Principal's Report

In this week’s newsletter:

• What's Up?
  • Planning fortnight
  • Smile Squad is happening now
• Appreciations and News
  • Wear it Purple day 
  • Father’s and Special Person’s Day
  • Emergency Management drill
  • Western Bulldogs WAFL player visit
• Coming Up
  •  Assembly tomorrow
• Coming Up Next Week
  • Grade 1 Perspective into Life of the Past incursion
  • Grade 5 and 6 Money incursions start Monday 
  • Maribyrnong Division Athletics Carnival at Keilor on Tuesday
  • Soundgarage concerts will be held on Wednesday and Thursday evening
  • Musical Futures concerts will be held during the day next Thursday
  • RU OK Day on Thursday
• Coming Up in the Final Week of Term
  • Kids’ Share Open Afternoon
  • Early dismissal at 2:20pm on Friday, 20 September - End of Term
• Next Term
  • Vision and Values launch

What's Up?

Planning Fortnight - For the last 2 weeks of term, week a complicated specialist timetable will be in place to enable all teams (with the exception of the grade 3s who have planned this week due to impending staff leave to have a dedicated planning day). The days your child will have specialists will likely be changed over this period.

Smile Squad is happening now - We received late confirmation that Smile Squad would start their (up to) 3 weeks of treatment for students who were registered for assessment prior to the deadline.  At the assessment stage, Smile Squad staff will be checking students’ dental health throughout each day in the Bilby meeting room.

Appreciations and News...

Wear it Purple Day - With many students and staff embracing purple and rainbow, a lunchtime playground dance party and a colourful graffiti wall on the external Platypus chalkboard, we had an exciting lunch on Friday. An appreciation to grade 6 captains, Aisha, Eva, Milly, Mollie and Alice for capturing some great pics, Shannon and Taleb for organising the graffiti wall and Towela and Maria for getting the dance party rocking.  We will share the short video as soon as we can ascertain the photo permissions from this informal photo assignment.

Father’s and Special Person’s Day - A big thank you to all parents and carers who organised and assisted on Friday.  The reduction from many items to a single $5 price for one or grouped items, increased the stall’s efficiency and reduced shoppers’ stress!

Emergency Management Drill - We run regular emergency management practice drills throughout the year.  We always place emergency practices within context for the students and class teachers provide opportunities for feedback at the conclusion of the drill.  Tuesday’s drill was very calm and efficient, reflecting well on preparedness and student resilience.

Western Bulldogs WAFL Player Visit - Representatives from each of the grade 5 classes were delighted to have the opportunity to meet with 2 members of the Bulldogs Women's AFL team. Thanks to Towela who co-ordinated the visit.  Reports from students who attended were extremely positive.  Some of the representatives were really only 6 or 7 years older and perhaps our students could see that such an opportunity could one day happen for them too.  

Coming Up… 

Assembly Tomorrow - Last week it was 1LE’s turn to present their assembly item and they charmed us with their awesome alliterative sentences.  

(Children without photo permissions have been obscured.)

We will be keeping an eye on the weather tomorrow with the presenting grade, 1JS, preparing for indoor or outdoor options.  If indoors, as always, we will welcome parents and carers with direct interest into the gallery space in Dingo for a 2:40pm assembly.

Coming Up Next Week...

Grade 1 Perspective into Life of the Past Incursion - Next Monday, all grade 1 classes will have the opportunity to step back in time to what life was like in a school 100 or more years ago.  The students will have the opportunity to write with pen and ink, whip their own cream during Orchard to Plate and make a toy in the style of times past. Outdoor games, such as marbles, hopscotch, quoits and skipping, will echo common pursuits from the past.  Staff and students are planning to dress in ‘olden days clothing to really get into the spirit of the day.  Students are encouraged to bring a gold coin donation to assist with the cost of resources and enable this value for money incursion, super successful.

Grade 6 Money Incursions start Monday - This terrific incursion opportunity for the grade 6 students will take place over two sessions this coming Monday, and Tuesday of the following week, the final week of term.  During the sessions there will be a focus on learning how to save, manage and spend money wisely.  Students will investigate the digitisation of money and the variety of ways to make and receive payments.

Maribyrnong Division Athletics Carnival at Keilor Athletics Track - Next Tuesday 41 qualifying students, supported by Stratos and Heather will compete, representing our school and the Footscray Primary Schools Sports’ District at the Maribyrnong Division Athletics Carnival.  We wish all the participants the very best, hopefully with mild weather to accompany them.  Parents and carers are of course encouraged to attend to support the team.

Soundgarage Concerts will be held on Wednesday and Thursday evening next week in the Gecko:

Wednesday, 11th September

5:30pm - Gary's Guitar and Drum students 

6:30pm - ALL SAP (Sara's Singing students)

Thursday, 12th September

5:30pm - ALL of Henry’s Keyboard students

6:30pm - ALL of Henry's Drums students

Musical Futures Concerts for grades Prep to 4 will be held during the day on Thursday, 12th September in the Gecko. A Compass reminder post was sent on Monday which also contained a minor adjustment of times.  Parents and carers are encouraged to attend and to enter the school via the main office and then make their way to the Gecko.  Each class will present their mini concert item with another class.  Audience members, please ensure you are on time, as the performance schedule will not be able to be delayed.

Performance Times:

9:00am - PBD and 1JS

9:20am - PAK and 1LE

9:40am - PAC and 1MM

10:00am - PLB and 1JM

10:30am - 1LL and 2TF

10:50am - 2BL and 3KT

12:10pm - 2DK and 3MP

12:30pm - 2MM and 4MK

1:00pm - 4AF and 3TN

1:20pm - 2CW, 4CM and 3TM

Coming up … in the Final Week of Term

Kids’ Share Open Afternoon - Tuesday, 17th September 2024, 3:30pm to 4:15pm - A follow up reminder to the Compass post that was sent on Monday. We will be holding our second semester Kids’ Share Open Afternoon for parents / carers of all year levels after school next Tuesday.  We hope to see lots of families visiting the classrooms and discussing the learning together.  Grades will be dismissed at the usual time of 3:20pm.  If you are planning to attend, you are welcome to return during the Open Afternoon window (3:30pm to 4:00pm). You do not need to stay for the full length of time (10 -15 minutes should be sufficient) and families are welcome to come and go as they please during the Open Afternoon window.  For families with siblings, this time will allow you to visit each room for just enough time to have each child share their work. We appreciate your ongoing support of your child’s learning and encourage you to follow up with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about your child’s academic growth.

Early dismissal at 2.20pm on Friday, 20th September.

Next Term

Vision and Values launch - We are planning for the official launch of our new Vision and Values on 11 October, the first Friday of Term 4. The day will be celebrated with mixed aged groups, focussing on activities themed around our values of respect, responsibility, resilience and belonging.  A highlight will be a sausage sizzle supported by TheirCare and the Flight family (Solomon 5RC) who have generously offered to donate bread from their bakery. The sausage sizzle communication will be sent out next week in preparation and we will again be seeking volunteers to assist with running our second sausage sizzle for the year.  

Cheers,

Brendan

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