2025 Term 1 Week 6

Important dates

From the Principal

Welcome

The start of the school year has been filled with energy, excitement, and a wonderful sense of community at Eastwood Public School! It has been wonderful to see our students settle so well into their new classes, forming friendships, embracing new routines, and diving into their learning with enthusiasm.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible staff for their dedication and hard work in ensuring a smooth and supportive transition for every student. Their commitment to creating warm, engaging, and structured learning environments has truly set the tone for a fantastic year ahead.

One of the best parts of my role is getting to spend time with our wonderful students, and I’m looking forward to popping into classrooms over the coming weeks for a chat and to see their learning in action. It’s always a joy to hear their thoughts, celebrate their successes, and be part of their school journey.

Students being pick up late or unsupervised before other classes

We are increasingly concerned about the growing number of students arriving at school too early in the morning and those who are not being picked up until quite late in the afternoon.

For the safety and wellbeing of all students, we ask that children arrive at school from 8:40am onwards and are collected no later than 3:10pm. In the mornings, there are no staff members on duty before 8:40am, meaning that if an incident were to occur, there would be no supervision, which could lead to serious consequences.

We also want to remind families that students who are waiting for an after-school class that begins at 3:30pm must be supervised at all times. We have noticed that some students, following parent instructions, are hiding or entering classrooms to wait for their class to begin. This is not permitted, as students must be supervised and are not allowed to wait inside classrooms without a teacher present. If we find students unsupervised after school, they will be signed into After School Care, where a fee will be charged.

We understand that delays can happen from time to time, and if you find yourself running late, we kindly ask that you contact the school or make appropriate arrangements for your child/ren to be collected, on time. However, we are noticing that some students are being picked up as late as 3:50pm on a regular basis, which is not sustainable.

To support families who require additional care outside of school hours, we encourage you to consider our wonderful before and after school care service, which provides a safe and supervised environment for students.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping all of our students safe.

Swimming Carnival

What an incredible day! Our students and staff had a fantastic time at the Ryde Aquatic Centre for Eastwood’s annual swimming carnival. The energy was high, with students competing with enthusiasm and cheering loudly—the war cries could be heard from every corner of the grandstand!

Students from Years 2-6 gave their best, whether racing in the pool or cheering from the sidelines. It was great to see such strong participation, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

A big thank you to Mr Leslie, Ms Lau, Mrs Vaux, and Miss Hoekstra for their efforts in planning and running such a well-organized event. We also appreciate all the teachers who played a role in making the day a success.

Our swimmers will continue to shine at the Ryde Zone Swimming Carnival on March 11, delivering some fantastic performances. Well done to all our competitors—we are proud of you.

School Uniform - still an issue

As we begin a new school year, we want to thank you for your continued support in ensuring our students take pride in their school and their appearance. A consistent and well-presented uniform sets a strong foundation for a positive learning environment and helps students feel a sense of belonging.

Recently, we’ve noticed a variety of attire being worn, with some students not adhering to the designated school uniform. As we set expectations for the year ahead, we remind all families that students are required to wear their full school uniform, including black shoes (except on designated Sport Days) and the official school hat.

The Parent-Teacher Association (P&C) fully supports this expectation, as a consistent uniform promotes school pride, respect, and unity. We have also observed different hats being worn, and we’d like to remind families that only the school-endorsed hat is approved by both the P&C and school administration. Moving forward, the school will communicate with parents regarding any ongoing instances of incorrect uniform, including non-compliant hats.

Why the School Hat Matters

Unlike sporting hats, which come in different styles, the official school hat ensures a consistent and identifiable look for all students. It reinforces school spirit, respect for traditions, and a sense of unity, while also maintaining a focused and structured learning environment.

Need Support? We’re Here to Help

We understand that obtaining a full uniform can sometimes be a challenge. If you require financial assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the school. All requests will be handled with complete confidentiality.

Uniform Shop Information

For details on purchasing school uniforms, including school hats, please visit the Uniform Shop.

