Welcome Back to Term 2!

Dear Glen Iris Primary School Community,

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break. It’s been wonderful to see our students return with smiles on their faces, ready to learn, connect, and grow together.

As we begin a new term, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the sense of belonging and school pride that was so evident throughout the events of Term 1. Whether it was cheering each other on during the Walk-a-thon, building creativity and curiosity at the grade three Lego Expo, exploring ecosystems in the grade four Endangered Species Expo, or showing our team spirit at the Staff vs Students Basketball Game, the strength of our school community shone through. These moments reminded us of how powerful it is when students feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger than themselves.

A special mention must go to our incredible Student Representative Council (SRC), who not only helped run the Walk-a-thon but also are taking on leading and coordinating the upcoming Democracy Sausage Sizzle. Their efforts are a great example of leadership in action, and we’re so proud of the initiative and responsibility they’ve shown.

Another highlight has been our participation in the School Review Focus Groups, where students, staff, and families came together to share feedback and ideas for improvement. These conversations—led by our school leadership team—have been insightful and inspiring. Thank you to everyone who contributed your voice to shaping the future of Glen Iris Primary. Your input truly matters.

Looking ahead, we are excited to officially launch two new working groups that we believe will further enrich our school culture:

• Friends of the GIPS Garden: A new group dedicated to helping our garden thrive as a space for learning, sustainability, and community connection.

• Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group: Focused on deepening our commitment to reconciliation and embedding First Nations perspectives throughout our school.

More information on how to get involved in these initiatives can be found later in this newsletter.

As always, thank you for the many ways you support our students and each other. Here’s to a fantastic Term 2 full of learning, laughter, and continued connection.

Warm regards,
Maddie Witter
Principal
Glen Iris Primary School

In our classrooms

Our Grade 4 students had a fantastic time reinforcing their Spanish vocabulary through an interactive and engaging game in the classroom! In this lively activity, similar to musical chairs, students took turns asking and answering questions in Spanish as they moved around. This fun and dynamic approach not only helps them practice their speaking skills but also builds confidence in using the language in a natural way.

Staff v Student Basketball Game

What better way to build belonging than with a bit of competitive spirit? Our senior students took on an eager staff group. The winners were.... students! Check out the photos below to see the game and bystanders joining in on the school spirit.

Learning Expos

At the end of last term, both Grade 3 and Grade 4 held learning expos to celebrate their achievements. Parents, staff, and fellow students were invited to attend and engage with the students' presentations. These expos were a powerful demonstration of our school’s vision in action: 'Growth through belonging; a community where every child thrives.'

Number Talks in GIPS Classrooms

All classrooms across GIPS are using number talks as part of our whole-school approach to Mathematics. Number talks are short, regular exercises that focus on improving students' number sense and mental mathematical abilities through discussion and exploration of different mathematical strategies. Number talks can vary from counting a collection of dots to addition or subtraction problems. They can also include multiplicative or fractional thinking problems.

In a number talk, teachers present a problem and students are given thinking time. During this time, all students are asked to independently think about a response. The answer to the problem is clarified and then students are prompted to share their response, while explaining their thinking. Students are also encouraged to clarify or question the ideas of others to strengthen their understanding of the ideas of others. Teachers visually record all strategies students offer. This process allows students to communicate mathematically, to learn from each other and to gain insight into different strategies that can be used to solve a problem.

Number talks cater to a wide range of mathematical abilities. They provide an open-ended platform where students can engage at their own level of understanding. Number talks support differentiated learning as students with varying levels of proficiency can observe and learn from each other. Our teachers tailor these discussions by posing questions that challenge learners while offering scaffolding to those who are developing their strategies.

For parents, understanding the value of number talks can help support your child's education at home. Engaging in discussions about numbers and encouraging different ways of thinking about mathematical problems can reinforce classroom learning. Number talks emphasise the importance of process over the correct answer. By focusing on how they arrive at an answer rather than just the answer itself, students learn to value persistence and creativity in problem-solving. GIPS teachers are using number talks as a tool to strengthen how students interact with numbers.

To read further on number talks and how you could support your child with this approach at home, click on the following link.

