NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week is held every year in the first full week of July. It’s a time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians and the world’s oldest living culture. This year’s theme, "Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud", is a powerful reminder of the strength, pride and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It encourages everyone to listen, learn and stand together, celebrating culture with respect and unity.

At school, NAIDOC Week is a chance for us all to reflect, recognise and honour the stories, traditions and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, past, present and future.

TWPS will be celebrating NAIDOC week during the first week of term 3. A FREE Indigenous Outreach Project incursion has been organised for all students on Tuesday 22nd July. Mrs Jones and our Koorie Captain, Djaron are planning a very special assembly on Friday 25th July at 2:30pm. During the week, all students will participate in learning that increases  their cultural understanding of the traditional custodians of our land.  Mr Crotti and I look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our entire community.

Semester One Student Reports
Friendly reminder: TWPS uses COMPASS to share information with Parents and Carers regularly. It is important you can access your account to view important school information.

Your child’s Semester One Reports can be accessed via COMPASS from 12pm Thursday 3rd July 2025. We have included instructions on page 3 of this newsletter.

If you have forgotten your COMPASS Password, click on 'Can't access your account' or 'Parent sign in with one-time code.' The arrows below show you where to look when you are using  your  device. 

If you have forgotten your Compass Username, please contact the TWPS Office on 9465 4317.

THANK YOU
Term two and semester one have almost come to an end and this is our last Newsletter for the term. A heartfelt thank you to our Assistant Principal, James Crotti and Acting Learning Specialist, Tiz Rocca for stepping up into new roles while I was away overseas and during my leave next week.  Their leadership, reliability, and willingness to go above and beyond have not gone unnoticed. I truly appreciate their support and the way the TWPS team worked together effectively to ensure things continued to run smoothly in my absence. (James will be Acting Principal and Tiz, Acting Assistant Principal while I am on long-service-leave during the last week of this term).

To our amazing teachers, thank you for your dedication, care and hard work throughout the term. Your commitment to supporting our students' learning and wellbeing, along with the thoughtful time spent preparing their reports, is deeply appreciated. Your efforts truly make a difference. We hope you enjoy a restful and well-deserved holiday break.

Mr Crotti and I would also like to express our sincere thanks to our caring and committed Education Support staff, including our wonderful Business Manager Suzi. Your support is essential to the daily life of our school, and we are grateful for everything you do.

We also extend our appreciation to our parents, carers and the broader Thomastown West community. Thank you to our School Council, Fundraising Team and Community Hub partners for your continued involvement and support. Your contribution helps create a strong and supportive environment for our students to thrive.

Well done to the student leaders who have matured in their role and consistently live the school values, demonstrating personal and communal responsibility each day! To our wonderful students who are such loyal friends, love learning and have worked hard this term: Be kind to your parents and carers during the holidays and remember to live the school values at home during the holidays!

Attendance Awards
Congratulations to the students who will receive attendance awards at next week's assembly for achieving 100% attendance this term. You should be very proud of yourselves. Going to school every day is one of the most important parts of your education. Students learn something new every day and missing school or regularly arriving late can have a serious impact on learning and future success. It is only okay to be away if you are sick, and in those situations, we completely understand.

SRC Cosy Clothes Day
Thank you to all the students who participated in SRC’s  Cosey Clothes Day and brought a gold coin donation. Congratulations to our SRC leadership team who raised $266.00 to fund additional sports equipment for play times. We look forward to seeing what equipment is selected by SRC, purchased and used next term! Enjoy the photos later in the newsletter.
 
CLASS DOJO reminder!
At Thomastown West, we use Class Dojo as a reward system for students and to send important reminders to parents or informal messages. If you have an important question or concern please phone the school and/or email thomastown.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Please note that while we are very proud of our student leaders who serve as Office Monitors during play times, they are still learning. When answering the phone, they do their best, but sometimes their nerves can lead to small mistakes and missed messages. If you call during play time and a student leader answers, and your matter is urgent, please ask to speak with Mrs Young, Mr Crotti or Mrs Ilic. Thank you for your patience and understanding. The Office Monitor role is highly valued by our students and provides a wonderful opportunity for them to develop confidence and responsibility.

