Important Dates Reminder
A friendly reminder to our families that Wednesday 25 March is a Curriculum Day, and there will be no students at school on this day.

The following Wednesday, 1 April, we will be holding our Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences. On this day, students are only required to attend school at their scheduled appointment time.

Parent / Student /Teacher Conferences
Please book in your parent/teacher/student conference for Wednesday 1st April! Less than 40% of our available times with teachers have been booked! Log in today and choose a time that suits you to meet with your child's teacher! If you need any assistance with booking, please don’t hesitate to contact the school on 9465 4317, we are happy to help.

Working Together: Supporting a Respectful School Community
We value the strong partnerships we have with our families and appreciate your support in maintaining a safe and respectful school environment for all students.

If any concerns or issues arise between students, we ask that these are directed to school staff so they can be addressed appropriately and in line with our processes. It is not appropriate for parents or family members to approach students or other families to resolve concerns, including making threats toward a student, their siblings, or their parents.

We kindly ask all members of our community to refer to the Code of Conduct outlined later in this newsletter for further guidance.

Office Security Upgrade
Over the coming weeks, we will be installing new security doors in our Administration Building to further enhance the safety of our school. The installation will take approximately three to four days, and we appreciate your patience while contractors are working in the office area.

Once the upgrade is complete, entry into the Administration Building will change slightly. The office doors will remain securely closed, and visitors will be able to enter by pressing a button at the front entrance. Our office staff will then release the doors remotely to allow access.

We thank you for your understanding as we introduce this important safety measure and ask that all visitors continue to enter the school via the Administration Building.

Celebrating Student Leadership with the Stand Up Project
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Santiglia for her outstanding work supporting our Grade 5/6 Student Leaders through the Stand Up Project. Her guidance has empowered our students to confidently present to parents and staff, sharing important messages about standing up to bullying and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion across our school.

This is just the beginning of their leadership journey. With Mrs Santiglia’s continued support, our student leaders will be working throughout the year to design and deliver lessons for younger students, helping to build understanding, empathy, and positive strategies for responding to bullying.

We are incredibly proud of both Mrs Santiglia and our student leaders for the positive impact they are making in our school community.

Acknowledging Our Staff – Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) Meetings
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Colakoviski, Mrs Hrovat and Mrs Chantelle for their significant work in preparing and coordinating the two Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) meetings held last week. Their organisation, attention to detail, and commitment ensured that each meeting ran smoothly and focused on achieving the best outcomes for our students.

DIP meetings are an important part of the Disability Inclusion process. They bring together families, school staff, and specialists to build a clear understanding of a student’s strengths and needs. This process helps schools access the appropriate funding and support required to ensure every student can fully participate and succeed in their learning.

We are grateful for the care and professionalism shown by our staff in supporting our students and families through this important process.

NAPLAN 
Well done to our Year 3 and Year 5 students, who approached NAPLAN with a positive attitude and completed each test to the best of their ability.

Thank you to our teachers for their organisation and support in administering the tests, ensuring a calm and focused environment for all students.

A special thank you to Mrs Rocca for coordinating the testing schedule, overseeing multiple sessions, and supporting students who were absent on their scheduled test day. This was a significant effort and is greatly appreciated.

Illness/Gastro
It has come to our attention that a few students have recently been sent home with stomach aches and vomiting.

In light of this, we kindly ask that if your child is feeling unwell, particularly if they are experiencing any gastro-related symptoms, please keep them at home to help prevent the spread of illness. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Harmony Day Celebration
Today, we proudly celebrate Harmony Day at TWPS. Throughout the week, students have been engaging in a range of meaningful classroom activities, exploring and learning about cultures from around the world. Harmony Day provides an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the rich cultural diversity within our community, while reinforcing the values of inclusiveness, respect and a strong sense of belonging for all.

Thank you to our students and families for embracing the day with such enthusiasm, whether through wearing cultural dress, sharing stories, or participating in activities. We are proud to see our students celebrating what makes each of us unique. A special congratulations to our Grade 6 leaders, who did an outstanding job organising and running fun, engaging activities during recess and lunchtime. Their leadership and initiative contributed greatly to the positive spirit across the school. We encourage families to take a moment to view the photos later in this newsletter to see the joy and pride shared throughout the day.

Eid Mubarak to Our School Community 
This week we would like to wish Eid Mubarak to all of our families celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr is an important celebration for Muslims around the world. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, reflection, generosity, and community. During Ramadan, many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and focus on prayer, kindness, and helping others.

