A Great Start to the School Year

TWPS has had a fantastic start to the school year. Students are happy, settled, and ready to learn. All year levels have quickly established routines and are already fully engaged in their learning and reconnecting with friends.

A very warm welcome to all of our new families and to our returning staff. We are pleased to have you as part of the Thomastown West learning community. I have enjoyed meeting many new families this week. If you have not yet had the chance, please feel free to introduce yourself. Most mornings and afternoons you will find me in the yard near the front of the school or by the Junior Building.

Our classrooms and learning spaces were very well prepared for the start of the year. You may have noticed many staff cars in the car park during the final week of the holidays. This reflects the time and care our teachers put into preparing classrooms and learning programs. I would like to thank all staff for their professionalism and for giving their personal time to ensure everything was ready for our students.

It has been wonderful to hear students speaking positively about their teachers, friends and classes. I would like to congratulate our students for showing resilience during this time of change and transition.

Well done to all students who are proudly wearing their school uniform and living our school values. Our students look fantastic, and wearing the uniform helps create a strong sense of belonging to our school. Please remember that black is not a school colour. Black shorts, pants, or leggings are not part of the TWPS uniform. This is clearly outlined in the TWPS School Dress Code Policy:

https://www.thomwestps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/twps_student_dress_code_policy_2024_2028.pdf 

You may have noticed how busy our office has been. We would like to sincerely thank Suzi and Sakina for their hard work and dedication. Their effort, organisation, and support are vital to the smooth running of our school. Quite simply, we could not function without them.

Arriving and Leaving School

We appreciate students arriving at school on time and ready to learn by 8:45am. We understand that there are times when arriving late cannot be avoided. However, learning begins at 8:45am, and late arrivals result in lost learning time and disruption to the classroom. Wherever possible, this should be avoided.

Parents and carers are reminded that students who arrive late must come through the school office to have their arrival recorded.

Similarly, if a child needs to be picked up early, parents and carers must sign them out at the school office. To minimise disruption to end-of-day routines, we ask that families avoid collecting children between 3:00pm and 3:15pm. If a child returns to school after an early collection, this must also be recorded at the office using the Compass Kiosk or with office staff.

Please note that only adults listed as emergency contacts are permitted to collect children from school. On rare occasions, if children are collected late (after 3:30pm), yard duty teachers will direct them to the school office. If late collection becomes ongoing, families may need to consider TheirCare after-school care as an alternative. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep learning time safe, calm, and uninterrupted.

Student Attendance: ‘It’s Cool to be at School!’

In order for students to maximise their learning opportunities at school, they need to attend on a regular basis. Every day of learning counts!

We are fully aware that there are times when students will be absent due to illness or unavoidable family commitments but hopefully, these would be rare events and that our students will be in attendance every other school day.

We ask that parents notify the school office via phone, email (thomastown.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au), a note or in person confirming your child’s absence on any given day so that we know that the absence is approved, as well as reassuring the school that your child is safe and in your care on a normal school day.

We will be following up on all unexplained absences by 9.30 am via a Compass message. We ask parents and carers to support this approach by communicating clearly with the school office when your child is going to be absent prior to  8.30 am if possible.

Prep 2026

We were very excited to welcome our new Prep students as they began their learning journey yesterday. A big welcome to all of our Prep children and their families. It has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces and a great deal of excitement as they start school.

As Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” We look forward to supporting our Prep students as they take these first important steps in their school adventure.

Please note that in 2026, TWPS Prep students will attend school fulltime, including all Wednesdays in the month of February.

We hope you enjoy the very cute photos featured in this newsletter!

CHESS @ TWPS!

Chess Club will begin at TWPS next week and will run during Wednesday lunchtime and we will meet our new chess coach.

Many of our previous Chess Champions were in Grade 6 last year and have now moved on. This year, the program will focus on building strong chess foundations.

Chess Club is FREE for children at TWPS and will support students who are new to chess and learning the basics, while also offering 1:1 coaching for a small number of students in Grades 5/6 who are ready to extend their skills.

Playing chess helps students develop concentration, logical thinking, problem-solving, planning, and perseverance. It also encourages students to think before they act, learn from mistakes, and show respect for others.

This approach allows us to build interest in chess across the school while continuing to support students who are ready for more advanced learning.

Stars of the Week

Each fortnight Stars of the Week will only be presented at whole school assemblies and published in our newsletter.  

Friendly reminder: All Prep and Grade 1/2 students will receive a Star of the Week certificate at some point during the year. We appreciate your patience as these are awarded on a rotating basis.

For students in Grades 3/4 and 5/6, Star of the Week certificates are earned through demonstrated effort, achievement, and commitment to our school values, and are therefore not guaranteed.

