EHPS Contact

Principal's Report

Dear EHPS Parents and Carers,

Term 3

Welcome back to Term 3. Our first two weeks have started with much excitement and energy. This term is filled with many whole school activities. Our Year 6 students completed their comprehensive swimming program this week and the children have reported that the program at Huntingtower is amazing and that they really enjoyed it. Yesterday the Year 5 students started their program. Throughout this term all year levels will participate in our swimming program. 

During this term we will also look forward to several special events such as Indonesian Day, Book Week and the dress up parade, the PFC Disco for the children, Footy Colours Day, and many year level incursions such as the Year 1 Magic show.

Prep 100 Days

Last Monday we celebrated the first 100 days for our Prep children. The children and their classroom teachers dressed up as older people and they all looked marvellous. The children were engaged in several activities that centred around the number 100. At Assembly the children paraded in front of the whole school, they danced to some very lively music, and they answered questions about being 100 years old. The children were very happy with their special day, and they all participated fully. Special thank you to all the parents that attended the assembly and to our marvellous Prep teachers for organising the children so well. “Thanks Grannies!!”

Reports & Parent Teacher Discussions

I was very pleased to see that so many families booked an interview with their child’s teacher and/or specialist teachers to discuss their child’s achievements and progress during Semester 1. If you weren’t able to make a booking for the scheduled Parent Teacher Discussions this week, please email your child’s teacher to arrange a mutually agreed time to meet. 

Works around the school

During the Term 2 vacation we completed a very important project for our Prep students. The front of the school, near the shade sails, has been redeveloped to give the children a new play area that is suited to their age.

The new Prep playground has a synthetic surface, two new cubby houses and two new tables. We have also purchased new toys for both the sandpit and the cubbies.

I really appreciate the great feedback that we have received from parents regarding this new play area for the children. 

This redevelopment project has been made achievable by the support of many families in recent years that have paid their school contributions. These parent funds are carefully managed by the school to support student programs and initiatives that improve the school learning environment for our children.

If you have not paid your school contributions this year and are able to do so, it is not too late to support the school and continue the improvements we make both in and out of the classroom.

NAPLAN reports

NAPLAN reports for Year 3 and Year 5 students are now available and are accessible in Compass. As with your child’s academic report, we recommend that you download a copy of your child’s NAPLAN report so you have access to it after they’ve left EHPS and your access to the EHPS Compass portal has closed. 

Foundation (Prep) 2026 placement offers

We have had an excellent response to applications for placement in Foundation (Prep) in 2026, and demand at EHPS continues to be high. The process of offering placements commenced last Monday. I encourage all EHPS families who have another child starting school next year to please respond to your offer in the VicStudents portal this weekend. We have a number of new families who have applied for placement who are keenly waiting on the outcome of their application. Your prompt response is required so we can let these families know early next week if we can offer their child a place next year.

Families with a younger child (born between 1 January and 30 April 2021) who may be considering repeating 4YO Kinder in 2026 are encouraged to accept their offered place in Prep 2026. We recommend continuing the conversation with kinder/preschool staff and apply for the required funding over the coming weeks, attend transition sessions at EHPS next term, and advise us as early as possible in Term 4 the decision regarding your child. 

Student Excellence

Congratulations to Isaiah Loo and Nathanael Loo who both passed their Judo practical and knowledge test recently.

Junior Judo belts are awarded in varying colours, signifying age and expertise.  Both boys were awarded White-Yellow-Black belts. Well done boys!!!

Last Thursday, Josh Condon competed in the SSV State Final of the Inter-School Cross Country held at Yarra Glen Racecourse. Josh ran so well and finished 25th out of 91 competitors. He clocked 11 minutes and 31 seconds for the 3km course. This is a marvellous achievement, and Josh should be very proud of his effort to reach such a high standard. Congratulations Josh!

Staff Changes

At the end of Term 2, the staff came together to celebrate the retirements of Natalie Zaibak and Emma Ung. Both have been great contributors and assets to our school. They have both left their mark on so many children at Essex Heights. We wish them both well in everything that they undertake in the future.

Today we farewelled Grace Harding (2G) who is moving to regional Victoria for family reasons. We wish her and her partner well for their future endeavours.

This term we have welcomed new staff to Essex Heights:  Kirtana Nambiar (34R), Kim Sambrooks (2G), Eshaneka Sethi (2BC), Kari Hoffmann (ES), Kayleigh Zhang (ES) and Samantha Hill (EAL). We hope that they all enjoy their time at Essex Heights and find it a truly rewarding professional experience.

Road Safety and our children

Disappointingly, incidents of non-compliance for the road rules and safety have again been reported to me recently. Parents are reminded that Essex Road at the front of our school is extremely busy at the start and end of the school day. For the safety of all, patience, courtesy and observance of all road rules are essential. Please remember:

  • the Kiss & Go zone operates for the periods designated at the times posted on the sign for you to pull in for not more than two minutes to drop off/pick up your child only; you’re reminded that you cannot leave your vehicle while the Kiss & Go is in operation. 
  • A U-turn is not permitted across the solid white centre line in Essex Road at the front of the school. 
  • You model the correct behaviour for your children, including practising patience and courtesy, observing road rules, parking only in designated spaces, crossing Essex Road at the supervised crossing only, and encouraging children to exit the vehicle on the footpath side only.

To help keep your children safe around roads, teach them how to follow the safe road crossing procedure – STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and THINK:

  • STOP one step back from the kerb, or shoulder of the road if there is no footpath.
  • LOOK in all directions for approaching traffic.
  • LISTEN in all directions for approaching traffic.
  • THINK about whether it is safe to cross the road – when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped. When crossing, walk straight across the road. Keep LOOKING and LISTENING for traffic while crossing.

I urge all families to please spend some time discussing road safety with your children this weekend.

For further resources please follow the link below to the VicRoads website:  Vic Roads Safety 

Farewell

We farewell the following students and their family from the EHPS community:

  • Hunter H (6D), Fallon H (34D) & Peyton H (2BC) - moved interstate

Welcome

We welcome the following students and their family to the EHPS community:

  • Srijith V (34P) & Lakshana V (6R)

 

 

I look forward to a great term and seeing you around the school. 

 

Kindest regards,

George Perini

Principal