In this week's newsletter

Appreciations
News...
- Classroom volunteers invitation
- ANZAC Day
Coming up
- Grade 3 and 4 Zoo Snooze Camps
- School Council meets on Monday
- School Review - Validation day on Monday, 8th May
- Pupil Free Day Monday 15th May

Welcome back for Term 2

We hope you had a terrific Easter and holiday break - if in fact you were able to factor some down or recreation time.

We farewell mandatory hat wearing as required by all Sunsmart accredited schools as we move into May. The requirement will return in September.

In a shortened week it may have taken you by surprise that it is already Thursday, newsletter day. A briefer than regular newsletter greets you this week!

Appreciations

Thank you to those parents and carers who contributed to our school review survey. That information was able to provide valuable insight into the preparation of our Pre School Review Evaluation.

An appreciation to the classes who on Monday engaged in activities acknowledging ANZAC Day. Students in 5SM prepared a video using the library picture story book resources. It can be accessed here: https://vimeo.com/820422244?share=copy

News

Classroom Volunteers Invitation

You may have recently received a Compass post providing you with an invitation to assist in your child’s classroom. In this invitation the class teachers will have included a reminder that classroom helpers will need to have a current WWC card and have completed the relevant sections of our Visitor Induction program. Each week the relevant information on how to access this is listed within the Repeated (and updated) messages at the end of my report.

ANZAC Day

On Monday many FWPS grades informally reflected on ANZAC Day and what it means to us. We have included a few samples of the grade work from across our school in today's newsletter. At tomorrow's assembly our captains will present a brief item.

Coming Up

The ‘Zoo Snooze’ grade 3 and 4 camps will be held from May 1st and conclude on Tuesday, May 16th. Team leader and camp organiser Jess du Plessis has provided all the relevant details in the following accompanying video: https://vimeo.com/821197212/3c1f54169a?share=copy. The first camp will be held next Monday, 1st May with 4JD led by Jess and Liz. On Tuesday it will be 4DC with Tim and Carolyn and on Wednesday, it will be 4AF led by Anthea and Liz. The other grade 3 and 4 camps will be held over the following two weeks. All the one night camps have been planned to be staffed by the class teacher and a member of the Principal team.
Our next meeting of the School Council will be on Monday evening. As has become our adopted practice, this initial meeting will be held remotely on WebEx. Our second meeting later in term will be held in person.
2024 Prep information sessions will be held on:
- Week 2 - Tuesday 2nd May - 9:30am-10:45am
- Week 4 - Tuesday 16th May - 9:30am-10:45am
- Week 6 - Tuesday 30th May - 9:30am-10:45am
- To attend one of the above listed sessions, please register via the following link: https://compasstix.com/e/yzkmg5dfrq
Mother’s Day Stall will be held on Friday, 12th May 2023. More information will be included in next week's newsletter.
School Review - Validation Day - The first official day with the full panel will be held on Monday, 8th May. I will provide more information in next week’s newsletter.
There will be a Professional Practice Day (Pupil Free Day) held on Monday, 15th May. That is week 4 of Term 2. Their Care will provide a full day program on that day should there be sufficient interest.

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated (and updated) messages …

Hearing your voice

In every newsletter we will add a feedback link. If you have a concern, suggestion or appreciation, or wish to specifically provide comment on school policies, rather than looking for the school email, you can just go to the link. This will not be the preferred option for detailed emails - the usual practice of using the school email: footscray.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au will still be the avenue, but for the concerns, suggestions or appreciations go to: https://forms.gle/dPnAN75bFVeM1i16A

Parent/Carer Volunteer Induction

This information has been ‘pinned’ on Compass so it remains easily accessible. You will currently find it as the second pinned item on your News Feed . For all new families or parents and carers who didn’t complete the online process last year, if you wish to assist in classrooms, excursions or camps, or volunteer for really any other purpose at FWPS, we need you to complete the modules online. For parents/carers who did this last year, all you need to do is sign the relevant form at the office.

Change of Email

We are no longer using the school gmail addresses for communication to staff. Parents will be asked to communicate directly with staff using the email facility within Compass, or email the school email address at: (footscray.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au) ‘Attention staff member’s name’. Emails sent from the Compass app will be sent directly to the relevant staff members’ education email account. Please understand that staff are busy and will respond in a timely manner. If a matter is urgent, you are advised to call the school during office hours, or leave a message outside those hours.

Car Park Use

A reminder that the car park is open prior to 8 am and after 4 pm daily for parent access for the Their Care OSHC program. At other times, please appreciate that the car park is for staff use. Should you need to walk through to the Their Care location at Emu Corner, for safety’s sake we ask that you use the pedestrian gate next to the boom gate and make your way between Koala and the Wallaby buildings past Gecko via the basketball court through to Emu Corner.

Please check out the brief explanatory video at: https://vimeo.com/777907951

Photo Permission

When parents and carers first sign the enrolment form for school entry, they may be understandably reluctant to sign the photo permission section. We frequently use pictures and videos to share learning highlights and to maintain and foster school/home links. As we frequently include photos and videos of the students learning and playing we are regularly confronted by wonderful picture opportunities we cannot share in our newsletter and videos.

We would love you to review your decision so your child can be fully involved in the life of our school. Feel free to contact your child’s teacher or the office so they can make those adjustments on your behalf.

COVID Information

As you will all understand, COVID continues to be transmitted within the community and remains a highly infectious illness. Consequently, it continues to be vital for families to remain careful when exposed to COVID or when demonstrating symptoms. While schools will no longer be providing Rapid Antigen Tests - We do have dozens of leftover packs that have at least 6 months left before their use by date. Drop in to the office, or send us a message and we will send some home with your child.

Many of you will have heard that this year RATs, while continuing to be supplied by the state government, will be distributed by local councils from venues such as our library locations.

Rapid Antigen Tests are also available for all Victorians from Council sites. People can get 2 free packs (10 tests) for themselves and 2 free packs (10 tests) for each of their household members.

People with disability and their carers can get up to 4 free packs (20 tests) in line with existing RAT distribution for people with disability.

Further information can be obtained at Council Rapid Antigen Test Program.

Rapid Antigen Testing

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff:

· If you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild

· If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19

· If you are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.

The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians should report their positive RAT result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398.

Students (or their parents) should also report a positive result to their school, either through the COVID Test portal or by phone or written notification.

Art News

Visual Art Teachers: Susie Belcher & Kerri Ahrens