July 2023 Newsletter

Principal's Report

Welcome back to school for Term 3.  In the first week of this term we held our NAIDOC Day Celebrations.  It was such a wonderful culmination of schools and visitors coming together to learn about the history and culture of our First Nations people.  We thank Uncle Patrick, Aunty Vera, Aunty Marley and our friends, colleagues and the students from Leichhardt-One Mile Community Centre, Leichhardt State School, Bremer State High School and Ipswich State High School for attending our celebration and providing fun activities such as dance, painting and games for our students to learn. 

New School Region

Our Metropolitan School region has now been divided into Metropolitan North and Metropolitan South with the creation of a new Education Qld region.  With the separation of regions, a new School Supervisor role was created that took over from the role of Assistant Regional Directors.  We will be welcoming our new School Supervisor Mr Brett Shackleton who will be working closely to support our school with his first visit  to our school meeting the students, staff and community on Monday 31 July from 12.00 pm.  I look forward to meeting with Brett and proudly showing the wonderful work that we have been achieving this year and continue to strive for here at Ipswich West State School.

School Colour Run and Book Week Celebrations

This term we have many wonderful events planned with our P & C Association.  Firstly, our Book Fair will be starting on Thursday 17 August with the whole school Book Week Parade on Tuesday 22 August.  More information will be distributed closer to the event.  On Thursday 31 August, we are hosting our first ever school Colour Fun Run on our school oval between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm.  The Colour Fun Run will raise money towards supporting the school with the newly purchased soccer goals on the oval and then with future plans for the purchase of more IPADS for classes.  The P & C sent home information on how to register your child and start fundraising.  Students can receive amazing prizes and will be so excited to participate on the day.  As a further incentive, I have been told that the student that raises the most money, gets to colour a staff member and slime another.  I will let you guess who that might be.

School Opinion Survey

All families will have received an email about completing the Annual School Opinion Survey. The School Opinion Surveys are designed to obtain the views of parents/caregivers, students and staff on what they do well and how they can improve.  Opinions about the school on a range of topics are sought from a parent/caregiver in all families and from state school students in Years 5, 6, 8 and 11.  School staff and Principals are also asked to provide opinions about their school.  The  2023 School Opinion Surveys will be open between Monday 24 July and Friday 18 August 2023.  I encourage each family to complete the School Opinion Survey to gain a more accurate report of many views.  We value your feedback and will analyse the results to compare our progress from one year to the next, but also to help us plan for the future.  For Frequently asked questions - please see https://altqed.qed.qld.gov.au/publications/reports/statistics/schooling/schools/schoolopinionsurvey/faqs

School Student Broadband Initiative – Australian Government

To boost educational opportunities and narrow the digital divide, families without home internet are encouraged to apply for the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).  Access to internet at home can support children to build their digital skills and participate in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.

The Australian Government is supporting the National Broadband Network (NBN) to implement the SSBI to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 unconnected families across Australia with school aged students.

To be eligible for SSBI, a family must:

• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in a Queensland state school in 2023
• Not have an active internet service at home.  Having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility
• Be referred by a nominating organisation such as the Department of Education (the Department)
• Agree their child has access to a device and has the digital skills to use the internet safely or will be supervised
• Live in a premises that can access the NBN via a standard connection – this will be checked by NBN

Referral through the Department

The Department is pleased to support the nomination of families for the SSBI.  If you would like to apply for the SSBI please contact Ms Carlotta Graham – Student Wellbeing Worker cgrah197@eq.edu.au at the school for an application (online or paper form) and further information about the initiative.  Applications must be submitted by Friday 1 September 2023.

Kambu – Health Checks

In the week commencing Monday 28 August to Monday 4 September we have the Health Team (Nurse and Dr) from Kambu Health clinic at our school to perform health checks on all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.  The permission forms and further information will be sent home to eligible families.  Please ensure you return the permission forms to the office before the Friday 18 August to ensure you child is able to participate.  

