Dear wonderful EBPS Families,

I hope you've all had a lovely week!

Can you believe we are already halfway through Term 4? I certainly can't! The weeks are flying by, and there is so much happening around EBPS at the moment.

I've been enjoying getting into classrooms and chatting with students whenever I can. One of the things I love about this time of year is seeing just how much our children have grown. Some of our Preps, who were a little nervous walking through the gates at the beginning of the year, are now confidently making their way around the school, looking after their friends and showing us just how independent they've become. It's lovely to see!

There is plenty happening behind the scenes as we prepare for 2027, and some wonderful things coming up for our students and families.

Active Travel – Well Done Everyone!

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in our Active Travel activities last week!

It was wonderful to see our students and families getting involved and making an effort to walk, ride, scoot or use other active ways of getting to school.

Activities like this are about much more than simply getting to school. They encourage healthy habits, independence and confidence, while also helping children connect with their local community. There is also something lovely about children arriving at school after a bit of fresh air and exercise, ready to start their day.

A big thank you to everyone who helped organise and support the activities, and to all our families who participated. It's these sorts of things that make our school community so special!

Planning for 2027

We are well underway with our planning for next year, including staffing, class structures, learning programs and all the other things that go into preparing for a new school year.

As you can imagine, this is quite a big job at EBPS, particularly with our two wonderful streams, Mainstream and Steiner, each with their own approaches and structures.

We are working hard to ensure that we have the best possible arrangements in place for our students next year, and I will continue to keep you updated as things are finalised.

Technology, Screens and Learning at EBPS

There has been quite a bit of discussion recently across Victorian schools about the role of technology in children's learning, particularly in the primary years.

Interestingly, much of the thinking now emerging across education is moving towards an approach that we have already valued at EBPS for many years, particularly within our Steiner stream.

There is growing recognition that young children need rich, hands-on learning experiences, opportunities for imaginative play, meaningful relationships and time away from screens. Technology certainly has a place in education, but it should be used purposefully, rather than simply because it is available.

At EBPS, we have always recognised the importance of balancing technology with real-world experiences. Our Steiner approach places particular emphasis on imaginative play, creativity, movement, storytelling and practical learning, especially in the younger years. Our Mainstream classrooms also recognise the importance of explicit teaching, hands-on experiences and ensuring that technology supports, rather than replaces, good teaching.

The Victorian Department of Education is increasingly emphasising the importance of age-appropriate, purposeful technology use and minimising unnecessary screen time. It is encouraging to see this broader conversation reflecting principles that have long been important to our school.

This doesn't mean technology is bad, or that children shouldn't learn to use it. Quite the opposite! Digital literacy is an important part of preparing young people for the world they will grow up in. However, I strongly believe that technology should be introduced thoughtfully, at the right time and for the right reasons.

We are currently reviewing our approach to technology across the school, including how we communicate our expectations to families. I will share more about this as our work progresses.

Our Wonderful PCFA – School Disco!

A reminder that our PCFA School Disco is coming up on Friday 20 November!

I know there are already some very excited children around the school!

The sessions will be:

• Prep to Year 2: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
• Years 3 to 6: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Our PCFA puts an enormous amount of work into organising these events, and I really want to thank everyone involved.

These are the sorts of experiences that children remember long after they leave primary school. Having fun with friends, dancing, laughing and just enjoying being part of their school community is such an important part of childhood.

Please keep an eye out for further information from the PCFA.

Our Year 6 Students – Getting Ready for the Next Chapter

It is getting to that time of year when our Year 6 students are beginning to think about life beyond EBPS.

For many of them, this school has been a big part of their lives for seven years. They have grown up here, made friendships, learned new things, overcome challenges and created so many memories.

Moving to secondary school is a big step, and while it can be exciting, it can also bring a few nerves. We will be working closely with our students over the coming weeks to help make that transition as positive as possible.

I always find this time of year a little bittersweet. We are so proud to see our students ready for the next stage of their lives, but we will certainly miss them!

These events are also included in our Compass calendar.

Well, that's about all from me this week!

As always, thank you for everything you do to support our school. I know how busy family life can be, and I genuinely appreciate the many ways our families contribute to making EBPS such a lovely place.

I hope you all have a great week ahead. And as always, if you see me at the front gate in the mornings, please stop and say hello. My door is always open!

Warmest regards,
Sarah Spence
Principal

Dear EBPS Families,

What a wonderful fortnight it has been at East Bentleigh Primary School, with so many achievements and special moments to celebrate!

One of the highlights was the launch of our Active Paths initiative on Thursday 29^th October. It was fantastic to see so many students walking, riding, scooting and skating to school alongside their classmates and friends. We hope families will continue to use the Active Paths regularly as a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly way to travel to school.

As always, we remind students to Stop, Look, Listen and Think before crossing the road. We finished the morning with breakfast snacks, music and dancing before everyone headed off to begin the school day. Thank you to Bicycle Network and the Ride2School program for helping us launch this exciting initiative.

At our fortnightly assembly, we also celebrated three classes that had earned their class Acknowledgement celebration. Congratulations to these students for consistently demonstrating our EBPS values and working together as a class community. We were also treated to some fantastic French and Music performances, which showcased the confidence, enthusiasm and talents of our students.

Our recent Spring Farmers’ Market was another wonderful community event. A very big thank you to the families and community members who generously volunteered their time to help the market run so successfully.

Our next Bentleigh Farmers’ Market will be held on Election Day, Saturday 28^th  November. It is the perfect opportunity to cast your vote and enjoy some market shopping all in one visit! We look forward to welcoming plenty of families and members of our wider community on the day.

Our Thursday after-school Community Market continues to grow in popularity as the weather becomes warmer. Make sure you arrive early for the sausage sizzle, and bring your rhythm and enthusiasm to join the drumming circle! If you are interested in hosting a stall at a future market, please contact the school for further information.

Our second-hand uniform stall is also open during the Thursday Community Market. New items with tags and uniforms in excellent condition are generally priced between $10 and $20, most items are only $5, and some are available for as little as $1. Coins and small notes preferred and we also have EFTPOS available.

If you have any school uniform items that your family no longer needs, we would be very grateful for your donations. Please ensure all items are washed and leave them at the front office next week, if possible, so they can be prepared prior to our upcoming Prep induction.

We also recently celebrated World Teachers’ Day and recognised the enormous contribution our teachers make each day. Their care, dedication and commitment to our students are deeply appreciated, and I hope every member of our teaching team knows how valued they are by the EBPS community.

Finally, I hope all our EBPS families enjoyed a restful and relaxing long weekend and are feeling refreshed and ready for Week 6. We have another busy and exciting few weeks ahead, and I look forward to sharing many more celebrations with you.

With Kindness,

Jade Williams

Assistant Principal

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