Dear Wonderful EBPS Community,

It is lovely to be back at EBPS this week. Thank you to everyone who sent kind messages while I was away, and particularly for your understanding while I took some time to care for my father. I am very grateful to Peter, Jade and the whole team for keeping everything running so smoothly in my absence.

There is certainly plenty happening around the school as we head into the second half of the term. I have really enjoyed getting back into classrooms, catching up with students and seeing all the learning and activity happening across EBPS.

Book Week – what a wonderful day!

What a fantastic morning we had today for our Book Week Parade! There were some absolutely brilliant costumes wandering around EBPS, and I loved seeing the excitement as students arrived at school dressed as favourite characters from books and stories.

Thank you to our families for the time, creativity and effort that went into helping children prepare. Days like today are about much more than costumes. Book Week gives us another opportunity to celebrate reading, storytelling and imagination, and to remind children that books can take them absolutely anywhere.

Most importantly, it was fun! There was a wonderful atmosphere around the school, and it was lovely to see our students, staff and families enjoying it together.

A busy second half of Term 3

As we move through the remainder of Term 3, there is plenty happening across EBPS. Our staff continue to work hard on our school improvement priorities, particularly around teaching and learning, student wellbeing and creating greater consistency in the experiences our children have across the school.

This is really important work. Good data is not about reducing children to numbers or test results. It is about teachers having the best possible information to ask: What does this child know now? What do they need to learn next? And what can we do to help them grow?

That final word is particularly important at EBPS — GROW. Everything we are doing in this space is ultimately about helping every student make progress from their individual starting point.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

Our PB4L work is also continuing across the school, including our new whole-school acknowledgement approach.

Thank you to the families who have asked questions and engaged thoughtfully with us about this work. As I have explained previously, our acknowledgement system is not about individual prizes or creating competition between students. Acknowledgements are intermittent, contribute towards a shared class experience and sit within a much broader approach of explicitly teaching the behaviours we want children to develop.

Our goal is consistency and predictability for students. Wherever children are at EBPS, we want them to understand what Respect, Kindness, Teamwork and Perseverance look like in practice.

I also want to continue reassuring our Steiner families that we are being thoughtful about how this work is implemented within our Steiner stream. We recognise the importance Steiner education places on intrinsic motivation, developmental readiness, rhythm, relationships and the gradual development of inner responsibility. The collective rather than individual nature of our approach is deliberate, and we will continue working with our Steiner teachers to ensure implementation respects the philosophy and character of the program.

Ultimately, whether a child is in Mainstream or Steiner, our aim is the same: children who increasingly make positive choices because they understand themselves, care about others and recognise their responsibility within a community.

Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond

There is also a great deal of planning beginning behind the scenes for 2027.

Next year will be particularly significant because we will undertake our School Review and develop the next four-year Strategic Plan for EBPS. This is an opportunity for us to look carefully at where we have come from, celebrate what is working well and make some important decisions about where we want our school to go next.

As we move towards Term 4, I will begin asking for your input. I really want our families, staff and students to have a genuine voice in this process. There will be opportunities to tell us what you value about EBPS, what you believe we should strengthen and what you would like our school to look like into the future.

I am genuinely excited about this work. We have made significant changes and improvements over the past few years, but great schools never decide that they have finished improving.

School Council and our community

Our School Council continues to work closely with us as we plan for the future of EBPS. I am very grateful to Laura Dale, our School Council President, and all of our councillors for the time and energy they voluntarily contribute to our school.

We would still love to see more members of our community involved in our School Council subcommittees. You do not need to be an elected School Council member to participate, and it is a great way to contribute your experience, ideas and skills without taking on the commitment of being a councillor.

We also now have a vacant community member position on School Council. This is a great opportunity for someone who would like to become a little more involved in the life and future direction of EBPS. School Council meets twice per term on a Monday in the early evening, with the option of attending at school or online.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, please keep an eye out for further communication from me via Compass. I will shortly provide some more information about the position and how you can express your interest.

Strong schools really are built by strong communities, and EBPS has always benefited enormously from people who are willing to contribute their time, experience and ideas.

Around our buildings and grounds

And, of course, there is always something happening with our buildings and grounds!

Over the past year we have achieved an enormous amount — improvements to classrooms, sewerage works, the breezeway, basketball court, drinking taps, landscaping, blinds and many other smaller projects that collectively make a significant difference to our school.

Peter has now taken a lead role in Facilities and our Emergency Management planning, and I am very grateful to have his experience supporting this work. We will continue looking for every opportunity we can to improve our facilities and make EBPS the best possible environment for our students.

Baby Possums rescued!

On Wednesday this week - it was reported to me that two very observant prep students (Leo HM. & Raphy) came across two baby possums in our prep playground area. Fortunately, Taylah our Garden Specialist was able to take the possums to the local wildlife protection centre, where they are now being very well cared for. Thanks to all who helped save them!

These events are also included in our Compass calendar.
Please click here to download the Term 3 calendar.

That’s all from me this week. It has been wonderful being back, and today’s Book Week celebrations were a particularly lovely reminder of what makes primary schools such joyful places.

Thank you, as always, for your support of our students, our staff and each other. I feel very fortunate to be part of this wonderful community.

I am usually around the gates before or after school, so please come and say hello if you see me — and as always, my door is open.

Warmest regards,
Sarah Spence
Principal

A Wonderful Fortnight at EBPS

Dear EBPS Community,

What another wonderful fortnight it has been at East Bentleigh Primary School!

Last Saturday, we held another very successful Bentleigh Farmers’ Market. It was fantastic to see so many parents, carers and students enjoying the stalls and fresh produce, while others generously volunteered their time to help deliver such a well-organised market for our wider community.

A special highlight is seeing our students assisting their parents and carers at the entry gates. Not only are they making a valuable contribution, but they are also developing important social and mathematics skills along the way.

If you have not yet visited the market, I warmly encourage you to come along to the next one on Saturday 26 September. It is a wonderful community event and an important fundraiser for our school.

To learn more about the Bentleigh Farmers’ Market or to find out about volunteering, please visit www.bentleighfarmersmarket.org.au or email the school at east.bentleigh.ps@education.vic.gov.au.

Another highlight of the fortnight was our amazing annual Book Week parade! Congratulations to all our students and families who put so much creativity, thought and effort into their costumes. You all looked incredible, and it was wonderful to see so many favourite characters brought to life.

I would also like to extend another big thank you to the parents/carers, staff and students who continue to support our Thursday after-school market. As always, you are doing an amazing job, and your time and effort are greatly appreciated.

Finally, our next school working bee will be held on Saturday 12 September. I look forward to seeing members of our community come together to help us refresh and beautify areas of our school. Further information will be shared soon.

Thank you to our wonderful students, families and staff for continuing to make EBPS such a welcoming, connected and vibrant community.

With kindness,

Jade Williams - Acting Assistant Principal

Classroom Cuisine is available for us to order online,
every day (except Tuesdays)

NEW TERM 3 MENU BELOW
Orders open until 8:30am on the day!
menu below
https://classroomcuisine.com.au/