Principal's Report

In this week's newsletter

• Appreciations and News …
  • Respect for Staff policy
  • Thanks to all who responded to the road safety audit submission
  • Grade 3 and 4 swimming
  • 100 Days of Prep 
  • Today’s incursions
  • Grade 5s Space Excursion video
  • Update on facilities at FWPS
• Coming up 
  • Parent/Carer survey opens Monday
  • Assembly tomorrow
  • Marrung leadership badges
  • Athletics next Wednesday
• 2023 Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey (repeated)
• Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

Respect for Staff - We know that in general there is a deep appreciation for our FWPS staff team.  Unfortunately, we at times find ourselves dealing with rude, aggressive and on rare occasions, threatening behaviour from members of our community.  Such behaviour is never ok or excusable.  Our school website now features our newest policy update – The Respect for School Staff Policy. Please take 5 minutes to read through this document.

https://www.fwps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/respect_for_school_staff_policy.pdf

Proposed Road Safety Audit - Thanks to the parents/carers, JSC and Captain representatives and teachers who provided their thoughts for the Maribyrnong Council request for views on road safety in our neighbourhood.  As stated last week, Council is preparing a submission for a proposed Schools’ Road Safety Audit contracted by the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC).  I would be very surprised if any families that use our local streets at the busy start and end of the school day weren’t in favour of such an audit.  I will keep you updated on the outcome.

Grade 3 and 4 swimming… concludes tomorrow.  An appreciation to all staff and parent/carers who enabled the program to be held.  We also have enjoyed observing the respect and joy the students have demonstrated over the last two weeks.

100 Days of Prep - Our preps entered into the spirit of the 100 Days of Prep celebration on Monday.  The century theme was highlighted with lots of suddenly aged little people enjoying the attention before school.  A big thanks to parents and carers and the prep team for being wonderfully supportive of this prep milestone moment.

The past has been quite the theme this week, with the grade one team welcoming the very stern Mrs Sargood into their classrooms today, returning on Friday.  The opportunity to practically experience a glimpse of education in the past will be a stimulus for comparison and contrast.

Moving back to the future, the grade 5s today were involved in an incursion provided by two undergraduate volunteers representing Robogirls https://robogals.org

A brief video featuring our grade 5 cohort attending their recent excursion days at The Victorian Space and Science Education Centre can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/850057717 

Next week our video will feature the 100 Days of Prep celebration.

Facilities - A parent requested an update on the Parents’ Association funding for a new public address system for the Bilby/green shade sail area.  This is being quoted by two regular FWPS contractors but we have yet to sight them!

Coming up 

Parent/Carer Opinion Survey - Last week we mentioned that the opportunity to respond to this annual survey will be provided to all families (see note below repeated from last week).  We plan to send a unique link to all families next Monday when the survey opens.  We will be sending the link to the email address we have listed on our system.  If your email address has changed it is a great reminder to update it with us.  

Marrung Student Leaders - Our Marrung Leaders will be very pleased to receive their newly minted badges at assembly tomorrow.  

Assembly this week… will feature 2DW’s grade item.  As the weather forecast is looking damp we will move assembly to the gallery space if required.  There will be a limited number of seats (and some standing room).  We anticipate that the audience will mostly feature parents and carers of our presentation grade - 2DW, Marrung leaders and Pupils of the Week.  At next week’s assembly, PKT will feature, before we return once more to the grade 2 team, with 2HR presenting in week 6. 

Last week 2TF entertained us with an engaging demonstration of their maths learning (as pictured).

Athletics Carnival Day - Grades 4, 5 and 6 students will be travelling by coach next Wednesday to Aberfeldie Athletics Centre for our Aths Carnival.  As this program is part of the required curriculum we expect all students in grades 4 - 6 to attend.  Payment has been extended to Monday at 3pm.  Please endeavour to make that payment by Friday.

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated from last week

2023 Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey:

WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CARERS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!

Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents / caregivers think of our school. The Parent / Carer Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education that is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional but we encourage all families to participate. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies. 

All families are invited to participate in the survey. 

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will be open from Monday 7 August to Friday 8 September 2023.

Parents and carers will be sent an email with a unique log on code.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. 

The survey results will be shared and discussed at School Council. Recent survey results were a key reference during our recent School Review. Please speak to a member of the Principal team if you would like more information.

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.

Parking Responsibilities - Information for Schools