Buddies
Buddies continues to be a fantastic part of the student, engagement, wellbeing and inclusion at Thomastown West. Three times a term, buddy grades meet together and unpack our school values through a variety of activities. Last week, Ms Rovtar and Room 2, met with their Buddies at Harbard Street Kindergarten. When we saw Room 2 return to TWPS after their visit, the children's smiles were as bright as sunshine breaking through the clouds. If only we'd had a camera to capture their excitement and pride. Thank you Ms Rovtar for sharing a few photos below.

TWPS Compulsory School Uniform
It is a timely reminder for everyone about our uniform policy. Please take advantage of the holidays to make sure your child has the correct uniform ready for Term 3.

It is official school policy that wearing of school uniform is compulsory for all students. The policy was endorsed and ratified by the Thomastown West School Council.

If you need to purchase uniform supplies, the School Uniform shop is located at Thomastown Secondary College and is open for sales every second Tuesday afternoon between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. Online orders can be placed via the Beleza website below and picked up from the school office.
https://store.beleza.com.au/286-thomastown-west-primary-school

Need Help?  Please call the TWPS Office if you would like some financial support. Uniform Shop vouchers can be accessed through State Schools Relief for those families who qualify.

Our uniform consists of:

• School Dress
• Navy blue shorts
• Navy blue track pants
• Navy blue leggings or tights under a school dress.
• Red/Navy polo shirt with logo
• Red jumper with logo
• Navy blue bomber jacket with logo
• Any headscarves/hijab or turbans are to be plain white, red or navy blue.
• Colours for hair accessories are white, red and/or navy blue.
• Extra clothing such as beanies, scarves or gloves are to be navy blue.
• During winter, we understand it is not always easy to buy a warm jacket or parka that matches our school colours of white, red and/or navy blue. While it is preferred that students wear jackets that are school colours, during winter warm jackets or parkas in different colours are permitted over the top of the school uniform.
• While we understand that at times, black items can be easier to find than navy blue, please note Black is NOT one of our school colours

END OF TERM UPDATE:

The last day for Term 2 is on Friday 4th July 2025.
The final assembly for the term will be held at 12:40pm.
The school choir will be performing, with Chess Club medals and Attendance Awards being presented.

Students will be dismissed at 1:15pm.

Term 3 commences on Monday  21st July.

TWPS NAIDOC week assembly: Friday 25th July 2025 from 2:30pm.

Thank you for taking the time to read our school newsletter.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!

Kind regards,

 TWPS CURRICULM DAYS
*Students do NOT attend school on these days*

*Whole School Professional Practice Day for Staff. Students do not attend school.

TERM DATES

Student Reports are available online from 12pm Thursday 3rd July 2025

Mathematics Version 2.0 and student reporting  Student Reporting Update Dear Parents and Carers, We are writing to let you know about the changes to student reporting for Mathematics in Victorian government schools. The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) recently published its revised Mathematics curriculum (Mathematics curriculum 2.0). All Victorian government schools will start using the Mathematics curriculum 2.0 by 2025. Thomastown West Primary School is using the revised Mathematics curriculum for school reporting from Semester 1 2025. On your child's previous report, the teacher reported against the 3 strands of the achievement standard for Mathematics (Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability). Under the Mathematics curriculum 2.0, your child’s teacher will report against the achievement standard as a whole, providing a single, aggregated score.  As the achievement standards reported on have changed, the first time you receive a report under the Mathematics 2.0 curriculum, it will only show achievement and not progress. For all reports after this, progress will be shown against the single achievement standard.  For further information, refer to the department’s policy on Reporting Student Achievement and Progress Foundation to 10. https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/reporting-student-achievement/policy   If you have any queries about your child’s report, please contact their classroom teacher, Mr Crotti or Mrs Young by phone: 9465 4317 or email: thomastown.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au

HOW TO ACCESS YOUR CHILD'S REPORT

4. Click on the REPORTS tab (See below)

OR

Using  the Compass APP:

* Tap on your child's photo and select the 'Reports' tab.

