25 July 2024

Principal Report

As I write my first edition of the IPS newsletter, it is with great excitement and a sense of honour that I step into this role, following in the footsteps of esteemed leaders who have shaped this wonderful school. This week, I’ve taken a deep dive into the history of IPS and discovered that I am officially the fourth substantive principal at IPS, following Nick Donnelly, Barb Mawson, and Pauline King. While there have been only three permanent Principals, the diligent work of my predecessors, including expert Acting Principals such as Cathryn Kelly-Bounds, Michael Hayen, Ian Thomas and Fran Parker, has created the strong foundation Illawarra is esteemed for, and I would like to thank them all for their leadership and lasting impact on IPS.

Beginning this new chapter and returning to this community feels like coming home, and I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome I have received from staff, students, and families alike.

Over the holidays, works began on the OSHC classroom, with a new floor being installed and floor coverings due to be completed very soon.

The 2024 NAPLAN results have been released and families of Year 3 and 5 students will receive their child’s NAPLAN report this week. Illawarra Primary students scored above similar schools in every test in both Year 3 and Year 5, which is a significant achievement. With Year 3’s performing significantly higher in Writing and Grammar and Punctuation, which is to be commended. The relative gain for our Year 5 students, compared to their Year 3 NAPLAN results, has also been impressive, with 88% of all students demonstrating medium to high growth in Numeracy, 84% in Reading, and 53% achieving high gains in Spelling. Congratulations to all our students and teachers on these outstanding results.

This week at Illawarra Primary School, I have enjoyed observing the collaboration of teaching staff in PLC’s and learning about the work they have been prioritising this year, including phonics, reading, and now mathematics. The alignment of pedagogy and curriculum, along with the use of feedback as a high-impact teaching strategy, is driving improved student learning outcomes. I look forward to welcoming you to our Book Week celebrations in Week 5, more details will be coming soon.

Warm regards,

Kristy Hay

Principal 

Illawarra Primary School

Calendar of Events

Term 3 Assembly Timetable

Value Awards

Congratulations to all our Value Award winners for this week.  These awards will be handed out at our next Prep to Grade 2  Assembly on Monday 29 July 2:00pm start.

Parents are welcome to attend.  

Ollie A - Value of Courage - In recognition of your determination in sounding out unfamiliar words and using the sounds you hear to write words. Keep up this good practice Ollie!

Gabriel T - Value of Respect - Your use of good manners and thoughtful gestures set a wonderful example for everyone in our class. Thankyou Gabriel!

Felipe T - Value of Growth - Congratulations Felipe in putting more effort into your learning and reaching out for help when needed!

Ava G - Value of Growth - For demonstrating active listening during our key learning and being an enthusiastic participant in all we do. Keep up the excellent work Ava!

Kai D -  For showing the values of Growth and Courage for his effort towards being an active listener and a more engaged learner and challenging himself to extend his writing skills.

Art H - For showing the value of Respect through his kindness and consideration towards others, helping and supporting his friends and classmates though tough times.

Matilda K - For showing the value of Growth by trying hard to improve in all areas by being an active listener and trying difficult things.

Harris M - Harris has shown the value of Growth through his effort, attitude and concentration in phonics lessons. Harris - you are making great progress in learning the spelling patterns and using them in your writing. Well done!

Jacob F - Jacob has shown the value of Courage by taking on challenges to improve his reading. Jacob, well done on your effort in reading tasks. Your hard work is bringing great improvements!

Riley S - Riley has shown the value of Growth through his effort and attitude during reading groups. Riley, you are highly engaged with your reading and self-motivated to continue your research and find out more. Well done! 

Matilda B -  For demonstrating the value of Connection. Matilda is a kind and caring member of our class, who goes out of her way to ensure that others feel included. 

Ruben J -  For demonstrating the value of Growth. Throughout term 2 Ruben tried his hardest and showed great improvement in his learning, even when he found things tricky. 

Ava J - For showing the value of Growth by persisting with challenges in the classroom. Ava tried and tried again with her drawing and completed a terrific portrait for the Young Archies. Wonderful work Ava.

Harry S - For showing the value of Growth by trying hard in all learning areas and working particularly well to improve his reading and spelling. Keep up the great work Harry.

Cody S - For showing the values of Responsibility and Respect. Cody has been following the rules of our classroom agreement, listening well in class and following instructions. Well done on a great start to the term Cody.

4SH & 4G News

4/5 AJ News

Chess - Term 3

A reminder that Chess will be changing this Term to Tuesday morning 8:00am - 8:55am

Term 3 Chess will start again on 30 July. 

Buses for Term 3

If bus arrangements for Term 3 have changed can you please let the school office know via email illawarra.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au or phone 62 296 295 

Thank you  

Silent Disco

Illawarra Primary School Association (IPSA) would like to invite all students to their Winter fundraising event, a Silent Disco and BBQ on Thursday 8^th August.

Two sessions will be held with a 30min break in between.

Kinder - Gr2; 4:30-5:30pm

Gr 3-6; 6-7:30pm

Tickets are $10 each (and include a Quelch Icy Tube on departure), available through Spriggy 'Events'.

This event will be hosted by DJ Kombi Krew, who will provide headphones to each child which they can then select the type of music and volume to suit them! Kombi Krew will keep them busy with games and commentary through their headphones.

As the music will all be within the headphones there will be an opportunity for parents to catch up and talk during the event, but parents are not required to stay as we will be asking for parent and teacher chaperones.

If you are available to chaperone during either timeslot or help on the night please contact Caroline Newman-0409 479 366 or aireyc@icloud.com.

Adults attending Illawarra Primary School in a voluntary role must hold a current WWVP card and complete mandatory Safeguarding training. Please contact the School Office if you need assistance with these requirements.

To add to our fundraising efforts we will be cooking up sausages for your disco dancers, siblings and parents! These will be available for preorder with your Silent Disco Ticket in the Spriggy App. Preordered sausages will be available for collection between 5-6pm.

We hope that you will support this IPSA Event, as all funds raised will go towards the resurfacing of the courts!

If you have any questions please email IPSchoolAssociation@gmail.com

Grade 6 Leavers & Jumping Jacks Photo

On Wednesday 7^ August, Leading Image photographers will be returning to Illawarra Primary to take the Grade 6 Leavers’ and Jumping Jacks’ photos. This leavers’ photo will be used on gifts presented to our grade 6 students at the end of the year as a celebration of their time at Illawarra Primary School.

We ask that all students be at school on this day no later than 9:00am in their leavers’ polo shirt. Although we are unable to change this date, we would appreciate parents contacting their child’s teacher in the event their child will not be present for the photo.

Kinder Enrolments 2025

Launching into Learning Term 3

Book Club - Issue 5

In the spirit of celebrating readers this issue, Scholastic is creating magic with a FREE BOOKS offer. The more families spend, the more free books they can earn, starting at only $20.
This is an exclusive offer for Issue 5 and one not to be missed! Families who ordered books on Issue 4 can spend the $5 promo code they earned on Issue 5, plus they will get another $5 promo code to spend on Issue 6!

Orders are due back by Friday 9th August, and can be placed via Scholastic LOOP online, or by returning your catalogue order sheet with cash to the Illawarra Primary School Office.

Every School Day Matters

Community Notices