Principal’s Report

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) Fundraiser – Wear Blue Day on Friday 23rd October

This Friday 23^rd October will be a gold coin donation/free dress day, with the proceeds going to The EB Foundation. Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is the name for a group of rare inherited skin disorders that cause the skin to become very fragile. Please come to school in free dress on this day with a “touch of blue” (or wear full blue!) to show your support. One of our students experiences this condition and her family supports us to conduct this fundraising for this day, which goes to the wider cause to find treatments and cures. A “Walk for Wings” event is held in October each year for this cause, and our funds raised will go towards it also. For more information on the condition, please follow this link:

https://www.debra.org.au/walk-for-wings/

Good Luck!

Wishing our two Grade 5 students, Isla G and Albie W all the best for Rotary Speech Competition next Tuesday night; and also good luck to our HPV teams competing at Lang Lang on Sunday!

Enrolments and Exits 2027

We are coming into an important time of year regarding planning for 2027. If you are aware of any families who are looking at enquiring to enrol at EPS and have not submitted enrolment forms for next year, please encourage them to contact the school ASAP. Also, if you are exiting the school at the end of this year, please let us know as soon as possible so we can include this in our planning.

Planning Classes for 2027

As we start Term 4, teachers begin the process of creating classes for 2027 to establish the best learning environment for them again with their peers. There are several factors that are considered in finding the best balance for each grade such as:

Achievement levels
Behavioural challenges
Interpersonal relationships between students
Teacher recommendations

Achieving even a semi-equal distribution of these factors simultaneously is no small feat! Our priority is creating a high performing and positive classroom environment ensuring a stimulating space for students to achieve their best.

As a result, requests for classes based on interpersonal relationships between students, in writing, will be accepted until Friday 30^th October (emerald.ps@education.vic.gov.au).

Please note – all grade teachers will go through a process in coming weeks whereby they ask students in their classes to give them a short list of which students they would like to be with in 2027 because they learn well with them, and/or they are students who make them feel happy and safe in the classroom, which is a separate process to any parent/carer requests submitted by email.

Requests for individual teachers will not be accepted and the final decision on all student placements rests with myself and the teaching team, after due consideration of all related factors. I thank you for your cooperation and understanding in supporting what is best for all of our students at EPS and look forward to a positive and exciting start to 2027 – which will come around quicker than we know it.

Being SunSmart for Term 4

A reminder to all students to please wear their hat from the start of this term outside in order to ensure protection against the sun for Term 4. Hats can be purchased from the Uniform Shop for $16. Students without hats to wear at break times will be directed to play in the undercover area.

Changes to the Way We Use Class Dojo

As we continue to look at the best ways to communicate with our school community, we will be making some changes to how we use Class Dojo from Term 4. Class Dojo will continue to be used for whole-school and grade cohort posts, including sharing important information, reminders and celebrations with families. However, the direct messaging function between individual parents/carers and staff members will no longer be used for communication.

If you have a question, concern or matter you would like to discuss with your child’s teacher, we encourage you to touch base with them briefly before or after school, where appropriate, or contact the school to arrange a meeting time. You can also email the school emerald.ps@education.vic.gov.au and your message will be directed to the appropriate staff member. For anything urgent that needs to be addressed on the day, please contact the school office by phone so that we can ensure the message is received promptly.

We appreciate that families are busy and that communication between home and school is an important part of supporting our students. These changes will help us ensure that communication is managed consistently, that staff have appropriate time to focus on teaching and learning during the school day, and that parents and carers have the opportunity to discuss concerns directly and constructively.

Important Health Information for EPS

Please see attached some very important information in regards to protecting the health of a student at Emerald Primary School. Your support and co-operation is very much appreciated.

Important Letter from Monash Childrens Hospital 2026

EPS Student Free/Curriculum Days 2026

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

Friday 4^th December – Assessment & Reporting Day

For those families using the TheirCare childcare service, they are preparing to have students on the 4^th December dates: https://theircare.com.au/

Exciting Events & Must-Know Dates!

Term 4:
October Events:
- Thursday 22nd October – Regional Athletics (selected students)
- Thursday 22nd October – Prep 2027 Transition – Session 1 (PMP)
- Thursday 22nd October – School Council @ 7.15pm
- Friday 23rd October – Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) Fundraiser – Wear Blue Day (Gold Coin Donation)
- Friday 23rd October – Assembly
- Sunday 25th October – Human Powered Vehicles (H.P.V) Event @ Lang Lang (selected Grade 6 students)
- Monday 26th October – Prep 2027 Transition – Session 2 (Art)
- Tuesday 27th October – Rotary Speech Night (Grade 5)
- Thursday 29th October – Prep 2027 Transition – Session 2 (Art)
- Friday 30th October – World Teachers Day
November Events:
- Tuesday 3rd November – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
- Friday 6th November – Assembly
- Monday 9th November – Prep 2027 Transition – Session 3 (Music)
- Thursday 12th November – Grade 1 excursion to Ricket’s Point
- Thursday 12th November – Prep 2027 Transition – Session 3 (Music)
- Friday 13th November – Grade 2 excursion to Ricket’s Point
- Sunday 15th November – School Fair @ 10.00am – 3.00pm
- Monday 16th November – EDEC Indoor Soccer (Grade 5 students)
- Friday 20th November – Assembly
- Wednesday 25th – Friday 27th November – Grade 4 Camp @ Sovereign Hill
- Thursday 26th November – School Council Meeting @ 7.15pm

Emma Clark

Principal

This Week…

Sports Report…

Divisional Basketball

Our four basketballs teams competed in the Divisional Competition last week at Dandenong. All teams performed well throughout the day. It was great to watch their skills and teamwork in action!

Congratulations to our Girl 1 team who were undefeated and now will compete in the Regional event on Tuesday 27^th October at Dandenong.

Thanks to all parents who helped on the day!

Good luck girls!

Division Volleyball

Yesterday our Boys and Girls teams also competed at the Divisional event at Dandenong. Although our teams did not win a match, they were very competitive and most matches could have gone our way with some luck!

Thanks to the parents for coaching and supporting our athletes!

School Fair 2026…

Sunday 15^th November 2026 10am-3pm

Volunteering

To book a time to help on your class stall please go to https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/zikqy

Unlimited Rides Wristbands

To purchase please visit https://www.trybooking.com/DQFGM

Stall Sponsorship

Sponsorship helps us cover the costs of our stalls. Starting from just $50, sponsors receive advertising in our newsletter, social pages and signage on Fair day. Please email epsfair@outlook.com for more information.

Donations needed

We realise that the list is lengthy, every little thing makes a difference!

Raffle and Auction items – vouchers, hampers, toys, games, sporting equipment, candles, skincare, gardening items, tools, car care, kitchen items anything goes!
Prizes – small novelty items for prizes and lucky dips, stickers, stamps, ooshies, bouncy balls, spinning tops, gel pens, bubbles, whistles- a great excuse to clean out your party cupboard!
Chocolate Share Bags/wrapped chocolates
Plants and Home Grown Produce (please drop off Friday 13^th Nov or Fair morning)
Home baked goodies, cakes, slices, biscuits, jams, sauce etc (please drop off Fri 13^th Nov or Fair morning)