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Dear Parents/Guardians,
Covid – 19 and Return to School Protocols
I want to thank parents and students for the great job they have done in keeping our school as safe as possible by following important COVIDSafe measures such as mask wearing, physical distancing, ventilation, getting vaccinated and rapid antigen testing.
This has meant that our school has remained open and our students in class. This is a fantastic outcome and a testament to the hard work of parents, carers, students and school staff.
Rapid antigen tests
To keep schools as safe as possible, the Victorian Government has extended the COVIDSafe measures introduced for the beginning of Term 1. This includes extending the availability of free rapid antigen tests (RAT) for screening until the end of term. It is anticipated an additional 24 million RATs will be provided to schools and early childhood settings to continue to support early detection and prevent infection, for use at home.
The need for this program will continue to be monitored, and may end earlier based on health advice. This is great news and will mean we’re able to continue identifying COVID-19 cases as early as possible, reducing the impact on our school and individuals. Twice-a-week testing continues to be strongly recommended for both students and staff.
A reminder that if your child tests positive, please let the school know and we will continue to inform the community promptly of any positive cases and the areas in which we've had the cases. Where a student is a family contact (mum / dad / brother / sister has tested positive) they must also isolate for 7 days.
School Council Elections Update
As you may be aware we have received more nominations than positions available for the 2022 School Council Parent membership. Each parent/carer will receive an envelope that is coming home today with the eldest child containing Ballot paper and instructions.
Your participation in this Ballot is valued.
Assembly
Our whole school assemblies started last Friday via WebEx. Students enjoyed hearing from our school captains, who ran the session like seasoned newscasters. It was excellent to see all grades log in from their classrooms and for the whole school to take the time to connect. Our first Green Card raffle was announced for students who displayed the school values, and it was wonderful to celebrate their hard work with a virtual round of applause! Student of the week will be starting from this week and our students will be announced at assemblies going forward.
Thank you
Thank you to all the IEPS staff who have continued to be diligent and supportive in their approach to education throughout the first few weeks of 2022. With my paternity leave coming to an end, I want to give a special mention and thank Amanda Dwyer, Benjamin Phillips, and Sophie Herbert for stepping up and into roles to support the school over the past few weeks. I would also like to thank Lynne Kemp from the DET for her support. I am looking forward to returning from paternity leave this Friday 25thof February.
School Photos
A reminder that school photos will take place on the 16th and 17th of March. Please remember to visit the website https://schoolpix.com.au/ to complete your order before the photography days. Sibling photos must be pre-ordered online, or they may not be taken on the day. If you have lost the personalised order form, please come to the office to collect a new form.
Parent Teacher Meetings
These valuable meetings will be held on Tuesday 1st March – Thursday 3rd March. They will be held via your classroom teachers WebEx. These meetings provide you with the opportunity to share valuable information about your child and to develop personal goals with the teacher. The booking process is now live, and you will need to make sure you have booked in a time with the available spots left.
Life Education – Parent Seminar - Register your interest!
The Life Education program and Healthy Harold will be visiting the school in Term 2. The program offers a free Parent & Guardian Information session to complement the student program. If you are interested, please register your interest here.
My School Connect
The deadline for lunch orders on My School Connect is 9.30am on the day that you require the lunch.
To prevent disappointment at lunchtime please keep checking:
- that you have the correct date for the lunch order
- that you check out and pay or your order will not be received by the canteen. Look out for the Green Thumbs up and a confirmation e-mail
Sonia - Canteen Manager
Phone: 03 94992171
Email: canteen@ivanhoeeastps.vic.edu.au
Regards
Tom Boyle
Acting Principal
Green Cards
You may have heard! Students at IEPS that are displaying the school values of Respect, Curiosity, Resilience and Friendship have been earning themselves Green Cards. Green cards are a new whole school positive behaviour system to acknowledge our students who are going above and beyond. Teachers have been using the system to catch students who are making amazing choices or showing determination in their learning.
Students who earn a Green Card are sent to a school leader for a celebration and pump up. Their name is also put into a school raffle box. Every week the raffle will be drawn and a student from Prep to 2, and 3 to 6 will earn themselves a prize. A special shout out to Elsie Vosbergen and Lilliana Fellowes for earning the first IEPS Green Card raffle prizes ever!
The Green Cards are a part of the IEPS Student Wellbeing Positive Support system, which includes evidence-based practices that provide students with feedback on the accuracy and use of their social skills and behaviours, in the same manner that feedback is provided for successful and accurate academic performance. We want to celebrate our students and now a have formal whole school system to promote positive choices!
Zones of Regulation
IEPS has launched the Zones of Regulation as a new addition to our whole school approach to Wellbeing. All year levels have enjoyed learning about the zones and there have been many lessons and displays put up in classrooms to support students!
How can you help your child use The Zones of Regulation at home?
- Identify your own feelings using Zones language in front of your child (e.g.: I’m frustrated. I think I am in the Yellow Zone.”)
- Talk about what tool you will use to be in the appropriate Zone (e.g.: “I need to take four deep breaths to help get me back to the Green Zone.”)