By reinforcing these expectations from the beginning of the year, we can ensure a strong, respectful, and unified school community. Thank you for your support in helping our students start the year with confidence and pride.

Uniform Shop

Please refer to the school’s website for more information:

https://eastwood-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-citizens--association/uniform-shop.html

Absences

If your child is absent from school for any reason, please provide a note stating the date and reason for the absence. This is a legal requirement monitored by the Department, and an explanation must be provided within seven days. If the school has not received a reason within this timeframe, a reminder letter will be sent home.

For long-term absences, such as a holiday during the school term, you must notify the front office and complete a Certificate of Extended Leave – Holiday. Supporting documentation, such as travel details, an itinerary, or flight bookings, is required to issue the certificate.

SMS Absences – Continuing in 2025

Eastwood Public School continues to use SMS notifications to enhance student safety and streamline absence reporting. Parents of absent students receive an SMS at 10:30 am each day, ensuring all students are accounted for.

If your child is present, no message is sent. However, if your child is absent, the SMS allows you to provide an explanation within 12 hours.

This system ensures timely communication between parents and the school, improving efficiency and reinforcing student safety. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a secure and well-managed school environment.

NAPLAN 2025

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. Results are returned to schools which help support teachers to understand the learning needs of their students and plan accordingly. NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended. In preparation for NAPLAN 2025, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked. Students and parents can access the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/onlineassessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Resources include a link to the NESA NAPLAN website, a parent/carer support page and a video that explains tailored testing If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.

Facebook

Eastwood Public School has a lot to be proud of and celebrate, so to showcase all the great talents of our students we post many photos and descriptions on the Eastwood Public School Facebook page. This is a celebration site where we highlight different aspects of the school, be it classroom work, sporting events or special occasions. It will not be a vehicle to communicate the day-to-day happenings of the school or to disseminate notes etc but designed to display the achievements of students at Eastwood Public School.

Please have a look:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064733392222

Deputy Principal's Report

NAPLAN 2025

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

It is a nationwide measure through which parents/carers, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

NAPLAN results allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards.

NAPLAN is made up of tests in the 4 areas (or ‘domains’) of:

• reading
• writing
• conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
• Numeracy.

National testing dates are from 12 till 24 March, which is Weeks 7 and 8

Year 6 to Year 7 High School Application Process

The process for students transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7 in 2026 commences on 3 March and closes on 28 March. Applications are to be completed online. Go to: Enrolment - Eastwood Public School and click on the link for ‘Moving to high school.

Kindergarten Happenings - KHO

KHO have been exploring measurement this week. We started by seeing whose arms might be long enough to stretch down the ‘hole’ to reach ‘Alexander’ the duck from our mentor text, Alexander’s Outing. We discovered that we needed someone with the longest arm to rescue ‘Alexander’ from the hole!

This led us into exploring length. In KHO, we love to learn through play including building towers with Lego, making playdough snakes and creating towers with interconnecting cubes. We compared the lengths of different objects and can order from shortest to longest all while using comparative language. In these lessons, not only did we learn about mathematics, we also showed our Gabby Get Along and Oscar Organisation skills. Well done, KHO!

Stage 1 Happenings

What a busy few weeks we have had in 1T! We have been learning about narratives and retelling them in order of events. We have also been learning to use nouns, verbs and adjectives in our writing

In mathematics, we have been learning about 2-dimensional shapes, and patterns we can find and create using shapes and the patterns we find in numbers.

Field of Mars excursion

Last week we had our first Stage 1 excursion to the Field of Mars as part of our science unit, Living Things. Even though it was raining in the morning, we didn’t let the weather ruin our day! We started with a bush walk to find different plants, animals and insects. At lunch, we meet Kooky the Kookaburra who watched us carefully while we ate! 

Part of our day also involved looking for bugs and inspecting their features under microscopes. Ms Tang and Mrs Perrott did not enjoy helping us catch the bugs at all! 

