May 2024 Newsletter
Principal's Report
Dear Parents, carers and friends of our Ipswich West State School community,
As we bask in the warm glow of a successful Grandparents Day celebration, it's only fitting to extend our deepest gratitude to the unsung heroes of our children's lives – our grandparents. Your presence on this special day not only brought smiles to the faces of our students but also enriched our school community in profound ways.
In a world where the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" often feels like a distant echo, your presence at our school serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of intergenerational connections. Your wisdom, love, and unwavering support provide a foundation upon which our children can flourish and thrive.
During our recent Grandparents Day festivities, we witnessed countless moments of joy and connection between grandparents and grandchildren. From shared stories of the past to laughter-filled activities, it was evident that the bond between generations is a treasure to be cherished.
Beyond the joyous celebrations, we also recognize the invaluable role that grandparents play in the holistic development of our students. Your experiences, values, and guidance contribute to their growth in ways that extend far beyond the classroom walls. Whether it's imparting life lessons, instilling a sense of heritage, or simply offering a listening ear, your presence leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of our young learners.
As we reflect on the essence of community and the collective responsibility we share in nurturing the next generation, it's essential to acknowledge the broader context in which education takes place. Recently, I had the privilege of attending a regional roadshow focused on teaching and learning. One of the central themes that emerged from our discussions was the notion of pedagogy – the art and science of teaching.
At our school, we are committed to embracing a whole-school approach to pedagogy, ensuring that every aspect of our educational practices is geared towards maximizing student learning and achievement. But what exactly does this entail?
Pedagogy encompasses far more than the delivery of curriculum content. It encompasses the strategies, methods, and approaches we employ to engage and empower our students. From inquiry-based learning to differentiated instruction, we recognize that every child is unique, with their own set of strengths, needs, and learning styles.
In our pursuit of excellence, we are dedicated to differentiating our instructional practices to be responsive to the diverse needs of our learners. Whether it's through personalised learning plans, flexible grouping strategies, or adaptive technology, we strive to create an inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and supported.
Above all, our ultimate goal is to inspire and empower our students to reach their true potential. By fostering a culture of high expectations, resilience, and continuous growth, we are laying the groundwork for their future success – both inside and outside the classroom.
So, as we express our gratitude to our beloved grandparents for their unwavering love and support, let us also reaffirm our commitment to educational excellence. Together, as a community of learners, mentors, and champions, we will continue to uplift and empower the next generation, ensuring that they have the knowledge, skills, and resilience to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Parent in the Classroom Information Session
Last Thursday we held our first “parent in the classroom” information session. I spoke with the group around the topics of Workplace Health and Safety, Code of Conduct and privacy of information, student protection and assisting students with complex needs. Mrs Sullivan introduced our Literacy program (PLD) and presented the way we teach sounds and reading to students connected to the “Science of Reading”. We will ensure to have further parent information sessions throughout the year as we welcome families into the classroom as volunteers. Thank you to those parents/grandparents who attended.
2025 Enrolments Open
We are thrilled to announce that enrolments for Prep in 2025 are now open! If you or someone you know is considering joining our school community, we invite you to reach out to our office for more information or to complete the enrolment paperwork available on our school website. Don't miss the opportunity to embark on an exciting educational journey with us!
Open Prep Night
We have a Parent Information Session for Prep 2025 on the Wednesday 5 June 2024 in the school library at 5.00pm. All welcome!
- Sharyn Brown
Head of Department (Curriculum)
Book Club
Students have been given the latest issue of the Scholastic Book Club to bring home. Book Club gives students the opportunity to build their personal library but also helps to fund books purchased for our school library. Book Club is ordered using the online ordering system. The cut off for orders with this issue is Thursday 6 June 2024.
Incursions
Prep & Year 1
On Thursday 30 May 2024, Prep and Year 1 students will be visited by Wildlife Encounters who specialise in presenting interactive animal lessons as part of our science curriculum. Permission and payment were due on Thursday 16 May.
