Principal’s Report
This is a notification that the Canteen will be closed on Monday 4th November – so there will be no lunch orders that day, and the Canteen will not be open at recess or lunch.
Please note that all teaching staff are required to have one further Professional Practice Day for this term, when they will complete assessments, planning and other school tasks for their professional learning. For this term, we will be scheduling this day for all teachers on Monday 4th November. Replacement teachers (mostly whom the students know well!) have been employed for this day, so there will be a school program on this day, however, it will look somewhat different to normal school days. We generally have lower attendance numbers on this day with families using this opportunity to have short holidays. Please contact me at the school if you have any queries.
I just wanted to remind parents and carers that the school hours of supervision are from 8.45am to 3.45pm each school day. With the recent excitement of having a before and after school care program onsite, a number of children are presenting at the program without bookings and trying to engage with the children who are inside the Senior Learning Centre under the care of the TheirCare staff. Students should not be dropped to school before 8.30am please. Also, if your child/children are going to be picked up late on occasion, please let the office know and we will ensure that they are supervised. Please reach out to me at school if there is anything about this that I can help you with.
To register or find out more about TheirCare, please follow this link: https://theircare.com.au/
As we continue Term 4, teachers begin the process of creating classes for 2025 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 1st November (emerald.ps@education.vic.gov.au). Requests for individual teachers will not be accepted unless there is a special needs diagnosis and/or substantial adjustments being made for a student’s learning 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 2025.
We are coming into an important time of year regarding planning for 2025. 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.
Due to price increases in all uniform pieces from the wholesale company, we have had to add a small increase to many of our uniform items. Please see the new price list below. As always, let us know if you need any assistance in purchasing uniform, and we will also continue to try to have good quality second-hand uniform items for sale.
Pertussis Exclusion Guidelines (legislated for primary schools, recommended for secondary schools but not legislated):
Cases: Exclude the child for 21 days after the onset of cough or until they have completed 5 days of a course of antibiotic treatment (return on day 6). Exclusion can only be enacted for ‘Confirmed’ cases of pertussis.
Contacts: Contacts aged less than 7 years in the same room as the case who have not received three effective doses of pertussis vaccine should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have taken 5 days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment. This also applies to a case’s siblings (if in the same household) if under 7.
From healthdirect.gov.au
Symptoms: Cold-like symptoms including runny nose, sneezing, mild dry cough, fever. The cough may also worsen as time goes on.
It is a contagious illness.
Can cause serious health problems in babies.
Vaccination is the best protection against whooping cough. Pregnant women and adults who have contact with babies should get a booster vaccine.
Please send a message to the school email, emerald.ps@education.vic.gov.au , if you have any queries.
- Wednesday 30th October – Friday 1st November – Grade 4 Camp
- Friday 1st November @9.15am – Assembly
- Monday 4th November – Canteen Closed
- Tuesday 5th November – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
- Monday 11th November – Friday 15th November – Grade 6 Camp
- Friday 15th November @9.15am – Assembly
- Thursday 21st November @7.15pm – School Council Meeting (Finance @7pm)
- Friday 22nd November – Grade 5 Soccer Day
- Monday 25th November – Friday 29th November – Our Annual Book Fair
- Friday 29th November @9.15am – Whole School Assembly
Emma Clark
Principal
This week …
Congratulations to Estella for her amazing achievements at the Regional Athletics Carnival.
3rd 9/10 Girls Long Jump
1st 9/10 Girls High Jump
Estella now progresses to the State High Jump Finals on the 6th November. Good luck Estella!
Upcoming Events …
Community News
