Principal’s Report

It was wonderful to hand out so many leadership badges to our Year 6 students at last week’s assembly. We are very proud of all our student leaders and would like to especially congratulate our new School Captains on the outstanding job they did running their first assembly. They demonstrated confidence, responsibility and teamwork, setting a positive example for our whole school community.

Congratulations also to the Year 5 students who were selected to join the Early Act team and will be developing their leadership skills through their work with Mrs Forsythe, Hollie and our Rotary representatives. We are very much looking forward to seeing their leadership in action as they help to facilitate our whole school’s participation in Clean Up Australia Day on Friday, 27 February. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to show care for our environment and pride in our school.

Congratulations also to the students in Years 4, 5 and 6 who were selected to represent our school at this week’s E.D.E.C. Swimming event. We commend them for their effort and in proudly representing our school.

This Friday also sees the introduction of Fresh Fruit Fridays for our Prep to Year 2 students. This wonderful initiative has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Cardinia Community Foundation. We sincerely thank them, along with the parent volunteers who have kindly offered their time to prepare and cut the fruit for our students.

Cathlin Smart (on behalf of the Principal Team)

Please be advised of the following student free days, when our staff will be completing professional learning activities or parent teacher interviews:

  1. Thursday 12th February – Parent-Teacher Connect Meetings from 1pm to 6pm; classes finish at 12pm on this day. Supervision at school is available on this afternoon until 3.30pm.
  2. Monday 20th April – Curriculum Day
  3. Thursday 25th June – Parent-Teacher Interviews
  4. Monday 13th July – Curriculum Day
  5. Friday 4th December – Assessment & Reporting Day

For those families using the TheirCare childcare service, they are preparing to have students on the 20th April, 25th June,13th July and 4th December dates: https://theircare.com.au/

Dear Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5 & Grade 6 Families,

Our apologies but due to a clash with bookings, the EPS House Sports Day has been moved from 4th March in the calendar, to Thursday 5th March. It will be held at the Cockatoo Little Athletics Track at Mountain Road Reserve as usual. More details to follow.

Our apologies – the School Canteen will be closed for online ordering, and also closed during Recess and Lunch, on Thurday 5th March, which is the House Sports Day for Grades 3-6.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy

(NAPLAN) tests for Year 3 and 5 students are conducted by the Victorian

Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) on behalf of the Australian

Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

In 2026, the NAPLAN Online test window will commence on Wednesday 11th March and conclude on Monday 23th March.

We encourage our students to participate in the NAPLAN Online tests and wish to reassure our families that just want our students to have a go and do their best on the day.

Catch up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days.

This will be arranged with the classroom teacher, under the supervision of Carice D’Rozario.

Exemptions may be granted to students with significant intellectual disabilities and to students who have been learning English for

less than one year. If your child is eligible for support due to disability or exemption, you should discuss this with his/her teacher prior to the tests.

Parental consent is required before any support due to disability or exemption is granted.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers. If you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a student withdrawal form. Please contact Carice D’Rozario or your classroom teacher to request a withdrawal form.

Later in the year, you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. These describe the minimum acceptable standards for students across Australia.

We are looking forward to the exciting Grade 5 Camp to Phillip Island in mid-March this year. Information regarding the camp payments, permissions and medical information was sent out at the end of last week via Compass.

In the last couple of years, NAPLAN has also been conducted during dates close to our camp dates. Due to another change towards the end of 2025, the first day of camp clashes with the sitting of the Writing test for NAPLAN for Grade 5 students again this year.

Unfortunately, there was no option to move the camp to any other suitable dates this year, and the NAPLAN administrators were not able to permit us to move the Writing test, as it needs to be completed at the same time as all Grade 5 students around the state.

Thank you to Jason Dangerfield and the team, the departure time for the camp has been able to be delayed by an hour or so, to enable students to take the Writing tests before they leave for camp on Wednesday 11th March.

So, the arrangements will be:

• Students arrive at school by 8.45am

• Luggage left near front office

• NAPLAN Writing session starts at 9.00am

• Volunteers to help load luggage onto bus

• Writing session complete by 10.00am

• Students head to bus for departure at 10.15am

• Parents and Carers will be welcome to return at approximately 10.00am to farewell their children and wave to the bus!

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ privacy policy and the Schools’ privacy collection notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy EPS-Photographing-filming-recording-students-policy  describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents.

  • March Events:
    • Thursday 5th March – EDEC House Sports (Grades 3 – 6)
    • Friday 6th March – Assembly
    • Monday 9th March – Labour Day Public Holiday
    • Tuesday 10th March – Divisional Swimming (selected students)
    • Wednesday 11th – Friday 27th March – Grade 5 Camp
    • Wednesday 11th – Monday 23rd March – NAPLAN
    • Friday 20th March – Assembly
    • Thursday 26th March – School Council Meeting @7.15pm
    • Tuesday 31st March – School Photos

Emma Clark

Principal

This Week…

Hello families & friends,

It’s Matilda & Marnie, your Wellbeing Captains here.

We were wondering if you had any spare/not in use, good quality items to donate for our cubbies in our Adventure Playground.

