31 August 2023 - Term 3, Week 8
News from Mrs Hawkswell
Hello parents,
Happy week 8.
I will start my newsletter just updating you on some professional conversations I have been part of around the work our staff do in our classrooms.
Inquiry in our classrooms:
- Ed Talks recently held as part of the staff professional learning indicated staff are moving to discover how they can embed student learning around learner assets within their classroom
- What are the learning assets?
- The Learning Assets outline the most important qualities and skills that good learners need in order to develop and enhance their learning
- Learning Assets include –
- Thinker
- Researcher
- Communicator
- Collaborator
- Self-Manager
- Contributor
- It is our intent to collaborate with staff around how this work will look in term 4 and beyond and then provide our parents and carers with more information, so the language we use with our learners can be the language modelled at home as well
After all, we believe we need to continue to work in partnership with our parents, to ensure we support our students to be literate, numerate, curious and influential learners of the future
Maths Team Challenge Competition:
- 20 of our most exciting mathematicians went to Fig Tree Pocket on Monday to compete against other schools in a maths challenge
- Students were broken into four teams, and worked on group challenges and a team relay (that required individuals to problem solve)
- Team 1 placed second
- Team 2 placed first
Amazing work to all students who participated, and thank you to all the staff involved for preparing our students for this challenge
My Gratitude:
- A huge thank you to Tony and the P & C team for their help leading up to and on the night of the disco – this support along with our enthusiastic staff meant that all children had the best time
- I would also like to preface another huge thank you to the whole Chaplaincy Team (very lovingly led by Chappy Thu) and P & C Volunteers who will support the Father’s Day Breakfast this week. I am very excited to be part of this wonderful community event.
- All of our teachers and parents who are spending time together across the next two weeks, in interviews, such conversations aim to ensure each student is maximising their learning
Lost Property:
Thank you to our dedicated Year 4 students who have put in a great deal of effort to transfer our lost property to its new ‘resting space’ in the port racks outside the Administration doors.
These students have gone above and beyond, their system for storing and trying to return lost property to its owner is amazing.
There is still a massive amount of student property there, I urge parents to come in with your students and try to find missing items. Items still there at the end of term, will be donated to a charity.
Animal of School Grounds:
Can I please remind all parents and carers, that DOGS and other animals are NOT allowed on school grounds at pick up or drop off time, this ALSO include OSHC pick up and drop off. We are very happy for fury family member to make the walk to school – we just ask they say goodbye at our school gates.
OSHC Regulations and licencing agreement with the school:
Did you know that the operations of OSHC services are highly regulated?
I have been liaising with OSHC director, Natalie and her team, on what they need to ensure they comply with these regulations.
To meet these strict policies, the DoE requires a formal agreement to be established with the school. To remove any doubt, for the OSHC service to obtain and hold their service approval, OSHC requires authority to use the school's premises (Reg 32), both morning and afternoon.
For both regulatory and logistical reasons, this means OSHC has exclusivity to certain aspects of the school ground during operating times. This is critical for our afternoons when the service is used by many more families and larger numbers mean they use many more of our outdoor spaces.
One of the strict requirements of OSHC is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children within their care. While there are many factors that contribute to protecting children from harm and hazards, having a physical environment that is unincumbered with others during the times OSHC staff and students are using these spaces is a key focus.
In order to uphold our agreement (so OSHC can operate free of compliance issues), parents and any students not attending OSHC will need to move from our school site by 3.30 each day.
We are working with OSHC to have this ‘new way of working’ fully implemented by the start of term 4, however, we would be grateful if parents started putting this in to practice sooner if possible.
I thank you in advance for your support of our families who need to access our OSHC services, and your compliance of this new way of working.
Our P & C NEED YOU!
- Our P & C are looking for more volunteers. If you have some time to give, we really need a boost of volunteers for our tuckshop. Please come along and let the tuckshop staff know you can help.
Have a lovely weekend.
Kind regards,
Amanda Hawkswell
Principal
News from Mr Weston-Murdoch
Dear parents and caregivers,
REVISION: Bridge Builders – Skill of the week (Week 7): 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 tool 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
- Thinks 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.
REVISION: Bridge Builders - Skill of the week (Week 8): Share and 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:
- They might share with you.
