Manna Gum – credit Mandy Nicholson
Dear Parents, Students and Friends,
Today (Wednesday 21/2) is going to be my last day at school for a couple of weeks. Tomorrow I having surgery and it will keep me away from school until Tuesday 12th March, after the Labour Day long weekend. It’s nothing too serious – just a bit of old blokes’ maintenance.
During this time, Barb will be the Acting Principal and I’m sure that she will keep things ticking over smoothly. I’m a bit sad that I have to miss the first Hang Around School Friday this week. As most of you know I don’t mind cooking a sausage or two hundred.
You may think that the photo at the top of the Principal’s Report a bit self-indulgent, but because this year’s Fete is celebrating the school’s 70th birthday, I was looking back through old photos to include in the memorabilia display and came across this one. It was when my eighties’ hairstyle was at the peak of its mulletness. This was my Year 5 class in 1987. It was one of the best classes I have every taught, with twenty delightful students.
WEBSITE CALENDAR
Due to a syncing issue, the website calendar widget is not syncing with the Compass calendar. We have decided to remove the widget, so please use the calendar in your Compass app, which we will keep up-to-date daily. Also, included in the Newsletter each week will be a monthly download from the Compass calendar, showing all events for 2024. You can find this in the Coming Events article.
HANG AROUND SCHOOL FRIDAY Friday, 17th November 3.30 until 5.30 pm
Friday nights are very good for ‘hanging around school’ and this week, Friday 23rd February, a Hang Around School Friday is being organised to allow families to socialise and just let their children play at school. This will occur from school time until 5.00 pm. The PFA will be running a sausage sizzle – see poster below.
If parents would like to have a couple of quiet Friday afternoon BYO drinks as well, that should be fine. Hope to see you then. Please note that from 3.45 pm the school is not responsible for students and that all students must be with a parent or supervising adult.
NEXT OPEN SESSION Tuesday 12th March 9.00 – 10.00 a.m.
Please take advantage of this session to come to school and sit in on your child’s classroom or specialist lessons. This will provide you with an excellent opportunity to see what happens at school, to get to know your child’s classroom teacher and you might even be asked to help out with particular activities! Your children would love to see you at school. No bookings are required – just turn up! You don’t have to sign in at the office.
A school tour will also be conducted for any prospective parents who may be thinking of enrolling their children at Reservoir West for Foundation in 2024. All prospective parents should register for the tour via the school website.
THIS WEEK’S OPEN SESSION
Monday’s Open Session was very well-attended by our current parents and the tour of prospective parents was also very popular. All parents on the tour had explained to them that, in 2025, we would only be able to provide four Foundation classes. This means that we would be sending out a maximum of 88 offers of placement in August. Students who reside in our school zone will be automatically guaranteed a place.
All other applications will be considered subject to available space, and prioritised according to:
If enrolment applications exceed the number of places available, families that did not meet the criteria will be asked if they would like to be placed on a waiting list because, historically, of those that we offer places to, there are a number that decline.
The school is able to accept Enrolment Forms for Foundation (Prep) 2025 from 15th April 2024.
STUDENT OF THE WEEK AND FIVE MINUTES OF FAME
Our weekly SOTW awards commenced last week. They are awarded to students for displaying the RWPS values of Respect/Responsibility, Wisdom, Persistence and Success.
Please see The Student of the Week item for this week’s recipients and the photo of last week’s winners.
Because we are holding a whole-school assembly this week, the students who receive the SOTW awards will be presented with their certificates in their classrooms at 2.50 pm this week, apart from the Foundation students who will be presented with theirs near their dots at the same time. Parents are invited to come along to 5MoF.
The following classes have specialist lessons during the last hour this Friday, so here is where you will find them:
After assembly this week all SOTW recipients and Good Behaviour draw winners (it’s the Village 1’s turn this week) to stay behind for a photo for the next week’s Newsletter.
TERM ONE SPECIALIST TIMETABLE
Set out below is the current timetable for specialist lessons for this term. I have edited it slightly from last week, however, no times have changed.
