Principal’s Report

I am very happy to announce the teaching team for 2026 – it is a privilege to work with these excellent educators!

As I announced a few weeks ago, we are farewelling Mrs. Gail Fraser at the end of this year, who has been an amazing part of the EPS community for so long.

In addition, Sonia Sensei will be on leave in 2026, and we welcome Mrs. Claire Marshall to teach Japanese/Nihongo next year.

We are also looking forward to welcoming back Mrs. Megan Ashmore and Mrs. Vyvan Cornell to the EPS team to start 2026!

  • Prep – Amy Gazzard, Jennifer Palacios, Michelle Hayward
  • Grade 1- Katie Weerasinghe, Jeff Roma, Casey Patterson
  • Grade 2 – Danielle Hardman, Vyvyan Cornell, Shannyn Gardiner/Megan Ashmore
  • Grade 3 – Caroline Cook/Megan Ashmore, Ben Kolb
  • Grade 4 – Aly Backman/Cameron Sutherland, Erin Nelmes
  • Grade 3/4 – Caitlin Donders
  • Grade 5 – Jacquie Forsythe, Jason Dangerfield, Bianca Appleby/Cathlin Smart
  • Grade 6 – Tara Porter, Felicity Bathgate, Craig Appleby/Lisa Ward (* Louise Boocock joining the team when she returns from her travels)
  • Junior STEM – Louise Seamer
  • Senior STEM – Monique Louey
  • Performing Arts – Dan MacEoin
  • Physical Education  – Matt Stella
  • Japanese – Claire Marshall
  • Visual Art – Lisa Ward
  • Student Learning Support – Megan Ashmore & Louise Boocock

Over the past semester, we have been working together as a community to review and refresh our school values. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all EPS staff, students and families who shared their thoughts, ideas and perspectives throughout this process. Your feedback played an important role in shaping the values that will guide us into the future.

Our long-standing values of Friendliness, Success and Respect have served our school well for many years. As we prepare to introduce the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) Framework, it became the perfect time to revisit these values and ensure they continue to reflect the aspirations of our community.

Teaching staff began by identifying the key behaviours expected in all areas of school life. This work led to a set of seven possible values, which were then shared broadly for input from families, students and staff. The thoughtful feedback we received helped us refine and prioritise what matters most for our school.

We are now very proud and excited to announce our new EPS school values:

Respect

(Responsibility & Safety)

Kindness

(Inclusion & Empathy)

Resilience

(Pride & Determination)

We will be officially launching these values in 2026, with activities and celebrations that will introduce the language, expectations and meaning of each value across the school. This will support a smooth transition into the SWPBS framework and ensure our whole community shares a common understanding.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed their voice to this important process. Your involvement ensures our values truly reflect who we are as a school—and who we aspire to be.

Over the year, 6P and Mrs Tara Porter have been working away in the background with Dona Martin to create an exciting addition to the revamped Emerald Heritage Walk – a Maths Trail. Dona is a grandparent at our school, a member of the Emerald Lions’ Club and a retired Maths teacher, who is very passionate about all things numeracy! The Maths Trail will run alongside the heritage walk through the use of QR codes at each location and on the Heritage Walk maps. 6P have been answering and critiquing questions for the Maths Trail, as well as making suggestions of their own that could be included. Although the work is now waiting for final grants and applications to be approved, we anticipate the trail will be up and running by the end of 2026. We are thrilled that our Emerald Primary School students were able to make such a valuable contribution to this exciting project. Thank you to Tara Porter (Mathematics Learning Specialist) and the 6P student team for their work on the trail. We would also like to thank Dona Martin for supporting our school to gain a Mathematics Association of Victoria (MAV) subscription for 2026, which will provide our teachers with access to a range of publications and professional learning opportunities. We are excited to see the finished Maths Trail and hope many of our families enjoy it for years to come.

Please note that we have multiple hard copies of the EPS Yearbooks produced in 2022 and 2023 at school. Please pop in to the office to collect any copies you would like before Tuesday next week.

