Newsletter - 15 December 2022

Issue 40


Principal's Report

This is of course the final newsletter for this year.  Each week it is prepared collaboratively.  A big appreciation to the office team, in particular Natalie who has the weekly task of managing the process and uploading the final version and waits far too often with stoic patience for my report …

In this week’s newsletter:

Included in today’s newsletter:

  • Appreciations
    • Salvation Army Christmas Appeal
    • Congratulations to Harry
    • Goodbye to FWPS families
    • Goodbye to FWPS staff
    • Grade 6 captains morning tea
  • Recent news 
  • Student reports
  • Interschool sport grand finals 
  • News… this week
    • Grade 6 Graduation was held on Monday
    • TST
    • Park to Park 
  • Coming up 
    • Diversity Dash held this afternoon
    • Assembly tomorrow
    • Early finish on Tuesday
  • Covid update

Appreciations
Salvation Army Christmas Appeal
Pictured is Colin from the Salvation Army Sunshine, collecting the vast array of new and wrapped gifts for families in the west.  We very much appreciate the manner in which our school community has generously supported this Christmas appeal.



Congrats Harry
Harry Patching, the last of the Patching family to attend FWPS, received a special Scholarship from his new school Braybrook College during our Monday (remote) assembly.  Harry is pictured with his proud parents, Suzie and Adam.  Well done Harry! 



Go
odbye (staff).....  As detailed in a newsletter earlier this term, we have a number of staff, long term and more short term who will be leaving us at the end of the school year.

Helen Simmons has been a class teacher at FWPS for well over two decades.  Her children attended our school and her husband, John was a former School Council President.  Helen has nurtured 100s or perhaps 1000s of students in that time and her care for them and her colleagues has always been notable. Helen has chosen to retire due to health challenges that have affected her in recent times.  We will all wish Helen improved health when the daily teaching demands are no longer required.   We will miss Helen’s generous smile and genuine empathy.

David Oke retires for the (second time) as David was a classroom teacher for many years, before he returned seven years ago as we inaugurated our specialist music program.  Dave’s joy for sharing the love of music with the students has been constant over this period.  David and Heather’s children also attended FWPS, so this too is the conclusion of a long family commitment to our community.  

Dianne MacDonald built the Orchard to Plate program from scratch as a volunteer cooking program and then joined the staff ensuring the program continued for the next 3 years.  The program has provided many joyful moments over this time.  We appreciate Dianne’s work both as a volunteer and member of staff.  Dianne will be able to revert to full time FWPS parent and work in her new pre-loved clothing store on Barkly St.

Binh Tu has been an Education Support staff member for nearly 3 decades and like Helen and David, her children attended FWPS.  For most of her time at FWPS, Binh worked as a Vietnamese aide and her language skills were regularly sought to assist at short notice when our cultural mix was significantly different to what is now the case.  Binh moved into a classroom ed support role in recent years and has been a part of a strong classroom based Education support team.  We wish Binh good health in retirement.

On Friday during our Celebration Assembly we will also acknowledge members of our staff team who have been with us for a shorter period and are moving onto new roles and opportunities : Carmen Dennis joined the grade 1 team this year and will move onto another school next year.  Carmen has formed marvellous relationships with the students in her care and has proven a very reliable member of our teaching team in this challenging year.  We wish her well.  Bre Chapman will be taking a year of leave and may visit as a relief teacher.  All the best, Bre.  

Goodbye (FWPS families) 
In the final newsletter each year we acknowledge the families of grade 6 students who are the final member of the family to be enrolled at FWPS.  We also acknowledge the families who are moving to new schools through choice and circumstances.  We bid all our ‘retiring’ families all the very best.`

We would like to acknowledge the following Grade 6 families who are the last of their family members to attend our school

Mehmet Anli

Matilda Herbert

Hel Patel

Leo Annese

Ada and Isabelle Innes

Arian Rahman

George Azidis

Jaspa Jackson

Indie Sisworo

Jordan Batchelor-Byrne

Tony Lee

Adam Svrzlic

Tink Bell

Chloe Liberto

Sage Toussaint

Tobin Bettinsoli

Tyler Linden

Moussa Uweinat

Finn Bochner

Hugo Lovell

Anneliese Van Giessel

Fletcher Bodman

Emily Luu

Charlie Vipond

Keifer Carmona

Sebastian MacKenzie-Wee

Evie Ward

Arthur Cowie

Rafferty Mather

Harvey Warhurst

Lola Dowling

Bodee McLeod

Annamai Wells

Eva Easterbrook

Saskia Moore

Pippa Whitbourn

Edith Fitcher

Ema Obradovic

Cara Windsor

Maverick Gardner-Solomon

Brayden & Logan Odzovski

 

Soli Harris-Keca

Harry Patching

 

 

We would like to acknowledge the following who are leaving our school.

