Principal's Report
Principal: Brendan Millar
In this week’s newsletter:
- Appreciations and Congratulations
- NAPLAN starts this week
- Student representative groups
- Assembly performances
- News
- Latest video presentation - Grade 3 Zoo Snooze
- Campaspe campers
- Parents Association FWPS fundraisers
- Coming Up
- Prep enrolment 2025
- Kids’ Share afternoons
- The World’s Greatest Shave
- Wigs for Kids gold coin donation casual dress day 28th March
- Repeated (and updated) Messages
Appreciations and Congratulations
NAPLAN Starts - The annual National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy started this week for students in grades 3 and 5. Thanks to the preparation of the grade 3 and 5 teams, led by Tess and Helena, as well as the overall preparation overseen by Assistant Principal Carolyn, ensuring our school’s preparation has been exemplary. An acknowledgement of the grade 3 and 5 students who were focussed and on task during the initial NAPLAN writing tasks I observed on Wednesday.
Student Representative Groups - Congratulations to the members of the Environment Team (pictured) who received their badges at assembly last Friday. Now all our formal student leadership representatives elected by their peers have had the opportunity to be presented with their badges. Grade 6 school and class captains, Junior School Council, Marrung and Environment Team representatives now have all met, some multiple times. Initiatives and plans will be regularly shared and promoted via assembly and newsletter reports.
Assembly Performances - Featured are some pics from last week’s assembly.
Last week we had a change up with a musical performance from the students in 5LW. The grade sang along to The White Stripes, ‘We’re Going to be Friends’. There was some accompaniment from Leo on djembe drum and Ewan playing guitar on his own amp with phenomenal confidence. That was really good fun.
News…
Grade 3 Zoo Snooze - The latest video to showcase the wonderful kids and staff at FWPS is linked below. Give yourself 3 1/2 minutes to view this wonderful snapshot of the memorable experiences of our recent grade 3 Zoo Snooze overnight camping experience. A big thank you to Michael for doing a great job with the editing.
Link: https://vimeo.com/922832254
Grade 4 Campaspe Campers - The grade 4 campers headed off shortly after 9 am this morning to Campaspe Downs camp. Appreciations to Anthea for her superb organisation and the supporting group of staff and parent helpers. I am pleased to be able to attend as well to support our staffing ratio for this camp.
FWPS Parent Association Sausage Sizzle is back! - it's great to see how many families have already submitted food orders for the forthcoming FWPS Parent Association Sausage Sizzle on Wednesday, 27th March. Your participation will support us in fundraising for the cost of replacing the surface of the outdoor basketball court. And as you can see, it needs replacing.
TheirCare, our Out of School Hours Care provider has generously offered to donate all the sausages and bread for this event.
The information and ordering link remains pinned on your Compass post, or you can order via this link:
https://compasstix.com/e/o2g1ojwwm5
All sausages will be Halal and gluten free.
Children will receive one piece of fruit (random/seasonal) free of charge along with their sausage order.
Don’t forget to order in time!
Easter Raffle 2024 - Please support the FWPS Parents Association, with all profits from the Easter Raffle also being directed towards the cost of replacing the basketball court surface.
Tickets will be available until Monday, 25th March. The raffle winners will be announced at assembly on the last day of term (28th March, 1:45pm approx.)
LINK TO TICKETS: https://compasstix.com/e/ght88btm0l
We appreciate the donations of easter goodies to fill the prize packs! Our plan is to make 29 packs (1 per class). Chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies and lollies are always a hit with the kids. Not being limited to chocolate however, books, bunny ears, stickers and small toys are also great donations. Donations can be made over the next week. Please drop your donations to the office by end of day, Monday 25th March.
All these amazing donations will be sorted into hampers on Tuesday 26th of March from 9am to 11am in the FWPS Staff Room. If you can spare some time to help, please join us (little kids are welcome).
Please keep an eye out in the upcoming newsletters for reminders and further details, and thank you for your support of the FWPS Easter Raffle.
Coming Up…
Prep 2025 Enrolment Information - It has been such a busy term that we have only just arranged dates for our Prep 2025 talks and tours. There will be four tours held over three dates, two weeks apart starting during week 2 of term 2. While there is no obligation to attend (especially for current families), families with a Prep 2025 starter are very welcome. For new families attendance is strongly encouraged.
Information can be obtained from our website: Book a Prep Enrolment Information Session and Tour here.
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 will be held at the end of the day in all grade 1 - 6 classrooms on Tuesday, 26th March, during the last week of term.
The World’s Greatest Shave - As reported in last week’s newsletter and at assembly, brave grade 6 student Clementine Murray will have her hair shaved for the Leukaemia Foundation next Friday. Her grade 5 teacher, Lee will be doing the honours in the gallery space with a lunchtime audience of students who would like to support Clem. At the time of writing Clem's supporters had donated $1309. Wonderful! You are welcome to support her efforts - please see the link below.
Simply click here:
Or scan here:
Wigs for Kids - Grade Prep teacher, Lauren is also losing her locks for a great cause. We will be holding a ‘Wigs for Kids’ gold coin donation and casual dress day on the last day of term, Thursday 28th March. The donation link can be found below.
https://fundraise.kidswithcancer.org.au/s/5563/5630
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 one 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.