Dear EHPS Parents and Carers,

Auburn South Primary School Tragedy

Earlier this week, school communities were shocked to hear the sad news of the fatal accident at Auburn South Primary School. As this news continues to be replayed on news services, I think it is timely to repeat the advice that we circulated earlier in the week.

The wellbeing of all children, families and community is always at the front of our mind. At this time, our thoughts are with those directly involved in the tragic event at Auburn South PS and we acknowledge our own community members may be understandably distressed.

The following information is provided to support families to have conversations with your children about distressing news items.

Speaking to children about tragic news events

Common advice includes:

Prepare for the conversation beforehand.
Make the time to hold discussions with your child.
Use curiosity to begin the conversation “how do you feel about...”, “do you have any questions about...”
Listen actively and without judgement.
Answer honestly, reassure them they are safe.
It’s ok to say, “I don’t know”.
Have dedicated 'no news' and 'no social media' time to switch off from the events.
Seek help from external services if needed.
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
- Parent Line Victoria: 13 22 89

Resources for parents/carers

Kids Health: How to talk to your child about the news
Raising Children: Disaster News - supporting children 6-11
Embark Behavioural Health: How to discuss difficult news

If the school can help in any way, do not hesitate to contact me through the Office on 9807 4944.

Road Safety

This tragic event once again emphasises the importance of observing the utmost care on the roads. I have often messaged our community about various commonly occurring breaches of road laws in front of our school.

Please remember that:

U-turns ARE NOT permitted in front of the school on Essex Road.
A 40km per hour speed limit applies in Essex Road.
Pedestrians should always use the School Crossing.
Children should alight from vehicles on the passenger side of the car.

This recent tragedy is a sad but most timely reminder that we MUST always take care on the road and particularly around school zones.

Student Scholarships

The Department of Education administers a number of scholarships available to eligible students who are enrolled in Grade 4 to Year 12 in 2024.

Applicants for these scholarships will be evaluated on their:

participation in school activities
community involvement
academic achievement

Scholarships are either one-off payments or cover the duration of the student’s course or annual study.

Many of these scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so please refer to individual applications for more information. Student Scholarships Factsheet

Applications are now open, and close on Saturday 1 February 2025. For information on how to apply, refer to the Department of Education’s Student Scholarships web page by following this link. Student Scholarships

Happy Diwali

Diwali is celebrated this week on 31 October and 1 November. On behalf of our whole community, I would like to wish a Happy Diwali to all the families that celebrate this special day. The festival of lights signifies peace and joy, the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness. I hope that this celebration may have even greater significance as we move out of our dark times and give thanks for our reopening as a society. Best wishes to all EHPS families celebrating, and I hope that you have the opportunity to celebrate with your families.

Planning for 2025

As advised in the previous issue of Contact, in Term 4 much of the planning for the following year occurs. At this stage we expect to have 24 classes, including four Prep classes. There continues to be significant enrolment interest in our school, as many families in the Mount Waverley area look for outstanding educational opportunities for their children coupled with and exceptional facilities and resources. We expect to have over 600 students at the school next year and only in zone families will be able to enrol at the school.

The configuration of classes for next year will follow the current model. The table below shows the classes per year level and the coordinators for 2025:

At this time of year, children are often thinking about next year and their transition into the next year level. The staff are focussed on their students, their health and wellbeing as well as the many important factors necessary for the children to have a successful transition into 2025. Creating new class groups for next year will enable children to grow their friendship group across the year level as well as to be challenged with different thinking educationally.

The process of class creation is a very complex task, as there are many factors to consider before deciding the best student combinations. The educational needs of each child must be the most important criteria so that each has the best prospect of learning to their full potential. When developing class lists, teachers ensure that each class has an equitable spread of boys and girls with a range of academic abilities. Student compatibility and behaviour is also considered, and students are placed with children with whom they work well. This process is about placing children together who cooperate and get along in their learning. Children’s feedback will be sought by their classroom teacher. The allocation of classes takes many hours of consideration and planning by staff and it is taken very seriously to ensure that the children’s learning potential is maximised.

As always, in the formation of new classes, the children’s educational needs and the maintenance of positive working groups will be important criteria used to guide placement. In the last issue of Contact, I advised that if you have matters that are of interest to the educational needs of your child, to please put them in writing and return to me by TODAY, Friday 1 November. This, of course, is an opportunity for me to gain an insight into the matters that you see as important for the educational wellbeing of your child. Our staff will consider requests carefully when allocating students to classes and I can assure you that all information will be always handled confidentially.

Please note however that I cannot guarantee that requests will be met due to the many competing and complex priorities throughout this process. I would like to emphasise that all staff at EHPS are highly competent professionals who work for the best of all children. Any genuine issue will be considered seriously, however special requests for particular teachers will NOT be contemplated. Students will be placed in classes that best suits their best educational needs and the overall requirements of the school.

As parents you play an important role in modelling resilience to your children. Thought should be given now, as to how you will respond in coming months if your child has an issue with their class grouping. It is appropriate to discuss the matter with your child so that you can understand their concern and you may undertake to raise a query with a staff member. It is most important though to model responsible and proactive behaviour that encourages a child to understand that there are many opportunities outside of class time to be with friends, and this class arrangement will be an opportunity to make new friends and new working relationships.

