Hello MEPS team and I hope you’re enjoying the term thus far. We have many things happening in and across our school and it has been wonderful to see the students and parents connecting in many ways.

Friday 12 December - Curriculum Day - No students required at school

School Costs

This week we sent home the 2026 school fees/contribution document. We are so very appreciative of your support that allows MEPS to continue to provide a well-resourced and high performing school. The breakdown of the costs is in two parts.

Booklist provided by Campion. These payments are due by December 30 and will ensure all students have an individualised bookpack supplied at the start of the 2026 school year.

School Fee costs via Compass to be sent home for payment in term 1, 2026. This will support the resourcing of all teaching and learning programs for the whole school year.

As always, any families requiring financial support are asked to contact me via the office.

Christmas Concert and Fun Afternoon

Looking ahead, please mark Thursday December 11 on your home calendar. In the afternoon on this day we will be holding our Christmas concert (2-3pm) followed by a fun afternoon for everyone to enjoy the school grounds (3.30-6pm). During the after school time we will have a BBQ, music playing and jumping castles for everyone to enjoy. This will provide some social time for families to connect as we celebrate the end of the year. Families are welcome to BYO drinks and food, picnic style around our school.

2026

As we plan ahead for the 2026 school, I wanted to share the start dates for school next year.

Monday January 26 – Australia Day Public Holiday

Tuesday January 27 – Student free day (OHSC available)

Wednesday January 28 – Student free day (OHSC available)

Thursday January 29 – Year 1 – 6 commence

Friday January 30 – Prep students commence (9-1pm)

Tuesday January 27 and Wednesday January 28 will be student free days allowing staff to establish our programs, processes, practices and professional learning leading into the new school year.

School review

In 2026 MEPS will be participating in our school review processes.

Every four years all schools review their performance against a strategic plan. For MEPS, this will be in term 1. Prior to this review we want to gather some feedback from all stakeholders. This includes students, parents and staff. We also review the many and varied data sets that reflect our school. Amongst many sources, these include:

Parent Opinion Survey, Staff Opinion Survey, Student Attitudes to School survey, Academic progress reports from staff and NAPLAN.

As a part of this feedback we will be holding a parent forum on Wednesday December 10 at 9am in the staffroom.

This will be an opportunity to share your thoughts as we reflect on the previous 4 years at MEPS. There is no need to rsvp for this, parents can just come along.

OHSC

As you are aware we are excited to welcome TeamKids to the MEPS OSHC program for 2026. TeamKids will be commencing their program from January 12 for the school holiday program. The Before and After School Care will commence at the start of the 2026 school year.

In order to use this program next year, families are asked to register their family via the following link:

If you would like to access the holiday program, please follow the prompts to secure your place. Please be aware that TeamKids are facilitating a parent information session Wednesday, December 3 at 6.30pm. Secure your attendance here:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4683af9a-aa16-4f7d-ab0b-a3fabb2b5f12@5b12414a-1f8c-44b7-abc8-f1f4433e5cb2

Any parents who are unavailable on this date/time; a recording of the session will be provided.

This week we enjoyed having a visit and performance from Bairnsdale Secondary College Band. Thanks to Mrs Congiusta for co-ordinating this opportunity for the school.

Cultural Day

Today was a great day at MEPS as we celebrated cultural diversity. The students engaged with a range of activities that celebrated the range of cultures that makes Australia’s amazing multicultural communities.

The students enjoyed learning and sharing in various elements of different cultures including: dance, song, traditions, customs, dress, significant cultural dates, celebrations and events. Thanks to Mrs Taggart and the staff team for their work in providing this opportunity for our students.

School Leaders

Congratulations to the student leaders for 2026. It was wonderful to share in these processes as I am excited by capacity of our whole year 6 group for next year. We encourage all students to be active leaders in their learning and having a strong voice at MEPS.

School Leaders	Ryan P	Isla-Rose C
School Leaders	Ethan G	Indy R

Earimil

Ranelagh

Manyung

Moondah

House Leaders

Cooper D

Maggie C

April St

Toby C

Will H

Ava K

Eleni E

Lucas M

Learning Leaders	Evie V, Kaeli B
Wellbeing Captains	Dexter C, Cameron G

Thank-you to the 2025 School Council for all their support of MEPS across this year. The governance of MEPS is a crucial element to school performance. I am grateful for the support and effort provided by all councillors this year. I am excited by the opportunities for 2026 and beyond.

Busy times

As always there is a lot happening in and across the school at such a busy time.

Year 4 Camp next week

Year 2 Parent Expo – showcasing the student work focussed on their understandings and learning related to the topic: past, present, future.

Excursion to the Australian Open Golf

Year 5/6 parent expo focussed on the Endeavour Program and change makers

Coming Up:

December 4 - Year 3/4 Boys Future Stars Basketball Competition

December 8 – Assembly – Academic Achievement and Learning endeavour awards

December 9 - Up Day

December 10 – Year 3-5 House Swimming Carnival

December 11 – Christmas Concert followed by Family Fun afternoon

December 12 – Curriculum Day – No students

December 19 – Final Day of school. Student dismissed at 1.15pm.

School Policies

Please be aware that the MEPS’ policies are available on the school website. Parents are welcomed at any time to provide feedback on these policies. We review these regularly.

Swinburne University – Children’s University

It was a privilege to be involved in the recent Graduation ceremony for the 50 or so students who graduated from Swinburne Uni’s Children’s University. These students have participated in the program across the year (and for some, multiple years) and were celebrated on Tuesday evening. Thanks to the staff and parents who came along and also to the parents for supporting your graduates and their learning throughout the year as they added to their ‘University Passports’.

Well done and congratulations to:

Atticus A, Imogen A-S, Isla B, Koh B, Louis B, Erin B, Nina B, Ella C, Evie R, April C, Ophelia C, Hazel C, Edwina C, Toby C, Georgie D, Loa C, Ivy E, Annabelle F, Dash F, Ethan G, Jack H, Thomas H, Jack H, Olivia H, Harvey H, Mabel H, Thomas J, Ava J, Scarlett K, Eliza K, Lachlan M, Thea M, Ivy M, Sassika M, Austin M, Ruby-Rose P, Isla P, Sienna, Amelie P, Charlie R, Darcy R, Chloe R, Matilda R, Jimmy R, Holly, Zoe S, Sadie S, April St and Clover V.

We are very proud of you all and your achievements!

I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Michael

Respect, Resilience, Responsibility, Connectedness and Challenge