Principal's Report

End of Year Excitement

It is lovely to be able to use the last newsletter of the year to celebrate the end of year events that we hold so dearly, and which can now go ahead. My walks around the school grounds have recently been complemented with the sound of Christmas songs and music as well as the fun and laughter that this time of year brings.

When we look back at our own experiences of primary school there are memories that stand out. The important daily learning that occurs often goes unnoticed in hindsight, and the special memories that we can draw upon are often related to unique events, which don’t come along so often.

Some of my own primary school experiences include making dinosaurs out of cardboard boxes, going on camp to North Wales, and our performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (when unfortunately, one of the dwarves fell off the stage and broke his arm).

In a year when we have had to cancel camps, concerts, sport, swimming and excursions, we hope that some of these end of year events bring joy and memories that will stay with the students. Across the next two weeks, we are looking forward to:

Choir, Orchestra and Brass Christmas Celebration

• Wednesday 8th December, from 4:30pm at the Fig Tree Courtyard. (Performers are to arrive at 4:15pm with their instrument).

Foundation – Year 2 Musical Christmas Assembly

• Friday 10th December from 2.40pm, at the Fig Tree Courtyard.

Year 6 Graduation

• Wednesday 15th December at 6pm, on the FPS oval. (Families can arrive at 5:15pm onwards).

End of Year Assembly

• Friday 17th December 9.15am, at the Fig Tree Courtyard. Parents are welcome to attend.

Junior Athletics Day

Last Friday we were able to hold a modified Junior Athletics Day. This event was planned when strict COVID restrictions were in place, therefore we were required to minimise the mixing of grades. This meant that students kept to their grade’s groups as they rotated through activities, and the running races were not able to be held.

It was the perfect scene on Friday, with our Year 6 students leading by example. They demonstrated each activity and guided and supported our younger students expertly. It was wonderful to see such great interaction and enjoyment from everyone involved.

2022 Year 6 School Leaders

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate to be able to watch 35 of our Year 5 students present speeches about why they should be a school leader. COVID restrictions meant this was done differently to previous years – instead of having our Year 4 and 5 students together in the Old Hall, the speeches were presented virtually. Our Year 5 students did an outstanding job of presenting with confidence and poise, in what can be perceived as a very nerve-wracking situation.

The votes are in and our 2022 school leaders, as listed below, will be presented at next year’s Welcome Assembly.

2022 Staffing

Farewell

At the end of this year, we will be saying farewell to Taylor Bartlett who will be relocating to Darwin. We thank Taylor for her contributions to the school and wish her well for the future. 

Jourdan Murray will be going on family leave next year. We wish Jourdan and her partner Darcy all the very best at this exciting time.

Nicole Quah – who has been teaching Year 6 one day a week while Daniel Arnavas has focussed on his Learning Specialist role – will end her time at FPS at the end of the year. We thank Nicole for her contributions.

Welcome

Next year we look forward to welcoming three new teachers to FPS: Caitie Flanagan, Jessica Greenway and Lauren McConnell. I am sure that they will receive a warm welcome from the students at the ‘Meet Your Teacher’ session.

Faye Soderstrom will return from family leave next year, working two days a week. Welcome back Faye.

Ginger Moyle and Tom Edwards will deliver the Tutor Learning Initiative next year. Ginger will be going on family leave at the start of term two.

Geoff McShane will be taking long service leave throughout term one. Tom Pinchen-Hogg, a regular replacement teacher at our school, will teach PE during this time.

Staffing Allocations for 2022

Foundation: 4 classes. Located in the Old Hall Classrooms.

• Foundation A: Zoe Jellie 
• Foundation B: Kelly McKeown
• Foundation C: Grace Clarke
• Foundation D: Cathy Turner

Year 1: 5 classes. Located in the double-storey building on Langridge St and the Old Hall double classroom, closest to the shelter shed. 

• 1A: Prue Middleton
• 1B: Emilia McDonald 
• 1C: Anne Killick
• 1D: Serena Maynard
• 1E: Brendan Nick

Year 2: 4 classes. Located in the single-storey portables.

• 2A: Jayde Brownhill
• 2B: Caitie Flanagan
• 2C: Faye Soderstrom (Mon – Tues) & Naomi Reynolds (Wed – Fri)
• 2D: Sophie Ratcliffe

Year 3: 4 classes. Located in two rooms on the ground floor of the Fairfield Rd Building and two rooms in the administration wing, near the school office.

