Principal's Report

In this week’s newsletter:

Appreciations and News

• Appreciation to Karri and Grade 6 Captains
• Meeting with Parrent's Association
• Thank you Louise
• Year 5 and 6 Victorian High Achiever's Program Participants
• Diversity Day

Coming Up

• Biketober Tomorrow
• Assembly
• Grade Placements & Learning Buddies
• Year 6 Interschool Sport
• School Council
• Inform & Empower Cyber Safety Online Incursions
• Prep Wildlife Xposure Incursion
• Western Metro Regional Athletics
• New Prep - Parent / Carer Transition Parent Information Session
• Grade 5 Annual Kangaroobie camp
• Prep Welcome Visit

Repeated from Last Term

• 2026 Learning Buddy suggestions for students in Grades Prep to 5
• 2026 Additional Considerations for Class Placement 

Appreciations and News

Appreciation to Karri and Grade 6 Captains

Appreciations to Karri for her preparation and for providing a warm start for next year’s preps with a welcome event held throughout the day on Tuesday. She was very appreciative of our grade 6 captains who provided a lovely welcome to the children and their families. The next welcome visit will be held next Thursday.

Meeting with Parent’s Association 

Last Friday the principal team met with Stuart Balloch (Abi, Phoebe, Jarvis and Rory’s dad), who along with Tanya Tran (Mai, Vi and Marco Caputo’s mum) volunteered at the recent PA annual general meeting to take on the executive reins for PA next year from outgoing representatives, Clare and Alicia who have done a most outstanding job over the last couple of years. Thanks Clare and Alicia, a very big appreciation from us all. We very much look forward to working with Stuart and Tanya to continue to advance the outstanding work that PA does for our community.

Thank you Louise

While only joining us earlier this year, Louise has made a very positive contribution co-ordinating the TheirCare OSHC program. Sadly, I am acknowledging Louise at the conclusion of her time with us. Unfortunately, due to her health, she has been unable to continue with a role she took on with gusto, always showing great consideration for students and families and working effectively with our school team. We really hope Louise can quickly regain her health.

Congrats to the Year 5 and 6 Victorian High Achiever’s Program Participants 

Congratulations to those who received certificates for their participation in the program last term. Below are our recipients having been awarded the certificates at assembly last week.

Diversity Day

Diversity Day is coming up in a fortnight tomorrow. I mention this, as this year it also coincides with Halloween. As our community knows, over the last few years Halloween has been enjoyed, aligning with the annual disco being held in the Gecko. Unfortunately, with no place to hold a disco safely, we will celebrate again in 2026. While there will be no Halloween disco this year, we are happy for students to dress up on Friday, 31st October. Come dressed casually, or with a Halloween theme and along with the fun of our now annual Kaboom Kids celebration on Diversity Day, we will have a Halloween themed Dance Party in the Bilby assembly area at recess in the afternoon.

Coming Up

Biketober Tomorrow

Supported and promoted by the Environment Team, Biketober is celebrated Australia wide and encourages us all to try and do without the car… if you can and ride your bike, or scooter, use public transport and/or walk to school, or work.

Biketober 2025 is a free cycling initiative supported by the City of Maribyrnong and Love to Ride throughout October, encouraging residents to ride bikes to improve health and reduce emissions. Participants can sign up individually or with a team to track rides, compete in friendly mini-competitions, and have a chance to win prizes. The program is already underway, and results from the Maribyrnong area are being tracked on the Love to Ride website. 

Assembly 

Tomorrow's Assembly will be held at the usual time of 2.40pm. We will feature our first grade returning for a second assembly item when 4LW takes the stage. We will of course feature our Pupil of the Week Award winners for week 2 and learn about the first round of grade 6 interschool sports results. Presented outdoors, weather permitting.

Grade placements considerations and Student Learning Buddy lists (see below)

We have placed the link in the newsletter since late last term. The strict cut off day is COB tomorrow.

Year 6 Inter School Sports 

The Year 6 Inter School sports starts tomorrow and will be held weekly on Friday mornings until week 9 (finals on week 10) with an exception for byes in week 4 (Diversity Day featuring activities with Kaboom Kids) and week 7. We will anticipate the usual high standards of behaviour that our students demonstrate when representing our school.

School Council 

School Council meets online on Monday evening. I will share a report in next week’s newsletter.

Inform and Empower Cyber Safety Online Incursions 

Inform and Empower Cyber Safety online incursions start from next week (grades 1-6) for our final end of term session. We have appreciated the opportunity to access this excellent program for all students at no cost to families due to the generosity of Seddon Bendigo Community Bank. Parents and carers can anticipate receiving information on this term's program from the teaching team.

Prep Wildlife Xposure Incursion on Tuesday 

This is an amazing annual opportunity for our Preps. The Wildlife Xposure team are marvellous and the moments when kids get to touch and hold exotic creatures provide some priceless photo opps.

Western Metro Regional Athletics (for qualifying students) 

The Western Metro Regional Athletics will be held next Tuesday. As our representative ranks thin out due to the level of competition, we are unfortunately unable to accompany team members and provide transport. We wish our 10 representatives all the very best for a memorable competition.

New Prep - Parent/Carer Transition Parent Information Session 

Our next Prep - Parent / Carer information session will be held in the gallery space next Tuesday from 6.30pm. Booking links have been sent directly to families. Karri, Liz and I are looking forward to meeting with the parents and carers as we step into the next stage in that exciting run into the first day at school.

Grade 5 annual Kangaroobie camp 

The Grade 5 Kangaroobie camp will be held from Wednesday to Friday next week. There is lots to do in preparation for a wonderful camping experience. A big appreciation to the teaching team for their work, in particular Tim Cannan who has had the (sometimes) onerous task of ensuring our camp is fully compliant with the demanding mandated standards.

Prep Welcome Visit 

The second visit hosted by Karri will be held in the gallery space next Thursday. Again, new prep families have had the opportunity to select a preferred time to attend.

Repeated from Last Term

2026 Learning Buddy suggestions for students in Grades Prep to 5

It’s that time of the year again, when our staff begin the extensive class placement process for 2026. As with previous years, students from Grades Prep to Five will be provided with an opportunity to suggest the names of five peers (learning buddies) who they would like to be with in the same class for the following school year. 

Please click the link below to go to the newsletter page with all the important information for this process.  

Leaving FWPS for 2026? 

If your family is planning to leave for another school next year, we would really appreciate you emailing us at: footscray.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au using the subject line (above).

2026 Additional Considerations for Class Placement 

Each year we provide the opportunity for parents and carers to communicate additional considerations for class placement for the following school year.  We ask all families to carefully consider whether they need to make a submission, as class placement is a complex process that involves all our teaching and leadership staff to develop over much of Term 4.  There are clear and abiding parameters that we have in place.  Please read with careful consideration and if you choose to make a submission, do so by Friday, 17th October (Week 2, Term 4).  There will be no opportunity for late submissions.

Please click the link below to go to the newsletter page with all the important information for this process (scroll to the bottom on the page).

Reminders and Repeated Messages