Shanae Hill

Acting Assistant Principal

In our staffroom

Dr Tom Brunzell presents wellbeing strategies to staff

On Thursday, Dr. Tom Brunzell—Director of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) and a close friend of GIPS—joined us to lead our third day of BSEM staff training. Once again, we were pleased to welcome staff from Belle Vue Primary to participate in this shared day of professional learning.

This session focused on the 'Stamina and Engagement' module, which was co-authored by our very own Principal, Maddie Witter. We explored how to build a classroom culture that promotes academic persistence by fostering resilience, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset. The training also equipped us with practical strategies to boost student motivation and increase their willingness to learn.

Andrew Wood, Maddie Witter, and Tom Brunzell

Supporting your child's wellbeing at school

Over the past year, we’ve taken purposeful steps to strengthen student wellbeing across our school. A key part of this has been the introduction of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM), which provides practical tools to support students emotionally and socially.

Staff have already embedded the first two BSEM modules—BODY and RELATIONSHIP—into everyday routines. This includes:

• Morning Circle to start each day with connection and a sense of belonging
• Mindfulness, brain breaks, and physical grounding techniques to help students manage stress and stay ready to learn

We’re also building strong, trusting relationships by using:

• Positive language that builds connection, like “golden statements”
• Praise that focuses on effort, helping students grow in confidence

In addition, we continue to use the Zones of Regulation, a framework that helps children recognize their emotions and choose strategies to manage them.

Today, our staff are taking part in further BSEM training, focused on the next modules: STAMINA and ENGAGEMENT. This ensures we keep building our capacity to support every child—both emotionally and academically.

These strategies are creating safe, supportive classrooms where your child is known, valued, and equipped to thrive.

To find out more about the Zones of Regulation, watch this video.

Shaye Bradbury

Acting Assistant Principal

In our community

Student Voice and Agency

This week our Principal Maddie met with the SALT Environment student group. They visited six classrooms to find out ways that we can better connect with our school garden so that a group of volunteer parents can help us with a grant we are writing. Thanks to the parents and students who helped include student voice.

Democracy Sausage Sizzle

Our SRC is partnering with the United Church for this year’s federal election on 3 May—and we’ve got some fun in store!

Come down to the United Church polling station to grab a delicious baked treat made by United Church families, and enjoy a classic sausage sizzle! All proceeds from the day will be shared between GIPS and the Church.

We’re looking for families to help run the BBQ in the afternoon, with one-hour shifts available. If you can lend a hand, please sign up using the link provided below.

The SRC is also hosting a special raffle on the day! Any GIPS student whose family buys a baked good or sausage will receive a raffle ticket. The winning ticket will earn their entire grade an extra 30 minutes of play on the oval—a prize worth sizzling for!

And don’t worry—even if you don’t live in the GIPS electorate, you can still vote at the United Church.

We hope to see you there!

Please sign up for Election Sausage Sizzle!

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp: https://signup.com/go/WQhWekz
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Lael Stone "How to be a connected parent"

This is an event you can't afford to miss!

Parenting can be challenging and exhausting.

We are thrilled to be hosting best-selling author and TEDx speaker, Lael Stone live at GIPS.

TOPIC: HOW TO BE A CONNECTED PARENT

Offering us tools and information to support
resilience, empathy and connection with our children.

- Supporting children through challenging situations
- Navigating big feelings
- Simple ways to create cooperation
- Navigating anxiety and worry
- Building resilience and authenticity

Wednesday 4 June 7-8:30pm, GIPS Library

$45 per ticket

This event will sell out. BOOK NOW: http://trybooking.com/DAHMS

Lael is a highly sought-after parenting educator. This event is open to the public so more families can benefit from Lael's insights.

Please invite your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to join us.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Your Event Organisers,

Maddie Witter (GIPS Principal), Jacqui Williamson (Grade 4 & 6 Parent) & Tyla Millerd (Grade 2, 4 & 6 Parent)

Save the Date: Mother's Day Brunch

Glen Iris Primary School Council invites you to a Mother's Day lunch.

Rally your friends and join us for an afternoon of fun, fundraising & dancing!

