In this week’s newsletter:
COMING UP... NEXT WEEK
COMING UP... THE FINAL WEEK OF TERM
Cheers,
Brendan
REPEATED AND UPDATED COMMUNICATIONS
Hearing your voice - Some feedback from this week’s successful assessment on our compliance practices was a suggestion that we more practically seek community feedback. So from today, 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
CSEF Eligibility - The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities such as, school camps, swimming, school-organised sports programs, outdoor education programs, excursions and incursions. You may be eligible if you hold a current Centrelink Health Care Card, Veterans Affairs Gold Card or Pensioner Concession card.
If you registered your child in 2022 there is no need to re-register, however you DO need to register new Prep Students or if your circumstances have changed and you are now receiving benefits.
Forms can be found in the link below or at the main office, a copy of your Health Care Card is required, this can be copied at the office.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/health/CSEF-Application-Form-2020.pdf
Should you require further information, please contact the Admin Team on 9687 1535.
Parent/Carer Volunteer Induction
This information has been ‘pinned’ on Compass so it remains easily accessible. You will currently find it as the third 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 the staff member the message is intended for. 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
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:
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.
DATE | COMING EVENTS |
Wed 29 March | Prep Open Afternoons - 2:45pm |
Wed 15 - Fri 31 Mar | NAPLAN Years 3 & 5 |
Mon 27 March | School Council Meeting (In person) - 7:00pm |
Tue 28 March | Western Region Swimming Finals |
Wed 29 March | Nudel Kart - team building activity for Captains' crew, JSC and Environmental Team |
Thu 30 March | Grade 6 Social |
Thu 30 March | PA Gift Wrapping session 2. 7pm to 8pm at 540 on Barkly. |
Tues 4 April | Hoodie Up for Autism |
Thur 6 April | Last Day of Term 1 - 2:20pm finish |
Mon 24 April | Term 2 begins - 8:50am |
Tue 25 April | Anzac Day Public Holiday |
1st - 16th May | Grade 3/4 Camp Zoo Snooze - various dates |
Tue 2 May 9:30am -10:45am Tue 16 May 9:30am - 10:45am Tue 16 May 6:00pm - 7:00pm Tue 30 May 9:30am - 10:45am | 2024 Prep Enrolment Information Sessions and School Tours To attend one of the listed sessions, please register via the following link: https://compasstix.com/e/yzkmg5dfrq |
Wed 31 May | Maribyrnong Division Cross Country Brimbank Park for Qualifiers |
NAME | GRADE | APPRECIATION FOR: |
Abigail | PAC | Being a considerate classmate and for always sharing in community circles. You’ve had a great start to the year! |
Hugo | PAK | Being a reliable class helper and actively participating in all activities. Keep up the wonderful effort. |
Marcel | PBD | For the wonderful effort you apply to your work tasks. Keep it up! |
Warren | PKT | For being an inclusive friend. Thank you for making others feel welcome! |
Kirtesh | PLB | For demonstrating wonderful attentive listening when on the mat. Keep up the fantastic work Kirtesh! |
Illi | 1JI | For showing a growth mindset and applying his personal best to settle into tasks diligently and efficiently. The effort you put in does not go unnoticed. You are a great role model, Illi. |
Mason | 1JS | For developing a growth mindset in his handwriting, by doing his best in attempting to write letters on dotted third lines. |
Ayaan | 1LE | For always putting his best effort into tasks and being a kind and friendly class member. |
Olina | 1TN | Always enthusiastically participating in reading group sessions and applying personal best. Terrific effort Olina. |
Maya | 1LL | For always putting effort into your learning and being so positive! |
Malik | 2CW | Being a kind and considerate friend who is quick to help those others around him. You are a superstar Malik! |
Oliver | 2DW | For the effort and enthusiasm he has shown at swimming. It’s great to see you taking part, having fun and making progress! |
Tate | 2HR | Doing his personal best and showing attentive listening during swimming lessons. Well done! |
Darcy | 2TF | For demonstrating a personal best attitude and great progress throughout our swimming sessions. Well done, Darcy! |
Ababo | 3CG | For always giving her personal best, staying organised and asking fantastic questions! Keep it up Ababo! |
