Community Information
Essex Heights Primary School
22-30 Essex Road, Mount Waverley VIC 3149
Phone: 9807 4944
Email: essex.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Website: https://www.essexheightsps.vic.edu.au
Principal: Mr George Perini
School No. 4903
Office Hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday during school terms.
School Values
- Friendliness
- Honesty
- Inclusiveness
- Respect
- Persistence
Parent Portal on Compass
https://essexheightsps-vic.compass.education
Compass is the primary method of communication with our school community. Each family has a unique login to access Compass. If you cannot access Compass or you've forgotten your password, please contact Jo in our School Office who will reset your password.
Contact Newsletter
Published on Friday each fortnight during school terms.
Previous issues from 2022 are accessible in School Documentation in Compass, or on our school website.
Term Dates
2023
Term 1: Friday 27 January* to Thursday 6 April
Term 2: Monday 24 April to Friday 23 June
Term 3: Monday 10 July to Friday 15 September
Term 4: Monday 2 October to Wednesday 20 December
* Statewide student-free day in all Victorian government schools.
Students are dismissed at 2.30pm at the end of Terms 1, 2 and 3, and at 1.30pm at the end of Term 4.
For dates of future school terms - click here.
Student Free Days in 2023
- Friday 27 January
- Monday 30 January
- Monday 27 February
- one additional date to be confirmed.
Care provided by OSHC program from 7am to 6pm for students enrolled in the OSHC program.
Public Holidays during school terms
Students do not attend school on the following public holidays that occur during school terms in 2023:
Monday 13 March - Labour Day
Tuesday 25 April - ANZAC Day
Monday 12 June - King's Birthday
Tuesday 7 November - Melbourne Cup
Click here for dates of all public holidays in Victoria.
School Hours
| 8.30am | Office open |
| 8.45am | Yard duty supervision commences Students should not arrive before teacher supervision commences. Students who need to be at school prior to 8.45am should be booked into the OSHC Before School Care program. |
| 8.50am | First bell Students go to their classroom. Bags away, change reader, hand in lunch orders, notices or payments handed in to teacher. Roll marked at 9am. |
| 9.00am | Learning Session |
| 11.00am - 11.30am | Recess/Morning play |
| 11.30am - 1.30pm | Learning Session |
| 1.30pm - 1.40pm | Lunch Students eat their lunch in the classroom supervised by teaching staff |
| 1.40pm - 2.30pm | Lunch Play |
| 2.30pm - 3.30pm | Learning Session Arrangements must be be made by parents to book their child into the OSHC After School Care program or arrange for other friends/family to collect their child if delayed. |
| 3.45pm | Yard duty supervision concludes |
| 4.30pm | Office closes |
School Council
School Employee Representatives: George Perini, Ina Kuehlich, Paul Davis, Kristi Lloyd.
Parent Representatives: Jennifer Bittner, Oudom Chhit, Carolyn Mott, Graham Hawtin, Kim Huynh, Kaye Nolan, Susan Phu, Nengta Semmens.
School Council Election is held annually in Term 1.
Annual Reporting Meeting is held mid year.
School Policies
Our school policies are accessible on our school website - click here.
Whole School Assembly
Our whole school Assembly is held weekly on Monday at 2.30pm in the gymnasium in the Stadium. All welcome.
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
Before School Care - 7am to 8.45am
After School Care - 3.30pm to 6pm
Student-free Day (four per year) & Curriculum Day - 7am to 6pm
Vacation Care (Monday to Friday during school holidays) - 7am to 6pm
Enquiries must be directed to the OSHC Coordinator, Paul Davis.
Email: Paul.Davis@education.vic.gov.au
Phone: 9807 2615 or 0417 941 986
Parents & Friends Club
Joint President: Betty Ciorciari and Sam Watson
Joint Secretary: Kaye Nolan and Kelly Lukies
Joint Treasurer: Somya Rastogi and Naheed Sanusi
Fundraising: Carolyn Mott
AGM to be held on 22 March 2023.
PFC meetings held twice each term, mid week at 7.30pm at school. All welcome.
