Newsletter - 28 April 2022

Issue 11


Principal's Report

Appreciations
We were delighted to welcome the students back to school on Tuesday.  It has been terrific to again see the children playing in the yard before school and to visit classrooms and see the smiling faces of the children and staff members.

Well done to our school and class captains who presented our ANZAC day commemoration with clarity and respect on Tuesday.  For many of the younger students the ceremony may have been confusing, so it is a credit to our community that the ‘attentive listening’ Tribes agreement was so evident.

News
We are hopeful the vast majority of families are now using Compass regularly to keep abreast of what is happening at school.  

Covid management
Over the last few days I made a couple of posts relating to our return to school and in particular managing Covid within these newly adjusted settings.  We are very mindful that the removal of the mask mandate is relieving on the one hand, however we also believe that this protection has had a significant impact in the reduction of transmission.  Some staff and students continue to wear them by choice.  Staff members are likely to prefer to wear masks and encourage visitors to wear masks when meeting.  For instance we anticipate that with our first Prep 2023 information sessions and tours starting next Thursday, there will be an expectation that visitors will wear masks when indoors.

It is important that in order to reduce the risk of transmission, students and staff members who are household close contacts and are now eligible to remain at school, take additional steps to protect others.  Please contact the school when you become aware that a member of your household is Covid positive.  Any children attending school may then attend, provided they test negative to a daily rapid antigen test (taken 5 times over the 7 day likely exposure period) and wear a mask indoors during that time.

While parent visitors will now not need to show their vaccination status to enter the school buildings, adjusted rules will still apply when parent helpers return to classrooms.  All teaching and education support staff are mandated to have 3 covid vaccinations and that requirement will also be in place for visitors working with staff and children.  We will provide more information about plans for parent helpers over the coming weeks.

As stated in yesterday’s Compass Covid update, RAT packs for the first fortnight of term will be directly handed to all students at school today.  Please check your child’s bag.  Please continue to test twice weekly to reduce the likelihood of asymptomatic transmission.



More RATS ready for distribution. Our Business Manager, Sandra just might be able to find her way to her desk!

Interschool sports
Our grade 6 students are excited to again be able to participate in interschool sports - AFL football, Soccer, Netball, Tee ball.  The first of the local sports district’s Winter competition will begin tomorrow with an away fixture at Corpus Christi Catholic PS.  The games will be played at the school and Hansen Reserve.

For most away matches, buses are used.

ROUND

GAME TIME

DATE

VENUE

1

 11:45 – 12:45

 April 29th

Away - Corpus Christi PS (Football & Soccer at Hansen Reserve)

2

 11:30 – 12:30

 May 6th

Home - Footscray North PS

3

 11:30 – 12:30

 May 13th

Home - St John's PS (Football Intraschool)

4

 11:30 – 12:30

 May 20th   

Away - Footscray PS (Soccer & Football at Henry Turner Reserve) 

5

 NIL

 May 27th 

Bye

6

 11:30 – 12:30

 June 3rd     

Home - Dinjerra PS (Football Intraschool)

7

 11:30 – 12:30

 June 10th

Away - St Bernadette's PS (Soccer at Italian Social Club, Football Intraschool)

8

 TBC

 June 17th

Grand Final (Held at Footscray West PS, Johnson Reserve and Shorten Reserve)

Home Venues (out of school grounds):
Football: Shorten Reserve; Soccer: Johnson Reserve, Tee ball:Johnson Reserve.

Assembly arrangements
During term 2 we will plan for assemblies to be presented as live one week and in video format on the alternate week.  Next Monday the assembly will be presented as a video, including Pupils of the Week and other relevant items, such as sports reports, presentations from classrooms and the national anthem.  When a school week starts with a Monday public holiday, or with a Curriculum day (Monday week 9th May), we do not usually hold an assembly.  This week there was an exception due to the ANZAC Day commemoration.  While our preference is for live assemblies to be held outdoors on the basketball court, we anticipate that the glorious weather we have been enjoying will not continue.  If the weather is not conducive to an outdoor assembly we will switch to WebEx video assemby to classrooms.  In such cases it will be impractical to stream the assembly beyond the school. 