MAT Program at TWPS: Be Strong, Be Calm, Be Kind, Try Hard

Over eight weeks, our Grade 5 and 6 students took part in the MAT Program, a martial arts-based wellbeing program run by David, who shared his passion for both physical and emotional strength.

Each session began with energising warm-ups followed by skill-building activities that focused on teamwork, respect, self-control and positive thinking. Students learned about different types of strength (physical, mental and emotional) and explored how breathing techniques can help manage stress and anxiety.

From blocking and dodging in partner activities to core strength exercises and martial arts drills like palm heel strikes, students developed focus, resilience and confidence. They also set personal goals using the SMART framework and reflected on their progress each week.

Games like Noodle Dodge and Samurai Patrol helped students learn to stay calm under pressure and work well with others. A highlight for many was “The Rock” breathing exercise, which helped students recognise and manage their emotions.

In the final session, students proudly demonstrated all they had learned by breaking boards using safe and age-appropriate techniques. It was a celebration of their growth in strength, calmness, kindness and effort.

Well done to all our students for showing courage, commitment and care each week!

“There is no health without mental health"

- World Health Organisation

Mental health difficulties affect 1 in 7 Australian children. These difficulties can lead to behavioural and emotional problems, which provide a challenge for the child as well as the child’s parents and their school.

Mental health warning signs can vary depending on the age of your child, their personality, and many other things. Here are some factors that might indicate they need extra support right now: 

• Not acting like themselves 
• Changes in sleeping or eating 
• Avoiding people or social situations they used to enjoy 
• More emotional than usual: anger, worry, sadness and crying 
• They aren't performing as well at school as they used to 
• Lacking energy or motivation to do everyday tasks 
• Self-harming 
• Risky behaviour 
• Feeling hopeless about the future 
• They tell you that they're anxious, depressed, or struggling 

Do you know how to safely talk to a child about mental health?

Kids Helpline has a webinar that could support  you: https://kidshelpline.com.au/webinar

As parents and carers, you’re often in the best position to identify if your child or teen is struggling with their mental health.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has more information:

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Mentalhealthinfantsandchildren/

The Department of Education, Victoria has information for parents. Click on the link below:

https://www.vic.gov.au/support-if-youre-concerned-about-your-childs-mental-health

Did you know?

We are lucky at Thomastown West Primary School to have a provisional child psychologist Emma from an organisation called The Talk Shop who is supporting our students while Sonia is on maternity leave. Emma visits us on a weekly basis to provide counselling and there is no cost for this service. 

Next term’s newsletter will feature a “Meet Emma” section where we will ask Emma questions about herself and the counselling service. 

TERM 2 WEEK 8
 

    
   


   TERM 2 WEEK 9

CUP OF LIFE

As part of the Department of Education Every Day Counts initiative, schools report attendance in percentages. 

The Government regard 95% as the minimum satisfactory attendance for a school student.

The percentages in the table below indicates the average attendance for each class for this week.

The shaded boxes  below indicate which classroom has the highest level of attendance.

Student Attendance Report

Every day of learning really does count!

At TWPS we want every child to achieve their full potential and we know that parents share this goal. There is a clear link between good attendance and educational achievement. If your child is not in school, on time, as often as possible they will be missing out on many important parts of their
education.                      

Why is regular attendance at school important?

Regular school attendance will mean that your child has a better chance in life. Your child will achieve better when they go to school all day, every school day...

