From the Principal's Desk

Dear Epsom families,

As we come to the end of Term 1, it has been a busy and productive start to the year, with many opportunities for our students to learn, connect and grow.

One of the highlights has been the beginning of work in our Equine Supported Learning space. A number of students have started working alongside Bluey, helping to establish routines and build confidence in this new environment. It has been great to see the calm, connection and engagement this is already fostering, and we are excited to see this develop further as part of our broader wellbeing approach.

Our students have also been actively involved in a range of physical education opportunities, including the Grade 3–6 swimming and P–2 gym programs this term. These experiences give students the opportunity to develop their skills while building confidence through guided challenge.

This is part of a broader focus on increasing participation in physical activity across the school.

A couple of years ago, when reviewing our Student Attitudes to School Survey data, we noticed that a number of our students in Grades 3–6 were not participating in organised sport. There can be many reasons for this, so we looked at what we could do as a school to give students the opportunity to have a go in a supportive environment.

This led to the introduction of the Epsom Football League (EFL). We are fortunate to have experienced staff who have given up their time to coach as well as support from the White Hills Football Club. As a result, students have been able to build their skills, have a go and gain confidence before joining a team outside of school. This has included both boys and girls and has been an important step in challenging some of the stereotypes that can still exist around sport. In fact, there is now an Under 9 team at the White Hills Football Club made up entirely of Epsom Primary School students!  Please encourage your child to get involved when we kick off in Term 2.

This week we also held our Annual General Meeting, which provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress and achievements of our school over the past year. It was pleasing to acknowledge the continued growth in student learning, with the majority of students achieving at or above expected levels in English and Mathematics. This reflects the deliberate work we have undertaken to strengthen our teaching practice through explicit instruction and consistent approaches to literacy across the school. This will remain a priority throughout 2026 as we continue to build consistency across the school.

I would once again like to thank our outgoing School Council members for their contribution and commitment to our school. Their role in providing community perspective and supporting key decisions is an important part of how we continue to move the school forward.

As we move into the year ahead, we look forward to working with our new School Council members to continue to strengthen the work of our school:

Parents:

• Cathryn Lister
• Rebecca Watkins
• Caitlin Oxlade
• Lani Mayer
• Gaye Stephenson
• Tamara Gobbo
• Nicole Ellis
• Taylah Carpenter
• Troy Murley

DET staff:

• Kate FitzGerald
• Kellie Macrae
• Anthea Wicks
• Julie Ladd

Student leadership continues to be a strong feature at Epsom Primary School. Our student leaders recently participated in a training incursion with The Up Project, where they developed skills in communication, teamwork and leadership. It is fantastic to see so many students willing to step forward, take on responsibility and contribute positively to our school community.

Student Support Group (SSG) meetings are also underway, ensuring we continue to work closely with families to support each child’s learning and wellbeing needs. These partnerships are an important part of ensuring every student is supported to achieve success.

Looking ahead, we are pleased to share that works will be commencing in the near future to improve access and movement around the school. This includes ramps and decking between the lower oval portables, as well as the installation of automatic doors in the main building. These improvements will enhance accessibility for all members of our community.

Finally, I would like to remind families about drop-off and pick-up practices. Thank you to the many families who are using the Kiss and Go driveway appropriately and ensuring their children enter the school via the end COLA gate. We have also received feedback from members of the local community regarding parking across the road in ‘No Standing’ zones, as well as U-turns being performed directly in front of the school and bridge. These actions place students and families at risk, and we ask for your support in ensuring all drop-off and pick-up practices are safe and considerate.

Thank you to our staff, students and families for a positive and productive start to the year. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable break and look forward to another great term ahead.

Kind regards,

Julie Ladd

Principal