Principal's Report

In this Week's Newsletter

• Appreciations and News…
  • Milo’s Birthday Surprise video
  • Grade 5s Robo gals video
  • Smile Squad is coming
  • Books 'n' Boots
  • Little Angler Kits for grade 5s
  • Free Broadband offer
• Coming up 
  • Assembly this week
  • Book Week next week and Book Parade Friday of next week
  • Wear it Purple Day to be acknowledged on Thursday of next week
  • District Athletics next Thursday
  • Parent / Carers Opinion Survey open until September 8th 
• Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

Our Matildas … It was a great ride while it lasted.  While many of us were disappointed by the result, it has been a wonderful experience for kids and adults across Australia.  The boost to women’s and girls’ sport has been terrific.

Milo’s Birthday Surprise - It was delightful seeing our preps excitedly celebrating Milo’s Birthday Surprise last Friday, a milestone with our Little Learners Love Literacy program.  This was featured in PKT’s assembly items.  We filmed a practice earlier in the day.  It is featured here: https://vimeo.com/853599522

Robo Gals with the Grade 5s - Thanks to the 5SM crew for sharing their enthusiasm for coding robots by making the following video: https://vimeo.com/855184523

Smile Squad - We shared the news earlier in term that the state government sponsored dental service, Smile Squad will be returning to FWPS next term.  We have just received the information from them that parents and carers have until 1st September to register.  See the article under Wellbeing and Inclusion News to register through their process streamlined from last year.

Books 'n' Boots - This year our Marrung leaders are championing the campaign to support indigenous communities in Central Australia. In 2022 it was all about books organised by 4DW and in 2023 it is boots that we are looking for. Note the article in our Wellbeing & Inclusion News.  

Little Angler Kits - A rather surprising innovation is the state government sponsored Little Angler Kits that will be made available free of charge for all grade 5 students in government and low fee paying schools.  More information on this initiative is available below.

Coming up 

Tomorrow

Assembly this week… will feature 2HR’s grade item.  As always the location of assembly is weather dependent, with seats being available for parents and carers with a special interest, such as those with students receiving Pupil of the Week awards and with children in 2HR who will be presenting their grade item.  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 2.30pm so they can be seated in the Dingo gallery space prior to our 2.40pm assembly. 

Here are some pics from PKT’s grade performance last week:

Next Week

Book Week is next week and Book Parade is on Friday of next week - Prep team member Lauren Baker has been busy creatively and energetically preparing the activities for next week’s Book Week, culminating in the Book Parade on the morning of Friday next week.  From Monday to Thursday there will be an age appropriate Book Week quiz question for each grade level.  Each class will provide an answer as a class and the answers will be placed in a box (one for each grade level). From the drawer at our Friday afternoon assembly, one class from each year level will win a book of their choosing for their classroom library.

In terms of the Book Parade we would love it if every child and staff member comes dressed as a character from a book.  We would then appreciate it if all available parents and carers (and of course grandparents) remain in the yard for the Book Parade itself.  Last year was an absolute hoot.  Just a wee reminder that parents/carers are only allowed to photograph their own children.  We will of course be taking photos and videos ourselves.

Wear It Purple Day - Thursday, 24th August 2023

On the last Friday in August, schools (and workplaces) all over Australia WEAR IT PURPLE to stand with their LGBTQIA+ students and to recognise the alarming rate of bullying faced by LGBTQIA+ youth.

The Wear It Purple theme for this year is ‘Write Your Story’. This theme places emphasis on the importance of personal expression and individuality for rainbow youth. This theme acknowledges the pressure created by social media, mainstream media and education systems to conform to norms and certain standards while encouraging young people to embrace their unique perspectives and to share their story with others.

Wear It Purple Day falls on Friday 25th August, but at FWPS we are recognising this a day earlier due to a clash with the Book Week Parade. All students are invited to Wear It Purple on Thursday 24th August to show support for our own rainbow youth and those in the wider community. You might go with a splash of purple, or all out - it’s up to you!

District Athletics Carnival - Next Thursday we will have approximately 70 students attending our annual District Athletics Carnival at Aberfeldie Park in Moonee Valley.  The students will be attending for the full school day and parents and carers are welcome to attend and support.  Each competitor has been selected through their efforts at our recent school aths carnival. Team members will be required to wear suitable athletic gear, including a school sports top that will be provided in advance. As it is an outdoor event with limited shelter, as always we encourage the students to bring along items of clothing that can protect against hot or cold weather. 

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. 

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 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.

Little Angler Kits 

The Victorian Government is investing $1.5 million from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund to provide up to 95,000 Little Angler Kits to primary school aged children in Victoria.

The free kits provide a wonderful school holiday activity for children with their families and help ease the cost of living, providing a fun activity close to home.

Grade 5 students at all Victorian schools, including ours, will be offered the opportunity to receive a FREE Little Angler Kit. Grade 5 students have been selected based on the Victorian Curriculum focus, movement and motor development, and safety considerations.

The program is entirely voluntary. Schools were provided with the option to opt out of the program. Our school has opted to stay in the program so that parents can decide whether they want their child(ren) to receive a free fishing kit.

Parents of Grade 5 students can advise the school if they do not wish their child(ren) to participate for any reason whatsoever. We support parents in making decisions that align with their family values and beliefs.

The roll out of kits will occur through the second half of 2023 (16 October - 4 December) so that all participating children will have a kit in time for the summer school holidays.

The kits include a rod, reel with line, tackle tray, some tackle and information on how to use them to catch a fish. Please note that the tackle tray includes fishing hooks. The tackle tray will be wrapped in cardboard and placed inside a pocket inside the fishing kit bag, which will be sealed with a cable tie to discourage students from opening their kits until they are with a parent or carer.

Kits will be handed out to students to take home with them as soon as the school receives them. Teachers will tell students not to open the kits until they are safely at home with a parent or carer, however parents can contact the school and request to collect their kit from the school themselves if they prefer.

The Victorian Fisheries Authority will create a Little Angler hub on their website, which will be live when the kits start being distributed. It will have useful information, instructional videos and online resources about where and how to fish linking to existing resources from Fishcare and new resources to be produced just for the Little Angler Kits program.

This initiative aims to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria by actively encouraging primary school aged children to learn how to fish, as well as learning more about marine life and the natural environment.