This week’s special edition Newsletter gives an insight into what’s happening in our school and the educational path your child is undertaking. We know parents and carers are missing the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom and we thank you for your understanding in this matter. Enjoy!

Welcome to Kindergarten (Early Stage 1) Our youngest students have started school with the usual mix of anticipation, excitement and enthusiasm. Classrooms are now buzzing with the happy sounds of learning as they settle into routines and activities with their teachers, nurturing these life-long learners through their first year.

Looking into the kindergarten rooms during the morning sessions, you will see students engaged in their literacy programs, sharing stories, writing and reading activities linked with this term’s theme of ‘pets’. Students move through a mix of whole class, small group and independent activities as they are immersed in their learning. Some of these may include fine motor tasks to build their finger muscles for handwriting or phonological understanding:

learning what individual letters look and sound like.

Kindergarten along with the rest of the school has taken on the Origo Stepping Stones Maths Program to build strong, well rounded mathematical thinkers. This is supported with many hands-on games, songs, finger rhymes and activities. Our students are learning through doing.

Afternoons are a busy time with art activities linked to the ‘pets’ literacy unit or geography - learning about special places and PDHPE - learning about ourselves.

For many kindergarten students the playground is one of the highlights of their school day. It is an

opportunity to move, play, socialise and take on the monkey bars! Students have been practising their dance moves in the hall this term as a part of the PE program.

We feel very lucky to share this important year with you and your child and look forward to making it interesting, challenging and full of fun. Our Kindergarten team in 2021 brings a wealth of experience working in the early years and a passion for recognising strengths and building on the needs of individual students. Our cohort consists of Miss Madeline Baldwin (Relieving Assistant Principal, Stage One) K1B, Mrs Amanda Mainey KM, Mrs Fiona Sinclair KS, Miss Shannon Hughes KH and Mrs Rosalind Oliver (Relieving Assistant Principal, ES1).

SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER Thursday 4 March 2021 Week 6 Term 1

Mrs Kim Dennis Mrs Amanda Mainey Miss Maddie Baldwin Mrs Fiona Sinclair Miss Shannon Hughes

Mrs Ros Oliver

Welcome to Year 1 and 2 (Stage 1)

Stage One students are self-motivated and inquisitive learners who are willing to step outside their comfort zone when learning and exploring. Our teachers are providing students with the best possible learning experiences in a supportive and caring environment. We collaboratively develop a wide range of learning opportunities designed to cater for each and every student as they step into the unknown.

What have we been learning? Already this year we have experienced some amazing learning! Our shared reading and writing sessions are focussed around wellbeing and friendships and have led to some wonderful engaging discussions. Reading is well underway, and students are enjoying working in small groups with their teacher to develop their bank of reading strategies. Daily phonics and sight word activities help to boost reading and writing, and our students love engaging in a range of hands-on activities to continue to build upon their skills.

Years 1 and 2 have been very excited to delve into our school-wide Stepping Stones mathematics program this term. Each numeracy session begins with a short,

focussed, frequent number activity, followed by structured number games or a whole class number talk. All of these activities build number sense and encourage our students to think flexibly when working with numbers. This term has also seen a focus on whole number concepts, with Year 1 building their knowledge of teen numbers and Year 2 discovering numbers to 100 and beyond.

Our students have become artists and have already created some amazing artworks based around geographical landscapes and friendship concepts. They are also learning how to make safe and healthy choices at home, at school and in the community, and have loved getting back into our Play Is the Way games and discussions. This term we have also been moving and grooving away as part of our dance unit during sport sessions. It is wonderful to see so many happy smiles and amazing dance moves!

We look forward to lots more learning and exploring this year We’d like to introduce you to our fantastic Stage 1 team this year: Mr Nigel Henley- Relieving Assistant Principal Year 2 & 1N classroom teacher, Miss Madeline Baldwin- Relieving Assistant Principal Year 1 & K/1B classroom teacher Miss Kara Hobday- 1H classroom teacher Mrs Tanya Draycott- 1D classroom teacher Miss Katrina Doak- 2D classroom teacher Mrs Debbie Corbett- 2C classroom teacher Mrs Amanda Wilson- 2W classroom teacher Mr Sam Cross- 2S classroom teacher.

Miss Katrina Doak Mrs Debbie Corbett

Mr Sam Cross

Mrs Amanda Wilson Mr Nigel Henley Miss Madeline Baldwin Miss Kara Hobday

Mrs Tanya Draycott

Welcome to Year 3 and 4 (Stage 2)

In Years 3 and 4 (Stage Two), we aim to engage, inspire and extend our love of learning to our students. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your child achieves individual success, in a positive climate that encourages life-long learning and on going improvement.

