Term 4 Week 8
FROM THE PRINCIPAL Term 4 Week 8
19/11/2022
Term 4 SWPBS Focus
Kindness.png)
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.
The recovery week after camp has flown by, but I can confidently say that the students settled back into the routines of school with ease. It was pleasing to hear the many positive reports about camp and the many little personal achievements of our students. A first camp can be a huge milestone event for the students and for parents (I have been there myself!) So everyone should be so proud of their efforts to attend and be part of the event. Thanks again to our families for the support of the camping program this year as we have tried to provide a variety of experiences for the students. Thanks to our amazing staff who have organised them and spent time away from home to support our students. We may be able to participate in the Positive Start program again early in 2023, for our 3-6 camping experience, but we are just waiting on some confirmation. We will let you know any details when we can.
Our School Captains have been quietly working away on a little project at school. They have been organising a second radio session with Phoenix FM with Mr John Pearce. This time they will be ‘hosting’ with support from John and will include a special interview with Katrina Nannestad. Katrina has been out to school already and has had a practice interview with our Captains so that they are well prepared for this Friday the 25th. Katie and Mieka have been responsible for the communication via my school email and organising details between Katrina and John. They have done a great job. If you can, please tune in at 1:00pm to Phoenix FM to listen to the show and support them in their work. John plans to ‘rename’ the station 3EEE (Eppalock Education Excellence) on the day in honour of Eppalock PS.
This week we have the Grade P-2 stayback and Grade 2 sleepover. Families should have received some information and details about this already. If not please contact Miss B or the office. If your child requires any special dietary requirements or medications for night time, please ensure these are documented clearly with easy to follow instructions. This event is the lead up to Grade 3 camping experiences so are a valuable way to introduce sleeping away from home in a supported environment.
It was great to have so many adults back at assembly on Friday. It was almost a sell out! Families are welcome back into the school so if you have some time and would like to help out in a classroom please contact the classroom teachers. If you are worried about your child not wanting you in the room (cause that’s not cool) you can help out in another room in some way. You could help out with a reading group, we always need some help with the library area with books or displays of books etc. Or if you would like to be a regular helper with the garden let us know.
Here are some pictures of some of the adults who attended Friday and then stayed for buddy reading.
A special mention to JJ who did a great job showing whole body listening at assembly and even put his hand up to answer a question. Well done JJ - we can't wait to have you at Eppalock PS next year.
2023 Classes
I have been able to call and speak with most families in the 2023 Grade 4 area. I would like to thank families for their support and open mindedness to what will be a different class structure. It was great to be able to talk to families about the plans and strategies in place to support student academic and social/emotional learning. Staff aim to speak with students in this area this week to outline what classes will look like and how they will operate. While we will have two distinct ‘home groups’, the plan is to ensure students are working at their point of need academically and being fluid about which room they work in based on their strengths and areas of development. So perfect world, they will work with both teachers and have opportunities to work with a mix of students across the two groups. The beauty of a small school environment is that we can trial this for a period of time and if it is not working, we can make some amendments if required. All we ask is that we continue to approach the change with an open mind and speak with staff if you have any questions.
Covid Updates & illness
We are still on the same Covid guidelines in that families should still be testing voluntarily at home when required. If there is a household contact at home, students can still come to school if they have tested negative and are wearing a mask inside the building. Students showing symptoms should still be staying at home until they are well to ensure risk of any transmission is minimised. I understand this is frustrating and inconvenient at times for families, however please continue to be patient with this and hopefully we will be through it all soon.
Self Care Poster
Last year we were regularly including adult self-care information in the newsletter so I thought I would remind families of the importance of looking after yourself as well. As adults we can sometimes forget this in the hustle and bustle of everyday living. Don’t forget your ‘anchors’ – the things that keep you positive, healthy and well. I gave my example last year of my anchors being family and even a run through the bush and getting back into the environment. I have evolved this year to joining a gym for the first time, and eating a little better, which I have enjoyed. See if there is something on this poster that is helpful to look after yourself. Your wellbeing is important too. It has been another unusual year with lots going on, please reach out if you are struggling and need some support.
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. Our Patch will be running a full day program on that day for those who have registered. There may be some workers at school doing a couple of jobs outside.
School Wide Positive Behaviours
Our Focus for this week is ‘Being a Positive Role Model’. Our School leaders are encouraged to do this around the school at all times. We have also spoken about the best role models being the ones who do the right thing even when they are not being watched. At assembly on Friday I asked a question without notice to Nikki and Colleen about who their role models might have been growing up – Grandparents and teachers were the answers. We can all be a positive role model around the school and in our school community.
IMPORTANT DATES Term 4 Week 8
Tuesday 29th - PREP Orientation Day
10-11am
- Uniform Orders Due
Wednesday 30th - MARC Van
DECEMBER
Thursday 1st - Special lunch day -
Fruit Salad with Ice cream or Yoghurt
Tuesday 6th - PREP Orientation Day 10-11.30am
Friday 9th - Community night 6pm start
- Book List orders due.
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 8
| Watjarang 724 Yuliwil 648 Bunjil 776 | 1st - P/1 2nd - 4/5/6 3rd - 2/3 | P/1 Evelyn.M 2/3 Audrey.S 4/5/6 Jett.D |
PARENT COMMUNITY NEWS - Term 4 Week 8
This is our Family Community night, we are looking forward to sharing the night with you all.
Term 4 Social Events - RSVP due back by Wednesday this week
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.
RSVP are due back this week, if you could please get them back by Wednesday morning would be amazing! Having the numbers will help greatly with planning / catering etc.
Fingers crossed Santa will have time again this year to pop in to spread some christmas cheer.
Teachers Special Lunch - December day TBC
Every year we like to say thank you to the wondeful teachers & staff at EPS, by putting on a special christmas lunch.
This year we are looking at finger food or something they can take on yard duty.
We will pop a post up on the parent's face book shortly to ask if you would like to provide a plate of something towards this event.
We still need to confirm the date with the school & how many staff will be there, but most likely it will be week commencing 12th December.
Term 4 Fundraiser
Mango fundraiser is finished & we sold a whopping 406 trays!!!
Delivery date in December.
We will 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 shoot 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 to 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 / Community Events -
Community Night RSVP due back - Wednesday 30th November
Community Night - Friday 9th December
Teacher's Special Lunch - 3rd week of December (Date TBC)
Fundraiser
Mango drive - (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 6 2024
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