Newsletter - 21 April 2021

Issue 10


Principal's Report

We hope all our families had some time for relaxation and to catch up with family and friends. 

We are pleased to be all back for the beginning of term 2, as we do not take being all together for granted. We are looking forward to a busy and we hope as ‘near normal’ term as possible.

Appreciations

  • During the holidays we have our maintenance man, Taleb and education support team member, Russell to thank for creatively constructing an ideal storage solution for the bags for the students in 4CL, 4LB, 1TN and 1JN, as well as some other important tasks, including soundproofing the offices in our temporary administration and student services buildings.
  • We have as always great appreciation for our outstanding and very long serving chief cleaner, Cheryl and the contract staff that assisted her over the term break.
  • Thanks to Craig, our long-time gardener, who did a magnificent job on the weekend, preparing the school grounds for the start of term.
  • And finally, an appreciation to the TheirCare crew, led by Nelly and Luke for running a very popular and well patronised holiday program.

News …

  • 8:45 am gates opening – As advised at the end of term, gates are now being opened daily at 8.45 am enabling students to play in the yard prior to lining up when the music plays a couple of minutes prior to 9.00 am. Many of the students have indicated that they are very pleased to have this time to play and chat with their friends.
  • Welcome to our new Assistant Principal – On Wednesday, our newly selected Assistant Principal, Liz Beasley came for her first visit. She will return next Thursday and will begin her tenure from the beginning of week 3.  Liz has developed a fine reputation as a senior staff member at Williamstown Primary School.  We are delighted that Liz will have the opportunity to work with Caren for a very thorough handover, as Caren will continue working at a reduced Wed to Fri time fraction until the end of term when she will go on leave, prior to her official retirement.
This week …
  • Planning week – At the beginning of each term we provide a specialist’s program for each grade to enable each of our teaching teams to have a full day of planning to prepare the curriculum for the upcoming term. Next week a new term 2 specialist timetable will operate.  This may mean that your child’s specialist classes will be held on different days than during last term.
  • Year 9 volunteers from Maribyrnong Secondary College – We were pleased on Wednesday to welcome our first group of student volunteers to visit as part of a program organised between our schools. This is the first group of secondary student visitors to attend since the pandemic.  An appreciation to Towela for supporting this program. 
  • Sunsmart – A reminder that all schools deemed Sunsmart schools require the students to wear broad brimmed hats until the end of April. From week 3 students may choose to wear hats, but they are not required to do so until September when the policy will again come into action.

https://www.fwps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/sunsmartpolicy2019.pdf

 Coming up …

  • Classroom helpers’ sessions – We are pleased that we are holding a series of sessions, the first since 2019. All parents who wish to assist as classroom helpers, attend excursions, or camps must have attended a session in the past, or do so this year. Sessions can be booked either onsite, or online.  Please read the information on page 7 in today’s newsletter.
  • Prep 2022 info sessions – We are pleased that we are planning for onsite information sessions again during this term. Obviously face to face information sessions were not possible last year.  Please note the information on page 6 in today’s newsletter.
  • Junior School Council (JSC) and Environment Team (ET) meetings this term will be held as follows:

JSC will meet on Fridays during the last session on even weeks (starting next week). Each meeting one of the conveners, Medha or Joanna will be alternately released to run the meeting.

ET members will meet on Thursdays during the last session on odd weeks (starting week 3).

Each meeting, one of the conveners, Helen or Anna will be alternately released to run the meeting with Dianne, our Orchard to Plate organiser.
An appreciation to members of the specialist team, Luke, Jess and Giuliano. 