The key to the timetable is:
Daniela | = | Daniela Conte | DT | = | DigiTech |
Kelly | = | Kelly Mitchell | Lib | = | Library |
Flora | = | Flora Kossivas | SM | = | Spanish/Music |
Tash | = | Tash Vargas | PE | = | Physical Education |
Jorge | = | Jorge Leiva | Sc | = | Science |
Arlia | = | Arlia Hickman |
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Kylie | = | Kylie Garlic |
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Amanda | = | Amanda Solakidis |
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Jacinta | = | Jacinta Simpson |
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Kat | = | Katherine Nikolakoudis |
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Kahli | = | Kahli Calafiore |
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Where a session has a dividing slash ( / ) between two classes, they are fortnightly lessons. The class before the slash has the lesson in the odd weeks and the class after the slash has the lesson in the even weeks. For example, if it is Week 3, an odd week, at 9.00 am on Monday, 3J would have has DigiTech, with 3W having it the following week in Week 4. Simples!
The timetable has also been included on the website under Teaching & Learning.
PAYMENT AND CONSENT FOR INCURSIONS/EXCURSIONS AND CAMPS
School events such as incursions/excursions, camps and sporting events are very exciting for both staff and students. They provide great opportunities for students to flourish outside of the traditional classroom setting.
However, it is crucial that correct procedures are followed in relation to parents/carers providing payment and consent for these events.
When these events are set up on Compass there is a clearly stated cut-off time for payment to be made and consent to be given.
Up until the latter part of last year, the school has bent the rules in accepting late payments. This will not happen anymore. It puts unnecessary stress on staff, especially office staff. Please do not contact teachers or the office staff to process late consent or payments or send money to the office with your child.
Ultimately it is up to parents/carers to ensure that payments are made and consent given before the cut-off date. No exceptions are going to be made. I really hate it when students miss out because of an overlooked cut-off date.
If you are not confident or you have forgotten your Compass password, please come to the office and staff will assist you with making the payment on Compass or reset your password. Resetting of your password can also be done by phoning the office.
AN EMAIL FROM A WELL-MEANING PERSON
Last week, the schools inbox received an email from an unknown person which reinforced how young people can so vulnerable when using the internet:
Good evening,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am emailing in hope to bring this important matter to your attention regarding the safety and privacy of your students while engaging in online video gaming.
Recently, while playing a video game, Roblox, I came across a situation where one of your students in Year XX willingly, and without regard, shared personal information with strangers playing the game.
This interaction raised concerns about the potential risks associated with online interactions resulting in a heated discussion in the game chat.
Given the increasing prevalence of online platforms, there is also an increase for unintended consequences if private information is shared.
Myself and others on the game reminded the student to be careful when sharing information online, especially with strangers. However, I just thought I would bring this to your attention and I strongly encourage the staff to speak with the children about cyber safety.
I edited the year level in which the student currently is enrolled, but it is a big concern. We teach cyber-safely routinely in our DigiTech and classroom lessons, but we need parental support and supervision to support this.
I know our Wellbeing Team is liaising with a member of the Preston Police to come and do a presentation to all of our students on cyber-bullying and cyber-safely.
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
I am very please to announce that no ballot was required for the School Council elections. The members for 2024/25 are:
PARENT CATEGORY
Tim Miller | Adam Wilkie | Ale Duschatzky | Alex Kingsmill |
Danielle Sharkey | Hannah Moylan | Jenn Waters | Sarah Reid |
Viki Komornik | Claudia Escobar Vega |
EMPLOYEE CATEGORY
Julia Abdel-Nour | Barb Balliro | Joyce Janakievski | |
Bruce Kearney | Annemarie Honeybone |
Contact details for all members will be included in an upcoming email.
CALLING ALL MUSOS
Last call for any school community members who may be a performer in a band, duo or solo act who might like to perform at our RWPS Fete: 70 Years on Saturday 20th April, please get in touch with me as soon as possible.
Regards,
Bruce
Principal
Reservoir West Primary School
PARENT, STUDENT AND TEACHER CONFERENCES 2024 – MEET & GREET!
Here at Reservoir West, we advocate for students being engaged and empowered in their learning. As a result, we have Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences (PSTCs). Our February PSTCs are a time to get to know your child’s teacher and their learning environment, as well as share any important information that you would like the teacher to know. Involving students in PSTCs fosters a collaborative effort towards tracking progress; it is a chance for students to do some goal setting and to be accountable to themselves and to the adults in their lives.