Under 8's Day
Under 8’s Week in Queensland is an annual celebration dedicated to children under the age of eight, highlighting the importance of early childhood development and the role of play in learning. This event has been a significant part of the community for over 50 years and aims to promote the universal right of every child to play and to celebrate diverse play traditions and experiences from different cultures.
Ipswich West State School will celebrate Under 8’s day this Friday 24 May 2024 (9.15am to 10.45am) with the theme "Connecting to Culture through Play." The theme emphasises the value of play in connecting children to their cultural heritage and fostering inclusive learning environments.
Thank you to all who are planning to attend tomorrow and to our staff, parents and carers who are working together to ensure a fun morning will be had by our students. A special thank you also to the P&C for arranging the Sausage Sizzle.
Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)
Building a National Picture of Child Health
From May 2024, our school, along with thousands of others across the country, will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).
The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.
The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and is completed nationally every three years. Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information.
The data collected through the AEDC is used by schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need.
AEDC data is reported at a school, community, state/territory and national level. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.
Some teachers have found that completing the AEDC made them more aware of the needs of individual children and their class, and that the data was useful for planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing programs.
Participation in the AEDC is voluntary, however the AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.
To find out more about the AEDC and how it is being used to help children and families visit: www.aedc.gov.au.
Grandparents’ Day
This semester in HASS students have been learning about the past, with particular attention to education and how schooling has changed over the last 100 years. As a celebration of the HASS Unit, we invited grandparents and significant older people within our community to share an afternoon with our students.
Thank you to all who attended. The smiles on our students' faces as they shared their learning with our visitors was wonderful to see.
As part of the HASS Unit in the junior years, we were fortunate enough to have Heather Little and Nanna Mary visit the Year 1 & Year 2 classes to be interviewed about their own experiences as a primary school student.
I wish to warmly thank both Heather and Mary for bringing in props, photos and sharing how schools have changed over time.
Report Cards
Report Cards are provided twice within a year to give students and parents an evaluation of academic performance, behaviour and progress. Report cards identify areas of strength and goals that guide future learning strategies and support. Please ensure your email address is up to date as report cards will be emailed on Wednesday 19 June 2024.
- Kaylee Sullivan
Grandparent's Day
Literacy Support Teacher
Over the past few weeks it has been my pleasure to get to know the students of Ipswich West State School. In my role as Literacy Support Teacher I have been working with students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 to assist with their spelling and reading. It is pleasing to see how engaged our students are in improving their spelling and reading skills. Keep Persevering, Team!
National Simultaneous Storytime
In exciting news for this week, students at our school celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday 22 May 2024.
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in many places around the country. This year’s book is titled “Bowerbird Blues” by Aura Parker.
We enjoyed sharing this story with our students and promoting a love of reading and learning at Ipswich West State School.
- Kimberley Drice
National Simultaneous Storytime
Student Engagement Teacher
We have a few events coming up for the rest of the term!
They are:
- Friday 24 May - Under 8’s Day - this is for our Prep to Year 2 students. Parents are welcome to attend.
- Monday 27 May - Wear Yellow Day for National Reconciliation Week
- Friday 14 June - Muffin and PJ Day
We are now approaching colder weather so encourage your child to wear their school jumpers and pants. If they happen to forget their jumper remind them to come and see me and they can borrow one.
Behaviour Focus
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been focusing on responding respectfully to adults and peers, participating in class activities and allowing others to learn.
Being Respectful - Students reflected on these points:
I treat people the way I want to be treated.
I am sensitive to other people’s feelings.
I never insult people or make fun of them.
Participating in Class Activities - Students reflected on these points:
I join in…. even if I don’t want to.
I try my best.
I am fair.
I am responsible.
Everyone gives it a go!
Allowing Others to Learn - Students reflected on these points:
We follow our teacher's directions immediately.
We listen to others.
We work quietly.
We put our hand up appropriately.
We wait our turn.
We are in the right place at the right time.
We respect the opinions and ideas of others.
Thank your for your support!
- Kellie Hanrahan
Japanese
Ten Facts that you (maybe) did not know about Japan:
- Japan consists of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Honshu occupies 61% of the country's total land area, Hokkaido 22%, Kyushu 11% and Shikoku 5%. Beside these, there are about 14,148 smaller islands.