Break Time Activities

Did you know that we offer a variety of activities at break time for your child to participate in?  Lunch time clubs provide a variety of opportunities for student to learn social skills, to explore another interest and provide a safe space for those children that find the playground too noisy.  Please see attached our break activities to remind your child if they would like to join in.

- Sharyn Brown

Head of Department-Curriculum

Learning Walls

“Learning walls capture the ongoing assessment journey” – Lyn Sharratt

Part of our Annual Implementation Plan this year is focused on building consistent pedagogical practices across the school.  Across the year we are looking at different practices that focus on Curriculum, how we learn and the learners.

This term, for part of this is, teachers are building consistent practices around using learning walls for their curriculum practices, particularly with English.

What makes a good Learning Wall?

• It is co-constructed with the students
• Focused on the assessment
• Includes the unit’s success criteria and relevant learning to support the success criteria
• Is a visual representation of the learning throughout the unit
• Is a vehicle for feedback to students about how they are going and how they can improve. Feedback can be from the teacher but also self and peer feedback.

Our English units this term:

Prep & Year 1

Students will engage with rhyming texts to listen for rhyming and alliteration.  They recognise and generate rhyming words and alliteration and show an understanding of using onset and rime. Students write a rhyming text, showing understanding of letter-sound knowledge as well as text and sentence structure.  They use interaction skills to present their rhyme and listen for language patterns in others’ rhymes.

Year 2/3

Students will engage in and read the text extended text “The Lorax”.  They will plan and retell an event from a different viewpoint, identifying literal and implied meaning and making connections to other texts read. They will read different texts, including exerpts from The Lorax and Year 2 will also listen for and manipulate sound combinations and rhythmic sound patterns.

Year 3/4

Students will engage in classic world literature, including texts from Asia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.  They will understand, identify and describe meaning, including text structures.  Students will retell a story that includes complex sequences of events that extend over several pages and involve unusual happenings.

Year 5/6

Students will read and engage with literary texts that include flashback & shifts in time as well as exploring themes of interpersonal relationships and ethical dilemmas within fantasy settings. Utilising “The Azrian Anthology” Volume #1 (as well as other incidental, texts of interest), they understand how language features, including complex sentences, unfamiliar vocabulary, figurative language and images are used when they create their own imaginative text.

Book Week 2023

Each year since 1945 the CBCA has brought children and books together across Australia through Children's Book Week®.  During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians create colourful displays, develop activities, run competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading. You will often see parades with students dressed as their favourite book character. – CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia)

This year’s theme is “Read, Grow, Inspire”.  We will be celebrating at school with book readings by staff members, a competition for students (keep an eye out for details) and our annual dress up parade.  Classroom teachers will also celebrate in their classrooms in their own way.

- Martina Noble

Inclusion Support Teacher

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with Disability

All schools in Australia are required by federal law to record the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) annually.  Schools and the Department of Education must accurately report the NCCD, in accordance with the National NCCD Guidelines, to the Australian Government.  The NCCD records the adjustments made by schools, for 10 weeks or more, that enable a student with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers.  Schools have been reporting the NCCD since 2015.  The national census date is 4 August 2023 which is when the Australian Government collects data on students enrolled at all schools across Australia.  Please read the sheet attached to this newsletter for more information.  If you have any questions please contact Mrs Winrow on 3813 5222 or via email ywinr1@eq.edu.au.

- Yvette Winrow

Student Engagement Teacher

I would like to take this opportunity to say hello and let everyone know I have settled into my new role as Student Engagement Teacher at IWSS.  I have found lots of challenges but also many new learning experiences and am excited to work closely with all children at our wonderful school.  You will notice while reading below, my approach to managing behaviour is to focus on positively rewarding every student in as many ways as possible

School Expectations and Rules

Our School Expectations (Be respectful, Be responsible, Be safe) have been rebranded and signs will be visible all over the school.  Classroom teachers are continuously adapting their classroom rules to suit the context of their class.  Students will have the opportunity to assist with creating class rules rather than school rules – this means students have ownership.  The PBL team will be working on creating specific rules for each area of the school to put on display.