We have done so much already and it is only halfway through Term 1!

We can’t wait to find out what the rest of the year have in store for us….

Stage 2 Happenings

It’s hard to believe we’re already in Week 6! It’s been so good to see how well our Years 3 and 4 students have settled into the year. Walking around the classrooms and playgrounds, it’s been a great sight to see students in action—whether they’re deep into a good book during reading session, working through maths challenges, playing sport, getting creative with some fantastic portrait drawing or enjoying music and some fun games with friends.

Across the stage, students are showing great habits—not just in their learning, but also in looking after themselves and each other. We’ve been reminding everyone to wear their hat during playtime and make sure they’re eating in the right areas. It’s been great to see these routines becoming part of everyday school life.

We’re proud of how Year 3 and 4 have started the year and we’re looking forward to all the exciting things still to come this term!

Mrs Cuasay and Mr Perrett, Stage 2 Assistant Principals

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Stage 3 - 5L

5L had an exciting incursion visit from Keep Australia Beautiful NSW, the state’s premier organisation for litter reduction and environmental sustainability. 

Students in 5L were motivated to participate in simple and practical ways to improve and protect their local environment.

The environmental incursion was dynamic and interactive, bringing real-world sustainability issues and curriculum aligned content to 5L students using hands-on activities, kinaesthetic learning, movement, and games.

Introducing Life Skills GO at Eastwood Public School

At Eastwood Public School, we are committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment for all our students. To strengthen this commitment, we are excited to introduce Life Skills GO, an evidence-based online platform developed by Life Skills Group. This program is designed to support the social, emotional, and physical development of our students, equipping them with essential skills to thrive both in school and beyond.

Through Life Skills GO, students will regularly check in with their teachers using a digital tool that helps track their emotional well-being. This initiative aligns with trauma-informed practices, aiming to enhance student engagement, improve classroom behavior, and support learning achievement. By integrating this program into our daily routines, we hope to create a positive and inclusive classroom environment where every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Our goal is not just to see immediate benefits but to build a resilient and thriving school community where all students can reach their full potential. As we gradually implement Life Skills GO into our school routines, we appreciate your support and partnership in this important initiative.

Mandarin and Korean Language Classes at Eastwood Public School

We are excited to share that our Mandarin and Korean language classes have commenced this term! Our dedicated language teachers, Mrs. Lishan Liu, Mrs. Yang, and Mrs. Zheng, will be leading the Mandarin program, while Mrs. Yeom will be teaching Korean.

This year, we will be implementing the new Modern Languages curriculum, ensuring that students engage in meaningful and interactive language learning experiences. Our lessons are designed to develop students' communication skills while making learning enjoyable and enriching.

The language timetable is currently being finalised as we carefully organise classes to minimise disruption to regular learning.

Safety Around the School - Important Reminder for Parents

At Eastwood Public School, the safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority. We kindly ask all parents and carers to support us in ensuring a safe and secure environment by following these important reminders:

🔹 Please do not approach the school fence to speak with students during school hours. Teachers on duty may not know who you are, and this can pose a safety concern for all students.

🔹 If you need to pass a message to your child during the school day, please call the office, and we will ensure it reaches them.

🔹 If you need to see your child in person, please come to the front office first and sign in before going onto school grounds.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our school community safe and secure for all students.

Senior Choir

Over the next couple of weeks, Mrs Forster and Mrs Bennett and I will be listening to each individual student in the Senior Choir briefly. This is not an audition. Everyone who would like to be a part of the choir and are willing to commit to coming each week, are most welcome. It is helpful for us to determine the placement of sopranos and altos, as they need to be split for a good balance.

• Wednesday, 12 March, Year 6 Senior Choir students need to arrive at the Hall by 8:10. Year 5 can arrive at 8:30.
• Wednesday, 19 March, Year 5 Senior Choir students need to arrive at the Hall by 8:10. Year 6 can arrive at 8:30.
• Wednesday, 26th March Choir resumes at 8:10 for everyone. 

