Principal's Views

From Mandy O'Mara

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of Epping Views Primary School,

As I write the final newsletter for Term 3 I reflect on how much we have achieved this term. Our highlights include:

Grade 5 & Grade 6 camps
National day of Action against Bullying and Violence
100 Days of School for Preps
Grade 2 Sleepover
Book Week

Mobile Phone Policy

In recent weeks staff have noticed a number of students are breaching the Mobile Phone Policy.

Our policy states:

Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and given to the classroom teacher who will keep it securely stored during school hours.

https://www.eppingviewsps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/mobile_phone_policy.pdf

School Review:

Over the past few weeks we have been involved in a School Review. The Department of Education (DET) conducts reviews of schools every 4 years. This rigorous process is conducted by the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and the evaluation is completed with support from a DET appointed external reviewer. The school review supports each school to differentiate its improvement journey by building on current strengths and assisting it to respond to challenges. It emphasises continuous improvement and affirms that every student, no matter their background or circumstances, has a right to learn in a school committed to improvement. It maintains that every school can improve.

Throughout our review we have:

welcomed school community participation in the review
embraced the input of experts from both within and beyond the school
forged links between evidence, school review, and strategic and annual planning
sought multiple perspectives through engagement with the whole school community
celebrated strengths and achievements.

As a result of this work we are well on our way to developing the School Strategic Plan, which we will share with the school community in the coming months.

Planning for 2024:

We are now well and truly in the planning phase for 2024 and as such it is important that we have an accurate indication of our student numbers for next year. If you are one of our existing families and plan on relocating at the end of the year or leaving us for other reasons, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can best support the transition of your child to another school setting.

Prep enrolments for 2024 are now closed. If you or someone you know has submitted an enrolment application you will have received an acceptance letter. We will be communicating the Prep transition process with you in the coming weeks. If you have a child who will be in Prep next year please save these transition dates in your calendar:

Day 1 Monday 13th November
Day 2 Tuesday 21st November
Day 3 Wednesday 29th November

Community hub

Our Community Hub is building momentum and it is exciting to see parents attending our Wednesday Coffee mornings as well as the Walking group. It is exciting to see parents working in classrooms and attending excursions. Eleven parents attended the Prep excursion yesterday.

Bike Shed:

Have you seen our new bike shed? It is nearly complete and will provide added security for bikes ridden to school. It will be fully operational in Term 4.

Playground Update

I’d like to thank the families who responded to our survey about how to develop the area where the pink portables were located. We had already collected suggestions including constructing a quiet space, an environmental area with another chicken coop, vegie gardens and a place for hands on gardening, a stage, a pergola and an amphitheatre. The recent survey and discussions with students suggested the inclusion of a “Yarning Circle”, a dry river bed, a mud kitchen and raised garden beds. Work will start on this space in the next week and should be finished at the beginning of term 4. We are looking forward to seeing our students enjoying this space.