Also essential to our consideration in our planning and preparation is knowing if children are leaving EHPS. As has been requested in recent issues of Contact, if your child is leaving EHPS either this term or not returning in 2025, it is essential that you advise me in writing as soon as possible to the school email address with the following details:

Child’s name and 2024 class
Date of last day at EHPS (e.g. last day of Term 4 and 2024 school year is Friday 20 December)
Name of the school your child is enrolled at
Commencement date at new school (e.g. Term 1 & 2025 school year commences on 28 January)
The reason for leaving EHPS
New contact details, e.g. address, phone number, email

Please also remember that it is a requirement of the Department of Education student attendance guidelines that parents/carers must request my permission to be absent during school term for:

Family holiday.
Cultural observance.
Bereavement (such as a death of a family member, attendance at a funeral and/or related mourning activities).
Leisure or social activities.
School refusal.
Other – special event or participation in elite sporting event/training.

If your child will be absent from school for any of the above reasons, including finishing school before the end of Term 4, the first step is for you to write an email to the EHPS email address – essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au – for my attention with the details of your child’s absence that is explained by one of the above categories and requesting permission to be absent. On receipt of my reply, enter an attendance note in Compass for period of absence under the relevant category, and email the classroom teacher.

Showcase 2024 is only a week away

The children are rehearsing, and we are really looking forward to a spectacular night of musical entertainment next Friday. On Wednesday morning the children will have a run through of the whole show in preparation for the Friday night.

Please take the time to read previous Compass messages about Showcase. Also please make sure that you respond to the ‘Late start – Sleep in Option’ event that was published to the community on Wednesday.

For all Showcase details, please refer to the Showcase page in this newsletter.

School Saving Bonus

As shared with you previously, parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian

government school in 2025 will receive the one-off School Saving Bonus $400 support.

The Department of Education will send you two email communications for each of your children enrolled in Victorian government schools.

The two (2) emails from the Department of Education will:

Confirm your email address between mid-October and late-November.
Provide you with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code by the end of November.

If you do not receive a confirmation email from the department by late-November, please check your spam or junk folders and contact the EHPS Office if needed.

You can read more about the School Saving Bonus on the Department of Education website, with key information now available in 14 different languages.

Footy Colours Day donation

We requested a donation on Footy Colours Day at the end of last term in support of the Fight Cancer Foundation, a national charity dedicated to providing care, treatment and support for cancer patients and their families and funding vital research into cancer treatment and cures.

We raised $393.05 for the Fight Cancer Foundation this year. These funds will contribute to Fight Cancer Foundation’s accommodation and research programs. Their services and support help make sure that families who must travel to access cancer treatment can stay together, without having to worry about the cost of accommodation in a new city. They also help reduce the emotional, physical and financial impact of cancer. You can read more about your impact here.

‘Safe Socials’ – community consultation

The Safe Socials’ community consultation was recently launched by the State Government. This initiative seeks input from parents, students, educators, and the broader community on social media safety, with the aim of developing a program to help keep children safe online. You’re invited to share your experiences—both positive and negative—about social media use. These insights will help shape 'Safe Socials', a program designed to teach students, families, and educators how to stay safe online. This initiative will be delivered in schools as an essential resource for our communities.

With our apologies for the late advice passing on this invitation, Matt Fregon MP, State Member for Ashwood, is seeking your participation in a survey about the ‘Safe Socials’ initiative that will deliver a new social media education program to keep kids safe online, as we open consultation on new national laws around age limits.

Parents have voiced their concerns about social media, feeling both anxious about its impact on their children and powerless to challenge the tech giants behind it. While social media offers a valuable way to connect, share, and learn, it also exposes young people to risks like cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and harmful content. This is why the State Government is working with the Commonwealth to introduce age limits, ensuring that children aren’t using social media before they’re emotionally and mentally ready. However, whilst age limits are important, they’re just one piece of the puzzle.

The survey is now open and available at engage.vic.gov.au/safesocials until TODAY, Friday 1 November. Feedback from parents, teachers, and young people will be invaluable in shaping the ‘Safe Socials’ program.

Remembrance Day & Poppy Appeal fundraiser

Remembrance Day is on Monday 11 November 2024. Our School Captains and I will conduct service of remembrance on this day at 11am, including one minute’s silence.

On behalf of the Waverley RSL Sub Branch, we are selling the following fundraising items for their 2024 Poppy Appeal:

Poppies – $2 & $5
Wristbands – $3
Badges – Slouch Hat with red poppy $5, Poppy $10, Lest We Forget $10, Red poppy $20.

Purchase a Poppy Appeal fundraising item from Year 6 students who will be at the front gate of the school before school from next Wednesday. $10 and $20 badges available from the Office. Purchase is by cash only (correct amount please), or donation accepted.

Congratulations Liam

Liam L (34T) entered the 2024 State Solo and Ensemble championships, and won 1st place for Under 10 years any brass and 1st place for Under 12 years cornet/trumpet. Well done Liam - fantastic results!

Reminder

Families are reminded about the upcoming days when students do not attend school:

Today, Friday 1 November – Student Free Day – Staff focus on Assessment and Reporting.
Monday 4 November – Professional Practice Day for staff – students not required at school.
Tuesday 5 November – Melbourne Cup public holiday.

Our OSHC program is providing care from 7am to 6pm on Friday and Monday for children enrolled in the program; this is now fully booked.

Welcome

We welcome the following students and their families to the EHPS community:

Peyton H (1P)
Fallon H (34Z)
Hunter H (5L)

Looking forward to seeing you around the school.

Kindest regards,

George Perini

Principal

November 2024
2nd	Nia J Natalia R Isaac A
3rd	Tildy D
4th	Yuna S Evie L Amber P
5th	Tony L Matilda O
6th	Meghana G Terence M
7th	Alfie H Ryan C Crystal C
8th	Shiu K
9th	Lily B Anika M Kai B Ian K Stevie V
10th	Weiqi L Joshua S Stanley Z Caleb F
11th	Aarohi A
12th	Abhee C Olivia C
13th	Charlie C Hannah K
15th	Evan X

Happy Birthday