We will finish school for the year next Friday 19th December at 2.30pm.

The final whole school assembly will be at 2.00pm.

The first day for Grades 1 to 6 students in 2026 is Wednesday 28th January, and our new Grade Prep students join us on Thursday 29th January.

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

  • December Events:
    • 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…

Leaps and Bounds Awards!

Seamus K

Seamus has consistently shown excellent growth in his learning. He has put forth an outstanding effort in concentration and always has a go. Seamus is a responsible student who proves himself by showing great integrity both inside and outside the class by offering a helping hand to his teachers and peers. He has demonstrated the high level ability to make green choices and bravely attempt all tasks with positivity and determination. Congratulations!

Ava M

Ava has made an impressive amount of progress in her learning this year through her hard work and determination. Her confidence has flourished, and she is developing into a strong, independent learner.
It has been wonderful to see Ava take huge steps forward and feel proud of her achievements. She loves sharing her fantastic ideas with others and contributes so positively to our classroom. Every day, Ava shows the importance of working toward her own learning goals and striving for success. Keep up your amazing effort, Ava, you are awesome!

Archie Z

This year, you have grown in leaps and bounds, and it has been a joy to watch. Your unwavering focus and determination to do your best are evident in everything you take on, always pushing yourself to improve and rise to new challenges. Just as remarkable is the growth you’ve shown socially; your gentle kindness, genuine empathy, and the way you quietly offer a supportive pat on the back to a peer who needs it most speaks volumes about the wonderful person you are becoming. You brighten our classroom with your positive spirit, and we are so incredibly proud of how far you have come. Congratulations, Archie!

Lucas K

You have shown outstanding growth this year, and your Leaps and Bounds award is a true reflection of your effort and determination. You approach each task with a positive attitude and a willingness to improve, showing great growth especially with your spelling and writing. You listen to feedback and try to apply it to your tasks, and you have strengthened your focus and resilience. You participate thoughtfully in class discussions, support your classmates, and take pride in doing your best. Congratulations Lucas, you should feel incredibly proud of your achievements this year.

Evie G

Evie always puts in her best effort and is becoming a more confident and independent learner each day. She has taken a proactive approach to her learning this year, asking for help when she needs it and maintaining a positive attitude toward improving. Evie has worked hard on her reading, using her phonics skills to tackle unfamiliar words and making steady progress with her fluency. She is a kind and caring student, and her growth in this area has been lovely to see. Congratulations, Evie, on your Leaps and Bounds award!

Angus W

Angus has shown exceptional academic and social growth throughout the year. Being in a composite class, the Year 2 cohort have challenged him, and his determination and growth meant he was able to keep up as the year progressed. His reading progress has been especially impressive, moving into the Red UFLI group later in the year and committing to regular reading at home significantly boosted his fluency and confidence. Socially, Angus has also grown tremendously. Coming into Term 4, he found a close, positive group of friends and continued to show kindness and inclusion in our classroom. Angus should be very proud of his achievements, and we are delighted to recognise his continued growth and success. You really have come Leaps and Bounds this year, Angus!

Isabella Y

Isabella has shown wonderful growth this term, especially in the confidence and joy she brings to her learning. Her lively, caring nature lifts our classroom, and she continues to develop her social and emotional strengths in the way she supports and includes others. Isabella’s creativity shines through everything she does, from her imaginative writing ideas to the beautifully decorated work she proudly produces. She works hard and consistently approaches challenges with enthusiasm and persistence. We are so proud of the leaps and bounds she has made this term. Well done, Isabella!

Rio M

Rio has shown tremendous growth throughout Grade 1, maturing both academically and socially. His hard work and determination have led to impressive progress in all areas of learning. Rio is kind, sensible, and enjoys friendly fun with his classmates while always being calm and responsible during class time. He has built strong connections with classmates in both Grades 1 and 2, making many friends along the way. Congratulations on the leaps and bounds you have made this year, Rio!

