Principal’s Report
We decided to move our Fair Day a bit earlier this year and we struck it lucky with amazing weather and of course, wonderful community support. It is a fun day for the school community to come together and work to raise funds for improving our school and its surrounds for the students to enjoy. A BIG vote of thanks must go to our Superstar Fair Co-ordinator, Peta Woodyard – she has been working on the event almost for the whole year, and did a fantastic job bringing it all together on the day. We are excited to announce that approximately $19,000 was raised from the day – great job team! Thank you to all of the Parent and Staff Volunteers on the day who ran stalls and helped out everywhere. Thank you also to the EPS students for their help and enthusiasm on the day! We must give individual thanks to the following people
- Olivia McLeod for organising and running the auction.
- Paul “Dougie” Douglas for organising the Hot Food Station and setting up.
- Helen Henderson, Luke Hill, Kerry Stephens, Julie Bowyer, Vyvyan Cornell, Carice D’Rozario for manning the Hot Food Station for the whole day.
- Samantha Streader for arranging plant donations.
- Kate Gordon for helping with the class flowerpots.
- Jason Dangerfield for setting up all the marquees and running the rides tickets stall all day.
- Gabby Mattille, Stephanie Etherington, Kath Barrot, Sandra Cahill and Jacquie Forsythe for running cash collections, and a guest appearance from Polly Smith, supported by Bronwyn Thomas-Smith for cash counting!
Congratulations to our two participants in the Rotary Club of Emerald and District Speech Contest, held last Tuesday 26th October. EPS staff and students selected two entrants from a fabulous field of Grade 5 orators, and this year the successful students were Savannah L. and Scarlet BT. Both students spoke on the topic of “Mysteries of the Deep”, and excelled in their presentation, content and delivery of their speeches – well done! We look forward to hearing their speeches at an upcoming assembly.
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/
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.
- 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
- Thursday 28th November – Grandparents/Special Friends Day
- Friday 29th November @9.15am – Whole School Assembly
- Friday 13th December @9.15am – Whole School Assembly
Emma Clark
Principal
Star of the week!
This week …
Upcoming Events …
Community News
After identifying a gap in programs and activities, the Family, Children and Youth teams at Maroondah and Yarra Ranges Councils are working together with Building Better Brains, to develop a plan of programs and activities for dads and male carers of children aged 0-8 years.
To help us to build a quality program, we are asking for your feedback on what would best support you in your role as a dad or male carer, whilst building social and community connections.
There are a number of ways families can provide feedback:
- Fill in the survey here https://shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/dads-chat-project
- Come and talk to us at various locations – find out where we will be
- Send us an email at mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
- Give us a call on 1300 368 333
Consultation closes 4th December 2024.
