Celebrating Book Week
There was plenty of excitement across our school during this year’s Book Week celebrations. Our parade brought stories to life, with students and staff arriving dressed as some of their favourite book characters. The creativity, colour and enthusiasm made it a wonderful celebration of reading.

Thank you to the families who helped organise costumes and joined us for the parade. Book Week is about much more than dressing up. It encourages children to discover new authors, talk about books with their friends and see reading as something that can be enjoyable and imaginative.

Reading regularly at home continues to make a real difference to children’s learning. Even older primary school students benefit from discussing new words, talking about characters and sharing their thoughts about a story. Families can also support reading by visiting the local library, sharing stories in their home language and encouraging children to choose books that genuinely interest them.

Make the Earth Happy: Our School Concert
Excitement is building for our whole school concert, Make the Earth Happy, which will be held on Wednesday 2 September at the Thomastown Secondary College Gym. The concert will begin promptly at 5:30 pm.

Our students and staff have been working incredibly hard to prepare their performances. A school concert gives children an opportunity to build confidence, work as part of a team and experience the satisfaction of contributing to a whole school event. Performing in front of an audience can feel challenging, but it is also an opportunity for students to demonstrate courage and be proud of what they have achieved.

Tickets are selling quickly, so families are encouraged to purchase theirs as soon as possible. We look forward to sharing a memorable evening with our students, families and wider school community.

Your Feedback Helps Shape Our School
The annual Parent, Caregiver and Guardian Opinion Survey is now open. This survey gives families an important opportunity to tell us what they think about their child’s learning, wellbeing and overall experience at TWPS.

Thank you to the families who have already completed the survey!

Remember, our school goal this year is to receive survey responses from more than 50 families! The more families who complete the survey, the clearer the picture we receive about what is working well and where we can continue to improve. The results are considered alongside student learning data and feedback from students and staff when we plan our future priorities.

Each family has been emailed an individual survey PIN by Mrs Young. The survey will remain open until Friday 18 September. Responses are confidential, and we encourage families to provide honest and constructive feedback. Every response helps us make more informed decisions for our students.

Attendance and Punctuality Matter
Regular attendance and arriving at school on time give children the best opportunity to learn, build friendships and feel connected to their class. At TWPS, the first bell rings at 8:45 am and learning begins at 8:50 am.

Being only ten minutes late each day adds up to approximately 33 hours of missed learning across a school year. When students arrive after a lesson has begun, they can miss important instructions and may find it difficult to settle into their learning. Regular lateness can also interrupt the learning of other students.

Earlier this term, we celebrated a significant reduction in late arrivals, with only 43 recorded across the school during a 10 day period. Unfortunately, our latest data shows that this improvement has not continued.

From Wednesday 12 August to Tuesday 25 August, there were 144 late arrivals across the school. This is more than three times the number recorded during the previous 10 day period.

These 144 late arrivals resulted in approximately 3,594 minutes of missed learning. That is almost 60 hours, or the equivalent of nearly 12 full school days of classroom learning lost in just two weeks.

The 144 late arrivals involved 60 students, which means some students arrived late on several occasions. This is an important reminder that even a few minutes each morning can quickly add up.

School begins at 8:45 am, giving students time to complete their morning routines, settle into the classroom and prepare for the day. Formal learning begins promptly at 8:50 am. Students who arrive after this time may miss explicit teaching, learning intentions and important instructions that support their success throughout the lesson.

Arriving late can also leave children feeling unsettled, embarrassed or anxious as they enter a classroom where learning is already underway. It also interrupts other students when teachers need to pause, repeat instructions or help late students begin the activity.

We understand that unexpected circumstances can sometimes make families late. However, the significant increase shown in our latest data is concerning. We ask every family to review their morning routine and ensure children arrive at school by 8:45 am, ready to begin learning at 8:50 am.

If your child arrives after 8:45 am, a parent or carer must accompany them to the school office and sign them in. This is an important child safety and duty of care requirement.

We know our school community can improve this data because we achieved it earlier this term. Small changes to morning routines can make a significant difference. We encourage families to prepare uniforms, school bags and lunches the night before, allow extra time for unexpected delays and aim to arrive a few minutes before the first bell.

Our goal is for every classroom to reduce its number of late arrivals over the coming weeks. We look forward to celebrating this improvement and recognising the positive efforts of our students and families! Together, we can ensure every child begins the day feeling settled, connected and ready to learn.

Every minute of learning counts. By working together, we can return to the excellent improvement achieved earlier this term and help every child arrive on time, settled and ready to learn.

