Principal's Report

Dear EPS,

Term 4 is well underway!

It's been a wonderful start to the final term of the year, with plenty of exciting events, engaging learning opportunities and activities ahead. As we move through these final weeks, our focus remains on making the most of every learning opportunity, celebrating the achievements of our students and preparing for another successful year ahead.

Staffing News

As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to share some staffing updates for 2027.

Continuing leave in 2027

The following staff members will be continuing their leave next year: Caroline Bewley, Madie Driessen (who will still be part of our school community as a Prep parent!), Olivia Crowe, Lauren Karas and Brittney Peebles.

Farewelling staff

Morgan Ili and Steph Peters, who have both been on leave, have advised that they will not be returning to Elsternwick Primary School. We sincerely thank them for their contributions to our school community and wish them all the very best for the future.

Commencing leave in 2027

Amy Mok and Georgia Gilbert will be commencing leave next year.

We extend our very best wishes to all staff taking or continuing leave in 2027 and thank them for their ongoing contributions to our school community.

The Big Night – What a Night!

WOW! What an incredible evening we had last Friday at the Stokehouse for The Big Night! The turnout was fantastic, the atmosphere was electric, and the Studio 54 theme certainly brought out the best in everyone! The outfits were outrageous, glamorous, creative and downright fabulous! It was wonderful to see so many of our families embrace the theme and come together for such a memorable evening.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with so many people commenting on what a fantastic night it was. Events like these really do highlight the wonderful sense of community we have at Elsternwick Primary School.

I want to extend an enormous thank you to Elaina Ware, who was instrumental in making this event such a success. Elaina not only secured the incredible Stokehouse venue for us but also managed to negotiate the same pricing as last year, which is no small achievement! Her hard work, connections, generosity and commitment to our school community are truly appreciated. Elaina, thank you for going above and beyond to make this night so special.

A very special thank you also goes to the following people and businesses for their generous support:

• Stokehouse for hosting us at such an exceptional venue.
• James Ware for his contribution to the evening's entertainment as our DJ.
• Nick and Kate Prohasky from Celebrate Party Hire for their generous support.

• Tamara Penno from Buxton for providing the advertising boards to promote the event.

   

Of course, a huge thank you to everyone involved in organising the evening and to all our families and friends who came along. The energy, enthusiasm and community spirit on display were simply wonderful.

From the fabulous fashion to the music, dancing and laughter, The Big Night certainly lived up to its name!

Thank you, Elsternwick Primary School community, for making it a night to remember!

Intensive Swimming Program

Our Intensive Swimming Program has officially kicked off, and I would like to extend a huge thank you to all the parents and carers who have generously volunteered their time to support the program.

The success of this program relies heavily on the wonderful support of our volunteers. Your willingness to give up your time enables us to run the program smoothly, keep to our busy schedule and, most importantly, provide the additional supervision, encouragement and support our students need throughout the experience.

Coordinating a program of this scale is no small task, and having so many willing helpers makes an enormous difference.

We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and commitment to our school. Thank you for helping us provide such a valuable learning experience for our students!

Class Structure

In 2027, the class structure at our school will be as follows:

• Prep: 4 classes
• Year 1: 3 classes
• Year 2: 3 classes
• Year 3: 3 classes
• Year 4: 3 classes
• Year 5: 3 classes
• Year 6: 2 classes

Intentions to Leave  

As we move further into Term 4, planning for 2027 is well underway. This includes determining class structures, staffing arrangements, budgets and enrolment numbers. Having an accurate understanding of student numbers is essential to ensuring we are well prepared for the year ahead.

Thank you to the families who have already advised us of their plans for next year. If your child will not be returning to Elsternwick Primary School in 2027 and you have not yet informed us, I ask that you please do so as soon as possible.

With the challenges schools continue to face in recruiting and securing staff, even small changes to enrolment numbers can have a significant impact on our planning and decision-making.

We certainly understand that circumstances change and that some families may still be considering their options. However, we ask that you keep us informed, even if your plans are not yet confirmed. Occasionally, we hear about students moving schools through conversations in the playground or classroom before families have formally notified us.

We appreciate your consideration and cooperation. Keeping us informed allows us to plan with greater confidence and ensure the best possible start to 2027 for our students and staff.

Thanks,

Michael Portaro

Principal