Principal's Report

In this week's newsletter

• Appreciations and News …
  
  • Gym project approved
  • Education Week activities
  • Little Learners Love Literacy video
  • Tree safety
  • Thanks for the suggestion
• Coming up 
  • Interschool sports update
  • Assembly tomorrow
  • Environment team sustainable donation day 
  • School review field work days next week
• Repeated (and updated) messages

We acknowledge that we live and learn on the lands of the Bunurong people.  We pay our respects to their Elders both past and present, and value the contribution they have made to education as part of the oldest living culture in the world.

Appreciations and News

• Gymnasium Project Approved - We were very pleased that the promise made at an assembly by local member, Katie Hall prior to last November’s state election has been confirmed with the announcement that the funding has been approved within the State Budget.  While we are short on details, it was pleasing to receive the following communication from the Minister of Education:
  
  I am delighted to confirm as part of this investment, Footscray West Primary School will receive $9.4 million to build a new competition-grade gymnasium, and food technology and music spaces.
  
  There will be many steps over the next few months as we work through the planning stage.  I will update our community with progress reports regularly via the newsletter.
   
• Education Week Activities - On Tuesday during lunchtime our Junior School Council students presented a series of active challenges as part of the Education Week theme - ‘Active Learners: Move, Make, Motivate’.  Thanks to senior school JSC representatives; Oscar, Mollie and Nancy who prepared a recount that is included in today’s newsletter.
   
• Little Learners Love Literacy - This week it has been the Prep's turn for a video item and it is a ripper. Prep students sharing their love of reading through song is a surefire winner. Thanks Lauren for preparing this masterpiece!
  
  Click the link here: Prep Little Learners Song on Vimeo
   
• Tree Safety - A section of the playground under the big gum tree was immediately cordoned off yesterday following an arborist’s assessment.  While both the large trees were previously expertly roped to reduce the likelihood of large limbs falling, the awareness that a significant fallen branch has been caught in the tree has necessitated the area being roped off.  We are pleased to report that our arborist will be onsite tomorrow to remove the branch and complete other less pressing tasks.  All works will be completed within clearly cordoned areas with a strong commitment to safety.
   
• Thanks for your Suggestion - Today in the newsletter you may have read an acknowledgement to the Bunurong First Nations people.  This has been placed following a suggestion from one of our families.  Once pointed out, it was obvious that an appropriate acknowledgement could easily be added and be included in the newsletter every week.   If you have thoughts and considerations for us, click the link (below) in Repeated and Updated messages.

Coming up 

• Interschool Sport Bye - There will be a bye for our teams this week.  Our students love participating, so there will be provision for some competition training in lieu of the interschool sports this week.
   
• Assembly tomorrow will this week feature a grade item presented by 4MS.  Families are welcome to attend our live assemblies, whether outdoors, or if the weather is not conducive, inside in the gallery space in the Dingo.  When the weather does not permit an outdoor assembly, a small audience attends and it is broadcast to the classrooms. With the onset of winter we can anticipate more regular indoor assemblies from now on. Assembly starts at 2.40 pm on Fridays.
   
• Donation Day 2023 - Our Environment Team values the importance of sustainable fashion and paying it forward by donation of items to the Sacred Heart charity organisation. We can accept good quality clothing items that are in great condition, such as a jumper that your child may have grown out of.
  
  We ask families to donate one (1) item per family. The Environment Team reps will be collecting any donated items of clothing on Friday 2 June 2023.
  
  Please send one quality used clothing item, per family on Friday of next week to your child’s classroom.
   
• School Review Fieldwork Days - As communicated in a Compass post to families earlier today, next week our review panel will meet on successive days (Wednesday and Thursday).  On the second of the Fieldwork days we are seeking a group of parents and carers to speak with the external members of our review panel.  This opportunity will be limited to 15 places.  If you are interested and available please select the LINK: https://compasstix.com/e/h2i0sjtew2
   
• National Reconciliation Week is coming up from the 27th May - 3rd June (Week 6). During Week 6 each class will discuss the importance of Reconciliation Week.
  What is Reconciliation Week?
  
  Reconciliation Week is a time dedicated to building positive, respectful relationships between all Australians. It is a time to acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' rich culture. While truth telling and honest conversations about our history form an integral aspect of reconciling our past, Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to celebrate and come together. The theme for this year is - Be a Voice for Generations.
   
