Principal's Message
Well what a term it has been! And what a great two weeks to be proud of at ENPS!
Our House Team uniform launch last Friday was so incredibly special. The reshaping of our house teams has been a project years in the making, and one we are all very passionate about and proud of. Taking a moment during the Smoking Ceremony with Uncle Perry Wandin, I was really taken back reflecting on how far we had come and just how special that moment of seeing our students so proudly wear their house team shirts, was. Even before we renamed the house teams back in 2021, we had envisaged a time when our school would come together in the four house teams on the steps of the new oval. That was designed back in 2019; so seeing that come to fruition was extraordinary!
Yet it has been even more wonderful to see the absolute joy and sense of pride and connection our students have, their faces beaming coming in to school wearing their shirts. It truly is just so wonderful. Make sure you check out the House Team Shirt Launch section in the newsletter for more about that and the great photos from the event!
There is also something so fun about finishing off a term with a lunchtime staff versus students match and our annual Footy Day! This week it was basketball for the students v staff match and what a thrilling game it was, with the teachers taking home the win 38-26! All of the Hoop Time events are certainly paying off and the basketball skills of our students are definitely improving!
Our Footy Day yesterday, was also absolutely terrific. A huge shout out to Mrs Elsbury and Ms Wilson for all the hard work in planning, preparing and compiling all the activities for us, even though both Sue and Sian are off on leave this week. Mr Mather certainly stepped in to make our Footy Day happen. Another great way to end off a long term.
Staffing Updates
In an update in relation to our PE position to replace Sian Wilson for Term Four, we can now confirm that Amy Wirth will be joining our ENPS staff team on Mondays and Tuesdays to take PE, we have one of our regular CRTs, Ryan Stringer, taking classes on Thursdays, and Rhys McIntosh has increased his days to take PE on Fridays. We are thrilled to have Amy, Ryan and Rhys join the ENPS PE Department along with Sue Elsbury and look forward to a great term ahead!
Next term we also have Lisa Do returning to 3LD from a term travelling throughout Europe. 3LD and all of us have missed Ms Do, however 3LD certainly embraced Ruby Ziogas for the term. Ruby will now move over to 4SG for the term as Shannon Garner will head off on Family Leave in the early weeks of Term Four. We are thrilled to have another ENPS baby on the way and wish Shannon and James all the very best. Ms Garner will still join us for the start of Term Four (all going to plan) and Shannon will be supporting the Year Four team, as well as assisting across the school until her leave begins.
Last week we welcomed back Alice McKenzie from her CIS visit to Japan (make sure you check out her reflection from the visit in this newsletter too!). We are also looking forward to Kathryn Tanaskovski returning from extended leave. Kathryn was very unwell earlier in the term and we can’t wait to have her back on our ES team of angels! For the start of Term Four, Craig Mather will be taking some leave for the first week and we wish him all the best for an extended break.
Building Works Update: Student Toilets
It is crazy to think that it was this time last year that we were very eagerly awaiting the demolition and start of the building works for our amazing new student toilets! Over these coming holidays we finally hope to have the project completely finished off with some outstanding defects and adjustment works.
2025 Enrolments
It is hard to believe it is that time of the year already, however 2025 is close on the horizon and we have already begun our planning for the new year ahead. Our 2025 Foundation students have been offered their places and informed of the orientation and transition process to come from early next term. Our Year Six students have been offered their secondary school places too, and just like the preps, will soon embark on their transition, but to secondary school!
2025 Planning
It is also the time of the year that we begin planning for the next year ahead! We ask that if you and your family are planning on leaving ENPS at the end of 2024, please let the school office know as soon as you are in a position to do so. (This excludes Year Six students.)
Foundation 2025 Orientation
Next term we begin the orientation and transition to school program for our new Foundation students for 2025! We are so excited to get to know them and their families. A reminder to our 2025 Foundation families that we have already begun using Compass to send out our communications to you so please make sure you have your log in and can access. Compass guides are included in this newsletter, please contact the office if you have any questions.
Thank you all again for your ongoing support. It really means the world to us all. Please stay safe and look out for each other in our community over the school holidays. Term Four will be another adventure and we will do it all together, whatever comes our way. With the Dees out of finals contention and season over for 2024, I am reviving my Queensland roots to cheer on the Lions this weekend, or maybe I’ll end up backing the Melbourne Storm for an NRL Grand Final instead!
Have a fabulous school holidays!
Kate Barletta
Principal