Footscray West PS Newsletter

Principal's Report

Principal: Brendan Millar

In this week's newsletter

  • Appreciations and News …
    • Prep tour program has now been completed 
    • Cross Country Divisional Finals
    • School review field work days 
    • Reconciliation week activities
    • Science Matters in 4MS
    • New Gecko Building plans
    • Facilities update
    • AFL Clinic Report
  • Coming up 
    • Environment team sustainable donation day tomorrow (1 quality item per family please)
    • Student Learning Conference opportunity posted in Compass
    • Assembly tomorrow
  • Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

  • Our Prep tours and information program has now been completed successfully following our three Tuesday morning and 1 evening sessions held over a 5 week period.  We had a high level of interest expressed, with in excess of 150 parent/carer attendees across this period.  Each session involved a comprehensive tour of the school, visiting prep classrooms and specialist programs, followed by a detailed information session and Q&A.  The bulk of the preparation has been the responsibility of our Kinder/Prep Transition coordinator (and Prep team leader), Kimberley Tong and what a marvellous, professional and personable job she has done.  Well done Kim!  I know as a complete team player, Kim wouldn't wish to take all the credit. A BIG thanks to all members of the prep team, the specialist teachers and of course our Grade 6 captains who did a wonderful job inviting parents and carer's on site and specifically our school captains, Asher and Jacob for assisting with the tours.  Finally, an appreciation to Their Care area manager, Luke and assistant coordinator, Ashleigh for assisting with childcare during the day tours.
  • Divisional Cross Country Finals - Congratulations to the 15 students who proudly represented our school on Wednesday at the divisional cross country at Brimbank Park. The students did an outstanding job with an unparalleled number of students qualifying for the next level. For more information, read Stratos’ article on page 6.
  • School review fieldwork days - Over the last two days we have held fieldwork days as part of our comprehensive school review process. The external review team, along with the principal team, attended classrooms to view lessons.  The external review team members, along with school council representation, met with groups of students, teachers, classroom based education support staff members, office team members and parents and carers.  Our panel will next meet on the final week of school term to finalise the review. Once the report has been completed by our reviewer, David Mann, it will form the impetus for our next School Strategic Plan.  The review process has been a positive experience and we have appreciated the terrific input by our students, staff members, parents and carers.
  • Reconciliation Week - During this week each of the classes has participated in activities to heighten understanding of our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in our lifetimes.  Our Marrung leaders will present some feedback at our assembly tomorrow.
  • Science Matters in 4MS - Last week 4MS presented a terrific science poem for our weekly assembly item.  We liked what they presented and felt a wider audience was a great idea, so I visited Madi and the grade on Monday and recorded the following video: https://vimeo.com/831353855?share=copy
  • New Building plans - While the announcement was another milestone in our plan to provide a full sized gymnasium at our school, it precipitates a long period of consideration and planning. Firstly, we are required to prepare an Asset Management Plan (AMP) Phase 1 during the rest of the term.  After the AMP1 has been signed off by School Council, it will be followed by the AMP Phase 2, which is when the specific planning process begins.  We are expecting this to take place throughout term 3.  This will then lead into a detailed project planning period of approximately 44 weeks, culminating in tenders being called for contracting the works. This enables us to plan with the knowledge that there will not be ‘boots on the ground’ until at least term 3 2024.  The AMP Phase 1 looks at the broad education and community aspects and seeks to understand the school context before we start to focus on the details.  While we have limited time to elicit specifics from our community, I will provide an option to provide input prior to the end of this busy term.  I will also continue to communicate weekly updates whenever relevant.
  • Facilities update - Each month (usually on the Wednesday evening) prior to our School Council meeting, members of our facility subcommittee meet to discuss plans, problems and programs relating to our school’s buildings and grounds. Of course at last evening's meeting, a major focus was on our new building plans (mentioned above).  We also discussed the ongoing planned maintenance program that has been occurring since the holidays and has affected the Lorikeet, Koala, Crocodile, Dingo and Wallaby buildings.   While much of the work is unseen, as it involves repairs to roofing flashing and minor works, the damp proofing of the Wallaby building is substantial and ongoing.  Anyone who has walked through the corridor from the Gecko end will have noticed the original lining boards have been removed.  This is also the case in the staffroom and student services office.  Having had approximately 8 weeks to dry and following the application of a silicon product, literally at hundreds of locations at the base of the building’s interior and exterior, we are very hopeful that the rising damp issues will be solved.  From next week lining boards will be replaced in the staff room and original boards will be reinstated in the corridor.  As the work in the corridor will restrict access, we are working on a plan to reduce the inconvenience for students and staff.  There is also work to be done in removing the original interior render which moisture has turned to (almost) sand.  Removal work will be carried out during the next few weekends.  Anyone passing by Argyle St this week will have noticed that Fielding Way at the front of the school has now scaffolding erected.  This is to enable the contractor to access the roof line to replace the damaged tiles that have been in place for 108 years.  They have served us well, but I am very glad that task is not in my job description!
  • AFL Clinic Report - The accompanying AFL Clinic report was prepared by 4JD's Evie, Leo and Alex. Thanks for sharing!

Coming up 

  • Environment Team 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.
  • Student Learning Conferences - Yesterday invitations to our SLCs and Student Led Conferences (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. 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.
  • Assembly tomorrow - 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 our student representative 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.

Hope you have had a great week.

 

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 fifth 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.