Principal's Item 

Dear parents, carers and friends of EEPS,

Whilst I had a busy week last week on leave on the Great Victorian Bike Ride, it is good to be back. It is a busy time of the year. During these last few weeks lots of activities are happening in one way or another.

Just this week we had another fabulous assembly on Monday to hear the Stretto Strings and award both our attendance certificates and our 2025 inclusion awards. Congratulations to Louis BS, Ruihan C, Ruihao C, Henry C, Amalia M and Violet S, for their outstanding attendance in 2025.

Inclusion Awards

It was also a special moment on Monday when the school could acknowledge 5 of our students who have consistently demonstrated exceptional kindness to all students, but especially to children with a disability or additional challenges in life. A very, very special thanks and appreciation to Isabelle L, Hattie S, Thea K, Ava J and Emily H. It is only fitting that we awarded these certificates this week, as today, Wednesday, is the International Day of People with a Disability.

Safety around the school

Can I please remind all families that safety when picking up children after school is as much importance now as it always has been. We are heading towards the end of the year, and the festive season, with even more reasons to ensure that everyone heads off into the holidays fit and well. Please remember to use the pedestrian crossings and remember to park in the allocated parking spaces, respecting other drivers and neighbours.

Request for parent helpers- Christmas picnic and help with furniture moving

We would love to have some more parent helpers for the End of Year Christmas family picnic tonight, please see below. We are also looking for a few parents who could help move furniture on Wednesday 17th December, in the afternoon. Please let the office know if you could be available. 

Family end of year / Christmas picnic

We are excited to warmly welcome our EEPS students and families to our 2025 end of year / Christmas family picnic this Wednesday 3rd December, 4.00-6.00 pm. Please bring along your own picnic and rug or picnic chairs. We will be selling icy poles on the night and having a sausage sizzle! The approximate outline of musical items looks like this:

4pm-4:15pm some Christmas background music to build the atmosphere

4:15-4:25pm Fiddlesticks Strings Ensemble

4:35-5:00pm Percussion Ensemble

5:10-5:35pm EEPS Choir

5:40-6:00pm 'The Big EEPS Christmas Sing-Along Karaoke'!

I look forward to seeing many of you there tonight!

If we could have some parent support for the sausage sizzle and set-up that would make the night a great success. Please sign-up here.

Social media ban- starting Wednesday 10th December

I am confident that EEPS parents and carers are aware of the new Australian Government Social Media age restriction for under 16 year olds. This restriction applies to every Eltham East student as they are all obviously under 16, and comes into effect from next Wednesday 10th December. This is an excellent initiative that will hopefully help families work with their children around technology use and internet access. Please see attached an accompanying information page around the age restriction and refer to this link.

Market Day

Our ‘world famous’ (or at least ‘ EEPS famous’) Year 6 Market Day is on again this week as part of the Year 6 Gratitude Project. Each year the students raise a substantial amount to donate to some very worthy causes. 

Whole School Transition

Next Tuesday 9th December is the whole-school transition day. This allows the students to become familiar with their new classmates, meet their new teacher and learn about some of the new and exciting features of their new year level, both with the teaching and learning and the co-curricular offerings. The students will be bringing home a letter on this day with the name of their new teacher. The teaching structure will also be published in the newsletter.

Year 5 and 6 camp updates

Last night School Council approved the Year 5 and 6 camp costs for Term 1, 2026. The Compass Events will go out at the start of the year but in the meantime, I thought I would let families know the costs; Year 5- cost $300, Year 6- cost $345.

Assemblies and Graduation

The final assemblies for 2025 are;

Monday 8th December- announcement of the 2026 school leaders

Friday 19th December- Passing of the Keys ceremony and Gratitude Assembly

Parents and friends are most welcome to attend these assemblies.

The next three weeks continues the busy pace - Prep celebrations, Year 2 Activity Day, Graduation, Prep Breakfast, Transition Day, Market Days and our End of Year / Christmas Family picnic and Passing of the Keys.

A request

As we head into the end of the year can I please remind the EEPS parent community that it is important that everyone remembers to continue to interact respectfully with the school and its staff. Unfortunately, over the last week we have an increase in the number of aggressive and rude parents, and even intimidating behaviour. You may also have seen significant violent attacks in other Melbourne schools over the last fortnight. These types of behaviour will never be tolerated. Thankfully, I, and the school staff, know that almost universally, our parent body is amazing and incredibly considerate and respectful.

Let’s finish strong together.

Warren Lloyd

Principal