EHPS Contact

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Welcome back to everyone for an exciting and very busy Term 4.

Showcase

Over the next two weeks our focus is heavily on the two Showcase concerts. Junior Showcase will be held in the School Hall next Friday beginning at 2.30pm. We are so pleased with your response, and all tickets have been allocated; we hope to release a few more tickets early next week. The Prep and Year 1 Choirs have been preparing very well and we look forward to their performances. They will be joined by our Music Captains and a few other performers to round off the show. I would like to remind all families attending that the concert will begin punctually at 2.30pm. At the end of the concert the children will return to class until 3.30pm. Families are invited to stay for a cup of tea or coffee until the end of the school day.

Showcase for Years 2 to 6 will be held at Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University, on Friday 21 October beginning at 6pm sharp. Please note that late arrival will need to wait until there is a changeover of items for admission. We encourage families from Prep and Year 1 to come along to this event so that the younger children can experience this far larger event, understand the way it runs and to simply enjoy the music and songs of Showcase. Tickets are available online from the Monash University Performing Arts Centres (link on the Showcase page of this newsletter).

Change to School Dismissal

With the relaxation of rules related to COVID, it is now possible to be more flexible with our school rules related to dismissal of students.

From next Monday, 10 October, all students will be dismissed from their classroom at 3.30pm. Prep and Year 1 students will no longer be dismissed at 3.20pm, and children will no longer be walked to gates, as we have done for the past two years. This means that parents and carers will be able to collect children from outside the child’s classroom at 3.30pm. 

It is important to note a few practical matters:

  • Parents should talk with their child and make sure they understand the change and where you will be waiting for them, especially if you are collecting more than one child.
  • Parents should still avoid congregating too close to the classroom. Please allow plenty of space around the classroom door.
  • Please DO NOT arrive too early. Classes will conclude at 3.30pm. Often the last 10 minutes are very important for teachers because they will be giving the children last minute instructions and wrapping up the day.
  • Also, please do not disturb the class in any way e.g. by looking in windows, waving to children etc. It is important for children to remain focused until they are dismissed.
  • For safety we advise that parents no longer walk their children through the Staff & Permit car park to access the school grounds, or be in the car park when their child has gone inside. When entering the school grounds at the front of the school from Essex Road, please only enter the school grounds via the front gates opposite the Office, or the gate near the Bike Shed. 

I am glad that we are now finally able to return to a normal system of dismissal for you and the children. 

Canteen – cashless is coming next week

I am pleased to inform you that we are now moving to our online Canteen Ordering system. This cashless, online system has been introduced in response to numerous parent requests and has been fully endorsed and supported by School Council. This new process will make ordering easy and quick.

From next Wednesday, 12 October, our school will be changing over to this online, cashless operation. That means the Canteen lunch orders will be placed online through Compass Canteen. This new system will allow families to order lunches any time, before the morning cut off of 8.30am, and will not require you to have change or paper bags for the children to have a lunch order.

Please note that cash transactions will now NOT be possible.

A Compass message has been sent to all families with the details. Also refer to the Canteen page in this newsletter for more details. 

Parking and courtesy around school

I have again received complaints from parents and neighbours about illegal parking in the City of Monash Essex Heights Reserve carpark off Essex Road, in Essex Road and surrounding streets, and in the two minute Kiss and Go zone at the front of the school.

I would like to remind all families to follow all the parking and road rules when parking in and around our school grounds, neighbouring streets, and to obey speed limits in Essex and Outlook Roads. The safety of our children is paramount, and being courteous to neighbours and fellow parents is an important example to set for the children.

I have contacted the City of Monash about this matter and they have assured me that they will be sending an officer to monitor road usage as well as parking.

Leaving EHPS

Our planning and preparation for the next school year is well underway, and it is very important that we know as soon as possible if your child is leaving EHPS this year. Please email me at the school email address if your child is leaving EHPS and advise the following details:

  • Child's name and 2022 class
  • Date of last day at EHPS (the last day of the 2022 school year is Tuesday 20 December)
  • Name of the school your child is enrolled at 
  • Commencement date at new school (Term 1 2023 commences on Friday 27 January)
  • The reason for leaving EHPS  
  • New contact details, e.g. address, phone number, email

Absence on a family holiday during the school term

Thank you to those families who have responded to the reminder in the start of term Compass message about notifying me about holiday plans during the school term. I am very encouraging of the experiences and opportunity that a holiday provides, but it is a requirement of the DET attendance guidelines that permission from me must be granted to take a holiday during a school term. Send the details of your holiday plans by email (please use the school email address – essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au), and on receipt of my acknowledgement, add a Family Holiday attendance note on Compass and notify the classroom teacher. 

Congratulations!

We were delighted to receive the news that our EHPS family has grown! Congratulations to Melanie Boyle and her partner David, on the safe arrival of their son, Liam Sydney.

Community Update

We recently farewelled the following students and their family from the EHPS community and wish them all the best for the future:

  • Youliang (Vicky) R (2D)
  • Azma S (1W) 
  • Shrenik (Nik) T (5R) 

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

  • Charles W (PM)
  • Kavir G (1K) 
  • Sayna M (1H)
  • Amirhossein P (2D) 
  • Hami F (3HN) 
  • Ronika M (3L) 
  • Grithaav G (4E) 
  • Celeste M (5L) 
  • Ava W ( 6CH) 

 

I look forward to seeing all families at our Showcase concerts! 

 

Kindest regards,

George Perini

Principal