Cultural Diversity Week

Cultural Diversity week this year will be celebrated between 11^th - 21^st of March.

The 2023 Cultural Diversity Week theme is - Our Past. Our Future: Celebrating and reflecting on the contributions of Victoria's multicultural communities. The theme invites Victorians of all ages and backgrounds to reflect on multicultural Victoria's long history and celebrate its bright future. Students will be participating in activities across the next few weeks to celebrate our cultural diversity.

Tuesday March 21^st- is the United Nation's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) as well as National Harmony Day. This is seen as a celebration and acknowledgement of our differences. This day focusses on building and maintaining an inclusive environment for all, founded in respect and a sense of belonging within our community.

On Harmony Day, people often wear orange to show their support and respect of the different cultures that make up Australia.

Ivanhoe East Primary maintains an inclusive environment for all families, celebrating these differences and acknowledging how our cultures and views create our school community. It is our goal to continue to build our understanding of world-wide celebrations, teach these within our classrooms and acknowledge this amongst our greater school community. On 25^th October we will further demonstrate this as we celebrate World Inclusion Day.

Music Production

In 2023 IEPS is looking to have a whole school concert in some form. Over previous years there has been different performances including a musical, a circus, ‘Bushwahzee’ or dance performance.  

This year, before we lock in what we do, we are keen to see what assistance there is in our school community.  

If you have a passion for music or skills that could help us, we would love to know. Please include how you can help, and what days/times you are available. This will help guide us to what will work best for IEPS in 2023. 

If you can help in any way, shape or form please email Lauren Fairbairn lauren.fairbairn@education.vic.gov.au

NAPLAN

Today students in Year 3 and 5 commenced the annual NAPLAN (National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy) testing. This is the second year that the testing has been online (except for the Year 3 Writing task). I would like to thank our Year 3 and 5 teachers for preparing our students, who today gave their best when completing the Writing assessment.

As mentioned previously, this is one piece of assessment that does not dictate student success. It is used in conjunction with a range of other assessments that occur throughout the year to best support student learning.

I’m sincerely grateful the efforts of Mr Phillips and Ms Silvestro as it has taken many hours to enter student details, create test sessions, print student logins, and run readiness tests across the school.

The remaining NAPLAN assessments will occur on:

• Thursday 16^th March – Reading 3s and 5s – 9:30 am
• Monday 20^thMarch – Language Conventions 3s and 5s – 9:30 am
• Tuesday 21^stMarch – Numeracy 3s and 5s – 9:30 am
• Wednesday 22^ndMarch – Catch up test 1 – 9:30 am
• Thursday 23^rdMarch – Catch up test 2 – 9:30 am

We ask that our community respects the testing times and keeps any visits to the school at a minimum. If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN, please do not hesitate to conduct Ben Phillips via email Benjamin.Phillips@educaiton.vic.gov.au

Whilst nothing further is required to be done by families at home, please check in with your child during this time to see how they are doing and give them an opportunity to focus on other areas of their schooling, social and sporting activities to provide a nice balance and a holistic focus for your child over the next week.

Student Supervision

We have noticed a slight increase in the number of students arriving at school without a parent onsite before 8:45 am. Prior to 8:45 am teachers are not on duty and the school grounds are unsupervised. Whilst we understand that some parents have work commitments that require them to leave for work earlier than 8.45am, we strongly encourage you to make arrangements to ensure no students are unsupervised on school grounds prior to 8.45am.

A reminder that OSHClub offers an excellent Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) program to support parents both before and after school (with a reminder no teacher is on duty in the yard after 3:45pm)

School Council

As a result of nominations received equaling the number of School Council vacancies. I extend my thanks to those who nominated for their interest and investment into our School Council and the continual improvement of our school. Our 2023 School Council is Helen McBain, Kate O’Callaghan, Bob Wooton, Fred Purcell, Donna White, Emily Baxter, Benjamin Phillips, Amanda Dwyer, Alex Silvestro and myself as the Executive Officer. School Council is scheduled to meet on the 29th March for our first School Council Meeting. I look forward to working alongside our council members over the year ahead.

Infectious Disease

If your child does test positive for COVID-19 and/or any other infectious disease we ask you contact the school via email Ivanhoe.east.ps@education.vic.gov.au and it is recommended that they isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved.

In relation to Covid-19 it is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff:

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
• If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
• If you are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.

Rapid Antigen Tests are also available from the front office, please don’t hesitate to come in and collect as needed.

For Your Diaries

Please refer to print out below for Term 1 and 2 important dates.

Follow Us

A reminder that we now have a community Instagram account, this account is used to connect with our wider community, promote school events and give an insight into our facilities, incursions, excursions, and all of the wonderful teaching & learning that is happening at IEPS. You can follow our movements by networking with us @ivanhoeeastprimaryschool on Instagram.

Regards,

Tom Boyle

Acting Principal

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IEPS Student Community Achievement

Lachie Morris won three gold medals in U9 Discus, Shot Put and Long Jump. He was congratulated as a triple State Champion! We are very proud of Lachie and his achievements.  

Lachie is now the third generation on his Mum's side of the family to win State medals. Lachie's Pa, Mum and Uncle have also won State Age group medals. Lachie carries on a proud history of throwing event accomplishments in his family!       

Well done, Lachie!

If your child has achieved an outstanding result in their local community, we would love to share this with our wider community. Please share any achievements with Mr. Phillips (Benjamin.phillips@education.vic.gov.au) and these will feature in our weekly community bulletin. If the student is comfortable, we will also share their achievements at our school assembly.

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IEPS Second Hand Uniforms is located upstairs in the gym!!

The Second Hand Uniform shop will be open each Friday morning from 8.30am - 9.15am (45 minutes) for you to purchase any items you might need.

Items are $5 each and payment is strictly card only.

We can also accept any clothing donations at this time - our only ask is that donated uniform items are clean and in good condition (i.e. no tears, holes, animal hair etc!).

As we have been inundated, we are not accepting school bags at the moment.

Please use the stairs next to the entrance to the Hall/Gym.