PFC membership is free, and the whole school community is encouraged to participate.
Contact by email - pfc.ehps@gmail.com
Uniform
Our uniform supplier is Spartan School World.
New uniform can be purchased from their Mount Waverley retail outlet at 66 Essex Road (corner Essex & Surrey Roads), Mount Waverley, or online.
Secondhand uniform is managed by our Parents & Friends Club. Contact the Office if required. Donations of good quality, clean items with the current EHPS logo are welcome and accepted once each term only from 3pm to 3.30pm in the Stadium - 5 May, 21 July, 13 October. Stall held once each term from 3pm to 3.45pm in the Library - 19 May, 4 August, 27 October.
Lost property - there are four boxes for lost items that are located outside the Eucalyptus, Violet and Banksia buildings and in the foyer of the Stadium. Ensure all items brought to school are clearly named so they can be returned if lost. Students may check the boxes during school hours; parents/guardians are permitted to attend after school hours to check the boxes.
School Hats
SunSmart compliant hat to be worn every day in Terms 1 and 4.
Canteen
Order lunches on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during school terms. Place order online on Canteen dashboard in Compass by 8.30am on the day required. Orders for multiple days can be processed in one transaction.
Volunteering at School
As a Child Safe school all parent helpers/volunteers at EHPS must have a current Working with Children Check, and must acknowledge they have read and will adhere to our policies related to Child Safety and visitors and volunteers at school by signing and lodging the Child Safety Acknowledgement at the Office.
We welcome your offer to assist in the many volunteering opportunities at school. Before volunteering for the first time, present your WWCC card at the School Office to be copied for our register, and sign the Child Safety Acknowledgement.
Click here to access documentation. The Child Safety Acknowledgement will be provided at the Office.
COVID-19
Advice for parents - click here.
Student Absence
Absent all day
Parents to enter an attendance note in Compass by 8.45am (this can also be done in advance) OR phone the school office on 9807 4944 by 8.45am.
Absence due to COVID-19
If your child is unable to attend school due to COVID-19 for any reason please inform the school as soon as possible so the absence can be recorded correctly. The school is required to record these absence differently. The reasons could be that child has tested positive or they are a close contact, or the parent/carer has made the choice to keep their child home because of medical risk or concern for family. Refer to the information in the COVID-19 section above for current obligations for parents/carers.
Arriving late
Students arriving at school at 9am or later must be signed in to school at the Office prior to going to class. This cannot be done in advance or from the parent portal; an attendance note in explanation can be entered prior to arrival at school.
NOTE: Automated text messages are sent daily at 11am to both parents of all students who have been marked absent without an explanation, i.e. an attendance note has not been entered by 9am by parents/guardians when the roll is marked. If your child is absent and you have not notified the school, enter the relevant attendance note in Compass. If it is your understanding that your child is at school, please phone the Office on 9807 4944 and the staff will check with your child's teacher to confirm your child's presence and why the absence was recorded on the roll.
Leaving early
Parent/carer to enter an attendance note in Compass prior to arrival at school. If early departure is known prior to the start of the school day, it is recommended that an email be sent to the classroom teacher so that it can be arranged for the student to be ready and waiting at the Office. If your need to leave early occurs after the school day commences, phone the Office at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to arrival so that the student can be ready and waiting at the Office.
Parents/carers are asked not to go to classrooms during the school day.
A parent/carer must sign the student out of school at the Office; this is required in addition to the attendance note explaining the absence. This cannot be done in advance or from the parent portal.
NOTE: Students must be signed in or out by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18 years. Students are not permitted to sign themselves in/out of school.
Contact Details
Have your contact details changed? Has there been a change in family circumstances? If so, please inform the school in writing so we can update our records for your child. Send an email to the school email address (see above). This includes changes to emergency contacts and changes in work contact details/work hours during business hours.
School Tours
For 2023 & 2024 entry - two tours conducted weekly from March to November. Booking essential.
Enrolment Enquiries
For 2023 & 2024 entry - contact our Office between 9.30am and 2.30pm Monday to Friday during school terms.