EPS Newsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Parents/Carers

 

With under six weeks remaining before our last school day for the year, we are committed to ensuring the academic rigour continues and high levels of learning for all students remain the focus. 

 

2023 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)

As the school year comes to an end, we take the opportunity to reflect and discuss with our staff and the school community how we have managed in 2023. We evaluate what we have learned including measuring student learning growth by comparing a student’s individual progress over time.

 

Our School Improvement Team (SIT) has lead the process of monitoring our 2023 AIP and regularly reflected on the implementation of AIP activities and key improvement strategies. The team have provided commentary on progress and impact to date, identified enablers and barriers, and considered next steps. This ongoing practice is facilitated by our reflective school culture, regular sharing of teacher practice, and a willingness to learn and adapt practice.

 

The goals and targets set in our 2023 AIP have established a clear direction for improving student outcomes and have focused on:

  • Improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students 
  • Improving student voice and agency in their learning 
  • Improve student engagement and wellbeing

 

Through this process, a culture of collective responsibility for improving student outcomes has been developed for all staff across the school and multiple sources of evidence has been collected. We have continued our journey of improvement and continue to identify areas of practice that require attention in order to deliver improved student outcomes despite the changes.​ These included our:

  • Appointment (and re-appointment in 2024) as one of only 51 PLC Link School’s in the State that engages in cross school collaboration activities to support system-wide spreading of effective and impactful PLC practices.
  • Implementing and expanding a highly regarded Tutor Learning Initiative Program, that not only supports students whose learning has been disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but extends and enhances the knowledge and skills of students who require adjustments to their learning program. 
  • Student voice, leadership and agency in own learning activated so students have positive school experiences and can act as partners in school improvement.
  • NAPLAN outcomes that were stronger than any years prior.

NAPLAN results for EPS were very strong in all areas in 2023. The following graphs chart our results as a school in respect of our local network of schools.

 

 

 

Principal for a Day

On the 22nd of November, Harriet C in 1C will be taking the reigns as ‘Principal for the Day’ after winning the raffle held at the ‘Big Night Out’! Harriet has strongly advised there will be ‘no learning’ for this day and has much planned, including a Watermelon eating competition which will occur during session five – I hope to see you there!

 

2021 Student Leadership Opportunities

Over the past few weeks, I have worked with our current student captains to create a process to help us identify next year’s school captains. I look forward to announcing the successful applicants for 2024 with our school community in the next edition of our newsletter.

 

School Council

Our final School Council meeting for 2023 will be held at school on Monday the 27th of November at 7PM. I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution made by all members to our school and thank them for their ongoing support. The council is made up of the following parent/carer members: Jacqui Banks (President), Mark Williams, (Vice President), Sharon Behen, Gill Cashion, Phoebe Norman, Jessie Rosengarten, Chris Simmonds, Mitch Tucker and school staff: Ebony Barber, Rachael Feldtmann, Christine Kim and Nicola Smith.

 

Parents and Carers Association

I would like to make special mention and extend an enormous thankyou to our Parents and Carers Association and all the wonderful people who have volunteered and donated to EPS throughout 2023. There have been many very successful events this year to both bring us together as a community and to raise funds for things we need at our school and otherwise could not afford. The PCA, supported by the community has raised over $70,000 for EPS in 2023!!!!! Items earmarked for funding include furniture for the Greenzone which has arrived and is wonderful. We have a scoreboard and kiln on order and we will be sure to update you when we have news on these also!

 

 

 

Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey

The Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey is a confidential survey made available to all Victorian government schools in Term 3 each year. Schools have the option to either invite all or select a random sample of approximately 30 per cent of parents/caregivers/guardians and provide them the opportunity to complete the survey, EPS invites everyone. The objective of this survey is to collect parent/caregiver/guardian opinion data from individual schools, and to use this information to assist with the future planning and improvement of Victorian schools. Our results should be available in the coming weeks which I will present in the next edition of our newsletter.

 

Network Chair

I was reappointed to the role of Beachside Network Chair a few weeks ago 😊. This role involves providing leadership, and planning the network’s vision and future direction in collaboration with our Senior Education Improvement Leader. It will be my responsibility to play a key system leadership role enabling Principals to collaborate and take collective responsibility for all learners in our network. My role at EPS remains completely the same.

**The Beachside Network includes 30 primary, secondary and specialist schools from Port Melbourne, down Beach Road to Sandringham. 

 

Year 6/7 Transition

The Year 6’s are currently preparing for their move to secondary school and will have visits to their new schools to explore the unique way secondary timetables work, as well as how to be organised to change classes regularly through-out the day. We will continue to support our Year 6’s and celebrate their years of primary school as the school year comes to a close. We particularly look forward to their graduation ceremony which will occur in the final week of school.

2024 Foundation Students

This Tuesday is the 3rd orientation morning for our new Prep students and their families. It is very exciting to see our future Preps developing in confidence and becoming familiar with the school environment.  

 

It has been very pleasing to have parents/carers attend our information sessions also.  Knowing how the school works and getting to know the other parents/carers is all part of being engaged in the school community.  

 

Reminder – 2023 Financial Contributions 

A quick reminder to those who may still like to contribute for this calendar year that Compass Course confirmations are still open for contributions (or you can call through to the office) and that every cent goes towards providing consumables, resources, wonderful experiences (incursions excursions), learning environments equipment learning support staff ….and the list goes on, for our students. Items that are not covered by DE funding.

As you know, without your contributions we could simply not provide the resources not breadth and depth of education we do at EPS. 

 

Parent Payment Arrangements 2024 

Together with the EPS School Council and in line with DE guidelines we will soon be providing information on Parent Payment Arrangements (Formerly School Fees) for 2024. For now, however, we can report that there will be no change to the requested contributions in 2024. Options will be provided giving families the flexibility to contribute each term to spread the cost or to set up individualised plans. Support will be provided for those experiencing hardship.

 

Focus for Tax Deductible Donations in 2024 – Library Fund to expand the EPS Tutor Enrichment Program (Formerly known as the Tutor Learning Initiative, TLI) 

In 2023, the school set a strategic fundraising goal to encourage (tax deductible) donations through our Library for the purpose of extending the Tutor program at EPS. The community response to this was resounding. Donations allowed us to employ experienced teachers and double the hours and impact of teachers working as tutors in our school!

 

In 2024, we will again be asking for your support to expand our Tutor program which is now know as the EPS Tutor Enrichment Program. Unfortunately, funds allocated to EPS by DE for this purpose have been reduced by 63% (to the equivalent of only one teacher 1.3 days per week). Ironically, this reduction is due to the success in students’ educational outcomes at EPS and our very positive NAPLAN results.

Please look out for further information that will be sent home with students regarding how school funding works and our focus for 2024. 

 

Make sure you keep up to date with all of the Compass messages as there is a lot happening!

 

Have a greet week, 

Michael.