EPS Newsletter

Term 1 Week 6 2025


FROM THE PRINCIPAL - TERM 1, WEEK 6, 2025

JETS Gym

We were successful in receiving a grant from sporting schools for Term One. As a result, we, have booked in some gymnastics at Jets Gym in Bendigo. These will occur on:

  • Friday March 7th
  • Friday March 14th
  • Friday March 28th
  • The last Friday of the term on April 4th.

There is a permission note on uEducateUs that must be completed prior to the excursion.

3-6 Camp

This year, our Grades 3-6 are heading to Tylden for a 3-day adventure camp. The Campaspe Downs camp is about an hour’s drive from EPS, set amid 160 acres of stunning natural bushland in the Macedon Ranges, an adventure camp close to Kyneton and Hanging Rock.

This year's camp is going to cost $300 and is being subsidised to keep the cost as low as possible. This cost covers the transportation, camp activities, food and lodging. Once permission is given, we are requesting a $100 deposit paid prior to March 30th. The remaining cost is structured as follows:

Prior to May 30th- $100

Prior to July 30th- $100

Please keep in mind that you can allocate your SSB money towards this camp.

COULD ALL FAMILIES PLEASE CONTACT NIKKI VIA EMAIL TO LET HER KNOW HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PAY FOR CAMP.  THE OPTIONS ARE; SSB, CSEF OR MY SCHOOL CONNECT. FAMILIES NEED TO GIVE PERMISSION FOR SSB AND CSEF MONEY TO BE USED.

 

No Assembly This Friday

Due to JETS Gymnastics, we will not be having an assembly this Friday.

 

School Council Positions

Nominations for School Council have officially closed. On behalf of the EPS community, I would like to acknowledge and welcome the newest members to our wonderful school council: Jolie Penhall, Chris Magilton and Kate Finegan. Alicia Martin, Kevin Reade, Ben Phillips, Tim Arnold, Julian Hall and Amy Reade are returning to our EPS School Council.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge a departing school council member who has been on council for numerous years. Steve Becker has been pivotal in shaping our council, taking on roles on the Finance Committee. Thank you Steve for the incredible input, support and commitment to EPS over your time.

Thank you to Lydia Fehring who has completed her two-year tenure on school council as a DET representative.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing will begin on the 12th of March this year. Over the coming weeks, students will become familiar with the testing platform and features. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew directly.

AFL Tipping Competition

We are running our annual footy tipping competition through the AFL tipping interface. Below is the competition code for all those interested in joining.

Comp Code: R57HVDKS

Swing Installation

We are very close to having our new swings installed! They should be completed by Tuesday the 4th and teachers will meet with students regarding the new swings, their use and how we safely use them.



IMPORTANT DATES - TERM 1, WEEK 6, 2025

MARCH 

Tuesday 4th - Breakfast Club, 8.45am

Wednesday 5th - MARC Van 

Friday 7th - Jets Gym - Whole school 
                  - Hobbies and Clubs 2:15 - 3:15pm

Monday 10th - Labour Day Public Holiday 

Tuesday 11th - Breakfast Club, 8.45am

Friday 14th - Jets Gym - Whole School 
                    - Hobbies and Clubs 2:15 - 3:15pm
                    - Afternoon tea in the Serenity Garden @ 2.45 

Tuesday 18th - Breakfast Club, 8.45am 
 
Wednesday 19th - MARC Van 

Tuesday 25th - Breakfast Club, 8.45am 

Friday 28th - Jets Gym - Whole School 
                    - Fundraiser - Dough Si Dough Hot Cross Buns Sales CLOSE


APRIL 

Wednesday 2nd - Marc Van 

Friday 4th -  Fundraiser - Dough Si Dough Hot Cross Buns Delivery Day - Collect from the Old School Building

Friday 4th - Jets Gym - Whole School 
                  - Last Day of Term 1 - 1.30pm finish

AWARDS - TERM 1, WEEK 6, 2025


P/1/ -  Zave.A - For tying his best while learning to recognise numbers.  
              
2/3/4-  Charlie.P - For working very hard, particulary in math.