Information repeated from our previous newsletter last term:

School Council also approved a student free day on Monday 9th May (3rd Monday of term).  This date was included in the last newsletter of term 1.  This is a non-student attendance day for all classes.  On that day an all day TheirCare program will operate. This day will now be re-titled as a common professional learning day, providing teachers with a professional practice day, in line with a decision made by the Department of Education at the end of term 1.

Our School Council confirmed a Student Reporting day will be held on Wednesday 23rd June during the final week of term 2. We have also confirmed that the Student Reporting day will be a full day Curriculum Day with no students in attendance, though they will be encouraged to attend interviews, or student-led conferences (grades 5 and 6).  The interviews will be conducted throughout the day and into the early evening.  At this stage (subject to Covid rules) we would anticipate that both in person and video conferencing options will be available.  Parents and carers will be able to choose their preference.

New Covid cases this week …

Positive

Household close contact

(can attend with precautions - see above)

5 students

2 staff members

8 students

1 staff members

Please note that a Curriculum Day will be held on Monday 9th May (the week after next).  TheirCare will provide a whole day care program for families who have a requirement for this service.  For further details, costs, or to make a reservation please contact Their Care on 1300 072 410 or visit their website: www.theircare.com.au

Cheers,
Brendan



Coming Events

DATE

COMING EVENTS

Thur 5 MayPreps 2023 Information Session 9:30am
See link for bookings: 2023 Prep Tours
Fri 6 MayMother's Day Stall
Mon 9 MayCommon Professional Practice Day - Student Free
Tue 10 May to
Fri 20 May

NAPLAN online test window for year 3 and year 5 students

Wed 11 May2nd Hand uniform sale 3:15-3:45pm
Thur 19 MayPreps 2023 Information 9:30am & 6:00pm
Thur 2 JunePreps 2023 Information Session 9:30am
Fri 10 June2nd Hand uniform sale 8:50-9:30am
Mon 13 JuneQueens Birthday Public Holiday 
Wed 22 JuneCurriculum Day - Reporting to Parents 
Fri 24 JuneLAST DAY OF TERM - 2:30 FINISH


Pupil of the Week

NAME

GRADE

APPRECIATION FOR:

Polly

PAC

Being a motivated and independent student with a great love of learning. Keep up the amazing growth mindset! 

Ida

PAK

Being a kind, considerate and hard-working member of our class. Keep it up!

Mason

PHS

Always following the Tribes Agreements. Well done.

Jean

PKB


The effort you apply to all that you do and the positive attitude you bring each day. You are a star!

June

PKT

Her resilience and enthusiasm for home learning whilst in isolation. Well done, June!

Oliver H

1CD

Demonstrating his personal best by writing a fantastic holiday recount independently and including lots of details. 

Edith

1CW

Settling into Term 2 so quickly and applying your personal best effort. Keep up the great work!

Leo M

1LB

Caring for and looking after the school and classroom environment. Leo was a role model to his peers during our first school litter-pick up for the term, ensuring our area was left clean and tidy. Well done Leo!

Tate

1HP

The amazing job you did with your holiday recount. Keep up the great effort with your writing.

Athena

1LL

Applying effort to improve your reading and writing. Keep up the great work Athena.

Scout

2BD

Being a kind classmate and always sharing appreciations with your peers who work with you.

 

Kyani

2JI

Demonstrating diligence and perseverance when completing academic tasks especially in numeracy. You are a wonderful role model!

Audrey

2LE

Sharing her great knowledge and love of numbers with the class

Aycan

2TN

Trying your personal best to complete your addition maths task. Great effort Aycan!

 

Sebastian L

3JS

Great organisation and conventions shown through his persuasive text. 

Kiara

3MK

A fantastic first week at Footscray West Primary School. Welcome to 3MK, Kiara!

Owen

3MP

Being proactive during his independent work and displaying Mutual Respect to his peers.

Logan

3TM

Participating more often in class activities and specialist sessions. Keep up the improved effort Logan!

Tilly

4AF

Starting term two focused and ready to learn, and for trying her personal best in her inquiry presentation.

Charli

4BC

Displaying respect and kindness by helping others settle into Term 2. Terrific effort, Charli!