Classroom PSTCs will be occurring on Wednesday, 28th February 8.00 – 8.40am and 3.40 – 7.30pm. To select a desired timeslot for these Meet and Greet PSTCs, families can make a booking via Compass. Bookings are now open and close on Monday, 26th February at 4.00pm. Classroom PSTCs will be ten minutes in duration, so please ensure that you are prompt with your arrival and considerate of the 10-minute limit, as teachers will aim to adhere to the booking schedule.
We encourage all families to book a 10-minute conference time. Please note that due to some staff working part-time, the following arrangements are taking place for teachers that are in shared classrooms:
Other important information:
Parents are asked to provide consent for this year's local excursions, publication of student work or images, watching of PG rated DVDs or movies and student data being used in online software.
Please visit Compass Events to complete this consent form for your children by Friday 1st March 2024.
If you have more than one child at the school, please provide consent individually.
2024 PARENT CONSENT FOR LOCAL EXCURSIONS
During this year your child may be involved in local excursions. These may take the form of neighbourhood walks, visits to local places of interest, picnics at Edwardes Lake etc. These excursions will involve a relatively short walk.
Students in senior grades may also be involved in inter-school sport which entails after-school training sessions, walks to local sporting venues or short bus trips to neighbouring schools. Parents will be informed of any local excursions, training sessions and, when available, sporting fixtures will be included in the Compass calendar and our school website calendar.
2024 PARENT CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION OF STUDENT WORK AND STUDENT IMAGES
To document and promote the excellent work of students at Reservoir West Primary School, photographs, digital images or schoolwork of your child may be selected for publication for educational purposes in the following:
2024 PARENT CONSENT FOR PG RATED DVDs OR VIDEOS - SENIOR SCHOOL ONLY
At times students may watch a movie as part of a unit of work or as a recreational activity at the end of a term or on a wet/hot day when students are kept inside. On occasions, these movies may be rated PG, where parental guidance is recommended. To avoid sending a note home every time this occurs, please give consent. Please be assured that only movies deemed suitable by the class teacher, year level co-ordinator and Principal will be selected. No pirated copies of newly released movies will be shown.
Students in the Junior School (Foundation – 2) will only be shown G-rated movies.
2024 PARENT CONSENT FOR STUDENT DATA USED IN ONLINE SOFTWARE
To use technologies for student work, assessment and administration, a variety of online software is being utilised at Reservoir West Primary School.
We have assessed the value and security of this software with guidance from the Department of Education and Training. Our staff are trained in and are aware of how to use the software appropriately, and how to help your child use it safely. Where possible, Reservoir West has elected for all data to be stored within Australia and where appropriate, uploaded minimal personal data.
The following software is used at Reservoir West:
Please note that some of the Privacy Impact Assessments for the use of software listed above are currently under review with the Privacy Officer at the Department of Education and will be made available on our school website once approved.
Please note that by providing consent to this event you are consenting to all items above for 2024. If you wish to discuss any of the items above or opt-out of consenting for one or more of the above items, please contact the school.
STUDENTS OF THE WEEK Certificates will be presented on Friday afternoon at 2.50 pm in thir classrooms or specialist lessons. Foundation students will be presented near their dots at the same time. | |||
NAME | VALUE | ||
LA1 | 5/6L | Audrey Miller | Wisdom |
LA2 | 5/6M | Brosie McKinlay | Respect |
LA3 | 5/6K | Nusayba Ahmed | Respect |
LA4 | 5/6V | Zaid Mohamed Ihsanullah | Responsible |
LA5 | 5/6P | Amelia Fratto | Responsible |
LA6 | 5/6H | Frank Rutigliano | Success and Persistence |
LA 8 | 4W | Aiden Moonen | Responsible |
LA9 | Prep B | Esmeralda Beretta Apps | Success |
LA10 | Prep D | Mila Wursthorn | Success |
LA11 | Prep V | Emily Braithwaite | Success and Responsibility |
LA12 | Prep H | Nora Lonsdale | Success |
LA17 | 1C | Zoe Melville | Responsibility |
LA18 | 1M | Edward McArdle | Success |
LA19 | 1P | Ivy Frew | Success |
LA20 | 1R | Alfie Bamblett | Persistence & success |
LA21 | 3W | Eva Mounir | Success |
LA22 | 3J | Ruby Pfeiffer | Success |
LA23 | 3M | Evie Grammatos | Success and persistence |
LA24 | 3S | Layla Alhassan | Persistence and Success |
