January 2024 Newsletter
Principal's Report
A very warm welcome to the 2024 school year. I trust you enjoyed the time you had with your children over the holidays and are somewhat pleased to see them returning to the routine of school. It was lovely to welcome our new Prep families and students. Our youngest students have had a wonderful start to their first year of schooling with only a few tears. A time of change can be so difficult for many of our students as they meet their new teachers and have concerns about who their friends will be. It seems that those fears disappear very quickly once they attend school and realise all the students are feeling the same and that change can be a positive.
New Staff
I would like to also extend a warm welcome to our new staff:
- Mr Jack Warner – Physical Education Teacher
- Ms Emily Arnold – Year 2 Teacher
- Mrs Fiona Banjer – Technology Teacher
- Mrs Louise Edwards – Year 4 Teacher
- Mrs Nareece Markert – Year 6 Teacher
- Ms Cherie Cattanach – Teacher Aide
Thank you to our parents/carers for ensuring students are in uniform and have their stationery essentials. If you are having difficulties during these hard financial times, we do have some extra school supplies, shoes and socks to provide to students. We are here to help our families and community. You will hear me say throughout the year that “it takes a village to raise a child”, we are here as the hub of the community to support our families to raise educated and active citizens.
At Ipswich West State School, we encourage positive parent and teacher relationships. Please ensure that you keep in contact with your classroom teacher. Our teachers will be setting up Class Dojo and will send all parents an email invitation to connect. This is a great way to keep updated on your child’s learning and activities in the classroom. Class Dojo also has the ability to send a private message if needed. Another way to communicate with your teacher is to send an email or ring the office to leave a message.
P&C
We welcome families to become involved in and around the school. We have a wonderful Parent and Citizens Association, however we require more parents to attend meetings. Our next meeting is our AGM and will be held on Monday 19 February 2024 at 3.15pm in the School Library. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, make new friends and make decisions on events throughout the year.
Assembly
This year we will be having Assembly on Friday mornings at 9.00am. I welcome all families to attend our first assembly for the year on Friday 2 February 2024 in the Under Covered Area.
Parent/Carer Connect Coffee and Chat
We would like to encourage our parents to connect with the school and feel part of our school community.
Next Friday 9 February, we will be holding our first Parent/Carer Connect and Chat Morning after Assembly. This is not a formal event but an opportunity for parents/carers to mingel and form friendships with others. It's also another opportunity to find out whats happeing at the school. All welcome and we hope to see you there.
Absences
Please remember to call the school on 3813 5222 or email at 0366_absences@eq.edu.au early in the morning if your child is going to be away or late for school so your child’s absence can be recorded correctly.
Absence same day notification:
Our school will contact parents as soon as practicable on the day, if a student is not at school and we don’t know why. If you are advised by the school that your child is away without a reason, please contact us as soon as possible by telephoning on 3813 5222 or email 0366_absences@eq.edu.au to let us know where your child is. We are required to follow-up with parents if no response is received.
School Times
Arrival time:
Staff are on duty in the undercover area from 8.15am and we recommend students arrive between 8.30am and 8.40am. This provides your children with the best opportunity to build friendships and be ready for the day ahead. To ensure student safety, no student should be on school grounds before 8.15am. The first bell rings at 8.50am. This is a warning bell to remind students to get a drink and go to the toilet. The next bell is at 9.00am when students are expected to be in their class lines.
Late arrivals:
Any student who arrives after 9.00am must be escorted into the office by an adult. A late slip will be provided for the student to give to the classroom teacher.
Student early pick-ups:
Unless it is an emergency, we kindly ask that you do not request our office staff to call your child down to the office, prior to your arrival. The procedure for early pick-ups is that on your arrival to admin, you will be requested to sign your child out and one of our staff members will contact the classroom teacher to send your child to the office. Thank you for understanding and respecting this procedure.
Late pick up:
Any student remaining at school at 3.25pm will be taken to the office as our staff are only rostered on duty until 3.30pm and often have meetings or other commitments after school. If you are unexpectedly running late to pick up your child, please phone the office so we can make staff on duty aware of the delay and reassure your child that you are on your way. All late pick-ups after 3.25pm, must be collected in person from the office by an adult.
Drop-off and pick-up areas:
We have a drop-off and pick-up area located on Omar Street. This area is where you can quickly drop off your children from 8.15am and pick up your children at the end of the school day. The goal of the drop-off and pick-up area is to create a safe environment for children while also keeping traffic moving. Our drop-off and pick-up area is signed with passenger loading zone/2 minute parking signs. These signs mean you have a maximum of 2 minutes to drop off or collect your children. We have 2-3 staff members on duty from 3.00pm until 3.25pm to assist with running a smooth pick up in the afternoons. Please note that children leave their classrooms at 3.00pm and are normally ready to be picked up from 3.05pm.
