Swings Are Open

We have met with the whole school regarding the new swings. There were a lot of questions, which was fantastic, and allowed us all to be on the same page regarding the use. We highlighted that the major focus of the use of swings is around student safety!

A few questions were raised around the use after school. The school will continue to dismiss students in the same fashion, ensuring students are in parental care prior to using the swings. If families allow their children to use the swings, we kindly ask that students use the same processes while here at school. This will keep students safe. Our processes include:

• Lining up at either arch and waiting for the swings to be free.
• Using the swings for no longer than 2 minutes
• Exiting the swings toward the water tank and base, this means students are traveling one direction from the arch to the swing, then exiting in one direction.
• No standing on the swings or jumping from them.
• No more than two students on a swing.

3-6 Camp

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 in My School Connect 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.

Down Syndrome Day

On Friday the 21^st, we are recognising Lot of Socks Day to create awareness of Down Syndrome. On the day, we ask that students wear odd socks and bring along a gold coin to raise funds for Down Syndrome Victoria. The idea behind the ‘Lots of Socks’ initiative is acceptance of all our differences and what makes us unique as an individual. Socks come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, just like each of us.

Future Enrolments

Believe it or not, we are looking to the future and potential enrolments that will attend EPS. If you have a child who is planning on attending EPS in 2026 or even 2027, can you please let Andrew know. This will help inform future planning.

Junior School Council

The EPS Junior School Council (JSC) is returning to Eppalock PS. It will be an important role at our school as students will be actively encouraged in decision-making, empowered to make change and provided with opportunities to demonstrate good leadership and citizenship skills.

Throughout the year, they will plan, organise and manage fundraising events that will fund our ‘Year 6 Leaves’ on the Bell Tree. In a sense, they will help create and build a rite of passage for our graduates as one day, their names will also be on a leaf on our tree. The JSC will work with our school and house captains, Chris McDermott and Andrew King to design two major fundraisers occurring in Term Two and Term Four. One of which will help fundraise for our Year 6 Leaves and the other will be decided upon by the JSC team.

Any student who is keen to apply for the role must write a speech to deliver to their class only and be prepared to speak this Friday, with speeches commencing at 11.30. The students who form the council will meet during lunchtime so keen students must be willing to give up some of their playtime.

The JSC will also discuss issues concerning our students and ways of improving our school. We seek to resolve these issues through reporting and receiving feedback in each class. Every class at Eppalock PS will have nominated Junior School Council representatives. As families are aware, our classrooms can change year to year based on student numbers.

For 2025, our JSC structure will consist of the following:

Room A- 2 students

Room B- 2 students

Room C- 2 students

As an EPS Junior School Councillor, students are encouraged to:

• Show responsibility as role models in the school.
• Show responsibility as a member of the community.
• Discuss school issues that students have concerns about.
• Report back issues & update information to their own class.
• Be proud of their position.

Thanks to Hobbies and Club Helpers

Thanks to all the helpers who made Hobbies and Clubs a success this term. It was wonderful to have a variety of different activities being run with support from our community. A special thanks to Julian, Tan (and group of parents) and Merle, who volunteered across the three weeks. We are very excited to begin organising our next round in Term Two.

No Jets Gym- this Friday

Just a reminder that there is no Jets Gym this Friday.

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 






 
                                                                     

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) 

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.

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• donate more per sales dollar to local nonprofits, events, and teams

• eppalock.ps@education.vic.gov.au
• 5439 6366