Child Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility
At TWPS, we are committed to providing an environment where every child is safe, feels safe and knows their voice will be heard. Child safety is a shared responsibility involving staff, families, volunteers and the wider community.

Students are encouraged to speak with a parent, carer, teacher, wellbeing staff member or another trusted adult if something is worrying them or does not feel right. When a child raises a concern, it is important that adults listen calmly, take them seriously and seek further support when needed.

Families can support child safety by talking with children about personal boundaries, safe and unsafe situations and the importance of speaking to a trusted adult. These conversations should be calm, suited to the child’s age and revisited regularly.

Any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing can be raised directly with the school. All concerns are taken seriously and managed in line with our child safety policies and reporting responsibilities.

Parents, carers, schools and the wider community all have an important role in protecting children and young people from the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.

Research from VicHealth shows that young people care about what their parents, carers and older siblings think about vaping. This means that calm and honest conversations at home can have a positive influence on the choices young people make.

The Department of Education has developed information to help families understand the health risks of smoking and vaping. The resources include advice about starting a conversation with children and young people, recognising the signs of vaping and finding support. They can be accessed through the smoking and vaping advice for parents webpage.

Families can also view information from experts at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne or access additional resources through the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library.

Vaping, smoking and possessing vaping products are not permitted on school property or during school activities. If you are concerned that your child may be vaping, please speak with your child’s teacher or contact a member of the school’s wellbeing team.

Looking Ahead to the Remainder of Term 3

The final weeks of Term 3 will continue to be busy and exciting. Our whole school concert will be held on Wednesday 2 September, followed by Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences on Wednesday 16 September. 

These events provide valuable opportunities for students, families and staff to connect. Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences are particularly important because they allow students to reflect on their progress, celebrate their growth and identify their next learning goals. Instructions on how to use Compass to book your conference time are included on the next page of this newsletter.

Don't forget! Students are invited to wear their favourite footy colours to school on Friday 18 September, the last day of Term 3.

Looking forward to seeing many of you at Walking Thomastown. Join us to support the TWPS Dance Club!



Every child deserves the chance to shine. When families attend, applaud and celebrate, children feel that their creativity and hard work truly matter!

Only 4 more sleeps until the TWPS Concert on Tuesday night!

Parent Student Teacher Conferences at TWPS will be held Wednesday 16th September 2026

From this afternoon, YOU can book your child(ren) conference ONLINE using COMPASS!

GREAT NEWS! When you use COMPASS to book a conference meeting with your teacher, it will be a time that you choose, which suits YOUR FAMILY! It is really easy to let us know (on Compass) if you require an interpreter!

For parents and carers that do not have access to the internet at home, at work, Thomastown Library, or at a friend’s house, support will be available at the office from 3:15pm Monday 31st August 2026 onwards, so that parents and carers can still make  bookings online.

Each Parent Student Teacher Conference is strictly 15 minutes and spaces are  limited. However, more time may be allocated to your conference if your child has their Student Support Group (SSG) meeting scheduled.

Parents can change their bookings, any time prior to the closing date, by revisiting COMPASS, and following the instructions. Remember to use the same COMPASS login you used when you made your original booking. Parents   wishing to change their meeting times after the closing date, should contact the school directly on: 9465 4317.

Students only attend school on 16/9/26 with their parents or carers at the time of their conference.

*Please note, Room 15 and Room 09 will have their Parent Student Teacher conferences on Tuesday 13th October 2026. Room 15 students will not attend school on 16/9/26, but they will attend the full day of school on Tuesday 13th October 2026. That is, on the day of Room 15's conferences, students will only leave their classroom at the time of their conference with their Parents or Carers. 

1. Login to Compass: Use your parent login details. -Please do not give these to your child. -Your login details are unique to you and provide you with ongoing parent access to Compass and information about your child(ren). -If you have problems... click on the:                    ‘Can’t access your account?’

3. Click My Bookings:

4. Click 

*Click START BOOKING NOW and continue with the instructions listed below and on the next page.

OR... If you click the SHOW ME HOW, just follow the instructions on your device

5. Click the time that suits you then click on the teacher’s name

6. CHECK the time is correct then click OK unless...

Would you like an interpreter?   
        CLICK HERE and CHOOSE the language.




7. If you have more than one child… Click here:

If you get lost, click the    button to return to the main Dashboard.

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

PEER PRESSURE

When fitting in feels more important than doing what feels right

Peer pressure is not always someone daring or threatening you.

Sometimes it is the feeling on the inside that says you have to do something, even when you know it is wrong, just to fit in with your friendship group.

