Principal's Report

Dear EHPS Parents and Carers,

Pink Stumps Day

Despite a few rain showers, our Pink Stumps Day went ahead on Wednesday with great enthusiasm and community spirit. The whole school dressed beautifully in pink and gathered on the junior oval for our much loved annual staff versus Year 6 cricket match, a treasured tradition in the Essex Heights calendar.

Congratulations to our Year 6 students and staff for organising another wonderful event, and a big thank you to the PFC for keeping everyone refreshed with Zooper Doopers. Most importantly, this occasion brought us together to raise awareness and funds for the McGrath Foundation, supporting an important cause that touches many lives.

Thanks to the generosity of our families, we have already exceeded our fundraising goal, contributing an incredible $950 to date, with donations still open until Monday. All contributions gratefully received; donate via this link:  https://www.pinkisthecolour.com.au/s/8935/10003.

Thank you once again to everyone who made this special event such a success and congratulations to the staff team who took home the trophy this year.  

Smile Squad

The Smile Squad team from Link Health & Community have arrived at EHPS and have begun seeing students who have been given consent by a parent/carer to receive a free dental check up, preventive services, and treatment at school.

Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program and will be back onsite to continue the service from Monday 1st December.

Update about craft sand recall

I am writing to provide an update about the recent recall of craft sand products that may contain asbestos.

National and Victorian health authorities have advised that the possible risk to human health from these products has been downgraded from low to very low. 

At our school, we are taking the steps set out by the Department of Education to safely collect and store any product, and to arrange for safe disposal. This may involve qualified people attending our school to clean and collect waste.

If you have the product at home, please follow advice from the health authorities. 

Stop using the craft sand and follow these steps for safe clean-up and disposal:  enHealth Interim Advice – Asbestos contamination identified in imported coloured sand products | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

How to support your child under 16 with the new social media age restrictions 

From 10 December 2025, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will require social media platforms to:

• prevent children and young people under 16 from having a social media account
• deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

Delaying access to social media protects the health and wellbeing of young people and gives them extra time to build real world connections and digital literacy skills. 

The responsibility will be on the social media platforms, not parents, carers, children or schools, to implement these new restrictions. 

Most popular social media platforms will be age restricted. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and YouTube.

Messaging services and online games, as well as apps and platforms that support health and education, can still be used. 

How to help under 16s prepare for the change

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online. 

To help get under 16s ready for the social media minimum age requirements, you can go to the eSafety website to learn more about the social media age restrictions and find tips on how to talk about social media age restrictions with young people.

What the change means for our school 

At our school, most age-restricted social media platforms are blocked for student use on the school network. Our school allows student access to YouTube in a logged-out state. However, this access restricts the viewing of mature content.  

To keep up to date about the new social media age restrictions, visit the eSafety website and subscribe to their newsletter.

The Role of Parents in Supporting Online Safety

Your involvement is key to helping children navigate the complexities of the internet safely. Research shows that children who have open communication with their parents about online safety are less likely to fall victim to online risks. Here are some ways parents can help:

1. Talk regularly about online safety 
2. Set clear boundaries and guidelines
3. Use parental controls and monitoring tools
4. Encourage safe social media practices
5. Teach digital etiquette and respect
6. Be aware of online games and apps

Open, honest discussions about internet safety should be ongoing. Talk to your children about the importance of protecting their personal information, being careful with what they share online, and knowing how to identify suspicious or inappropriate behaviour. Encourage them to come to you if they feel uncomfortable or encounter something troubling.

Establish clear rules for screen time, social media use, and the types of content that are acceptable. Discuss appropriate online behaviour and ensure they understand the importance of treating others with respect in both the real world and the digital world.

Take advantage of the parental control features available on devices, social media platforms, and apps. These tools can help you manage your child’s screen time, limit access to harmful content, and monitor their online activities. However, while these tools are helpful, they should not replace open communication.

Ensure that your child understands the risks associated with social media, including oversharing, cyberbullying, and interacting with strangers. Remind them to use strong privacy settings and avoid sharing personal information that could make them vulnerable.

Encourage your child to treat others with kindness and respect online. Cyberbullying is a growing concern, and children must learn that their actions in the digital space can have real-world consequences. Teach them the importance of empathy and the impact of their words.

Many online games and apps allow for communication with others, and some can expose children to harmful content or interactions. Make sure to review the games and apps your child uses, paying attention to their ratings, features, and any potential risks they may pose. Be aware of in-game purchases or interactions with strangers that could lead to dangerous situations.

Thank you afternoon tea

Our volunteers are greatly appreciated at EHPS. An afternoon tea to say "thank you" will be held on Thursday 11 December at 2.45pm in the Library. Please RSVP using the QR Code below to let us know you can join us, and for catering purposes. 

What is a RAP?

A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal commitment to reconciliation. It documents how our school will strengthen relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school and with the community.

We are developing a RAP using the Narragunnawali platform to register and extend on existing initiatives on our reconciliation journey.

We have established a Working Group to ensure that the responsibility of implementing reconciliation initiatives does not sit with one person. Our Working Group includes our Principal, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, students and community members.

