Principal’s Report
Year 6 Information Night
Wednesday 5th February
6pm-7pm
Location: Year 6 end of SLC building
Come along and meet the Year 6 Teaching Team and hear all about the exciting activities and events that make up Year 6 at E.P.S!
Please Note: Slide show will be posted on Dojo after the event for those who are unable to attend the night.
Bookings are now open for the Parent-Teacher Connect Meetings on Thursday 13th February, running from 1.00pm to 6.00pm. As per last year, the meetings will be in-person.
You can book times via Compass. Regular classes finish at 12pm on the day, but we are able to supervise students from then until 3.30pm if you are not able to collect your children earlier. Please advise your child’s teacher or the Office Staff, or send an email to emerald.ps@education.vic.gov.au, if you need to have your child/children stay until 3.30pm. These meetings are a great opportunity for parents and carers to help teachers to get to know their child/children, reflect on the student’s learning growth and data from 2024, and to establish the ongoing learning partnership to support the students to do their best throughout the year.
Please be advised of the following student free days, when our staff will be completing professional learning activities or parent teacher interviews:
- Thursday 13th February – Parent-Teacher Connect Meetings from 1pm to 6pm; classes finish at 12pm on this day. Supervision at school is available on this afternoon.
- Friday 21st February – Curriculum Day: Inquiry Task Planning and new Victorian Curriculum 2.0.
- Thursday 3rd July – Parent-Teacher Interviews.
- Monday 21st July – Curriculum Day: New Victorian Learning and Teaching Model 2.0.
For those families using the TheirCare childcare service , they are preparing to have students on the 21st February, 3rd July and 21st July dates: https://theircare.com.au/
One further day may be announced for Term 4, I will be in touch about that as soon as I can.
One of our amazing students, Edith R., and her pony Jester, have had a very successful start to the school year competing at Interschool Equestrian Dressage events. They went to the Victorian Youth Dressage Festival at Werribee Park, entering the Interschool class Primary Preliminary, they came first and second in their tests meaning they won the Champion! Well done team! They then went to the Summer Dressage Championship at Boneo Park, entering the same Interschool classes again (different tests), and they won both tests and the Champion again – wow! They will now have a go at the next level up (which not many Primary-aged kids get to) with plans to compete at the Interschool State Championship in April. On behalf of the school community, we wish them the best of luck!
School preparedness and pre-emptive actions for the bushfire season
Schools and early childhood services undertake a range of activities each year to prepare for bushfires and grassfires.
The Department of Education conducts an annual fire risk assessment of schools and early childhood services. Those at the greatest levels of risk are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) and Category 4 list.
Schools at the highest levels of risk (Categories 0, 1 and 2) take pre-emptive actions on elevated fire danger days in their Local Government Area according to their fire risk category to minimise the risk of being caught in a fire in these conditions.
All schools and early childhood services listed on the BARR and Category 4 list will also close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district.
As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan and conducted maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and cleared our school’s grounds and gutters.
What does this mean for our school?
Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 3 school.
Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in CENTRAL fire district.
What is the department’s policy?
The department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy requires all schools and early childhood services on the BARR and the Category 4 list to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.
When will our school be closed due to Catastrophic fire danger?
Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating CENTRAL fire district.
Closure of the school due to a forecast Catastrophic day will be confirmed on the day prior and we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day. Any information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you via a Compass message.
Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast. This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child. It is also important to be aware that:
- No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
- All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
- School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.
Families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days. On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.
For those of us living in a bushfire prone area, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) advises that when Catastrophic days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day.
What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?
- Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers. Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, checking our website www.eps.vic.edu.au , by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.
- Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is closed due to elevated fire danger or closed due to a Catastrophic fire danger. Further information can be found on the CFA’s website.
- Enact your family’s bushfire survival plan if your own triggers are met. Our school community may be spread out across many areas and some families may be at higher risk than others. Your family’s safety is critical, so please let us know if you are enacting your bushfire survival plan and if your children will be absent on these days.
- If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.
You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:
- VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices
- VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226)
- Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency)
- Twitter (https://twitter.com/vicemergency)
- ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters
A reminder to all students to please wear their hat from the start of the year outside in order to ensure protection against the sun for Term 1, and for a couple of weeks into Term 2. Hats can be purchased (the new ones!!) from the Uniform Shop for $16.
Yes – it’s on again! The Colour Fun Run is an event which we all look forward to greatly – so much fun AND we raise money for our school! It is booked in towards the end of this term – Thursday 3rd April. Stay tuned for more information to follow.
