Fitzroy Primary School Newsletter

Principals` message 

 

It’s great to be back

Thank you to all students, staff and families who have welcomed me back throughout the week. I have been absolutely amazed by the work that has gone into setting up classrooms and other areas throughout the building in such a short amount of time. It's so great to see students deeply engaged in their learning and staff sharing spaces to make this happen. Students have also been making great use of the passive and active areas in the playground during recess and lunchtimes. A special thank you to Andrea and Nathan who led the school throughout term one and to everyone who contributed to and attended the Art show. I have really enjoyed seeing families every morning and afternoon in the yard and can’t believe how much some students have grown since the end of last year! 

 

Welcome new staff

I wish to extend a very warm welcome to the follow staff who have joined our team:

· Julian Vescio who is in the office as our Business Manager

· Dursitu Mohammed is working with students providing Education Support

· Kim Crawford who is also working with students providing Education Support

 

Thank you to all staff who have supported Julian, Dursitu and Kim’s transition to the Fitzroy PS community and I look forward to working closely with them.

 

What’s coming up this term

The team have been busy planning a fantastic second term for students and families at Fitzroy PS. Don’t forget to stay up to date with the calendar in Compass so you can see what’s happening.

  • Semester one reports are published to families on Compass (interviews are held early term three)
  • Education week 
  • National Sorry day
  • School photos
  • Student free days 
  • Grade 3-6 camp
  • King’s birthday public holiday
  • Refugee week

Performing Arts program revival

Previously, we were unable to attract any applicants to multiple advertised positions for a Performing Arts teacher, which left us in a difficult position for this program in 2023. However, we are now ready to revive our Performing Arts program with a 5 week dance workshop that will culminate in a whole school performance at the end of this term. Workshops start next week and will be held for all students in F-6 grades every Wednesday, with no cost to families. We look forward to working with the team at Stomp Dance Company who will be running the workshops. (https://stompdc.com/) 

We have had staff express their interest in teaching Performing Arts in the second semester and this option will provide them with ample time to prepare their program. Andrea and I are currently finalising these arrangements and we will provide more updates about semester two as the term progresses.

 

Physical Education update

Last term the school farewelled Kerryn and I take this opportunity to thank William who has been covering PE classes in the interim. We are very excited to announce that starting next week, Kelly Sports will be sending coaches into the school to run sports clinics until the end of the term. This will see a return to the school’s previous model of employing expert coaches to run sports clinics across a range of sports, games and fitness challenges. We look forward to welcoming the team from Kelly Sports next Wednesday and we will be providing updates via Compass and in the newsletter. 

 

Parent/engagement opportunities 

Following the success of the working bee and school Art Show last term, I have been approached by several parents who are keen to plan future events. I have heard talk of a potential French fair in term four and a weekend working bee to plant seedlings in the raised garden beds. If you are excited by these ideas and would like to get involved, I suggest that you join the Parent and Community fundraising subcommittee of School Council. This team meets twice each term to discuss and plan school events with the school’s leadership team. Please contact the office if you’re interested as I will be reaching out to School Council to organise a meeting time next week. 

 

George St building update

This week I met with the project team and went on a tour of the building to see how the project works are progressing. Andrea and I were so impressed by the demolition works taking place. The builders have completed stripped away everything from the inside and they are rebuilding the school from the ground up. Sections of walls have been removed to open up learning spaces and we are very excited that the end result will be a beautiful 1855 building on the outside with brand new 2023 features on the inside! 

 

With regards to the timeline, the project team have expressed a commitment to the current 22nd December deadline, which takes place after the school year has ended. In the coming months we will start planning our 2024 transition into the brand new George St building with consideration given to year levels, furniture, staffing, office admin and much more!

 

New York, New York!

Andrea and I met up in New York for the inaugural schoolED consulting Principal study tour with Principals from a range of schools across Melbourne. We stayed in the New Yorker hotel in Midtown and enjoyed visiting schools and attending the Learning and the Brain conference. We managed to do a bit of sightseeing and also went to see Funny Girl, which is a Broadway show. Andrea was much better at navigating the subway than I was – in fact I would probably still be lost in Central Park if it wasn’t for Andrea! We wish to thank the team at schoolED consulting for organising the trip and an additional thank you to Nathan for continuing on as Acting Principal.

Angela Richmond (Principal) and Andrea Hennessey ( Assistant Principal)