Date: Friday, 9th May 2025

Time: From 12pm Onwards

Venue: Banjo's Bistro at the East Malvern RSL - Stanley Grose Drive, East Malvern

Dress: A touch of gold

Price: $130 for a sit down 3 course lunch & drink on arrival ($30 from each ticket goes towards the school)

Dietaries: Email georginafmtalbot@gmail.com by Thursday, 1st May

Seats are limited to the first 120 people so get in quick! Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/DARPP

GIPS Friends of the School Garden

We are collecting expressions of interest for parents who are interested in helping us grow and sustain our school veggie garden. If you are interested in being involved, please email Maddie at glen.iris.ps@education.vic.gov.au

GIPS Reconciliation Action Plan

We are in the process of building our Reconciliation Action Plan. A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a strategic framework that helps organisations commit to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It focuses on building strong relationships and fostering respect. If you are interested in getting involved in our RAP, please email Shaye Bradbury at glen.iris.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Florence Street and staff carpark gates closed

We’re excited to share that work on our Inclusive School playgrounds is well underway! As part of the project, the pedestrian gate on Florence Street (NW corner of the oval) is closed and the gate in our staff carpark is closed until the work is complete. Please use the gate by the kinder. The anticipated completion date for the works is a few weeks into next term.

Additionally, the builders will be setting up their site in the staff car park, which means the car park will be temporarily closed to all non-construction vehicles and front office cars starting 28 March.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as we make these improvements for our students. Thank you for your support!

Prep Grandparent and Special Visitor Morning

On Friday 30^th May, the Prep children would like to invite grandparents (or a special visitor such as a family friend or neighbour) along for a special morning in the Prep classrooms.

Grandparents and visitors will be welcomed in the classroom at 9.15am (this allows time for children to settle in for the morning). They will take part in some common classroom activities and be involved in our morning Literacy session. The Preps will also perform a collection of songs and rhymes for our visitors in the library. A morning tea for our visitors will follow. It is expected the morning will conclude by 10.45am.

Our Prep Class Reps will be assisting teachers in organising a morning tea for our visitors. If you can prepare a small plate to share or are available to help with setting up and packing up the library, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Prep hallway. Please note: All helpers in the library will be required to sign in at the front office and to have completed the parent helper induction process.

Please ensure your special visitor is aware of parking restrictions as they are unable to park directly in front of the school or in the Church car park.

Grade Four Families

Dear grade four families,

We are excited to announce that next term, our classes will embark on a new unit titled "Celebrating Me, You, and Everyone."

This engaging unit is designed to encourage students to explore diversity through creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, while fostering empathy and respect for all cultures.

As part of this unit, we would love to invite parents who are interested in sharing their cultural heritage with us! If you have a tradition, celebration, or story from your culture that you would like to share with our students, we warmly welcome you to come into class and teach us about it. Your contributions will enrich our learning experience and help us celebrate the diversity that makes our community so vibrant.

Please let a grade four teacher know if you are interested, and we will work together to arrange a time that suits you.

Thank you for your support and participation!

GIPS Tip: use Compass app to advise if your child is absent

Did you know? If your child needs to stay home sick, or will be absent for any other reason, the quickest and easiest way for you to let us know is via the Compass app.

Tap on ‘Shortcuts’ in the menu at the bottom of the home screen

Then tap ‘Submit attendance note’

Select the reason, add a comment, change the dates and times as needed and tap Save.

Your child’s teacher will automatically be notified.

And remember, the functionality of Compass is best used as an app, not on the browser.

e-Safety

Every year, the eSafety Commissioner hosts a series of webinars for parents on a range of topics relevant to children and adolescents. These can be accessed at www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars. Please see the attached flyers for more information about sessions coming up in Term 1 and Term 2.

Ashwood High School Invitation

GIPS Container Scheme

GIPS now has a container deposit scheme donation code where you can donate your 10c container refunds to the school, this is a fantastic way to recycle while also raising funds for the school.

It is an easy 3 step process:

1. Collect eligible containers (can's, bottle and juice boxes) check for the 10c mark, often near the bar code HINT: you can keep lids on
2. Find your refund point HINT: CDS Vic Depot Oakleigh at 37-41 Oxford St Oakleigh is close by
3. Donate HINT: at the machine select "enter zone ID" and scan the GIPS barcode (the friendly depot staff can also help)

See attached poster for more information.

From

School Council