LA25 | 2C | Isaac Younan | Success |
LA26 | 2G | Phoebe Atilla | Success |
LA27 | 2B | Kinan Alharbi | Persistence |
LA28 | 2M | Thomas Farmer | Success |
LA29 | 4T | Callum Young | Success |
LA30 | 4H | Nina Fabre | Respect |
ART | Bethany Eyre | Success and Responsibility | |
DIGITECH | Savannah Jovanovski | Success | |
LIBRARY | Harry Chekwube | Success | |
SCIENCE | Jensen Burnett-Nunn | Responsibility | |
PE | Hamish Gray | Respect & Responsibility | |
PRINCIPAL | Louise Weatherington | Persistence |
THE RESILIENCE, RIGHTS & RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS (RRRR)
The RRRRs is one component of RWPS’ Wellbeing scope and sequence. The RRRRs covers eight Social and Emotional Learning topics across all levels of primary education: Emotional Literacy; Personal strengths; Positive Coping; Problem Solving; Stress Management; Help Seeking; Gender and Identity; and Positive Gender Relationships. Efforts to promote social and emotional skills and positive gender norms in children and young people has been shown to improve health related outcomes and subjective wellbeing. It also reduces antisocial behaviours including engagement in gender-related violence.
Foundation, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 5/6
Emotional literacy is the first topic explored. We all have our own personal, emotional landscape. Foundation and Year 1 students are learning to name emotions and describe how these emotions feel in their body. A big focus for our junior students is on social interaction, and how acts of kindness can feel to self and others. An emphasis will also be placed on friendship and play. Teachers will discuss and model ways to be respectful and responsible in the school yard by looking out for each other.
Year 3 students delve deeper into the understanding of emotions, influential factors that may trigger emotions, and their own power and responsibility in how they respond. They are also exploring how their emotions can affect other people.
Our senior students are focusing on the intensity and complexity of emotions and how particular events can trigger a variety of emotional responses. They are learning ways to develop skills in both recognising and understanding their own and others’ emotions, and how observed behaviours / actions can inform us how someone may be feeling.
Year 2 and Year 4
Personal Strengths is the first topic for our Year 2 and 4 students. Through team building and collaborative play, students are learning about types of strengths in self and others. They are learning to recognise how different strengths help people learn and thrive. Teachers will continue to encourage them to notice how each student uses a particular strength/s in different curriculum areas, during play, at home, when doing something they don’t want to do and more.
IMPORTANT POINT
Educators have students in their classroom that come from different cultures, have different backgrounds, different bodies, different brains and different ways of self-expression. We acknowledge this and remind students we don’t always get to know everything about someone, but we DO need to treat them with RESPECT. When learning about emotions and strengths, we explain that some people often find it hard to figure out what people are feeling and get it wrong. We reassure students that it is okay to get confused about this and affirm their efforts.
Talking Further
We encourage you to reflecting on your child’s learning about emotions and strengths by discussing the following questions:
RRRR MYTHS & FACTS PDF
Resources
Anglicare Victoria: Powering Future Choices: Community Education Workshops equipping women and non-binary people with resources and options to support Housing, Financial Wellbeing, Health relationships and Health and Wellbeing.
Kids First Momentum: Momentum is a FREE 6-week Group for teenagers who have experienced family violence.
MENTAL HEALTH / EVENTS CALENDAR 2024
Event Date | Event |
13 February | National Apology to the Stolen Generation Anniversary |
20 February | |
1st March | |
8th March | |
18-24th March | |
21 March | National Close the Gap Day |
20 March | |
20th – 26th March | Harmony Week |
30th March | |
31st March | Trans Day of Visibility |
7th April |
Breakfast Club is back!
All students are welcome to attend from 8:10 – 8:35am on Friday mornings. Some information about Breakfast Club for new and returning families is as follows:
Breakfast Club Team
Hello School Community,
Thank you to everyone who contacted us and joined the PFA team for 2024. We look forward to meeting all the new parents/guardians in person soon.
Upcoming Events
Hang Around Friday – Friday 23rd February
This has become a school community favourite. We will serve BBQ sausages and veggie burgers in the school yard from 3.30pm. Students will be able to play with their peers while parents/guardians are able to socialise.
