- Ironbark Ridge PS 1 Ironbark Ridge Road, Rouse Hill, 2155. Ph: 8814 5687 Fax: 8814 5698 Email: ironbarkrg-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage: https://ironbarkrg-p.schools.nsw.gov.au Nurturing personal growth through inspired learning…

Newsletter 2020

Term 1 Week 7 13th March, 2020 Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful

DATES FOR THE DIARY

MARCH 11th – 1R & 6E Assembly – 2.20pm 13th – PSSA Sport 16th – Rouse Hill Farm Excursion – 1C, 1R, 2K & 2R 17th – 1L & 3H Assembly – 2.20pm 18th – Rouse Hill Farm Excursion – 2A, 2C, 2H& 2N 19th – Rouse Hill Farm Excursion – 1S, 1L, 1B, & 2D 19th – Sydney West Swimming Carnival 20th – PSSA Sport

** Subscribe to our ‘Ironbark Ridge – Events’ Google calendar (see the app or the school website)

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Alert… not alarmed It’s interesting watching the human response to the unfolding Coronavirus pandemic. As parents and community-minded Ironbarkers we must resist the urge to panic, as fear generally reduces the size of our circle of concern, meaning in short that we stop caring about others around us, and instead become a bit selfish. Stockpiling supplies is a symptom of this selfishness. Our children are watching us and learning from the way we behave… the way we choose our response… and whether we are response-able in the face of fear. Ridgy the Frog is always alert to dangers along the way, but resists the impulse to be alarmed, instead remaining calm and prepared… like a learning ninja . Ignorance is not an excuse nor will it lead to strategically sound actions. Understanding more facts and information, and especially listening to and being guided by health experts, will help us in choosing appropriate responses in this current situation. Unfortunately in our age of social media and quick ‘clicks’ we can be distracted by ill-informed opinions, especially the loud voices of alarm. Ironbark Ridge is a place of safety, routine and order, so our learners are actually in a very good environment to both remain healthy, and to learn important life lessons from this situation as it plays out! Successful Learners Our students have been seeking and asking for feedback from their teacher, from peers, and even from the task themselves. I spoke briefly to our assembly about how in some instances, the feedback about our progress is immediate and obvious, like in the High Jump! No way of missing that feedback! However in other learning challenges such as writing it can be more difficult to determine whether our efforts were successful… or more pointedly, understanding where we can make improvements for next time. A successful learner like Ridgy the Frog is in the habit of asking for advice and guidance from a trusted peer, teacher or leader to adjust and improve the aim of the efforts next time. Sometimes more practice can do it, but at other times, a new technique is required. Making mis-takes provides us with difficult feedback, but we must bounce back from disappointment and have another go… “Take 2”, or even “Take 3” might work out better than the mis-take!

Writing… and releasing responsibility Professional learning at Ironbark Ridge is currently centred on effective strategies for teaching writing. Our teaching teams are launching inquiries into this complex process, with our initial focus on the way we model specific grammar, sentence structure, text types, author techniques, etc. As with the guided reading practices we have enjoyed such effect and impact from over the past year, we want our students to develop their skills in writing. Moving through the same system of high teacher input as ‘modelled writing’, to shared and interactive writing, then guided writing, and finally independent writing where the teacher provides feedback and assessment. This framework, known as ‘Gradual Release of Responsibility’, slowly places more emphasis on the learner to take control. Explicit teaching of techniques and skills is crucial, and must eventually lead to our students doing it all by themselves… and hopefully even assessing their own efforts and making corrections to improve and create more effective writing as a result. Sporty Fridays Ironbarkers are a fit and healthy bunch! It was such a pleasure today to see our students outside, practicing sporting and ‘fundamental movement’ skills. The morning was busy with Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students playing in their House teams, and our PSSA reps all arriving back from fun competing against other schools. Year One students then took over the oval and playspaces to develop their skills and have a bit of fun. After lunch the noise of Year Two could no doubt be heard at the Town Centre as they ran and jumped, caught and hit, bounced and balanced. All this is in addition to the special Games and Fitness program being run by Ms Jones and Ms Sider across each week for all of our 38 classes! Well done to our sporty learners! A quiet note, however, that despite the fun students may have, these PE lessons are planned and purposeful, with specific learning outcomes to be achieved, so please respect the activities that will be taught right up until 3pm when the bell rings, just as in-class learning would not be interrupted Teacher Profile Ms Heyes, classroom teacher with the fantastic 3K, has been teaching K-6 for ten years, and at Ironbark Ridge for the past three years. She is passionate about meeting the challenge needs of every individual student in her class, with the teaching of reading and writing being particular loves. Ms Heyes’ interest in developing the capacity of each student to assess their own progress, set their own learning goals and take more responsibility for their own learning is inspiring to watch. She enjoys taking concepts and breaking them down to ensure her students all gain understanding, make connections with their own current knowledge, and extend and express themselves… as seen here in the photo as Ms Heyes taught 3K about the tilt of the earth in a science lesson recently.