• The final 2024 prep information session will be held next Tuesday from 9.30 am. This will be the last opportunity this year for parents and carers of prospective 2024 Preps to meet and hear from us and tour the school, including visits to prep and specialist classrooms.
   
• Smile Squad - We have just confirmed that the Smile Squad will be back again this year during term 4.  Like last year, parents and carers of students will have the opportunity to approve their children having a dental assessment at school provided by qualified dental therapists and where required, followup dental treatment by a qualified dentist.  Consent packs will be sent to families well beforehand.

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated (and updated) messages …

Hearing your voice - In every newsletter we will add a feedback link.  If you have a concern, suggestion or appreciation, or wish to specifically provide comment on school policies, rather than looking for the school email, you can just go to the link.  This will not be the preferred option for detailed emails - the usual practice of using the school email: footscray.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au will still be the avenue, but for the concerns, suggestions or appreciations go to:  https://forms.gle/dPnAN75bFVeM1i16A

Parent/Carer Volunteer Induction - This information has been ‘pinned’ on Compass so it remains easily accessible.  You will currently find it as the second pinned item on your News Feed .  For all new families or parents and carers who didn’t complete the online process last year, if you wish to assist in classrooms, excursions or camps, or volunteer for really any other purpose at FWPS, we need you to complete the modules online.  For parents/carers who did this last year, all you need to do is sign the relevant form at the office.

Change of email - We are no longer using the school gmail addresses for communication to staff.  Parents will be asked to communicate directly with staff using the email facility within Compass, or email the school email address at: footscray.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au ‘Attention staff member’s name’.  Emails sent from the Compass app will be sent directly to the relevant staff members’ education email account.  Please understand that staff are busy and will respond in a timely manner.  If a matter is urgent, you are advised to call the school during office hours, or leave a message outside those hours.

Car park use - A reminder that the car park is open prior to 8 am and after 4 pm daily for parent access for the Their Care OSHC program.  At other times, please appreciate that the car park is for staff use.  Should you need to walk through to the Their Care location at Emu Corner, for safety’s sake we ask that you use the pedestrian gate next to the boom gate and make your way between Koala and the Wallaby buildings past Gecko via the basketball court through to Emu Corner.

Please check out the brief explanatory video at: https://vimeo.com/777907951

Photo Permission - When parents and carers first sign the enrolment form for school entry, they may be understandably reluctant to sign the photo permission section.  We frequently use pictures and videos to share learning highlights and to maintain and foster school/home links.  As we frequently include photos and videos of the students learning and playing we are regularly confronted by wonderful picture opportunities we cannot share in our newsletter and videos.  

We would love you to review your decision so your child can be fully involved in the life of our school.  Feel free to contact your child’s teacher or the office so they can make those adjustments on your behalf.

COVID information - As you will all understand, COVID continues to be transmitted within the community and remains a highly infectious illness.  Consequently, it continues to be vital for families to remain careful when exposed to COVID or when demonstrating symptoms.  While schools will no longer be providing Rapid Antigen Tests - We do have dozens of leftover packs that have months left before their use by date.  Drop into the office, or send us a message and we will send some home with your child.  

Many of you will have heard that this year RATs, while continuing to be supplied by the state government, will be distributed by local councils from venues such as our library locations.

Rapid Antigen Tests are also available for all Victorians from Council sites.  People can get 2 free packs (10 tests) for themselves and 2 free packs (10 tests) for each of their household members.

People with disability and their carers can get up to 4 free packs (20 tests) in line with existing RAT distribution for people with disability.

Further information can be obtained at Council Rapid Antigen Test Program.

Rapid antigen testing

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff:

·         If you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild

·         If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19

·         If you are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.

The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians should report their positive RAT result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398.

Students (or their parents) should also report a positive result to their school, either through the COVID Test portal or by phone or written notification.

Prep Bags 2023 Survey

Have your say about this year’s Prep bags in a short Department of Education survey, closing Sunday 9 July. Each year, the Department of Education gives every Prep student attending a Victorian government school a bag full of goodies to celebrate this milestone in their education journey. The information and educational resources in the bags are designed to help Prep students and their families thrive from the start of Term 1.

The department is inviting parents and carers of current Prep students to participate in a short survey about the 2023 Prep bags, by 5 pm on Sunday 9 July 2023.

Your feedback will help the department learn what families liked about the Prep bags and what can be improved in 2024.

You can have your say at 2023 Prep Bags – Evaluation Survey.