When using a drop-off and pick-up area:
- Use the area like a quick moving taxi rank
- Move forward in the queue of vehicles to the signed area
- Only get out of your vehicle if you are at the front of the line and need to quickly help your children get in and out safely, however you must not walk away from your vehicle
Only stay 2 minutes in the signed area (if you take any longer you may be fined by council)
We are looking forward to the year ahead and thank you for helping make Ipswich West State School a great place to be for our students, staff and families.
- Sharyn Brown
Head of Department (Curriculum)
Welcome back to another exciting school year! It was great to see familiar faces returning and I extend a warm welcome to those joining our school community for the first time. The upcoming year promises many new exciting adventures.
Student Free Days
The week before we welcomed our students back, the staff completed three days of professional development. Our highly committed teachers and teacher aides, engaged in discussions about creating an environment where students take an active role in their learning. We reflected on strategies we have been implementing in our classrooms, such as learning walls that make our learning visible. We delved into the evidence-based approach of learning to read, including continuing our work with the PLD Spelling program and decodable readers.
Australian Curriculum Version 9
Term 4 2023, saw our expert teaching teams planning new Math Units aligned to Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum. The Version 9 Math Curriculum is challenging educators to use more hands-on practical experiences to teach Math concepts. Our teachers have been planning Math Units that focus on the pedagogy of Project Based Learning.
Project Based Learning is an instructional approach that engages students in hands-on, real-world projects to deepen their understanding of concepts. Through these Math Units we will see students develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and collaboration, while being engaged in an exciting new learning experience. I can’t wait to see some of these projects take shape.
As a team, this year we will also be looking at familiarising ourselves with the Version 9 English Curriculum for implementation next year.
I am really excited about the year ahead and I look forward to sharing with you, the exciting experiences taking place in our classrooms.
Lunch Clubs
During lunch breaks we run Lunch Clubs. Lunch Clubs are a place for students to come together during the breaks to engage in specific activities or discussions. These clubs provide students with a small social platform to share common interests, build friendships, and create a sense of community beyond the classroom.
- Kaylee Sullivan
Student Engagement Teacher
Welcome back to a new year!
I hope you all had an enjoyable break. We have had a wonderful start to the year, students are settled and back into their school routine. Thank you for ensuring they are ready and prepared for the school year. Please contact us if there is anything we can support you with.
Blue Iris Support Services
I would like to thank Blue Iris Support Services for the fabulous donations they have given the school. I was blown away with the number of back-to-school items they have given us. These items have helped many families in our community. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful service available to us.
Behaviour Focus
Over the next week we will be focusing on lining up and moving around the school quietly. This focus allows the students to enter the classroom calmly and ready for learning. Encouraging students to walk around the school quietly stops interruptions to classes that are working.
Thanks for your support!
- Kellie Hanrahan
Inclusion Support Teacher
I am excited to be continuing as the Inclusion Support Teacher at Ipswich West State School this year. We have high expectations of all students, recognising that, with the right support, all students can succeed. Our commitment is to continue our journey towards a more inclusive education system, so that all students, from all social, cultural, community and family backgrounds, and all identities and all abilities are able to:
- Attend their local state school and be welcomed
- Access and participate in high quality education and fully engage in the curriculum alongside their similar-aged peers
- Learn in a safe and supportive environment, free from bullying, discrimination or harassment
- Achieve academically and socially with reasonable adjustments and supports tailored to meet their learning needs
We would like to work with you so please contact me ywinr1@eq.edu.au. If you have any questions and use the form below if you would like to request information from school staff for an external provider.
Free Vision Screening for Prep
The Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program is coming to Ipswich West State School. They are a Queensland Government service that offers Free Vision Screening to all children enrolled in Prep. If your child is in Prep and you would like their vision screened, please complete a consent form by using the QR code in the poster attached to this newsletter. The screening date is Wednesday, 21 February, 2024. Please contact me if you have any questions.
- Yvette Winrow
Guidance Officer
My name is Paula Stacey and I am one of the Guidance Officers that visits your school. I am available by appointment each Monday and every second Friday (odd weeks in the term). The best form of communication is email as I work across different schools- pstac5@eq.edu.au. I am responsible for supporting students, teachers and their families to achieve their best by providing confidential advice and guidance. My role involves linking students and families with external support agencies. I work closely with teachers and external providers, to ensure the educational adjustments are appropriate for the particular student. At Ipswich West, I also undertake psychological assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses in the students’ learning profiles. A proud local, I love seeing Ipswich kids achieve to their full potential.
