Principal’s Report

This evening we look forward to welcoming our 2026 Grade Prep families to the Meet the Teacher session, followed by a sausage sizzle. It’s always an exciting milestone for our newest students as they begin their transition into school life.

A reminder that this Friday, 28th November, is a student-free day while staff undertake a Professional Practice Day. No students are required at school.

We are counting down to Japanese Day next Tuesday, 2nd December. This is always a highlight on our calendar and a fantastic celebration of culture, language and learning. We can’t wait to see the joy and creativity it brings to our classrooms.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we prepare to farewell Mrs Gail Fraser at the end of the year, who has been a full-time teacher at Emerald Primary School since 2002, and first joined our community as a replacement teacher in 1999. Gail is an immensely well-loved and deeply appreciated member of the EPS community. Her impact on students, parents and colleagues over so many years has been profound, and she will be greatly missed. We thank Gail for her dedication, care and passion for teaching, and wish her all the very best for the future.

We had a wonderful Junior School Cross-Country run last Wednesday, and what perfect weather we enjoyed for it! A huge thank you to Craig Appleby and Ben Kolb for their fantastic organisation and coordination of this event. It was a fun, energetic day for all our students.

A reminder to all students to please be careful around the bike storage area near the Stadium. For everyone’s safety, please keep away from the bikes and scooters and ensure you are not playing on or near them. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe space for all.

A reminder that this Friday 28th November is a Professional Practice Day for teachers. No students are required at school on this day. We appreciate your support in allowing our staff the time to undertake important planning, assessments and professional learning.

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

  • November Events: 
    • Wednesday 26th November – Prep 2026 Meet the Teacher Evening
    • Friday 28th November – Curriculum Day (No Students at School)
  • December Events:
    • Tuesday 2nd December – Japanese Day
    • Friday 5th December – Leaps & Bounds Assembly
    • Tuesday 9th December – Transition to 2026 morning
    • Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th December – Grade 4 Camp
    • Thurday 11th December – School Council Meeting @ 7:30pm
    • Thursday 18th December – Grade 6 Graduation
    • Friday 19th December – Term 4 Ends @ 2.30pm

Emma Clark

Principal

This Week…

Star of the week!

For sharing his overseas photos during Show and Tell. Aidan spoke very clearly and with great confidence. Awesome Job!

For his excellent work during inquiry lessons. Well done on trying your best.

For settling back into our class routines so well after your big trip. You’ve worked really hard in all your activities – great job! You are a STAR!

For researching some fabulous information for her celebrations project. Well done Olivia!

For the amazing work you have done on your reading this year. It has really paid off!

For being a kind and considerate classmate, and teaching others about K-pop in lunch clubs.

For her quiet persistence, always returning to the ‘Learning Pit’ in spite of the difficulties and challenges that come her way. What a STAR!

*Student Award*

For writing a comprehensive script for your play on the era 1960 – 1980… even though your partner is away. What an independent STAR!

For your amazing attitude towards learning. You’re a great role model and always try your best! Thank you for bringing your positivity with us.

For being a super star writer! Well done on all your fantastic writing.

For providing thoughtful and caring ideas during Buddy Grade activities.

For showing great focus during our Inquiry topic while making your project to show the Moon’s orbit around the earth. You worked carefully and stayed engaged- well done! You are a STAR!

For showing initiative by researching information in your own time, demonstrating curiosity and commitment to learning.

For being a compassionate and empathetic friend. You are a supportive STAR!

For outstanding work on your “Shaping Australia” Google Slide project!

For his kind and supportive nature, always encouraging and helping those who need it!

For demonstrating a strong understanding in solving Algebraic equations this term. Top Job!

For your amazing slam poem about Ocean Pollution. I was so impressed by your confident delivery – it was clear how hard you worked on this.

For working really hard on her reading tasks, and decoding -ing and -ed words.

For working hard to add more content and detail to your stories with great presentations!

For doing an amazing job researching information for his celebrations project on Halloween.

For your positive attitude and growth mindset. You are kicking goals!

For your amazingly detailed quadrama about our class novel. I bet even the author Jackie French would be impressed!

For outstanding focus on your “Shaping Australia” Google Slide project.

For creating amazing responses to our class novel ‘Refuge’ in your sketch notes. Your responses are detailed and demonstrate your knowledge of the text.

For her terrific leadership, initiative and support during the Junior School Cross Country. Awesome!

For your thrilling story based on the Harris Burdick prompt ‘Mr Linden’s Library’. I was on the edge of my seat.

Japanese Day – Tuesday December 2nd

Konnichiwa!

EPS will be celebrating our Japanese learning next week with Japanese Day: a whole day of Japan-related activities, entertainment, art, craft, music, games and more! A little more low-key than last year but still lots of fun and, of course, dressing up. We’ll have a costume parade in Session 2 so we’d like all children to make an effort to wear something at least a little Japanese-y. Please don’t buy a costume. Just be creative with things you have at home. How about: a Pokemon character, anime character, kimono made from a dressing gown or button up shirt with a scarf tied around the waist, an animal like a tanuki, fox or cat, a ninja in all black, anything to do with sushi, a red circle on a white t-shirt to make a flag, accessories like fans, cherry blossoms, Japanese tech like robots. There are so many easy options that children can source from home with a little imagination.

* I know that swords are tempting but please leave those at home unless they are made of cardboard or something squishy.

Loren is offering a sushi lunch order so please get those orders back to her by this Friday.

Arigato (thank you) for your support of the Japanese program.,

Sonia

Upcoming Events…

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Tuesday 2nd December

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