Principal's Report 

Appreciations and News

FWPS staff are always keen for a break during mid-year holidays, but this year the need perhaps seems more acute.  We have learnt a great deal as colleagues, as well as collaboratively from our students and community.  We now look forward to some time for recuperation and resetting in preparation for term 3.

Attending all gates at different times before and after school, it has been refreshing to welcome students and say hello to parents and carers.  We do appreciate the many generous and supportive comments shared with us.

Tomorrow is the last day of term

School will finish at the earlier time of 2.30 pm tomorrow, in keeping with a long held tradition.  Current end of day arrangements will move forward one hour from our recent regular practice.

Gates will open at 2. 20 pm 

Dismissal times are as follows:

2.20pm - Prep, 1 & 2

2.25pm - 3 & 4

2.30pm 5 & 6

We will not hold a whole school outdoor assembly tomorrow. There will be some information shared via the PA prior to student groups moving (an hour earlier tomorrow) to their assembly areas and then onto the six exit gates.

TheirCare will operate from this earlier time as well.  If you fear you may be running late, I encourage you to utilise TheirCare which along with all OSHC programs will remain free for families until school returns next term. However, if you have booked and due to a change of circumstances no longer require the place, don’t forget to cancel (P: 1300 072 410).  It is of great help to the staff and ensures placement for other families. The team led by Nelly and Luke do such an outstanding job.  We know they and their colleagues will be busy, so let’s make sure all who use the service over the break show their appreciation.

Student reports … will be sent home with the children tomorrow.  Absent students will have their reports deposited in the office until they can be sent home next term, unless parents wish to contact us (by tomorrow morning) to arrange to collect them before 2.00 pm tomorrow. You will already be aware that due to the unusual societal and education circumstances we have experienced this year, the semester one reports will differ markedly from the usual format. They necessarily are briefer, have less specific detail and do not include the (usually mandatory) progression score judgements in literacy and mathematics.  Let us bear in mind that parents and carers in most cases have over this term had an extraordinary insight into how their children learn, what challenges them and what engages them.  During the period of remote and flexible learning at home, class teachers shared dozens of specific comments on student achievement and these comments, access to the Google Classroom and Drive remain as valid learning samples for consideration.  As was recently communicated, Parent/Teacher interviews, with a revised format, will be held later than usual, during a (revised) student free Reporting day to be held on Wednesday, 12th August, the middle week of term 3.

Staffing change in 5HL – Laura Montebello and her teaching partner, Helena Lizos have collaborated in an ideal part time teaching partnership since they both returned from family leave 2 ½ years ago.  Now it is time for the partnership to end (at least temporarily) for the best of reasons. Laura will go on family leave, effective tomorrow.  Helena attended our (socially spaced) morning tea in the Gecko this morning and was able to share a little of what has made them such a great team and why she, the class and her colleagues will miss Laura. We are pleased that we have arranged for a new member of our staff community, Lauren Baker to share teaching duties with Helena by working on Thursdays and Fridays, starting on our return from the holidays. Lauren joined Helena and 5HL on Monday to assist with this transition. While Laura and Helena have taught alternate Wednesdays, from next term this will be simplified, with Helena now set to teach Monday to Wednesday, weekly.

Feeling sickly?  An appreciation to the many families who have heeded Department of Health and our school advice to keep children at home when exhibiting signs of colds and coughs.  This is often an inconvenience and feels at times an overreaction.  This approach also applies to our staff at school.  It goes against a lifetime of ‘we will soldier on,’ to heed the changing times and expectations.  There I was at Highpoint on Sunday morning waiting for testing after signs of a cold that normally I would have shrugged off.  That led to two days on sick leave why awaiting as expected, a negative test.  One more example of our new normal.

Soundgarage – After a term’s hiatus, this week Soundgarage returned for all students who participated in the program during Term 1.  Pictured are John and Gary’s senior students revelling in their return to rock star status this morning.  The weekly Soundgarage program will return from the start of next term.  Students who attended classes during term 1 will be included in the program by default.  Please send us an email if you have reason to withdraw your child from the Term 3 program.  Please note that program fees will be debited from program users nominated accounts on July 28th.  All families who have paid in advance will be credited.  If you have any queries please contact the office.

These girls have been training at Footscray West over the past 6 weeks. It has been wonderful for them not only to practice their skills, but to also have some fun together and get a little bit of normality back.  Well done girls!

Coming up …

• School’s back … on Monday 13th July.  As at this stage we have no information on whether our current start and finish times will be maintained or managed differently, we will assume business as usual.  If there are any changes we will publicise them through Flexibuzz and on our Facebook page on the last Friday of the holidays.
• Canteen is back - The Lunch Box 3012 will return from Wednesday to Friday opening from Wednesday 15th July.  Online bookings at https://www.munchmonitor.com

Thanks to our community.  The support of such a caring and connected community has made the most challenging of terms a little easier.   May everyone have a restful holiday.

Best regards

Brendan