Footscray West PS Newsletter

Principal's Report

Principal: Brendan Millar

In this Week's Newsletter

  • Appreciations and News…
    • Thanks to all who contributed to our successful Athletics day
    • Aths Carnival 
    • Marrung student leaders
    • Well done Lachlan in 2DW
    • Lawrence in 5SM's Mind Map  
    • Prep 100 Days video
    • Fire Brigade visit with Preps
    • Junior School online learning opportunities
    • Rapid Antigen Tests and Masks
  • Coming up 
    • Milo's Birthday Suprise
    • Grade 5 and 6 Camp next term
    • Assembly tomorrow
    • Book Week and Book Parade 
    • Parent / Carer Opinion Survey
  • Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

Thanks to staff, students and parents/carers - A mighty appreciation to all who contributed to a successful Athletics Day on Wednesday.  Stratos and Marco are the lead organisers, but the positive atmosphere is down to our students, supported by staff, parents and carers.  A big appreciation to the children for their outstanding behaviour.  Their politeness was noted by the two ladies who ran the canteen.

 

Athletics Carnival Day - I enjoyed spending some time at our Athletics Day yesterday for students in Grades 4, 5 and 6.  There was such a positive atmosphere evident from the moment I arrived during the lunch break on a sunny and windy afternoon. Students successful in the field events proudly sported their ribbons.  As the athletic races are determined by times, with multiple heat winners competing, ribbons for these events will be presented on Friday.  In order to celebrate our day we welcome all ribbon holders to wear their event ribbons on Friday.

Marrung Student Leaders - We had pleasure presenting our Marrung student leaders in grades 1 to 6 with their badges last week at assembly.  Pictured with our newest leadership representatives is Marrung Champion, Tess (and you know who!).

Well done Lachlan! Lachlan Cook in 2DW was disappointed to notice that some of the life size student art works of FWPS staff that have featured in the corridor over the last few months had been pulled down and damaged.  With his teacher, Dan’s permission and in his own time he repaired them with masking tape.  Pictured is Lachlan wearing a sticker featuring his Principal’s Award and earlier, at work.

Lawrence in 5SM's Mind Map -  After our assembly last week, Lawrence from 5SM showed me a 'mind map' he had created during our broadcast assembly. Mind maps are a wonderful way of listing and categorising new information and can really assist with note taking or event preparing to present information or make a speech. This is an outstanding example. Well done, Lawrence!

Prep 100 Days at School Celebration - Check out the video full of the cutest pics at: https://vimeo.com/852634720.

 

Thanks to Lauren and the Prep team for arranging the day, parents and carers for doing such a lovely job with outstanding costuming and especially the Preps themselves for embracing the day with such joy and humour. 

 

Prep Fire Brigade Visit - Our friends at the MMFB returned on Wednesday for a visit packed with activity.  The students were able to explore a real Fire Brigade truck and everyone had the chance to use the biggest water hose anyone could imagine!

In the Junior school Grades Prep to 2 - Nessy and Essential Assessment Login Details - Parents and carers of students in grades pre to 2 may have noticed a page in your child’s bag this week, which has the login details for both Essential Assessment and Nessy.

 

These two online learning subscriptions are aligned with the approach of our classroom programs and are resources which can be accessed by students at home to support learning practice in literacy and numeracy.

 

If you have any questions about these resources, please speak with your child’s class teacher.

 

Rapid Antigen Tests and Masks - We have built a large stockpile of RATs and masks.  As many of the RATs are approaching their nominal use by dates, our maintenance person, Taleb has been busily handing them out at the start and end of the school day.  They are available in reception at any time.

Coming up 

Milo’s Birthday Surprise - What a busy and exciting time it has been for our Preps recently.  The fun learning opportunities continue tomorrow with Milo’s Birthday Surprise Party.  For anyone who doesn’t know, Milo is the lead character who features in our Little Learners Love Literacy synthetic phonics program to support learning to read and write. Milo is also the first character the Preps meet when they launched into the program at the beginning of the year and the first character they sing about.  Information that the parent’s have received follows:

 

Dress up as your favourite Milo character and bring a delicious phoneme-related birthday goodie to share with the class to celebrate this special occasion!

(e.g. Peter the penguin might bring popcorn)

Please be aware that all food cannot contain any nuts.

Please ensure that your child still has a snack and fruit as this will be part of their lunch.

 

Grade 5 and 6 Camp next term - These days the preparation for a school camp is extraordinary.  Adjusted compliance and risk management requirements have been the cause of additional and duplicated steps.  Before we attend a school camp, all relevant planning information must be prepared to be tabled and approved by our School Council.  We meet next on Monday of week 8 and thanks to organisers, Lauren C and Mikala, with the assistance of our Business Manager, Sandra and Assistant Principal, Liz, all the documentation has been completed well in advance. A big appreciation for their efforts.

 

Assembly this week… will feature PKT’s grade item to coincide with Milo’s Birthday Surprise Party.   We are hopeful that after the expected rain today that the more optimistic weather forecast tomorrow will hold.  As usual if the weather is fair and the ground is dry we will hold our assembly under the green shade sail outside Bilby.  We will feature reports from our Aths Carnival held on Wednesday and along with PKT’s item we will of course welcome our Pupils of the Week to receive their certificates.  This week we feature some pictures of 2DW presenting their fascinating grade item last week.

Book Week and Book Parade (Friday, 25th August)  - We had such a successful Book Parade last year and we are keen to build on that positive experience this year.  There is a big day of activities planned on Friday, 25th August, starting with a whole school Book Parade and then a series of literature related activity rotations, culminating in an assembly at the end of the day.  Stay tuned for additional information over the next couple of newsletters.

 

Parent/Carer Opinion Survey - Over the last fortnight we have mentioned that the opportunity to respond to this annual survey will be provided to all families.  All families on Monday were sent a link to the email they have provided in time for the survey to open on that day.  You have until Friday, 8th September to respond.  Please contact the office team if you have any queries. 

 

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.  

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.

 

Parking Responsibilities - Information for Schools