• 3A: Michele Fraser
• 3B: Monique Crow
• 3C: Mariah Moshis
• 3D: Stephanie Volkov

Year 4: 3 classes. Located first/top floor of the Fairfield Rd Building.

• 4A: Chiara Vaiani Minchinton
• 4B: Jade O’Grady 
• 4C: Elise Dowell

Year 5: 3 classes. Located on the ground floor of the Wingrove Street Campus

• 5A: Aaron Chaston
• 5B: Lauren McConnell
• 5C: Anna Moore

Year 6: 2 classes. Located on the first/top floor of the Wingrove Street Campus.

• 6A: Daniel Arnavas & Nicole Rettke (Daniel and Nicole will alternate between teaching two days and three days each term)
• 6B: Jessica Greenway

Specialist Teachers & Literacy Support Teachers

• French: Emily Lindsay-Smith
• Physical Education: Tom Pinchen-Hogg (term one) & Geoff McShane (terms 2 – 4)
• Visual Arts: Marjie Tkatchenko
• Performing Arts: Keri Spence (Mon – Wed) & Olivia Li (Wed – Fri)
• Literacy Support: Rebecca Creswick 
• Tutor Learning Initiative: Tom Edwards & Ginger Moyle (term one)

Integration Aides

• Elly Armagos
• Zoe Naylor
• Daniel Paladino
• Kathy Sztaers

Administration

• Business Manager: Jane O’Riley
• HR & Facilities: Elena Paladino
• Communications: Sarah Moody
• Wingrove St Administration: Alice Lambert
• Maintenance: Graham Keen
• IT: Arthur Ho
• Librarian: Paula Stafford

Meet Your 2022 Teacher

We are currently in the process of finalising next year’s class lists. Students will be informed of their 2022 teacher and classmates at their ‘Meet Your Teacher’ session, scheduled for Wednesday 15 December, from 12 – 1pm.

Tutor Learning Initiative 2022

Daniel Arnavas and Tom Edwards are currently analysing data to establish which students will participate in next year’s tutor program. The focus of these sessions will continue to be writing and numeracy, and students identified as not making the expected learning growth will be prioritised.

Contact will be made with the families of selected students early next year.

COVID Restrictions – Update

The Department of Education and Training recently updated its Operational Guidelines. The update means that we can proceed with those events mentioned earlier in my newsletter piece.

We will keep all current arrangements in place until the end of the year.

Vaccine Requirements for Visitors

• Parents, carers and other adult visitors who enter school buildings must be fully vaccinated or have a valid medical exception. Adult visitors will be asked to show evidence of vaccination when entering a school building.
  • Proof of vaccination is not required when attending briefly and not involving any sustained contact with staff or students, for example visiting lost property.
  • Proof of vaccination is not required when attending school for drop-off and pick-up.
• Parents attending a gathering at school, such as a fete or graduation ceremony, whether indoors or outdoors, need to show evidence of vaccination on arrival.

To comply with these requirements, we request that when attending out-of-hours school events, including the graduation and orchestra concert, please scan in using the school’s QR code and show proof of vaccination to the staff member at the gate.

Departing Families

At the end of this year we will be saying farewell to a greater number of families than we normally do. We have families leaving our community and venturing to a range of places, far and wide. This includes moving within Melbourne, to regional Victoria, interstate and in some cases, overseas.

Of course, we will also be saying goodbye to Year 6 families whose youngest child in in Year 6. I feel that leaving primary school is not only a landmark event for the children, but also for the families. After years of drop-off, pick-up, after school activities, packing lunches and so much more besides, next Friday draws an end to that chapter.

To those families leaving at the end of this year, we thank you for your support of your children and of the school. We wish you all the best for the next part of your child’s schooling journey.

And the final word is for our Year 6 students. I look forward to celebrating your FPS years at next week’s Graduation. I thank you for your kindness, resilience and effort. Best wishes for high school.

Thank You Staff

2021 has been a test for everyone, including our staff. I'd like to thank them for their care, commitment, fortitude and humour. You have played a significant part in supporting the wellbeing and learning of our students, both remotely and at school, for which our community is very grateful.

Happy Holidays

All that is left for me to say is, ‘Wow, what a year we have all experienced. The good and the not-so-good, the ups and the downs, the laughter and the tears.’

You all deserve a great break these holidays.

Thank you to students and families for your ongoing support, of the school and of each other – I will see you around the grounds.

~ Paul Wallace, Principal