  • NAPLAN assessment – Over a fortnight in May students in grades 3 and 5 will be involved in the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy. Due to the pandemic, NAPLAN was cancelled last year.  All students subject to this assessment expectation will be very well supported by their teachers and receive some relevant practice opportunities to assist their preparation and confidence.  Information will be shared via the newsletter (and Updat-ed to parents of students in grades 3 and 5), as we move closer to the assessment period.  If you have any queries, the best starting point is by contacting your child’s teacher.
  • Winter Solstice event – While in most odd years we look forward to a fabulous visual art show. This year we will celebrate the arts more fully in an evening event.  Look out for event details in the newsletter over the next few editions.
Congratulations to Edith Newell and Gretel Kelly on their achievements in the 2020 Maribyrnong Young Writers Competition.  
Short Story 6-8 years
Winner - How Rudolph Met the Other Reindeer by Edith Newell
Highly commended - My Food is in the Mood by Gretel Kelly

The Mayor of Maribyrnong presented Edith and Gretel with their awards and prizes.  The girls received a copy of the 2020 Maribyrnong Young Writers Anthology and a voucher to the Sun Bookshop.
They are now published authors and their work will be included in the library collection.  Well done girls, we are very proud of you. 

Regards
Brendan



Coming Events

DATE

COMING EVENTS

Fri Apr 23Mothers' Day Gift Wrapping 9am
Thur Apr 29Grade 3/4 Excursion - Connection to Country - Royal Botanic Gardens - 10:15 - 2:15
Thur Apr 29Classroom Helper Program 9:15-10:45am
Face to face at FWPS
Fri Apr 30Mothers' Day Gift Wrapping 9am
Thur May 6Prep 2022 Parent Information Session #1
9.30 - 11am
Thur May 6Classroom Helper Program 9:30-11:00am
Online via Webex
Thur May 6Prep 2022 Parent Information Session #2
6.00 - 7.00pm (includes option for Live feed)
Fri May 7Mother's Day Stall
Thur May 13Classroom Helper Program 9:15-10:45am
Face to face at FWPS
Fri May 14Secondary School Application forms due
Thur May 20Classroom Helper Program 9:15-10:45am
Face to face at FWPS
Mon May 24Student Free Day - Report Writing Day
Thur May 27Prep 2022 Parent Information Session #3
9.30 - 11am
Thur May 27Classroom Helper Program 9:30-11:00am
Online via Webex
Thur June 3Prep 2022 Parent Information Session #4
9.30 - 11am
Mon June 14Queen's Birthday Public Holiday - School Closed
Mon June 7 & Mon June 21Grade 5 & 6 CERES Excursion
Tue June 15 & Wed June 16Parent/Teacher interviews and Student Led Conferences (G5-6).
Wed June 23Winter Solstice Event
Fri June 25LAST DAY OF TERM 2 - Early Finish 2:30pm


Pupil of the Week

NAME

GRADE

APPRECIATION FOR:

Henry

PAC

Always following the Tribes Agreements and being an excellent whole-body listener. Fantastic Effort! 

Akoch

PAF

Being a kind and helpful member of PAF. Your respectful nature is appreciated by us all.

Halah

PAK

Listening attentively in class and applying her personal best to her work. Keep up the wonderful effort.

Sam

PHS

Sounding out words to write a fabulous retell of his holiday.

Jude

PKS

Your positive and enthusiastic approach to all that you do. 

Allegra

1CW

Her detailed recount writing. Keep up the great effort Allegra!

Coco

1HP

Working hard on your reading, stretching words out and self- correcting mistakes.

Zoe

1JN

Always being inclusive, kind and caring towards others. We are very lucky to have you in 1JN. 

Ava

1LB

Applying herself and trying her personal best when writing her holiday recount. Ava is building her confidence to have a go and as a result is writing more independently.

Jennifer

1TN

Always demonstrating the Tribes Agreements. Terrific effort.

Adi

2BD

The commitment and growth mindset you demonstrated when challenging yourself during our maths unit on place value.

Emma

2JI

Showing a growth mindset and applying her personal best effort in all areas of learning especially when learning place value. Super effort! 

Izzy

2ES

Always applying her personal best effort in all areas of learning. 

Well done Izzy, keep up the fantastic work! 

Sofia

2LE

Following the Tribes Agreements. You listen, participate and show respect every day.

Louis

2LP

Making some great connections in maths lessons.