- The Japanese word "karaoke" comes from "kara" meaning "empty" and "oke" meaning "orchestra," essentially meaning "empty orchestra."
- Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world, with an average lifespan of around 85 years.
- The Japanese railway system is one of the most punctual in the world, with trains typically running on time to the second.
- Japan is home to over 1,500 earthquakes each year due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- The Japanese art of flower arrangement, known as ikebana, focuses on harmony, balance, and simplicity.
- Japan has more than 50,000 people who are over 100 years old, making it one of the world's leaders in centenarians.
- The Japanese consume about 24 billion instant ramen packs each year.
- Sumo wrestling is Japan's national sport and has a history spanning over 1,500 years.
- Japan has about 13,700 islands that are uninhabited.
PS. Be the first to tell Miss Collins what “karaoke” means for a prize!
- Tamasine Collins
Physical Education Teacher
Sports Day
School Sports Day will be held on Tuesday 11 June 2024. More information will be sent out closer to the date.
- Jack Warner
Eco Club
Tangalooma
On 2 May 2024, Corbin, Alexys, Brooklyn and Addison went to Tangalooma Island with Ms Brown as part of representing Ipswich West State School. The program is called Eco Marines and we are IWSS ambassadors. The goal of the day was sustainability and for us to plan how to take care of the environment.
The students thought deeply about the day and we would like to share some of their reflections:
Brooklyn: “I liked feeding the dolphins because it was so much fun, but before we fed the dolphins, we dipped our hands in special water, which felt weird.”
Addison: “I liked the boat trip as you could see the water splashing as we went along, it was kind of calming despite the rain.”
Alexys: “Our plans for the Eco Club are to plant lots of herbs, vegies and fruit; and then we will do taste testings days, YUM”.
Corbin: "My favourite bit was feeding the dolphins and the treasure hunt it was a really fun day.”
The team look forward to sharing their ideas with other students, so why not join them every Thursday in the garden or look out for them on parade where they will share fun facts, food and upcoming environment events.
- Louise Edwards
Eco Club (Tangalooma Trip)
P & C
Uniform Shop
Uniform Shop opening hours are Fridays 8.30am to 9.00am or by appointment only.
Fundraising
The P&C would like to say a big thank you to everybody for supporting our subway Meal Deal Fundraising! Thanks to your efforts we raised a total of $198.20.
We would also like to thank all the volunteers and the P&C committee for running a successful Mother’s Day store which made a profit of $140.00!
Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers in our upcoming events. If you are able to assist in some or all events, please email us at 0366_pandc@eq.edu.au.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is Monday 10 June at 3.15pm in the library. We hope that more families can come and support our school P&C.
- Ipswich West P&C
Student Wellbeing Worker
Managing Big Emotions: Triple P’S Parenting Tips
Children experience a range of emotions as they grow and learn. Sometimes, tantrums or aggressive behaviour such as hitting, kicking or biting are a way to express strong feelings like frustration or anger.
It’s helpful to know tantrums are a normal and expected part of a young child's development. As the emotional centre of their brain develops, they may react intensely when things don't go as they want or expect.
Dealing with aggressive behaviour is a common challenge for parents and carers too, as children learn to communicate their needs, express themselves, and get along with others.
It can help to teach kids about feelings, notice and encourage their positive behaviour, and set a calm and consistent example.
Although it's normal to raise your voice occasionally, getting angry or yelling can escalate a situation. It can also teach kids that yelling is appropriate, or create a cycle where getting children to cooperate becomes increasingly tricky.
Calmness is a parenting superpower. It can diffuse difficult situations and help children learn important life skills like self-regulation. Keeping a check on your emotional response and managing your stress can make a positive difference.
To learn more, read Triple P's helpful articles on tantrums, children's aggression and yelling.
The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program® can help you handle the ups and downs of parenting more calmly and confidently.
