There is A LOT happening at Thomastown West Primary School over the coming weeks. Please take note of the following important dates...

Wednesday 26 August – Book Week Parade
Students are invited to celebrate Book Week by dressing up as their favourite book character. More information below!

Wednesday 2 September – Whole School Concert
Our Whole School Concert will be held on Wednesday 2 September. We look forward to seeing our students perform and celebrating their hard work with our school community. More information has been included in this newsletter and will be sent home early next week!

Wednesday 16 September – Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Our Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences will provide an opportunity for families, students and teachers to discuss student progress, learning and goals. Further information about bookings will be provided in the next newsletter.

Friday 18 September – Footy Colours Day
We will not be holding our traditional FOOTY DAY, as we are sooo busy at TWPS this term! However, students are invited to wear their favourite footy team colours or clothing to school on the last day of Term 3. More information will be provided in the next newsletter.

TERM 4 
Wednesday 28 October – Term 4 Wacky Hair Day & Hot lunch fundraiser!
The SRC will host their Wacky Hair Day on the same day as our amazing fundraising team will hold a hot lunch fundraiser!

The SRC also had a fantastic idea for an Animal Day, which they were keen to hold. We will save this one for Term 1 next year so students have another exciting event to look forward to!

Thank You to Mrs Rocca and Miss Galea
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Mrs Rocca for being an amazing Acting Assistant Principal while Mr Crotti was away for four weeks completing his Principal Preparation Program internship at Ivanhoe East Primary School.

We would also like to thank Miss Galea for stepping up into the Acting Learning Specialist role during this time. Both Mrs Rocca and Miss Galea took on additional responsibilities and worked closely with Mrs Young to ensure that our school continued to run smoothly and that our students and staff were well supported.

Mr Crotti's four-week internship provided an invaluable opportunity to learn about school leadership and the role of a Principal in a different school context. We are grateful to Mrs Rocca and Miss Galea for their willingness to step up and provide strong leadership while he was away.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated and capable staff who are willing to support one another and take on new challenges. Thank you, Mrs Rocca and Miss Galea, for your leadership, flexibility, and commitment to our Thomastown West community.

Whole School Concert  The excitement is building as we get closer to our Whole School Concert on Wednesday 2 September! Our students have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes, rehearsing songs and dances, practising their lines, and even helping to create costumes for the big night. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork as they prepare to perform for our school community. The concert will be held at the Thomastown Secondary College gym, commencing at 5:30pm. We are all very excited to see our students take to the stage and showcase their talents. Keep an eye out for further announcements and information about tickets early next week! We look forward to welcoming our families to what promises to be a fantastic evening of music, dance and celebration!

Parent/Carer Opinion Survey
We are inviting all parents and carers to complete the 2026 Parent / Carer Opinion Survey. Your feedback is important and helps us understand families’ views about our school, including school climate, student behaviour and student engagement. Your responses also help inform our ongoing school improvement work.

This year, our goal is to hear from more than 50 families. We would like to strengthen the voice of our parents and carers in our school community, and a strong response rate will provide us with valuable feedback to help guide our school improvement priorities and future planning.

The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and will be open from Monday 17 August to Friday 18 September 2026.

Please keep an eye on your email: Mrs Young will email each family their individual survey PIN next week. We will also send a hard-copy letter containing your individual PIN home with students next week. PLEASE NOTE: Only one parent / carer from your household is invited to complete the survey on behalf of the student’s family. Please reach out to your child’s teacher, or the school if your child’s family lives in two separate households, so both households can have the opportunity to provide their feedback.

When completing the survey, please remember to click ‘Submit’ at the end to ensure your responses are recorded. The survey will time out after 60 minutes of inactivity.

We strongly encourage all families to take the opportunity to have their voice heard. Every response matters, and hearing from more than 50 families will give us a stronger understanding of what our community values and where we can continue to improve.

Book Week 2026 – A Symphony of Stories 
We are excited to announce that Book Week 2026 is coming to Thomastown West Primary School! This year's theme is "A Symphony of Stories," celebrating the wonderful world of books, characters, authors and the stories that bring us together.

Our Book Week Parade will be held on Wednesday 26 August at 9:00am, and parents and carers are warmly invited to come along and join in the fun.

We can't wait to see our students dressed as their favourite book characters and celebrate the joy of reading together.

Families don't need to spend lots of money on costumes. Some of the best costumes can be made at home using things you already have! Students could make a Diary of a Wimpy Kid mask, dress up as Where's Wally using a red and white striped shirt, create a Hungry Caterpillar costume from coloured paper and clothes, or make a simple Cat in the Hat using cardboard and paper.

