Footscray West PS Newsletter

Principal's Report

Principal: Brendan Millar

In this week's newsletter

  • Appreciations and News …
    • Congratulations to …
    • Wominjeka mural
    • Nudel Kart
    • NAPLAN (we’re still waiting)
    • Team planning summary
    • Concerns with an inappropriate image
  • Coming up 
    • Assembly this week
    • Grade 5 Space Centre Excursion
    • Grade 3/4 Swimming
    • Concert Week - Term 4 - Week 10 
  • Repeated (and updated) messages

Appreciations and News

  • Congratulations … to Romy Andrews (5MC) and Elira Sulaj (2CW) who are delighted that they demonstrated their creativity for the Show your Westside art competition.  Romy collected a $250 award and Elira a $100 award.  Well done!
  • First Nations’ Wominjeka art installation - Finally Amina’s work is done.  Well nearly - just some touching up is required.  While we were hopeful of installing the work this morning, the high winds made that impractical and unsafe.  We will do so when the weather and Taleb’s work schedule (next) coincide. We are currently investigating a traditional cultural inauguration event.  We will keep you posted.  A big appreciation to Amina Briggs, Dan, Taleb, Susie and the members of our Parents’ Association for enthusiastically supporting our stunning new installation.
  • Nudel Kart … is just one of the regular lunchtime clubs that we provide at FWPS each week.  Nudel Kart is on Monday for the seniors and Tuesday for juniors.  Pictured this week are some inventive commuters!
  • NAPLAN - We shared the information last week that NAPLAN results for students in grades 3 and 5 are due to be delivered to schools this week and will be distributed to families shortly after they arrive.  As at time of writing, the shipment had not yet been delivered.
     
  • Team planning summaries - This week in the newsletter the grade teams have each included a term summary to ensure parents and carers are suitably informed of what is occurring in your child’s classroom this term. It has been a busy time in the grade 2 team, with Maria joining the teaching team last week and team leader, Caitlin on leave. The grade 2 team summary will be included next week. The specialist programs will also be included next week.
     
  • Concerns regarding an inappropriate image - On Wednesday we became aware of a concern in one of the grade 4 classrooms.  While students were using iPads to explore a geographic location using Google Earth, one child opened a pinned picture which revealed a highly inappropriate sexualised photograph.  Of course, as soon as the teacher was made aware, the iPad was removed and the principal team alerted.  All students who saw the image were debriefed and parents/carers informed.  As the matter was a topic for lunch play chatter, we informed all grade 4 parents and carers and provided relevant support materials.  As with all schools, internet traffic is filtered.  Therefore the incident was a surprise to us.  We reported the image to Google and blocked Google Earth from our server.  We have taken the additional step of removing the Google Earth application from the iPads. Further, we followed Department of Education protocol by making a report to the Incident and Operations Centre. 
     
  • A comment on excursions - We are delighted that we are now back to holding regular, relevant excursion experiences.  You may also have noted that prices are so much higher than pre Covid.  Bus costs are approximately twice the cost than 3 or 4 years ago and many venue costs have just about doubled as well.  We of course repeatedly remind families to consider their eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions fund.  While we are unable to absorb these costs, we are amenable to holding a respectful conversation with families who are encountering financial hardship.  Calls to members of the principal team, or Sandra our business manager, will always be managed with discretion and courtesy.
     
  • Grade 2 ‘Connecting to Country’ excursion to the Botanical Gardens - The children in the grade 2 team absolutely revelled during Wednesday’s excursion. Students in the junior school have not had the opportunity to attend excursions with the frequency that would have been the case in the past.  I look forward to sharing the grades’ combined video soon.
     

Coming up 

  • Assembly this week … will feature our Marrung representatives who are looking forward to presenting the winners of this year’s NAIDOC Week colouring competition.  Assembly will be held at 2.40 pm on Friday at the Bilby shade sail (unless the weather intervenes). Make sure your child has a jacket or coat - the wind reduces temperatures considerably.

    Last week 3CG demonstrated a terrific presentation (pictured).  
  • Grade 5 Space Centre Excursion - Tomorrow 5TH and 5LW will be the second group to attend a stimulating excursion to the Victorian Space Science Education Centre at Strathmore Secondary College (https://www.vssec.vic.edu.au). The group is due to leave at 9.30 am and return by 2.45 pm, though last week it was closer to 3.20 pm.  5SM and 5MC attended last Friday and the feedback was really positive.  I have included some pictures from last week of the students really embracing the opportunities.  The grade 5 team will provide a video of the combined excursion experience in the next couple of weeks.
  • Grade 3/4 Swimming - The intensive swim program for the 3 and 4 teams will start on Monday at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre.  The groups are formed on student ability and taught by experienced instructors.  A new specialist timetable will operate for this next fortnight to enable all classes to receive their full specialist program.  This may mean that some of your child’s specialist classes will be held on different days than usual.
     
  • Concert Week - We are pleased to announce a return to holding Concert Week this year. It will be held Monday, 4 September to Thursday, 7 September and showcase both the Soundgarage and Musical Futures programs. All other details have yet to be determined.

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.

 

Support for Board of Inquiry

 

Dear community members,

 

You would be aware that on Wednesday 28 June, the Victorian Government announced the establishment of a Board of Inquiry into Historical Child Sexual Abuse in in Beaumaris Primary School and Certain Other Government Schools.

 

The Board of Inquiry’s Terms of Reference will investigate multiple occurrences of historical child sexual abuse that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s at Beaumaris and certain other Victorian government schools. The Board is required to report within 6 months of its establishment.

 

The Department of Education will provide a written response to the Inquiry and will support staff of impacted schools in responding to any queries arising from the Board’s investigations. We have contacted those schools directly.

 

I want to make clear my and the department’s position on this matter. Any instance of child sexual abuse is horrific. We recognise that the establishment of the Board of Inquiry is likely to be both painful and an important step in healing and closure. The department is committed to being as open as possible to all that can be learnt as a result of the Board’s inquiries, both to make visible what happened in the past and to learn from that to do all that we possibly can to prevent similar instances happening again.

 

It is also possible that the establishment of the Board will itself support individuals who have not previously reported child sexual abuse to do so. Please be aware that there are a number of options for support and redress available to victim-survivors of child sexual abuse in government schools. I would encourage anyone who would like more information to visit the Victorian Government website at https://www.vic.gov.au/report-abuse-if-youre-current-or-former-student.

 

If adult members of the FWPS community are concerned or distressed about the Inquiry or public reports in coming months, or the hearings and reports raise any issues, please be aware of the support and services available. These are listed below.

 

Yours sincerely

David Howes

 

Supports available to families

 

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline is a free, confidential 24-hour online and phone counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25. Call 1800 55 1800 or visit kidshelpline.com.au

 

Parentline

Parentline is a statewide telephone counselling and support service for all Victorian parents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. Call 13 22 89 or visit parentline.com.au

 

South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA)

SECASA is a specialist sexual assault and family violence service that provides counselling and crisis response. Call SECASA on (03) 9594 2289 or visit secasa.org.au

 

13YARN

13YARN is a national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. They offer a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. Call 13 92 76 or visit 13yarn.org.au