Franklin Houlihan

Erin Law

Eva McKenzie

Isa Ozkan

Halah & Laylah Pertl

Harley, Heidi & Jordan Shepherd

Adith Sudam

Billie & Levi French

 


Our Grade 6 Captains  
enjoyed an appreciation morning tea today, along with co-organsier, Lauren Crump.  This wonderful group of student representatives have been a joy to work with.  Thanks to the office team for organising and preparing the fabulous fare!  The students loved it.



News … 

Recent …
Student reports … were sent home via a Compass link on Friday.  I was surprised to realise that as of last week, 47% of semester 1 reports had not been opened!  Clearly there is a need to transition from our previous hard copy format to the digital version.  However, the information that is provided is the result of a great deal of effort on our teachers' part, so we anticipate a much higher rate of access this semester.   

Interschool Sports Grand Finals 
Three teams in 3 sports were involved on Friday’s culmination of our Summer interschool sports competition last Friday.  I have included the students’ reports on Page 4 that were presented on Monday morning’s remote assembly on Monday.

This week … 
Graduation was held on Monday, the first with a live - in person audience since 2019.  

We appreciated everything about our graduation event - the gracious graduates, their wonderful teachers and our support staff, parents and family members.  Marco, Lauren and Mikala did a marvellous job in preparing the students for the event and we were appreciative of the practical assistance of our maintenance person, Taleb, parent, Alan Li and the staff of RecWest.  Please see page 3 for the award winners. We will acknowledge the award winners at tomorrow’s Celebration Assembly.

   



Through School Transition visits occurred on Tuesday.  This was a great opportunity for students to visit their new classes and begin to form relationships with their class peers and their teachers.  We were delighted that all new members of our teaching team; Marshal (grade 6), Lee (5), Tim (4), Hayley and Troy (2), and Jessica (1) were able to engage in a thorough induction day and welcome morning tea before meeting their new classes in the afternoon.  While we have worked very carefully to make the TST visits as seamless as we can, it would be naive if there weren’t some challenges and disappointment.  You may recall that we promised that all students would have at least one of five self selected learning buddies or friends.  Even if your child has come home expressing disappointment that they are not with a particular friend, we will not adjust class lists.  Class groupings are such a complex process and one change invariably has considerable additional implications.  One of the parameters we work with relates to parents requests, including those of a sensitive nature, such as requesting another child is not in the same class as their child.  Of course we need to respect the privacy of families and consequently will not share that information with other parents or carers.  A change would only be made in the most extraordinary of circumstances.  So rare in fact that I can only recall two late changes over the last decade!  It is important for parents and carers to be realistic and positive about challenges that arise at this time of year.

Park to Park
This year the grade 5 and 6 students attended Hansen Reserve, as our usual location of Coulson Reserve was unavailable due to the recent floods.  As the pictures attest, the kids (and staff) had a great time at the newly developed playground.  Sometimes we make changes because we have to.  We have already decided that the newly developed Hansen Reserve will be the venue next year.  Our school nurse Zowi attended for the first time and it was pleasing to hear her comment on how marvellous the students’ behaviour was.  

   

    

Diversity Day
We did our dash with the inclement weather again in the morning, so we had to again reshape Diversity Day into just Diversity Dash.  But let’s face it, that is the main event.

This was great fun as the pictures highlight!


  


  

      

  


Coming up …
Celebration Assembly … will be held tomorrow.  We are planning for an outdoor assembly from 2.45 pm.  While dismissal will be at the usual time of 3.30 pm, for all students who attend on Tuesday, the very last day of this long school year, students will be dismissed from the classrooms at 1.30 pm.  Their Care will operate from this earlier time.  Please ensure that you have arranged for your child to be collected at this earlier time.

COVID update - Feel free to pop into the office or send your child in with a note if you would like multiple RAT packs for the holidays.  

New COVID cases over the last 5 days …

Positive cases

5 students 

0 staff members


Even if it is nearly the end of term, we will continue to contact parents and carers if your child is showing signs of illness.  We would appreciate avoiding Covid and illness just prior to the holidays as well.

Cheers,
Brendan



Coming Events

DATECOMING EVENTS
Fri 16 DecEnd of Year Grade Parties 
Fri 16 DecParents Assocation End of Year Get Together - West Footscray Wines - 12noon to 2.30pm
Fri 16 DecCelebration Assembly @ 2:45pm
Tues 20 DecLast Day - early finish 1:30pm
Mon 30 JanFirst Day of Term 1 2023 8:50am start


Grade 6 Graduation - CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AWARD RECIPIENTS

Congratulations to the grade 6 students who were worthy recipients of the Civic, Academic, and Specialist awards that were presented at graduation on Monday.

