporting evidence as per the criteria in the Ironside State School Enrolment Management Plan.

There is no waitlist and no cap on enrolments.

Enrolment Management Plan (from 30 June 2017)

No out of catchment enrolments.
No sibling policy.
Must be intending to stay for 12+ months.
All applications require the execution of the Ironside State School Statutory Declaration which confirms the student’s residence in the catchment and the parents’ acknowledgment that they must reside in the catchment for the duration of their child’s enrolment.
Ongoing checks that students reside in catchment.

If you have any questions regarding the enrolment application and required documentation, please contact enrolments@ironsidess.eq.edu.au.

Details relating to our enrolment interview days will be provided in Term 3.

Have a fantastic break, stay warm and we look forward to seeing you all again when school returns.

Kind regards,

Scott Murdoch

Deputy Principal P-2

News from Mrs Vecchio

BRIDGE BUILDERS®
The work of our Year 6 Bridge Builder mediators helps to promote a safe playground environment by modelling explicit strategies with younger children so they can learn to resolve friendship issues and make friendly connections with others.

Last week, at the refresher course, Bridge Builder mediators reviewed effective conflict resolution skills. Furthermore, they learned about thought pathways and delved into some neuroscience behind “the brain and conflict”. They practiced their skills with a class of very willing volunteers from Year 1.

At the conclusion of the day, the Bridge Builders reflected on their learning and Mrs Chirnside shared the “Starfish Story” (below) to remind them of the difference they can make …

MATHEMATICS PROBLEMS
How did you go solving last week’s Mathematics problems, posed by Mr Davey?

Problem 1: Beach Play
A group of children are playing on the beach. They are hopping and jumping along the beach. Each child does three hops followed by one jump. From a standing start, how many footprints in the sand would there be for each child after 10 jumps?
ANSWER: 52 Footprints

Problem 2: Train Travel
At exactly the same time, two trains depart in opposite directions from the station. One train is moving at a speed of 56 kilometers per hour, while the other is moving at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour. After 3 hours how far apart will they be?
ANSWER: Train Travel - 360 km apart

HAPPINESS, GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS

Thank you to the EAL/D team for a beautiful reminder of the importance of positive mindsets in the way we see the world. Exercising our brains with positive thinking and creating healthy pathways that empower us to be brave and resilient has helped us through this most challenging school term.

Wishing all of our students, families and outstanding staff
a well-deserved vacation.
Stay safe and well, and we look forward to welcoming everyone
back to school on Monday 13 July.

News from Mrs Bairstow

We are grateful for your gratitude!
The Student Councillors have delighted in spreading smiles with smiley stickers this week, and our doors of gratitude have spread happiness throughout the school. What a wonderful way to end a very memorable term. Thank you to all for embracing this initiative of our student leaders. We hope it’s one of the silver linings of Covid-19 that we can continue forward with.

Year 6 Visual Arts
Despite only having 5 weeks in the Art Studio this term, the Year 6 students have created amazing anime artworks! Well done to our young artists, and thank you to Ms Wightwick for guiding them to these achievements in a short period of time.

Happy Holidays!!
While the last lot of holidays was one that we will never forget, I hope for you and your families that the same can be said of this holidays – but for happier reasons. Enjoy each other’s company, and all the beauty that this glorious part of the world has to offer.

Community Providers

To enquire about advertising please send an email to news@ironsidess.eq.edu.au

Ironside's 150th Anniversary

Event Date: Saturday, 10th October 2020

News from the co-chairs.

Volunteers briefing: Saturday 18 July, 100 Acre Bar, 3pm.
Join representatives from our 150th anniversary sub-committee to hear about the events planned for the Open Day, and voluntary roles we need help with to make this historic day a big success. We'd love to hear how you may like to contribute., so come and join our TEAM and be a part of this milestone celebration! Info ironside.anniversary150@gmail.com

Gala Ball: We are now on the countdown to when the tickets go live!
In recognition of the significant contribution that ISS has made over the past 150 years to the education of our community a formal dinner and reception will be held to celebrate this historic milestone in the Grand View Room, Hillstone, St Lucia. Guests will be treated to pre-dinner music and canapés on the Mango Terrace, a two course meal, keynote address, entertainment and dancing.

P&C Fundraiser - Entertainment Book

The NEW 2020 | 2021 Entertainment app is now available for purchase, so you can save money AND help raise funds at the same time (20% / $14 per membership will go to the P&C).

Times have been tough the last few months so there is a heap of free stuff if you purchase before 13 July.

Also, you can buy now and register the app up-to 3 months later if you want to wait until more restaurants and businesses are open.

Let’s support our local community and our school’s P&C Projects!

**Order online at http://www.entbook.com.au/2y22817.

If you need further information, please email Treena: ISSEntertainmentBook@gmail.com