Palila

3AC

Working well with her teammates to create a great inquiry video. Well done on your cooperation skills and for always doing your personal best!

Harriette

3BC

Bringing a positive attitude to the classroom and for enriching class discussions with her ideas and opinions. Great work, Harriette!

Ben C

3JS

Showing a positive attitude towards all tasks. Keep up the growth mindset.

Aymen

3MK

Working well in your group and putting more effort into your learning. You have had a great start to the term! Keep it up, Aymen!

Finn

4LB

Consistently demonstrating attentive listening in the classroom and applying great effort to your writing. Well done Finn!

Ayush

4CL

Always being focused on your tasks and doing your personal best.

Berton

4DW

Showing great empathy and care for his peers. You are a great classmate.

Chloe

5HK

Confidently presenting your immigration project. Well done!

Fathu

5KT

His thoughtful contributions during reading discussions. Excellent reasons for your answers!

Emily

5LC

The effort you put into your migration project. Your video was effective and engaging, well done Em!

Michael

6MK

The amazing effort you have applied to create your Migration presentation.

January

6SM

Her creativity and effort in publishing her writing piece to suit a diary format. Very impressive!

Noah

6MP

Going above and beyond with your homework throughout term one. Keep it up!

Yuvan

6TS

Being a kind and considerate classmate and leader. You are a fantastic role model to your peers.



Hoodie Day 2021 - Tomorrow!



Term 2 in the Grade 5/6 Department

The Grade 5/6 department are looking forward to another busy and productive term. Interschool sport, involving the Grade 6 students, will commence in week two. The Grade 5s will participate in an intra-school sports program developing the skills for netball, tee ball, football and soccer.

This term, science and design technology becomes our integrated focus with students investigating ‘Watt is our Future?’ The physical sciences of light and energy will be explored through research and experimentation and supported with an excursion to CERES. Students will apply their scientific understandings to create and demonstrate a scientific experiment. Solutions to energy problems through design technologies will be developed through Genius Hour. This is a terrific platform for student voice and agency.

Our Grade 5 students will strengthen the skills and strategies required in literacy and numeracy to help support them through the NAPLAN period in May.

Our literacy focus will be on developing reading comprehension strategies such as summarising and synthesising, questions and questioning, and critical thinking. Individual conferences and goal setting will continue to be part of the reading and writing process. In writing, the 6 + 1 Traits will continue to be a focus. During the term, we will be exploring conventions and sentence fluency through a variety of information and narrative text types.

In numeracy, the areas to be covered this term include addition and subtraction, coding (with pattern, algebra and angles), location, data, as well as multiplicative thinking through the Scaffolding Numeracy program. Through each of these units, we will also continue to work on efficient problem solving strategies.

Homework will commence in week two. There will be a literacy focus for homework this term, including daily reading for a minimum of 30 - 40 minutes and recording reflections. Mathletics tasks will be allocated and we ask that students complete at least two tasks per week and record a reflection based on these tasks.

Grade 6 students have received their secondary school application forms. These need to be completed and returned to FWPS by Friday 14 May 2021. Please make sure all relevant sections are completed or they will need to be sent back home. For more information you can visit https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/year-6-to-7.aspx. If you have any questions you can contact the Grade 6 transition coordinator via email at Marco@fwps.vic.edu.au.

5/6 team
Kim, Marco, Towela, Shannon, Medha, Lauren C, Helena, Kerrie



Prep Tours 2022

We are looking forward to welcoming our new Preps in 2022.
Come along to find out about our school community and programs.
Parents and families are invited to visit Footscray West Primary School for
a tour and information session on the dates and times listed below.

Thursday 6th of May - 9:30 – 11:00 am and 6:00 - 7:00pm
The evening session will be held onsite, however this session will also be presented live on WebEx.

Thursday 27th of May - 9:30 – 11:00 am

Thursday 3rd of June - 9:30 – 11:00 am
 
Bookings will be required and will open on Thursday 29th April 2021.  Stay tuned to our website and newsletters for more information. 

