Principal's Report
Principal: Brendan Millar
In this week’s newsletter:
- What's Up?
- RU OK Day is today
- Don’t forget to complete your sausage sizzle order by next Wednesday
- Appreciations and News
- Concert week
- Grade 1 Perspective into Life of the Past incursion
- Maribyrnong Division Athletics Carnival at Keilor
- Wear it Purple day video - thanks to the Grade 6 Captains
- Grade 3 Activities Video
- Soundgarage concerts were held last evening and with the remaining concert due to be held this evening
- Farewell Anthea
- Coming Up... Assembly Tomorrow
- Coming Up... Next Week, Final Week of Term
- Planning fortnight specialist timetable continues
- Mad About Science incursion
- Talk Money incursion part 2
- Kids’ Share Open Afternoon
- Vision and Values day sausage sizzle order deadline and volunteer’s link
- Grade 2 History Walk excursion
- Smile Squad is happening now
- Anthea will be leaving us
- Early assembly and dismissal for term 3 holiday
- Next Term
- Vision and Values launch
- Repeated (and updated) Messages
What's Up?
R U OK Day
We acknowledged this day with a staff afternoon tea to note the day and show our appreciation for the wonderful staff team we have as we move towards the conclusion of the term.
R U OK? - a conversation can change a life
R U OK? inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life. You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener.
Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
The sausage sizzle communication was sent out last week in preparation. Please check your Compass for the post and complete the order by next Wednesday if you wish your child to have a sausage lunch that day.
We are again seeking volunteers to assist with running our second sausage sizzle for the year. If you can help for a stint, please click on the link below provided by our Parents’ Association:
VolunteerSignup - Vision & Values Launch Sausage Sizzle signup sheet
Appreciations and News...
Concert Week - Please take a moment to appreciate the efforts of great teachers. Today my focus is on our music teachers; Jane who provides wonderful music opportunities for all students (over the course of the year) and today showed her wonderful warmth, talent and patience in working with the students in the mini concerts with the students in grades Prep to 4. We love having Jane as a big part of our specialist program. Last night it was Gary’s music students showing their rock and roll chops at the first of our Soundgarage evening concert, followed by Sara with the Singing and Performing student performances. This evening it will be Henry’s groups over both sessions. The Soungarage program can only happen with the wonderful organisation of Maddie, who those attending will have seen expertly emceeing the evening concert and assisting during Jane’s daytime Musical Futures groups.
Perspective into Life of the Past - The grade 1 students had a change of pace on Monday when they recreated a school in the past for a topic related activity day that had been well publicised beforehand. The kids, teachers and parent/carer helpers entered into the spirit and had a day of practical activities engaging in a slice of the past. A big thank you to the staff team, especially Jess for all their preparation in creating this opportunity for an incursion that was of no cost to families.
Maribyrnong Divisional Athletics - An appreciation to Stratos and Heather who supported the sizeable team of students who represented our school and sports district on Tuesday. The weather was simply superb, something of a payback for the many occasions that Stratos and our teams often have to endure. Heather commented to me on the wonderful attitude and spirit of our representatives. Their wholehearted support for each other was a wonderful feature of the day. We had some very strong performances and a team of 13 students will next have the opportunity to feature at the Western Metropolitan Region event. The next level will involve families organising transport to this event as the cost of bussing and providing staffing support is prohibitively expensive. Stratos has forwarded all relevant information to families.
Wear it Purple Day video - Plaudits to grade 6 captains; Mollie, Milly, Eva, Aisha and Alice. They did a fine job firstly securing the pictures, then editing the video. Then after checking with teachers for students who did not have photo permission, they re-edited the pictures to obscure faces. It all takes time and effort and they did so willingly, while still completing their school work.
The finished video is available here:
Grade 3 Activities - Thanks to Michael and the grade 3 team for capturing some excerpts from learning across the classes in this video: https://vimeo.com/1008661074
Farewell Anthea – At the end of term grade 4 team member, Anthea Fitzpatrick will leave her current teaching position to take on a new administrative role in post-secondary education. Anthea has been seeking a new career direction and is pleased to be able to secure this role. She will be provided leave over the next year to assess her long-term career aspirations. We thank Anthea for the time she has spent teaching in the middle school over the last 3 years. Anthea has always been responsive and conscientious in her approach to all facets of her teaching role. Her humour and sense of fun will be missed by staff and students.
Next term Anthea will be replaced for several weeks by Jessica Russell-Davies, a long term former permanent member of our staff team and then by Charlotte Lake. Charlotte is returning from the UK, having recently completed a teaching stint there. Last term, following our recruitment process, we contracted Charlotte to join us in 2025. As Charlotte is planning to return to Melbourne early next term, with an expectation of teaching as a casual relief teacher, she was delighted to be able to join us early.
We will acknowledge Anthea at our end of term assembly. I am sure you will join me in wishing Anthea all the very best.
Coming Up…
Assembly tomorrow - It was due to be 1MM’s assembly item this week, but we will now hold their turn over to next term. The focus was to be on the ‘Then and Now’ incursion day, however following a negative group email and despite lots of grade preparation, we determined it was no longer feasible to present their item. As usual the weather will determine the location of (a slightly shorter) assembly.
Coming up … in the Final Week of Term
Planning Fortnight - Don’t forget but the adjusted specialist timetable enabling all teams to prepare the Term 4 curriculum and planning is continuing next week. The days your child will have specialists has likely been changed over this period.
Mad About Science Incursion - On Monday the grade 5s will participate in a fascinating incursion focused on the Earth and The Milky Way. The students will participate in their grade groups throughout the day in the gallery space in Dingo.
Talk Money Incursion (Part 2) - The second of the incursions will be held in the grade 6 classrooms throughout the day on Tuesday.
Kids’ Share Open Afternoon - Tuesday 17th September 2024, 3:30pm to 4:15pm - A reminder that 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.
Grade 2 Local Excursion - History Walk - Next Thursday the grade 2 team will put on their walking shoes for an opportunity to explore and better understand our local landmarks and historical connections. Featured locations will be: Quarry owners' bluestone home on the corner of Summerhill Rd and Essex St, William Cooper local aboriginal activist, Southhampton St, Drill Hall Corner of Barkly St and Gordon St, The Western Bulldogs Football Club and Museum and The Rubber Factory, Cross St. We will have our fingers crossed for pleasant weather!
The sausage sizzle communication was sent out last week in preparation. Please check your Compass for the post and complete the order by Wednesday if you wish your child to have a sausage lunch that day.
We are again seeking volunteers to assist with running our second sausage sizzle for the year. If you can help for a stint, please click on the link below provided by our Parents’ Association:
VolunteerSignup - Vision & Values Launch Sausage Sizzle signup sheet
Smile Squad is happening now - This will be the final week scheduled for the student dental health program at FWPS.
Early dismissal next Friday 20th September at 2.20pm.
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 was sent out last week in preparation. Please check your Compass for the post and complete the order by next Wednesday if you wish your child to have a sausage lunch that day.
We are again seeking volunteers to assist with running our second sausage sizzle for the year. If you can help for a stint, please click on the link below provided by our Parents’ Association:
VolunteerSignup - Vision & Values Launch Sausage Sizzle signup sheet
Cheers,
Brendan
Repeated (and Updated) Messages…