School Executive Profile Ms Sexton is our Ironbark Ridge Kindergarten (Early Stage 1) Assistant Principal. She has been teaching for a while now and is currently enjoying perfecting our teaching programs for Kindergarten. Recent

introductions have included a renewed focus on phonemic awareness (knowledge of sounds), improved learning about sport & fitness, health & hygiene (did you hear about the lesson on germs using glitter on students’ hands – showing how it spreads… so current ;) and careful integration of letter-sound correspondence into reading and writing learning programs to help students learn to decode and encode our complex English written language. Ms Sexton is hugely respected within our staff for her deep knowledge of the curriculum and ability to deliver effective, dynamic teaching techniques… although this photo seems to suggest that developmental play (including dress-ups) with her Kindy class on Friday afternoons is a passion for her too!

Ms Sexton (Assistant Principal – Early Stage 1) and a few of the Daffodils Easter Hats & Crazy Hair… maybe… Get prepared, Ironbarkers, because in the last week of term we will be holding our usual fun Easter Hat & Hair Parade – on Thursday 9th April at 11.30am – so please put it in your e-diaries. (although we may have to act on DoE and NSW Health advice as to whether social community gatherings like this are safe at the moment, so please stay tuned ). Yours in learning, along The Ironbark Way, Nick Thomson Principal

See last page of newsletter for related parenting article

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’ REPORT Reading Research When parents ask what they can do to help their child improve at school, our go-to answer is reading! Reading to and with your child is a simple yet powerful tool we can use to ensure life-long learning success. Some key findings from joint research undertaken by the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research around reading at home are:- How often you read to children at a young age has a direct causal effect on their schooling outcomes

regardless of their family background and home environment Reading to children at age 4-5 every day has a significant positive effect on their reading skills and cognitive

skills (i.e., language and literacy, numeracy and cognition) later in life. Reading to children 3-5 days per week (compared to 2 or less) has the same effect on the child’s reading

skills at age 4-5 as being six months older. Reading to them 6-7 days per week has the same effect as being almost 12 months

older. There is an important role for parents in the development and educational

performance of their children. Parental reading to children increases the child’s reading and other cognitive skills at least up to the age of 10–11. This is an early-life intervention that seems to be beneficial for the rest of their lives.

