Ironside's Principal - Patricia Neate

Welcome to Ironside State School’s web page. I hope you will find it interesting and informative.

Our vision states that: Ironside State School is a learner-centred community committed to excellence in education. I hope this welcome will show you how we are working towards achieving our vision.

Our school has a rich history and tradition. It was opened on 10 October 1870. The first Principal was Mr William Arthy and the first student was Miss Ellen Lane. The school has always enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence and our students continue to excel academically, as evidenced by our results in National competitions and State Numeracy and Literacy tests.

We are a highly multicultural school and are proud to have students representing over 40 nationalities. Approximately one third of our students were born outside Australia. At Ironside our children grow up surrounded by a range of cultures, religious beliefs and languages. We believe that this environment helps our students develop tolerance, understanding an outward looking perspective on life.

In 2001, Ironside was selected as a Centre of Excellence in Maths, Science and Technology. For 4 years, the school received additional Government funding to enable us to develop our expertise in these subjects and share our teaching and learning with other school communities throughout Queensland. While the government funding has ceased, we still pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence in Maths, Science and Technology and continue to promote the quality teaching of these subjects within the wider community.

The heart of our school-based pedagogy is Inquiry Learning. We believe children should be encouraged to be curious and learning should be focused on “doing”. Teachers are skilled in questioning techniques and encourage students to “investigate” aspects of Maths and Science and to apply their knowledge to real life situations.

Throughout 2008, we are trialling a new curriculum based on the Essential Learnings. Each teacher will plan their term’s work to ensure that there is time available for a significant investigation for the students to explore. Our assessment tasks are aligned to our planning and are used to inform teachers and parents of students’ achievements and to provide quality feedback to students so that they can strive to improve. Teachers will share their Term Curriculum and Assessment Outlines with parents early each term.

The school has a long association with three school communities in Japan – beginning in 1981 when the first group of Ironside students took part in a Study Tour to Japan. The Study Tour program has continued and flourished and is very popular with students, staff and parents. This year, 2008, the three school communities will visit our school in July and August and be billeted by our Ironside families.

The LOTE (Language Other Than English) taught at Ironside is Japanese and this year every child in the school will learn Japanese – either formally or informally.

The school has an outstanding music program including Class Music, the Instrumental Music Program and the Choral Program. Students regularly participate in and perform very well in music competitions and showcases throughout Brisbane.

This year has been designated the Year of Physical Activity in Queensland – a initiative that will support the implementation of the Smart Moves: Physical Activity Program in Queensland Schools. The program aims to increase the time in which primary students are effectively engaged in physical activity and improve the quality of that activity. Our Physical Education and Class Teachers are planning a range of activities to keep our students fit and healthy!

Parents are encouraged to become involved in the school in many ways – helping in the classroom or at Tuckshop, attending P and C meetings, becoming Class Representatives and joining the Australian and Oversees Family Network. The P and C Association meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 7.00 pm in the staff room. Parents are also represented on the School Council and various school committees and working parties.

As the school has a small campus area, enrolment is generally limited to families who live in the catchment area. There has been an Enrolment Management Plan in place since 2004, however when vacancies occur, we are able to offer placements to families outside the area who are on our waiting list.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading this welcome and for your interest in our school.

Yours sincerely,

Patricia Neate
Principal