Principal's Report

In this week’s newsletter:

• Book Parade tomorrow morning.
• Appreciations and News
  • Marrung Team Indigenous workshop
  • Visit from Western Bulldogs football players
  • District Athletics Carnival
  • Parent and Carers Opinion Survey
• Coming Up
  •  Assembly tomorrow
  • Grand final action for the Roosters this Sunday
• Repeated (and Updated) Messages

Annual Book Parade Tomorrow 

Tomorrow we will celebrate our annual and much loved Book Week with this year’s theme of Reading is Magic.  The parade will start at approximately 9:10am with our Dress Up Parade and our fingers are crossed for temperate weather. Our parent/carer community has supported the Book Parade marvellously since its return in 2022, ensuring their children are attired marvellously and they are attending in large numbers, so we do hope to have a huge audience in adding to the atmosphere tomorrow.

Appreciations and News

Marrung Indigenous Sculpture workshop - Last Friday the Marrung representatives across the grades attended a very special excursion to an indigenous sculpture workshop at Footscray Arts Centre accompanied by our Marrung leader, Tess Madison and Kerrie Ahrens. Tess reported that this was an exceptional experience and something she is keen for the Marrung Leaders to participate in next year as well. Thanks Kerrie for taking the wonderful pictures that capture the experience wonderfully.  A report will be presented at our assembly next week.

Visit from Western Bulldogs players - An appreciation to the Western Bulldogs Football Club for arranging a visit from current senior list players, Adam Treloar, Ryley Sanders and Alex Keath.  We arranged for our grade 6 interschool sports AFL squad to meet with them.  Our students asked great questions and received thoughtful responses from the players.  Alex Keath commented to me that he attends schools regularly and we must be doing something right based on the respectful and thoughtful engagement from our grade 6 representatives, a comment I was very pleased to share with the students at the conclusion of the visit.  Well done!

Athletics Divisional Carnival - Our enthusiastic team of 68 students headed off to Aberfeldie Athletics Track in Moonee Ponds this morning.  Stratos, along with Marco, Helena and Heather are in attendance to support the team.  We really do appreciate the support you show to your children and students at our school.

Kinder to Prep enrolment process - Last week all families living in our school enrolment zone, seeking a Prep 2025 placement were provided offers of enrolment. Following the ‘sibling entitlement’ requirement, all families who have moved out of zone who have an older sibling continuing to attend FWPS in 2025 were also offered places.  The Department of Education timeline requires all families to respond to the offers of enrolment by tomorrow.  An appeals process has been communicated to families who have not been deemed eligible for a placement in 2025.  As part of the transition process, our K-P Transition co-ordinator, Karri Barker is in the process of visiting all local kindergartens to speak with the educators and meet next year’s preps.

Disability Inclusion Survey - The Department of Education is keen to seek feedback from families on disability inclusion within schools (see explanation and link below).

Invitation to Families - (family survey)

Disability Inclusion is increasing support for students with disability to ensure every student at every ability thrives at school and in life.  Disability Inclusion is being rolled out to all Victorian government schools between 2021-2025, delivering:

1. A new strengths-based Disability Inclusion Profile 
2. A tiered school funding model
3. Increased workforce capability to provide inclusive education

The Department have engaged Deloitte Access Economics to undertake an independent evaluation of Disability Inclusion. 

As part of this evaluation, Deloitte is conducting a short online survey (no more than 15 minutes) of families in Victorian government schools implementing Disability Inclusion. 

The survey aims to capture family awareness and understanding of Disability Inclusion, any adjustments made at a student-level and attitudes towards inclusion of students with disability more generally. 

As part of this evaluation, Deloitte is surveying all families with children enrolled in Victorian government schools. This includes families who have children with disabilities and those who do not. 

Please note, participation is entirely voluntary, and families are under no obligation to participate. If you wish to provide input, you can complete the survey here: family survey.

Coming Up… 

Assembly tomorrow - We will be hopeful of reasonable weather tomorrow, especially during the morning for the Book Parade.  With the focus this week on the Book Parade, we will not feature a grade assembly item this week. We will select the book quiz prize winner, the Pupil of the Week Awards and reports from our student representatives.  If the weather is poor we will again set up assembly in the gallery space in Dingo.  Parents and carers who have a particular interest are invited to attend.  The front gates will be open at the end of recess.  Assuming an indoor assembly, we ask everyone to be seated by 2:40pm.

Grand finals for Roosters under 12s boys and mixed teams - We are pleased to report that the West Footscray Roosters under 12 boys and mixed AFL teams, choc full of current grade 5 and 6 students (as well as some year 7s), both were successful last Sunday in their preliminary finals and are excitedly looking forward to playing Grand Finals on Sunday. Go Roosters!

Fire Brigade Incursion for Preps - Over the next two Wednesdays (Week 7 and 8) the Prep team will participate in an annual opportunity of a free incursion that always excites interest.  The first visit will focus on fire safety, and during their last visit, the students will have the opportunity to view the fire truck and use the fire hose. The site of a massive fire engine rolling over the oval is only topped by the opportunity for children to hold the fire hose while it pumps water at an amazing rate.  We appreciate the support of the MFB and the staff of Footscray Fire Station in enabling this incursion to be held at this time as long as there are no emergencies occurring, because everyone will appreciate that they remain the priority!

Father’s Day and Special Person’s Stall next Friday - Thanks to our Parents’ Association for providing this annual opportunity for all students to buy a well priced gift for their dad or a special person in their life.  A timetable will be prepared to enable all students to browse in the gallery space and to try and simplify the process and bear in mind that our $5 total limit has not changed for a dozen years or so, this year all gifts will be at the same price point of $5. Don't forget to provide or remind your child to bring $5 next Friday, 30 August 2024.

Wear it Purple Day next Friday - Coming up as a whole school community event we will be celebrating Wear it Purple Day on Friday, 30th August. This is a day that aims to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. We have worked together with our own Rainbow Family group at Footscray West PS to continue to develop an awareness of the origin and purpose of this day. Please join us in wearing a touch of purple (or rainbow) to acknowledge and support this special day.

Divisional Athletics Carnival next Friday - Students who excel at today’s District event will have the opportunity to compete at the Divisional event on Friday of next week.  All relevant information will be shared directly with families of those students. 

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated (and Updated) Messages…