Principal’s Report

Bushfire At Risk Register for Schools – Emerald Primary School is in Category 3

School preparedness and pre-emptive actions for the bushfire season

Schools and early childhood services undertake a range of activities each year to prepare for bushfires and grassfires.

The Department of Education conducts an annual fire risk assessment of schools and early childhood services. Those at the greatest levels of risk are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) and Category 4 list.

Schools at the highest levels of risk (Categories 0, 1 and 2) take pre-emptive actions on elevated fire danger days in their Local Government Area according to their fire risk category to minimise the risk of being caught in a fire in these conditions.

All schools and early childhood services listed on the BARR and Category 4 list will also close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district.

As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan and conducted maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and cleared our school’s grounds and gutters.

What does this mean for our school?

Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 3 school.

Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in CENTRAL fire district.  

What is the department’s policy?

The department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy requires all schools and early childhood services on the BARR and the Category 4 list to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.

When will our school be closed due to Catastrophic fire danger?

Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating CENTRAL fire district.

Closure of the school due to a forecast Catastrophic day will be confirmed on the day prior and we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day. Any information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you via a Compass message.

Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast.  This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child.  It is also important to be aware that:

  • No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
  • All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
  • School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.

Families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days.  On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.

For those of us living in a bushfire prone area, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) advises that when Catastrophic days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day.

What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?

  • Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.  Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, checking our website www.eps.vic.edu.au  , by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.
  • Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is closed due to elevated fire danger or closed due to a Catastrophic fire danger. Further information can be found on the CFA’s website.
  • Enact your family’s bushfire survival plan if your own triggers are met. Our school community may be spread out across many areas and some families may be at higher risk than others. Your family’s safety is critical, so please let us know if you are enacting your bushfire survival plan and if your children will be absent on these days.
  • If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.

You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:

  • VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices
  • VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226)
  • Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au
  • ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters

Some parents have asked me to clarify some details about Monday 3rd November, which is the day before the Melbourne Cup Day holiday. From past experience it is evident that many families use this day to take a longer weekend as their last chance for a break before Christmas. We know that class numbers are significantly down, usually with around 5-10 students in each class, so normal programs tend to be postponed for the day. If you are able to indicate on Compass prior to the day if you anticipate your child/children being absent on the day, that would be very helpful. In Compass, please click on “Add Attendance Note”. Please be assured that any student attending on this Monday will be supervised all day, but it is very probable that the normal school programs will not be running. This includes the closing of the school Canteen for the day.

Planning Classes for 2026

As we continue Term 4, teachers begin the process of creating classes for 2026 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 31st 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 2026 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 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 2026.

We are coming into an important time of year regarding planning for 2026. 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.

  • October Events:
    • Thursday 30th October – Prep 2026 Transition Program
    • Friday 31st October – Crazy Hair Day
  • November Events: 
    • Tuesday 4th November – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
    • Saturday 8th November – Working Bee @1pm
    • Monday 10th November – Prep 2026 Transition Program
    • Thursday 13th November – Prep 2026 Transition Program
    • Saturday 15th November – School Fair
    • Thursday 20th Novemeber – School Council Meeting @ 7.30pm
    • Monday 24th November – Grade 5 Indoor Soccer
    • Wednesday 26th November – Prep 2026 Meet the Teacher Evening
    • Friday 28th November – Curriculum Day (No Students at School)

Emma Clark

Principal

This Week…

Division Volleyball – 17th October, Monbulk College

Our EPS Girls’ and Boys’ Volleyball teams competed strongly against other schools from across the Dandenong Ranges. Both teams developed their skills throughout the day, coming close to winning sets against the top teams! The winners of the competition were the Boys’ and Girls’ teams from Tecoma.

Thank you to Gabby Mattille for assisting with coaching on the day.

Congratulations, volleyballers — you dedicated time to train and played admirably.
Well done!

Mr Appleby

Regional Athletics

Last Thursday, 15 talented athletes ventured out to Doncaster to compete in the Regional Athletics Event.

