IPECS INFORMER
From our Principal
Dear Children and Families,
A very warm welcome back to our place of learning for term two. This term we have welcomed three new children and families to IPECS. Welcome to Anas and Abrish who have started this week in preschool and welcome also to Alyssa who has started in year one. As well as welcome some new children and families, we have also welcomed back our BSO, Mick. We are thrilled that Mick has come back to us and I know that he is also very excited to have returned to IPECS.
When do enrolments open and what is the enrolment process?
Enrolments are now open for 2024. Unlike other schools, Priority Enrolment Areas do not apply to IPECS, so parents and carers may choose to enrol at IPECS regardless of where they live. Children who are turning four before April 30 2024 are eligible to enrol in preschool.
If your child has been attending our Communities@Work Education and Care program you will need to complete an enrolment form to attend IPECS. Children who are currently attending our preschool program do not need to enrol to attend kindergarten. We will be hosting tours of our kindergarten to year two indoor and outdoor spaces on Tuesday 9 May at 9.10am - 9.40am and Thursday May 11 from 2.15pm – 2.45pm. Preschool families are highly encourage to join us for a tour. If you not able to attend one of the school tours, please contact us so we can organise a convenient time.
Children who are currently in year two will need to enrol into year three of an ACT public school in their Priority Enrolment Area. Last term we held an information session for our year two families and all information presented at this session was emailed to our year two families. If you have any questions or need support with this process, please do not hesitate to reach out.
To enrol at IPECS or any other ACT Public School, simply complete the ACT Public School enrolment (click here). Families that complete an enrolment form by 2 June will receive an offer by 24 July.
What are the arrangements for our Cross Country Carnival at Bonython Primary School?
Tomorrow all children and staff at IPECS will walk to Bonython Primary School to join in for their Cross Country Carnival. We will leave IPECS at approximately 11am and safely walk as a group to Bonython Primary School. IPECS children will participate in the Cross Country in year groups. Year one children will run the course at 11.40am, year two at 11.50am, kindergarten at 12.05pm and preschool at 12.20pm. Parents and carers are welcome to join us at Bonython to cheer on our little people. We will begin walking back to IPECS at approximately 12.30pm. Children will only need to take hats and water bottles and will be provided with time to eat before we leave IPECS and when we return.
What's happening this term?
Like every school term, term two is shaping up to be a busy one. To help keep everyone informed and as organised as possible, attached to the email with the link to this week's newsletter is a term calendar (printed copies are available at the front office). While we have tried to capture the majority of school events that are planned for the term, there will always be things that pop up. The best way to stay up to date with IPECS happenings is to like our Facebook page (click here) and read our newsletter. We will also continue to send out reminders by email and text message.
Who were our special visitors last term?
In the last week of term one, IPECS was host to a group of education professors from Yonsei University in South Korea. As a University of Canberra Affiliated Partnership School, our school was selected for the visit due to our focus on whole of child development. During the visit, our visitors met with members of the leadership team to learn about our philosophies, practices and programs. They spent time in classrooms observing teachers and talking with children. Their visit was part of an international study focused on whole child development. We felt very proud to share our approaches and were privileged to showcase our exemplary practice on the world stage and look forward to learning of the findings from their research. Following the visit, Professor Won-Pyo Hong emailed me. Here is excerpt from his email:
"Most of all, thank you so much for your warm welcome and spending your time today telling us about your effort to help learners grow holistically. I was so deeply impressed by all the members’ shared visions, values and dedication for early learners’ healthy development. I learned a lot from you both as an educator and as an education researcher. Your case inspired me to rethink my entire understanding of the structure, curriculum and teaching in early childhood education."
How did we acknowledge ANZAC Day?
Across the week, our children have been learning about ANZAC Day by listening to a range of books with ANZAC themes. The selected books provided opportunity for children to have conversations with adults about the significance of ANZAC day and the importance of pausing to reflect, remember and appreciate all that service people, past and present, have done so that we can all enjoy the freedoms we have. Across preschool to year 2 children were engaged in making poppies using rosemary and wool, loose parts and tissue paper and pipe cleaners. Thank you to our kindergarten teacher Emma who organised all of the activities for us.
Take care,
Simon Barker
Principal
From our GEMS P&C
Special Person Fundraising Stall - Celebrating Mother's Day
The GEMS P&C is hosting a Special Person Fundraising Stall - Celebrating Mother's Day. Preferred payment is through Square at $6 per gift. Children will be taken to stall to choose their gift on Tuesday 9 May or Thursday 11 May.
https://checkout.square.site/buy/FSRV3LOYZ2MCR5NTGMIDMYKG
For those families who wish to opt out of this event, please send an email to ipecs.gems@gmail.com or info@ipecs.act.edu.au and we will ensure you child does not receive a gift. Please direct questions to ipecs.gems@gmail.com or to Joanne Streatfeild
Thank you for supporting our school.
