Principal's Report

In this week's newsletter

• Appreciations 
• News …
  • School Council met on Monday
  • Grade 4 Camp news
  • An asbestos free school - Maintenance project update 
• Coming up 
  • School Review - Day 1
  • Grade 3 and 4 Zoo Snooze Camps - Week 2 Camps 4, 5 and 6
  • Mother’s Day Stall
  • Pupil Free Day Monday 15th May
  • Prep Tour and information forum (2)

Appreciations 

• An appreciation to the students in 4AF and 4TC as well as their teachers; Anthea and Tim for adopting a positive attitude during a disruptive first week of term when due to a repair oversight the grades were unable to access their Lorikeet classrooms all week! I have included an explanation of what occurred in today’s newsletter.
• Well done to our students from the first three grade 4 classes who attended the Zoo Snooze camps this week.  It was a change of camp style and format but a really amazing experience.  The students in each grade were complimented for their wonderfully positive attitude, especially when the weather became challenging.  These camps would not be possible without a great deal of additional work and preparation.  A very big thanks to grade 4 team leader, Jess du Plessis and Assistant Principal, Liz Beasley for this preparation and class teachers (Jess), Tim, Anthea and Assistant Principals (Liz) and Carolyn for their support and commitment in attending these singular overnight experiences.   There are some great pics posted on the FWPS Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/footscraywestprimary/
• Thanks to our K-P Transition coordinator (and team leader) Kim Tong for the outstanding organisation evident with the first of 4 Prep transition information sessions and tours held on Tuesday.  For information on the remaining opportunities to attend a Prep 2024 information session and tour (see below).
• Congratulations to 4AF class member, Hudson Jose for the outstanding hand drawn copy of Warhol’s Campbell's Soup Pop Art classic.  Hudson is featured in the accompanying picture, with his amazing piece, along with his Principal’s Award sticker.  Well done Jose and thanks to Susie for bringing this to my attention and most importantly continuing to inspire another generation of lucky FWPS student artists. 

News

School Council met on Monday and discussed:

• School Review process and intent (see below)
• Issues with school maintenance project over the holidays pertaining to the Lorikeet building (see below)
• Mother’s Day stall planning (see separate page)
• School Council Protect training attestation
• Policy updates relating to: Photographic, filming and recording students policy
• Vision and Values review
• School Council Standing Orders

If you have any questions about School Council business, send us an email or have a chat when you see me, Liz or Carolyn in the yard.

Maintenance project update - The last significant asbestos was contained within the ceiling lining of the Lorikeet classrooms and as we were approved to have the roofing sheets replaced, we ensured that the ceiling would be replaced at the same time.  Due to safety considerations, in schools, these days, asbestos is approved to be removed when no students or school staff are onsite - only suitably approved contractors.  That is why the removal work was managed during the Easter long weekend so that it had been achieved before children and Their Care staff were back onsite for the holiday program.  At the end of the holidays we were assured that with the asbestos removed and certificated and a new roof, painted ceiling and services reinstated, we were set for 4AF and 4TC to have a smooth start to term.   As with ‘Murphy’s Law’ this is not how the week transpired… Unfortunately, though managed by a licensed asbestos removal company and supervised by a qualified hygienist, on Monday morning we discovered some building material that caused us concern.  We then put into place department protocols to ensure that our follow up steps were timely and thorough.  The key information was expressed in a letter to parents and carers in 4AF and 4TC and that is included below.

We were relieved to be able to have access to the newly carpeted classrooms on Monday.  While last week was a challenging one to all directly affected, I do also have an appreciation to the cleaning and carpeting crew and the staff of the Victorian Schools’ Building Authority Make Safe team - in particular Amanda Waters, for their thorough and timely support.  We are continuing to manage some ongoing maintenance works (in particular the Wallaby Building) this term that has affected access to our staff room and student services office - but they are all very manageable. 

