Dear Families,

A very warm welcome back to Term 2. I hope you all enjoyed a restful break and had the chance to spend some quality time with family and friends. It has been so lovely to see everyone back at school, with students settling quickly into routines and classrooms once again full of energy and enthusiasm.

As we move into the cooler months, there is a real sense of focus across the school. Our staff have worked incredibly hard over the holidays to prepare learning spaces and plan for the term ahead, and I thank them for their dedication and care. There is certainly a lot happening, and many exciting things underway at EBPS.

Building works update

A significant amount of work was completed over the holiday break, and the improvements are already making a noticeable difference.

If you think back to this time last year, we had a dark and somewhat dingy breezeway with the old rusty gates near the toilets. That space has now been completely transformed. We have completed major sewerage works, installed new cisterns, and added a fresh blue non-slip surface through the breezeway — it looks fantastic and has really lifted the area.

You may have also noticed that the large concrete pipes have been removed due to OHS considerations. Rather than lose them entirely, I asked the builders to cut them into thirds and relocate them near the BER building and basketball court. These have now been filled with soil and will soon be planted out and decorated to create new garden features for our students to enjoy.

The basketball court has been partially resurfaced, thoroughly cleaned and newly line-marked — it is looking wonderful. Thank you to everyone, particularly our students, for your patience while this work was completed.

We have also installed a number of new drinking taps across the school, including bottle-filling stations, making it much easier for students to stay hydrated throughout the day.

There has been much more completed behind the scenes, and there is still more to come. We are expecting new blinds in the main building shortly, along with a number of smaller improvements across the school.

Looking ahead, I will be applying for a major grant this year to fund a new toilet block. This would be a significant upgrade for our school, and I am hopeful that we will be successful.

School Council

We continue to grow as a community, and I have been very fortunate to be working closely with Laura Dale, our new School Council President — in fact, I am meeting with her again this afternoon.

School Council plays a vital and important role in our school. It is through the commitment, effort and care of our School Council members that we are able to continue improving and developing EBPS. They provide an essential link between the school and the community and support key decisions that shape the future of our school.

I look forward to sharing more about our School Council members in future newsletters so that you can get to know them and the important work they do.

Building our data capability

We are also very fortunate to be working with a specialist from the Department of Education to further strengthen our use of student data.

High-performing schools use data in a very intentional and strategic way to understand student learning and ensure that every child is supported to grow. This work is not about labels or comparisons — it is about clarity, precision and responsiveness in teaching.

Krissie, an experienced education leader from the Regional Office, will be working with us over the next 18 months to help us deepen our understanding and use of data. This will support our teachers to better identify student needs and tailor learning accordingly.

Importantly, all student data is treated with the highest level of confidentiality. It is only accessed by teachers and is used solely to support student growth and learning — this is central to our work at EBPS.

I look forward to keeping you updated as this important work progresses.

Helpers – Thank You

It has never been more important for schools to be supported by strong communities and engaged families. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and I see that lived out every day here at EBPS.

I know there are many people who support our school in ways both seen and unseen, and I also know there are many who quietly help without recognition. Please know that your contribution does not go unnoticed.

A huge thank you to the many families who generously give their time each month to help with setup, pack-up, and at the gates at our Farmers’ Market. This market has been our school’s major fundraiser for many years, and it simply wouldn’t be possible without your ongoing support and commitment. We truly appreciate everything you do to keep it running so successfully.

We have wonderful groups such as our Chicken Group, who support Taylah in caring for our animals. We have community members who come in to listen to students read, help in our Craft, Kitchen and Garden classes, others who assist with small maintenance tasks, and so many families who step up to help at events throughout the year.

In particular, I would like to thank our Class Representatives. You play a vital role in supporting our teachers and helping keep our community connected and organised. The work you do behind the scenes is incredibly valuable, and I want to thank you personally for your ongoing commitment.

I would also like to personally acknowledge Malcolm Kearsley, who has generously given his time to support our school through maintenance work, setting up for working bees, and many other practical tasks that help improve our facilities. And yes — he is the one who built the tractor in the Prep garden! Malcolm, we are very grateful for your contribution.

To everyone who contributes to EBPS in big or small ways — thank you. You help make our school the wonderful place that it is.

Parents, Carers and Friends Association (PCFA)

Our PCFA, led by new President - Vanessa Mavrikos, met this week as they begin planning for upcoming events and opportunities across the school. The PCFA is a critical part of what makes EBPS such a strong and connected community. Through their work, they help bring families together, support school initiatives, and contribute to fundraising that directly benefits our students.

Beyond the events and fundraising, the PCFA plays an important role in building a sense of belonging and connection within our school community. They are a welcoming and inclusive group, and new members are always encouraged.

I want to personally thank Lisa Cleland who stepped down as PCFA President. She has been instrumental in building the PCFA into what it is today. Lisa is very community focussed and always works for the betterment of our school and our students. I have had the benefit of working closely with her since I have been at EBPS, and I am personally thankful for all she has done for our school, and for how welcome she made me feel.

I would also like to thank Rachel Jeffreys who has stepped down as Treasurer of the PCFA. Rachel, who was also our School Council President, worked tirelessly to support our school and provide strong leadership for our community, giving enormous amounts of her time and energy to EBPS, organising many events and volunteering wherever she could. It is this very thing that makes our school what it is.

If you have the time and interest, I strongly encourage you to get involved. It is a great way to meet other families and contribute to the life of the school. Please contact the office if you would like to be connected with the PCFA.

STUDENT FREE DAY - Friday 22nd May

Please note, we are having a student free day (no school for students) on Friday 22nd May - this has been allocated as a Report Writing Day. 





These events are also included in our Compass calendar.
Please click here for the full Term 2 calendar so far.

It has been a wonderful start to the term, and I feel very lucky to be part of such a supportive and engaged community. I look forward to the term ahead and all that it will bring.

As always, my door is open.

Warmest regards,
Sarah Spence
Principal

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

Orders open until 8:30am on the day!
Term 2 2026 menu below
https://classroomcuisine.com.au/