At Ironbark Ridge, we believe in the power of reading everyday. Together with the P&C, we are investing in resourcing every classroom with books and bookshelves to encourage children to read for enjoyment. With your support at home, we can have a school community who love literature and thrive on the enjoyment of reading. Term 2 Athletics In Term 2, students in Years 3-6 will participate in weekly Athletics lessons in preparation for our Athletics Carnival. These lessons will be run by Sports in Schools Australia (SISA) and will be invoiced to parents in Term 2. Sports in Schools Australia will provide all the necessary equipment and expertise to run lessons in this specialised field of the PDHPE curriculum. Staff from SISA will teach Athletics skills, then identify the finalists for each event, ready for our Athletics Carnival. http://www.sportinschoolsaustralia.com.au/index.php/our-programs/athletics-programs Year 4 Camp Year 4 students and teachers are preparing to visit Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre in Week 9, just over a week away! Camp is a wonderful way to further develop social skills, decision-making skills and independence. Broken Bay is a peninsula on the Hawkesbury River which is only accessible by boat- possibly one of the safest places to be at the moment! We understand that children going to camp can be an anxiety-inducing time, especially for parents. Please know that our students are in the very best care with our teachers, and to hear no news means all is well! Thank you in advance to our Year 4 team and support staff for giving up time with their own families to support these learning experiences for our students. Please read the Stage 2 Snippets for further information about camp. Stage 1 Excursion Our Year 1 and 2 students will be visiting our own local history museum at Rouse Hill House and Farm next week to support their learning about the Past in the Present. 1C, 1R, 2K and 2R will be visiting on Monday. 2A, 2C, 2N and 2H will be visiting on Wednesday. 1S, 1L, 1B and 2D will be visiting on Thursday. Please see the Stage 1 snippets for further information. SRC Fundraisers and Events Our wonderful Student Representative Council is off to an amazing start in their leadership learning. They are planning to hold a cake stall at our Easter Hat Parade on 11th April, as well as host a fundraiser for World Down Syndrome Day on 31st March. Students are invited to wear ‘lots of socks’ or crazy socks, and give a gold coin donation. All funds raised goes to Down Syndrome Australia to support vital research. We know this cause is important to many of our families so we thank you in advance for your support. https://www.downsyndrome.org.au/news//wdsdstories2020.html

Traffic Safety Parents, we ask that you are constantly mindful and aware of the movement of traffic around our school. It has come to our attention that we have parents stopping in Caballo Street to drop children off in the middle of the street, meaning they need to run in front of cars to enter the school gate. Please, we ask that all parents take the extra 2 minutes to park and accompany your child across the road. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, Kerrie Pho and Kylie Robson (Rel) Deputy Principals

Ironbark Ridge Public School Parent Planner Term 1 2020

** Note: All dates on this planner are subject to change at the discretion of the school. Updated 13.3.20

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat/Sun

8 March

16 Stage 1 Excursion to Rouse Hill House and Farm – 1C, 1R, 2K, 2R

17

18 Stage 1 Excursion to Rouse Hill House and Farm – 2A, 2C, 2H, 2N 2.20pm 1L & 3H Assembly

19 Stage 1 Excursion to Rouse Hill House and Farm – 1S, 1L, 1B, 2D Sydney West Swimming Carnival

20 PSSA – Round 5 National Day of Action against Bullying

21/22

9 March

23 Year 4 Camp to Broken Bay

24 Year 4 Camp to Broken Bay

25 Year 4 Camp to Broken Bay 2.20pm 1BR & 5B Assembly

26 Harmony Day – wear orange or traditional dress

27 PSSA – Round 6

28/29

10 Mar/April

30

31 SRC Fundraiser – Lots of Socks Day

1 2.20pm 5J & 2D Assembly

2

3 No PSSA

4/5

11 April

6 Year 5 Leadership Day

7 IRPS Cross Country

8 ANZAC Day Assembly Whole School Assembly TBC

9 Easter Hat Parade & SRC cake stall Last day of Term 1

10 Good Friday

11/12 Easter Weekend

KINDY CAPERS We are just over half way through the first term of Kindergarten and it is a joy to watch our students grow both socially and academically. Students have learnt many sounds (that they are blending to make words) and have been learning many early reading and writing skills. Students are encouraged to have a go at reading their home readers

at home. Please remember that we are trying to instil a love of reading in our students so if the readers are too difficult, please assist your child by telling them the difficult words. This week, a grid of high frequency words will be included in the home reading folders for students to further practise their decoding skills at home. Home reading folders can be brought back to school on a Thursday and will be returned to students on a Friday with new books.

Kindergarten students have had a wonderful time over the last few weeks meeting their ‘Buddy Class’ and getting to know some of the older students in the school. Each Kindergarten student has been matched with a buddy or two from a Year 3 or 4 class. The classes regularly meet together, engaging in discussions, completing activities and playing games. The Kindergarten students enjoy having an older peer that provides support and a familiar face in the playground.

This week, Kindergarten students have received a letter regarding our History unit. We are asking you to provide a photo of your child when they were a baby and to have some discussion with them about their name. Having these discussions at home makes students feel more comfortable and equipped to share in the learning experience.

