Principal's Report
Dear EHPS Parents and Carers,
Vale Angela Davey
As advised to you earlier this week, it is with great sadness that I informed the school community that Angela Davey, one of our Education Support staff, passed away on Monday after being ill in recent times. Angela was a long standing and highly valued staff member, who was an important figure in the lives of many of our children and families. We have contacted her family to express our condolences on behalf of the school community. We offer our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.
We suggest that parents inform their children of Angela’s passing. Resources were attached to the message published to you that you may wish to use to guide your discussions. Some children may speak about their feelings and have questions, whereas other children may not want to discuss this with you. Both responses are typical. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher or a member of the Principal Team (George Perini, Ina Kuehlich or Elisha Cotterell) if you have concerns about your child’s response to this information. We have had counsellors onsite this week to support your children, if they presented with concerns. If you feel your child needs more assistance than you can provide, please seek further help and a referral from a health professional such as your GP. It is important to maintain as many routines as possible, with particular attention to healthy eating, sleeping and exercise. Maintaining routines will help your child feel secure and recover if they are distressed. You may find the following additional supports helpful:
- Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
Provides 24/7 support for young people via phone or online chat service. Provides articles for parents supporting children:
www.kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/supporting-child-through-grief-and-loss - Parentline Victoria – 13 22 89
Counselling and support service for all Victorian parents and carers of children 0 – 18 years
Available 8am to midnight, 7 days a week
We will continue to monitor student wellbeing and inform parents if we have any concerns. Essex Heights is a strong community, and we will continue to work together closely and support each other through difficult times.
Farewell to our School Crossing Supervisor
Lexie Golla our School Crossing Supervisor for over 32 years retired on Friday 17 May. Lexie has been an loyal and crucial member of our community for all of that time. She has built rapport with families, ensured that the children had a safe passage to school and managed traffic in Essex Road. She will be sadly missed. At Monday’s assembly the school community had the opportunity to farewell Lexie and to present her with a small token of our appreciation.
First Nations Cultural Awareness
Mitch Tambo and his partner Lea Tambo (Voice of Lele), each presented two outstanding performances for the students last week. Also, Mitch conducted a Yarning Circle, attended by our indigenous students and their families, and at the end of the day, Mitch presented a professional discussion with our staff related to his experiences and raised staff awareness of culturally sensitive issues.
Mark Lumley, our Koorie Education Support Officer from NEVR, worked with a group of Year 5 and 6 students a few weeks ago to develop our own customised Acknowledgement of Country. This was an excellent cultural awareness and inclusive activity.
“Wominjeka, welcome
We stand here today on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung land and acknowledge elders past, present and aspiring. We also recognise that the beautiful grounds of Essex Heights Primary School were once the grassy woodlands cared for by the Wurundjeri people. We show gratitude for every culture and the values that we all share.”
Communication between home and school
At Essex Heights we really value the communication that we have between staff and parents. We would like to encourage you to discuss matters with your child’s classroom teacher. This can occur in many ways. The best is to contact the teacher and arrange for a meeting via telephone, online or in person. If something is very urgent then a brief chat in the morning is also possible. Staff can always be contacted through the school’s Compass portal.
Please remember that if you email staff late at night, it is unreasonable to expect an immediate answer the next morning. We all want to encourage a good work life balance, so I am discouraging staff from looking at emails when they are at home. All staff will get to their emails when they have the time outside of their classroom duties, yard duty and class preparation. If you have an urgent matter that needs clarification, then please do not hesitate to contact the School Office.
Principal’s Conference
Last week the Principal Team - Ina Kuehlich, Elisha Cotterell and I - attended the annual Monash Manningham Principal’s Conference. Over the two and a half day conference we discussed a wide range of topics including Brain Science to improve learning, Numeracy, as well as the Behaviour curriculum and wellbeing. The conference dinner’s theme was to dress as ‘Rock Stars’, so we decided to dress as ZZ Top (see below). In a hotly contested competition, we won First Prize for "Best Dressed”! Another great EHPS achievement!!!!
Thank you to our volunteers
It is National Volunteer Week (20-26 May 2024), Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteering. This special event provides an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our community and invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go.
I'd like to take the opportunity to thank the members of our school community who volunteer at school in so many ways. Our school would not function so well without the wonderful support we receive from you, and your valuable time and energy are greatly appreciated.
NEVR Youth Concert: Sonic Canvas
22 members of our Chamber Choir will be participating in the North East Victoria Region Youth Concert 'Sonic Canvas' next Wednesday, 29 May. The concert will be held at Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. This is a fantastic opportunity for these students to perform in this world class auditorium, with other students from across our Region. I am looking forward to seeing our students perform as part of the Mass Primary School Choir. Thank you to Ms Cordell for all the work she has done to prepare the students for this special performance opportunity.
McGrath Foundation donation
The McGrath Foundation have thanked us for our donation of $673.40 raised on our recent Pink Stumps Day.
Your support will help fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses who provide invaluable support and care to women and men experiencing breast cancer. From diagnosis right throughout treatment, McGrath Breast Care Nurses are available to help individuals and their families, for free. 57 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia every day this year. That's more than 20,000 people each year who will need the expert physical, psychological and emotional support that McGrath Breast Care nurses provide patients and their families. Your donation means the McGrath Foundation is one step closer to achieving our goal of 250 McGrath Breast Care Nurses by 2025, as we work towards our mission of ensuring no one misses out on care.
School Photos
School photo orders have been received and distributed to the students. It's not too late to order, but you may incur a late fee; refer to the message in your Compass News Feed that includes details about placing an order with The School Photographer.
You will be notified when orders open for group photos (e.g. Captains, music ensembles).
Student-Free Day postponed
Yesterday I wrote to all families to inform you that we have postponed our student free day, scheduled for next Tuesday 28 May, due to the illness of our special presenter/facilitator. That means that all children are expected at school on Tuesday.
We hope to be able to re-schedule this valuable professional learning day to another time in the near future. When that is planned and confirmed, we will inform families so that you can make the appropriate arrangements.
As previously advised, the School Council have confirmed the following days in 2024 when students do not attend school:
- Friday 1 November - Student-Free Day
- Monday 4 November - Professional Practice Day for staff.
Please ensure you note these dates in your family calendar when your children do not attend school.
Holidays
Holidays are an important and special experience for families. Where possible, minimise your child's absence from school during school terms. If you are taking a holiday during a school term, it is a requirement of the Department of Education student attendance guidelines that you request permission for your child to be absent. Please send an email to essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au for my attention with the details of your holiday. You will receive an email response with further steps.
Farewell
We farewell the following students and their families from the EHPS community:
- Charlotte J (1EP) – family moved to regional Victoria
- Maria M (2F) – family returning overseas
- Lakshya R (2H) – returned overseas
- Vivaan D (5P) – family returning overseas
Welcome
We welcome the following student and their family to the EHPS community:
- Ayra R (34Z)
I look forward to seeing you around the school.
Kindest regards,
George Perini
Principal