I hope all of our mothers, grandmothers and special carers enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day last weekend. I certainly did! It was a lovely opportunity to slow down, spend quality time with family, and reflect on the important role that mothers and carers play in the lives of our children and community each and every day.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Mother’s Day Breakfast and helped make the morning such a warm and memorable occasion. It was fantastic to see so many families coming together to celebrate the special people in our students’ lives.

Arrive on time at quarter to nine!
Please remember that school begins at 8:45am, allowing children time to complete their morning routines, settle into the classroom and prepare for the day ahead. Formal learning begins promptly at 8:50am. Students who arrive on time are present for the important introduction to the lesson, including explicit teaching, learning intentions and key instructions that support understanding and success throughout the session. This is a critical time for learning and we do not want students missing these valuable opportunities.

Number of late arrivals from the last 10 days of school (Week 3 & 4)

Even arriving late by only 10 minutes each day quickly adds up. Over one week, this equates to 50 minutes of missed learning time. Across a 10 week term, this becomes more than 8 hours of lost instruction, and over the course of a school year, it adds up to approximately 33 hours, or the equivalent of almost 7 full school days of a instruction your child is missing!

For students arriving 30 minutes late each day, the impact is even more significant. This equates to 2.5 hours of missed learning every week, 25 hours per term and approximately 100 hours of lost learning across the year. This is equivalent to around 20 full school days of learning missed, almost an entire month of school, despite the student technically being marked present.

Arriving late also impacts children socially and emotionally. Students who enter the classroom after learning has begun can feel unsettled, embarrassed or anxious walking into a room where others are already engaged in tasks and routines. They may miss important social interactions with peers, morning check-ins with their teacher and opportunities to build confidence and connection at the start of the day. Consistent lateness can also affect a child’s sense of belonging, organisation and readiness for learning.

Additionally, late arrivals can unintentionally disrupt the learning of other students. Teachers are often required to pause instruction to assist late students, repeat directions or help them transition into activities already underway. This interruption can impact the concentration and learning flow of the entire class.

Our whole school goal this term is to improve our punctuality and arrive on time, ready for learning! Let's work together to improve this data! We ask all families to support their children by ensuring they arrive at school on time, settled and ready for learning each day.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support.

School Uniform reminder
Wearing a school uniform fosters pride in the school, assists supervision and safety on visits out of the school and unifies students from various social backgrounds into a cohesive school unit. We understand that the weather has turned cold but it’s time to search your cupboards and find your child’s school uniform: bomber jackets, school jumpers and navy blue tracksuit pants or navy blue leggings. Our school colours are navy blue, red and white. Remember, black pants or black leggings are not permitted. Additional uniforms including winter jumpers are available from State School Relief. Please contact Mrs Young, Mr Crotti, Mrs Irons or  the Office, if you require support for additional school uniforms.

Child Safety Commitment 
Thomastown West Primary School is committed to the 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. At our school, we advocate that 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. 

Happy Smiles
The dental van will be visiting TWPS Thursday 21st May and Friday 22nd MayThis service has provided many of our students with a comprehensive oral examination and fillings if required. All children who were eligible and had returned permission slips received quality dental treatment from the certified dentist team. Lot’s of happy smiles at TWPS!

Mobile Phones
Please remember, if your child has a mobile phone that they bring to school, it must be handed in at the office in the morning as soon as your child arrives at school and then collected after school. DET policy states: Mobile phones must be stored in a locked cabinet in the Office.

Staff Car Park
A reminder to parents and carers that the staff car park is strictly reserved for staff vehicles only. While parking close to the school buildings may seem convenient, particularly during the colder months, student and community safety must remain our highest priority. Increased vehicle movement within the staff car park significantly increases the risk of injury to students, staff and other members of the school community.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Prep 2027
We are now taking tours and enrolments for our 2027 Prep classes. Please remind family, friends and neighbours that if they have a child starting school next year and would like them to come to our school to enrol them soon. It is important that children are enrolled by the end of Term 2 so that they can participate in our Term 3 Play and Grow sessions and our  engaging Prep Transition Program in Term 4.

SRC Event
On Thursday 11th June, our Student Representative Council (SRC) will be holding a Sports Gear Day! Students are invited to wear their favourite sports clothes or team colours instead of their school uniform by bringing a gold coin donation. All funds raised will be donated to Team Sports 4 All.

At Thomastown West Primary School, we recognise the important role sport plays in supporting children’s physical health, confidence, friendships and sense of belonging. Team Sports 4 All is an organisation committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to participate in team sport, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

The organisation assists families with sporting costs such as registration fees, uniforms and equipment, while also providing ongoing support to help children remain involved, build connections and feel included within their local sporting communities. Their programs also promote greater inclusion by supporting girls’ participation in sport and working closely with multicultural communities to ensure children from diverse backgrounds can access opportunities to participate.

Participation in sport can have a significant positive impact on children’s wellbeing, resilience, teamwork and school engagement. We are proud to support initiatives that help make community sport more accessible for all children.

To learn more about the organisation, please visit Team Sports 4 All.

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


Sandi Young                                 James Crotti       
Principal                                       Assstant 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

On Thursday 11th June, our Student Representative Council (SRC) will be holding a Sports Gear Day! Students are invited to wear their favourite sports clothes or team colours instead of their school uniform by bringing a gold coin donation. All funds raised will be donated to Team Sports 4 All.