- Paula Stacey
Wellbeing Guidance Officer
My name is George Castles, this year I am at Ipswich West on Mondays.
In my role, I spend time with students working out ways to help them feel safe and happy at school. For this to happen, I consult with the adults around the child to help work out what they are seeing, as well as doing counselling and self-esteem work with individual students. The work in our school often involves consulting with mental health professionals outside of Education Queensland to ensure the support for a child at school is complimentary to their overall care.
- George Castles
Japanese
Minnasan, Konnichiwa. Ogenki desu ka. Watashi wa genki desu.
Lots of you already know me but, for those who don’t, I’m Korinzu Sensei. Miss Collins in English. I am a Master of Japanese and I am continually studying Japanese and how to master it better.
The photo is of me arriving after a night and a half of flying from Brisbane via Taiwan to Okinawa during my long service leave in week 10 of 2023.
While I was in Okinawa I studied Japanese with lots of young students from all over the world (from Nepal, Pakistan, Russia and China to name a few) who were mostly studying Japanese so they could enrol in universities in Japan. I did 60 hours of study there and really enjoyed it.
Did you know that you can study university courses in Japan too when you are older? Well you definitely can.
Okinawa is the Hawaii of Japan so even though it was winter when I was there, and I went swimming. It was hot and lovely, unlike the weather in the rest of mainland Japan. Okinawan culture and food is very different to the rest of Japan but super tasty.
So look forward to lots of new foods on the menu every second Wednesday! Irasshaimase!
- Tamasine Collins
Physical Education
My name is Jack Warner. I am the new Physical Education Teacher here at Ipswich West State School.
Before IWSS, I worked at a School OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) for 6 years, 3 years as an Educator and another 3 years as a Sport Leader. I am also currently enlisted in the Infantry Corp in the Army Reserve, and have been for the past 8 years with the 9th Battalion RQR.
I am excited to start my new role in IWSS promoting teamwork, fairplay, friendly competition and the positive social benefits of participating in sport and physical activity. It is my first year of teaching and it is an honour to do it at Ipswich West. As a football lover too, go Arsenal.
- Jack Warner
Technology Teacher
What a great school to be part of. I have enjoyed meeting all of the classes and every one of them has put in their best effort. I am the Technologies Teacher for 2024 and will be working on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week.
Term 1 2024
This term we will be covering Design and Technology Curriculum.
- Prep to Year 2 - looking at puppets, how they are made and what makes them work.
- Year 3 and Year 4 - making Rube Goldberg machines.
- Year 5 and Year 6 - investigating circuits and creating an alarm using electronics.
I am looking forward to the wonderful creations the students will design and develop.
- Fiona Banjer
P & C
Annual General Meeting
Our AGM will be on Monday 19 February 2024 at 3:15pm in the school library. Please consdier being involved in the P&C this year. At the AGM, all current position will be declared vacant and Executive position for 2024 will be elected. Below is a brief overview of what is involved in each role:
- President: Prepare meeting agendas; chair meetings; and oversee P&C activities
- Vice President: Support the President and P&C activities; and coordinate volunteers
- Secretary: Take minutes of meetings; process and present correspondence at meetings; and preprare any correspondence
- Treasurer: Record payments made and money received; and pay invoices (electonically) - (30 minutes to 1 hour per month).
Training and assistance will be given for each role - no experience is necessary. For more information please email 0366_PandC@eq.edu.au. Full role descriptions and nomination forms are also available from the school office. Agenda items can be emailed to 0366_PandC@eq.edu.au. Only items on the agenda will be addressed at the meeting.
Uniform Shop
Opening hours are Fridays 8.30am to 9.00am or by appointment only.
- Ipswich West P&C
Student Wellbeing Worker
Welcome to the new school year! I am looking forward to supporting our school community in 2024. As the Student Wellbeing Worker based at Ipswich West State School and employed by the ICYS Ipswich Community Youth Service, I work collaboratively with local support organisations to help bring community, school and families together and to help break down any barriers to education. Having previously worked in the local area of Ipswich, I have extensive knowledge of community providers and organisations, giving me the opportunity to offer a comprehensive referral service to those requiring assistance and support. I enjoy working closely with people to offer advocacy and support with housing; financial; emotional and social wellbeing. I’m based at the school on Wednesday and Thursday. If you would like to schedule a meeting with me to discuss your situation, please email me at cgrah197@eq.edu.au. All meetings are free, confidential and in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
One Box Food Hamper Program
Each week, our school receives 15 food boxes for families in need. This is made possible by our school being registered with The One Box who provide the boxes at no cost. Each box contains a range of fresh fruit and vegetables and a loaf of bread. I currently have two vacancies to join the program. If you could benefit from receiving a free weekly box, please email me so I can call you to discuss further. *We ask that only families who really need a food box to make contact cgrah197@eq.edu.au – selection will be based on first come, first served basis (depending on eligibility).