We all bring our own teaching experiences and strengths. Combined, our qualities unite and using collaborative teaching and programming, the quality of our lessons is heightened to enhance the learning experiences for our students.

This term has started with a Bang!! Each class has been reading a rich text based on a country outside Australia. 34D have been learning about Ancient Egyptian times, Pharaohs and famous Gods and Goddesses. 4HL are investigating

Vietnam, what makes the country special and even know how to say some Vietnamese words! 4B have been researching and exploring the country of South Africa. 3B are looking into Indonesia and how people survived during the tragic Tsunami. 3W have been delving into Borneo and have created some beautiful orangutan artworks and are investigating animal conservation.

In mathematics this year, we have introduced the new Stepping Stones program. We have been discovering how to write 3, 4 and 5 digit numbers! Students have been making, writing, and playing games revolving around these huge numbers.

Mrs Lennon, our engagement teacher, has been working with our students learning how to be self-motivated learners. This program runs alongside with our emotional intelligence, Play Is The Way program.

Our team is excited to continue to develop our students love of learning.

This year the Stage 2 team consists of: Mrs Kim Dennis - Assistant Principal and 3/4D classroom teacher Mrs Shauna Lennon and Mrs Karen Hubner - 4HL teachers Mr Luke Bourke - 4B classroom teacher Mrs Brooke Borthwick - 3B classroom teacher Miss Jessica Wilson- 3W classroom teacher

Mrs Brooke Borthwick Mrs Karen Hubner

Mr Luke Bourke

Mrs Shauna Lennon Mrs Kim Dennis

Miss Jess Wilson

Welcome to Year 5 and 6 (Stage Three)

Stage Three have had a very active start to the 2021 school year. Students have already participated in a variety of sporting opportunities including school and zone swimming carnivals. Lunch and recess times have

been very busy with various training sessions in cricket, netball, soccer, basketball and Rugby. Students need to keep an eye on the morning Sentral announcements to check when training for their chosen sport is on.

In our classrooms we have started reading the Novel “Wonder” by RJ Palacio; a wonderful story about a young boy attempting to find his place in the world and middle school. The “ Words their Way” spelling program has commenced as has fortnightly homework for the families who have indicated they wish to complete homework.

Stage 3 Maths groups are running 3 times a week and have been a great success with students in smaller groups catering for their specific learning needs. Classes have also had a strong focus on improving times tables through challenges, games, songs and quizzes.

All going well with COVID we hope to offer a Sport and Recreation camp later in the year and students are asked to bring back an EOI so that planning for the week-long excursion can commence.

Year 6 have started fortnightly transition sessions to Macintryre High school and will be participating in a variety of STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) activities throughout the year.

Early in the term Year 6 celebrated the start of their leadership responsibilities with a badge ceremony. Since then they have been assisting with tasks throughout the school in the library, canteen, garden, playground and at bus lines.

Year 6 have the opportunity to purchase a Year 6 shirt which has all of the grade’s names printed on them. This is a great keepsake for their last year of primary school.

This year we have welcomed Ms Jordanna Coughlin (6C) and Mr Daniel Wade (5W) to the Stage three teaching team. They bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge. Completing the team is Miss Ashlee Doak (5D) Mrs Hayley Macleod (6M) and Mrs Lesley Beattie (5/6B) Assistant Principal.

Mrs Lesley Beattie Miss Ashlee Doak Mrs Hayley MacLeod Ms Jordanna Coughlin

Mr Dan Wade

Miss Yvette Crowther

Welcome to the K– 6 Multi Categorical Classes (MCC) In the MCC rooms this year we have been working hard at learning about ‘Community Helpers’. This has given the students the opportunity to gain an appreciation of who and how people help us. A key question being discussed is:

Would our community be successful without community helpers? We are all looking forward to getting out and visiting some community helpers around town!!

In mathematics this year, we have introduced the new Stepping Stones program. We have been discovering place value and how to write 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 digit numbers! Students have been making, writing, and playing games revolving around these new numbers.

Our MCC Team are: Simon Smith – Classroom Teacher K-6S, Assistant Principal MCC Julia Chaffey – Classroom Teacher K-6C Mrs Gunn – Student Learning Support Officer (K-6) Miss Connors – Student Learning Support Officer (K-6C) Miss Boland & Miss Pettit – RFF Teachers

Meet the Learning and Support Team Our Learning and Support Team is made up of a caring and dedicated group of people! Mrs Andrea Aitken, the Learning Support Coordinator and Year 2 literacy support, Mrs Emily Kimmince, Year 1 literacy support, Mrs Rebel Bright, Years 3 and 4 literacy support, Mrs Olivia White, Years 5 and 6 literacy support. Aboriginal Education Officer, Mr Farren Boney, Years 5 and 6 Numeracy support, Year 2 in class ATSI support as well as Year 1 Gamilaraay Language; and Mrs Kerrie Campbell, SLSO, Kindergarten Speech and Language in class support. We work together with our School Counsellor, Miss Yvette Crowther, Class Teachers, Assistant Principals, Deputy Principal and our Principal.

