Dear Families,

Reconciliation week is fast approaching (27th of May to the 3rd of June). Stories of the dreamtime and respect are being shared during wellbeing homegroup time throughout the school. As part of our Reconciliation week, Monday the 27th will be our ‘wear it yellow’ day. This is a day where we encourage our community to wear yellow, which supports an organisation called ‘Children’s Ground.’ Children’s Ground raise money for indigenous education and healthcare in rural and remote communities.

Our students will learn more about the need for these services in the coming weeks. We ask that families send their children along with a gold coin donation or donate directly using the following QR code. If anyone would like more information on this organisation please follow the website provided.https://wearityellow.org.au/ Thank you for supporting this special week.

In the 2023–24 budget, funding was allocated through the School Upgrade Delivery Fund to begin planning for a future upgrade at Essendon Primary School. School Council are very excited to announce that Essendon Primary School received notification from the Minister for Education, The Hon Ben Carroll MP confirming that Essendon Primary School will receive $2.6 million to proceed with the planned project to replace our existing asphalt hardcourts.

We are very excited that we are able to proceed to the next stage and realise our plans. We are very mappreciative that the Victorian Government has recognised the needs of the school and is committed to continue to fund this project. Architects from Searle x Waldron Architecture, Bush Projects and representatives from the Victorian School Building Authority have been working with Mary Fazzari and I to create a masterplan which is in keeping with all requirements and which incorporates the wishes of our student and parent community. There are still a number of planning stages yet to be completed but we hope to be ready to go to tender in the coming months with construction expected to commence in early 2025.

I am looking forward to updating you on the appointment of the builder and the exciting design that our students will experience once the tender process has concluded. If you have any questions about the Essendon Primary School project, you can contact the VSBA by phone at 1800 896 950, email vsba@education.vic.gov.au or visit their website: schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au

Please don’t forget the Student Free Report Writing Day scheduled for Tuesday 11th June. Teachers will spend the time working in teams to review and collate their assessments as part of the report writing process. School Council has also approved that Monday 9th December be a Student Free Professional Practice Day to enable teaching staff to prepare and finalise their assessments in preparation for the end of year Semester Reports.

Congratulations to the Year 4, 5 and 6 students who represented Essendon Primary School and participated in the interschool cross-country competition at Aberfeldie on Tuesday 21st May. All participating students displayed the Essendon Primary School values of respect, responsibility, cooperation and achievement throughout the day. Congratulations to Jack P, Lachlan W and Zander V who will be progressing through to the Divisionals to be held at Brimbank in the near future.

Traffic Safety at EPS

A member of the local community contacted us recently to let us know that some EPS students have been acting unsafely when walking to/from school. Students have been spotted crossing busy roads at unsafe points, ignoring the nearby zebra crossing and guard. Some of our older students have also been using their iPads while they walk, making it difficult to observe traffic and other obstacles.

Please make time to speak with your child about safe travel to/from school.

Christine Nash

Principal

Futsal Oz Brunswick & Thomastown