Principal's Report

Dear EPS,

It is hard to believe we are already nearing the end of Term 3. With spring now upon us, the warmer weather has been a welcome change and there is a real sense around the school that the term break is not too far away.

It has been another busy and productive term at EPS, and I know our students, staff and families are looking forward to the opportunity to slow down, recharge and enjoy a well-earned break.

Whether you are travelling, catching up with family and friends, or simply enjoying some quieter time at home, I hope the upcoming holidays are safe, relaxing and enjoyable for everyone.

Before we reach the end of term, there are still plenty of things happening across the school, along with a few updates to share with our community.

Staffing News

After taking leave from Elsternwick Primary School during 2026, Anusha Pillay, Ben De Nardis, Brian Norris and Rachel Steele have each advised that they will not be returning to EPS and have formally resigned from their positions.

Their decisions reflect changes in personal circumstances and new chapters in their lives, including relocations interstate and overseas, with some now calling places such as New Zealand, Northern Ireland and South Australia home.

Each has made a valued contribution to our school community during their time at EPS, and we sincerely thank them for their commitment to our students, families and colleagues.

We wish Anusha, Ben, Brian and Rachel all the very best for what comes next and thank them for the part they have played in the life of our school.

A special thank you to Cheryl Clarke

A very special mention must also go to Cheryl Clarke, who, since officially retiring, has continued to come back and support EPS on numerous occasions and in many different capacities, including as a Leading Teacher and Tutor Learning Initiative Coordinator.

Cheryl has now officially resigned and, this time, really has hung up her boots! We have been incredibly fortunate to keep drawing on her experience, wisdom, generosity and deep commitment to our school long after her official retirement.

Cheryl is very much loved and adored by our staff and wider school community, and we are enormously grateful for everything she has given to EPS over so many years – and particularly for continuing to step in whenever we needed her.

We wish Cheryl every happiness in this next chapter and hope she finally gets the chance to enjoy retirement properly. She will always be a very special part of the EPS community.

School Council update

We are pleased to welcome Daria K (mother of Alexander in 1A), Macquarie (father of Georgia in 1B) and Effa B (mother of Arianna in 1A) to our School Council.

We thank them for putting their hands up to contribute to the governance and ongoing improvement of EPS and look forward to the experience, ideas and perspectives they will bring to the Council.

We are very grateful to all members of our School Council for the time and commitment they give to supporting our school community.

School Council subcommittees – we’d love you to get involved

School Council is supported by a number of subcommittees. These groups help with particular areas of the Council’s work, provide advice and recommendations, and are a great way for parents and carers to contribute to the school without being an elected School Council member.

At EPS, our formal subcommittees include:

• Buildings and Grounds – supporting the planning, development and improvement of our school facilities, buildings and grounds.
• Education and Policy – contributing to the development and review of school policies and providing input into areas that support teaching, learning and student wellbeing.

• Finance – supporting the development and monitoring of the school budget and providing financial advice and recommendations to School Council.

   

There are also plenty of other ways to get involved. While they are not formal School Council subcommittees, we regularly welcome support with fundraising and community events, grant applications, school promotion and other projects that strengthen our school and community.

Importantly, you do not need to be elected to School Council to be involved in a subcommittee. If you have an area of interest, some expertise you would like to share, or simply some time and enthusiasm to contribute, we would love to hear from you.

Please email elsternwick.ps@education.vic.gov.au and let us know what you might be interested in. There is no School Council election required to join one of these groups – we would simply love to have your support.

A warm welcome to Tom C (father of Parker and Kit in 1C), who has recently joined our Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee. Thank you, Tom, for putting your hand up to support EPS.

Thank You

A big thank you to all the members of our school community who helped make the Gratitude Stall such a success in recognition of Father’s Day. A special acknowledgement goes to Yvette Hobbs for her outstanding organisation of the event whose efforts ensured the stall ran so smoothly and brought lots of smiles to our students.

Learner Showcase

A few weeks ago, we were delighted to welcome families back into classrooms for our Learner Showcase. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to talk about their learning, reflect on the progress they have made and share the work they are most proud of.

Families were also reintroduced to their child’s learning portfolio, which brings together examples of learning and provides a clear picture of growth, achievement and development over time.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the Showcase was seeing the confidence with which students spoke about their learning. Their ability to explain what they have achieved, where they have improved and what they are continuing to work towards reflects the growing ownership they are taking of their learning.

Thank you to our students, staff and families for making the Showcase such a positive celebration of learning across EPS.

As this term wraps up, I extend my thanks to our wonderful staff and school community for the energy and commitment you’ve shown. 

Michael Portaro

Principal