4/5/6 -  Charlie.M -For perservering and trying his best during writing sessions, writing a narrative with a descriptive super start. 


  




                       Watjarang  44


                                  Yuliwil    60  


                                               Bunjil   64


TERM 1, WEEK 6, 2025 Parent Community News






Wellbeing

LODDON CHILD HEALTH AND WELLBEING LOCAL

INFORMATION SESSIONS BLURB

ADHD What is it and how do I help?

The ADHD brain is different to other brains.  Using video material this session will show you what ADHD is like for your child and provide lots of strategies to help you support their development.  We can also answer questions you have about your child and their behaviour.

Managing Big Feelings

Big feelings include anger, sadness, worry, and distress of any kind are hard to navigate. This session introduces you to the feelings thermometer and will help you understand your own feelings better so that you can help your child with their big feelings.

ASD, What is it and how do I help?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a condition that affect the social skills, communication and behaviour of a person.  Each person on the spectrum has a different range of issues.  This session will help you to understand the complexity of Autism and how you can pivot your parenting to support your child.

All about anger

Anger is common in children.  This session provides information on what happens in the body and brain when your child is angry.  We also cover triggers for anger and ideas on how to firstly ride out angry feelings, but also how to reduce angry outbursts by using settling strategies through-out the day.

Sleep issues

Sleep is so important for you and your child.  This session gives lots of information about the biology of sleep and ways to support your body as you go into sleep at nighttime.  This includes a sleep routine, exposure to light and technology and setting up a supportive space for sleep.  Ways to help your child settle and get to sleep including strategies for a child who is resisting bedtime is discussed.  It is aimed at children who are in the 2-10 age group rather than babies.

Sensory Processing

Our senses are part of how we engage with the world.  Some people are very sensitive and easily triggered by the world around them.  We can also use our senses to help ourselves calm and settle.  This session introduces you to understanding sensory triggers and using the senses to settle your feelings.

Anxiety and worry in Kids

Anxiety is very common in children.  Understanding what anxiety is and what happens in the body when your child is anxious will help you to support your child to soothe and calm when they are anxious.  This session provides strategies and involved practicing some of these strategies so you can try them at home.

 

Stop the tech

What happens when your child is on technology a lot of the time?  What affect is this having on their brain?  Technology use is changing our brains as devices are addictive.  This is causing problems for lots of families and children.  There are no simple answers but lots of ideas about what you can try in your household to reduce tech use and offer other ways to engage in life.

Family Rules and consequences

Setting up rules and having consequences can be very hard.  There are lots of reasons why we don’t do this.  Children need to know the rules and have consequences to help them learn to cope with life.  This session will help you to get started or add to your kit bag of rules and consequences.  Having these helps households to enjoy life more.

Parent Mental Health

Parenting is a challenging job.  It is often hard to take care of yourself and your family.  This session explores the challenges of parenting and day to day ways to support yourself in this role.  Having good mental health is really important meeting the demands of parenting.

Supporting Self Esteem

Liking yourself isn’t easy in the world today.  Children and parents are flooded with messages about what they need to be.  This session will help you to understand how you can support your own and your child’s positive feeling about themselves. 

Building Social Skills

The social world and the rules about how it works are hard for some children to understand.  This session will support you to have conversations with your child about healthy relationships, social contact and how to engage with other children.  You will get a chance to try some of the ideas for building up social skills with your child.

Being There

This is a simple session focussing on connecting and relationship with your child as well as helping with their mental health.

 

 

PARENT SUPPORT AND EDUCATION SESSIONS
TERM 2, 2026

                                                                                                                                                 

The Loddon Children’s Health & Wellbeing Local offers free weekly education sessions that address mental health and wellbeing. The sessions are run by a mental health or allied health clinician at the Local.

Sessions are open to any parents or carers of children aged 0-11.   

Why join in?   

  • Talk to Local staff about your child.    
  • Ask any practical questions you have about parenting now.   
  • Gain support for yourself as a parent.   

Where: The Loddon Child and Health Wellbeing Local, 19 Helm St KANGAROO FLAT 3555. Enter via the green porch at the back of the site.