Xavier S

Xavier has shown fabulous growth this year. He has worked hard to stay focused and apply himself without reminders, and he responds to feedback with a positive attitude, even when the learning feels challenging. Throughout the year, he has embraced new tasks with enthusiasm and a happy smile. He is learning to manage his emotions when things don’t go to plan, and his persistence is commendable. With continued effort toward his goals, Xavier is sure to leap ahead even further. Well done on a fantastic year.

Macey VB

Macey has made incredible leaps forward in her confidence within the classroom, and it has been wonderful to witness her growth. She now shares thoughtful, insightful ideas and contributes confidently during whole-class discussions, showing a genuine enthusiasm for learning. As her self-assurance has blossomed, Macey has let her true self shine, allowing her fantastic sense of humour and quick wit to brighten our learning environment and strengthen her connection with peers. Take this amazing confidence with you into Year 4, where I know you’ll continue to grow, thrive, and shine. Congratulations to Macey on being the recipient of the 3H Leaps and Bounds award!

Zara W

For demonstrating outstanding dedication to learning, showing remarkable growth throughout the year, and embracing every challenge. Her willingness to explore new ideas and push through challenges has helped her make impressive progress across multiple subjects. She has put in exceptional effort, especially in her reading, and her hard work has truly paid off. Zara is incredibly deserving of this award for her amazing achievements.
Congratulations, Zara! You should be extremely proud of yourself.

Luca S

This award is presented to Luca for the outstanding growth he has shown this year. He has taken brave steps in building his confidence at school and becoming an active, valued member of our classroom community.
Luca has greatly increased his willingness to connect with others, forming meaningful friendships and engaging more openly with peers. He also brings joy to our days by eagerly sharing his interests, experiences and ideas with teachers and ES staff. His commitment to attending and engaging in learning has led to steady progress across all areas. We are incredibly proud of the effort, resilience and enthusiasm he brings to each day, and we celebrate the fantastic leaps and bounds he continues to make. Congratulations, Luca!

Lillian E

This year, Lillian has grown in leaps and bounds, showing remarkable dedication and persistence across all areas of learning. Her attention to detail when analysing and understanding texts has strengthened, allowing her to share deeper insights and make thoughtful connections that get us all excited about reading. She has developed impressive confidence in expressing her ideas and sharing more of herself with her peers, becoming an enthusiastic and valued voice in the classroom. She embraces new and challenging tasks with courage, and is now more strategic and deliberate in the selection of strategies that support her learning both academically and emotionally. We are all so proud of her efforts and thoughtfulness throughout her grade 4 year. Congratulations, to one of our podcast superstars, Lillian.

Amelia Y

This year, Amelia has shown incredible growth in her learning, demonstrating a stronger sense of confidence, independence, and determination. She approaches tasks with a positive mindset and a willingness to challenge herself, leading to steady improvement across all areas. Her effort, resilience, and commitment to doing her best have truly paid off. We are so proud of the learner she is becoming, and this award celebrates the wonderful progress she has made. What a leaps and bounds STAR!

Olivia P

For her outstanding commitment to improving reading this year. The growth Olivia has made has been consistent across so many aspects. Her reading stamina continues to grow, her confidence when attacking unfamiliar words is improving and she is now carefully reading multi-syllabic words using her growing knowledge of word parts and morphemes. It is amazing to see the wonderful results of her continued hard work and dedication. You should be so proud of your efforts. Well done, Olivia!

Scarlett K

This term’s Leaps and Bounds award goes to a student who has demonstrated remarkable growth and improved commitment to her learning. Scarlett’s hard work and determination to succeed are truly inspiring. She sees obstacles not as excuses to fail or not to try, but as challenges to conquer. In writing, she takes on feedback and has developed a confident, creative voice that brings her ideas to life. In mathematics, her willingness to tackle difficult concepts and apply problem-solving strategies shows how far she has come and how committed she is to mastering new skills. Despite these impressive achievements, Scarlett remains humble, kind and grounded.
Scarlett, you approach every learning opportunity with enthusiasm, focus and a genuine drive to improve. Your progress this year has been exceptional, and we are so proud of everything you have achieved.