- You become better friends.
- You feel good.
Help your child to practise sharing. You could stay nearby and encourage them so they don’t forget to share. 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.’
You can build your child’s sharing skills by watching for and praising good turn-taking, encouraging fairness and explaining about sharing. Simple activities that involve sharing and taking turns like kicking soccer goals or shooting basketball hoops can be helpful. Model sharing in your behaviour with others. At home, look for opportunities to share things with your partner. When you and your friends are together, make a point of sharing and describe it as you do so. Young children are great
“Empowered for Life”; Jocelyne Chirnside
Around the classrooms – Prep:
It has been a very busy time in Prep lately! So much to learn and do.
Science Week
We watched Sesame Street ‘Word on the Street – Innovation’
We discussed the properties of a cardboard tube and then brainstormed ideas of how we can innovate and use a cardboard tube in a new way.
We discussed how computers have helped us innovate many things in the world e.g., petrol cars to electric cars. Binary is the system of zeroes and ones that computers use to code text, images and videos. Students designed and created a bracelet using coloured beads that spell out the first letter of their name using binary code.
Book Week
We had a very exciting day in Prep. After the parade we read books with our buddy class 4A and then drew and wrote about the book character we dressed up as.
English
We have been drawing and writing our opinions about rhyming stories. The children made an illustration of their favourite rhyming book and then wrote what they liked and what they didn’t like.
Around the classrooms – Year 1:
Recently it was Science Week! 1D were really lucky and had a visit from Phillipa Holtz who is a parent and science teacher! We learnt all about human biology. First, we placed the organs on the correct parts of the body and learnt about what they do. Then we created lungs in a bottle, where you pull down one balloon (your diaphragm) and it inflates the other balloon (the lung). Finally, we made blood in a jar. Natural materials were used to represent the different ratios of plasma (yellow food dye), red blood cells (red rice), white blood cells (beans) and platelets (little red beads).
Around the classrooms – Year 2:
In HASS, Year 2 have been learning about the history of significant places in our community and have used various sources to answer ‘wonderings.’ This week, we visited Wolston Farmhouse in Wacol, which is Brisbane’s oldest surviving residential farmhouse, dating back to 1852. The children were able to experience what life was like, hands on. They did the washing, house cleaning, cooking and played games such as ‘egg and spoon race’ and ‘drop the hanky.’ After a hard day’s work, the children decided they prefer living in 2023 because life seems ‘easier’.
Merit Certificates
Congratulations to our merit certificate receiptents from our last assembly!
Kind regards,
Scott Weston-Murdoch
Deputy Principal P-2
News from Mr Davey
Dear parents and caregivers,
Year 3
Below are some posters created by some students in 4A as part of their study of Japan, which was inspired by reading of Kumiko and the Dragon.
3D has been completing some very interesting Science experiments in class. Some of the questions they’re trying to answer include:
Can heat move?
Can heat be measured?
Can heat be shared?
Do all objects have heat?
Can people make heat?
A few budding scientists pictured below.
Year 4 Camp
Thank you to all Year 4 families that have returned the ‘Intent to Participate’ form and paid the deposit for camp. With numbers now confirmed, the following will be sent home next week:
- Permission form
- Medication form
- Dietary form
- What to bring list
- Invoice with the final costs
- Information regarding a camp info session in Week 1 of next term
While the invoice isn’t due until Monday 2 October, please return all forms to your classroom teacher as early as possible. This will allow the school to provide Tangalooma with all relevant information in a timely manner.
Bridge Builders’ Skill of the Week – Talk and Listen
Often children’s conflicts are not complicated, and providing the skills to communicate empowers them to solve their problems quickly. However, constructive communication can be like playing a sport. There are rules, expectations and goals that both sides have, and if students don’t understand these or have the necessary skills they can quickly find that trying to talk or listen to the other person just makes the conflict worse. The art of communication involves awareness of body language, tone of voice and the words to use.
Tips to teach this skill at home:
1. Calm down first. This avoids attacking or defending. It helps you to be understood and understand.
• Explain how you feel and what specifically the other person has done that has upset you.
• Describe what you want to happen instead.
• When listening, reflect back what they said.
• Show understanding of their feelings and provide a response to what they have said that might lead to preventing the conflict from being continued.
