Dear Families,

It’s been a wonderful week at East Bentleigh Primary School, and the energy around the school is vibrant and purposeful. From Prep to Year 6, students have quickly settled into routines and are approaching their learning with enthusiasm and confidence.

It has been especially rewarding to continue visiting classrooms and see first-hand the focus and engagement of our students. These visits also give me a chance to strengthen connections with staff and students, and I always value the opportunity to share in the learning that’s happening across our school.

Just as importantly, I continue to appreciate the ongoing partnership with our parent and carer community. The relationships we build with families are at the heart of what we do, and I thank you for the many ways you contribute to school life.

This term brings with it some wonderful events – including our beloved Winterfest. This seasonal celebration is a treasured part of our school calendar, offering a beautiful opportunity to gather as a community, mark the turning of the seasons, and enjoy music, storytelling, and artistic expression. Preparations are already underway, and we can’t wait to share this special evening with you.

Thank You to Our Mother’s Day Volunteers


A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who supported our Mother’s Day events this week.

We were delighted to host a beautiful morning tea in the PAC, which was well attended and full of warmth, laughter, and connection.

Our Mother’s Day Stall was also a huge success, with all students attending and carefully selecting special gifts. The handmade items were both beautiful and thoughtful, and we are incredibly grateful to the volunteers who helped create such a meaningful experience for our children.

We are so very lucky to have such a generous and engaged school community—your support makes all the difference.

Music Program Update

We are pleased to welcome a new face to our music program this term, who will be with us for the next six weeks while we recruit for the ongoing position. Our new music teacher brings with them a background in vocal training, ensemble leadership, and working creatively with primary-aged students. They are already a familiar face to some at our school and are passionate about creating an inclusive, joyful music space for our students. We’re excited to have them with us and appreciate their contribution during this transitional time.

Taraleigh Kinder Now Open

We’re thrilled to announce that our refurbished Taraleigh Kindergarten will be officially commissioned on Monday 12^th May! This marks a major milestone in bringing our children the best facilities we can. The Kinder offers a nurturing, engaging environment and strengthens the early pathways into our school. We look forward to building strong relationships with our Kinder families from the very beginning of their learning journey.

Focus on Routines and Learning Environment

This term I have been visiting classrooms across the school, observing and celebrating the work our teachers are doing around routines and procedures. Consistent, well-established routines help students feel safe, organised and ready to learn. They also help maximise valuable learning time and minimise disruption. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the clarity and calmness in our classrooms—it’s a real credit to the professionalism and care of our staff.

Building Works Update

You may have noticed that some building works have begun at our school. I’m pleased to share that further upgrades are on the horizon. While it is unusual for a school to receive additional capital works funding outside of the normal budget cycle, we have been fortunate to receive strong support from both the Department of Education and Nick Staikos - Minister for Local Goverment in Victoria and Member for Bentleigh.

I recently met with senior representatives from the Victorian School Building Authority, regional leadership, Nick Staikos and Georgia Shepard . Although the process is ongoing, we are expecting formal confirmation soon for some major improvements to our main building, including:

• Refurbishment of classrooms on the western side of the school
• Landscaping upgrades at the front of the school
• Rebuilding of one external wall
• Sewerage system works
• Playground upgrade

These are significant and exciting upgrades that will benefit our students for years to come. Further works are likely, and I’ll keep you updated as soon as we have more details. We thank you for your patience during this time—we’re committed to ensuring our students have access to the best possible facilities.

**Postponed - Working Bee Sat. 17th May**
Please note that we have postponed our planned Working Bee and we will let families know once a new date has been arranged. 
 




12th - 16th May            BOOK FAIR week 
Mon 19th May               Y5-6 Camp Rumbug (3 day)

Please note - you can view the latest School Calendar at any time on Compass - you can choose to view it by day, week, month or term and also choose what you want to include by clicking on the layers you want to view, ie: School Events, Public Holidays etc.
Look for this icon on Compass.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support of our school. It is a privilege to work alongside such a wonderful community.

As always, my door is open and I’m happy to have a chat if there’s anything you need.

Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead!

Warm regards,
Sarah Spence
Principal, East Bentleigh Primary School

We are having a Book Fair!

Monday 12th May to Friday 16th May

Times: 8:15am to 8:45am – each day

and 3:30pm to 4:15pm – Mon to Thurs

No afternoon time on Friday as the book fair will be leaving Friday morning

Where: Junior Library


Please come along to see what wonderful books we have on offer.

All sales will help towards building our own school library resources!

Thank you!

You're Invited: Introduction to Curative Eurythmy – A 3-Session Parent & Carer Experience

We are delighted to offer all East Bentleigh Primary School community — whether part of our Steiner or mainstream streams — a special opportunity to participate in a three-session introduction to Curative Eurythmy, led by trained Curative Eurythmist Jenny Kuznetsova.

We are fortunate to be able to offer this to you free of charge!

Eurythmy is an expressive movement art developed as part of Steiner education. It brings together gesture, language, and music in a unique way that supports wellbeing, coordination, focus, and inner balance. For adults, it offers a reflective and embodied experience that many find calming, enriching, and revitalising.

These sessions are designed as a sequential series, meaning each session builds on the one before. For this reason, we kindly ask that participants commit to attending all three sessions to gain the full benefit of the experience.

Session details:

Day:        Thursdays – 23rd Oct, 30th Oct & 6th Nov
Time:      4:00–5:00pm
Where:   Performing Arts Centre, East Bentleigh Primary School

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing, and bring something warm if the weather is cool — movement will be gentle but active.

Places are limited, and we encourage early registration to avoid missing out.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/5U4sthvFne

** Please note that these sessions coincide with our Thursday market and as such we kindly ask to arrange for your children to be supervised by an adult if you are attending the classes. 

We hope to see you there for this unique opportunity to experience Curative Eurythmy in a warm and welcoming group setting.

Warm regards,

Sarah Spence - Principal