Dear parents, carers and friends of EEPS,

As we end the term it is appropriate to reflect on our many achievements and express our gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive support that we receive from parents.

Our preps, and other new students throughout the school, have settled in well to the routines, processes and the expectations of our lovely school. It was simply delightful to interact with the many Grandparents and special friends who visited our preps last Friday, many of whom expressed how happy their grandchildren were starting prep at EEPS.

Movie night

Thank you to the huge number of families who attended the movie night last Friday. It was wonderful to partner with the CFA for the sausage sizzle, where all proceeds from this will go to the local community. The other proceeds will be channelled back into grounds redevelopment projects, especially once our ramp project is complete.

The raffle was very well supported and was a lot of fun! Raffles aren’t normally such fun but for some reason we accidentally mixed-up books and had several double ups. Luckily, we only had one ticket for first prize! Whilst I know that most people just ‘went with it’, I do apologise if anyone was upset or disappointed with the result.

Holiday work

The ramp project will, hopefully step up to a turbo charged mode over the holidays. The main aims are to get the deck to the portables completed and the new disability parking spot in the carpark. We are also hoping to do some repairs on the main wooden steps outside the office, which was the plan in the summer holidays.

Involvement with the Region

EEPS has opted to partner with the Department’s Disability Inclusion branch on a short-term project. After a joint review of our practices we have settled on the job of updating our learning Instructional Model with an inclusive lens’. We are thankful to John Kyritis, one of the experienced Educational Improvement Leaders, in the Disability inclusion branch. You may see John around the school over the next term.

3 Way Conferences

Monday was a new way for our 3 Way Conferences. From our perspective it was an incredibly positive day and a positive change to our practices. It was good to talk to many parents and students during the day.

Kindness challenge

Last week, at assembly I did pose the challenge to the teachers for them to each take a photo of ‘kindness’ during the week. I said there would be a prize for the winning teacher and students in the photo. Many of these will be posted on Facebook but I have chosen a photo of some Year 4 boys at lunchtime taken by Mrs Pritsis. Congratulations! Make sure you come and seem Mr Lloyd for the prize.

In a world we can be anything, choosing to be ‘kind’ is a pretty good option.

Water safety over the holidays

If you are heading to the beach, or to inland waterways over the Easter holidays please take care. The Department has put together some valuable resources which are attached to the newsletter. Here is the link to the Beachsafe website.

Year 6/7 Transition process

Year 6 parents please keep an eye out for the documentation coming early next term for the start of the Year 6-7 transition process. Thank you to Mrs Gale and Julianne Roberts for co-ordinating this process in 2024.

Highlights

This term there have been many highlights;

An incredibly smooth start for our Preps, the Teddy Bears Picnic and the prep information night
An incredibly smooth start for our new classroom teachers and support staff
Our school and district swimming competitions
The ‘Courage to Care’ workshops for our senior students
The ‘Aspire’ leadership day for our Year 6s
The start to our ramp project
Excellent teacher professional learning in the areas of Mathematics, Wellbeing, Inclusion and Wellbeing
…..and more important than anything else…..lots of happy, settled, and engaged children

End of term thoughts

Parents of the school would know that I write frequently about the overwhelmingly kind, respectful and positive support that the school receives from our parent body. This is absolutely true and heart-warming. Our vast majority of parents know that it is very important to model how you want your own children to grow up and interact with those around them and practice that in their interactions with us.

Unfortunately, there have been several occasions this term, when a small minority of parents and families who have forgotten to interact with school staff with respect. You may be aware of a news item last week about the rise in violence against school principals, in particular. If you did, I am sure you thought we are lucky that doesn’t happen at EEPS. However, it may be unsettling to know that, sadly, this school is not immune. Recently there has been verbal abuse and aggression, threats, and completely unreasonable and unachievable demands ‘directed’ at myself and other school staff.

With the term ending and the Easter holidays coming up it may be appropriate for everyone to reflect on the behaviours they are modelling to their children in their day to day interactions as well as how they interact with not only myself, the leadership and all staff members at EEPS.

I hope everyone has a lovely break and enjoys the opportunity for a recharge. I look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday 15th April.

Happy Easter!

OSHC