Principal's Report
Principal: Brendan Millar
In this week’s newsletter:
- Appreciations and Congratulations
- Marrung Leaders badge presentation at assembly last week
- Assembly performances
- Prep Welcome Picnic
- News
- Prep Kids Share afternoons
- Links for Kids Cancer Council and World’s Greatest Shave
- Parents Association FWPS fundraisers
- Maribyrnong Divisional Swim Carnival (held today)
- Emergency Management practice drill held
- Boom gate issues
- Coming Up
- Kids’ Share afternoon (grades 1-6) Tuesday, 26th March 2024
- Parent Association Sausage Sizzle Wednesday, 27th March 2024
- Parent Association Easter Raffle
- Wigs for Kids gold coin fundraiser
- Assembly tomorrow
- Environment Team badge presentation tomorrow
- Preps receive POTW awards for the first time tomorrow
- Repeated (and updated) Messages
- Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)
- Curriculum contributions
- Car-park access
- Parent / Carer Volunteer Induction process
Appreciations and Congratulations
Marrung Leaders presentation last assembly - Congratulations to the 25 students across grade 1 to 6 who were elected as their grade representatives and received their badges at a presentation held at last Friday’s assembly. They are pictured below after receiving their badges. Thanks to convener Tess Maddison for again taking on the role this year. We will look forward to the ideas the team will share with us this year.
Assembly performances - We enjoyed the final presentation from our grade 6 cohort last Friday. 6KR shared some ‘brain breaks’, one of the first elements introduced to grades as part of The Berry Street Education Model.
Prep Welcome Picnic - Each year our Prep picnic is an informal opportunity to return to school in the afternoon to enjoy some time together on the oval. With the Prep teachers encouraging the children to play some collaborative games and staff and parents and carers having a chat, it was a pleasant occasion, though the sunny weather left just enough shade for all. Thanks to all families who attended. An appreciation also to representatives from the Parents Association and our office staff, who set up a pop up second hand uniform stall at the Prep Picnic that proved popular. We hope families who attended are feeling more part of our community every day.
News…
Prep Kids Share afternoons… started on Wednesday. There was a terrific turn up of parents (and some grandparents). Prep families are required to book for their afternoon session online via the pinned Compass post. There are three more sessions available, providing every family with an opportunity to attend the classroom for one of these opportunities.
Cancer Council ‘Wigs for Kids’ Fundraiser - Last week at assembly our captains invited Prep class teacher Lauren Baker to tell us about her plans to raise a significant amount of money by shaving and donating her hair to support the Children’s Cancer Council - Wigs for Kids campaign. On the last day of term the grade 6 captains will be hosting a Wigs for Kids gold coin donation day. More about that over the next couple of weeks. If you would like to consider donating to this cause please select the link https://fundraise.kidswithcancer.org.au/s/5563/5630
or scan here:
The World’s Greatest Shave - We also have a brave member of our grade 6 cohort who is choosing to shave her head for another cause.
Hi there, my name is Clementine Murray from 6MA and I've decided to take part in the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave. I'll be raising crucial funds that will give people facing blood cancer all the support and information they need, while driving breakthrough research projects discovering better ways to diagnose and treat blood cancer.
Blood cancer is Australia's hidden cancer crisis. Every day, 53 Aussies are diagnosed with blood cancer, and 16 will lose their life. We can't delay acting together. You have the power to help me make a difference. Big or small, every donation counts.
Will you help by sponsoring me?
Simply click here:
Or scan here
Thank You!
Clementine Murray
Maribyrnong District Swim Carnival - Today our team of 24 students in grades 4 - 6 were due to attend the Oak Park Aquatic Centre setting off from before school. In a spirit of economic and practical collaboration, our students were to share the coach with students from two of our neighbourhood schools. We will include results in next week’s newsletter, along with a report at assembly.
Boom Gate issues - We are not trying to lock you out before 8.00am and after 4.00pm! Please understand that we have had repeated issues with our boom gate over recent times and are working with the service company to resolve these issues.
Coming Up…
Kids’ Share Afternoons - There will also be your opportunity to attend your child’s grade 1-6 classroom for our annual Kids’ Share afternoon. This session will take place in all grade 1- 6 classrooms on Tuesday, 26th March, during the last week of term.
Parent Association Sausage Sizzle - We are pleased that we are finally bringing back our lunch sausage sizzle as a fundraiser for our school. It will be held on Wednesday of the last week of term, a short week when the canteen will not be operating. This information was provided in a Compass post late last week. We appreciate that TheirCare, our OSHC provider, has generously offered to donate the sausages and bread. This will ensure that with parents and carers, along with TheirCare staff volunteering, the event will be able to maximise our profit. Money that will be raised will be directed towards the very significant costs of replacing the surface of our outdoor basketball court.
Parents Association Easter Raffle - Information will shortly follow on the annual Easter Raffle presented by the Parents Association in collaboration with staff. Each family will be provided with a small number of raffle tickets. We are also reliant on your generosity to donate chocolates to ensure that we can prepare an Easter egg prize for every class. The draw will be held on the last day of term.
Wigs for Kids - On Thursday, 28th March (the last day of term) we will be encouraging the children to wear a fun wig to school and to provide a gold coin donation. This is for the purpose of supporting the Kids Cancer Council - Wigs for Kids fundraiser that has been mentioned above.
Assembly Tomorrow:
- Environment Team badge presentations tomorrow - At assembly tomorrow, our Environment Team representatives will be presented with their badges. We encourage parents and carers to attend. Regardless of the weather, presentations will be made. When we experience extreme weather on Fridays, we hold an assembly indoors in the gallery space and encourage all parents and carers to attend if their child is represented.
- Preps will receive their first Pupil of the Week (POTW) Awards - Tomorrow each Prep grade will have a representative receive a POTW award for the first time this year. Each week the POTW award winners names are listed in the newsletter prior to the presentation assembly.
Next Week - Week 7
- Labour Day - Monday is the Labour Day public holiday. School will not be open on this day.
- NAPLAN assessments will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week for students in grades 3 and 5. If this includes your child, make sure you read the article from last week’s newsletter that has been added again this week.
- Grade 4 Campaspe Downs Camp - On Thursday morning a large contingent of grade 4 students, supported by staff and parent / carers will travel to our overnight camp. Students will return on Friday afternoon. We hope everyone has a fantastic time. I am particularly looking forward to attending myself.
As we are planning to leave after the school day begins, there is no need for campers to be at school early. For campers bringing medication, that will take place in Gecko.
Cheers,
Brendan
Repeated messages (and updated)…
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) - If you have eligibility we don't want you to miss out. Please read the information included again this week in the 'From the Office Team' page.
Curriculum Contributions - A parent/carer payment contribution Compass post was forwarded to all families early in term and will be sitting near the top of your Compass tab. We appreciate all who have supported our programs by making this payment already.
Car Park Access - 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.
Parent/Carer Volunteer Induction - Please look out for the Compass post, pinned so it remains easily accessible. 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. While the content will be adjusted when the Child Safety and Wellbeing Team can find the time, it remains relevant.