If you are interested in contributing to our RAP through membership on the RAP working party, please contact the EHPS Office.

Volunteering at end of term

Past students often finish their school year earlier in Term 4 and offer to come back and volunteer at EHPS. We always love to see our former students and would welcome their assistance where appropriate. If your child would like to volunteer, they must sign in/out, hand in any phones and smart devices, remain on school grounds during their arranged time and be allocated to a particular teacher(s). If your child is considering offering to help at the end of term, they must put their request in writing to:  essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au with their availability and interest. We will not be able to place students who arrive at school without prior consent. 

End of year preparation

With only a few weeks of term and this school year remaining, please note the following, especially if your child is finishing the year before the last day of term on Friday 19 December:

1. Liaise with the classroom teacher regarding collection of all personal belongings.
2. Return borrowed EHPS library books to the Library.
3. School uniform - consider donation of school uniform items no longer required to the Parents & Friends Club to sell at the next secondhand uniform sale. The final donation day for this year is on Friday 13 December from 3pm to 3.30pm; as this is managed by parent volunteers, please only bring your donations or arrange for your donation to be delivered if you cannot at the specified time only.
4. Financial matters finalised a minimum of one week prior to child’s last day, e.g. payment of outstanding charges, refund request. Contact our Business Manager, Barbara McCann.  

Congratulations Asher

After a successful soccer season, Asher D (Year 6) won the "Best and Fairest" award for his U11 team in the 2025 season, and has been shortlisted by his club (Monash Villarreal) to partake in an Asia-Pacific Talent Identification camp in Malaysia in January 2026. If he makes the cut, he will be playing in an international tournament in Singapore later next year, which is something he is extremely excited about. 

Transition & Preparation for 2026

At this time of year, the school is conducting many different activities to prepare children for their transition to their classes for 2026 or their induction into the school. Students have participated in transition sessions, at the next year level, over the past few weeks, and students who will commence at Essex Heights next year in Years 1 to 6 have attended their orientation morning. Our 2026 preps had their final transition session this morning and look forward to their Orientation morning on Friay 5th December.  

As our planning and preparation for the 2026 school year continues, it is essential that we know if children are leaving EHPS. As has been requested in recent issues of Contact, if your child is leaving EHPS and not returning in 2026, it is essential that you advise me in writing as soon as possible to the school email address (essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au) with the following details: 

• Child’s name and 2025 class 
• Date of last day at EHPS (e.g. last day of Term 4 and 2025 school year is Friday 19 December) 
• Name of the school your child is enrolled at 
• Commencement date at new school (e.g. Term 1 & 2026 school year commence on 27 January) 
• The reason for leaving EHPS  
• New contact details, e.g. address, phone number, email

If your child will be absent or is finishing school before the end of this term and school year (Friday 19 December), please notify the school so that we can plan for any final assessments and end of year planning/activities for your child. 

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.

Therefore, if your child will be absent from school for any of the above reasons, including finishing school before the end of Term 4, please write an email to the EHPS email address – essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au – for my attention with the details and explanation of your child’s absence and requesting permission to be absent. 

Upon receipt of my reply, enter an attendance note in Compass for the period of absence under the relevant category, and email the classroom teacher. 

Hats – Terms 1 & 4

Consistent with our SunSmart School Policy, students are expected to wear a SunSmart hat in Terms 1 and 4 to protect them from UV and the sun. If a student is not wearing an appropriate Sunsmart hat, they will need to stay in the shade during recess and lunchtime rather than play in the open areas. If your child has misplaced their hat, please check the lost property boxes around the school, and if they do not have a broad-brimmed, legionnaire, or bucket hat that covers their neck and ears, we strongly encourage you to purchase an approved Essex Heights hat from our uniform supplier, Spartan School World in Essex Road, Mount Waverley.

Food safety and end of year celebrations

Please check with your child’s classroom teacher before sending any food to school, so that safety and wellbeing remain the top priority for all students, especially those with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Many children have serious allergies where even tiny amounts of certain foods can trigger reactions. Teachers will confirm what is safe and help plan appropriately for inclusive celebrations. Families are also encouraged to consider non-food options such as small toys, books, or craft items for special occasions, which avoid allergy risks and can be enjoyed by everyone. Thank you for your support in helping keep our school a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment. Please contact your child’s teacher to discuss any upcoming celebrations or food-related plans.

See you at the Carnival!

There has been a wonderful buzz of excitement around the school today as we prepare for our much anticipated School Carnival tomorrow. The children’s faces lit up this morning as the cakes and treats arrived at the Hall, and the rides began to roll in during lunchtime. 

A huge thank you goes to our dedicated Carnival Committee for their tireless efforts, creativity and enthusiasm in bringing this extraordinary event to life. It has been inspiring to see the hard work and teamwork that go into making such a special day for our community.

I look forward to seeing everyone around our beautiful school as it is transformed tonight and tomorrow and at The Big Splash at 3pm! It promises to be a highlight of the day!

Kindest regards,

Elisha Cotterell

Acting Principal