EPS Newsletter Term 2 Week 9
FROM THE PRINCIPAL Term 2 Week 9
19/6/2022
Term 2 SWPBS Focus - Respect
Kindness, Responsibility, Resilience.
School Vision:
Our school’s vision is to prepare young people to become active, engaged and responsible citizens of the local and global community.
- We will provide a safe, calm and welcoming learning environment where every child is treated as an individual.
- We will develop children who have a strong relationship to school and their community. The children will have a sense of self & understand how they learn.
- We will build and support an open, healthy and welcoming community that is visible in its practical support for the learning and wellbeing of each child. Children will be encouraged to embrace and celebrate difference and they will experience positive interactions with adults.
- We aim to foster a love of and for our natural environment and nurture a strong sense of stewardship within our students. Eppalock PS prioritises environmental sustainability.
What’s been happening at Eppalock PS this week?
Another positive week at Eppalock PS. On Thursday of this week we had a Koala Fundraiser which was organised by some of our student leaders (not all of them have a badge). The group worked on this idea for a number of weeks and spent many hours at home and at school discussing and organising what they had planned to do. Students were able to purchase items ranging from koala looking cupcakes and biscuits to bookmarks and scrunchies, there was even a raffle with some great little prizes. We finished the day with some koala craft in our house groups. The day raised $324.15. Thanks to our school community for the wonderful support of the day by sending along some money with your children. Well done to all of our organisers from home and school. The group is already planning their next event for next term.
Friday is always a fun and different day at school with music and PE as well as assembly, buddy reading and hobbies and clubs. It was great to have Miss C back at school for music and to hear the students involved in some interesting musical activities and tasks. The school received a donation of some congo drums on Friday which is amazing. Miss C is very excited and is looking forward to using these at school with the students.
Reminders
- Staff duty of care operates from 8:45am-9:00am in the mornings and from 3:15pm-3:30pm at the end of the school day.
- Breakfast club this week will be on Thursday 23rd Operating from 8:15am-8:45am.
- After school care operates every day from 3:15pm-6:00pm and can be booked through Ourpatch.
- This Thursday we have our 456 soccer tournament. This is a voluntary sports day for students in the 456 class. Mr Mc and Chris will be attending with the team on the day. Parents are welcome to go out and watch the team in action.
- Tuesday 21st June is our Melbourne Museum Excursion. We will again leave school at 8:00am and be back at approx. 4:00pm. Please ensure students have a mask if they are a household contact.
- Pie Warmer takes place every Wednesday this term. Students can bring along a food item that can be warmed up in a pie warmer to eat for lunch. Please make sure it is clearly named and students know what they have.
How are you all going? Come in for a hot drink and a chat on Wednesday 22nd June – to be held in the old school building from 8:45am until whenever.
School Council notes and Child Safety
School Council met on Thursday night via webex. We have been meeting face to face, however with some cold weather and illness floating around we decided to meet online this time around.
We still have at least one spare place on school council at the moment if anyone is interested in joining. Please contact Mr O’Neill if you would like to know more.
As of July 1st there are new regulations around Child Safety standards. As part of these new standards our Child Safety policy is being reviewed and updated to ensure it meets the requirements. We are sending the policy out to families via Ueducateus for any feedback from the school community. Once the policy has been ratified it will be placed on our school website and also be available at the front office. Please take the time to have a read and become familiar with the content of the policy if you can. You will find many of our school policies in the school website already.
School Council are still in discussion around the old bell and bell tree. The old bell tree will need to come down for safety reasons so we are looking to relocate the bell and incorporate it into the school grounds for future use. One proposal is to position it at the pathway leading to the door of the old school building. Do you have any ideas? Let us know if you do.
We have our school review again this year in term 4. In term 3 staff will be preparing for the review by completing documentation, talking to student and parent groups and having discussion about the work done in the previous four years. Keep an eye out for some updates and call outs for your input throughout the term.
