Term 4 Week 7
FROM THE PRINCIPAL Term 4 Week 7
12/11/2022
Term 4 SWPBS Focus
Kindness
“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But, people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
Respect, 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.
We start the newsletter this week with a quick report from the Grade 3-6 Camp to Camp Wilkin in Anglesea. Harry was able to write up this report of his time at camp. He had a great time and really enjoyed the time spent at the beach on the Wednesday with the nice weather, as well as having a go at archery and going on the flying fox (zipline) for the first time. Well done Harry and thanks for the report below.
Eppalock PS 2022 Camp Wilkin Anglesea experience by Harry G
I first arrived at school at 6:45am so I would be on time to leave at 7:00am for the bus. The bus ride there was around 3 and a half hours. We took a 30 min break to eat and stretch our legs on the way. When we arrived at Camp Wilkin we first got set up in our cabins. I was in a cabin with Eddie, Connor, Miller, Ryan and Will. Then we had something to eat.
After that we walked to the beach and we played some games with the staff members of Wilkin. I walked along the beach with Daryl. We found a foot spa on the beach (photo below). Then after that we left and took a rest in the cabin. After that we went out to play some games like gaga ball, chess and connect 4. After that we had dinner and then we got ready to go to sleep. We virtually got no sleep at all.
The next day we went to do archery, rock climbing, leap of faith, and zipline (flying fox). At Archery I hit a bullseye. I did the flying fox for the first time, I would do it again. After that it started to rain so we stopped and watched a movie then we went back out when it wasn’t raining. Then we had lunch and I left at 3:00pm on Thursday. 
It has been great to be able to provide a range of camping experiences in 2022 for students from 3-6. The aim of these camps was to get our students out and about again after a couple of years of Covid, and have them reconnecting with each other. They seem to have had lots of fun and tried some activities which they might not usually get to do. As staff we are very proud of their resilience and courage to try new things and step out of their comfort zone. Behaviour has always been first class and all students have represented Eppalock PS extremely well.
Camp Wilkin has been an opportunity to mix with another school and something we hope to be able to continue to do in the future. We thank Lockwood South for being part of this camping experience, particularly Mr Torney who has been a part of the organisation behind the scenes for both schools. A huge thanks to our staff Miss S, Mr Mc and Chris for attending and supporting the students. They have been on a few camps this year and given up lots of their own time to provide these events for our students. Special thanks to Miss S for the time she has spent organising this camp. Well done all.
We hope to be able to provide another camp in the first part of 2023 as part of the Positive Start program. We will communicate what this might look like once more information is confirmed. This will again be minimal cost through the Positive Start program.
Our next major event will be the P/2 stayback and grade 2 sleep over. Keep an eye out for details about this event.
2023 Classes
Some information went home last week about what our proposed class structures will look like. I have not yet been able to call all families, however have started. I will follow up with the remaining families this week. So far all conversations have been positive. Staff have not yet confirmed which group students will be in, but will do so before transition days begin. Please be assured that staff will consider student learning needs when making these decisions, and while we will try to accommodate family preferences, we won’t be able to meet all requests. Staff will work to build a positive learning experience for all families and students.
Covid Updates & illness
Although many of the Covid restrictions have eased in the community, it is still required that students are not coming to school with symptoms, for the health and safety of all in our school community, including staff. Even with a negative RA test, students with symptoms should still stay away from school until symptoms disappear. I understand this can be an inconvenience, however this is still a requirement in school settings.
Household contacts are able to come to school if they have a negative RA test, have no symptoms and wear a mask while inside at school.
School Items for removal
We still have two old school awnings still at the school which were only removed due to the fire shutters being installed earlier this year so are still in good condition. If you are interested please contact the office.
Curriculum Day
Also a reminder that Monday 21st November is a student free curriculum day. There will be no staff on-site at all on that day.
School Wide Positive Behaviours
As part of School Wide Positive Behaviours, the school has developed a student process for positively solving any problems in the yard. This was a focus in week 2 of term 4 and mentioned at our whole school assembly. Classes then discussed the process back in their classrooms and worked together to create a visual poster of what to do. Here is the final creation. Well done to all of our classes for being part of this work.
