Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Guardians,
School Council Elections 2023
I am pleased to advise that at the close of the recent nomination period for School Council in 2023 last Monday, that we have received four nominations to fill all four parent member positions and one nomination to fill the one available staff employee positions. Consequently, there is no requirement to conduct a ballot.
Congratulations to Kim Huynh, Kaye Nolan and Susan Phu who will take up the parent positions, and to Ina Kuehlich who will be the school employee representative. I look forward to working with our new School Council members over the next two years. The new School Council will meet for the first time on Thursday 23 March.
I would like to again thank our five retiring parent representatives, Nicole Allison, Kim Huynh, Angela Millan, Anthony Netkow and Kaye Nolan, as well as Ina Kuehlich, our school employee representative, for their commitment to our school, their guidance, advice and in particularly for the support they have shown to our school the past two years.
NAPLAN
In recent weeks, you may have seen articles in the media about the 2022 NAPLAN results. Overall, Victoria’s results were the best in the country. Once again in 2022, our children achieved excellent results which were a credit to themselves and all their teachers across their years at school.
Our results are summarised below:
Year 3
- 80% of EHPS Year 3 students’ Reading scores are in the Top 2 Bands.
- That is 22% above the overall state score.
- EHPS Year 3 children were above the overall state score in all NAPLAN areas.
Year 5
- 66% of EHPS Year 5 students’ Reading scores are in the Top 2 Bands.
- That is 22% above the overall state score.
- EHPS Year 5 children were above the overall state score in all NAPLAN areas.
These results exemplify the excellent outcomes of our Literacy and Numeracy priorities that have been a focus for the school over the past four years.
More detailed information can be obtained by following this link:
This year NAPLAN testing will be held in a few weeks’ time for Years 3 and Year 5 students. The testing window is between 15 and 27 March. More detailed information will follow shortly.
Please follow the link for general information about the national NAPLAN testing program:
Students that are unwell
I would like to remind all families that children who are unwell should not be sent to school. Even though the COVID restrictions have eased, sick children cannot perform well at school and they often pass on their sickness to other children and staff. This only makes managing the learning for all children, even more difficult.
Please do not give children medication in the morning to mask symptoms, because those same symptoms will reappear within a few hours. The children are often so unwell that they are miserable at school and are not learning anyway. If this occurs, you will be contacted to collect your child. Schools are charged to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children and staff. Please help us to do this by carefully monitoring our child’s symptoms. If unwell, keep them at home!!!
EHPS Welcome Event
Congratulations to the Parents and Friends Club for conducting a marvellous welcome event last Friday night. It was fantastic to see so many families coming together and having a great time. Over 700 people responded online. What an amazing response!! The food trucks again were a real hit and the DJ really had the children hopping!! Well done to all the organisers.
Student Leaders Badge Presentation
We were pleased to welcome Mr Matt Fregon MP, State Member for Ashwood, to our special assembly a week ago. Matt has always supported our school and is regularly a part of school events. Matt spoke to the children about leadership and then went on to present badges and a special certificate to all of our Year 6 Student Leaders. We were also delighted to see so many proud parents of our leaders at the assembly.
In a few weeks’ time, Matt will be presenting badges to our new Junior School Council representatives.
Cost of camps and activities
This year you may find that the cost of some activities will increase compared to past years. This will particularly be evident in the cost of camps and out of hours activities. As I explained last year when discussing arrangements for Showcase, as a result of the new industrial agreement between the Department of Education and the Australian Teachers Union, I am obliged to acquit time in lieu hours for staff for their hours of work outside of their 38 hour week.
Previously staff volunteered their time in good will so that the programs could run. This new factor, adds a significant cost component to some activities e.g. camps, which has never been accounted for previously and subsequently it increases the overall cost of the event. Also, when organising other events such as the Dance Concert, Showcase, Parent Teacher nights, etc. the cost or implications of acquitting the time in lieu must be factored into the overall planning. In addition, it needs to be noted that providers are also increasing their cost to the school, due to their increased expenditure, e.g. camp facilities and activities, food, and buses.
In planning for any activity, we will always explore all viable options that will reduce the cost to families e.g. reducing the number of days of camp, seeking parent volunteers to attend camps, and other activities or modifying some attendance times, where appropriate.
I am very aware of the impact of increased costs on families. At the same time, I must run camps and other such activities at a cost that is financially sustainable. Our priority is to continue with these events, whereas other schools have significantly changed or cancelled their programs altogether.
Unfortunately, past costs can no longer be the guide to the current costs of an activity because we are now working in a new environment. As always, if families are experiencing financial hardship, please contact Barbara McCann, our Business Manager, to discuss the options available.
Year 6 Camp
Next Tuesday, Year 6 students will depart for their four day camp at Jack River. The camp will involve a range of outdoor activities as well as a hike to Squeaky Beach at Wilson’s Promontory. We all wish the children well and hope that they have a really enjoyable time. Thank you to the parents and two staff that have volunteered their time for the camp which has helped to reduce the cost. I will be visiting the camp on Wednesday and will report back on the many adventures that are taking place.
Dance Concert 2023
In Term 2 this year we will be holding our whole school Dance Concert. It will be held at Crossway in Burwood East on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 May. The children have started their eight weeks of rehearsals and we look forward to a very entertaining and spectacular show. There is a real buzz in the air when the children are attending the rehearsals in the Hall. The children in your family will be allocated to perform on one of the nights. We are really looking forward to the first Dance Concert since 2018. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day is back!
I am very pleased that Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be held again this year, on Thursday 6 April. We have not been able to conduct such an event since 2019. We invite all families to set the date aside and plan for this special day. On the day, a whole school assembly with all our guests, will be conducted in the Stadium. At that time a series of fun activities will be held, followed by an opportunity to visit classrooms, and concluding with an opportunity for our special visitors to have lunch with their child/children. We hope that we have a Stadium full of special friends and Grandparents. More details will follow in coming weeks.
Staff Update
Welcome to new staff members:
- Noorashikin (Noora) Mustaffa - Education Support (Integration) team; and
- Josh Hu - new Clarinet & Saxophone teacher in the Instrumental Music Program team.
Welcome
We welcome the following students and their family to the EHPS community:
- Lina S (6E) & Rohan S (5R) - former students returning to EHPS
- Talie G (6E) - former student returning to EHPS
- Sasidhaara G (3HJ) & Sivarama G (5L)
- Haoxuan (Orson) D (5L)
- Aaron D (PH)
- Jayden H (4F)
I look forward to seeing you all around the school.
Kindest regards,
George Perini
Principal