We have a busy few weeks ahead as we get nearer to the school holidays and Easter. Please ensure your child goes to bed at a reasonable time as Kindergarten can be exhausting for some students (and teachers).

Early Stage 1 Teachers STAGE 1 SNIPPETS We have officially passed the half-way mark of Term 1! It has been another successful fortnight and Stage 1 classrooms are busy with highly engaged little learners. Students have immersed themselves into our Science programs, where we are currently learning about our living world. Students are very proud of their sunflower seeds which have sprouted and are growing beautifully. A big congratulations to both 2N, 2C and 1R who with their buddies, took on the challenge to be the first classes to run an assembly for 2020. They presented entertaining items and showed enthusiasm throughout the assembly. We are looking forward to our excursion to Rouse Hill House and Farm coming up next week. Harmony Day is coming up in week 9. Students are encouraged to wear orange or traditional clothing to celebrate the day. We will be celebrating Harmony Day on Thursday 26th March. We are looking forward to another exciting and fun fortnight in Stage 1.

2D exploring the life cycle of a plant

Stage 1 Teachers

STAGE 2 SNIPPETS Stage 2 can’t believe that we are already through week seven of Term 1. The students have been working hard forming and reaching personal goals as well as becoming an effective team.

Year 4 camp Year 4 camp is fast approaching and the students and teachers are getting excited! Some important information is still required by some families. Parents/guardians, please complete the medical online survey linked below. It is essential for this survey to be completed before students attend camp: https://officeofsport.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/register.aspx?eid=b1pHWGIxV1FjUTRqS1dDMXNaekYwdz090 We are aware that the link was down for maintenance on Wednesday and Thursday, however, it is now up and running again.

Other important camp information Students will depart from school on Monday 23rd March (Week 9) and return Wednesday 25th March. Students need to be at school by 7.30am for a quick departure. We have reminded students that this is not a 2-week cruise in the Bahamas and that they need to pack accordingly. Their bags need to be no higher than their knee and they need to be able to carry their own bags on/off of the ferry and up to their cabins. The teachers are very excited to have time with the students outside of the classroom/school environment and it is such a great way to get to know them even more. Below is a list of things students will need at camp. Please label all clothing, towels and sleeping bag with your child’s name.

Inside Day Bags: Please put a bottle of water, a small snack (whilst waiting for the ferry), hat and sunscreen into their day backpacks.

CHECKLIST: PLEASE DO NOT BRING:

• Shorts and t-shirts (no singlets, sleeveless or midriff tops) • Jeans • Jumpers and tracksuit pants • Socks and underwear • Raincoat • Pyjamas • Swimming costume and rashie shirt • Sunscreen, sun hat and sunglasses • Two pairs of running shoes (one old pair to wear in the water) • Toiletries, soap, lip balm and insect repellent (no aerosols) • Two towels • Pillow, sleeping bag or doona and two single flat sheets • Day backpack • Paper, pens or pencils • Plastic bags for dirty or wet clothes • Medication (if required) handed to teacher in labelled ziplock bag. • Handkerchief or tissues • Water bottle Optional • Camera • Up to $30 for souvenirs

• Aerosol cans (i.e. spray-on deodorant or insect repellent) • Mobile phones or other electronic devices • Lollies or chewing gum • Jewellery • Anything valuable (The Office of Sport takes no responsibility for the loss or damage to a client's personal property, including money or other valuable items)

Classroom Stationery & Supplies Many thanks to all families who have sent in classroom supplies. If you haven’t already done so, please send items in as soon as possible. We will send some reminders throughout the year to top up on various items. Glue sticks, lead pencils, handwash and paper towel run out quickly so please replenish items each term if possible.

In Stage 2, we require students to have a dictionary, thesaurus, a USB and headphones. These items enable students to access all parts of the teaching and learning program.