Eid is a joyful time when families and communities come together to pray, share special meals, give to charity, and spend time with loved ones. Children often receive gifts, wear new clothes, and enjoy celebrations with family and friends.

At our school we value the rich cultural and religious diversity within our community. Celebrations like Eid help us learn more about each other and remind us of the importance of respect, kindness, and inclusion.

We wish all families celebrating a wonderful and joyful Eid Mubarak! 

New Staff 
We are excited to share that we have two new teachers join our school.

Kathy Peters (Ms Peters) is teaching Art to our whole school on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Scott Taylor (Mr Scott) is teaching room 11 on Fridays.

Introducing...

Scott Taylor / 'Mr Scott'

Role at our school: Classroom Teacher Grade 5/6, Fridays Room 11. Where did you work or study before joining our school? I have been working with Berry Street and continue to do so. What days do you teach at our school?  I will be teaching on Fridays. Who are the other people in your family at home? I live with my wife and two sons. What do you do on the days you're not at our school? I work at my other job with Berry Street and try to play golf and go to the footy to watch the mighty hawks. What do you like about teaching? I love working with young people and helping them to learn lots of amazing things about the world we live in. Favourite food or snack: Smiths Salt and Vinegar Chips Coffee or tea? Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. Message for our students and families: Please come up and say hello. I am always up for a chat.

Kathy Peters / 'Ms Peters'

Role at our school: Visual Art Teacher What days do you teach at our school? Mondays and Tuesdays Who are the other people in your family at home? My husband Mark, my daughter Genie and my cat Ernie What do you do on the days you're not at our school? I teach Art at another school Favourite subject to teach: Art! Hobbies or interests outside of school: Camping, gardening, cooking and listening to music. What are you most excited about this year at our school? Getting to know students, staff and families and all the wonderful art work that will be made.

Prep Teddy Day Picnic
Last week, our Prep students enjoyed a delightful Teddy Bear Picnic under the warm, shining sun. The children brought along their favourite teddy bears and were excited to share a special outdoor picnic with their classmates.  Students enjoyed their snacks, and spent time with their cuddly friends. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to enjoy time outdoors together in the beautiful weather.



REMEMBER...

Please note BREAKFAST CLUB will be closed and not operate:
- Tuesday 24th March
- Wednesday 25th March
- Wednesday 1st April

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” 
                                                                                         B.B. King 


James Crotti                                  Sandi Young 
Assistant Principal                          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

Stand Up Project – Student Leadership in Action

On Wednesday last week after school, our 15 brave students who are now Stand Up Project Leaders (SUP Leaders) proudly led a parent and teacher information session alongside Dr Zach Greig and Gazielle from the Stand Up Project.

The session aimed to support parents and teachers with practical strategies to help children respond to bullying—whether it occurs at school, online, or in other settings. Our student leaders demonstrated confidence, courage, and a strong commitment to making a positive difference in our community.

We are incredibly proud of their leadership and the important role they are playing in creating a safer and more supportive environment for all students.

TERM 1 WEEK 7
 
Scroll down to view our super stars in the photo below
 

 TERM 1 WEEK 8
 
Scroll down to view our super stars in the photo below

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

CUP OF LIFE

Term 1 Week 7&8 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 7 is Room 3 & Week 8, Term 1 is Room 2

Our Easter Fundraiser is well underway! A reminder that all Hot Cross Bun orders and payments are due by Friday 27th March. For every packet sold, the school receives $2.00, so we greatly appreciate your support.

Raffle tickets are also available, with our Easter hampers to be drawn at the end of term assembly on the last day of term.

We are kindly asking for donations of Easter eggs or any Easter-themed items to help make our hampers extra special. Your generosity is greatly appreciated, thank you for supporting our school community!

Thomastown Neighbourhood House News

Dear Thomastown West Primary School Families,

We are your local community space, right next door at the Hub.

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy with playgroups, craft, English classes, gardening, coffee making and volunteering. It has been wonderful to see so many families join in.

All activities are FREE. Everyone is welcome.

You do not need to book for most programs, just come in and say hello.

We are open Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm.

Activities available for you and your family

SPECIAL NOTES

• All TNH activities are free and everyone is welcome to attend.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• TNH is a child safe organsiation.
• No bookings are needed, simply come and try and register on arrival.
• Gold Coin Donations are welcome and every bit of support helps us to support our community.
• TNH activities only take place during School Term

Need Help or Have Questions?

You are always welcome to visit us.

Open: Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm

Thomastown Neighbourhood House @ The Hub, TWPS
Located at the Hub, next to the school

M: 0488 224 439
manager@tnh.org.au