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
Athletics - uEducateUs - Whole school 
Cross Country - uEducateUs - 3-6 students

Both 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 



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 






 
                                                                     

Hi All,

The kids are well and truly settled in and ready for an exciting final term for 2025!

In wellbeing, the classrooms are diving back into Respectful Relationships, and are focusing on Positive Coping, where students develop language around coping, critically reflect on their coping and strategies and extend their repertoire of positive coping strategies.

While we have moved on from Friendology this term, we will revisit some components throughout the term, and when the need arises. We encourage families to do the same! A great one to know and to talk about is Friendship Fires: those little disagreements that can be normal in a healthy friendship (even as adults!). Grades 2-6 have explored this, and use this language often to talk about conflicts that happen in the yard.

You can read a great blog post about it here:

https://urstrong.com/resource/friendship-fire-or-mean-on-purpose/

There is also a fantastic visual that explains some strategies for Friendship Fires and Mean on Purpose:

Until next time!

Kellie

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