Sport on Friday The whole of Stage 2 have sport on a Friday. We would like to remind students to bring a hat and wear their sports uniform. Class Contact Each class now has a class contact. If you are yet to provide your details to the class contact and wish to do so, please sent your details to your class teacher ASAP. Stage 2 Teachers STAGE 3 SNIPPETS We can’t believe Term 1 is steaming ahead so quickly. Stage 3 is packing so much into our days, we are well and truly immersed in our learning. We have commenced our science experiments on investigating how organisms adapt their structures and behaviours to their surroundings in order to survive. Seeds have been planted which will then be subject to changing variables such as how much water they receive, exposure to sunlight and air to see what conditions they will best survive in. Exploration is a theme in history as we delve into how and why the Australian colonies were established and developed during the 1800’s. The Term 1 project is out and our students will be thinking of imaginative ways to present their research on significant people, places and events of this time, then uploading the finished product to their respective Google Classrooms during Week 11. Several Stage 3 swimmers were part of our triumphant Swim team who proudly represented us at the Ridges Carnival. Well done to all our representatives and congratulations to Suzie, Zoe, Bronte, Shelby and Rija. Good luck for the Sydney West carnival.

The Buddies Program is in full swing with our wonderful Stage 3 students guiding and supporting our younger students in the playground, being a great friend to them and interacting in their play. This is a fabulous opportunity for Year 5 students to gain valuable leadership skills. Auditions for various activities commenced this week. Good luck for those trying out for dance groups, debating and choir. Remember, even if you don’t make the teams or groups, it’s a great effort to try.

Some upcoming activities to put in the diary are: Harmony Day on 26th March, Lots of Socks Day on 31st March, Cross Country on Tuesday 7th April, our Anzac Service on Wednesday 8th April and Crazy Hair/Hat Parade on Thursday 9th April, the last day of term. In week 1 this term Cameron Brown attended our school to run a leadership day for our Year 6 students. He was so impressed and sent us this card. We are always proud of our students but it is nice to be recognised for what we get to see everyday!! He will be returning at the end of this term to run a leadership day for our Year 5 students.

Stage 3 Team

LEADERSHIP TEAM 2020 After the rain of last week, House Spirit meetings resumed with enthusiasm and support from the school community. The students are getting more comfortable within their house groups, the weekly meetings every Wednesday helping them to ease into their new ‘families’. Embracing new environments and challenging ourselves is what our school is all about. So much so that every Ironbark Ridge student’s new favourite day is Working Together Wednesday!

School spirit with a splash of colour A positive initiative made by our leadership team, is incorporating the display board in the canteen-cola as a way of getting our messages out to the community. This provides an opportunity for keeping all students updated on the latest news and for bolstering school-spirit. The board is a great addition to the new systems that the leadership team is going to run this year, acting as one more step in making Ironbark Ridge a school more fabulous than it already is. Bullying no way!

A reminder that the National Day of Action Against Bullying will take place next Friday 20th of March. Ironbark Ridge is a school where everyone is included. Our students create a sense of belonging at this school which makes it a haven where everyone is meant to feel safe and a part of everything. Students will be receiving a wristband to support the fact that bullying and other nasty behavior is not tolerated at this school.

The kind of kids at Ironbark Ridge are the kind of kids that are kind. Anna

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CREATIVE ARTS

Art News This term we began our new visual arts program focusing on making and appreciating art, and we have been having lots of fun trying new things. Kindy have been working on lines, colours and shapes and have used their cutting and drawing skills to create a class tree inspired by the artist Wassily Kandinsky.

Stage 1 have been exploring the Arctic Art of contemporary artist Ted Harrison and learning about what it is like to live in the harsh conditions of the Yukon in Canada. They have used warm and cool colours to paint a landscape in watercolour.

Stage 2 have been very busy this term working on landscapes and cityscapes in chalk and oil pastels. They were inspired by the colourful work of Swiss artist Paul Klee.

Stage 3 have been inspired by the OP Art movement and artists like Bridgette Riley and Victor Vasarely. They have been examining how artists use variations in line, shape and colour to create optical illusions in their art. They have used markers, paint and are now weaving with coloured paper. Many of these fabulous creations will be exhibited in our end of semester Art Exhibition at the end of term 2. Please keep an eye on the newsletter for more information next term.