RoboGals - The grade 6 classes appreciated the opportunity to engage in coding in a workshop presented by ‘Robo Gals’, a volunteer organisation that pairs female university undergraduates with primary school classes.  Thanks to Mila and Morgan from 6MC for preparing a brief video summary of their grade’s recent experiences.  Check it out at: RoboGals Grade 6 on Vimeo

COVID - It is disappointing to note that COVID is again affecting our community.  Please test if your family has been exposed or any members experiencing symptoms.  We still have oodles of RAT packs for any family who wishes to obtain them from the office (see information in Repeated and Updated messages (below).

Coming Up 

The ‘Zoo Snooze’ grade 3 and 4 camps will continue next week and conclude on Tuesday, May 16th.  All the relevant details can be sourced in the following accompanying video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/821197212/3c1f54169a. Camps 4, 5 and 6 will be held next week as follows:

• Monday 8th - Camp 4 4MS (Staffing - Madi Sparvell and Liz Beasley)
• Tuesday 9th - Camp 5 3MK (Staffing - Medha Kaul and Brendan Millar)
• Wednesday 10th - Camp 6 3TM (Staffing - Tess Maddison and Carolyn Lockie)

School Review - Validation Day - The first official day with the full panel will be held this Monday.  The school Principal team (Brendan, Liz and Carolyn) will be joined by our school reviewer, experienced former principal, David Mann, our network Senior Education Improvement Leader, Natalie Bakai, School Council President, Andrew Newman, challenge partners, David Moss, Principal Newport Lakes PS and Jen Briggs, Principal Footscray PS and Christina Tropea, Senior Project Officer in the Arts Assessment and Report Unit.  In the morning we will consider the purpose of the review, performance against our prior strategic plan and consider the parameters of classroom observations.  We will then form into two groups in order to participate in several classroom observations and student and teacher focus groups.  In the afternoon we will hear back from the panel groups, discuss our data and validate our results against the expected standards.  The day will conclude with consideration of the terms of reference for the review.  Field days will follow on Wednesday, 31st May and Thursday the 1st June and the program will conclude with our Final day on Tuesday, 20th June. We will continue to provide a summary of our progress over the term.

Mother’s Day and Special Persons Stall on Friday next week - We are delighted that this annual stall will be held on Friday of next week.  Members of our Parent’s Association have been very busy sourcing, wrapping and organising fabulous items for the day.  Please remember to make sure your child brings along some cash on the day (a maximum of $5) to buy something wonderful.

Prep Information Sessions and Tours - The remaining sessions are:

• #2 Tuesday 16th May 2023, 9:30 am - Tue 16th May 2023, 10:45 am
• #3 Tuesday 16th May 2023, 6:00 pm - Tue 16th May 2023, 7:00 pm
• #4 Tuesday 30th May 2023, 9:30 am - Tue 30th May 2023, 10:45 am

To attend one of the above listed sessions, please register via the following link: https://compasstix.com/e/yzkmg5dfrq

Please note that we are unable to provide individual or additional sessions - so if relevant for your family, please reserve a place now.

Professional Practice Day - There will be a Professional Practice Day (Pupil Free Day) held on Monday 15th May.  That is week 4 of Term 2 (the week after next - the Monday following Mother’s Day). Their Care will provide a full day program on that day should there be sufficient interest.

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

CSEF Eligibility - The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities such as, school camps, swimming, school-organised sports programs, outdoor education programs, excursions and incursions. You may be eligible if you hold a current Centrelink Health Care Card, Veterans Affairs Gold Card or Pensioner Concession card.  

If you registered your child in 2022 there is no need to re-register, however you DO need to register new Prep Students or if your circumstances have changed and you are now receiving benefits.

Forms can be found in the link below or at the main office, a copy of your Health Care Card is required, this can be copied at the office https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/health/CSEF-Application-Form-2020.pdf

Should you require further information, please contact the Admin Team on 9687 1535.

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.