There will also be juice boxes, soft drinks, bottled water and Zooper Doopers available to purchase. All sausages are beef and halal. This event is CASH ONLY. No card facilities will be available.
We still require volunteers for this event. If you would like to volunteer for the BBQ, please do so via this link https://signup.zone/rwps-pfa-events
*Funds raised during the Hang Around Friday will go towards supporting the Grade Six Graduation.
Out of School Uniform Day – Friday 23rd February
It’s become tradition to have an out of uniform day on a Hang Around Friday. If students would like to come to school out of uniform this is their chance. We ask that they bring along a gold coin donation which will go toward buying prizes for the school run activities at the Fete.
Easter Raffle
If you would like to donate to the Easter Raffle, please email Zayna at pfarwps@gmail.com . Any donations will be appreciated.
The School Fete – Saturday 20th April
This is an exciting event for the school. We would love to have the support of as many parents as possible. If you would like to volunteer for a key role at the Fete, please do so via this link https://signup.zone/rwps-pfa-events. If you would like further information about a specific role please email Zayna at pfarwps@gmail.com
We are looking to engage as many business sponsors as possible for the Fete. If your business would like some more information about this, please email Zayna and she will send you all the sponsorship options.
Our next meeting is on Friday 23rd February at 9.05am in the staffroom.
Thank you for following along and your ongoing support!
Warmest regards
Zayna and the PFA team
HOW YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED IN THE 2024 SCHOOL FETE
JOIN THE PFA
The PFA is organising the Fete, you are most welcome to join the PFA by emailing Zayna at pfarwps@gmail.com.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER ON THE DAY OF THE FETE
Without volunteers on the day the Fete would not be possible. Please check out the following link and find a stall and time that suits you. https://signup.zone/rwps-pfa-events
BOOK A MARKET STALL AT THE FETE
To be book a stall at the fete contact Rosalyn and she will be able to provide you with all the details as well as a booking form. pfarwps@gmail.com
BECOME A FETE SPONSOR
To become a Fete Sponsor contact Zayna and she will be able to provide you with all the options available to you. Fete sponsorship options come in Gold, Silver, and Bronze in the hope that the difference financial commitment enables many of our community business to support the Fete and our school. pfarwps@gmail.com
DONATE CAKES TO OUR RESERVOIR WEST CAKE STALL
Closer to the Fete date the school will ask for dessert items to be sold at our school cake stall. If you are a star baker in the kitchen keep some time free in the days leading up to the Fete and make sure your creations are on the cake stall table.
PURCHASE YOUR RIDE WRISTBANDS
The unlimited wristbands are NOW AVAILABLE to purchase for your child/children. The cost of the wristband if purchased before 14 April is $35 per child. If purchased after this date or on the day of the fete the cost is $40 per child.
Ticket sales begin: Friday 1 March – 9am
Ticket Sales End: Sunday 14 April – 11.45pm
Distribution of Wristbands: Week beginning 15 April (There is no pick up of pre sold wristbands on the day of the fete)
No refunds unless the event is cancelled
The rides include
Meltdown - Suitable for 7 year plus
Maze runner - Suitable for 3 years plus
Chair O Plane - Suitable for 3 to 12 years
Mini Ferris Wheel - Suitable for 4 to 12 years
Ninja Wall - All ages
Native Animal Petting - All ages
Wristbands can be purchased via this link https://www.trybooking.com/CPPCR
FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES
Follow and share our social media pages to spread the word!
Instagram - @rwpsfete
Facebook Reservoir West Primary School Fete - https://www.facebook.com/RWPSfete
This is a video link to our last Fete to give you an idea of how epic our school fete is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juRG09_vI7M
Carnaval Event with Señor Leiva’s band and much more
In an explosion of colour, music, art, and Caribbean culture, VERBENA CARNAVAL arrives in Melbourne on Saturday 2 March 2024 at Preston City Hall ✨
DJ and live music performances including Señor Leiva’s band La Descarga at VERBENA CARNAVAL will be interwoven with dance and theatrical elements, creating a feast for the eyes and one-of-a-kind cohesive show, not seen in Melbourne ?
Do not miss this true taste of Colombian Caribbean culture.?