The main focus area for Learning and Support is literacy, to teach our students essential skills and provide them with the tools for successful learning. Students’ known skills and confidence are built upon each week with planned initiatives that target student needs within small group sessions.

Mrs Olivia White Mrs Andrea Aitken Mrs Rebel Bright

Mr Farren Boney

Mrs Marlene Gunn Miss Josie Boland Miss Haylee Connors

Mrs Kerrie Campbell

Miss Leonie Pettit

Miss Julia Chaffey

Mr Simon Smith

Welcome to our Library and RFF (release from face to face learning) Team Welcome back to another exciting year in the Inverell Public School Library. This year we have an expanded team to cover the classroom teachers during their RFF time as well as linking with the Learning Support Team (LST) to provide in school programs. Our teachers wear a variety of hats and bring experience, passion, flexibility and humour to each of their roles.

What’s Happening? Across each year our library celebrates community and literary events. This year we have the National Simultaneous Reading time with a guest book reader from the international space sta-tion! Later in the year we will have events for NAIDOC Week, Education Week and our annual Book Week and Book Fair celebrations.

Premiers Reading Challenge The PRC is on again this year at Inverell Public School. Students and classes are invited to register through the library. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a range of quality books that have been chosen for each age group. Last year we had several of our Year 6 students receiving Platinum Awards for their dedication to the PRC having completed the challenge each year since Kindergarten. We look forward to celebrating this milestone again.

In the Library Students are able to use their school portal to access Orbit a library page where they can search to find out if a book is available, learn about upcoming events or read a review.

Borrowing Students are able to borrow books each library day or whenever they bring in a library bag to transport them home. A shopping bag or small fabric bag is ideal. Alternatively, IPS bags can be bought for $2 from the library.

Meet the Library and RFF team Miss Leonie Pettit, RFF, Library and Kitchen Garden. Kitchen Garden is a program for Stage 2 students and is an opportunity to take ingredients from the garden and turn them into delicious home cooked meals. Miss Josie Boland RFF and LST Mrs Cassy Walls RFF and Library Mrs Lisa Smith RFF and LST Mrs Becky Baxter RFF and Library Mrs Emily Kimmence RFF, Library and LST Mrs Rosalind Oliver (AP EST1) RFF, Library

Instructional Leaders IPS is an Early Action For Success school focusing on five key features to support students in Kindergarten to Year 2 (K-2) for literacy and numeracy: instructional leadership, high quality professional learning with a focus on the early years of schooling, K-2, diagnostic assessment, differentiated teaching targeted interventions, EAFS. Our Instructional Leaders at school, Mrs Michelle Fowke and Mrs Kate Gersbach, who work with teachers to identify K-2 students who may require additional literacy and numeracy support and tailor interventions to address these needs. Professional learning opportunities are facilitated by both school executive, classroom teachers and learning support staff through a wide range of approaches including peer observation, structured feedback on lesson observation, and one-on-one mentoring and coaching in specific aspects of literacy and numeracy teaching practices.

Mrs Lisa Smith

Miss Josie Boland Mrs Cassy Walls Mrs Becky Baxter Mrs Emily Kimmince

Miss Leonie Pettit Mrs Ros Oliver

Mrs Michelle Fowke and Mrs Kate Gersbach

Our Leaders

As the Inverell Public School Principal, Mrs Campbell has a strong commitment to focusing on an inclusive school and the emotional, social and behavioural wellbeing of all students. Students and families understand that they are known, valued and cared for through consistent positive interactions and so develop a strong rapport with Mrs Campbell and the school. The Principal is responsible for the overall management of the school which includes students, families, community, staffing, assets, grounds and financial management.

Mrs Campbell is an exceptional leader who works professionally with the staff at Inverell Public School,

promoting a strong culture of life-long learning and student focused programming.

As Deputy Principal, Ms Tutt works alongside our Principal, Mrs Campbell to support students, staff and families at Inverell Public School. Ms Tutt is extremely committed to attending to the wellbeing needs of stu-dents, their families and staff and ensures that IPS is leading the way in technology with responsive digital directions and proactive programs for student learning and classroom practice. She supports and assists in guiding the school’s Executive team towards the design of quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs for all students at Inverell Public School.

Thank you for choosing Inverell public School for your child’s educational journey!

Mrs Ally Campbell Ms Eleasha Tutt

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