Attendance

The class with the best attendance for each month will receive Wilbur the wombat.  We are striving for 95% attendance.  If your child is below 85% attendance, I will make contact with you to support your child.

Prize Box

The prize box has been topped up with lots of new prizes for students.  Teachers will organise a time with myself for the students in their class who have filled a sheet of their stamps (junior school) or collected enough Wombucks (senior school) to have a pick out of the prize box.

Pizza Party and Behaviour Focus of the Week

Classroom teachers will teach behaviour focusses every odd week and a wellbeing focus around The Zones of Regulation on odd weeks.  Each fortnight, I visit classrooms to talk about the behaviour focus and if students can identify these, a puzzle piece will be handed to the class.  When the class completes their puzzle (Willow or William - Wombat), they will be invited to a pizza party.

End of Term Reward

My goal is to invite every student to our End of Term Event.  Rather than calling it an End of Term Reward the school will organise an event where all students are invited to attend.  This term we are doing a Colour Run, which is organised by the P & C.  The reason for inviting all students is because if a student has had an Office Referral or Tap Room, they have already received a consequence.

- Matthew Larsen

Japanese

It’s summer in Japan and temperatures in Tokyo are forecast to rise as high as 38 degrees celsius in the next few days.  But even with the heat expected to continue, life goes on, and so does the need to venture outside for work, school, errands, and travel plans.

Last week I have been showing my students ways to keep cool in the heat of a Japanese summer.  Items can be bought at convenience stores and chemists around Japan which will help alleviate the humidity and heat of a Japanese heatwave.  These items include eye masks and towels to lower body temperature as well as sprays to cool your t-shirt.

But wait!  There’s more!  There’s even a way to keep you cooled down from the hips up.

Another solution for the Japanese heat would be to find a way to venture outside without venturing away from the air conditioner, and offering a way to do just that is Tokyo-based gadget company Gloture, with its new WearCool device.  Wearing the above belt sends blasts of cool air towards your upper body instead.

The belt’s casing contains heat-absorbing PCM (phase-change material), and a series of fans whose airflow is funneled upward as they leave the belt’s vents.  The device weighs 488 grams and shoots air at up to 5 meters per second.  The device’s mobile app (with both Japanese and English interfaces) lets you control fan speed and switch between using all the fans or only those in the front or back.  The belt has a maximum battery life of 17 hours with continual usage, so it’s essentially an all-day option.  However, it’s not a cheap option at 32,500 yen (about $343).

- Tamasine Collins

Physical Education

This term in PE the students will be exploring and developing skills in:

Prep

This term students will continue to develop their fundamental movement skills and personal and social skills in soccer-based activities and games.  Through these activities and games, students will learn to identify their feelings after participating in physical activity.

Years 1 - 2

This term students will develop the fundamental movement skills of dodging and running and test alternatives to evade others and objects in tagging games.  They will explore positive ways to interact with others, including strategies to work in groups and play fairly during tagging games.

Years 3 - 6

This term students will explore and refine the fundamental movement skills of batting, throwing and catching, and apply concepts and strategies to play T-Ball.  Students will develop their strategies for working cooperatively and apply rules fairly during game play.  

Years 5 - 6

This term students will develop, then perform the specialised movement skills of throwing and catching in Touch Football activities and games.  The students will propose and combine Touch Football movement concepts and strategies into game situations to achieve movement outcomes and solve movement challenges.  Students will apply their social and personal skills to demonstrate fair play and work collaboratively in activities and games.

- Erin Bartlam

P & C

We are needing some more volunteers for all of this terms upcoming exciting events.  If you can spare some time, please email me with the times and dates  0366_PandC@ipswichwestss.edu.au.

Book Fair

Book Fair will be on from, Thursday 17 August to Tuesday 22 August 2023, this event will be held at the Junior Undercover Area from 8.30 am to 9.00 am and 2.30 pm to 3.15 pm.

Colour Run

The Colour Explosion School Fun Run will be on Thursday 31 August 2023 commencing 2.00 pm to  3.00 pm on the school oval.  Parents are welcome to attend this splatacular event. 