Alex | 3MK | Using a growth mindset and showing a positive attitude towards your learning this week. Well done! |
Harvey | 3MP | For displaying a growth mindset during his academic tasks. Well done! |
Coco | 3TM | For always being a helpful and considerate classmate. Thank you for everything you do for us Coco! |
Caleb | 4AF | Being a fantastic role model to his new buddy in PBD. It’s great to see your leadership skills emerge Caleb! |
Ewan | 4JD | Ewan for applying teacher feedback and making improvements to his narrative writing. Well done for using a growth mindset! |
Adalyn | 4MS | For her valuable contributions during classroom discussions and always trying her personal best in all learning activities. Wonderful efforts Addy! |
Sebastien | 4TC | For his wonderful contributions to class discussions and challenging himself in maths. |
Lucas | 5LW | For his effort and dedication to his learning both inside and outside the classroom. You consistently give it your all Lucas. Well done! |
Gretel | 5MC | Always thinking critically and making insightful contributions to class discussions. Keep up the great work! |
Gabriella | 5SM | For your positive attitude and effort towards all tasks. Your love of learning is admirable! |
Audrey | 5TH | Being a kind and caring friend. You always make others feel included and appreciated. Thank you! |
Christa | 6LC | For always leading by example and putting great effort into everything you do. You are a wonderful role model to your peers! |
Shukri | 6MC | Always volunteering to assist and help others and contributing so much to 6MC. Your drive to improve, challenge yourself and try new things is inspiring to everyone around you. Keep up the amazing effort! |
Evie P | 6MP | Consistently showing care for your learning by seeking support and feedback when needed. Keep it up! |
Emma Thistlethwaite | TheirCare | Always being so kind and showing respect every day to the staff. She is always ready to lend a hand and supports the whole team. |
The Premiers’ Reading Challenge 2023 Is Now Open!
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Footscray West Primary is excited to be participating.
The challenge is open to all students from Prep to Year 6. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 1st September 2023.
If you are a student Prep – Year 2 you will be automatically registered and will complete the challenge at school.
If you are a student Year 3-6 you need to:
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
If your child is keen to join the Reading Challenge please let me know in the library so they can be entered on the database and assigned a username and password to access the website.
To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklists and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge
If you have any queries or want more information please see me in the library.
Jodi
Library
Hi parents, guardians, staff and friends!
We continue to welcome all new children and families to TheirCare this term and we are very happy to be getting more children each morning and afternoon. We are excited to be meeting more and more of the brilliant people in this beautiful FWPS community!
This week the children havev learned about Harmony Day where we celebrate diversity and unity. The children and staff dressed in orange to show appreciation for the day. We have been so busy with so many children!, and we would like to thank our amazing team here at Footscray West who have been all hands on deck.
Holiday Program is fast approaching, and bookings are open for families to book for our incredible program. The theme of these holidays is ‘Wild Child’. We will be experiencing a range of fun activities and excursions. We will be going to cinemas as well as the famous Luna Park!. Please confirm bookings soon as places will be filling up fast!
This week’s Star of the Week for TheirCare will be Emma Thistlethwaite for always being so kind and showing respect every day to the staff. She is always ready to lend a hand and supports the whole team.
Reminder to all parents, guardians and children, our fundraiser is still running and will end at the end of term!
For all families if you have any questions about TheirCare and would like to come and have a chat please come visit us in Emu Corner in the morning or afternoon, alternatively you can contact us on the details provided and we will help you as best we can.
TheirCare Team:
Louise, Ash & Connie
Contact Details:
Service Phone: 0487004072
Service Email: footscraywest@theircare.com.au Head Office: 1300 072 410