- At times, wonder which Zone your child is in. Or, discuss which Zone a character in a film / book might be in. (e.g.: “You look sleepy. Are you in the Blue Zone?”)
- Engage your child in discussion around Zones when they are in the Red Zone is unlikely to be effective. You need to be discussing the different Zones and tools they can use when they are more regulated / calm.
- Teach your child which tools they can you. (eg: “It’s time for bed. Let’s read a book together in the comfy chair to get you in the Blue Zone.”)
- Regular Check-ins. “How are you feeling now?” and “How can you get back to Green?”
- Modelling It is important to remember to show the children how you use tools to get back to the green zones. You might say “I am going to make myself a cup of tea and do some breathing exercises because I am in the blue zone” and afterwards tell your child how using those tools helped you get back to the green zone.
- Share how their behaviour is affecting your Zone. For example, if they are in the Green Zone, you could comment that their behaviour is also helping you feel happy / go into the Green Zone.
- Put up and reference the Zones visuals and tools in your home, these will be shared in the coming weeks.
- Praise and encourage your child when they share which Zone they are in.
Tips for practicing the Zones of Regulation
- Know yourself and how you react in difficult situations before dealing with your child’s behaviours.
- Know your child’s sensory threshold. We all process sensory information differently and it impacts our reactivity to situations.
- Know your child’s triggers.
- Be consistent in managing your child’s behaviour and use the same language you use at home.
- Empathise with your child and validate what they are feeling.
- Have clear boundaries/routines and always follow through.
- Do not deal with an angry, upset child when you are not yet calm yourself.
- Discuss strategies for the next time when you are in a similar situation.
- Remember to ask your child how their choices made you feel (empathy).
- Praise your child for using strategies. Encourage your child to take a sensory break to help regulate their bodies.
- Create a ‘calm’ box full of things which help to keep your child calm and alert.
CALL FOR PTFA MEMBERS & VOLUNTEERS
Your invitation to volunteer with the PTFA this year
As we get back into the swing of things I wanted to remind returning parents, and introduce new parents, to the IEPS Parents and Teachers & Friends Association.
What is the PTFA?
We are a group of parent volunteers and nominated teachers who manage numerous parent and school engagements throughout the year
- The class reps’ program and support
- Fundraising activities and opportunities
- Social events such as morning teas, BBQs, cocktail parties and year level events (COVID dependant!)
- Bi-Annual School Fair
Want to be involved?
We are hoping to understand soon from the Department of Education what we can do this year and would love to have a lot of the newer parents involved.
If you are new to the school, a prep or grade 1 parent / guardian or just want to get more involved this year you are warmly invited to do so.
You can put your hand up to help on a specific fundraising or social event or help on the committee in a wider role. Up to you how much time you can provide and how you would like to help.
It’s a really great way to meet people across the school community.
We will have our first meeting of the year soon (on an evening via Zoom) and I would love to welcome some new team members!
Please get in touch if you want to be invited to the next meeting, or if you have any questions.
Warmest thanks
Helen McBain
PTFA Co-president
0407670963
Roster
Date |
Volunteer |
Time |
Help needed |
Thu 24 Feb |
Emily Furlong Maria Smirnios Niki Ftaras |
10:00am- 11:30am 11:30am - 1:45pm 11:30am - 1:45pm |
|
Fri 25 Feb |
Iris Liu |
9:00am - 11:30am |
|
Mon 28 Feb |
Karen Tyers-Craig Sara Slim |
10:30am - 11:30am 11:30am - 1:45pm |
|
Tue 01 Mar |
9:00am - 11:30am 11:30am - 1:45pm |
||
Wed 2 Mar |
Iris Liu |
9:00am - 11:30am |
11:30am - 1:45pm |
Thu 3 Mar |
|||
Fri 4 Mar |
Ellen Mankhurst |
11:30am - 1:45am |
9:00am-11:30am X 2 11:30am-1:45pm |
Volunteer Roster
Urgent help need this FRIDAY. This is our busiest day of the week and we need 2 more volunteers from 11.30-1.45!
Summer menu
Canteen offers a free slinky service! Bring your washed apple or pear from home to the canteen and have it made into a fun slinky
My school connect
The deadline for lunch orders on My School Connect is 9.30am on the day that you require the lunch.
To prevent disappointment at lunchtime please keep checking:
- that you have the correct date for the lunch order
- that you check out and pay or your order will not be received by the canteen. Look out for the Green Thumbs up and a confirmation e-mail
Sonia - Canteen Manager
Phone: 03 94992171
Email: canteen@ivanhoeeastps.vic.edu.au
For week ending 25 February and to be announced at Assembly on Friday 25th February;
PB | Elliot D |
PK | Nolan |
PS | Evie W |
1L | Leo M |
1C | Natalia C |
1H | Pippa L |
2A | Emma D |
2D | Zoe R |
2C | Charli P |
3T | |
3L | Aidan T |
3S | Dihein G |
4H | Ben C |
4G | Harry T |
4L | Jake I |
5AP | Zara |
5H | An W |
5P | Lucy |
6F | Hugo F |
6G | Zach K |
6S | Carlos M |
ART | |
MUSIC | |
LOTE | Olivia S (4H) |
PE | PB |
NOTICEBOARD