*they learn better   
*they make friends      
*they are happier   
*they have a brighter future

If your child is sick, of course it is appropriate to keep your child at home but

other ‘days off’ school add up to lost learning.  See below:

CUP OF LIFE

Well done to all the boys and girls who are attending school every day. 

Congratulations! The rooms that had the BEST ATTENDANCE for:

* Week 8 Room is Room 11

* Week 9 Room is Room 3

* Week 10 Room is Room 15

The class who has the BEST ATTENDANCE THIS TERM and wins the FREE pizza lunch is: ROOM 11 

Exciting Hub news ...

Epping

Diabetes Information Seminar

Join a free information seminar to learn how to prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Health experts will share tips for those with pre-diabetes or at risk due to lifestyle or medical factors.

When: Monday 7 July 2025

Time: 11:am – 12.30pm

Where: Galada Community Centre 10A Forum Way, Epping

* Arabic Interpreter present

To register call 8319 7408 or email CommunityConnections@holstephhealth.org.au

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Carer Catch-up

Connect with fellow carers and access resources, either online or in person at Greenbrook Community House. Drinks and finger food provided

When   Every Monday from 12–1:30pm

Where  Greenbrook Community House

40 McFarlane Crescent, Epping.

Contact Tandem on 0460 767 557 to RSVP or share dietary needs.

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School Holiday Workshop at Galada Community Center

Bricks 4 Kidz is running hands-on LEGO® workshops these July school holidays at Galada Community Centre, Epping. Themes include Minecraft™, Super Mario Bros.™, Ninjago®, and Brick City Engineers. Designed for kids aged 5–11. Activities include building motorised models, mosaics, and exploring imaginative worlds.

Each full-day session runs from 9am–4pm

Bookings essential—contact 0410 259 709 or visit Bricks4Kidz.com.au/Melbourne-Whittlesea/

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Lalor

Lalor Landcare Group

Check out this busy group’s upcoming activities via Facebook

Members of Lalor Landcare and Whittlesea Community Connections teamed up to rejuvenate a garden bed along Edgars Creek. More local planting opportunities are on the horizon—keep an eye out!

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Lalor Neighbourhood House

Lalor Neighbourhood House 2025 Course Guide: www.lalornh.org.au

• Yoga Class – Tuesdays 10:30 – 11:30 am 
• Sewing Workshop – Tuesdays 12:30 – 1:30 pm
• Resin Art Workshop – Wednesday 12:30 – 1:30 pm 
• Instagram Class for Beginners 
• Mosaic Class 
• Pottery Workshop, Term 4 event 

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Thomastown

Bubup Wilam’s NAIDOC Art Exhibition & Film Screening

Bubup Wilam is proud to invite you to its NAIDOC Art Exhibition in celebration of NAIDOC Week 2025. The exhibition showcases artwork by Bubup children, local artists, friends, and community members, followed by a special screening of Our Warrior—the story of Robbie Thorpe.

Date:     Monday 7^th July 2025

Time:    5:45pm: Doors open

                6:00pm: Exhibition Opens (Finger Food and Light refreshments provided)

                7:00pm: ‘OUR WARRIOR’ Documentary Screening – story of Robbie Thorpe

                8:00pm: Post Screening Q&A with Robbie Thorpe and Anthony Kelly

Where: PRACC – Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre

               35 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang

General Admission Tickets: $16

Mob Tickets: $6

Children: Free (12 years and under)

Don’t miss out – purchase your tickets at https://www.pracc.com.au/Whats-On/All-Events/NAIDOC-Week-screening

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Monthly Edgar’s Creek Litter Clean Up

Friends of Edgar’s Creek Thomastown do monthly clean ups of the creek, helping it to return to its beautiful, natural state.

The next meetup is Sunday 6 July, meeting at the front of Thomastown Library for site prep and weeding ahead of August’s wildflower and shrub planting.

