The Curriculum Day in Term 3 will be held Wednesday 10th September. This was a change made earlier in the year and shared via the newsletter. The following Wednesday, 17 September, we will hold our Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences.

St John’s First Aid

Our school hosted a St John’s First Aid training day on 6 August 2025 so every student could learn basic first aid skills:

• The prep students read a storybook about  how Johnny Bear identifies an emergency, puts the Danger, Response and Send for help strategy into action and helps call 000. The students learnt the first aid chant that will help them remember what to do in an emergency. 

• The 1/2 students learned how to spot DANGER in an emergency, RESPOND accordingly and SEND for help. They were guided on what number to call and act out a scenario to get them comfortable calling 000 in real life. The students played a fun and interactive game as teams to compete in a first aid quiz.

• The 3/4 students revised ‘DRS’ which involves assessing for dangers, obtaining a response and calling Triple Zero. The focus of this module was to  demonstrate how to check airway and breathing and how to place a patient into the recovery position. The students will then apply the knowledge they have learnt through an interactive game based on the DRSABCD action plan.

• The 5/6 students revisited the key concepts from Modules 1 & 2 with an exciting, hands-on extension. The session included a practical CPR component, where students were guided through how and when to perform CPR in emergency situations. The  students collaborated in  problem-solving scenarios, responding to a range of simulated first aid situations.

Rocking 100 Days of Learning 

Yesterday, the Preps and Grade 1/2s celebrated their 100 days of learning! Each class was made up of rock stars they rocked through our “100” themed activities. Everyone looked amazing! Students will love recounting the day and reflecting on all the new things they have learned since the start of the year. Please ask your child about their favourite moment from our first 100 days, it is a great conversation starter at home! Enjoy the photos that appear later in the newsletter. 

Chess Club

Chess Club is held on Wednesday lunchtimes at the Thomastown West Community Hub. Jude from GS Chess (with Mrs Young’s assistance) teaches the children how to play Chess each week. Learning to play chess in primary school gives students a head start in many important skills. As they plan moves and anticipate their opponent’s strategy, children sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Chess also builds patience and focus. Students learn to sit quietly, analyse the board and think several steps ahead before acting. Each game ends with a win or a loss, so players develop resilience and good sportsmanship by celebrating successes and learning from mistakes. Working with a chess partner or in small groups encourages communication, respect and teamwork. Overall, learning chess makes school more engaging and helps young minds grow in confidence both inside and outside the classroom.

It is our hope that our Grade 6 chess players will participate in an interschool competition later in the year.

Internet Safety

Staying safe online is just as important at home as it is at school. Prep students learn about living our school values while playing online learning games such as Reading Eggs and Maths Seeds. Grade 1/2s discuss safe, fair and respectful use of technology while learning to manage their usernames when using our school apps.  In Years 3–6, students build on their earlier digital citizenship lessons by learning to protect themselves and others online both at school and at home. Using Google Classrooms, through guided discussions and hands-on activities, students learn to spot and respond to cyberbullying, use respectful language in online interactions, and know when and how to report concerns. These online-safety lessons give students the skills and confidence to navigate digital spaces responsibly and respectfully.

At home, we encourage families to set screen-time limits, supervise children when they are online, use built-in parental controls, and talk openly about apps and websites your child uses. Remember: anything posted online can last forever, so it is best to think twice before sharing photos or personal details.

Playing Safely at Lunchtime 

Lunch play runs from 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm in three supervised zones. Students are reminded to live the school values during play time. We have noticed that some children have been acting out their favourite movies or TV shows, such as Karate Kid. While initially this can appear cute, someone always ends up hurt. For this reason, ‘play fighting,’ ‘mucking around’ or ‘just joking fighting’ is not permitted at school.

At times, there can be small disagreements because everyone wants to be the leader of the game. Please remind your children that the best way to respond is to use kind words, ask others to stop and/or walk away.  If the disagreement turns into an argument, we ask children to find a teacher on duty. 

Illness

At Thomastown West Primary School, every day counts when you are learning, UNLESS students are sick! Please keep your child home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or a persistent cough, and only return once they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours. 

At school we follow best hygiene practices to stop germs: all staff, students and visitors practise good hand hygiene, washing with soap and water or using hand sanitiser, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing, and after toileting. We also teach students to cover coughs and sneezes with their elbow or a tissue, and dispose of tissues immediately in bins. These simple steps help protect our whole community and keep everyone healthy and ready to learn.