Over the holiday break we will have some playground elements replaced due to wear and tear. The slide, flying fox and Burmese bridge will be replaced. This has been possible through funding from Fosterville Gold Mine who generously allocated the funds to replace the playground elements and also replace the old shade sail. If you are up and around the school during the break please don’t use the slide as it will need some time for the concrete to set at the base before being used.
School council are also investigating the possibility of adding a school beanie to the uniform list. We may not have it in time for this winter, however it may be action soon.
Working Bee Volunteers and roster
We are in a position to be able to have some working bees again at school. The proposed family roster will be sent out again. Remember that the roster is voluntary. We would love your help if you can, but understand that people lead busy lives. If you are on the list and it doesn’t suit, we understand if you can’t make it. If you can spare an hour or two of your time to help out with some little jobs around the school, please let us know. Over the holiday break if you enjoy weeding some gardens, we would really appreciate some weeding done in the front gardens of the school. There will also be some soft fall delivered during the holiday break for the playground area. If you see a pile there and have some time to spread it under the structure please do so.
Once the new elements are installed we are also looking for a couple of handy people to add some wood and cut off a couple of pieces from the existing playground. If you have the knowledge, skills and tools to do this please contact Mr O’Neill at school for an explanation of what needs to take place. It would be great to get this done on the holiday break while the students are away.
One of our first ‘major’ working bee tasks will be to paint the handrails of the new and old school buildings. If you love painting and can help out, let Mr O’Neill know and we can arrange a time and some equipment.
End of term
Term 2 reports will be sent home on Thursday the 23rd June with the last day of term 2 on Friday 24th June. The last day of term will finish at 1:30pm. Students can wear casual clothes on the final day of term.
Household Contacts & Illness
A reminder that if students are household contacts but are testing negative they can come to school, however MUST wear a mask. It is important to inform the school of this as well so that we can monitor mask wearing. Please explain this requirement to your children at home as well.
With lots of flu and illness going around this year, if students are showing symptoms, please keep them at home, even if a RA test is negative, until the symptoms have gone. This is for the health of our whole school community, including staff.
Enjoy the holiday break
We hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday break with your friends and family. Please have a safe and restful break and look after each other. We will see you back in term 3. Remember that Monday July 11th is a pupil free curriculum day. So students start back on Tuesday 12th.
IMPORTANT DATES Term 2 Week 9
Monday 13th - Queens B'day Public holiday
Tuesday 21st - Melb Museum Excursion P-6 (Leave 8am Return 4pm)
Friday 24th - Last day of Term 2 - 1.30pm finish
JULY
Tuesday 12th - First day TERM 3
Regional Bus Tour
Only 2 seats left!!!
When - Saturday 25th June
Cost - $20 per person to cover the transport for the day.
Additional cost for food & drinks along the way as you choose.
Time
Start - 10:30am at the Axedale Tavern (morning tea - departing Axedale about 11am)
Finish - Bus returning to Axedale for dinner (drop off is available at the end of day)
We will be starting the day with a morning tea at the Axedale Tavern.
From there we'll be venturing out to the beautiful Heathcote region, stopping for lunch at the award winning Palling Bros Brewery.
After that a short ride to the very popular Juniper Lounge, to sample some Gin cocktails, before heading to the Shiraz Republic for some live music & wood fired pizza if you choose.
The Bus will land back at the Axedale for dinner. We can drop you home or in town at the end of the day.
Check out the links
https://www.pallingbros.beer/home
https://www.facebook.com/HeathcoteJuniperLounge/menu/?ref=page_internal
https://www.shirazrepublic.com.au/events/
Some of the strongest bonds in the community have been forged on a grownups only social day.
We'd love you to come along for the day to get to know you & really build the community spirit we hold dear at Eppalock Primary.
Of course if you can't make the whole day you are very welcome to come for morning tea or meet us along the way.
If you would like to come, contact Kelly Nunns in person, via messenger or
e.mail - knunnseps@outlook.com, or let Nikki in the office know.