Enrolment forms will be available at our first school tour on
Thursday the 6th of May and accepted at the office any time after this session.

Please check to see if you reside within our school zone at www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au
 
 


Classroom Helpers Program 2021

After such a long break from having parents/carers onsite we were pleased that this term we could welcome people back onto the school grounds.

While COVID is still with us there have been some lifting of restrictions by the department, which means that we can again run our FWPS classroom helpers program which is necessary to complete before helping out at the school.

Many of our parents/carers in grades 2 – 6 would have participated in the program, while there was limited access last year for the 2020 prep parents before we all went in to lockdown.

This year we have scheduled five sessions on a Thursday morning with a choice of either participating in the program face to face at the school or online. 

We are however still limited to the number of adults we can have in any space and therefore numbers for each session will be capped.  Book early to avoid missing out.

To help in the school you must attend one of these sessions and have a current working with children’s check (WWCC).

Sessions are scheduled for the following dates.  You will be able to choose from a face to face session at the school or an online session via WEBEX. 

  • Thursday 29th April face to face at school 9:15  - 10:45am
  • Thursday 6th May online via WEBEX 9:30 -  11:00am
  • Thursday 13th May face to face at school 9:15 - 10:45am
  • Thursday 20th May face to face at school 9:15 - 10:45am
  • Thursday 27th May online via WEBEX 9:30 - 11:00am

Go to Classroom Helpers Program and follow these simple instructions:

Enter Code: mnzca and hit GO
Enter your details
Select the date and session that you wish to attend. 

When you click FINISH, your interview timetable will be emailed to you automatically.  

If you do not receive your email immediately, check your junk mail folder AND make sure you have spelled your email address correctly.

You can return to School Interviews at any time, and change your interviews—until the bookings close on 28th April @ 4:00 pm



An update from the FWPS Parent's Association

Hi everyone,

Happy Term 2! We hope everyone had a happy and relaxing break, and that you and your kids are excited to be back at school. Here are a few updates from the PA...

MOTHER’S DAY & SPECIAL PERSON’S DAY GIFT WRAPPING

The annual Mother’s Day stall is coming up on Friday the 7th of May (the Friday immediately before Mother’s Day) and we’re looking for people to help us make this year’s stall bigger and better than ever!  Are you able to contribute in some way?  Make a donation, homemade jam, plants, handmade craft items, or help run the stall on the day.

If you would like to get involved and can help out, then please get in touch, we would love to hear from you! 

You can get in contact at: FWPSParentsAssociation@outlook.com.

The other way to get involved is to come along and help with gift-wrapping on either (or both of):

  • 9am Friday 23 April
  • 9am Friday 30 April

See the flyer for more information!



A message from The Lunchbox

Apologies again for the interrupted service in placing your orders Wednesday.  Munch Monitor upgraded their server over the term break they are however, unfortunately experiencing some glitches.

It is incredibly frustrating.  It is incredibly embarrassing.  May I ask for your continued patience whilst they iron out the glitches. 

In the short term, if you experiencing issues placing your order, please text me your order on 0417 324 326.  Along with the order, please include your child’s name & class.  We will ensure your child is fed (the most important criteria) and charge your account.

Please see below information from the Chief Information Officer regarding the issues.

Many thanks
Lindy Benwell
The Lunchbox

Good evening,

You may have noticed some exception errors that Parents mentioned this morning with finalising orders and top ups.  The exception alerts have been put in place to allow us to review where the issues in the system may be so we can investigate further and rectify.  This is something we have not had when the application was on Server Australia.  On the Servers Australia platform you would have only seen slow response, no response, and page freezes.  The exception reports are key to allow our IT team to resolve any underlying issues the system may be having.

We have identified some areas which require urgent maintenance.  This maintenance will take place this evening between 6:30pm and 8:30pm (Sydney time).  We will have a maintenance page up on the parent portal to advise parents.

I will update once we have completed this urgent maintenance.

Thanks again for your patience as we work to fix our Munch Monitor application.

Lena Seal
CIO



Community Notices