Dates and topics:  Wednesdays (Face to face) 

WHEN

TIME

TOPIC

Apr 22

9.30am

ADHD What is it and How Can I Help?

Apr 29

9.30am

What Is Autism and How Can I Help?

May 6th

9.30am

Parent Wellbeing

May 13

9.30am

All about anger

May 20

9.30am

Managing Big Feelings

May 27

9.30am

Tech Troubles

Jun 3

9.30am

Anxiety in kids

Jun 10

9.30am

Family rules and consequences

Jun 17

9.30am

Sleep

 

If you have any Questions, please contact Annette Clemments on 1800 433 977 Book in via email icfhwlocals@bchs.com.au. Please state your name, your child’s name and the session you wish to attend.

 



Afternoon Tea @ EPS

All families are invited to an afternoon tea in the Serenity Garden on Friday 14th March @ 2.45pm. 

Afternoon tea will be prepared by the students using produce from the garden 

Drew Thorpe Music

Drew attends Eppalock PS on Wednesday mornings to conduct private music lessons with students that have enrolled with him.  Please contact Drew if you would like your child to learn a musical instrument.  Payments for these sessions are made directly to him.

REMINDERS

Permission Notes



All payments are to be made on My School Connect unless you plan on using SSB or CSEF. 
Please contact Nikki via email if you would like to use SSB or CSEF 


PIE WARMER WEDNESDAY's is back this Term


2026 Curriculum Contributions and Voluntry Contributions can be pd via MSC.  Thankyou to those that have already paid.  These contributions help to go towards the cost of implementing the programs the students use every day.   
                           

HATS 

Hats are required in TERM 1 and can be purchased via MSC anytime.  We now also have a larger size hat that can be purchased through the MSC site.  
Hats and Beanies will still be required to buy through MY SCHOOL CONNECT until we have no stock on site then we will have hats and beanies available on the new EDUTHREADS uniform store. 


NEW ONLINE UNIFORM STORE

You can now order the new uniforms through here

 https://eduthreads.com.au/collections/eppalock-primary-school 






 
                                                                     









OSHC ADVENTURES - After School Care Provider

OSHC ADVENTURES is at Eppalock PS 

Contacts
O493 870 743 - Eppalock Phone Service 
Admin@oshcadventures.com.au
www.oshcadventures.com.au

At OSHC Adventures we pride ourselves on

providing children with fun, play-based learning
experiences that meet all your child's
interests and needs.

You can be confident that your child is in
safe hands with our experienced and
passionate educators.

Our operating hours
After School Care- 3:15 - 6:00


Monthly Newsletter



OSHC Adventures - How to enrol your child into after school care 
https://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/2parent_week__parent_pack.pdf


OSHC Adventures - Flyer
https://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/3eppalock_ps_oshc_adventures.pdf


OSHC Adventures - Family Handbook
https://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/family_handbook_oshc_adventures__eppalock.docx



OSHC Adventures - Eppalock Brochure
https://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/oshc_eppalock_brochure_2024.pdf




Working With Children Check


The Working with Children Check is a screening process for assessing or re-assessing people who work with or care for children in Victoria. 

At Eppalock PS we require any volunteers to have a current WWCC.

These checks are free for Volunteers.  PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR WWCC IS CURRENT AND THAT WE HAVE A COPY OF IT HERE AT THE SCHOOL.  I HAVE JUST UPDATED OUR FILES AND WE HAVE A LOT THAT ARE NO LONGER CURRENT GOING BY OUR RECORDS.

Please remember that you cannot help out with any school activities unless you have a current WWCC

Please follow this link to apply for a WWCC

https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Axe Creek Playgroup

Playgroup will be held on Friday mornings at 9.30-11am in the Old School Building.  


Scholastic BOOK CLUB

Support our local businesses

Locally owned businesses are owned by your friends and neighbours who live in this community. Local businesses generally
  • make more local purchases
  • are more invested in our community’s future
  • create jobs in your town
  • donate more per sales dollar to local nonprofits, events, and teams
       


If you would like to have your business displayed here or would like to update your business details, please call or email the school