We now have a weekly focus at our assemblies of one item from our expectations matrix. Last week it was about being helpful without being asked. This has been shown quite regularly at school this week, particularly out in the yard. We have had a number of students helping to do some weeding or pack away sports gear without being asked, which has been great. Hopefully a few have helped out at home this week without being asked.
IMPORTANT DATES Term 4 Week 7
Monday 21st - Report Writing Day - Student Free Day
Thursday 24th - P/1/2 Stayback
Tuesday 29th - PREP Orientation Day 10-11am
Wednesday 30th - MARC Van
DECEMBER
Thursday 1st - Special lunch day - Fruit Salad
Tuesday 6th - PREP Orientation Day
10-11.30am
Friday 9th - Community night
Tuesday 13th - State Wide Transition Day 9-11.30am
Wednesday 14th - MARC Van
Thursday 15th - Grade 6 Graduation Night
Tuesday 20th - Last Day TERM 4 - 1.30pm Finish
AWARDS - Term 4 Week 7
| Watjarang 666 Yuliwil 587 Bunjil 711 | 1st - P/1 2nd - 2/3 3rd - 4/5/6 | P/1 Owen.M 2/3 Charlie.M 4/5/6 Annika.H |
PARENT COMMUNITY NEWS - Term 4 Week 7
Term 4 Social Events
Communiuty night will be held after the school end of year concert.
This year we would like to get back to a shared meal giving everyone the chance to mingle.
We will be putting on a sausage sizzle & will ask for donations of a salad or a side on the night from our wonderful families. (more details on this shortly)
We will be sending out an invitation by the end of this week, asking how many people in your family will be attending.
If you can please fill this in & get it back to us quickly this will help greatly with planning / catering/numbers etc.
Fingers crossed Santa will have time again this year to pop in to spread some christmas cheer.
Term 4 Fundraiser
Mango fundraiser is finished & we sold a whopping 406 trays!!!
Delivery date in December.
We wil be looking for 4 volunteers on delivery day, to hand out & mark off the trays. We can usually confirm the deivery week/date by late November.
2023 Sneak Peak
- Term 1 Fundraiser - Family Portraits coming!
We are excited to share we will be partnering with Chris Epworth Photography, giving us the chance to snap up a bargin, as well as a wonderful fundraising oportunity for the school.
We are hoping to lock in photo shoots for a March weekend
$60 includes a family photo chute and 5 digital photo's.
You also get the choice to buy extra photos or purchase the whole collection for just $150.... Wow!
Easter Hot cross buns! more details to come.....
- Term 1 posible social events
Family - we are planning the biggest Crazy Bingo Yet! (Feb 3rd)
We would love to see everyone on this night, to help us welcome all the new families & start the year with a big community feel.
Adults - potentially looking at a day on the grass at St Anne's winery. supporting local hospitallity & getting to know other parents within the school.
Low pressure, good vibes, sunshine, music & good company. Sounds like a great day top me.
Dates to be confirmed
Parent Community Meeting -
The meeting went well, we have been able to organise a few more details for the end of year community night, & the social events & fundraisers for term 1 next year.
We will share some of these ideas with you over the coming weeks via Facebook & in the newsletter.
Parent Community Reminders & Dates to Remember
Social Events -
Community night - Friday 9th December
Fundraiser
Mango drive - done (delivered in December dates TBC) 4 volunteers needed for delivery date
MARC Van - End of year borrowing
The last MARC VAN for the year will be on Wednesday 13th December. Please make sure to bring your books back on or before this date as Sue will be handing out a little gift for anyone that has no outstanding books.
Out of School Hours Care (OSHC)
Our patch – Our Patch
Scholastic BOOK CLUB
https://www.eppalockps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/bookcluba5flyerissue6.pdf
Please click this link to see issue 2 2026
https://www.scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/book-club/
Please click on this link to set up your account
https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx