Principal's Item 

Dear parents, carers and friends of EEPS,

Last Friday the Year 3 and 2 students ventured to the Victorian Arts Centre to listen to a live performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to accompany the group but it was incredibly heartening to receive some really positive feedback from one of the Arts Centre staff praising the behaviour of the EEPs students - well done and I am sorry that I missed it.

Thank you to the Copper Strings ensemble for their first public performance on Monday. The three years of diligent practice is certainly paying dividends. 

EEPS Colour Run

We are excited about our first EEPS Colour Run next Thursday 22nd May. Please look out for a separate Compass newsfeed later today with an update around the details. This event has come out of parent and student input and requests over a period of years. Our 2024 JSC did a great job of putting in the groundwork last year and took this initiative to School Council. I realise that we haven’t given parents and carers a long lead-time in preparation for the event, but timing is also tricky and we didn’t want the event, or the information associated with it, to be ‘lost’ or caught up with other events, initiatives and activities. Our combined aims are for the Colour Run to focus on fun, fitness, fundraising and community building. Please look out for the additional newsfeed coming shortly.

Annual Report to the School Community

Our 2024 Annual Report to the School Community is now available on our website. It has been finished for a while and presented to School Council but all schools must wait for the Quality Assurance process to be completed. This has only just been completed.

Weekly Assembly

It is always great to see parents and family members attending the weekly Monday morning assemblies. Whilst Monday mornings can sometimes be tricky to get everything and everyone organised for the day, after the weekend, can I please remind everyone that we like to start assembly straight away on the bell at 9.00am. Thank you.

2026 Enrolments

The 2026 enrolments have started coming in! It is sometimes hard to believe that in April and May we are thinking about the next year but it is true! If you have a younger child joining EEPS next year then please complete the enrolment process at the office. We are sending Enrolment packs to the local kinders this week.  Thank you for the parents who have kindly offered to help with this task. Also, a reminder that we are having an Open afternoon in Prep next Wednesday 21st May for interested and prospective families. Please pass the word around.

Vacation Care - Team Kids information Webinar

Team Kids, our new vacation care provider are hosting an online information session on Tuesday 27th May at 7.00pm. The link to this session is further on in this newsletter. Team Kids are also bringing a coffee van to school on the morning of Thursday 29th May. They are looking forward to meeting our families, to help with any questions and will be available to help families sign up.

Education Support Staff Appreciation Day

This Friday, 16th May, is Education Support staff Appreciation Day. As a school we are incredibly grateful for the Education Support staff. They are an indispensable part of our school - working in classrooms, in the office, in OSHC, first aid, in the school grounds, looking after OHS, administration roles, finance, and the list goes on. If you are able, or around on Friday, please take a moment to thank them for what they do - I know that they will all appreciate this acknowledgment. The EEPS teaching staff will be hosting a little surprise ‘something’ for them on Friday.

Information About Important Dates and Events

As a school we are always open to feedback and suggestions as to how we can improve our processes. Schools are busy places and there are always a lot of events and activities on the go. We try and balance flooding parents with information about our many events and dates at once and trying to pace the timing of communication around events. Currently we try and put key dates in the Newsletter each week, and I normally reinforce them in this column. We also have direct Compass newsfeeds and event notices etc. We understand that families are busy but we will continue to evaluate how we are getting this information to you, and at the same time we are very open to community input or suggestions.

Use of the Facilities - Toilets

Unfortunately, for almost all schools, primary and secondary, the use of toilet facilities is a constant challenge. We are constantly thinking of creative ways to encourage universal respect for the toilets. Toilets, and the use of them, is a basic universal human right, and ongoing disrespect of the facilities by a small minority is a constant frustration. Whilst we constantly try different strategies for greater levels of respectful toilet usage, we are always open to suggestions from any of our community members with innovative solutions. In addition, if all families could please have a reinforcing conversation at home that would be greatly appreciated.

Good luck to our EEPS runners at the District Cross Country on Friday.

Have a great week of Learning and Growing Together.

Kind regards

Warren Lloyd

Principal