For more information check out the Friends of Edgar’s Creek Thomastown Facebook page Facebook  Friends of Edgar's Creek Thomastown or via email at foectt@gmail.com__

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Pop-up Museum – Ocean Wonders

Dive into the fascinating world of marine life and coastal creatures! Discover taxidermied specimens from Museums Victoria’s collection—including a green sea turtle, seagull, tiger shark jaw, whale vertebra, and an authentic Megalodon tooth from one of history’s largest sharks.

Date:     Friday 11 July 2025 

Time:    2pm – 3pm

Where: Thomastown Recreation & Aquatic Centre, 52-54 Main Street Thomastown

Bookings essential. Book Here for TRAC Pop-up Museum – Ocean Wonders

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Thomastown Food Bank

The Mobile Supermarket will continue to provide Food Relief to community in Thomastown. 

If you’re a service provider your invited to attend these Food Markets and have a great opportunity to connect with community.

Every Wednesday from 10.30am – 12pm. 

Bookings can be made via Foodbank Victoria Markets - Appointed

For more information contact Pania on 

Pania.Bailey-Jenkin@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

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Thomastown Neighbourhood House

Thomastown Neighbourhood House is back for Term 3 2025 with all their regular programs!

For more information see  Home | Thomastown Neighbourhood House

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City of Whittlesea

 A Bug’s Life – Movie Night

Celebrate World Environment Day with a family-friendly screening of A Bug’s Life and fun activities from 6pm, including a butterfly enclosure, crafts, and treats. Tickets are $5—book now via City of Whittlesea’s A Bug’s Life Movie Night at PRACC.

Date:                   Friday 4^th July 2025

Time:                   6PM-9PM

Where:               PRACC – Plenty Ranges Arts Convention Centre

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Youth Services Winter School Holidays Program

See the attached flyer for details on the range of activities being offered by the City of Whittlesea Youth Service across the winter school holidays.

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Help Shape the Aboriginal Gathering Place

Community consultation is now open for the Aboriginal Gathering Place.

The City of Whittlesea is creating an Aboriginal Gathering Place at Bunjil Nganga Parkland to celebrate culture, wellbeing, and community connection. Share your ideas for the programs, services, and cultural activities you'd love to see when it opens later this year.

Consultation period from 28 May - 20 July 2025

Aboriginal Gathering Place | Engage City of Whittlesea

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City of Whittlesea’s Events Calendar

To stay up to date with events and activities within the City of Whittlesea, check out Council’s events calendar Events calendar | City of Whittlesea

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Thriving Together: Supporting First Nations Peoples

The Aboriginal Communities Team has launched Thriving Together: Supporting First Nations Peoples—a free workshop series focused on well-being, cultural connection, and personal growth. Open to First Peoples aged 16 and over, sessions include cultural activities, information on alcohol and other drugs, and guidance on accessing support.

Date:                    Tuesday 29 July 2025

Time:                    9:30am to 12:30pm

Where:               Laurimar Community Centre, 110 Hazel Glen Drive, Doreen

Thriving Together: Supporting First Nations Peoples.

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General

Whittlesea Seniors Link Up

A one stop source of information for seniors in the Whittlesea area, including links to activities, events, and clubs for seniors, as well as general informative resources

Whittlesea Seniors Link Up – Community Connections and Participation for Seniors

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Amplify Committee 2025/26 Now Recruiting!

Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 Amplify Committee, the City of Whittlesea’s youth-led events program for ages 15–23. Amplify, formerly FReeZA, gives young people the chance to lead, create, and connect through music, art, and culture. The program is looking for a diverse group with a mix of experiences and perspectives. No event planning experience needed—just bring your ideas and enthusiasm. Be part of a team shaping inclusive and creative events in your community.

Applications close: 2^nd July 2025

Apply now: https://forms.office.com/r/gwcArYYYaM

If you have any questions, please email City of Whittlesea’s Youth Services team:

youth@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

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2025 Volunteering Awards nominations open

Do you know an inspiring volunteer or volunteer involving organisation?