Hours of Supervision

Parents are reminded that our school gates open at 8:30am and the hours of supervision in the yard are from 8:30am until 3:30pm. As such, parents are encouraged to ensure their child/ren arrive at school no earlier than 8:30am and that they are prompt in collecting their child/ren at 3:15pm. Your support in this matter is appreciated as we work together to ensure the safety of your children.

2026 Parent Payment Arrangements

Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. Thank you to the families who have paid for their child’s book pack and  families who have paid their 2026 School Contributions. It’s not too late to make a payment! Your ongoing support ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. Within our school this support has allowed us to provide a wider offering of subjects and special curriculum experiences; enhanced digital learning opportunities;  faster WIFI and internet and the recent upgrade of our outdoor sheltered area. We genuinely value your  contributions in supporting our school’s programs and resources. For further information on the Department’s Parent Payments Policy or please refer to our school website: 
https://www.thomwestps.vic.edu.au/page/143

Financial Support for Families

Thomastown West Primary School understands that some families may experience financial difficulty and offers a range of support options, including:

- the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

- Flexible Payment Arrangements

- Smith Family Scholarships

- State Schools Relief vouchers

For a confidential discussion about accessing these services, or if you would like to discuss alternative  payment arrangements, phone 03 9465 4317  to make an appointment with:

Sandi Young, Principal sandi.young@education.vic.gov.au  and/or 

Suzi Ilic, Business Manager suzanne.ilic@education.vic.gov.au 

School Hats

Reminder: Your child needs to have their school hat at school every day. Many students still have their hats at home. Please ensure all school hats are returned to school by Monday.

New school hats are available at the Office for $14.

Our school's Sun Protection policy:
https://www.thomwestps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/twps_sun_protection_policy_20242028.pdf 

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund applications

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families. Payment amounts this year are $125.00 for eligible primary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family  circumstances. If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the school office on 94654317 and ask for an application form.

You can also download the form, and find out more about the program and eligibility, on the Department of  Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page. Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.

Brain Food

At our school, we encourage all students to enjoy “brain food” in between longer learning sessions. This means eating fruit and/or vegetables and drinking water to help them stay focused and ready to learn.

If you have joined Mr Crotti or Mrs Young on a school tour, you will know how strongly we value student engagement, wellbeing, and inclusion. Supporting healthy eating habits is one way we help students get the most out of their learning time. As the saying goes, “A healthy mind starts with a healthy body.” Thank you to the families who are already making sure their children bring plenty of fruit, vegetables, and water each day.

Lunches

A healthy school lunch ensures that students have nutrition they need throughout the day to learn and is critical to student health and well-being. Being provided healthy lunches at school while growing up can help build good eating habits for the future.

Mobile Phone/Smartwatch Policy

Mobile phones and smartwatches are becoming common place amongst children. In line with the Department of Education and Training’s policy on student use of mobile phones, we have a policy to protect the personal privacy of students, staff and parents, and to ensure that the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches is not disruptive to the learning environment at school.

As a consequence, the following applies:

• Only students with a valid or compelling reason are to possess a mobile phone or other personal mobile device at school.
• Students who bring mobile phones and other personal mobile devices to school must have them switched off and securely stored at the school office.

Mobile phones and smartwatches are considered valuable items, and are brought to school at the owner’s (student, parent or carer’s) risk. If you require your child to have a mobile phone at school please obtain a copy of the Mobile Phone Policy and Personal Property Policy from our school website:
https://www.thomwestps.vic.edu.au/page/101/Reports-and-Policies-for-the-School-Community 

Personal goods brought to school at owner’s risk

The Department of Education (DE) has asked all schools to remind parents that any property brought to school by students is NOT insured and DE, or the school, does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage. As a result, the school actively discourages students from bringing expensive or precious toys, sporting equipment, mobile phones (as mentioned previously) etc. to school.

The Department does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students.

Parents/carers of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs. In some circumstances, medical or other expenses will be paid by the Department where it is assessed that it is likely that the Department is liable for negligent acts or omissions of its staff or volunteers. 

Where there is no whole-of-school policy in place, it is the responsibility of parents/carers to look into their preferred options in this regard. The Department cannot provide advice to parents/carers on the purchase of individual student accident policy or ambulance cover.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.

This can include mobile phones, calculators, toys, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. As the Department does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property, students and staff should be discouraged from bringing any unnecessary or particularly valuable items to school.

Privacy Policy

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’
Privacy Policy. Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website:
https://www.thomwestps.vic.edu.au/page/101 or https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/schoolsprivacypolicy.aspx

Student Information Forms – Update details

Please notify the office if there have been any changes to your telephone number, address, medical issues, emergency contacts or work phone numbers. It is vital that the school has this information for our records.

