Principal's Report

In this week’s newsletter:

• What's Up?
  • Wear it Purple Day tomorrow
  • Father’s and Special Person’s Day tomorrow
  • Their Care BBQ breakfast tomorrow
• Appreciations and News
  • Thanks to the organisers and participants in last week’s Book Parade
  • School saving bonus
  • School Council news
  • Prep bag survey
  • The right to disconnect 
• Coming Up
  •  Assembly tomorrow
  • Wear it Purple day and Father's and Special Person's Day Stall
  • Westgate basketball incursion
  • Prep Fire Brigade incursion (part 2)
  • Grade 4 Chemical Sciences incursion
  • Smile Squad 
• Repeated (and Updated) Messages

Appreciations and News

Wear it Purple Day - Wear it Purple Day is a whole school community event we will be celebrating tomorrow. 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 Families group at Footscray West PS to continue to develop an awareness of the origin and purpose of this day. Please join us in wearing purple (or rainbow) to acknowledge and support this special day.  You might wear a little, or a lot!

Father’s and Special Person’s Day stall tomorrow - Appreciations to our Parents’ Association for providing this annual opportunity tomorrow for all students to buy a well priced gift for dad, or a significant adult in their life.  All students will have the opportunity within their grade to browse in the Dingo gallery space during the school day.  In order to simplify the process all gifts (or gift packs) will cost $5.  Please set a reminder to make sure your child brings $5 for this purpose.

Their Care breakfast - Their Care Area manager, Mitch, will be on the tongs early tomorrow morning cooking up a storm in the gazebo area.  On the menu are egg and bacon roll breakfasts for the dads and special adults from our FWPS community.  Especially for all the regular Their Care users (dads and mums). Make sure you get rolling 5 minutes earlier tomorrow so you can enjoy an egg and bacon roll to start your day!

Appreciations and News

Annual Book Parade - What a wonderful Book Week we enjoyed last week, highlighted by the Book Parade, where the theme Reading is Magic really came to the fore.  A big appreciation to all families who joined in the spirit with a vast variety of costumes.  May I also acknowledge our staff who all made such an effort, with each team dressing with a book theme in mind.  Congratulations to the Wallys in grade 2 who received the nod from Parents’ Association co- Presidents Clare and Alicia for best costume! At assembly, each grade level had the opportunity to win a book from the shortlisted Book of the Year awards based on the book related quiz that had been run during the week. We also thank the Chestnut Tree bookshop for providing a $20 voucher, chosen for a lucky Book Parade participant.   Our new presenters this year, Michael and Ryan were outstanding, born for the stage and absolutely comfortable with microphones in hand! Final appreciations to the small committee of Lauren, Anna and Liz. Events like this take a huge amount of time to prepare, so the least we can do is demonstrate our gratitude.

School Saving Bonus - This State Election promise will provide $400 for each child in a government school in 2025 as a one off bonus.  It is not means tested, so for all families who meet the eligibility criteria (nearly all) this will significantly reduce the amount you will need to pay next year for school costs, such as uniform, camps and excursions.  Information is included in the 'From the Office Team' section of today’s newsletter. 

School Council met on Monday and discussed a range of matters during a long but productive meeting.  We began with a presentation by Marty and Bess from Inform and Empower Inform & Empower (informandempower.com.au) This is an online cyber safety education initiative developed by West Footscray residents with teaching and psychology backgrounds and implemented in many schools across Australia.  With the backing of Inner West Community Enterprises, supported by Seddon Community Bank, we will introduce this program to all our students next year.  The costs for the first year will be provided by the generosity of IWCE as a trial for local schools.  The program will start early next year with a parent / carer information evening.  We will provide plenty of notice prior to this event. 

Reports were tabled as follows:

• The Principal’s report which included staffing changes and planning for 2025.
• The Finance report in which the school current financial status, recent spending and financial commitments were discussed.
• The Facilities report in which the status of the new gymnasium / music / food tech and canteen building development was outlined, along with concerns with the destabilisation of the southern end of the Wallaby building and the likely next steps.
• The Communications and Policy report focussed on planning for the official launch of our school Vision and Values with a whole school event on Friday, 11th October (the first Friday of Term 4).
• The Parents’ Association report commented on the success of the Berry Street Education Model online parent event and the Trivia Night, preparations for the Father’s and Special Person’s stall and considerations for a mural for the second hand uniform stall (which will be moved to the front of the school prior to the building project) and the Halloween Disco, the last to be held in the Gecko building, late in October.

In General Business we explored the Wallaby building concerns with greater detail, temporary canteen options for 2025 and Towela presented a comprehensive report on our school’s NAPLAN results.

Our school community is fortunate to have committed School Council representatives who work effectively together for a positive shared purpose.

Prep Bag Survey - Each year the State Government supports new prep families by providing our starting Preps with a bag of educational goodies.  Understandably those responsible are seeking feedback. If you are a Prep parent this year, your views are sought at: Prep bags 2024 evaluation survey.

The Right to Disconnect - There has been much made of this federal government legislation in recent times.  I make note of this here, as the policy became federal law in the last few days.  This is a right we already support for our staff.  For instance, most of us send emails when it suits us but we do appreciate that staff have the right to reply during work times and as their priority is for the students they teach, a delay in receiving a response is, for the most part, justified.

Coming Up… 

Assembly Tomorrow - As usual we will be checking the weather to assist us make the decision of whether we will be holding an indoor or outdoor assembly and providing an opportunity for 1LE, the grade that is tasked this week to provide their assembly item with an opportunity to have some experience using the microphones.  We will hold our regular Pupil of the Week presentations and have relevant reports presented by our student representatives.

Tomorrow - Father’s and Special Person’s Day stall and Wear it Purple Day (see above).

Westgate Basketball will be back with the clinic for students in selected grade 5 classes.

Fire Brigade Incursion for Preps (part 2) - Next Wednesday the grade Preps will follow up this week’s indoor incursion with our local fire brigade officers with an outdoor experience.  This one may be a bit noisier and just may involve a fire hose or two! Thanks Amel for organising this and the fantastic firies who kept the kids and adults interested and entertained. They were terrific.

Chemical Sciences Incursion - We deeply appreciate the support of our parent / carer community sharing their special attributes and professional skills.  We have another science incursion planned for next Thursday - this time for the grade 4s with a focus on chemical science, fitting with the current topic.  A big appreciation to Alison Thistlewaite, who along with her full time job, a mother to 3 primary aged kids, and role as Treasurer on School Council, will be sharing her expertise with this incursion for all the grade 4 classes. Thanks Alison!

Smile Squad - The Smile Squad team from Cohealth are coming to school soon.  Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program. 

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated (and Updated) Messages…