Principal's Report
Dear EHPS Parents and Carers,
The end of term is here, and it is hard to believe that we have finished 10 weeks of school already in 2026. It has been a busy and exciting time for us all. Most importantly it has been a happy and great learning time for the children. They have had a range of learning experiences, and they have been fully immersed in all aspects of the school program.
I am sure that the children have talked to you about many of their engaging activities over the term. A few highlights are Year 6 Camp, successes at inter-school sport, our new Preps starting at EHPS, our extracurricular activities such as chess and coding club, Harmony Day and our school cross country events.
Next term will again provide many opportunities for children to grow and excel. I look forward to be able to share these achievements with you through Term 2.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
A marvellous day was had by all today at our Grandparents and Special Friends Day. It was an outstanding success. It was fantastic to see so many families (about 400) make the effort to spend a special day with their grandchildren and loved ones. I am always surprised by the distance that some people travel to be here on this day. Thank you all so much for working together as a school community to make this day memorable for the children. I received very positive feedback from so many families. I was very proud of our efforts.
I would like to thank Grace Cordell and Alyssa Kennedy for the amazing overall organisation of the day. Additional thanks to Olivia Rose, the Prep team, Blake Hansen, Monique Hocking and Bu Gladys for helping to prepare specific items. Thank you also to all our staff for supporting the event and their children’s participation. Such a big day is a wonderful whole school event and an example of the amazing team spirit in our school.
Our school community is very fortunate to have so many wonderful families and individuals who want to be involved in our school and support so many of our events. The children and the staff really appreciate your involvement!! Thanks once again to the PFC for conducting such an excellent Easter Raffle. All prize winners will be contacted if they were not present at the concert.
Pink Stumps Day
Yesterday the school gathered on the junior oval to witness that clash of traditional rivals – the annual Staff vs Year 6 cricket match. There was very enthusiastic support for both teams from their fan bases. The reigning champions ‘The Staff’ were prepared for a very tight struggle. The Year 6 students were confident, but the question was – were they too confident?
After winning the bat flip, the staff elected to bat. Wickets fell early and the Year 6 side was clearly on top. After this shaky start, the middle order consolidated and made runs without losing too many wickets.
The Year 6 batting starting strongly when they came into bat. A few sixes and snappy running really had the staff on the back foot. However, with some very tight bowling in the middle overs, the staff started to put pressure on the now shaky student batting.
Both teams fielded very well and the result went down to the wire!!!
After careful tallying, the Staff were declared the winners. Congratulations to both teams.
This exciting event was a fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation. Our current total is $845. Donations are still being accepted until 30 April. To make a donation please click here.
Once again, our Parents and Friends Club (PFC) have supported this event by providing fruit for the children at the end of the cricket match. Thank you again to the PFC.
Finally, a huge thanks to the Year 4 team for organising this wonderful whole school activity.
Sports Uniform – House Polo Shirts
Last night, School Council approved a change to our school uniform policy. Following feedback from our community, from next term ALL children from Prep to Year 6 will be able to wear the Sports Polo Shirt in their House colour for sporting activities. We have notified our supplier today and these items in the smaller sizes will become available in due course, however it may take up to six weeks to get small sizes (e.g. sizes 4 and 6).
Region Swimming
This week I was very pleased to attend the Eastern Metropolitan Region swimming carnival at Aquanation in Ringwood to support our students who had qualified to compete. Harry, Amali and Dimitri all swam very well, and we are very proud of their achievements by reaching the Region finals. Thanks to Ms Hocking and Ms Kemp for their excellent management of all sporting events.
Parent Forum
This Tuesday, School Council hosted a Parent Forum focussed on building Resilience in our children. It was very well attended, and parents were very pleased with this valuable event. I would like to refer all families to a very valuable website that could bring insights on a wide range of topics. They include babies, preschoolers, school age, pre-teens etc. Each of these has many subcategories which provide very valuable advice. To go to the Raising Children Network website, please follow this link: Raising Children Network
Staff Leaving
Sadly, we are farewelling two long standing staff members:
Julie Zuk will be retiring in the first week of Term 2 following 16 years of service as our First Aid Officer in charge of our Health Centre. Her contribution to the health and wellbeing of our children has been enormous. Her skills and professionalism have been integral to the safety and care we want for every child at Essex Heights. A replacement for Julie will be announced early in Term 2.
Deb Howley one of our amazing ES Integration Aides will be retiring for family reasons after 20 years at Essex Heights. Her commitment to helping children with additional needs has always been at the forefront of her daily work. She built strong relationships with students and their families.
Julie and Deb will be sadly missed but we wish them the very best in the coming years and thank them sincerely for their contribution to our Essex Heights Family.
Student-free Days
Last night, School Council approved the following and remaining student-free days for 2026:
- Wednesday 29 April (week 2 of Term 2) – student-free day
- Friday 30 October – student-free day
- Monday 2 November – Professional Practice Day for teaching staff.
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) from 7am to 6pm will be available for students enrolled in our OSHC program on those days. Booking will be available via the Xplor Home app closer to the dates.
Cultural Days
Essex Heights is very fortunate to have a diverse cultural community. Over the coming weeks different groups will be celebrating special events for their families and communities. We join with them to acknowledge and commemorate their special days.
Hanuman Jayanti 1 April
Hanuman Jayanti is a Hindu religious festival that celebrates the birth of the Hindu God Hanuman. Hanuman is highly venerated throughout India and Nepal. This festival is celebrated on different days across India.
Passover 1 – 9 April
Passover is the first and most significant of the Jewish pilgrim festivals. It celebrates the redemption by God of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Work is not permitted on the first two and last two days. Many Jews refrain from work during the whole festival.
Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) 2 April / Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) (Orthodox) 9 April
Maundy commemorates the washing of the feet (Maundy) and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the Christian New Testament. In 2026, Protestant and Catholic Christians commemorate this on the same date, while Orthodox Christians commemorate this on 9 April.
Good Friday 3 April / Good Friday (Orthodox) 10 April
Good Friday is a solemn Christian remembrance of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Many countries observe Good Friday as a national holiday on the Friday before Easter. In 2026, Protestant and Catholic Christians commemorate this on the same date, while Orthodox Christians commemorate this on 10 April.
Holy Saturday 4 April / Holy Saturday (Orthodox) 11 April
Holy Saturday is a Christian commemoration of the final day of Christ’s death. It is associated with traditions regarding Christ’s triumphant descent into hell and a 40-hour-long vigil that followers of Jesus Christ held after his burial on Good Friday. In 2026, Protestant and Catholic Christians commemorate this on the same date, while Orthodox Christians commemorate this on 11 April.
Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day) 5 April
Qingming is a time for Chinese people to show respect to their ancestors by visiting and cleaning their ancestors' tombs.
Easter Sunday 5 April / Easter Sunday (Orthodox) 12 April
Easter Sunday is regarded by Christians as the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 2026, Protestant and Catholic Christians commemorate this on the same date, while Orthodox Christians commemorate this on 12 April.
Easter Monday 6 April
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday in Eastern or Western Christian traditions. The day marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. In 2026, Protestant and Catholic Christians commemorate this on the same date, while Orthodox Christians commemorate this on 13 April.
Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival) 8 April
In Japan, Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated on 8 April. The day features the display of flowers at temples and the viewing of cherry blossoms throughout the country.
Aluth Avurudda (Sinhalese & Tamil New Year) 13 – 14 April
Aluth Avurudda is a festival that marks the beginning of the solar New Year. It is traditionally celebrated by Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Songkran (Thai New Year) 13 – 15 April
Songkran is the Thai New Year and Water Festival. Thai communities celebrate this festival with food, crafts and entertainment. Songkran begins on 13 April yearly and is recognised as a national holiday.
Thingyan (Burmese New Year) 13 – 16 April
Thingyan is the most significant festival on the Myanmar calendar. It marks the start of the New Year, the beginning of the Myanmar lunar calendar and celebrates life and rebirth.
Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) 13 – 16 April
Lao New Year or Pi Mai is celebrated every year. The coming of the New Year is seen as an opportunity to let go of the past and embrace a promising new future. Water, which holds great symbolic value in Lao culture, is used to wash Buddha statues. Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit. People also splash water on each other during the celebrations that last three days.
Choul Chnam Thmey (Cambodian/Khmer New Year) 14 – 16 Apr
Khmer New Year is usually a three-day public holiday in Cambodia. 'Choul Chnam Thmey' means 'enter the new year'. The New Year coincides with the traditional solar new year in several parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. Traditionally it marks the end of the harvesting season when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labour before the rainy season begins. A three-day public holiday is observed in the country.
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) 14 April
Puthandu, also known as Puthu-varusham, is the beginning of the solar new year. It is celebrated by Tamils around the world.
Vaisakhi 14 April
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is an ancient harvest festival that marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season. It is commonly celebrated by the Sikh community.
Maithil New Year 14 April
Maithil New Year is celebrated by communities in various parts of India, including Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Orissa, Punjab and Tripura. It is also celebrated in Nepal.
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) 14 April
Pohela Boishakh marks the first day of the Bangla Calendar. People clean and decorate their houses to welcome the New Year. They visit temples and pray for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.
Navavarsha (Nepalese New Year) 17 April
Nepal relies upon more than one calendar. As such, residents of Nepal enjoy three New Year celebrations. These are the New Year on the Gregorian calendar, Tibetan New Year and Navavarsha. Navavarsha is typically held in the second week of April, the first day of Baisakh on the Bikram Sambat calendar. Nepal also celebrates the lunar new year (Sonam Lhosar) with a public holiday.
Ridvan 21 April – 2 May
Ridvan is the most significant festival of the Baha’i faith and is celebrated over 12 days. The First Day of Ridvan is the most important of the Baha’i Holy Days. It is the day Baha’u’lláh declared his mission as a messenger of God in the Garden of Ridvan. The festival’s first, ninth and twelfth days are considered significant days and work is suspended.
St George’s Day 23 April
St George is the patron saint of England and one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican church. This day is generally celebrated with parades, dancing and other celebratory activities.
ANZAC Day 25 April
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day is an anniversary of the day when Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed in Gallipoli in 1915 as part of the Allies' invasion. It is a public holiday to recognise the contribution and sacrifices of all those who have served Australia in time of war and in war like conflicts. The day is observed with the dawn service, marches and ceremonies across Australia and New Zealand.
Hung Vuong Festival 26 April
The Hung Kings' Temple Festival is a Vietnamese festival held from the eighth to the eleventh day of the third lunar month in honour of the Hung Vuong or Hung Kings. The Festival commemorates the contributions of the Hung dynasty, who were the traditional founders of the nation and the first emperors of Vietnam. Since 2007 this has been a national holiday in Vietnam.
Farewell
We farewell the following students and their families from the EHPS community:
- Xavier T (PZB) & Horus T (3S) – language school for Term 2 & Term 3
- Anita D (4N) – moving out of area
- Ella W (6W) & Maggie W (3S) – moving to China
I look forward to seeing you back at school refreshed and relaxed after the school holidays on Monday 20 April. Stay safe and well.
Kindest regards,
George Perini
Principal