2. Encourage children to practise using Talk and Listen when they have a conflict with siblings or they are trying to talk something out with you.
Languages - 2023 Brisbane MLTAQ Language Speech Contest
Congratulations to all the students who proudly represented our school on Sunday, August 6th, in the 2023 Brisbane MLTAQ Language Speech Contest held at Griffith University and to their parents for supporting them in this adventure! The performance of our students was remarkable, and we are happy to share that Ironside secured three medals this year. We couldn't be prouder of the effort, dedication, and courage that each one of our students exhibited. This year's competition posed some significant challenges, and they all rose to the occasion beautifully! The official certificates will be handed out during the last assembly of the term, presented by our Deputy Principal.
Felicitaciones to all of you!!
Kind regards,
Peter Davey
Deputy Principal 3-4
pdave16@eq.edu.au.
News from Mrs Bairstow
YEAR 5 NEWS
All positions for Year 5 Camp at Tyalgum Ridge are now closed. Information relating to final costs, invoices and medical forms will be sent home with students next week.
NB: The bus needs to depart Ironside SS at 7:00am on Wednesday 11 October to make it to camp on time. Please organise your family schedules to prepare for this.
Dates: Wednesday 11 – Friday 13 October, 2023.
Location: Tyalgum Ridge is located just over the NSW border and is set against the stunning background of the hinterland.
Program: The focus for this camp is leadership and developing self-awareness and resilience which is highly relevant for the future leaders of the school. Tyalgum Ridge Retreat programs are based around small group interaction where students are encouraged to show personal initiative and leadership in well-planned, challenging outdoor activities. The program is also based around students observing and improving their understanding of the natural processes which are occurring around them. Students will be organised into groups with teachers/supervisors from Ironside State School and will have the opportunity to work with peers from across the Year 5 cohort.
Transport: Students will be transported from Ironside State School to Tyalgum Ridge Retreat, and return by coach. The buses are air conditioned and seat belted. Details about when to arrive at school for departure will be communicated closer to the time. Students are to be collected from Ironside State School at 3:00pm on the last day of the Camp.
Activities: All activities conducted at Tyalgum Ridge Retreat are carefully evaluated and managed through risk management procedures. Participants are instructed in the safety procedures to be followed for the duration of each activity, which includes a description of each piece of equipment that is used, their correct handling and a full practical demonstration of the activity. Activities are managed by qualified, experienced camp staff and students are also carefully supervised by Ironside staff at all times. Activities will be determined once student numbers are finalised and may include canoeing, orienteering, archery, mountain biking, flying fox, initiative games, reptile encounter and a rainforest walk.
Accommodation: Students will be accommodated in comfortable rooms with ensuites sleeping in one main building. Staff will be accommodated in single rooms throughout this same building to allow for close supervision of students.
Dining: The camp is fully catered with a daily menu consisting of breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Individuals with special dietary needs are also catered for subject to information being provided in advance of the camp.
Cost: The cost for the camp includes accommodation, facility and equipment hire, catering, program instruction and transport. The final cost will be advised after all deposits have been paid and student numbers are finalised. As a general indication, the cost of this camp last year was $265. If student numbers are lower than expected, the price may increase. Full payment is required by the dates outlined in this letter, for students to be able to attend.
For a safe and successful Year 5 Camp, students need to demonstrate the Ironside STAR expectations at school in the lead-up to Camp and during the duration of Camp. Students must show they can act safely, respectfully and follow the directions of supervising adults at all times. Students whose actions place themselves or others at risk may be removed from activities, or if the conduct breach is serious, parents may be called to take their child home. All costs associated with early departure due to student misconduct will be paid by the child’s parents.
Year 5 Camp is not a compulsory activity – student participation is determined by the school and student’s parents. Students who do not attend Year 5 Camp are taught by an Ironside teacher with a parallel program at school. All students are provided with full opportunity to self-nominate for leadership opportunities if they wish. While it is encouraged, attendance at Camp is not a pre-requisite for this process.
Student participation is also dependent on conduct at school. Students whose conduct does not meet school expectations in terms of safety, integrity, respect for others and compliance with instructions may not be eligible to attend Camp. This final decision rests with the Camp Co-ordinator, Deputy Principal Year 5/6.