The SSB at EPS can be used on:
1.) Uniform
2.) Camps/Excursions/Incursions (Activities).
In order to arrange for the SSB to cover the purchase of uniform pieces, please attend the Office/Uniform Shop with your SSB code when buying uniform.
The Office Staff will be able to support you with the process of allocating your SSB amounts.
This can be done via email or phone also – but this may take a little longer whilst we are still learning the process.
The SSB cannot be used for Voluntary Curriculum Contributions, or stationery, or textbooks at primary schools.
The SSB can be used for uniform pieces until the end of June 2025, then the remaining amount will be able to be used on Camps/Excursions/Incursions (Activities) only.
At the end of 2025, any amounts not used, will be held over for use into 2026.
Thank you very much to the families who have been able to support by paying their Voluntary Contribution amounts. We understand that this can be challenging for some families, please let us know if you need support or would like help to do a payment plan.
All payments can be made via Compass, including part-payments.
In collaboration with Emerald Lakers, we have been fortunate enough to organise our basketball courts in the Stadium to be resurfaced over the Christmas break. They should now be a lot safer for students to use during their PE classes, and they look fantastic! I am asking that all members of our EPS community please respect the cost that has gone into having these resurfaced by considering footwear when entering the stadium (ie. no sharp heels please!)
Also NO food is to be consumed in the stadium and only water as a drink. The floors are not mopped every day, so this will ensure they remain a safe playing space for us all to use and that the excellent condition it is in will last a long time.
Emma Clark
Principal
This week …
Notice Regarding School Hats and Shirts
We would like to inform you that our stock of school hats and various sizes of school shirts are currently out of stock. We are awaiting a new shipment and expect to have them available soon.
In the meantime, we invite you to fill out an order form, and we will contact you as soon as the items arrive.
Thank you for your understanding and patience!
Upcoming Events …
In preparation for school returning, I write to you in relation to a campaign raising safety awareness around school crossings. For background, one of Victoria’s beloved School Crossing Supervisors Brian Beach was struck and killed whilst on duty at his school crossing in Wodonga on the 2nd of February 2024.
In commitment to this campaign, all School Crossing Supervisors employed by Cardinia Shire Council have been issued a school crossing supervisor safety awareness ribbon as a visual symbol that represents the importance of safety and vigilance in and around school crossing zones, in conjunction with other Local Government areas and School Crossings Victoria.
The ribbon recognises the dedication of those who help keep our school crossings safe and reminds pedestrians, drivers, and the wider community to be more mindful and alert of safety around schools. Brian loved his role, and his tragic death was the first on a Victorian school crossing in 50 years.
We are proudly committed to commemorating Brians Legacy by raising safety awareness on the first Friday in February every year, and of course at all other times.
Community News
Emerald Scouts welcomes new trials over the coming month. Try 3 sessions for Free and bring a Friend in February! We also welcome interest from new Adult Helpers and Leaders to join our awesome Scout community in Emerald. Enquiries can be directed to leearna.fitch@scoutsvictoria.com.au
Calling all skateboard, BMX, and scooter fans
In partnership with Shredability, we’re hosting a skate, scoot and BMX jam to celebrate the official opening of the Worrell Reserve Skate Park and Youth Plaza
Friday, 7 February, 4 – 6pm
Worrell Reserve Skate Park and Youth Plaza
To register to ride, head to www.shredability.com.au/registration/
Please note parental consent is required for anyone under 18 years of age. Helmets and safety gear are compulsory.
We are thrilled to invite your school community to join us in celebrating Kallista’s 100th anniversary on March 29, 2025. This event offers a wonderful opportunity for students and families to engage with local history and enjoy a day filled with fun and learning.
- Event Highlights:
- Date: March 29th, from 2 PM till 10 PM.
- Venue: Church St, Kallista/Kallista Mechanics Hall
- Family-Friendly Activities: Enjoy historical games and activities, vintage cars, and a lively street parade.
- Live Entertainment: Featuring performances by DRMC Hot Jazz Orchestra, community choirs, youth bands and local radio 3MDR 97.1FM.
- Events: Participate in an historical reenactment of the naming of Kallista, a bush dance, jazz hall and witness a spectacular light show.
- Educational Opportunities: Students can explore Kallista’s history through reenactments and exhibitions, making it an educational and entertaining experience.
- Community Engagement: Encourage families to attend and participate, fostering a strong sense of community spirit.