Henry P

You have worked so hard this year and as a result have made massive improvements in all areas of English, especially in spelling and reading. We have loved hearing you share your opinions and experiences more readily in class and watching you tackle all writing tasks with increased confidence and independence. You have come leaps and bounds and we are so proud of you. Well done, Henry!

This will be announced at our Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony.

This will be announced at our Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony.

This will be announced at our Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony.

Hadley T  Prep SP

Hadley has made amazing strides in Physical Education. It has been amazing to see her confidence grow throughout the year. She now enthusiastically joins in all activities and this has allowed her to develop her complex motor skills such as bouncing and catching. Congratulations Hadley!

Aiden L 5F

Aiden has made significant strides in Physical Education. He is extremely confident, enthusiastic and willing to ask questions in order to improve his learning. It was great to see him demonstrate determination and skill at the EDEC Grade 5 soccer day. Awesome effort Aiden!

Harry H 1/2W

This award celebrates a student who has blossomed brilliantly in Visual Art this year. His focus has sharpened, his skills have stretched, and his confidence has grown like a bright paint stroke across the page. He approaches each task with enthusiasm, care, and a growing artistic voice. I am so proud of the amazing progress he has made and the joy he brings to the art room. Well done Harry!

Melody 5F

This award recognises a student who has shined in Visual Art this year. Her progress has been remarkable, shaped by focus, curiosity, and a growing mastery of artistic techniques. She brings a natural flair to every project, creating work that shows both skill and imagination. Her artistic ability continues to deepen, and her commitment to improving has been inspiring to witness. Congratulations on an outstanding year in Visual Art Melody!

Leo T 1/2H

This student has shown wonderful perseverance and a positive attitude toward learning. Instead of becoming discouraged when new skills didn’t come easily, they chose to keep trying and give their best effort. They understand that mastery doesn’t happen instantly, and through their persistence, they have achieved impressive success. We are proud to celebrate their resilience, determination, and growth.
Great job Leo!

Georgia M 3C

This student has shown remarkable determination and a never-give-up attitude. They have worked hard to balance aiming high with taking the time to celebrate each small success along the way. Always ready to challenge themselves, they also learned the importance of setting achievable goals and steady timelines. Watching them master this balance has been inspiring, and their growth has been extraordinary. We are proud to recognise their effort, perseverance, and outstanding progress.
Well done Georgia!

Sophia S 1/2W

Sophia has blossomed with confidence in Japanese class. She joins in with reciting stories, singing songs and speaking up in class with her peers. She really shone during the Juice Bar unit when she ordered her juice in Japanese with such confidence and clarity — a wonderful reflection of how far she has come. It has been a joy to watch her skills grow and her self-belief strengthen. Sophia should feel very proud of the remarkable progress she has made in Japanese this year. It’s wonderful to see the leaps and bounds that she has made in Japanese this year.

This will be announced at our Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony.

Lennix C 1/2W

Lennix has shown a wonderful enthusiasm for learning, especially in STEM. He has made significant progress in his writing and accurately recording his findings, demonstrating both curiosity and growing scientific skill. Lennix is always respectful and attentive; he listens carefully and takes guidance on board. He approaches every task with diligence and determination, consistently striving to produce work of a high standard. Lennix’s positive attitude and steady improvement make him a truly deserving recipient of the STEM junior award. Stunning work Lennix! Well done!

Jax M 4C

For his admirable efforts to always improve his STEM understanding and his considerate and encouraging attitude towards his peers. Your enthusiasm and positive approach to your learning is wonderful to witness and a brilliant example to your peers. Great work Jax!

Community News

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Canteen News!

Friday Meal Deal

Macaroni and cheese croquetts

&

Ovalteenies

&

Zooper Dooper

$8.00

As we approach the end of the school year, we wanted to advise you that some items in the canteen may become unavailable as we begin to wind down stock levels for the holidays.
We appreciate your understanding and encourage students to have alternative options in case their preferred items are unavailable.

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