What can peer pressure look like? Direct pressure: Someone says, ‘Do it, or you’re not one of us.’ Unspoken pressure: No one tells you what to do, but you notice everyone else doing it and worry about being left out. Online pressure: A group chat, trend, photo or comment makes you feel you must join in immediately. Self-pressure: You imagine your friends will reject or judge you, even though they may not have said anything. Notice your warning signs You might feel a tight stomach, racing thoughts, embarrassment, fear of missing out, or the urge to agree before you have had time to think. These feelings are useful signals: pause before deciding. Not all influence is harmful Friends can also encourage positive choices, such as including someone, studying, joining a team or speaking up. Healthy friendships leave room for your values, boundaries and decisions. Need support? Talk with a parent, carer, teacher, wellbeing staff member or another adult you trust. If there is immediate danger, move to a safe place and seek adult help straight away.		Try:  1  PAUSE  Take a breath. You do not owe anyone an instant answer.   2  CHOOSE  Ask yourself: Is it safe? Is it fair? Will I feel okay about this tomorrow? How will my parents feel about this?   3  MOVE  Say your answer, suggest another option, leave the situation or speak to someone you trust. Words you can use: ‘No, I’m not comfortable with that.’ ‘I’m going to pass.’ ‘Let’s do something else.’ ‘I need time to think.’ A real friend may feel disappointed, but they should respect your ‘no’. If someone keeps pressuring you, step away and tell an adult you trust!

TERM 3 WEEK 6

TERM 3 WEEK 7

CUP OF LIFE

Term 3 Week 6 & 7 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 6 is Room 5 And Week 7 Term 3 is Room 6.

Our annual Father’s Day Stall will be held next week.

Students were sent home this week with a pamphlet outlining the things they can purchase.

We would love to have some parent helpers on the day. If you are available to help, please contact the office.

Once again, we greatly appreciate your support!

COMMUNITY SAUSAGE SIZZLE

ACTIVITIES: Games, Ping Pong and Kids Market!

BRING: Gold Coins and any coins for purchasing treasures from the Kid’s Market!

• Little Diggers Family Fun Club
• TNH @ the Hub, TWPS
• DATE: Thursday 17^th September
• TIME: 3.15pm- 5pm

All Children must be accompanied by an Adult.

WALKING THOMASTOWN

TWPS and TNH Community Dance Stole the show!

"Thanks to all who participated in the TNH Community Dance Project" and BIG thanks to all the families who came to Walking Thomastown to show their support on the night!  

TNH 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 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

Here's to warmer days, brighter mornings and plenty more opportunities to connect. 

Stay warm, keep connected, and we'll see you at the House soon. 

Warm regards,

The Team at TNH

Safe behaviours at school crossings

As kids travel to and from school it’s important for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists to be aware and take extra care during these busy times. Following the road rules at school crossings doesn’t just keep our community safe, it is also the law. 

To help keep our kids safe, it’s important for drivers to:

• Slow down around school crossings at a speed slow enough to stop safely, if necessary.
• Stop if a hand held “Stop” sign is displayed and you must give way when school crossings flags are displayed.
• Stop and wait until the school crossing is clear of all pedestrians including supervisors.
• Stop if a child or adult is about to cross or is crossing, even if there is no crossing supervisor.
• Never overtake a vehicle stopping or stopped at the crossing.
• Never let children get in or out of your vehicle when stopped waiting at a school crossing.
• Respect School Crossing Supervisors, they’re trained to support children’s safety.
• Always watch out for children near schools and if you see a school crossing, use it.

At school crossings, all road users need to be alert, including pedestrians. Always look and listen for approaching traffic from each direction before crossing. Pedestrians need to be sure that drivers or riders have seen them and are stopping.

Identifying a school crossing

School crossings are operational when flags are displayed  or signs with flashing lights are operating. Drivers, riders and pedestrians can look out for the following to help identify a school crossing: 
 

• School crossings are active on weekdays during Victorian school terms. Usually between 8am to 9.30am and from 2.30pm to 4pm.
• Red and white posts on each side of the road with orange children’s crossing flags.
• Two parallel continuous or broken lines across the road surface. Children’s crossing yellow signs and twin yellow lights flashing.
• School crossing supervisor may be present, easily identified by a high visibility yellow safety vest or jacket and a hat with the word ‘Supervisor’ embroidered.
• If you’re driving in a school zone, it usually means a school crossing will be nearby. In most cases, the speed limit displayed will be 40km/h or 60km/h (when the original speed limit is 80km/h or higher).