ANZAC Day presentation 
Last Friday and again at assembly today, our Student Representative Council (SRC) Leaders demonstrated great respect and leadership as they read a moving ANZAC Day poem and acknowledged the sacrifices made by the ANZAC soldiers.

Their thoughtful presentation helped our school community pause, reflect, and honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who have served our country. It was wonderful to see our student leaders take on this important role with such maturity and reverence.

We thank our SRC Leaders for representing our school so proudly and for helping to keep the spirit of ANZAC alive within our community.

Lalor District Athletics Day
Congratulations to all the students who proudly represented our school at the interschool athletics day last Wednesday. It was fantastic to see such great sportsmanship, effort and team spirit on display throughout the day.

Thank you to the parents who came along and helped out and cheer our students on for the day!

We are very proud of the way you represented our school. Well done to everyone involved!

Glasses for kids 
We are pleased to share that State Schools’ Relief (SSR), in partnership with the Victorian State Government, is continuing the Glasses for Kids (GFK) program. Students can receive comprehensive eye testing and glasses at no cost to families!

This important initiative aims to remove vision impairment as a barrier to learning by supporting students to fully engage in their education from the early years. Across the program, GFK will visit 770 primary and specialist schools and provide initial vision screening for up to 108,000 students from Prep to Year 3.

We look forward to this valuable opportunity to support our students’ wellbeing and learning. Further information about our school’s involvement will be shared soon.

Mothers’ Day Breakfast for P-2
Families are warmly invited to attend our Mothers’ Day Breakfast in the Junior School Building at 8:30am on Friday 8 May. We encourage families to come along and enjoy breakfast with their child or children as we celebrate this special occasion together.

Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS)
We are excited to be working with a Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS) coach through the Department of Education Victoria. This partnership supports our ongoing commitment to creating calm, consistent and supportive learning environments for all students.

PCMS focuses on building positive relationships, setting clear expectations and using proactive strategies to support student engagement and behaviour. Through this work, our staff are strengthening their practices to ensure every classroom is a place where students feel safe, respected and ready to learn.

We look forward to continuing this work across the school and sharing the positive impact it has on our students.

The Stand Up Project Update
Our Stand Up Project Leaders (SUP Leaders) met with Mrs Colaovski, Mr Crotti and Gazielle from the Stand Up Project on Tuesday, to plan some exciting activities, interesting slides and stories to present to the grade 3/4 students. The SUP Leaders will be the teachers for a session. They may be a little nervous but they are really looking forward to sharing their learning about how to stand up to bullying, racism and discrimination.

Road Safety for our School Crossing

Have you noticed something new near our school crossing? A temporary camera installed near the school crossing. This camera has been set up by the State Government to collect survey data about traffic flow, pedestrian movement, and crossing usage in our area. The purpose of this data collection is to help inform future planning and ensure our school crossing remains safe and effective for all members of our community. Please note that the camera is temporary and is being used for data collection only. We appreciate your understanding and support as this important work is carried out to improve safety around our school.

Medication for students
To ensure the safe management of student health needs at school, parents/carers are required to complete and return the relevant Medication Authority Form, provide the school with their child’s current medical management plan (for example, an Asthma Action Plan), and supply all prescribed in-date medication required for their child’s care. Where applicable, families must also provide additional medication for camps, excursions and Outside School Hours Care programs to ensure that appropriate medical support is available in all school settings.

2026 Prep parents - please return the school nurse forms
A friendly reminder to all Prep families to please return your child’s School Nurse forms as soon as possible. These forms are important in supporting your child’s health and wellbeing at school. The school nurse will come and check your child’s physical health for free and can offer support to students and families who need it.

If you have misplaced your forms or need another copy, please contact the office and we will be happy to assist. Thank you for your support!

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


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

DISTRICT ATHLETICS DAY

Congratulations to the following students who represented Thomastown West Primary School with pride at the recent district athletics competition and achieved outstanding results.

Molly, who achieved second place in the 800 metres, Gurasees, who proudly earned a third place ribbon in her running event, Taliyah, who placed second in discus, and Alani, who won first place in shot put. These are outstanding achievements and a wonderful reflection of the students’ determination, skill and sportsmanship. We are proud to announce that each of these students has now qualified to progress to the next level of competition.