Kops in Kilts
On Wednesday 14 February, we are delighted to invite the Queensland Pipes and Drums, Kops in Kilts band to our school. They will deliver a performance to the whole school at 9.30am and there is no cost for this performance.
Kops in Kilts is a fun, interactive program involving both traditional music and children’s favourites. Band members provide information regarding their uniforms and instruments and play age-appropriate music that students are guaranteed to enjoy.
The Sergeant will also deliver a fun and informative talk about road safety.
*Students with sensory needs, can wear headphones or be supervised by staff in a quiet space if required.
Road Safety
School zone safety – advice for motorists, parents and carers
With school back for 2024, we need to keep safety top-of-mind when travelling through active school zones and around our school community.
School zone times have been standardised in Queensland to help motorists remember when to slow down. The standard operating times for most school zones in Queensland are 7.00am to 9.00am and 2.00pm to 4.00pm, with some operating all day between 7.00am to 4.00pm.
Speeding remains a significant concern, contributing to fatalities and injuries, and police will be on the lookout for speeding motorists. Keeping below the signed speed limit in school zones helps keep everyone safe. This simple adjustment may have minimal impact on travel time but has the potential to significantly contribute to saving lives.
Children's crossings are identified by children's crossing flags, displayed near crossings before and after school hours.
When the crossing is supervised, you, as a motorist, must:
- Wait until all pedestrians, bicycle riders, or personal mobility device riders have crossed the road and the crossing supervisor has returned to the footpath.
- Abide by the direction given by the School Crossing Supervisor.
Please keep our children safe by staying alert, slowing down and obeying our school crossing supervisors who are there to help kids cross the road safely.
You can also help children become more road safety aware by:
- Showing them how to look for vehicles coming in and out of driveways and discourage them from playing behind parked cars, or with toys or balls when walking to school.
- Ensuring your child knows the safest route to and from school. This is usually the way with the least traffic and the fewest roads to cross and teach your child to always walk on footpaths.
- Showing your child how to cross at traffic lights when the green 'walk' sign is showing at pedestrian crossings when vehicles have stopped and at supervised school crossings when the supervisor has signalled it is safe to do so.
- Accompanying children when walking or riding to school until they are old enough to understand road safety (usually around 10 years or older).
- Teaching your child if they catch the bus to never cross in front of or behind a bus; wait until the bus goes before crossing the road.
- Making sure wheeled devices (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or rollerblades) used to travel to school are well maintained and that the appropriate protective and safety gear (for example, helmet, visible clothing, knee and elbow pads) are used.
Visit the Street Smarts website for more information about what to do at pedestrian and children crossings.
Community
Ready-Set-Connect
We warmly welcome teachers, support staff, parents and carers to attend our disability networking event held in Ipswich on Wednesday 14 February 2024.
Ready-Set-Connect is an informative (and fun!) event based on a speed dating format. It connects teachers, support coordinators, people with disability, and parents and carers with NDIS service providers.
National and local providers will be sharing information with you about their NDIS services and products.
This event will help you stay connected and up to date with services in your local community. In the space of a little over two hours, you will build your connections and get to meet a variety of providers.
It's FREE for Attendees! Come and join us. Let us know you are coming and register as an Attendee by going to our website www.onecommunity.net.au or using the link below.
🌟Event Details:
📅 Date: Wednesday, 14 February 2024
⏰ Time: 9:45 AM to 12:30 PM
📍 Venue: North Ipswich Reserve Corporate Centre, 43 The Terrace, North Ipswich Qld 4305 Ipswich QLD
💰 Cost: Registration is on us – yes, it's FREE for all attendees!
✅ Register: https://onecommunity.net.au/Ready-Set-Connect/Event/576-ipswich
Want to know more?
Feel free to explore our website at www.onecommunity.net.au, reach out via email to remi@onecommunity.net.au, or give me a call at 0409 356 060 for more information.
Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to network, learn, and connect with your local NDIS community. Join us at Ready-Set-Connect and be part of something truly special!
One Community is committed to creating value-based experiences, and we're proud leaders in organising disability networking events nationwide. We're also the proud hosts of the Australian Disability Service Conference and Awards.