More ideas for character costumes here:
https://www.madeformums.com/toddler-and-preschool/last-minute-easy-world-book-day-costumes/ 

We look forward to seeing our students, families and staff getting into the spirit of Book Week. We can't wait to see the Symphony of Stories come to life!

Hats On from Monday 31st August  As a SunSmart school, we are reminding families that our "Hats On" policy will be in place from Monday 31st August. To access our school's Sun Smart polcicy:  CLICK HERE  From this date, students will need to wear their school hat whenever they are outside, including during recess, lunch, sporting activities and outdoor learning. Students without a hat will need to remain in designated shaded areas. Please make sure your child has a clearly labelled school hat ready for the beginning of September. Wearing a hat is an important part of protecting our students from the sun and developing healthy sun-safety habits for life. Hats can be purchased from the TWPS office for $14. Thank you to our families for supporting our SunSmart practices and helping us keep our students safe while enjoying the outdoors.

100 Days of Learning! 

Last week, our Junior School celebrated a very special milestone — 100 Days of Learning!

Our students have worked incredibly hard so far this year, and it was wonderful to celebrate all the learning, growth and friendships they have developed along the way. The day was filled with fun, smiles and plenty of excitement as our students marked this important achievement together.

A huge congratulations to all our Junior School students on reaching 100 days of learning! We are so proud of everything they have achieved so far.

Check out the photos on page 4 for some very cute 100 Days of Learning celebrations! 

Grade 3/4 ScienceWorks Excursion 
On Tuesday, our Grade 3/4 students headed to Scienceworks for an exciting day of hands-on learning and discovery.

Students had a fantastic time exploring the exhibits and participating in activities that helped bring their science learning to life. It was wonderful to see students asking questions, making discoveries and getting excited about the world of science.

The excursion was a great opportunity for students to learn beyond the classroom while having plenty of fun along the way. We look forward to seeing how they bring their new knowledge back into the classroom!

Check out the photos below to see our budding scientists in action! 


                               

 

Grade 5 Fishing Kits
Next week, students in year 5 will be offered Little Angler Kits to take home for free. If you would prefer your child to not receive one, please tell your child and/or their teacher that you opt out.

More information is available here: www.vfa.vic.gov.au/littleanglerkit 

Grade 5 students across Victoria will have the chance to become hooked on fishing, thanks to the Allan Labor Government’s free Little Angler Kits. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulous announced the tender for the second batch of Little Angler Kits – to be rolled out at primary schools across Victoria in 2026. The 82,500 kits will be distributed across nearly 1,900 schools in time for the 2026 September school holidays. The Little Angler Kits have everything a first-time fishing enthusiast needs to get started including a fishing rod and reel with line, tackle box with tackle, and an eight-page Kids’ Guide to Fishing outlining the basics of fishing safety, knots and rigs. The Kids’ Guide to Fishing also provides advice on the best baits to use, peak fishing seasons and hot spots across Victoria as well as colour illustrations of freshwater and saltwater species likely to be caught. The initiative is funded by recreational fishing licence fees and complements the Labor Government’s $96 million Go Fishing and Boating Plan to improve fishing, boating, piers and aquaculture

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

James Crotti                                   Sandi Young       
Assistant Principal                           Principal

 

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This term, the whole school is working together to present our Make the Earth Happy whole school concert.

This performance will be an opportunity to showcase the children’s many skills and talents in The Arts. They are busy learning their songs, making costumes and props, practising dance steps and working on short skits. Everyone is bubbling with enthusiasm! It’s sure to be a SENSATIONAL Night! 

✅ 5:30pm Wednesday 2nd September 2026

✅ Students Need To Be At School By 5:00pm

✅ TICKETS $25 EACH: More information will be sent home early next week!

✅ Children under school age may sit on parents’ laps.

- Tickets need to be purchased by Tuesday 26th of August to attend the event as seating and space will be limited. The ticket will be a wrist band and sent home the day before the concert, Tuesday 1st of September.

- Families will be offered a maximum of 2 tickets initially.

- Families may place their name on a waiting list, and additional tickets
(if available) will be offered.

