Principal's Report

Dear EHPS Parents and Carers,

State Athletics – Congratulations Amali

Following her excellent results at the EMR Athletics, Year 5 student, Amali C represented Essex Heights at the State Athletics competition held at Lakeside Stadium Athletics track at Albert Park on Thursday 6 November. Amali proudly shared her results and reflections at Assembly this week and after placing 4th in the state for her age group, looks ahead to many more sporting opportunities in her future. Congratulations Amali!

Remembrance Day & Poppy Appeal fundraiser

A service of remembrance was conducted on Remembrance Day last Tuesday, 11 November, at 11am, including one minute’s silence. Led by Ms O’Flynn and our Flag Captains, students, staff and visitors took the moment to show respect, reflect, remember the fallen and share gratitude for our country and the freedoms we share. 

Thank you to everyone for the support of the 2025 Poppy Appeal, including our Year 6 students who helped the younger students select from a choice of poppy badges or wristbands. Almost all the fundraising items for sale were sold on behalf of the Waverley RSL Sub Branch.

Pink Stumps Day

Due to the weather and a slippery and muddy oval, our Pink Stumps Day Students vs Staff cricket match and pink dress up day scheduled for last Wednesday was postponed. Our new date will be Wednesday 26 November. The whole school are encouraged to wear pink and donate directly to the McGrath Foundation using the link to our EHPS Pink Stumps Day Year 6 vs Staff Cricket Match fundraising page. We've got a goal of $500 - let's go EHPS. Scan the QR code or use the link to donate now! 

Families are asked to not post photos of children on this fundraising page.

https://www.pinkisthecolour.com.au/s/8935/10003

Transition for new students

We have now had two transition sessions for our incoming Foundation (Prep) students, with two more before the end of term.

We’ve also welcomed and held an orientation last Monday for our new students who are starting at EHPS in 2026. 

These important opportunities help students and families feel well supported while the children meet and get to know each other and our staff. We thank families for taking up this wonderful opportunity for the children starting school at EHPS to familiarise themselves and be comfortable at school.

Next Tuesday, 18 November, we look forward to welcoming the parents/carers of our incoming Foundation (Prep) students for their parent information night. 

Carnival

Just two weeks to go! Excitement was at an all time high at Assembly this Monday when representatives of the Carnival Committee and students shared some of the exciting rides, delicious food and entertainment that the Carnival will offer. It was great to see so many children raise their hand as they have already pre-purchased their wrist bands for the day. Thank you to the committee for the incredible amount of work that is bring this wonderful community event together. 

Smile Squad

Families have been advised that Smile Squad will be visiting our school later this term. This free school dental program is provided by the Victorian Government. For your child to participate, please complete the consent form (link or QR Code in your Compass News Feed message) not later than TODAY, Friday 14 November. Please contact Smile Squad directly if you would like to meet at school and join your child for their visit to the Smile Squad Van for their check up.

A Smile Squad dental pack has been distributed to each student.

Detailed information on the Smile Squad page in this newsletter and in your Compass News Feed. 

New social media minimum age

The Australian Government is taking world-leading action to reduce online harms experienced by young Australians by introducing a minimum age to access social media. From 10 December 2025, a new law will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having a social media account, and deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

Delaying access to social media accounts until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them 3 more years to build real world connections and online resilience.

This change will reduce access for young people to some of the harmful aspects of social media, such as algorithms that recommend content, infinite scrolling, and other features designed to keep users continuously engaged. The law is intended to capture social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook and YouTube.

But it won’t stop young people from staying in touch with friends online, playing games, learning new things and being entertained. In fact, they will still be able to access messaging apps, online gaming, professional networking and development services, and services that are primarily for the purposes of education and health support. This delay to social media will give young Australians more time to develop real world connections and digital literacy skills before they join global platforms. For more information, and tips for helping under 16s prepare for the change, visit the eSafety website.

Webinars for parents

eSafety is running a free webinar for parents on five alternative dates over November and December. This 30-minute webinar will help parents and carers understand the upcoming changes to social media access for children under 16. Join the information session to: 

• understand the purpose of the new age restrictions and how they aim to protect young Australians
• understand which platforms will require users to be 16+ and what platforms they can still access
• get tips and resources to support your child’s online safety and wellbeing through the transition.

