Assistant Principal's report

Hi all,

What a fantastic half term it has been so far! From the energy and team spirit at the Swimming Carnival, to the powerful conversations sparked through the Stand Up Project, to the warm and welcoming start of Breakfast Club, it has been wonderful to see so much engagement across the school.

It has also been a joy watching our new Prep students settle into five full days a week with growing confidence and independence. They have done an amazing job, and so have the teams supporting them.

Safe, Valued and Support Student Survey

With the introduction of our new School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan, we felt it was the right time to refresh our Student Pulse Check survey.

After listening carefully to feedback from families and students, we have moved away from a deficit-based format and reframed the questions to encourage students to reflect on what they are grateful for and what is working well at school. This approach helps reduce negative bias and prevents responses being shaped by isolated incidents. Instead, it supports more balanced and thoughtful reflection.

Research into the neuroscience of gratitude highlights many benefits, including improved wellbeing, increased optimism and a stronger sense of connection. By shifting the lens in this way, we are supporting students to engage more constructively in feedback and self-reflection.

Results (Prep to Year 2): To be released next week

Summarised results (Years 3 to 6):

Feeling Safe

• Students consistently identified trusted adults and yard duty teachers as key contributors to feeling safe.
• Many students shared that friends looking out for each other strengthens their sense of safety.
• Peer respect and positive behaviour in the yard were frequently mentioned.

Feeling Valued

• Students highlighted that teachers listening to their ideas and noticing their effort makes a significant difference.
• Friendships and being included were commonly mentioned as important factors.
• Students appreciate being encouraged to try their best and recognised for their learning.

Feeling Supported

• Students identified teachers and friends as their main sources of support.

• Many responses reflected a strong sense of community, care and kindness.

   

Being Grateful

• Students most frequently expressed gratitude for friends, teachers and the broader school environment.
• The school grounds, activities and shared experiences were also positively mentioned.

Education and Policy Sub-Committee Update

The following policies were reviewed and tabled at School Council. They are all available on the EPS website: 

• CCTV – Privacy statement included on the EPS website

• Mobile Devices/Phones – Updated to include tracking devices such as Apple AirTags, GPS trackers and any similar devices designed to transmit real-time location information

• Statement of Values and School Philosophy – Updated to include shared expectations to support student behaviour

• Anaphylaxis – Minor update to remove references to Anapen 300 and Anapen Junior

• Asthma – No changes

• Child Safety Code of Conduct – No changes

• Child Safety Policy – Template update

• Child Safety Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures – Minor update to Department contact details

• Respect for School Staff – No changes

Thanks all,

Leanne Williams