School Council

Our next School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 24th February at 6:30pm onsite at school.

In the next newsletter we will be including information about how to join the 2026 School Council in the upcoming School Council Elections.

If you would like to learn more about School Council, you are welcome to join us on 24/2/26 as a guest or speak to Mr Crotti or myself. Joining School Council is a fantastic way to learn more about our school!

Education is Powerful,  Student Voice Matters, Teachers Make a Difference
&  Every Day of  Learning Counts!

Sandi Young                                    James Crotti         

Principal                                         Assistant Principal

TWPS CURRICULM DAYS 2026
*Students do NOT attend school on these days*

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

TERM DATES 2026

Please scroll down to access TWPS Child Safe Policies.

Thomastown West Primary School's Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Thomastown West Primary School is committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making.



Thomastown West Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse.
Thomastown West Primary School is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Every person involved in Thomastown West Primary School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

Thomastown West Primary School’s Principles for Child Safety

In its planning, decision-making and operations Thomastown West Primary School will:

1. Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;
2. Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
3. Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children
4. Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
5. Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
6. Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;
7. Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;
8. Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
9. Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
10. Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.

Thomastown West Primary School’s Child Safe Policies

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Student Engagement Wellbeing and Inclusion Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Child Safe and Wellbeing Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2025 TWPS Child Safe Risk Register

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Child Safe Code of Conduct

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Child Safety, Responding and Reporting (Including Mandatory Reporting) Policy 

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Bullying Prevention Policy 

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Child Safe Officers and Flowcharts of Responsibility

Click HERE to view the 2024-2028 TWPS Inclusion and Diversity Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Complaints Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2028 TWPS Digital Learning (incl. Digital Devices) Policy 

Click HERE to view the ANZUK (Casual Relief Teacher Agency) Safe Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2028 TWPS Camps and Excursions Policy

Click HERE to view the TWPS Disclosure Template using PROTECT for Compass

Click HERE to view the 2024-2028 TWPS Duty of Care Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026 TWPS Yard Duty and Supervision Policy

Click HERE to view the  TWPS Four Critical Actions for Schools

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026  Volunteers Policy

Click HERE to view the 2024-2026  Visitors Policy

Click HERE to view Privacy Information for TWPS Parents and Carers

Click HERE to view the DET Betrayal of Trust implementation

Click HERE to view DET's Protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people document.

Click HERE to view DET's 'PROTECT' document: Identifying and Responding to All Forms of Abuse in Victorian Schools

Click HERE to view the Step by step guide to making a report to child protection or child first

Click HERE to view the PROTECT Four Critical Actions for responding to incidents, disclosures and suspicions of child abuse.

Back To School Routine

Tips To Help You and Your Children

Setting up routines for your child or children can help them thrive at school and throughout their lives.

Heading back to school means lots of new things all at once: new classes, new teachers, new classmates, and new after-school activities.

When your children head back to school, one of the best things you can do for them is help them develop and set daily routines.

Routines give children a sense of control and safety because they help them learn what to expect, and how to prepare for the day ahead. They also help kids develop life skills that will benefit them far beyond their school days.

Research shows that children who participate in daily routines with their families have stronger language development, increased academic achievement, and improved social and emotional functioning.

The Basics: How to set healthy routines

Here are a few routine setting tips to consider as you’re setting up your healthy family routines:

• Explain the routines to your child. Have them repeat the routines back to you to show they’ve understood.
• Put a chart on the wall. A visual of your daily routines can help everyone in the household see what needs to happen and when. Set wake up times and morning tasks, like eating breakfast and brushing teeth.
• Be consistent. Stick to your routines as closely as possible, even when you’re tired or overwhelmed as a parent.
• Set times and stick to them. For example, have an agreed time for after school activities, eg. reading, homework, gaming, watching TV.
• Go slow, adding one or two new habits at a time. Making gradual changes to your family routine will give you the best chance of building lasting, positive routines.
• It’s OK if your routine needs to change. That’s life. Just make sure to tell your child about the change — well ahead of time, if possible.

Create a Calming Bedtime Routine

• Wind-Down Activities: Start winding down about 30 minutes before bed. Avoid stimulating activities like screen time, active play, or exciting conversations. Instead, opt for calming activities like reading a book, listening to soft music, or having a quiet chat.
• Warm Bath or Shower: A relaxing bath or shower can signal to the body that it’s time to sleep, especially if you make it a part of the routine.

Sleep Tips for a Successful School Week

As we settle into the school year, it's essential to remember that a good night's sleep is key to your child’s well-being and academic success. Here are some helpful sleep guidelines to ensure your child is well-rested and ready for the school day:

Sleep Recommendations for primary school children:

• Ages 6-7: 10-11 hours of sleep, with a bedtime of 8:00-8:30 PM.
• Ages 8-9: 9-10 hours of sleep, with a bedtime of 8:30-9:00 PM.
• Ages 10-11: 9-11 hours of sleep, with a bedtime of 8:45-9:15 PM.
• Age 12: 9-10 hours of sleep, with a bedtime of 9:00-9:30 PM.

