On The Deck

Thanks to all the families who came along to support the Tragics and the students for the final ‘On The Deck’ performance for 2025. I would like to sincerely apologise to the community about the lack of teacher support on the afternoon as I did not communicate clear expectations to staff about attendance at this event, and this resulted in supervision and support that was below the standard our students, staff, and families deserve. I want to reassure everyone that community events like’ On The Deck’ are extremely valued by staff. The issue here was not a lack of interest from teachers, but a lack of clear communication and direction from me. These community events still require teacher presence, and our students, staff and community should feel supported and supervised throughout and that responsibility sits with me as the Principal.

Community Night

Our end of year Community night will be Friday the 12^th, kicking off at 6PM. In terms of the evening, we would ask that students and families arrive by 5:45PM the latest. Whilst we will have chairs from the school brought outside, if parents are able to bring along a camping chair just in case, that would be great.

In terms of the order of events, students will be performing songs to begin with. Students are asked to wear the following:

• Grade P/1- Anything to do with some of the lyrics of our song i.e.. dog, frog, cat, bat, car, electric guitar, drums, or something Christmassy!
• 2/3/4 - Anything purple, a lot or a little! Or Christmassy. 
• 4/5/6 -Half the class (you know who you are) wear Black/White/Gold - can be one, two or all three of these colours. The other half (you also know who you are) wear something retro/70's: colour suggestions; brown, orange, green. 

Once performances are complete, we will have our annual award presentation for the following:

• Heathcote Community Grant awards
• House shield winner 
• STEM Award
• Living Green award 
• School Values
• Excellence award

Afterwards, we will hand it over to our Parents Club for the final part of the evening. And finally, to finish the night, Tan has a bit of a community dance of the heel and toe, so bring your dancing shoes along. Once this is complete, families can stick around for a shared dinner. The following was sent out by Tan on behalf of the Parents Club regarding food organisation.

We're asking all families to please bring a dish to share and we will lay them out in one magnificent spread in the old school building. Could all families with surname A-K please bring a savoury dish e.g. lasagne, pasta bake, curry, etc. 

Could all families with surname M please bring a salad?

Could all families with surname N-Z please bring a dessert?

Because we eat after the presentations (7ish), we'll have ovens on at a low heat if families want to put their meal in there to keep it warm or it can be put in a slow cooker. We'll have plenty of room in the fridge for any desserts that need to be kept cool. 

To minimise clean up we're asking all families to please bring their own: 

Crockery

Cutlery

Serving Spoon for their dish

Drinks

We'll have a sink of hot water if you want to wash your dishes before taking it home again. 

School Council 2026- Department of Education Update

From 2026, parents, carers and community members who would like to join the school council need a working with children (WWC) clearance to nominate. If you are considering nominating for school council, and don’t already have a WWCC, I encourage you to apply for a volunteer WWC check as soon as possible. This will allow for processing times, which are estimated to be from 3 to 12 weeks.

Please note that if you do not hold a WWC clearance, you will not be able to nominate for school council, so it is vital that you prepare in advance. Obtaining a WWC clearance is free for volunteers, and you can apply online at Service Victoria.

When applying for your volunteer WWC check, please nominate the Department of Education as the organisation you are working for.

If you already hold an employee WWC clearance, you do not need to obtain a volunteer WWC clearance to nominate for school council.

Victorian Institute of Teaching-registered teachers and school students who are interested in joining school council are not required to obtain a WWC clearance.

Current parents and community members of school council do not need to apply for a WWC check immediately. Current members only need a WWC clearance if their term ends and they wish to nominate or be co-opted again.

For more information, refer to Ministerial Order 1280 (Constitution of Government School Councils) 2020

No Assembly on Friday

There is no assembly this Friday as classes will be working with Tan to get ready for Community Night.

Courage and Crowns- Parent Session Postponed to Term One, 2026

We have made the decision to cancel and re-schedule the parent information session for this Wednesday due to lack of attendance. However, Megan will still come to school to run a session with our students on Wednesday during the day, focusing on body image and self-acceptance. We have rescheduled the full program to run in Term One on Wednesday the 25^th of February from 6PM. Once new rsvp’s have been created, we will get this information to families as soon as possible.

2026 Student Leadership Process

Congratulations to all students who got up on Friday and put their hand up for student leadership positions. It was a wonderful experience and all staff and students were very impressed with all the speeches. There were some students who confidently got up in front of the whole student body and gave speech without using a note, displaying confidence, well done to all involved. Students will be informed of the outcome on Wednesday the 17^th and the badge presentation will occur at our final assembly on Friday the 19^th at 1:00PM. Once assembly is complete, will will create our arch for our Year 6 Leavers and they will place their leaf onto the New Bell Tree.

Statewide Orientation Day

Statewide Orientation Day is taking place on the 9^th of December from 9-11:30. All students will spend a couple of hours in their 2026 classrooms.

MARC Van

MARC Van is coming on the 10^th of December, please ensure that all books are returned to Sue on this day.

Essendon Bombers on site- Thursday 11^th from 10:30-11:30

Much to my personal dismay, we have some Essendon Bombers coming to EPS on Thursday the 11^th for a meet and greet and a kick of the footy. If your child is an Essendon supporter, they can bring in something just in case there is time for some signatures.

Student Reports

Semester Two reports will be sent home on Thursday the 18^th at 3:15PM and will also be available via uEducateUs at this time.

Student Pick Up- Duty of Care

If parents are requesting their child be taken home by another family, the school must be informed of this. Please ensure that you have rung the school and informed us of any changes of student pick up.

Lost Property

Our lost property tub is very full. Can all families please look through this tub as there are lots of items without names that may be your child’s.

P/1- Lachlan.P - Lachlan consistently approaches learning with a positive, can-do attitude.  He actively participates in all activities and perserveres when faced with challenges. For always being helpful, considerate of others, and showing wonderful leadership in our classroom and across the school.

2/3/4- Ethan.N - For always being helpful, considerate of others, and showing wonderful leadership in our classroom and across the school.

4/5/6- Brax.M -  For showing resposibility for his learning and striving for growth in Maths this week.
             

                       Watjarang  564

                                  Yuliwil    528

                                               Bunjil   598

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 






 
                                                                     

Eppalock Primary School will be celebrating its 150 year anniversary in 2026! The date has been set… Sunday 18th October 2026!!  Put it in your diaries and spread the word!

We have formed a committee to plan a celebration. Please let us know if you would like to help! 

To register your interest in joining the organising committee please email 150yearsEPS@gmail.com.  We are seeking both current and former EPS community members for the committee.

If you have any great photos, stories, or memorabilia from Eppalock Primary School over the last 150 years we would love to hear from you.  Please email them through to 150yearsEPS@gmail.com.

We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone in 2026.

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.

• 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

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

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and are excited to be back at school. 2026 is a year of change for me as I go part time, sharing the role with Karen Rees. We have lots of new books for the van and are looking forward to getting back to our wonderful schools.

On my off days I’m going to be spending lots of time with my granddaughter Nora. This is a photo of my first day off for 2026… can you see where we went? After many years away I’ll be back at Toddler Reading Time each week at the library and I can’t wait!

Happy Reading, Mrs G ?