Principal’s Report

Many of us had an amazing time at the EPS Bush Dance over this past weekend. The Shenanigans Bush Band entertained us and got us all up and dancing. Both children and adults alike enjoyed the toe-tapping tunes. Thank you very much to Peta Woodyard, and her Fundraising Team and set-up crew of Olivia McLeod, Jason McLeod, Steve Woodyard, Narelle Oberin and Kylie Maes for all of their work in co-ordinating the event. The event was designed to fundraise some money, but also was held mainly to bring our school community together to have fun! (Special thanks to 5D students for helping with the pack up!!)

We had a lovely afternoon tea on Friday to celebrate this special day – again, thank you to Peta Woodyard for arranging this for everyone, and to Shane Sumpter and Joanna Shore for their support on the day.

We are excited to be once again be hosting the Hills Ukulele Festival (HUF) at Emerald Primary School next weekend, on Saturday 20th May and Sunday 21st May. We will have lots of uke fans coming to the school from near and far to see the fantastic performances and attend the wonderful workshops, not to mention the involvement from our very own EPS Ukulele Orchestra!

VOLUNTEERS
We are seeking volunteers to come and help out on both days – selling tickets, helping out at the workshops and selling food and drink in the main concert area. Please sign up via this link if you are able to assist at all over the weekend:
https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/jewoq

RAFFLE
There is a raffle running with amazing prizes – visit this link to have a look and purchase tickets:
https://rafflelink.com.au/huf2023-raffle

MORE INFORMATION
If you would like further information or want to buy tickets to the festival itself, please check out the following website:
https://hillsukulelefestival.au/

Our wonderful new cubbies are ready for use as of this week – the students have been embracing them fully since they were allowed into them! They cannot get enough of the Fire Station bell! Again, thank you to Vyvyan Cornell and the 2022 Student Action Team, along with the Fundraising Team and Fair Committee, for enabling this to happen.

A reminder that there will be a Curriculum Day on Friday 26th May, so no students are required at school on that day. Staff will be at school undertaking assessments and planning.

All parents of students in Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 are invited to an information evening in the Library this week on Wednesday 17th May at 6pm to hear more information about the approach to Literacy teaching at EPS for the junior school students, so that we can continue to build the connections between home and school to support learning.

Emerald Lakers Basketball Club have arranged a full service of our Stadium on this Friday 19th May – so just advising all members of the school community that it will be out of action for the whole day.

Parents of Grades 4, 5 and 6 students have received a letter via Compass last week from the Department of Education, regarding the annual Student Attitudes to School Survey completed online. This survey is an important way to collect wellbeing and engagement information from our students in these grade levels and check in on how they are travelling with their mental health and wellbeing as a year level group, particularly after the periods of remote and flexible learning. If you have any queries relating to the survey, please contact me at the school and please note the option to “opt out” of the survey contained in the letter. To opt out of your child/children completing the survey, please email me at emerald.ps@education.vic.gov.au by Monday 22nd May (originally Monday 15th May)

Just letting families know that in the weeks to come before the end of Term 2, we will be doing some practice evacuation drills in line with our school Emergency Management Plan. It is important to run these drills, so that we can continue to improve our safety plans and processes for all of our students and staff. Please contact me at the school if you have any queries.

The mid-year Parent-Teacher interviews will be held on Thursday 22nd June. This is an opportunity for parents and carers to discuss their child’s progress and the next steps in their learning with the grade teacher. The interviews start at 9.30am and go through until 8pm, so there will be no classes on this day.

Please note the date for our School Photo Day is Monday 19th June (in the last week of term).  Each student should receive an information sheet soon for ordering their photos online.

Emma Clark
Principal

The Hills Ukulele Festival is back for 2023.

Emerald Primary School will be hosting the event on the weekend of 20th – 21st of May.

Saturday is jam packed with workshops and internationally acclaimed artists.

It is a ticketed event.

Sunday is a totally free event with over 30 bands across 3 stages.

Information and tickets can be found at

www.ukulelefestival.com.au

There is also the amazing HUF 2023 Raffle.

This year we have $2500 worth of prizes.

Raffle tickets are available from

https://rafflelink.com.au/huf2023-raffle

All proceeds go to the pay for the festival and any extra goes to the school music program.

I hope that you can be involved.