Invoices will be issued shortly with full and final payment to be made by Friday 15 September 2023.
Please feel welcome to email me if you have any questions on jbair51@eq.edu.au
2024 YEAR 6 CANBERRA TRIP
Please note the correction of previous correspondence regarding the date of this tour. Year 6 students in 2024 will attend the Canberra Tour in Week 1 of Term 3, which is from Monday 8 – Friday 12 July. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by the previous error.
Kind regards,
Jennifer Bairstow
Deputy Principal 5-6
Term 3 Events
Music News
Upcoming Dates
It has been a busy time in instrumental music this term with the WestCent Workshop and Centenary Intermediate Strings workshops as well the strings competed at the Redlands Eisteddfod. We have some pictures and updates from students and their experiences.
Singfest 2023
On Thursday 24 August, Mrs Huxley and the Ironside Singfest Singers spent the day at the historical Old Museum. Throughout the day the students participated in Choral Workshops with six other Brisbane Metro Schools.
At the end of the day all students (approx. 200) joined together as a big choir for a concert. They beautifully performed five songs for their families in the audience.
Congratulations to all students who participated in this wonderful community choral event.
WESTCENT DISTRICT MUSIC WORKSHOP
This year’s WestCent music workshop was lots of fun. There were two different groups a senior group that started from the 31st July to the 3rd August (this is the one I was in) and an intermediate group the 4th of August. The senior group rehearsed at Jamboree Heights State School. We played 5 songs. Some of the best being Escape and Gipsy Airs. It was a good experience to be conducted in different ways by different people and the teachers that didn’t conduct got to help by playing an instrument in the orchestra. Some of the most fun parts were the dress up days. The themes were crazy socks, crazy hair and your favourite person or character. At the end there was a concert for the groups to show what they had been working on.
By Rebecca 5F
"It was really fun because we got to meet lots of different people and experience having different conductors."
Sophia V Yr5
CENTENARY INTERMEDIATE STRINGS WORKSHOP
The Redlands Eisteddfod
Our final small group – year 5 performed in the Chamber Music Section on Sunday and received a second place. Congratulations you performed very well.
This competition was very difficult for our small groups, especially, as they played unconducted (all the other competitors were conducted). This is a much more challenging way of making music is small groups as it requires confidence in your playing and the playing of your teammates. All four groups managed their stage presence and their performance very well and should be excited by their results.
Ms Weekes
On the 1st of August, the Chamber Strings and small groups ensemble participated in a competition - the Redlands Eisteddfods, which is a great platform for us to showcase our dedication and love for music. It was a great experience for me as a concertmaster to perform and collaborate with other musicians. There, we performed with confidence and diligence, communicating through our actions and eye contact. We followed our respected conductor, Ms Weekes and listened to each other. We embraced the joy of performing together on the stage we stood with pride. Chamber Strings and the small ensembles’ hard work earned them a second, third and highly commended prize. The best part for me was not the prizes, but the honour to represent our school, the enjoyable and fun experience we had and the chance we have now to take our next step in performing and, taking feedback, to improve as a whole. The memories created on that stage will forever resonate in our musical souls.
By Coco L Yr 6
Redlands was an exciting competition, and it was very tense and exciting. When it was our turn to perform, we nervously walked onto the stage. Our hair stood on end, and we were shaking in our shoes. When we were performing, luckily, we didn't have any big mistakes. After we performed, we put our instruments away and anxiously watched the rest of the groups perform. We were scared by Canterbury Junior Piano Trio, but at the end, we got a pretty comforting result. 2nd place! Even though we didn't get first place, it was only our first time performing in such a small group. It was also a great experience for us.
Amber G and 5 Sophie H 5
On Tuesday two weeks ago, Chamber strings and a variety of other small groups competed in the Redlands Eisteddfod at Ormiston College. It was a wonderful experience with many worthy competitors. We ended up walking away with two second place prizes, a third place, a highly commended, and won another second place the following weekend. Chamber strings and the small groups did a fantastic job, very well done!
Charlotte H 6
SHEP Primary School
We have nine students who have been selected to participate in the State Honours Ensemble Program for Primary Schools later this year. There were more than 2000 applicants for this program so congratulations to the following students on receiving a place:
Shyah K, Jacob L, Vassiliki O’C, Ryan S, Aiden T, Aimee W, Barnabas H, Madeline L, Johan T.
