Principals' Day 2025

At today's whole school assembly, after a sight delay, we proudly celebrated our ENPS Executive Team in recognition of Principal's Day. Unfortunately Alice McKenzie was absent today (and sorely missed!) and we look forward to passing on her Gratitude Tree gift as soon as possible!

On behalf of the ENPS community, our School Captains Astin and Sam shared the following heartfelt thanks (Engy is away on extended holiday):

It’s taken a few weeks, but today is ENPS’s turn to celebrate Principals' Day. While we couldn’t share our thanks on the day itself, we're excited to say a huge “thank you” to our school leaders - Mrs Barletta, Mrs McKenzie, Ms Stephens, and Mr Smith - for their kindness, dedication, and vision.

 

Each one of you plays an important part in making our school the amazing place it is. You make sure we have the best opportunities to learn, to grow, and to feel safe and supported. You listen to our ideas, cheer us on, and help us become the best version of ourselves.

 

On behalf of the whole school community, we want you to know how much we appreciate everything you do - from the big decisions that shape our school to the small moments where you check in on us in the yard, share a smile at the gate, or drop in to sing “Happy Birthday!”.

 

This year, we wanted to create something that showed just how much you mean to our school community. Each class has made leaves for our Trees of Gratitude, writing down messages of thanks, special memories, and the things we love most about our principals. The trunks of the trees are covered with messages from our parents and carers. They wanted to join in too, because they see how hard you work and how much you care for every student and family.

 

We hope that when you see these trees, you take a moment to realise just how much you are appreciated - not just today, but every day.

 

Mrs Barletta, Ms McKenzie, Ms Stephens, and Mr Smith - thank you for inspiring us, supporting us, and believing in us.

 

We are so lucky to have leaders who not only guide the school, but who also care deeply about the people in it.

 

Finally, we would like to give a special thanks to Jodie Elliott for giving up her time to create the messages from the parents, laminate all of the leaves, and add the final touches to attach them.

 

On behalf of the students, teachers, and the whole school community, we wish you a very happy belated Principals' Day - and we hope you have enjoyed your celebration today as much as we have enjoyed preparing it for you.

 

– ENPS 2025 School Captains

Special Lunch

Gratitude flowed in the staffroom today, with a happy feast in honour of our Executive Team! Staff members each brought in a plate of delicious food to share at our special Principal's Day lunch, and we asked for their thoughts on this awesome foursome:

Alice Stephens

- Is efficient, hard-working, amazing, kind, effective, responsive, caring, sporty and bubbly.

- She exceeds expectations by adjusting timetables at the blink of an eye!

- I can always count on Alice S to be considered and organised. 

- Thank you for being supportive and accommodating personal needs.

Connor Smith

- Is helpful, supportive, positive, considerate, funny, unique, big pictured, and compassionate.

- He exceeds expectations when he comes to help straight away with any difficult situations.

- Connor goes above and beyond to ensure oval play is safe, kind and respectful.

- I can always count on Connor to advocate for our students.

Alice McKenzie

- Is calm, knowledgeable, balanced, caring, humble, kind, knowledgeable and hilarious.

- She exceeds expectations with her vast knowledge and amount of work behind the scenes to make ENPS amazing.

- I can always count on Alice M to listen to anything I say, show empathy and understanding and give the greatest advice. 

- Thank you Alice M for your endless support, guidance and kindness, sprinkled with the perfect amount of humour.

Kate Barletta

- Is approachable, encouraging, supportive, confident, inclusive, dynamic, energetic, and leads with her heart.

- Kate exceeds expectations by always bringing the vibes at assembly!

- I can always count on Kate to put people first.

- Thank you Kate for being a phenomenal and supportive leader.

New Principal Trial

When Principals' Day rolls around, our Office Team just love "having a go" at the role to find out what it’s really like. This year Principal (Teresa) Heale stepped in, and took to it straight away!

Principal Heale attended to her first matter early on, during yard duty before school. A new Foundation student was starting - Miss Emma Pringle. Little Emma was super sad to leave her mum at the gate, and she was terrified of all the new students. Emma was sad for quite a while - even sadder when she realised the tag was still on her hat - but Principal Heale managed to console her and eventually get her to class. Emma received a sticker along the way too. Great job Principal Heale!

It didn’t take long for Principal Heale to experience her second event for the day! One of our Year Five students, Darcy, was caught vandalising the tables in class AGAIN. He seems to LOVE doing that, and no one can work out why.

Principal Heale had to unfortunately call his parents, who were not impressed as they had to come collect him (they live 2.5 hours away!).

Good job Principal Heale, your first day certainly was impressive, but ENPS just wouldn't be the same without our amazing Executive Team!

Thank you Miss Stephens, Mr Smith, Mrs McKenzie and Mrs Barletta - your invaluable leadership, passion and commitment to academic excellence, wellbeing and our inclusive school environment is unwavering. We admire and appreciate you all. Happy Principals' Day!