‘A line is just a dot that went for a walk.’ Artist Paul Klee Mrs Katapau and Mrs Przyrembel Visual Arts Teachers

The Ironbark Ridge Public School representative swimming team swam exceptionally well at the Ridges Zone Swimming Carnival, held at Blacktown Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 3rd March. We are extremely proud of your achievements, both individually and as a team. As usual, their behaviour was impeccable and the team spirit shown to each other was outstanding. Our students are always great ambassadors for our school. It is such a joy to manage our School Swimming team. We would like to thank all parents, family members and friends for their wonderful support. Many swimmers swam in numerous races; well done on your great stamina. A number of swimmers placed in the top three in individual events and we had a high representation in the 50 metres Freestyle Finals. We were placed first in the overall carnival, so congratulations to all swimmers. Once again our swimmers looked fantastic in the iridescent lime green caps and we were easily visible in the water. Congratulations to Maisie L on winning Junior Girls Champion and Suzi A for winning 11 Years Girls Champion. The following swimmers will be representing Ironbark Ridge and the Ridges Zone at the Sydney West Regional Swimming Carnival held at the Aquatic Centre at Homebush. - Suzanna A, Zoe W, Bronte D, Shelby J, Maisie L, Chand D, Rija F, Sophie B and Mackenzie M. Good luck to our swimmers. Judy Paton Team Manager

Week 5:

6 Sage Week 6:

2 Kangaroo Paw Week 7: 2 Hyacinth, 3 Citrus, 1 Chilli

Mrs Paton, Mrs Bryce, Mrs Weekley

“Feedback” WEEK 6

WEEK 7

KG Sienna, Lieve and Ryan KA Andy, Grace and Xavier KF Joshua, Olivia and Ivy KD Katy, Benjamin and Ailsa KW Cailee, Aaryan and Aanya KS Ivy, Sia and Saheyn 1C Aaraf, Farah, Spruha 1B Ahmad, Kiara and Yolanda 1L Kai, Navya, Krishil and Mishika 1R Benjamin, Isabel, and Sunny 2C Daphne, Nevan, Skyla, and Kylie 1S Eva, Iris, and Thiven 2D Liam, Danish, Elina and Sophie 2A Aradhya, Mason and Jenuli 2K Nishika, Eugene, Mansour and Riya 2H Olivia, Hayden and Rayya 2R Nuwaan, Rehan, Adri and Maryam 2N Noah, Abby and Harriet 3C Quinn, Ben, Aarav and Iris 3A Skylla, Mia, Mathias and Aliya 3H Madison, Yuvraj and Hayley 3K Mikayla, Jasper and Riddhima 3J Katherine, Laura and Evan 4B Richlyne, Nikita and Rhyce 4I Ishaan, Selina and Shaakshini 4F Ella, Logan and Isha 4S Chand, Kiah, and Teyul 4W Samantha, Ella, Zac and Lucy 5J Lochie, Erica, Devan 5B Zacary, Chase and Mikayla 5K Saanvi, Marina and Dheer 5C Lucas, Ashlee and Sienna 6H Yeonsoo, Darren, Julia, and Ansh 5W Finn, Abigail, Zoe and Charlotte 6/5M Sky, Jeremy, Ebony and Yashvir 6C Perry, Natalie, Jayson and Kuhu 6E Maddison, Omar and Robin 6S Avani, Tailor, Rani and Tommy

PSSA SPORT – TERM 1 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN PSSA TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AT SCHOOL ON FRIDAY MORNINGS BY 8.45AM FOR AN 8.50AM SHARP DEPARTURE. IF STUDENTS DO NOT ARRIVE ON TIME THE BUS WILL NOT WAIT AND YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN PSSA ON THAT FRIDAY. Please check the draw and venues for PSSA sport on the Ridges website, due to The Hills Shire Council closing some of the Grounds – this will affect T-Ball/ Softball and AFL Matches: https://ridgespssa.com.au CANTEEN Easter Raffle Starts: Monday 16th March (Week 8) Ends: Wednesday 8th April (Week 11) Drawn: Thursday 9th April (Last Day/Easter Hat Parade) Each time a child orders their lunch they will automatically receive an entry into the draw to win an Easter gift. There'll be prizes in total. 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Doris Cull Ironbark Ridge PS Canteen Manager