Principal's Message 

Welcome back to Term Two!

It has been a big two weeks returning from the school holidays and it has been lovely to see all the faces back to school. I hope everyone had a lovely break and a very happy Easter.

My highlights from the start of term included revisiting my classroom and literacy consultant roots this week, joining Year Six as they began their ‘Boy Overboard’ novel study. I had the best time in 6GU teaching alongside Mrs Gallagher and pre-service teacher, Ms Mills, getting to read aloud chapters and share thinking as we read this magnificent text! I just love teaching reading! What a treat that was! I can’t wait to join in with the other Year Six classes over the coming weeks! 

Being a part of the training for our Open Day Tour Leaders was also a real highlight. I am so impressed by our young people in the senior year levels. Sixty-four Year Five and Six students were selected from over 150 expressions of interest for the tour leader roles this year. Mr Smith led them through a number of sessions leading up to our Open Days this week. What remarkable young leaders they are and what a marvellous job they did! The School and House Captains also became film stars recording our Acknowledgement of Country which was used on our Open Days.

I also had fabulous lunch on Thursdays with our token award recipients! Last week we had the biggest group yet with four recipients, Jake (2SB), Connie (2SB), Eliza (5RZ) and Ally (3SM), and their friends, Persephone, Elena, Ruby and Vini. Yesterday it was lunch with Parker (FJC) and his friend Oliver. Lana (3KO) was also a recipient however has been unwell this week and I look forward to having lunch with Lana soon when she is better.  

ANZAC Day Dawn Service 

On Saturday morning, the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Keilor East RSL was really special. I am always so proud as we stand with pride, together as a group with more than thirty students (and their families) this year joining Carole Upton, Annie Ioannou, Jonah Garvie and myself as school representatives. Our School Captains, Georgia and Ethan, did a wonderful job laying the wreath. It is such a significant moment as we stand in uniform as a group to remember. Thank you to all that joined in. I know I also spared a few moments at the service to remember our dear friend Gordon Bell. Gordon was our ENPS Crossing Guard for twenty years. He passed away a year ago, and I will always cherish the memory of Gordon attending the Dawn Service with us over the years.

Staffing

We have started Term Two with a few changes as shared in our last newsletter. While we eagerly await news of Ayesha Katz’s baby’s arrival, 4AK have embraced Sarah Groves as their full-time teacher this term. Jon Kent will return from two terms of Long Service Leave in Term Three to take over for the remainder of the year. 

Meanwhile, 4CG, have had our most regular CRT, David Underwood-Harris, join them two days a week this term, while Sarah Groves has moved into 4AK. David works alongside Angela Collins in 4CG, taking Tuesdays and Friday throughout the term while Angela, as our school’s Literacy Learning Specialist, works with staff and classes across the school. 

We have another ENPS baby also on the way, with Serena Walker heading off mid this term on Family Leave. As a result, we have welcomed back Ainslie McArthur one day a week to replace Serena in 1MV on Tuesdays, for the rest of the year. Ainslie has taken over from Serena, working very closely with Macalie Vlah in 1MV. As another of our school’s Learning Specialists, Macalie works across the school and with staff on Tuesdays enhancing pedagogical practice across the curriculum, with a focus on phonics instruction in the junior classes. 

2026/27 Open Day

What a big two days it has been yesterday and again today with our 2026/27 ENPS Open Day for prospective parents for 2027 Foundation enrolment. We had five booked out sessions over the two days, with over 200 visitors, hosted by our incredible School Captains; Georgia and Ethan. 73 students from Year Five and Six joined the School Captains as our school tour leaders! What a remarkable effort from them all. 

We are so incredibly proud of our student leaders and just love watching them take groups of parents around our school. 2027 enrolments for Foundation are now open and we remind existing families that all sibling enrolments for 2027 must be provided to the office as soon as possible to secure enrolment.

Community Engagement

Next Friday 8th May, we are excited to be holding our VIP Mother’s Day open afternoon. In recognition of Mother’s Day, and celebrating all of our ENPS mums, grandmothers, mother figures and VIPs, we invite to them to join in a fun afternoon in our classrooms from 2:20pm - 3:05pm.

This month, on Thursday 21st May, we will also hold our annual Day in May. This event is incredibly special to us at ENPS as we remember past student, Marcus Rosin, who passed away from childhood cancer in 2014. Marcus was in Year Three. 2026 marks twelve years since we lost Marcus and ‘A Day in May’ will always be a time we remember Marcus and take the opportunity to raise awareness for cancer research. Find out more on the Day in May page in this newsletter. 

Upcoming Days

I take the opportunity to remind our families of a few upcoming days that will impact student attendance. We always aim to provide advanced notice to families where possible:

• Wednesday 6th May: Industrial Action Stop Work (till 12:18pm)
• Monday 25th May: Student Free Day – Staff Professional Practice

• Wednesday 17th June: 12pm Early Dismissal – Home School Partnership Meetings

   

Wednesday 6th May: Industrial Action Stop Work

As widely communicated, The Australian Education Union has advised of further statewide rolling stop work for Victorian public school staff. Our area will be taking action next Wednesday 6th May, as part of ongoing industrial action. Please refer to previous Compass message regarding this. 

We appreciate that industrial action can be challenging for families and students and thank our families and community for their support. The decision to take this action has been made at a statewide level and is directed at the government, not at our students or community. Our staff remain committed to the learning, safety and well-being of every student at our school and want the best for them. Note that no teaching staff are expected to be onsite next Wednesday 6th May prior to 12:18pm.

Monday 25th May: Student Free Day – Staff Professional Practice

This day is allocated to support teachers with time to complete their work requirements. In the past at ENPS we have implemented these days as either individual days of teacher release, or as a form of collaborative release as a whole school student free day. 

This day will be used by teaching staff for Semester One assessment analysis and moderation. Our staff very much value time as a team to do this and are grateful for the support of our school community. TeamKids will open for bookings for our ENPS families as required for care on Monday 26th May. 

Wednesday 17th June: 12pm Early Dismissal – Home School Partnership Meetings

As for the beginning of the year, our Home and School Partnership meetings for Term Two will take place on Wednesday 17th June and be aligned with the Semester One Student Achievement Reports. Students will have an early dismissal time of 12pm. This will enable classroom teachers to meet individually with parents/carers. Further information can be found in the newsletter here and booking information will be released in the coming weeks. 

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and stay safe and well. 

*I will now be celebrating all weekend! (Note I wrote this before this morning's big and VERY exciting announcement for our school! I am still a bumbling emotional mess!)

Kate Barletta

Principal