Principal's Report

In this week’s newsletter:

News, Appreciations & Acknowledgements

• Emergency Management Drill
• School Winter Disco

• Cessation of Industrial Action

   

Coming Up Tomorrow

• Book Week Parade
• Assembly
• Parent / Carer Opinion Survey

• Smile Squad

   

Coming Up Next Week

• Swimming Program - Years Prep to 3 over the next fortnight
• School Council
• Next Friday is Wear It Purple Day

News, Appreciations and Acknowledgements

Emergency Management Drill

On Monday this term’s emergency practice required students to return to class from the yard. These types of experiences allow students and staff to gently test what we need to do and how we need to act during a real emergency. By stress testing our procedures it enables us to seek feedback and act on elements that we can do better.  

School Winter Disco 

It was really terrific to be able to utilise our fabulous new space for the purpose of our students coming together to have fun. It would not have been possible without the work of our Parent’s Association volunteers with the support of our admin and my leadership colleagues. Being able to hold each disco on one side of the huge space and be able to prepare a separate space for the Zooper Dooper break was simply ideal. We appreciate the staff and parents who attended, either the junior or senior discos and in some cases both - contributing to such a fun evening. In particular an appreciation to Parents Association office bearers, Tanya Tran and Bec Gregg, Acting Co-Principal, Liz and our wonderful office team, Rachael, Zowi, Sharon and Nicole. We had nearly all our teachers and many Education Support staff assist, as well as a long list of parents/carers.

Our lighting and disco DJ dads Tom and Daniel and of course spinning the discs, Parker from 5DW.

Thanks also to: Alex Pinti, Anna Kelly, Anny Jonsson, Bec White, Beverley Wang, Bop Leas, Duy Nguyen, Erica Chatterton, Gazel Goh, James Edwards, Kate Riley, Kate Forsyth, Ken Nguyen, Lesley De Garis, Marcela Rigg, Naomi Finlay, Natalie Cassar, Natalie Lumsden and Nerida Eftos.

The FWPS village came together with joy and purpose.

A secondary area is fundraising, and we were delighted to have raised approximately $4,400.00 for school facilities priorities.

Cessation of Industrial Action

Families will be aware by now that all industrial action relating to the long process of developing has now ceased. Our staff have appreciated throughout the respectful and thoughtful support from our community.

Coming Up Tomorrow

Book Week Parade 

Students, staff and I daresay many parents and carers are looking forward to our annual Book Parade and Activity Day tomorrow. The highlight for the community is observing the terrific costumes and all the hilarity that goes along with it. I love that at FWPS our staff teams really embrace the challenge of dressing in a book related theme.  

A really big appreciation to our staff contributors, with an especially big appreciation to Year 2 team member, Bec Grieves.

Assembly

Tomorrow’s assembly will provide a full stop to Book Parade and Activities Day - 1HP will present their assembly item, there will be a report from today’s Footscray District Sports District Athletics Carnival and our captains will remind our community that we will celebrate Wear it Purple Day on Friday, 28th August. Assembly starts every Friday after all grades have moved to the Eagle Gymnasium at 2:40pm, the end of recess eating time.  Gates open at 2:30pm at the end of recess enabling visitors to leisurely make their way to assembly. Grades return to class and are dismissed from there at the conclusion of assembly.

Parent / Carer Opinion Survey

The annual Parent and Carer Opinion Survey is a Department of Education mandated process that seeks feedback about families’ experiences of attending their local government school. A specific link was shared with parents and carers last week. The survey will be open for several weeks and we encourage all families to participate.

Smile Squad

The dental hygiene program is in full swing at the moment with the dental van parked in the bike park being supplemented by a secondary treatment space in our Bilby Meeting room.  

Coming Up Next Week

Swimming Program - Years Prep to 3 over the next fortnight

Thanks to Trang, Liz, Carolyn and our office team for the many hours of work in preparing the incredible logistics required to prepare for this year’s intensive swimming program during week's 7 and 8. There will be specialist and supervision timetable changes to accommodate the program. We also appreciate the parents and carers who have volunteered to assist with our supervision ratios - we simply cannot run the program without your support!

School Council 

School Council will meet on Tuesday evening in person, and I will provide a report summary in our next week’s newsletter.

Next Friday is Wear it Purple Day

WIPD provides our community to embrace the spirit of respect and tolerance. We encourage our community to come in casual dress with a focus on purple or rainbow colours.

Best regards,

Brendan

Repeated and Revised Messages