Our cubbies are:

  • Hospital
  • Fire station
  • Police Station
  • Farmers market
  • Cafe

All the items that we had are broken and or lost. This would help make our cubbies more fun for everyone.

If you have anything, can you please bring it to the front office and we’ll sort through it.

Thank you!

Matilda & Marnie ☺️

2026 Grade 6 Leadership

  • Ollie D
  • Reve M
  • Amberlie
  • Hunter

  • Lucas K
  • Cora

  • Miller
  • Nathan

Library Captains:

  • Georgia H
  • Indie T

  • Brandon
  • Kayden

  • Matilda
  • Marnie

Worrell 

  • Zoe P
  • Henry P

A’Vard

  • Harper
  • Sofia
  • Willem
  • Jagger

Ryberg

  • Peyton
  • Poppy C
  • Tanith
  • Ashley

Nobelius

  • Andy
  • Skye
  • Indi Mc
  • Jack S

  • Poppy Mc
  • Annabelle

  • Logan
  • Aiden

Canteen Captains:

  • Ashton
  • Jordy

Art Captains:

  • Abi W
  • Georgie C

Star of the week!

For trying hard with all of her learning and working like a star!

For being such a kind, polite, friendly and hardworking member of our class. You are a SUPERSTAR!

For showing resilience and always having a smile on your face throughout the start of grade 1!

For being a wonderful role model and a kind and considerate classmate who looks out for others. What a STAR!

For your positive start to Grade 3. We love seeing your smiling face every morning.

For making awesome choices to regulate and stay on track with his learning.

*Student Award*

For consistently working hard in class, listening, focusing and always doing her best. Mrs Forsythe and all of 5F think you are a STAR!

For showing great pride in producing high-quality work. You take time to refine your ideas and your focus, creativity and willingness to keep improving is wonderful to see!

For being a superstar helper who is always ready to lend a hand in the classroom.

For showing such incredible resilience while managing a broken arm! You are a bright shining STAR!

For working each day with focus and determination to do his best!

For being a friendly class member who shows beautiful manners every day. He works hard, co-operates thoughtfully and is always ready to help others.

For your unique and creative approach to problem solving. We love when you share your ideas with our class.

For amazing confidence while doing your speech in front of the class and all round being a legend in the classroom!

For your AMAZING effort with your narrative titled “The Trip That Went Wrong!” You especially did a great job with your editing, using the CUPS strategy. You are a writing STAR!

For your outstanding start to Year 6. I am already so impressed by your creativity and positive attitude in class. Well Done!

For demonstrating an amazing growth mindset towards learning.

For settling into 1P so well! Welcome to EPS Harvey.

For being a superstar listener and always following all instructions straight away! Amazing!

For being an amazing worker and an all-round good person.

For consistently demonstrating our school values, and for being the undisputed silent-ball champ of 3/4D!

For his consistent effort to remain focussed during teaching time and on all his given tasks. His commitment to his learning and trying to ignore distractions has been outstanding! What a Star!

For his eagerness to extend his maths knowledge – taking on extra homework each week. Awesome work!!

From 1 January 2026, families eligible for CSEF will see an increase in support to $400 for primary school children, up from $154. Applications for 2026 CSEF support will open from 27 January 2026 and closes on the 26 June 2026.

If you currently hold a valid Concession Card, please come into the Emerald Primary School office to collect a form and submit it along with a copy of your Concession Card. 

A downloadable version of the form is available here. You may complete this at home and bring the filled-in form, together with a copy of your Concession Card, to the school office.

For more information please visit: Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund | vic.gov.au

Together with CardiniaShire Council, we wish to remind drivers of the utmost importance of road safety when parking around the school, at pick up and drop off times.
To ensure the safety of all pedestrians, students and members of our school community, we ask that you:
• Adhere to the road rules: Do not block the flow of traffic or allow students to get in and out of a vehicle while in the flow of traffic, even if the vehicle is stopped.
• Park only in designated areas: Parking is not permitted on nature strips, no-stopping zones, no-parking zones, bus zones, or areas reserved for staff. Please adhere to all signage and the road rules.
• Follow drop-off and pick-up procedures: Use the designated drop-off and pick-up zones to ensure a smooth and safe flow of traffic.
• Be mindful of pedestrians: Follow directions from School Crossing Supervisors and take extra caution during peak times when children are arriving or leaving school.
• Be respectful: Council Parking Officers are required to conduct regular patrols around schools to ensure safety. Please be respectful, and courteous.
Drivers are advised that any offences detected may lead to the issuing of an infringement notice. This may be affixed to the windscreen or posted via mail.

Community News

Share This Newlsetter!

Canteen News!

Friday Meal Deal 

Chicken Parma roll

&

Blueberry Chill J drink

100% Sparkling Fruit Juice drink

$8.00

Please be advised that on Thursday 5 March (EDEC House Sports Day) the school canteen will be closed, as Kristi will be operating the EDEC canteen at the Athletics Club. The online ordering system will also be unavailable on this day to prevent orders being placed.

We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you for your support.

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