School News

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I was reflecting this week on how wonderful it has been to witness the engagement of students during extracurricular activities over the past few months. From Cluster Athletics, Dance Club, EBT, the Green Magpies, Band or the Epsom Football League, many students are getting in there and 'giving it a go' - and we couldn't be prouder of them. While these activities can seem like just the little extras, they support the development of resilience, friendship, grit and school pride. They also hold true to our school vision of 'Igniting excellence and a love of learning within a community that grows together.

Of course, none of this would happen if we didn't have staff that made these activities a priority, parents who supported where possible or students who weren't willing to fully immerse themselves into school life. Please continue to encourage your child to make the most of the opportunities available to them.

National Reconciliation Week

This week is National Reconciliation Week.

We continue to embed Koorie perspectives in the classroom and to develop the voice of our young Aboriginal leaders - the baring djuwima. 

There are many opportunities for each of us collectively and individually to take action and make change. As a school, we prioritise cultural safety for students, colleagues and visitors, learn about local Koorie history and the impact of colonisation on Victoria’s First Peoples and call out racism wherever we see it.

The Green Nest

Our extremely fancy chicken coop has been built and is ready for its new residents. The Prep classrooms are busy hatching eggs in preparation for this initiative and a fence is currently being constructed. Thank you to Christo Hayes (Dotty's dad) for helping staff and students to assemble the pen. There is so much learning to be acquired in just this corner of the nest let alone the rest of the planning that is slowly coming to fruition.

New Shed next to PE Area

A new shed will be constructed over the next few weeks behind the PE area to allow for extra storage within the school.

Wellbeing and Support Professionals (WASPs)

Our wellbeing hub is located right in the middle of the school - next to the office. Jessica Colliver (Masters in Counselling) works from Monday to Wednesday and Clarissa Power (Social Worker) is available from Wednesday to Friday. 

Our WASPs are here to support students who feel disconnected, are struggling socially or have other things happening in their lives. If you would like your child to have access to this support, please ensure that you have completed the consent form available from the office.

New Website

We are currently working with a company to develop a new website for the school. This will ensure that we are utilising latest security and design in the sharing of information. There will be more about this in the next few months.

Uniform

Please note that bike pants and tights on their own are not school uniform during the normal school day. Plain black tights or bike pants should only be worn under dresses or skorts.

Traffic Management 

In the next couple of weeks, road works will again be underway at the main lights. The footpath in front of Carl's Jnr will be inaccessible as a turning lane is being developed on this side. The corners of the road will also be restricted but students will be able to access entry points to walk up the road towards the shopping centre. 

Clothing Drive - Sunshine Bendigo 🌞

Do you have boxes of preloved clothing that are sitting in the garage or at the top of a cupboard? We are currently collecting clothing on behalf of Sunshine Bendigo. We love the idea of giving back as a school and enacting the Epsom PS 'Respect our Community' value.

Sunshine Bendigo is a community-based, volunteer group that provides practical support to families experiencing challenging times in the Central Victoria region. 

The organisation was established in 2016 due to the growing need in the area for families requiring a helping hand. This may include families facing crisis situations, fleeing domestic violence, children requiring care, family illness etc. 

As a registered charity with a DGR status, Sunshine Bendigo collects, sorts, and redistributes essential new and pre-loved baby goods and nursery equipment to families in need. We even have some students who will be helping with the sorting and packing process on behalf of the school.

Please feel free to share this idea with everyone in our community. 

Please ensure that all items donated are in good working condition. Bags of clothes/equipment can be handed in to the office.

I appreciate your ongoing support. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. My door is always open, and I am here to support you in any way I can.

Kind regards,

Julie Ladd

Principal