Now is your chance to recognise their impact by nominating them for the 2025 Volunteering Awards. Volunteers play a vital role in Victoria. They help us build vibrant, connected communities where everyone is included.

Nominations close Friday 4 July 2025

Find out more and nominate

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Victoria Police Community Sentiment Survey

Victoria Police want to hear from you and learn about your local safety concerns, and where focus can be applied to keep the community safer. 

Closes 30 June

Complete Victoria Police Community Sentiment Survey Here

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La Trobe University - Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary

Discover the wonders of Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary from sunrise to sunset—explore fish, frogs, moths, birds, plants and more in this vibrant natural haven.

Check out what's on here.

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Indigenous Plant Nursery Map released

There are over 100 nurseries who supply indigenous Victorian Native plants for revegetation projects across the state.

Explore a handy map of nurseries across Victoria that stock locally indigenous plants suited to your region. Perfect for gardeners, volunteers, and biodiversity advocates looking to support healthy ecosystems and care for Country.  Indigenous Plant Nurseries in Victoria Map

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Extinction Imaginaries ARC Project Survey

RMIT and partner universities are exploring how extinction shapes emotional wellbeing through the Extinction Imaginaries project. The research includes a public survey on biodiversity and its personal significance. Insights gathered will support clearer communication by conservation groups. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Extinction Imaginaries: Mapping Visual Cultures in Australasia

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Life Café: Conversations on Living Well

Monthly on Wednesdays 11am- 12.30pm

We’re thrilled to welcome local community member Vanya Jain to TNH to lead a series of relaxed, meaningful conversations around living well. These 90-minute sessions run from April to September, each focusing on a different aspect of wellbeing:

• July 2^nd: Lifestyle, stress and sleep
• August 6^th: Body image and aspirations
• September 3^rd: Addiction and its management

These sessions are open, supportive, and a great space to share and learn. For more info, give us a call or reach out to Vanya at vanyajain13@gmail.com.

Food Bank Mobile Supermarket

Wednesdays | 10:30am–12:00pm
The Community Pavilion (next to the oval, behind the Library/TRAC)

We’re so grateful to have the BIG PURPLE BUS (aka the Food Bank Mobile Supermarket) visiting us each week throughout Term 2! This fantastic service provides fresh produce and essential groceries to over 150 local families every week.

*Bookings are essential
*Don’t forget to bring 2 shopping bags
*Book online here: https://foodbankvictoriamarkets.appointedd.com

Donations Welcome – Help Us Keep the Good Things Going!

Every week, TNH runs a range of free community wellness activities to support connection and wellbeing in our neighbourhood. Our regular activities include:

• Community Craft Connections
• Let’s Move – gentle movement for young adults with disabilities
• All Seasons – nature craft for all abilities
• PRACE English Class
• Mindful Meditation
• Friendship Café
• Promisetown Playgroup
• Arabic Playgroup (with Jeeran Services)
• Little Diggers – after school family fun club
• Women’s Painting Circle

New participants are always welcome!
If you’d like to support what we do, we welcome a small gold coin donation when you attend — every bit helps us to continue offering these programs to strengthen our local community.

Need more info? Visit www.tnh.org.au or email manager@tnh.org.au.

☕ Come Say Hi at the Coffee Cart!

Did you know TNH runs a Social Enterprise Coffee Cart?
We're open Monday to Friday from 9am–12pm, right in the Lounge area of the Thomastown Library. It’s the perfect spot to catch up with friends, hold a casual meeting, or get some work done in one of the co-working hubs nearby.

We serve up great coffee (thanks to Coffee Mio!) and our team of friendly, trained baristas are always ready to make your day with a warm cuppa and a smile. We accept cash and card, and every purchase helps support our programs and young adults in hospitality training.

Come by and say hello — your support means the world to us!