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Wed	19 Aug	Swim survival grade 5/6  12.00-2.00pm
Fri	21 Aug	Hooptime Basketball tournament
Mon Thur	24-27 Aug	Book Week The official theme is "Symphony of Stories"
Tue	25 Aug	School Council meeting 6:30pm @ TWPS
Wed	26 Aug	9:00am BOOK WEEK PARADE
Fri	28 Aug	Prep Play & Grow Session #1
Fri	28 Aug	Girls Futsal tournament (The Y leisure City, Millers Rd, Epping)
Sat	29 Aug	Save the date for: WALKING THOMASTOWN A fabulous Community Event.  TWPS students will be participating again this year!!
Wed	2 Sep	Whole School Concert - Students arrive at TWPS at 5pm - 5:30pm Concert begins at TSC gymnasium for Parents/Carers
Fri	4 Sep	Prep Play & Grow Sessio #2
Tue	8 Sep	Curriculm Day (Students do not attend school)
Fri	11 Sep	Prep Play & Grow Sessio #3
Tue	15 Sep	School Council meeting 6:30pm @ TWPS
Wed	16 Sep	PARENT/STUDENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
Fri	18 Sep	Last day of Term 3 Whole school assembly - time TBC WEAR YOUR FOOTY GEAR to school day! Students dismissed at 1.15pm
Mon	5 Oct	First day of Term 4 Arrive on time, at quarter to nine! Every minute of learning counts!
Wed	28 Oct	SRC event: Wacky Hair Day & HOT LUNCH fundraiser

 

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

Term	Date
Term 1	Tuesday      27th January 2026 Wednesday 25th March 2026
Term 2	Tuesday 9th June 2026
Term 3	Tuesday 8th September 2026
Term 4	Monday 2nd November 2026*

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

TERM DATES 2026

Term	Starting date	Finishing date
Term 1	Years 1 - 6: Wednesday 28th January Prep students: Tuesday 3rd February	Thursday 2nd April
Term 2	Monday 20th April	Friday 26th June
Term 3	Monday 13th July	Friday 18th September
Term 4	Monday 5th October	Friday 18th December

 

 

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MOVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Regular physical activity is vital for a child's mental health, serving as a powerful tool to boost mood and relieve frustration by releasing essential chemicals like serotonin and endorphins. 

Building consistent movement into a child's routine not only fosters self-esteem and vital motor skills but also combats isolation through social connection, offering a healthy distraction from negative thoughts to support a positive, well-balanced mindset.

Thank you for your continuous support in making our school community healthy, active, and thriving!

Wellbeing Team

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WHOLE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY  Multipurpose Room/Basketball Court	TEAM ASSEMBLY In your child's Building
Term 3 Week 1 Friday 17th July 2:30pm	Term 3 Week 2 Friday 24th July2:30pm
Term 3 Week 3 Friday 31st July 2:30pm	Term 4 Week 4 Friday 7th August 2:30pm
Term 3 Week 5 Friday 14th August 2:30pm	Term 3 Week 6 Friday 21st August 2:30pm
Term 3 Week 7 Friday 28th August 2:30pm	Term 3 Week 8  Friday 4th September 2:30pm
Term 3 Week 9 Friday 11th September 12:00pm	Term 3 Week 10 Friday 18th September 12:00pm                 Students dismissed at 1.15pm

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CUP OF LIFE

Term 3 Week 4 & 5 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.

Prep/1	Week 4	Week 5
Room 2	90%	86%
Room 3	78%	79%
Year 1/2	Week 4	Week 5
Room  5	92%	96%
Room 6	87%	83%
Year 3/4	Week 4	Week 5
Room 15	83%	80%
Room 18	83%	84%
Year 4/5/6	Week 4	Week 5
Room 10	83%	89%
Room 11	74%	81%
Room 9	83%	82%

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 4 and 5 Term 3 is Room 05.

TERM 3   Term 3 Wk 1 Term 3  Wk 2  Term 3 Wk 3 Term 3 Wk 4  Term 3 Wk 5  Term 3 Wk 6  Term 3 Wk 7  Term 3 Wk 8  Term 3 Wk 9 Room  2                   Room  3  97% %  94%           Room  5  97%    93%  92%  96%         Room  6    93%               Room  15                   Room  18                   Room 10                   Room  9    93%               Room  11                     TERM 2   Term 2 Wk 1 Term 2  Wk2  Term 2 Wk3  Term 2 Wk 4 Term 2 Wk5  Term 2 Wk6  Term 2 Wk7  Term 2 Wk 8  Term 2 Wk 9 Room  2                   Room  3  97%    94%    95%           Room  5            87%     95%  Room  6     96%      96%    91%     Room  15                97%    Room  18  92%   96%               Room 10      94%             Room  9                   Room  11                       TERM 1
	Term1 Wk 1	Term1  Wk 2	Term 1 Wk 3	Term 1 Wk 4	Term 1 Wk 5	Term 1 Wk 6	Term 1 Wk 7	Term 1 Wk 8	Term 1 Wk 9
Room  2								96%
Room  3	97%	97%	94%	93%			95%
Room  5
Room  6			95%		89%
Room  15
Room  18						98%			97%
Room 10
Room  9
Room  11	90%

 

 