SHAKIRA, ELISSA and MOLLY
 At the start of the day, everyone felt nervous. When we arrived at the Meadow Glen athletics track, the area was packed with competitive schools. When I got onto the track a rush of excitement and nervousness filled my head. I stretched before the races. As I got into my lane, I felt my stomach drop. When the whistle blew, I ran my best, like my life depended on it. I was dying to win. Despite all the hard work we put in, we weren't as lucky as we hoped.
From our seats, classmates cheered us on and stayed positive showing great sportsmanship. At the end we had a group photo together, congratulating each other for all the effort we put in.

HANNAH and TALIYAH
On athletics day, we were excited to compete among the other schools, but the fear of losing started to take over. It surprisingly wasn't as bad as we thought -- it was more fun. The disappointment of losing was still there, but we tried our best. When I was on the track ready to start my event, there was a moment of silence and only the feeling of nervousness flooded my body. After that brief moment, everything seemed calm, them off I sprinted.

ALANI
Athletics day was sooooo good. At first, I nervous, like super nervous. I overthought it. Some of us had one event and some of us had multiple events. I only had to do 1 event, but it was a hard one. It was shot put. While I was on the bus travelling there, I had this weird feeling, and it made my legs feel strange but as I waited the feeling subsided. I came first in my event.

HAFSA
We were so nervous when we got to the Meadow Glen athletics track doctor excited at the same time be cause and receive a ribbon we wanted to win. There were lots of things going on making it confusing. There were also some families cheering and clapping for their children. My event was shot put discus and relay. I didn't win any ribbons.

ALI
I was very excited in the morning. When I did the 800 metres it was so hard. Then we did the relay and we were so close to coming 3rd and getting a ribbon. It was the best when we were shouting out friends’ names while they were competing in their races and we were encouraging them to do their best.

AHMAD
On athletics day I was nervous. Everyone was looking at me and I was shaking. I tried my best, but I lost.

SAM
 I was really nervous at the start of my 800 metres event. In the relay, my team ran second in the heats. In the finals we just missed out on a ribbon coming fourth. It was so close.

BELAL
I was so scared and nervous the night before athletics day, I couldn't even sleep. When I woke up in the morning, I'd forgotten all about athletics. My sister reminded me though, and then I got excited.

JULIAN and KREON
We had athletics at Meadow Glen track today. We're a bit nervous and excited. We were full of adrenaline. The running track was around a big oval and the boys’ and girls’ field events were separated. They were on opposite sides of the track. Both our boys relay teams just missed out on a ribbon coming fourth. Three students did get ribbons though. We came back to school exhausted.

ANDY and ADEM
Andy and I did her best. Our events were discus and shot put. We came fifth in our events. It was a hard day, but we all tried our best and had fun.

Pets, Wellbeing and Responsible Care

For many families, pets are much more than animals in the backyard. They are loyal companions, trusted friends and an important part of the family. The simple presence of a pet can bring comfort, calmness and connection to both children and adults, often in ways we do not fully realise.

For children in particular, pets can have a significant positive impact on emotional wellbeing. Patting a dog, cuddling a cat, feeding a guinea pig or simply sitting quietly with an animal can help children feel settled, safe and less anxious. Pets can provide a sense of routine, security and unconditional companionship, which is especially valuable when children are feeling worried, overwhelmed or lonely. Caring for an animal also helps children build empathy, patience, responsibility and gentle nurturing skills, all important social and emotional capabilities that support healthy development.

Adults also benefit greatly from pet ownership. Animals encourage us to slow down, be active, laugh more often and feel connected. Walking a dog, playing outdoors or sharing quiet time with a pet can reduce daily stress and support positive mental health for the whole family.

However, it is important to remember that having a pet is a long term commitment and a serious responsibility. Pets depend on us every day for food, shelter, exercise, medical care, safety and affection. Responsible pet ownership means ensuring pets are microchipped, registered, vaccinated, safely confined, regularly exercised and treated with kindness at all times. The City of Whittlesea reminds all pet owners that cats and dogs over three months of age must be registered with Council and microchipped, helping keep pets safe and improving the chance of lost animals being returned home.

Teaching children to love animals is important, but teaching them to care for animals responsibly is even more important. When children learn that pets have needs, feelings and rights to safety, they develop compassion, accountability and respect that extends far beyond the family home.

A pet can be one of childhood’s greatest sources of comfort and joy when the relationship is built on love, care and responsibility.

