Principal's Report

Year 6 Camp Success

Across the last week of term one, our Year 6 students ventured off to the wonderful setting of Rubicon, situated in central Victoria for their Year 6 camp. What a memorable five days they had – they worked together as a team to overcome challenges, solve problems, implement routines and support one another.

I visited our campers on Thursday, which allowed me to see them participating in a number of activities, including the high ropes, raft building and a cultural activity. The raft building is worth a special mention. After being taught how to construct the rafts from planks of wood and barrels, the students worked in teams to race across the lake, with the aim to remain afloat on the rafts… but what’s the fun in that! After successfully completing their voyages, the students (and staff) took great delight in jumping into the water to cool off. You can read more about the students’ adventures in the Year 6 Spotlight in this newsletter.

Our staff were incredibly complimentary about how the students managed themselves throughout the week, and were full of praise for how they represented the school. Well done Year 6! A big thank you to the adults that attended: staff - Anna, Anneliese, Cathy, Conor, Gabi and Jess; parents - Matt Schwensen, Rachel Petersen, Steven Russell, Regan Richards, Barb Taylor, Lisa Millott, Tina Millott, Alistair Parsons  and Linda Read. It is only thanks for your support that the students are able to experience such a highlight.

Use of Building Fund (Parent Contributions)

The school holidays are the perfect time for a number of maintenance tasks to take place. With no staff nor students about the buildings, we are grateful to our maintenance person, Graham, for coordinating the works.

Below is a list of recent maintenance projects, that have been funded through the contributions to the building fund from families:

• Installation of three bubbler taps.
• A new sliding door was installed between the gym and gym foyer.
• A second air conditioning unit installed in the gym foyer.
• An air conditioning unit installed in the sick bay.
• Basketball backboards and nets were replaced.
• Additional gates installed at Wingrove Street Campus

We were hoping to have a sink installed in our science room. Hopefully this will take place soon.

Parent Contributions

At our recent Annual General Meeting, I presented a range of academic, wellbeing and financial data. I shared the Department of Education’s school funding model, and how additional funding that government schools receive is determined by their social demographic. Based on the overall demographic of our families, FPS receives a minimal amount of additional funding, which means that we rely heavily on parent contributions and fundraising. These contributions enable us to maintain and upgrade our grounds and library, and also employ a school librarian and school nurses.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank families who have made financial contributions this year, whilst also acknowledging that with an increase to the cost of living it can be more and more difficult to make these contributions.

Further details on how payments can be made and what they go towards can be found at the bottom of your Compass newsfeed as well as the Parent Payments page of our website.

Annual Report – Academic Outcomes

Our Annual Report is available to view on our school website. The Department of Education assesses the academic performance of schools using NAPLAN data; comparing schools' outcomes to those of government schools with a similar demographic.

Below is a table of how our school performed in 2024 compared to similar schools and the state.

Percentage of Year 3 students in Exceeding or Strong Proficiency

Percentage of Year 5 students in Exceeding or Strong Proficiency

Another piece of important data that sits alongside these results is that we had a 99% participation rate in NAPLAN tests, which reflects our commitment for all students to attempt NAPLAN, giving it their best effort.

The priority for our school improvement work this year is to improve Literacy outcomes, in particular Writing. In term one, there have been changes made to the delivery of our Literacy lessons, with a greater focus on grammar, and we are looking forward to welcoming Lyn Stone to FPS this term, a renowned educational expert in this field, who will be leading some of this work. Keep an eye out in the newsletter to read about these changes.

Election Day Sausage Sizzle

I am sure that it hasn’t escaped your notice that this Saturday is election day. This of course means that we are seeking volunteers to help run our barbecue and baked goods stall. At the last general election, we had over 2,000 people vote at FPS, and we look forward to welcoming similar numbers on Saturday.

Thank you to our convenors Steve Russell and Michelle Schwensen for coordinating this event, and thank you in advance to the volunteers for donating their time – as well as our fleet of bakers, who are supplying delicious baked goods. 

If you haven't yet done so, you can sign up here to volunteer on the day.

Special Person’s Celebration – Friday 9 May

Next Friday we have our Special Person’s celebration breakfast. We are therefore asking for volunteers to run this event, which celebrates the mums and special people in our lives. 

We recognise that the timing of the election means that we are asking for volunteers for consecutive weeks – if you are able to volunteer for one of these events, it would be much appreciated.

Save the Date: Year Level Parent Nights Out

Our class liaisons have been coordinating year-level parent nights out. These events are for parents/carers to get-together, have some fun and make new connections with other parents/carers in their child’s year level.

Thanks to the class liaisons who have reserved locations, set dates and sent out details! Make sure to put the following in your calendar:

• Saturday 3 May: Year 3 at Moon Dog World, 7:30pm
• Friday 9 May: Year 6 at Moon Dog World, 7pm
• Saturday 10 May: Year 1 at Grandview Hotel – Cellar Bar, 7pm
• Saturday 17 May: Year 4 at Grandview Hotel, 7pm

The Foundation social night was in February and the Year 2&5 celebrations are to be scheduled – stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone for a great start to term two!

~ Paul Wallace, Principal