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TERM 3 WEEK 4

Jaxon	Room 2	For striving to be the best when working independently on his learning task. Fantastic work.
River	Room 3	For showing resilience and not giving up when sharing in division during Maths. You showed different ways of making equal shares and explained your understanding. Great work!
Samrat	Room 5	For striving to be your best by writing a descriptive solution for your Rainy Day narrative. Great work!
Aliyah	Room 6	For writing a creative and engaging narrative. You used your writer's tools to make your story interesting to read. Well done Aliyah!
Sohalia	Room 9	For consistently rising to spelling challenges and completing all set tasks with confidence.
Amir	Room 10	For always being willing to lend a helping hand and showing kindness by volunteering to support both teachers and classmates. Your helpfulness and caring nature are wonderful qualities!
Steven	Room 11	For consistently demonstrating responsibility in everything he does. He always strives to be his best, and his commitment to doing the right thing and fulfilling his leadership responsibilities is highly commended.
Mohammad M	Room 15	By trying hard to independently write your narrative about a journey into space. Well done.
Hunter J	ART	For showing Empathy towards a classmate who was feeling upset. You are such a kind and caring person Hunter. Well done.
Sam	Performing Arts	For demonstrating a strong dedication to his acting role for the TWPS 2026 Concert through learning his lines off by heart and delivering them with aplomb! Well done Sam!

         
    

TERM 3 WEEK 5

Skylah	Room 2	For striving to be their best when demonstrating how to make equal shares between 2 people.
Eyas	Room 3	For showing resilience when being confused about the writing task, and accepting feedback to attempt the task a different way. Great effort!
Murad	Room 5	For using a range of strategies to solve worded multiplication problems in maths. Well done, Murad!
Hunter M	Room 6	For making a great effort to stay focused in class when completing your learning tasks. You are a superstar Hunter M!
Sairon	Room 9	For taking greater responsibility for his learning, demonstrating increased focus, applying consistent effort, and embracing new challenges
Julian	Room 10	For consistently working hard, listening carefully and always striving to complete your work to the very best of your ability. Your quiet determination and commitment to doing your best make you a wonderful role model.Well done Julian. Keep this up!
Sam	Room 11	For consistently demonstrating responsibility in completing all tasks with dedication and striving for excellence. Your commitment and reliability inspire everyone around you.Keep up the outstanding work Sam!
Room 5	Performing Arts	For working so hard on your concert item and making it look so smooth, entertaining and fun! Well done Room 5!

        

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	Week 4	Week 5
Prep/1	Sofia 5  Dojo Points	River C 12 Dojo Points
Grade 1/2	Harley L 9 Dojo Points	Samrat 9 Dojo Points
Grade 3/4	Fonzie 12 Dojo Points	Noah 2 Dojo Points
Grade 5/6	Rodrico 12 Dojo Points	Mersana 28 Dojo Points
Most Dojo points Prep - 6	Rodrico & Fonzie 12 Dojo Points	Mersana 28 Dojo Points
Classroom with the most Dojo points	Room 9 with 243  Dojo Points	Room 9 with 395 Dojo Points

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Activities available for you and your family

MONDAY	Community Craft Connections Craft, coffee & conversation 9am- 12pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS Cost: Free Further Info: manager@tnh.org.au or call 0488 224 438
	Arabic Playgroup Presented in partnership with Jeeran Community Services 10.30am- 12.30pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS Cost: Free Further Info:  call Zara 0433 545 888 or email: manager@tnh.org.au
	Let’s Move! Movement to music for all abilities 1pm- 2pm @TRAC Further Info: manager@tnh.org.au
TUESDAY	All Seasons Nature Craft for all abilities 10am- 12pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS
	English Class Presented in partnership with PRACE 10am- 1pm To Book call: 03 9462 6077 Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS
	English Conversation Group 10am- 1pm Location: TNH Room- Thomastown Library
WEDNESDAY	Mini Movers Playgroup 10am-12pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS
	Mindful Meditation Gentle guided meditation 10- 11am Location: TNH Room- Thomastown Library
	Conversation Café A friendly group chat 11am- 12pm Location: TNH Room- Thomastown Library
	Create & Connect 12pm-3pm TNH & The Hub
THURSDAY	Promisetown Playgroup For 0- 5 yr olds 10am- 12pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS Further Info: manager@tnh.org.au or call 0488 224 438
	Little Diggers Family Fun Club 3.30- 5pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS Further Info: manager@tnh.org.au or call 0488 224 438
FRIDAY	Women’s Painting Circle 11am- 12.30pm Location: TNH @ The Hub, TWPS Cost: Free Further Info: manager@tnh.org.au or call 0488 224 438

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 organisation.
• 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.

Thomastown Neighbourhood Hours

Open: Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm

 

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