Harriette

4DW

Developing a great history presentation and for confidently sharing it with the grade.

Audrey

4MS

The enthusiasm she brings to the classroom on a daily basis and for demonstrating her personal best with her persuasive text.

Michael

5CG

The creative, engaging and fun Leadership Presentation. You really stepped out of your comfort zone and showed bravery!

Chase

5SM

The fantastic effort you applied to your homework project, it was clear you practised at home.

Charlie M

5TH

The effort and creativity in your leadership project presentation.

Pippa

6LC

The effort you put into your leadership project. The video you used in your presentation was effective and engaging, well done Pippa!

Maverick

6MP

Your highly detailed and interesting leadership project. Keep up the effort!

 

Sophia

6MC

Participating in class discussions and applying your personal best effort to all tasks.



Secondary School Applications

On Wednesday all grade 6 students were provided with a Year 6 to Year 7 Secondary School Application Form. Parents of grade 6 students are required to make sure that all relevant sectionsare filled in and the form is returned to your child’s teacher by Friday 13 May 2022.

If your child has a confirmed place in a non-government school, please attach a document that verifies this. For more information, please visit the website below or contact any secondary schools of interest. You can also contact me by using the details below. 

Regards
Marco Pitisano
Grade 6 Transition Coordinator
Marco@fwps.vic.edu.au

 

 



Parents Association

Hello and welcome to week 1 of Term 2!

We hope everyone had a great break and are all set for another exciting term at school. Here are a few updates from the PA:

Last day of Term 1 get-together 

It was great to see so many people at the West Footscray Wine Store on the last day of Term 1, and with lots of comments about making it a regular event, we'll be aiming for a similar opportunity to get together to relax, unwind and catch-up towards the end of Term 2. If you have any ideas about this, we'd love to hear from you.

Mother's and Special Person's Day Stall - bring your $5!

Is happening next Friday, the 6th of May. We're still looking for last-minute donations, so if you have any books, cookbooks or food items that you're able to contribute, that would be much appreciated. See the separate flyer for details.

2nd Hand Uniform Shop - General 

Is opening again soon... Here are the next few opening dates and times:   

  • 3pm, Wed 11th of May,
  • 8.45am, Friday 10th of June,

If you're able to assist with either of these shop openings, or with sorting uniforms in between openings, please let us know via THIS SIGN UP LINK (press Ctrl + click). Or feel free to email the PA if that's easier: FWPSParentsAssociation@outlook.com

2nd Hand Uniform Shop - TheirCare

Thanks to a special collaborative effort between the PA's Sarah G and the TheirCare team, there's also a special out of hours 2nd Hand Uniform Shop opening for Their Care families from 4.30-6pm on Tuesday 3rd of May - see flyer for details.


That's all for this update, but stay tuned for more information (including about the Beanie Fundraiser) coming out soon.

Cheers,

Sharee, Kate and Tinny (your PA Exec) & PA Committee
Thanks from the Footscray West Primary School Parents Association



The LunchBox Hiring



Are you looking for a role that is :

School hours-YES

School terms-YES

2 days a week-YES


The Role
Assisting in the day-to-day operations of the onsite FWPS tuckshop (The Lunchbox) performing a range of tasks including:

  • preparation of hot and cold food for lunch service @12.30pm
  • recess & lunch sales
  • general cleaning
  • communicating with our VIP customers-The students!

You

  • enjoy working in a fast-paced environment (at times it is VERY fast paced)
  • ability to multi-task & move fast- reiterating the above point!
  • knowledge of food hygiene standards
  • good communication skills
  • general computer skills
  • have a can-do attitude
  • exceptional personal hygiene
  • confidentiality is a must
  • punctual & reliable
  • enjoy working in a team
  • enjoy working with children
  • hold a valid ‘Employees’ ‘Working with Children Check’
  • Vaccinated against Covid

 

Hours of work & pay

  • Wednesday & Thursday with a possibility of Friday
  • 9:30am-1.30pm 
  • Operate in school terms only
  • Award casual rates ($27.91) + 10% Superannuation

Applications for the role

If you are interested in joining a fun & energetic team, I would love to hear from you!  Please email: lindybenwell@yahoo.com.au