Russell Ford Classroom Encouragement Awards
6MP BoyHet Patel
6MP GirlRobyn Millar Portillo
6MC BoyCharlie Vipond
6MC GirlKiki Milonas
6LC BoyKeifer Carmona
6LC GirlAda Innes

 

Civic Awards
Lyn Burnham Peer Support Award

Leo Truong 6LC

The Thelma McAlinden and Phyllis Carson Citizenship Award

Edie Fitcher 6MP

Specialist Encouragement Awards
Physical EducationSoli Harris-Keca 6LC
ArtIndie Sisworo 6MP
ItalianArthur Cowie 6MP
MusicAnnamai Wells 6MP
Performing ArtsEdie Fitcher 6MP

 

Academic Awards - Literacy
Frank Burton-Clay AwardAllegra Lees 6MP
Frederick Mellor AwardNoah Mitchell Crow 6MC
Caren Taylor AwardMaya Macdonnell 6MP

 

Academic Awards - Numeracy
Sylvia McColl AwardArthur Cowie 6MP
Paul Bailey AwardMaverick Gardner-Solomon 6MP
Jeanette Fielding AwardAllegra Lees 6MP
Jeanette Fielding AwardAlexander Doherty 6MC

The All Rounder Award
Annamai Wells 6MP





Environment Team

We would like to give a big appreciation to all the Environment Team members this year. It has been wonderful to have so many committed and enthusiastic Environment Team representatives.

A big thank you to all representatives for their ideas, participation and inspiration. It has been a pleasure working with you all. Well done everyone!

With apologies to the grade 5 and 6 representatives who were enjoying their Park to Park excursion when this photo was taken. 

Helen and Anna



Summer Sports Grand Final Reports

Basketball
Hi I’m Matilda 
And I’m Sophia 

On Friday the 9th of December the girls played the grand final basketball match against Corpus Christi.

The games started with Matilda winning the tap out and us getting the first couple of goals

Then, oh no, Corpus Christi gets a goal 

But don’t worry 😉 we score the next goals 

Until just after half time Corpus Christi get another goal

Little did we know that was the last one they’d scored

We went on to score many more points

We WON!!!

And this is our amazing plaque!!

Thanks to Footscray North for hosting this grand final and letting us play on their amazing inside court.

And a thanks to Mikala for coaching the team to victory. Oh, and also thanks Corpus Christi for playing us and being a good sport.  Thanks for listening 


Bat Tennis
Hello I’m Tom 

I’m Maverick 

On the 9th of December we played Footscray north for the grand final in bat tennis.

At first when we came we were nervous as last time we played them we lost which was our only loss for the season. 

The first game had Fletcher and Hugo playing, and won 6-0.

The next game was Felix and Soli and they also won, with the scored being 6-1

The game after was also won with Mav and Brayden winning 6-1

After was Leo and Arian with the scores 6-1

And finally, Thomas and Maya losing in a close game, 5-7

We would also like to thank Adam, the other Leo, and Penelope for supporting our team while we were playing. 

The final scores were 29-10, we won.

We would like to thank Footscray North for hosting the finals. We would also like to thank Marco for coaching and umpiring.  Thank you for listening.


Cricket

Hi FWPS, I’m Lila, I’m Ada And I’m Anneliese 

Today we will be telling you about the cricket grand final that was held at Footscray north primary school on December 9th. At precisely 9:51am. WE ARRIVED confident and excited.

We entered the school with high hopes of winning. 

We had a great start to the game, winning the bat toss and deciding to bowling first

We seemed to underestimate the opposing team’s skills

Our scorers were Anneliese and Archer with one wicket each.

Anneliese & Phoenix with 3 runs

Harvey & Cara with 2 runs 

Parker & Moussa with 6 runs

Lila & Arthur with 11 runs

And Archer & Ada with 21 runs 

Sadly, we lost by 85 runs with Footscray West with 41 runs, and Footscray primary with 126 runs. 

We’d like to thank Stratos for being a great coach, Footscray North for being excellent hosts, Footscray primary for being amazing sports 

and playing a great game of cricket. Thanks for listening! 



Parents Association

Good Afternoon to all our Footscray West Families.

REMINDER:  End of term get together
West Footscray Wines will be hosting us for the final time this year.
Bring a mate and join us for an end of year beverage before school pick up at 3.30.

Remember, follow us of facebook! Search : FWPS Parents Association.

Enjoy the weekend,
Sharee, Kate and Tinny (your PA Exec) & PA Committee