At Thomastown West Primary School, we recognise the important role sport plays in supporting children’s physical health, confidence, friendships and sense of belonging. Team Sports 4 All is an organisation committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to participate in team sport, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

The organisation assists families with sporting costs such as registration fees, uniforms and equipment, while also providing ongoing support to help children remain involved, build connections and feel included within their local sporting communities. Their programs also promote greater inclusion by supporting girls’ participation in sport and working closely with multicultural communities to ensure children from diverse backgrounds can access opportunities to participate.

Participation in sport can have a significant positive impact on children’s wellbeing, resilience, teamwork and school engagement. We are proud to support initiatives that help make community sport more accessible for all children.

To learn more about the organisation, please visit Team Sports 4 All.

Stand Up Project Leader Presentation

Over the last week, our Grade 5 and 6 Stand Up Project Leaders presented an informative PowerPoint presentation to the Grade 3 and 4 students. During the sessions, students explored the differences between friendship conflicts, being mean on purpose, and bullying behaviours.

The leaders discussed why it is important to reduce bullying, the impact bullying can have on others, and most importantly, how students can be an “Upstander” by supporting others, speaking up, and helping to create a safe and inclusive school environment.

We are very proud of our student leaders for confidently sharing these important messages and encouraging positive relationships across our school community.

The Victorian Government Bully Stoppers program defines bullying as:

“Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm.”

The Victorian Department of Education's definition identifies three key features of bullying:

• a misuse of power in a relationship
• behaviour that is repeated or ongoing
• behaviour that causes harm or distress.

The Department also states that single incidents, disagreements, conflict between equals, or isolated acts of meanness are not generally classified as bullying, although they still require attention and support.

For more information: https://www.vic.gov.au/what-bullying

RELEVANT TWPS POLICIES:

CLICK HERE to view our school's Bullying Prevention Policy.

CLICK HERE to view our school's Student Engagement, Wellbeing and Inclusion Policy.

CLICK HERE to view our school's Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

CUP OF LIFE

Term 2 Week 4 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 rooms that had the BEST ATTENDANCE for Week 3 Term 2 is Room 10 and for Week 4 Term 2 is Room 03.


Which class will have the best attendance and win the FREE bowling excursion at the end of the year??

TERM 2

TERM 1

 TERM 2 WEEK 3

Evelyn	Room 2	For striving to be her best when using double and friends of 10 facts to add numbers together.
Lian	Room 3	For always attempting work to the best of her ability.
Nardin	Room 5	For always showing respect to your peers and teachers, and for being such a positive and caring member of our classroom. You’re a superstar, Nardin! ⭐
Mohammed	Room 6	For practising correct letter formation during handwriting. Great work Mohammed.
Sairon	Room 9	For working really hard on his information report about the gold rush and implementing feedback in his work.
Turkan	Room 10	For striving to produce her best handwriting and setting an excellent standard for others to follow.
Rukaya	Room 11	By showing great responsibility as our Class Captain, she consistently sets a wonderful example for others. She always has a positive attitude towards school and learning and gives 100% in everything she does. Well done!
Satkirat	Room 15	For trying hard ith your work in all areas of the curriculm.
Yazan	Room 18	For using a range of different strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems confidently.
Krista	ART	For listening respectfully and working productively. She takes great pride in her work and achieves impressive results. Well done Krista!

Abbie	Room 2	For showing respect by putting up her hand when contributing to class discussions.
Asher	Room 3	For great sounding out of words during writing.
Georgie	Room 5	For working hard across all areas of your learning and for positively contributing to class discussions.
Hunter J	Room 6	For being brave and coming to school ready to learn with a smile. Keep shining Hunter!
Ahmad	Room 9	For using his knowledge on the gold rush and implementing it in his information report.
Lily	Room 10	For striving to be her best and writing an excellent information report about the Gold Rush.
Julianna	Room 11	Julianna comes to school each day ready to learn and eager to challenge herself. She works hard, stays focused and always gives things a go. Well done!
	Room 15	CAMP
	Room 18	CAMP
Eyas	ART	For listening respectfully to others, working productively and helping to keep the art room clean and tidy. Well done Eyas!

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2026 Lalor District Cross Country on Wednesday. Students ran either a 2 km or 3 km course around Epping Recreation Reserve.

A special congratulations to Molly, who placed 6th and will now go on to compete in the Lalor District Final. We wish her all the very best.

Thank you to Mrs F. Raif and Miss Emily for attending the event and supporting our students throughout the day.

A great result from our Mother’s Day stall fundraiser last week! Students enjoyed having a variety of gifts to choose from for their loved ones.

We are happy to announce that we raised over $200.00, a fantastic result  and we greatly appreciate your continuous support.

Thank you to our wonderful parent helpers who assisted on the day. We could not run these events without your support and generosity.

A massive congratulations to Jessica from Room 3, who won the Mother’s Day raffle!

Our next fundraiser will be happening in a few weeks, so keep an eye out for it. Notices will be sent home with students soon!


                           

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

There is a strong need for more local foster carers who can provide nurturing and supportive homes for children not able to live safely with their own families, and there are different ways people can support children and young people as carers. Perhaps this could be you and your household? We encourage anyone interested in learning more about foster care to be in touch and attend an online information session.
https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/our-services/foster-care/fostering/

Playgroups - What's new and happening 

Maternal and Child Health Parenting Programs