For more information CLICK HERE. 

Essex Road works and road closure

We have been notified that Essex Road will be closed between Huntingdale Road and Vista Avenue on Thursday 27 November from 8am to 4pm due to a power pole replacement. Refer to the map below for details, and make adjustments to your travel to school as required.

Road Safety, Community Courtesy & Parking

As mentioned in Contact on numerous occasions and communicated with individuals, the Staff & Permit car park on Essex Road is not available to any parent/guardian for drop off/pick up of students, or at any time during the school day. 

This car park, including the spaces marked with a wheelchair logo, is for the use of staff and contractors only, and all parking spaces must be available for this purpose. If you or someone collecting your child holds a disability parking permit, I encourage you to use the Kiss and Go area on Essex Road, where you do not need to exit your vehicle, and children can be assisted by the yard duty teacher at the school gate. Parking for community members is available in Essex Road and neighbouring streets, including at the Outlook Road entry points to the school.

In the coming weeks, we will trial a system where the Staff & Permit car park is physically blocked off for vehicle and pedestrian access during the busy morning and afternoon times of the day. I have listened to the concerns of our parent and local community and I am personally worried about the safety of children and families if vehicle movement continues to occur at the entry and exit of this car park at our busiest traffic times. Many children and families walk along Essex Road past this car park entry and I believe that restricting access is an important measure to reduce the risk to pedestrian safety. 

I would like to remind all families of ways to ensure that we respect our neighbours and ensure that children and families are safe on the roads around our school. 

1. All road rules should be followed meticulously – speed limits apply in Essex Road, as do parking restrictions which City of Monash officers monitor and issue fines for infringement. Please:
   1. Do not park across or in our neighbours’ driveways.
   2. Do not park/leave your vehicle in the Kiss and Drop zone at the front of the school at the beginning and end of the school day.
   3. Do not U turn across the solid white line in Essex Road in front of the school.
   4. Follow speed limits in the streets surrounding our school. A permanent 40 km/hour speed limit applies in Essex Road in front of our school.
   5. Park safely and courteously in the City of Monash Essex Heights Reserve carpark adjacent to the school while waiting for your child.
2. Children’s safety is the highest importance so please ensure that: 
   1. You use the supervised School Crossing to cross Essex Road.
   2. Children get out of cars on the footpath side.
   3. You do not walk through the Staff & Permit Carpark as an entry or exit point. It is not a pedestrian area and will be blocked off to protect pedestrian safety. 

I urge everyone to take collective responsibility for this matter and thank those families who are doing the right thing and teaching our young people about safe road and pedestrian practices.

Planning for 2026

Essential to our consideration in our planning and preparation is knowing if your child is leaving EHPS and not returning in 2026. Please email the school email address as soon as possible – essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au – if your child is leaving EHPS to advise the following details:

• Child's name and 2025 class
• Date of last day at EHPS (2025 school year ends on Friday 19 December)
• Name of the school your child is enrolled at 
• Commencement date at new school (2026 school year commences on Tuesday 27 January)
• The reason for leaving EHPS  
• New contact details (if applicable), e.g. address, phone number, email

Please also remember that it is a requirement of the Department of Education student attendance guidelines that parents/carers must notify me in writing of any planned absence during school term for:

• Family holiday.
• Cultural observance.
• Bereavement (such as a death of a family member, attendance at a funeral and/or related mourning activities).
• Leisure or social activities.
• School refusal.
• Other – special event or participation in elite sporting event/training.

Send details in writing by email to essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au including your child’s name, class, and first and last dates of absence, and why your child is absent. 

No School Assemblies

Due to transition activities, there will be no whole school Assembly for the next two weeks - Monday 17 and Monday 24 November. The next School Assembly will be on Monday 2 December.

Welcome

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

• Tarindi J (2F) 

I look forward to seeing you around school.

Kindest regards,

Elisha Cotterell

Acting Principal