Our students performed well and gave it their best effort against extremely strong opposition. The highlight of the day was Kobe who finished 2nd in the 12/13 Boys Hurdles. Kobe now progresses to the State Finals which will be held on Thursday November 6th at Lakeside Stadium.

Congratulations also to Ollie who also finished 3rd in the 12/13 Boys 1500m and a big thank you to the parents who transported their children to the event.

Mr Stella

HPV Lang Lang – Sprint and Obstacle, 26th October

Well… we knew the rain was coming — and it did! EPS sent four student teams and one adult team to the EDEC Sprint and Obstacle event at the Lang Lang Football-Netball Club. It was a choice between getting some racing in or none at all for the remainder of the year — so we raced! 😁

The organisers went ahead with the competition, modifying the format and courses to give riders maximum time on the track. The course was exciting and challenging, even without the rain! Our riders enjoyed testing themselves, completing many laps before competition ceased — once everyone was soaked to the core.

A huge thank you to all our HPV families and sponsors for supporting and persevering with the event, as well as for your ongoing support throughout the year — you rock!

Hopefully everyone (and all the equipment) has dried out by now. Our final event is the HPS Sponsor Appreciation Assembly on Friday, 7th November at 9:10am.

Happy riding,
The Year Six Team

Star of the week!

For showing excellent strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems. What a Maths STAR!

For creating an amazing spaceship design and clearly explaining all the features. Well done.

For settling back into the rhythm of our class after his exciting journey to the U.S.A! Welcome back!

For his amazing focus and concentration on a spelling activity. Great work Knox!

For the positive attitude and amazing effort you show towards all your learning.

For working so meticulously on a lotus diagram in Inquiry. You are such a focused learner.

For being so engaged in all learning tasks this week! You gave everything a go, Legend!

*Student Award*

For being a hardworking student who always gives 100% effort. She concentrates, helps others generously and is an example of perseverance and positivity. What a STAR!

For your kindness towards a friend who really needed it. You are a kind and caring SUPER STAR!

For your engaging Jumanji writing piece. I loved your use of dialogue and imagery. Well Done!

For being an amazing person and fitting into Prep G beautifully! What a wonderful friend you are to everyone.

For using different units of measurement to determine the length of different objects. Well done.

For your flexibility and willingness to work with anyone in our class!

For independently using arrays to solve multiplication equations.

For showing great improvement in reading – what a super STAR.

For always going above and beyond to be kind, improve your work and set awesome challenges for yourself. You are a growth mindset star!

For effectively translating her learning from probability to problem solving and choosing an appropriate strategy to solve a problem as part of a team! What a STAR!

For showing confidence and leadership when teaching the class a maths game. Her clear instructions and enthusiasm made the activity engaging for everyone.

*Library Award*

For taking the time during lunchtime to help in the library – always ready to lend a hand and keep things running smoothly – A true library legend! You’re an amazing Library STAR!

For your focus and attentive listening during our daily phonics lessons which has not gone unnoticed. You are a STAR!

For expanding the content of her writing to create more detailed and interesting stories. Well done.

For continuously working to improve your writing. This weeks diary writing was your best work!

For your fantastic use of WOW words in your descriptive writing about a haunted house!

For consistently approaching learning challenges with a positive attitude.

For your positive energy and friendship. You are a great member of the class!

For her amazing mathematical memory, her ability to work as part of a team and her efforts to use CUBES as a strategy to understand the question!

For always being a friendly and positive member of our classroom. You are a kind and caring SUPER STAR!

For showing fantastic independence in your learning by consistently choosing to take work home and complete it in your own time. You have a wonderful attitude towards learning and show great readiness for high school.

Australia will celebrate the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day on Friday 31 October 2025.  

Let’s celebrate our Emerald Primary School Teachers for their skilled work in educating, inspiring and supporting our young people.

Hats off to teachers this World Teachers’ Day!

Upcoming Events…

Our Working Bees are always a lot of fun, with good music playing and the kids loving getting involved and having a play. We would love some help with weeding, tree trimming, and general tidying. Please bring any extra tools you might have, but remember to label them clearly. We hope to see you there!

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