Footscray West PS Newsletter

Principal's Report

Principal: Brendan Millar

In this week's newsletter

  • Appreciations and News …
    • Environment Team Donation Day
    • This week’s video - Grade 2s
    • New Gecko Building plans
    • School Council news 
    • Vale Tina McDougall
  • Coming up 
    • King’s Birthday public holiday
    • Pride Month celebrated at FWPS
    • School review - final ‘panel’ day 
    • Student Learning Conference is a Pupil Free day
    • End of term will be at 2.20 pm on Friday week
  • Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

  • Environment Team Donation Day 
    On behalf of the Environment Team, we would like to acknowledge all families who participated in our Donation Day 2023. It was wonderful to see the many items that were donated, most of which were in pristine condition with some still having tags on them! As a student-led initiative, students feel that fast fashion is an environmental factor having a negative impact on our earth and felt as though this was one way our FWPS community could encourage the sustainable use of clothing. The donations have been distributed to organisations such as Sacred Heart Mission, St. Vincent de Paul and Save The Children. Thank you to all Environment Team Representatives for all your help with this event, and to all families who participated.

    Caity & Michael 
    on behalf of the Environment Team representatives
     
  • Grade 2 video Let’s see what has been happening in Grade 2 this term!
    https://vimeo.com/833955786?share=copy What a great video and enjoyable insight into what has been happening in the grade 2 team.  Thanks to Caitlin and the grade 2 teachers, as well as all the student stars!
     
  • New Building plans - Last week I mentioned that we need to prepare an Asset Management Plan, divided into two sections (Phase 1 and 2) as the first step in preparing for the new gymnasium, music and food technology development.  Phase 1 is a Department of Education requirement to consider the overall school focus and ethos prior to the school considering the practical aspects of the planning process.  It would be appreciated if parents and carers could provide some feedback using the following link: https://forms.gle/ByPYEUuihdDgB2w6A.
     
  • School Council met on Monday - Discussion was held about the following aspects:
    • School Council President, Andrew Newman has been a participant in the school review process.  He commented on the positive experience that highlighted much that is positive about our school.  
    • Planning for our new gym, music and food technology building development.  The initial planning (AMP Phase 1 - see above) will be discussed/approved at an Extraordinary School Council meeting to be held on Tuesday, 11th July.
    • We are pleased to announce that we will further our relationship with TheirCare out of hours school care and holiday programs for the next two years.  TheirCare management will inform families about price rises that will coincide with significant additional Federal government support with increased subsidies.
    • Our large indigenous welcome art installation was approved with the support of our Parent’s Association that have generously donated the cost of the art work.  School funds will provide the hardware costs. We will keep you posted.
    • We are looking into options to maintain a bike/scooter storage facility during the demolition and construction stage.
    • Consideration for an ‘after school’ sibling photo opportunity for families next year on ‘photo day’.
       
  • Vale Tina - Tomorrow I will attend the funeral of my colleague, Tina McDougall.  Tina was the Principal of Carlton Gardens Primary School for the last 15 years. Throughout that time she was a great colleague of members of the network.  In my three years as network leader during the challenges of Covid, I could always rely on Tina for a laugh, to bounce ideas off and as a great support.  Tina was a marvellous, down to earth and passionate educational leader.  She took on a school that had a succession of principals and was in a challenging state.  From 8 principals in 10 years, to 9 principals in 25 years.  Sadly, Tina passed away suddenly on Sunday 28th May.  While I will attend the funeral with colleagues, each school in our network will provide staff to assist the running of CGPS on Friday.  Assistant Principal, Carolyn will represent FWPS in assisting on this sad occasion.  

Coming up 

  • King’s Birthday public holiday on Monday - It still seems strange to note that any event or title starts with the title ‘The King’ after generations had only ever known of ‘The Queen.’  Perhaps the strangest element being that we still have a monarch of England who is the monarch of Australia … perhaps that discussion is for another day!  Of course school will resume on Tuesday.
     
  • Pride Month celebrated next week - I find it really refreshing that our Pride Month initiative next week is entirely student driven.  Months ago, 6CL Class Captain, Christa Cursio suggested the really simple idea that will highlight a spirit of inclusion next week.  Make sure you read their item on page 4. The students will be reminded at assembly.  It would be great if you can encourage this message of inclusion next week.
     
  • School review final ‘panel’ day - The school review will conclude on Tuesday of the last week of term.  While this will be the culmination of the reflection process, it really is the start of the next phase of the ongoing cycle.  Our reviewer, David Mann will prepare a comprehensive report, shaped by our input.  This will form the basis of our next School Strategic plan, which in turn will drive the first of our next four Annual Implementation Plans.
     
  • Student Learning Conferences - Pupil Free Day - Last week invitations to our Student Learning Conferences (Student Led Conferences for students in grades 5 and 6) were sent as a Compass post to all families.  It has been pinned, so it will remain instantly accessible for the relevant period.  This is a Pupil Free Day as teachers will be available for face to face or WebEx video interviews all day.  Please access Compass as all information and the relevant links are contained within this one post. 

    In brief:

    Families are asked to book online via Compass for a ten-minute Webex or Face to Face meeting with your child’s teacher(s), for Wednesday 21st June 2023, during their working hours (8:50am to 4:30pm).

    NOTE: Conferences for 6MC only will be held on Tuesday 11th July, due to Marshal's long service leave absence.

    You can choose to attend in person to the classroom, or via Webex.

    Bookings will close at 12pm on Monday 19th June. Please ensure you have booked your interview times prior to this.

    Please note that with the current industrial agreement in place, which more clearly defines teacher work hours, this is your opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss Semester One reports.
     
  • End of term - Term 2 will conclude following an assembly (outdoor if feasible) at 2.20 pm on Friday, 23rd June.  School finishes an hour early at the conclusion of terms 1, 2 and 3.  TheirCare out of hours school service will start at the earlier time.

 

Cheers,

Brendan

Repeated (and updated) messages …

Assembly - Assembly on Friday’s will be held outdoors only if the weather conditions are conducive.  If not, assemblies will be presented indoors in the gallery space in Dingo and broadcast to the classrooms.  At this time of the year it may be anticipated that the majority of assemblies will be held indoors.  For our indoor assemblies we gather all the student presenters, class assembly presenters and pupils of the week before assembly starts, as well as parents, carers, grandparents and community members who have come to watch.  Last week we ran out of chairs for our visitors - which was fantastic as I cannot recall the last time we had that many people attending.

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 at least 6 months left before their use by date.  Drop in to 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.