Dear wonderful EBPS community,

As we come towards the end of what has been a very full Term 3, I find myself reflecting again on just how much happens within a school over the course of a term. There has been so much learning, growth, laughter, challenge, celebration and connection, and I am incredibly proud of our students and grateful to our staff and families for everything you contribute to our school.

The final weeks of a long term can sometimes feel a little tiring for everyone (adults included!), so as we head towards the holidays, we are encouraging our students to keep looking after themselves and each other, while enjoying these final days together.

Working Bee – This Saturday!

A reminder that our Working Bee is happening this Saturday, 12 September, from 9:00am–1:00pm, and we would absolutely love to see as many of our families there as possible.

This time we will be focusing on beautifying the front of our school — tidying, planting, mulching and working together to create an even more welcoming entrance to EBPS.

If you are able to come along, please bring gloves, garden tools and a wheelbarrow if you have one, as well as a sun hat and water. Most importantly, bring your enthusiasm and willingness to lend a hand! You certainly don't need to stay for the entire morning — even an hour makes a difference.

Working Bees are about much more than getting jobs done. They are a wonderful example of community in action. Families, staff and students working side by side to care for a place that belongs to all of us is part of what makes EBPS such a special community.

Many hands make light work — we hope to see you there!

Congratulations to Our District Sports Students

A huge congratulations to all of our students who represented EBPS at the recent District Sports.

It takes courage to put yourself forward, compete against students from other schools and represent your school, and we are incredibly proud of every student who participated. While results are always exciting, what matters most to us is the way our students participate — showing perseverance, teamwork, respect and good sportsmanship.

A very big thank you also to the staff who accompanied and supported our students. Opportunities like these simply cannot happen without staff giving their time and energy to ensure our children can participate in these experiences.

Well done to everyone involved!

Could You Be Part of Our PCFA?

I would love to encourage more of our families to consider becoming involved with our Parents, Carers and Friends Association (PCFA).

Our PCFA plays an important role within our school community, working alongside our School Council and Leadership Team to help us continue to grow and strengthen both our school and our community.

Being involved doesn't mean you need to have endless amounts of spare time! There are many different ways people can contribute, and every contribution is valuable. It is also a wonderful way to meet other families, become more connected with the school and have a voice in the activities and opportunities we create for our children.

Schools are strongest when families and schools work in genuine partnership. If you have ever thought about becoming more involved, we would love to have you.

Finding the Right Balance with Digital Technology

You may have seen recent discussion from the Department of Education about reducing unnecessary screen time and taking a more considered approach to the use of digital technologies in schools.

This is an important conversation, and one where I believe EBPS is already well ahead of the curve.

Technology can be an incredibly powerful learning tool, and digital literacy is an essential part of preparing children for their future. However, simply putting a child in front of a screen does not automatically improve learning. Technology should have a clear educational purpose and be used when it adds something meaningful to the learning experience.

At EBPS, we have always valued a broad and balanced education. Our students read real books, write and draw by hand, create, build, garden, cook, make music, move their bodies, play, talk, collaborate and learn outdoors. Alongside this, they learn to use technology purposefully and appropriately.

There is growing recognition of the importance of protecting time for face-to-face interaction, physical activity, creativity, handwriting, reading, imaginative play and learning through real-world experiences. These things matter enormously for children's development.

Our approach is therefore not about being against technology. It is about being thoughtful about when, why and how we use it. We want technology to be a tool for learning, rather than something that replaces the rich human experiences children need.

It is pleasing to see the broader direction increasingly reflecting an approach that has long been part of the thinking at EBPS.

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



After a long and busy term, our students have certainly earned a well-deserved break.

A reminder that school finishes at 2:30pm next Friday.

The holidays provide an important opportunity for children to slow down, rest, play, spend time with family and simply have some space away from the routines of school. We hope all of our students and families have the opportunity to recharge before we return for our final term of the year.

As always, thank you for the trust, support and care you continue to show our school. I feel enormously fortunate to be part of a community where people genuinely care about one another and where we share the common goal of helping our children thrive.

Have a restful weekend, enjoy some time with the people you love, and perhaps I will see some of you — garden gloves and wheelbarrows at the ready — at our Working Bee on Saturday!

Warmest regards,
Sarah Spence
Principal

Dear EBPS Community,

As we head into the home stretch of Term 3, I continue to be impressed by our wonderful students. Even as the tiredness begins to set in, they are working hard, keeping up with their learning and demonstrating attentive listening in their classrooms. Their perseverance and positive attitude have been fantastic to see.

We were also treated to a wonderful performance of Briar Rose by 1I on Wednesday afternoon. Congratulations to all the students involved, and a huge thank you to Irina and her tireless efforts and to the families who came to support the students. It was lovely to see their confidence, enthusiasm and hard work shine through.

Working Bee - this Saturday

Our next school working bee is this Saturday 12 September, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

We would love your help to mulch the garden areas at the front of the school and replenish our Prep sandpit. Many hands working together help our school look and feel great!

If you can, please bring along a shovel and wheelbarrow. We look forward to seeing you there! ?

Thursday Market

This week marked our final Thursday after-school market. A big thank you to everyone who has supported the market and to the staff and community who have helped make it possible.

Bentleigh Farmers’ Market

The good news is that plenty of fresh produce will be available at the next Bentleigh Farmers’ Market on Saturday 26 September. Make sure you stop by to stock up on fresh, local produce for your AFL Grand Final party spread before kick-off!

Thank you for another positive fortnight and for the many ways you continue to support our students and school community.

With kindness,

Jade
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/