Breakfast Club

Every weekday from 7:45 am to 8:30 am, the Breakfast Club at the Thomastown West Community Hub offers cereal, toast, fruit and milk free of charge. It is a friendly way for students to start the day well-fed and ready to learn. No booking is needed, just sign in with a parent or carer if you arrive before 8:15 am. Or, students can sign themselves in after 8:15am. 

Parent Helpers

We love having parents join us for reading groups, art projects and excursions. To volunteer, please pop into the office for a short induction and to register your Working With Children Check, which is free for volunteers. Even just one hour a week makes a huge difference in the classroom and you will get to see learning in action. Plus, it is a great chance to support our school community.

Useful Websites

Head to our TWPS Useful Websites page for links to Education Victoria, Bullying No Way, KidsMatter and Parenting Ideas. These sites offer free tips on homework routines, mental health support and family wellbeing. You will also find advice on talking with teens about stress, building healthy online habits and managing friendships. Bookmark it so you can find help whenever you need it.

School Uniform Reminders

Please ensure your child wears the correct school uniform each day. If your child wears a parker or puffer jacket in the mornings, it should be over the top of their school uniform jumper or bomber jacket. 

Remember to label all items such as, jumpers, hats, lunchboxes and drink bottles, so they do not get lost. Lost property is stored in the Admin building and is filling up! If uniform costs are a concern, please speak to the Office about accessing support.

Principal’s Day Appreciation

On Wednesday, TWPS celebrated Principal’s Day! Our students and staff surprised us with heartfelt morning tea, posters and kind messages. It was wonderful to feel so appreciated by our school community. Your support and encouragement remind us why we love leading Thomastown West Primary School. Thank you for making our day truly speciaL.

Great News!

Our sandpit has been refilled with fresh, clean sand! Our Prep and Grades 1-2 students couldn't wait to dig and build together at play time. The space is looking fantastic and ready for hours of creative and imaginative  play. A big thank you to Mr Crotti and our 5/6s, who worked hard to spread and level the new sand, your teamwork has made a real difference to the P-2 students!

Happy Birthday to our Assistant Principal 

Please join us in wishing our Assistant Principal James Crotti a very happy birthday on Monday, 11 August 2025. We hope you enjoyed your family trip to Fiji! James’s dedication, positivity and leadership inspire us all. Happy birthday, James!

 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

At Thomastown West Primary School, we believe the following:

• At our school, everyone has the right to work and learn.
• At our school, everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable.

LIVE OUR SCHOOL VALUES:

At Thomastown West Primary School
we choose respect over rumours!

TERM 3 WEEK 2

TERM 3 WEEK 3

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:


* Term 3 Week 2 is Room 03
* Term 3 Week 3 is Room 10

The class who has head the BEST ATTENDANCE in TERM 2 and won the FREE pizza lunch is: Room 09!

Term 3 Fundraisers:
Please get involved!

Sweet Treats for Sale!

Starting Monday, 18th August, students can buy Freddo Frogs and Caramello Koalas during lunch eating time—while stocks last!

They cost 50 cents each or 3 for $1.00. You’ll be able to purchase them directly in class from an SRC member.
Don’t miss out on these yummy treats!

We have a fun-filled term ahead with several exciting fundraising events planned!

We really do need your support to ensure the following events happen:

• Father’s Day Stall – A wonderful opportunity for students to choose from a great variety of gifts for Dad or a special father figure.

• Footy Day Parade & Hot Lunch – We wrap up the term with our much-loved Footy Day! Students are invited to wear their team colours, join in the parade, and enjoy a hot lunch (available to order).
  
  

If you’d like to volunteer at any of these events, please see Mrs. Young or Mrs. Elzoobi in the office.

As always, your support is greatly appreciated!



Father's Day Sneak Peek

Air Freshener $3.00	Car Wash Mit $4.00
Magnets $2.00	Measuring Tape $5.00
Stress balls $3.00	Chamois for the Car! $3.00
Pens $2.00	Air Freshener $3.00
Air Freshener $3.00	20 PIECE TOOL KIT $10.00
Plate set $5.00	Travel Mug $6.00
31 Precision Screwdriver $10.00	$5.00 (ONLY A FEW LEFT from 2024)
Sponge with chocolate $3.00	Key Rings $3.00

We will also have assorted chocolate bags available for purchase, from $1.00.

The TWPS Father's Day notice will be sent home on Monday 25/8/25.