5 tips for a safer internet

As online abuse and new risks continue to grow, it's important to educate ourselves and others at work, at home, at school and in the community on how to be safer online. Whether you’re an educator, professional, parent or student, everyone can follow our top 5 tips to help make the internet a safer, more positive place for all. Watch this short video for 5 tips for a safer internet.Safer Internet Day 

Join one of the free webinars for parents and carers.

These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safer online experiences.

Social media age restrictions explained – a guide for parents and carers

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account. Join our 30-minute information session to understand the changes. Learn more about this webinar.

Please click the dropdown box on the registration form to pick your preferred date.

10 February 2026, 12:30pm (AEDT)

24 February 2026, 12:30pm (AEDT)

REGISTER NOW

Dear Parents and Carers,

Now is the time to begin thinking about choosing a secondary school for your child’s transition to Year 7 in 2026. This is an important decision and can sometimes feel complicated, so we encourage families to start exploring their options early.

To support you in making an informed choice, we recommend booking tours at local government secondary schools. School tours and open nights provide a valuable opportunity to see how each school operates, explore their facilities, learn about the programs on offer, and consider whether these align with your child’s learning needs and interests. Please contact schools directly to find out when tours and open nights are scheduled.

In April, Year 6 students at Thomastown West Primary School will receive a Year 6–7 Transition Package. This package will include the Application for Year 7 Placement 2026 form. Once completed, families are asked to return the form to the school, clearly indicating their first, second, and third school preferences. Thomastown West Primary School is responsible for managing Year 7 placement requests on behalf of our students and will then notify the relevant secondary schools on your behalf

In July, families will be advised of the secondary school placement for their child for Year 7.

Please note that if you are considering an independent (non-government) secondary school, the enrolment process is managed directly by families and may begin as early as Year 5. As these enrolments are not coordinated by the primary school, we ask that parents inform Thomastown West Primary School of their child’s intended secondary school, along with confirmation of acceptance, when completing the transition pack sent home in April.

Thomastown West Primary school is here to support families throughout transition process. If you have any questions or would like further guidance, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

CUP OF LIFE

Term 1 Week 1&2 Student Attendance Report

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 for their year level.

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 room that had the BEST ATTENDANCE for Week 1 is Room 11  & Week  2, Term 1 is Room 3

TERM 1 WEEK 1
 
Scroll down to view our super stars in the photo below

 TERM 1 WEEK 2
 
Scroll down to view our super stars in the photo below

WEEK 1





WEEK 2

Thomastown West Primary School offers a FREE Breakfast Club at our Community Hub from 7.45am!

Breakfast Club is FREE 'Before School Care' for TWPS families who need it! 

• Breakfast Club will open at 7:45am.

• Breakfast Club is FREE

• Breakfast Club willl operate from our Thomastown West Community Hub.

• Students will enter Breakfast Club via the single Hub gate on Main Street.

• From 7:45am - 8:15am parents or care,rs must drop their child at Breakfast Club and sign them in.

• From 8:15am students may arrive at Breakfast Club in the Hub and sign in without their parents or carers.

• Students are encouraged to bring a small toy or game to play. There are plenty of books to read at the Hub.

• The Breakfast Club will close at 8:30am and the single Hub gate on Main Street will be closed.

• At 8:30am the double gates at the front entrance of our school will be opened for students to enter.

It has been a BIG week at TNH @ The Hub, TWPS. 

We have had a total of 82 in attendance at our activities at The Hub this week.  

• Monday Community Craft- 15 (Elderly CALD Community Members)
• Monday Arabic Playgroup- 25 (Arabic Mothers and children)
• Tue English Class- 8 (Elderly CALD Community Members)
• Tue All Seasons- 18 (Young Adults with Disabilities)
• Thu Playgroup- 16 (CALD Families)

And still to come ‘Little Diggers’ this afternoon and ‘Women’s Making Circle’ tomorrow morning.

TNH also conducted activities at other sites: Meditation Class at Barry Rd Community Centre, Small Talk Playgroup at The Pavillion, Let’s Move at TRAC and First Monday of the Month Morning Tea at the Library.  A total of 65 participants across these sites.

Fantastic- that’s all for now.  Look forward to sharing a snapshot of our work with the School Council at an appropriate time.

Thanks again for having us, we are thrilled with our new location and the community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

Warm Regards,

Liz Skitch

Manager

Thomastown Neighbourhood House

manager@tnh.org.au

www.tnh.org.au