Regards,

Dan MacEoin.

Emerald Primary School join with the Emerald Village Association in the exciting Come Sit By Me Project (number 2). The date is coming up fast…all day Wednesday 31st of May from 9am to 3.30pm at the Hills Hub.

Can you come and join us for a day with lots of rewarding moments and fun?

What is it?

Senior (and not so Senior members) of the Community working with a small group of Grade Three students from Emerald Primary School passing on hobbies and skills from generations past.

Some of the activities included are weaving and knitting, wooden projects, cooking, cake decorating, pickle ball and table tennis. Any other ideas or suggestions more than welcome…

How can I help? We are looking for Volunteers who can lead or help with an activity interacting with a small group of children. Hopefully you can be with us all day, but even part of the day would be a help too…

Who do I contact?

Ring Shelley on 0427 465 972 or e-mailcomesitbyme@gmail.com

Walk Safely to School Day will be celebrated on Friday 19th May 2023. It aims to improve the environment and our daily exercise routines.

Walking to school is the perfect way to start the day by getting some exercise and fresh air, ready to start school with a clear mind. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy when you choose to walk to school:

Walking offers a great opportunity to remind children about safe pedestrian behaviour and recap on the rules of the road.

Being outside in the fresh air creates a space in your day for mindful exercise. Walking and taking in the scenery around you creates a sense of calm that will set you up for the rest of your day.

Walking to school will help to reduce the air pollution in your area or near your school.

By using your feet instead of a car, you can also play your part in helping to reduce traffic congestion.

Students who want to be involved can grab a “Walk to School” tattoo from Mr Stella, to wear on the day.

Star of the week!

for developing your resilience to manage changes in our school day.  Your positive mindset is really helping you to bounce back!

for working so hard to complete all his tasks with such a positive mind set.  Well done.

for her remarkable academic improvement—you have come  along in leaps and bounds already!

for her fantastic reading and wonderful, happy, enthusiastic attitude in our classroom!

for always being a kind and caring friend and giving 110% to every learning task.

for her amazing effort in narrative writing.  Elleny we loved that your story showed so much voice!  What a STAR!

for being an enthusiastic and self motivated learner who strives to make the most of all learning tasks and who is always ready to challenge herself.

for approaching every day with enthusiasm,  cheerfulness and a willingness to do her best!

for consistently giving his all to every task and completing his tasks within the given time frame.  Well done!

for her sensational focus when hopping sound to read .  Charli you are a caring and kind star.

for developing his independence and getting himself organised.

for fantastic ‘Seed Page’ titled ‘off to space’ and procedural steps of how to get ready to go to space.  You are a writing STAR!

for the fantastic effort she has put into all her work and for having a positive, happy attitude!

for being a kind and caring friend and for making insightful inferences during reading.  You are a STAR!

for his fantastic information report on Sperm Whales.  Awesome work Sean!

for working so hard to reach his goal of improving his fluency and expression when reading.  Keep up the amazing work.

for remarkable kindness shown every day.  Taite, you strive to give your best and look out for those around you to succeed as well.  You are a STAR!

for working hard with practising his maths skills and kicking goals with his Maths Master!

for her ‘can do’ approach to her reading and writing.  Shayla you are a resilient and kind star!

for an improvement with his letter and sounds.

for always encouraging your classmates with a kind word.  You are a shining star!

for her increased resilience and positive attitude—you are a star!

for his fabulous knowledge in our topic on Chance in Maths.

for his fantastic effort and ideas when completing his ‘Changes I would like to see in the World’ seed page!  What a STAR!

for her enthusiasm to learn all of her times tables.  Great work!

for working with incredible diligence and integrity.  Thank you for always giving your best.  Our class is brighter with your voice and ideas shared.

for all your efforts in completing your persuasive writing.  Well done!

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Canteen Special!

Friday Meal Deal

Margherita Pizza

+

Spearmint milkshake

$6.50

Breaking up is hard to do!!!!!!!!

It’s time for the canteen to break up with single use straws, these will not be available in 2023

More than 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the world’s ocean every year and over 90% is single use plastic.

So let’s say bye bye to straws and hello to BYO.  We highly recommend reusable options over all disposables.  Students can purchase a reusable silicone straw in its own case with the school Emblem for $4 from the canteen (over the counter or via online) or uniform shop.

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