 TERM 2 WEEK 1 

Aboud	Room 2	For striving to be his best by focusing on his work during independent tasks.
Zahra H	Room 3	For being resilient and asking for clarification when not sure about instructions.
Julian	Room 5	For showing focus, a positive mindset and responsibility in completing all learning tasks. Well done, Julian!
Aliyah	Room 6	Shows great resilience when tasks are challenging. Keeps trying, stays positive, and doesn’t give up. Well deserved Star of the Week!
Adem	Room 9	For writing a summary about the goldrush independently, paraphrasing and including key words.
Andy	Room 10	For an outstanding first homework task — a fantastic report on the Australian goldfields. Keep up the excellent work!
Shakira	Room 11	For consistently exemplifying responsibility in completing all tasks with dedication and striving for excellence. Your commitment and reliability inspire everyone around you.  Keep up the outstanding work!
Xander	Room 15	For making a great start with your persuasive text. You have very convincing arguments.
Amaanat	Room 18	For showing a growth mindset in maths while learning new strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems.
River	ART	For always listening respectfully when others are speaking.

Eleen	Room 2	For striving to be her best when forming letters during her handwriting task.
Zara	Room 3	For great descriptive writing about autumn.
Arthur	Room 5	For showing a growth mindset during our addition unit. You showed perseverance and embraced challenging tasks. Well done, Arthur!
Gursees	Room 6	For trying his best when completing all tasks independently.
Abla	Room 9	For trying her best by contributing to class discussions and always giving everything a go!
Alana	Room 10	For your positive attitude to learning. You give every task a red-hot go and don’t let challenges stand in your way. Keep up your determined and resilient effort! That’s a fantastic mindset—keep it up!
Xaviar	Room 11	Having such a great attitude towards school and learning and always giving 100% during class discussions.
Fonzie	Room 15	For a wonderful start to term 2 and making a greater effort with his work. Keep it up!
Elexzyo	Room 18	For outstanding responsibility, staying focused during learning and always completing your work with care.
Alani	ART	For showing great responsibility in the art room. Alani always offers to help set up and ensure the space is left neat and organised. Thank you Alani!

CUP OF LIFE

Term 2 Week 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 Term 2 is Room 18 and for Week 2 Term 2 is Room 6 and 18.

Welcome Back!
Term 2 at Thomastown Neighbourhood House

A Warm Welcome Back from all of us at TNH! 

Thomastown Neighbourhood House is proud to be right next door to Thomastown West Primary School, offering a welcoming space for TWPS families and the wider community to connect, learn and thrive. From community activities and children’s programs to food relief and our much-loved Community Coffee Van, there are plenty of ways to get involved. We’re especially grateful for our amazing volunteers, who help make everything we do possible. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, build skills, or simply grab a great coffee, we’d love to see you at the House—come by and say hello!

Pizza & Play at Little Diggers Family Fun Club

Last Thursday afternoon brought an extra slice of joy to our Little Diggers Family Fun Club, thanks to the generous team at Ben Venuti who surprised us with a donation of 20 pizzas! Perfectly timed with the start of the session, families were welcomed with delicious food alongside all the usual fun—craft activities, outdoor games and a relaxed afternoon tea together. Little Diggers runs every Thursday from 3:15–5:00pm and is a fantastic, free way for Thomastown West Primary School families to connect and unwind at the end of the day. No registration needed—just come along! (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)

Thanks to all who popped in and joined in the fun and thanks again to ‘BEN VENUTI’ Pizzaria!

Playgroups Every Weekday (Mon–Thu)

Thomastown Neighbourhood House now runs a playgroup every day to better meet the needs of local families:

• Monday: Arabic Playgroup, in partnership with Jeeran Services
• Tuesday & Wednesday: Small Talk Supported Playgroup, in partnership with City of Whittlesea
• Thursday: Promisetown Playgroup

For further information or to book a place: manager@tnh.org.au

 M 0488 224 439

 See a Social Worker (FREE)

The Whittlesea Community Connections (WCC) Help Clinic is held at TNH on the first Tuesday of every month. A friendly social worker can assist with:

• Housing
• Family and domestic issues Financial concerns Referrals to community services
• Navigating government programs

• For bookings: WCC or TNH — manager@tnh.org.au | 0488 224 439

Food Bank Mobile Supermarket: Contact TNH for a Referral

Every Second Thursday| 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 every second week  throughout Term 2! This fantastic service provides fresh produce and essential groceries to over  local families in need.

Referrals are essential- if you are in need of food relief, please contact Thomastown Neighbourhood House and we will need to get some details from you to register you with Foodbank
Don’t forget to bring 2 shopping bags
Contact TNH: manager@tnh.org.au

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

Playgroups - What's new and happening 

Maternal and Child Health Parenting Programs