Principal's Report
Principal: Brendan Millar
In this week’s newsletter:
Appreciations and News
- Bugs and lurgies
- Unsafe and illegal driving and parking
- NAPLAN 2025
- Annual Report to the School Community (2024)
Coming up - Tomorrow
- P–3 Swimming
- Assembly
Coming up - Next Week
- Prep 100 days of School
- Annual Athletics Carnival
- Inform and Empower
Coming up this Term
- Parents’ Association
- Book Week
Appreciations and News
Bugs and lurgies - We are currently experiencing a significant number of illnesses in line with the wider community. We urge families to keep symptomatic children at home during the likely period of infection. I’m following my own advice here—I’m currently off sick with a case of Influenza A and will be making use of a few of the sick days I’ve accrued over the years. I thank the leadership team for their work in covering during my absence. This is a cultural strength at FWPS - as this attitude is consistently demonstrated across our teaching and education support teams.
Unsafe and illegal driving and parking - It is distressing when we see or have reported to us dangerous driving practices near our school. No one should be in such a hurry that they would consider the risk to others’ health and safety as acceptable. Sometimes it is their own children who are exposed to risk due to selfish attitudes and misplaced priorities. We know that Argyle St has long been a challenge for parking at the start and end of the school day and this has only been exacerbated by our building works. Consequently, Blandford St seems to have become the new frontier for dodgy, dangerous and discourteous driving and parking. Concerning behaviours include parking across and in neighbours' driveways and parking within Withers Lane. Following feedback from parents, carers and neighbours, I have again communicated with the Maribyrnong City Council seeking greater visibility from their parking team. I anticipate that this will increase the likelihood of significant parking fines being levied. You have been warned!
Annual Report to the School Community (2024) - Every year the Department of Education requires schools to release an Annual Report in response to the yearly aims of the school’s Strategic Plan. Here, you will find a copy of our Annual Report 2024 as presented to the FWPS School Council in April 2025.
This is currently available on our school website. There will be more information next week about the requirement to provide a public opportunity to share this information.
Coming up - Tomorrow
P–3 Swimming - Tomorrow marks the final day of our 9-day P–3 swimming program. It’s been a bit of a logistical juggle, but a successful one. Expanding the program scope to include all of P–3 has streamlined our annual planning and delivery. A massive thank you to all involved—teachers, ES staff, parents and carers who helped with daily travel to and from the MAC. Our students have loved the opportunity to visit the centre, and we’re lucky to have such a fantastic facility nearby. Thanks again to the MAC staff for their professionalism in running the program.
Assembly … will be held tomorrow at the usual time of 2.40pm. A decision will be made on the day whether it will be held indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. Along with the presentation of the Pupil of the Week Awards, PMM will present their assembly item. We love it when our preps have the opportunity to present. There will be a mix of grade 1 and prep presentations over the next few weeks.
Coming Up - Next Week
Prep 100 Days of School - We look forward to this annual milestone. Our prep families have been directly informed about what this entails, however I would say look forward to a few wizened young ‘uns next Monday!
Annual Athletics Carnival - Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 will be transported to Moonee Valley Athletics Track in Aberfeldie next Wednesday for our annual athletics carnival. The event is planned to start at 9.30am and conclude in time for students to return for our regular dismissal time. All students will participate in a minimum of 3 and maximum 4 events. Students have had the opportunity to identify their preference of running, throwing and jumping events. While this is a day of inclusion for all, it also enables our Physical Education teacher, Stratos, to prepare a team for the Footscray District Athletics Carnival on Thursday 21st August at the same venue. The canteen will operate, but we expect students to bring their own lunch, as it is unlikely the canteen will be able to accommodate lunch requirements. Please be mindful of changeable weather conditions, as while there is reasonable protection from rain, it is predominantly an outdoor event and should be dressed accordingly. Consider the need to bring out the school hat and pack sunscreen.
Inform and Empower - You might be familiar with the name by now—Inform and Empower is our online cyber awareness and safety program, generously funded by the Community Bank Seddon. Each term, every grade level has a live online session.
Sessions for Years 1–6 will run next week or the week after. The I&E team runs multiple sessions to allow flexibility, and you’ll receive a tip sheet via your child’s class. Prep students will have their session mid-term. Please take a few minutes to talk with your child about what they learn—this is such a crucial part of their lives today.
Here’s what’s being covered this term:
- Grades 5–6: Cyberbullying
- Grades 3–4: Cyberbullying
- Years 1–2: Digital Footprints
- Prep: Safe Screen Time
Coming up this Term
Parents’ Association - Our PA have done a wonderful job preparing events within the membership of the committee and expanding beyond the actual committee for the Trivia Night - coming up in just a couple of weeks. Please note today’s PA Compass post for all this term’s events.
Book Week - Our annual Book Parade is the culmination of this wonderful week of appreciation of kids’ literature. Plans are being prepared by Shannon, who has expanded the library role to be our point of contact for our annual events and presentations. This term in addition to the Book Parade, there will be Science Week, Wear it Purple Day, and our annual Book Fair. A big appreciation to Shannon for her wonderful enthusiasm in supporting the program and ensuring that students are really involved in the planning and presentation of all these events.
Warm regards,
Brendan
Reminders and Repeated Messages
To Parents/Carers,
UPDATE ON SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION POWERS
Our school is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students and staff. You may be aware of recent changes announced to suspension and expulsion powers that will be available to Victorian principals from the start of this term.
We know that students’ behaviour outside of school, particularly online, can sometimes impact the safety of students and staff at school.
In exceptional circumstances, principals of Victorian government schools will be able to suspend or expel students for behaviour that occurs outside of school grounds and/or hours including online, if it poses a significant danger to the safety and wellbeing of students or staff.
These powers apply only to serious incidents where there is a clear and close connection to the school and the behaviour of a student outside of school unreasonably impacts the safety and wellbeing of students or staff at school, and their ability to learn or work. Please note:
They do not apply to behaviours unrelated to the school or school community.
They only apply to behaviour which occurs from Monday, 21 July 2025 onwards.
Suspension and expulsion will remain measures of last resort – our primary approach continues to focus on proactive and positive behaviour support, including working with you to teach students the behaviours we expect of them, in school and in life.
Thank you for your continued support as we work in partnership to educate and support our young people.
Sincerely,
Brendan Millar
Principal