Principal's Report

In this Week's Newsletter

• Appreciations and News…
  • Dion Drummond visit video 
  • Wear it Purple day was celebrated today
  • District Athletics
  • Books and Boots Drive
  • Parent/Carers Opinion Survey open until September 8th 
• Coming up 
  • Book Parade tomorrow
  • Assembly this week
• Next Week
  • AFL Junior X
  • Talking About Money Incursion
  • Goodbye Louise
• Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

Dion Drummond Visit - In our ongoing series of videos showcasing excursions, incursions and special events, this week the grade 3 team have shared a visit from dynamic First Nations performer, Dion Drummond. 

https://nexusarts.com.au/performer/dion-drummond/

You can visit it here: https://www.vimeo.com/manage/videos/856957854 or access it via our FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/footscraywestprimary/

Wear it Purple Day - As explained last week, we are holding this acknowledgement of rainbow children and families as a mark of mutual respect one day early due to the clash with our Book Parade.  Many students and staff have worn purple clothing items or a splash of colour.  It has been a long time since I have worn a tie to work, but with a limited range of choices, sporting a mauve tie and shirt seemed apt. 

District Athletics - Our large team of 69 participants are today representing FWPS, competing with students from our local sports district in what appears to be ideal conditions.  Like our recent school aths event, the program is being held at Moonee Valley Athletics Track. All parents and carers have been sent relevant information via Compass.  An appreciation to parents, Dianne (Jimi and Tilly Joyce) and Carolyn (Niko Glover) for accompanying the students, along with senior school teachers, Marco and Shannon.  Stratos is the main organiser and will be onsite all day.  A report will be shared at assembly tomorrow.

Books and Boots Drive - Our Marrung leaders are supporting the charity Books and Boots.  Last year we were looking for books and the support was outstanding.  This year the focus is on BOOTS not books.  Unfortunately, we have had more books delivered to the big yellow box in reception than footy boots, and other types of footwear, such as ‘work or gum’ boots and runners.  Please remember we can only accept donations of used footwear in good condition.  Our drive will continue until the end of term. Donations will be sorted and collected by the Books and Boots charity to be distributed to indigenous communities in regional and remote areas across our nation.  

Parent/Carer Opinion Survey - This annual survey has been provided for all families to choose to respond to if they wish.  You have until Friday, 8th September to complete the survey.  Please contact the office team if you have any queries. On the last check we had only a 7% completion rate, so if you can find 10 minutes please complete it.  In case you cannot recall, an email was sent to all parents from our school email on Friday 4th August.  This will provide you with the link to access the survey.

Coming Up

Tomorrow is our Book Parade & Activities Day - This week has been Book Week and we are very much looking forward to it culminating with our Book Parade tomorrow.   This week there has been a daily quiz for each grade level and this has proven popular.  We will present the prize winning grades at our assembly towards the end of the day.  The main event however will be early on, with the Book Parade being held on the basketball court shortly after 9.10 am to 10.20 am with our fantastic colour commentators Lauren B and Dan.  We would love it if every child and staff member comes dressed as a character from a book. Just a reminder that parents/carers are only allowed to photograph their own children.  We will of course be taking photos and videos ourselves, including with the involvement of our grade 6 Captains acting as Book Parade Ambassadors. 

All families are welcome to attend, including pre-school siblings who are invited to walk in the parade with their FWPS siblings. (If your pre-school child is participating, we kindly ask that they remain with you at the times they are not walking to parade, for supervision purposes).  

We request that families remain off the basketball court area until all grades are in position, as the logistics of moving 675 students into the one space can be tricky. 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for reasonable weather.

After the parade, students will participate in three different rotational activities based on three nominated picture story books from this year’s CBCA Book of the Year Awards. 

Students will be in mixed-grade multi-age groupings (that is, each group will have students from each grade level in it). Each group will have approximately 25 students. Prep students will be paired with and supported by their Year 3/4 buddies. The focus is on building community across our student cohorts, with an emphasis placed on older students supporting younger students.

Assembly this week… will be very much linked to Book Week with book prizes being drawn (see above) as well as many of our regular items, such as an athletics report and presentations from our student leadership team where relevant.  Because of the focus on Book Week, our next grade item will be held over to the following week when it will be 1JI’s opportunity to present.  As always the location of assembly is weather dependent.  If we are required to present a live assembly from the gallery, space seats are available on a first come basis for parents and carers with a special interest, such as those with students receiving Pupil of the Week awards, or students who are presenting a report.  If the decision is made to hold the assembly indoors, we will send a Compass message to all shortly beforehand.  Audience members are encouraged to arrive from 2.30 pm so they can be seated in the Dingo gallery space prior to our 2.40 pm assembly. 

Gretel from 5MC and Hamish from 2TF are pictured with Marrung Champion, Tess after they had a ‘catch up’ opportunity to receive their Marrung Leadership badges at last week’s assembly. 

Next Week

AFL Junior X - On Wednesday a group of 39 year 4 and 5 students will participate in AFL X Junior Competition at Skinner Reserve.  Junior X is the AFL’s modified and more social version of the game, one that may be more involving for participants.  The students will be accompanied by two staff members for this all day event.

Talking About Money Incursion - Next Thursday it will be our grade 6 students’ turn to participate in a fascinating and practical workshop encouraging them to have confidence in understanding the implications of financial decisions that will affect their lives.  The program is presented over two sessions.  

Goodbye Louise - After nearly 5 years and untold hours working and supporting our children in before and after school and vacation care, team coordinator Louise Farley will be moving back with friends and family in the Frankston area.  As next Friday will be Louise’s final day we are pleased to support Their Care in providing a BBQ for students who attend the program and their families.  A flyer is included in today’s newsletter includes relevant information.

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated (and updated) messages…

Assembly - Assembly on Friday’s will be held outdoors only if the weather conditions are conducive.  If not, assemblies will be presented indoors in the gallery space in Dingo and broadcast to the classrooms.  At this time of the year it may be anticipated that the majority of assemblies will be held indoors.  For our indoor assemblies we gather all the student presenters, class assembly presenters and pupils of the week before assembly starts, as well as parents, carers, grandparents and community members who have come to watch.  

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 into 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.