Principal's Report

In this week’s newsletter:

Appreciations 

• Goodbye and good luck Ange
• IDAHOBIT Day acknowledgement
• National Volunteer Week

News

• Emergency Management drill
• Building project update

Coming Up - Tomorrow

• Grade 6 Winter inter school sports round 4
• Assembly tomorrow

Coming Up - Next Week

• Pupil free days next Monday and Tuesday
• National Reconciliation Week
• Divisional Cross Country next Wednesday
• Final Prep 2025 information session and tour will be held next Friday 

Appreciations

TheirCare Staffing Change 

Friday will be Ange’s final day at FWPS. Ange has stood in as the team co-ordinator since towards the end of last year while the company searched for a replacement for Ashleigh.  This has been quite a challenging time with the temporary relocation of service due to our building works and all that flows from this. During this time Ange has maintained a positive can-do attitude and always been really positive with all the children. This week Louise, the newly appointed co-ordinator, has been working together with Ange to ensure an effective handover. We wish Ange the very best as she moves onto a service closer to home and will offer the same positive continued support to Louise and the team moving forward.

IDAHOBIT Day 

We appreciate our community’s support last Friday. This was a practical example of our school value of Respect in practice.

National Volunteer Week 

This week is national Volunteer Week.  In library classes this week there has been a focus on the people in our kids’ lives who assist them enjoy so many opportunities. Whether it is sport, Scouts, clubs and many others, they are probably only happening due to the volunteers who make it possible. Let’s encourage our students to express their gratitude for the volunteers who make our lives so much better! 

News

Emergency Management Practice 

Each term we run an Emergency Management practice for the purpose of preparing our students and staff for the eventuality that one day we may need to do this for real. Last term we practised an Evacuation, where we moved from grades and specialist programs to the oval in a safe and efficient manner. As was posted in an overnight Compass post, we were due to hold this term’s Emergency Management practice this afternoon. The practice was centred around Recall from the yard to a Lockdown in classrooms. This practice is required for an eventuality where there is a danger outside, so the Recall / Lockdown may be relevant at any time, due to classes being held outdoors and students moving between classes, to toilets etc. Today, we focused on initially recalling students from the yard towards the end of recess with all students and staff quickly moving to classrooms. The process involves locking doors, pulling down blinds and teachers updating an online list to ensure all students and staff are accounted for. As always, the students were informed beforehand in a practical manner and were provided the opportunity for feedback at the end of the practice.

Building Project Update 

Last week when the new building’s concrete slab was being poured, through the window from 4DW, Drew took the following time lapse video.   

Fascinating! 

After 7 days of concrete curing, today the contractors moved onto placing the vertical structural beams into place. Soon we will see the outline of just how high the basketball gym roof will be. For students used to the low roof in our old gym, this will be a revelation. We regularly meet with the Design Team. We appreciate the opportunity to be consulted at every point throughout the construction.

Coming Up - Tomorrow

Winter Interschool Round 4 

Tomorrow we will be playing an away fixture at Footscray PS. The soccer match will be played at Merv Hughes Oval and unfortunately as FPS does not field an AFL team, our squad will again compete in a match simulation. A big appreciation to members of the grade 6 teaching team and Stratos for providing these highly anticipated sporting opportunities for our senior cohort.

Assembly Tomorrow 

With some rain expected tomorrow, we will assess late in the school day whether we will be able to manage an outdoor assembly, or move to the gallery space with just the key participants in person and webcast to classrooms. This week 3MP will present their assembly item and we will hear the outcome of last week’s Round 3 inter school sports games and any relevant reports from our student representative groups. School gates are opened early to allow access to parents and carers who wish to attend assembly.

Coming Up - Next Week

Pupil Free Days next Monday and Tuesday

• Curriculum Day on Monday - Berry Street Education Model - Training day 4.
• Professional Practice Day - Student reporting day.

Both these days are Pupil Free Days and school will not be open.  

TheirCare will provide a full day care program for families who wish to call on their service.  Contact TheirCare on:

Reconciliation Week 

From next Tuesday (to the following Tuesday) we acknowledge and celebrate Reconciliation Week, an important time in the life of Indigenous Australians and all who appreciate how far we have come and how far we have to go. During library and class sessions, our students will have the opportunity to learn more from a historical and contextual perspective.

Divisional Cross Country Event 

Congratulations to the 18 students, accompanied by Stratos, who will attend the annual Divisional Cross Country event next Wednesday. The cost of this event has again been subsidised by school funds to increase the affordability for families, as costs of all events involving bus transport have increased substantially over recent years. The minibus will leave at the start of the school day and participants are anticipated to return to school mid afternoon. Parents and carers are encouraged to attend. Please note that there has been a late change of venue, as Brimbank Park is no longer available. The event will now be held at Keilor Park. All relevant and amended information has been sent to the families of participants.

2026 Prep Enrolment Information Sessions and School Tours 

The remaining session will be held next Friday, 30th May 2025, 9:30am to 10:45am.

To attend the final session, please register via the following link: 

We encourage parents and carers to attend one of these sessions, particularly if new to our school community. Our grade 6 captains, along with K-P Transition co-ordinator Karri and I appreciate the opportunity of showcasing what FWPS has to offer. Enrolment forms will be available for all families residing within our school zone and enrolment applications will be offered for all families who reside outside our zone.  

Warm regards,

Brendan

Reminders and Repeated Messages