Father's Day Stall

We will be hosting a Father's Day Stall on Monday 28 August to Thursday 31 August from 8.30 am to 9.00 am and 2.30 pm to 3.15 pm in the Junior Undercover Area.

Uniforms 

We have finally received our order from our supplier and now have stock available.  Uniform Shop opening time is Friday 8.30 am to 9.15 am.

Flash sale on old design T-Shirts $10.00 while stock last (they can be worn up to 2025).

We have available a limited amount/sizes of FREE second hand uniforms (both summer and winter) for those families in need.  Be quick!

Next Meeting

Our next P & C Meeting is on Monday 4 September in our school library at 3.15 pm to 4.15 pm.  We would love to see some new faces.

We are needing a Secretary for our P&C.  Please let us know if you are interested.

Subway Fundraiser

On Thursday 14 September we will be having a Subway fundraiser.  More information will be sent home in the next couple of weeks.

 - Ipswich West P&C

Community Support Worker

It’s been a bumper start to Term 3 and there are so many things happening in the Ipswich community as well as some wonderful events that have already occurred.

ThinkUKnow Program

Last week, we were fortunate to have two investigators from the Australian Federal Police (Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team), attend our school to deliver the evidence based educational program to our students.  The presentation focused on educating the students about what they do online, the challenges they may face and how to get help if something goes wrong.  They also covered the importance of adult permission and supervision, how to stay safe when gaming online and privacy settings.

If you would like more information on the program, please visit: www.thinkuknow.org.au

Kids Helpline Class Sessions

This term, some of our classes have opted in for Kids Helpline class sessions covering a range of topics, including Unlocking your Inner Leader, Let’s talk about Emotions and Developing Resilience.

Kids Helpline counsellors encourage safe, open and inclusive discussions about a range of topics relevant to students' lives.  Sessions are all evidence-informed, contain fun, interactive components and may also include scenarios or videos to engage students in problem solving.  The topics are aligned with the Australian Curriculum and are age appropriate.  The sessions are conducted as a whole class session, individual counselling is not offered.  They are designed to promote student interest, awareness and questions about the topic.  No personal or demographic student data is captured when participating in the sessions.

Self-care for Parents and Caregivers

Emerging Minds, Australia, October 2022

Self-care can often be seen by parents as a luxury, but it isn’t all bubble baths and face masks.  Self-care is anything you do intentionally to look after your own health and wellbeing.  It includes things like eating well, getting sleep when you can and staying active.  It also means taking time to relax and recharge – for example, by taking a walk outdoors, catching up with a friend or even just taking five minutes to have a shower.

Self-care isn’t always ‘fun’ (for example, getting up early to exercise), but it does always make you feel better after you’ve done it.  Research shows that how parents care for and treat themselves impacts on their child’s development.  Parents who are kind to themselves and take time to unwind are physically and mentally healthier and more confident in their parenting.

To read the whole article, please visit the Emerging Minds website: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/self-care-for-parents-and-caregivers/?audience=family

Kambu

Kambu is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health (Kambu Health).  This is a community controlled, not for profit charitable entity established to provide indigenous healthcare services and community services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.  Ipswich and West Moreton region, are one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.

Student Wellbeing Worker

If you would like to meet with me, I am available on Wednesdays between 8.30 am and 1.30 pm and Thursdays from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm.  Please email me to schedule a meeting: cgrah197@eq.edu.au

All meetings are free and confidential.  I support children and families and work with other members of the school’s support team.  I aim to create an environment which promotes the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development and wellbeing of all students.

- Carlotta Graham

Awards

Students of the Week - Certificates of Recognition

  Prep          Charlie, Brooklyn, Christopher

  Prep/1        Emerson, Grayden, Eren, Rylan

  Year 1        Jaidem, Addison

  Year 2        Amethyst-Rose, Rosetta, Aubree, Felicity, Jacie

  Year 2/3     Evotia, Billie-Jean, Jayden, James

  Year 3/4A   Ebony

  Year 5/6A   Luis, Livian

Congratulations and thank you for helping to make Ipswich West its best!