Triple P – Free Online Parenting Courses
Exciting news...The Family Transitions program has landed online! This program is being made available free for families across Australia thanks to funding from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care. Family Transitions Online is free course designed to help families who are going through (or have recently gone through) a separation or divorce. The program’s modules are loaded with proven tips and strategies that support parents, carers, and kids as they cope to changes during this time. Parents can register for the program here:
Orange Sky - Free Laundry & Showers
Orange Sky Australia have a simple formula: they provide a platform for everyday Australians to connect through a regular laundry and shower service. The focus is on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or who feel disconnected from the community. Their volunteers are not social workers or experts on homelessness, but they are empathetic listeners and great conversationalists.
If you need to do a load of laundry or a hot shower, head down to the team at Queens Park each Wednesday between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
Save the Date - Wear it Yellow for Children's Ground
As part of National Reconciliation Week, we are inviting students, staff, parents and carers to wear yellow on Monday 27 May 2024.
Wear it Yellow is an annual campaign run by Children’s Ground during National Reconciliation Week. The campaign encourages schools, early learning centres, community groups and workplaces to wear yellow, the colour of Children’s Ground, to raise awareness for the organisation’s First Nations-led approach to system change and engaging with First Nations culture and history. Yellow was chosen for this campaign as it’s the colour at the centre of the Aboriginal flag, representing the sun.
Family Support in Ipswich
Organisation | Service Provided | Contact details | Additional Information |
Ipswich Assist | Food Assistance with bills and petrol vouchers | Central Church, 20 Limestone St Phone: 3413 1070 | Mon 9am-3pm Tue 9am-12pm Tue 1pm-3pm |
St Vincent De Paul | Food Vouchers (inc travel) Clothing Some help with bills | 272 Brisbane St, West Ipswich Phone: 1800 846 643 | Mon, Wed & Fri 9am-11.30am |
Salvation Army Family Store | Food Vouchers Clothing, blankets Assistance with utility bills | 307 Brisbane St Phone: 1300 371 288 | Mon to Fri 9am-4.30pm Sat 9.30am-2.30pm |
The Haven Food Relief Shop | Homelessness relief Frozen meals Pantry items | 229 Brisbane St, Goodna Phone: 0455 995 561 | All week 9am-4pm |
Gailes Community House | Hampers Discounted products Advocacy | 30 Karina St, Gailes Phone: 3879 3004 | Mon to Thu 9.30am-3.30pm |
Leichhardt One Mile Community Centre | Emergency relief hampers Community Shed Playgroup and community garden | 1 Denman St, Leichhardt Phone: 3812 1270 | Mon to Thu 9am-4pm Fri 9am-2pm |
The Lion and The Lamb – Ipswich Foodbarn | Food hampers at highly discounted rate Often have food freebies available | 1 Darling St, Woodend Phone: 3496 1514 | Please take your Centrelink card and other photo ID with you Mon to Fri 9am-5pm |
Ipswich Community Youth Service (ICYS) – Get Set for Work
The Certificate II Cookery class is a great way for people aged between 16 & 19 to step into an education environment (adult) that is well supported and hands on. The goal is to make young people feel comfortable, give them confidence, teach life skills, employability skills and help them interact with peers and other adults. They are supported to look for employment or move into further training/education if that is what they wish for – the choice is theirs!
2nd Intake: Term 3 - 10 Weeks (Tuesday 9 July to Friday 13 September, 9.00am-3.00pm) - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (1 x Wednesday during term which is compulsory)
- Hands on practical learning of kitchen operations under the guidance of qualified chefs
- Preparing and cooking for Miners Right Restaurant, TAFE Café, TAFE staff and outside catering
- Theory completed in a group setting with ICYS staff supporting students (no laptops, stationery needed – everything is at TAFE – No Homework!)
- Develop employability skills, confidence, team work skills, peer networking
- No cost to participants
- Support with cover letter writing, resumes and employment searching and ongoing support from ICYS until March 2025
- Support with Go Card purchase or top ups (for TAFE purposes only); work uniforms and phone credit if required
Register your interest: https://www.icys.org.au/employment-and-training or call and ask to speak with Andrew (GSFW coordinator)
- Carlotta Graham
Community
