World Inclusion Day Reflection

IEPS celebrated World Inclusion Day yesterday, 10th October. This day was an acknowledgement that although we come from different backgrounds, cultures, abilities, genders, races, ages etc. we are accepted and welcomed. Our differences are celebrated as a part of our community and we treat everyone with kindness and equity. We raised $355 for the ‘Inclusion Foundation’, a foundation designed to create a more inclusive world for individuals with Down Syndrome. Within classrooms, each student completed a small piece of art that was placed together with their peers with the theme of ‘we all fit together at IEPS’. This day was a day of celebrating ourselves, our peers and our community.

Events in the Middle East

As the situation continues to unfold, this time can be particularly distressing for staff, students, families, and carers who have extended family and friends in Israel and Gaza, and those with connections to the region. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly should you wish to express or discuss any matters related to the current situation.

Snap – Send – Solve (Car Parking @ IEPS)

With regards to recent parking challenges that have been faced during drop off and pick up time, I encourage our communtiy to use the App Snap Send Solve to report any matters directly to the council that they find are impacting the community. This App should help as it is quite efficent.

Snap Send Solve is a free App that simplifies the reporting of community issues. The reporting process is quick and easy which means when your community sees an issue, they can inform the relevant services with only a few taps. This App is avaliable on the App store and is free of charge.

Swimming Program

We would like to thank everyone for making the first week of our swimming program so successful and a special mention to all of our parent helpers. To arrange an entire school swimming program requires lots of planning and communicating with many people and I acknowledge the work that has gone into this by Mr Bartlett and each classroom teacher. We know the children have been enjoying these lessons and most importantly they are learning how to be safe around water.

Recent Improvements around IEPS

As you my be aware there have been many physical environment improvements that have been made across the school. The most recent completions include the new line marking and interactive play spaces in the courtyard area. This was completed by Edumarking and we are very pleased with the final results and it has been great to hear the positive feedback from our students. Furthermore the inclusive ramp has been completed and a handover has occurred. The delays with the ramp were due to original architectural designs not identifiying service lines throughout the school. This project was run by the Victorian School Building Authority and even though we appreciate them in supporting the school with a ramp we have provided specific feedback around the length of time and the delays that occurred throughout the project.

Parent Requests for 2024 Classes

As we continue to meet the needs of the students at our school we have already begun the complex task of workforce planning for the 2024 year; considering budgets, teacher requests, staffing changes and student numbers.

This is the time of the year when we start to explore class structures and carefully consider the best resourcing to meet student needs. As mentioned above, in order to do this we need to have an accurate understanding of student numbers in each level.

If you know of any families who will be moving into the area and will have children enrolling at Ivanhoe East Primary School for next year, please ask them to make urgent contact with the school. Likewise, please let us know if your family is moving and/or your children will not be returning to IEPS in 2024. 

Throughout November and early December, we will be working on our class structures and student combinations for next year. A great deal of thought, planning and time goes into placing students into classes. Every effort is made to place each child in a learning environment that is engaging, caring and productive and each student will be able to nominate up to 5 learning friends for their 2024 class, each student will be guaranteed to receive at least 1 learning friend in their 2024 class. As you may understand, the allocation of students to new classes is an intricate task and one that requires patience and a great deal of thought.

The method used to create classes at IEPS is quite an in-depth analytical process that involves a multitude of variables. These variables include each student’s academics, learning needs, student pairings, behavioral aspects, parent requests, friendship requests and their specific classroom teacher’s observations and judgements. Rest assured even though this is a complex process, as mentioned above, each student will have at least one of their requested learning friends in their 2024 class.

Information from parents is welcomed as part of the decision-making process, and we now invite parents to write to us about any requests they may have for their child’s educational needs. We do not accept requests for placement with individual teachers, however, we do take into consideration relevant information, based on educational needs, which can help us with the placement process.

Requests are to be addressed directly to Mr. Boyle and will be considered up until Friday 27^th October. Please email directly to tom.boyle@education.vic.gov.au with any concerns around specific educational needs in relation to class placement. Only letters received by 5pm Friday October 27th will be considered. If you have previously emailed your child’s classroom teacher, you will need to re-email this letter addressed to myself and send directly to me. If you would like to have a face-to-face conversation please don’t hesitate to contact me and we can arrange a time.

Please note that while we take any information that you provide into consideration, the final decisions regarding your child’s placement rest with the teaching staff and leadership team. Furthermore please note that once classes are finalised there will be no changes made to those class structures.

Are you leaving IEPS in 2024?

We ask that you let us know if you are moving or have enrolled in another school in 2024. We require this information as soon as possible to establish grade structures for the start of the new school year. If your child is currently in Grades Foundation – 5, and will not be at Ivanhoe East in 2024, please notify the school office in writing as soon as possible.

Reminders

Assemblies Term 4

This term we will be continuing with fortnightly onsite assemblies, with the alternating week being an IEPS news episode. Our onsite assemblies will begin this week and will occur on the following dates:

• Friday 20^th of October
• Friday 3^rd of November
• Friday 17^th of November
• Friday 1^st of December
• Friday 15^th of December (Final assembly of the year)

Furthermore, we will be changing our student of the week process. We will be moving to a student of the fortnight where at least 1 student will be awarded with a certificate each fortnight at assembly. At the conclusion of assembly those students will be invited to come up to the front of the gymnasium to get a group photo with Mr Boyle, which will be placed into the following bulletin, parents are also welcome to come up the front to take this photo as well.

Reminder No Hat – No Play Term 4

In Term 4 it is expected that all students wear a hat while outside at recess/lunchtime irrespective of the weather. Our school policy states that if a child isn’t wearing a hat they are required to sit under an allocated shady part of the school for the duration of recess or lunch, in other words ‘No Hat, No Play.’ 

Please ensure your child brings a hat to school. 

Lunchtime Clubs Update Term 4

The PAG representatives surveyed Foundation to Year 6's students and then collated the data to select the top 4 lunchtime clubs voted upon by students. The PAG representatives have discussed some amendments and scheduling changes that are reflective of feedback from the students. Please note, Tech club will be run by Ms. Gould and will involve the use of proper tech skills being taught. Please find attached below the timetable for Lunchtime Clubs starting Week 2 of Term 4.