Year 1 and 3 parents only
Strings and Band Recruiting for 2024
Testing for Year 1 and Year 3 students who are interested in the Instrumental Music program has been happening this week and continuing next week. Catch-up testing’ will be held until the end of term. This is the last chance to have your child tested to enter the Instrumental Music Program in 2024.
If you child has missed the testing and is in Year 1 (Strings) or Year 3 (Band), please contact:
Ms Weekes (tweek23@eq.edu.au) or
Ms Lisa Allely (Band) (lmall38@eq.edu.au)
For further information, please contact Mrs Jennifer Bairstow at jbair51@eq.edu.au
Follow this link to find out what happens to your brain on music! https://www.facebook.com/PianoCubWebsite/videos/1849919985253145/?t=92
Also go to http://www.anitacollinsmusic.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/BiggerBetterBrainsProject/
News from Chappy Thu
Dear Families,
Thank you so much to everyone who made it to our annual Father’s Day Breakfast this morning! It was a wonderful morning and my heart was overjoyed to see so many families come to enjoy the activities and food.
Special thanks to:
* the P&C, especially Tony and Sherri
* the massive team of nearly 50 volunteers consisting of staff and parents, especially our food prep team who prepared and served over 500 meals in 1.5hours and our fruit prep team who were cutting fruit for hours across two days (especially Bryan with his special knife)
* the EALD parent group
* the admin team
* the set up team of Mick, Tony, Jordan and all the cleaners who helped us get the bins on the oval;
and of course the Chaplaincy Committee, especially David who worked tirelessly behind the scenes with me, every step of the way. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
It’s been a massive event season at Ironside with Science Week, Book Week, Orange Day, Disco and the Father’s Day Breakfast. Despite the busyness, I am so grateful to be part of this amazing community!
Chappy Squad and Activities
With all the events, public holidays and interschool sport returning, we’ve had a slightly subdued two weeks, but still lots of fun! Thank you to Team Happy Happy for bringing joy, thoughtfulness and creativity to all the activities! We had a Book Week themed Scavenger Hunt, danced to new songs in Chappy Lounge, had more fun with bubbles and met new friends at Games Galore.
Congratulations to Ash and Ella for leading their team to victory in the Scavenger Hunt!
Special Thanks to
- Sana, Naya, Heidi, Rose and Ella for the fun song selections and entertaining us with your dance skills
- Owen for his patience, leadership and mentoring skills when teaching game rules and playing with a group of younger boys
- Eva for her excellent communication skills and for being so responsible as ‘Mini Chappy’
- Valentine, Florence and Ella for representing the squad so well in the Prep area for Bubble Friday (the preps LOVED you!)
- Kelly and Isla for your enthusiasm for Harry Potter, which attracted so many people to your game. You were so fun and inclusive with all the students who wanted to join
- Ivy, Mabel Cooper and Ann for being so organised, responsible and kind when signing people into the clubs
Next week will be our last week of activities, which will be led by Team Nutella CC Coookies!
And that’s all from me for now. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
Until Next Time,
Chappy Thu
tklet0@eq.edu.au
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
8am to 4pm
Advertising
Uniform and Tuckshop News
Volunteers needed!
We need your help. We are looking for volunteers who can spare a few hours a week to assist with preparing and serving in the tuckshop. No experience is necessary, just a friendly smile and a willingness to learn. There’s not even any need to commit to a regular roster, just sign up when you can!
Volunteering in the tuckshop is a great way to meet other parents, support our school community, and have some fun. Why not get a group together? You can sign up here https://volunteersignup.org/MREWY
If you can’t spare any time and enjoy baking perhaps you could sign up to our Homebake roster here https://volunteersignup.org/PL489
Thank you for your support!
International Parent Group News
St Lucia Uniting Church
Creator Camp - Sept 28-29
Make new friends! Explore your creativity!
A wonderful day camp for kids in years 3-6
At St Lucia Uniting Church Hall (7 Hawken Drive, right across from Ironside SS)
$40 per student including lunch.
Mandy Smith
Pastor,
St Lucia Uniting Church