Thank you for supporting your child to attend these rehearsals. 

Harmony Day

Wear Orange for Harmony Day: Thursday 20^th March

Harmony Day is a special time to celebrate our diverse community and promote inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for all. At Eastwood Public School, we recognise the importance of embracing different cultures and valuing the rich traditions that make our school so unique.

On Thursday 20th March, we invite all students to take part in our Harmony Day celebrations "Everyone Belongs" by wearing traditional cultural attire or something orange. We are excited to see everyone proudly representing their heritage and coming together to celebrate diversity in our school.

Let’s make this day a vibrant and joyful reflection of unity and respect! 🌏🧡

SRC

On Tuesday 8th of April (Week 11), the SRC will be holding a fundraiser for two separate charities; The Smith Family and the Starlight Foundation.

We ask that students bring as many gold coins as they can to school where they can donate those coins to the charities as they see fit. There will be a collection jar in each classroom.

The class in each stage with the most coins will receive an Eastwood Key and an ice-block. The overall winning class will have a pizza lunch provided! We thank you for your support!

Ms Saito & Mrs Lau. (SRC Coordinators) .

Sport

2025 Swimming Carnival

What a start to 2025 for sporting events at EPS.

Our swimming carnival was held in week two. The swimming talent was amazing, and it was great seeing the cheering and team spirit from those on the sideline watching.

The top 24 swimmers at our school carnival will be representing the school at our Ryde Zone Swimming carnival this coming Tuesday. Goodluck to those swimmers!

PSSA

PSSA has commenced for our Summer competition and we have been lucky with the weather so far to be able to play all games.

Nel Hoekstra & Pia Stutchbury, PSSA coordinators

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Library

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025 – Now Open!

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge is now open and Eastwood Public School is excited to be participating!! We encourage all students to take part in this fantastic initiative that promotes a love of reading.

Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 will complete the challenge at school with their library teachers, while students in Years 3 to 6 will be responsible for reading and logging their books themselves. The challenge closes on 22 August 2025, so be sure to keep track of your reading!

Happy reading, and good luck with the challenge! 

What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge?

The PRC is a statewide Challenge that encourages students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and enables them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to encourage each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely.

All students who complete the challenge and have their reading record validated by the school’s PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.

How many books do students need to read?

Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 are challenged to read or experience 30 books. 20 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books. Books can be read with a parent, carer, teacher or another student. 

Students in Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 20 books independently. At least 10 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books.

If a book is from an approved PRC series, students can enter up to 5 books as Challenge books, and can read up to 10 other books from the same series as Personal Choice books. More information on the rules of the Challenge can be found on the PRC website.

Books must be added to a student’s online reading record by Friday 22 August 2025 in order for their reading record to be validated and receive a certificate.

How do students log their reading?

Students can access the PRC’s Student Experience site using their DoE username and password, or can log into the site via the Student Portal. A video guide explaining how to use the Student Experience site can be found here.

How can students find books on the NSW PRC challenge lists?

Our library collection has PRC books are clearly labelled to make them easy to find. Red PRC stickers for K-2 challenge books, green PRC stickers for 3-4 challenge books and yellow PRC stickers for 5-6 challenge books. Don’t forget to check them out and discover some fantastic new reads!

Lydia Hahn and Pilar Doval

PRC Coordinators at Eastwood Public School

A quick guide for logging books:

1. Log into the Student experience site using your DoE student username and password.
2. Use the blue search bar to search for books you have read.
   

2a. If the title appears, click “Add to Reading Log” to add it as a PRC book.

2b. If the title does not appear, you will need to enter it as a personal choice book.

To enter a personal choice book:

1. Click on the icon in the top right hand corner:
   

      2.   Click on “My reading log”

      3.  Fill in the book details under the “Add a Personal Choice book” field and click “add”

If you have any issues with logging books, please speak to Miss Hahn or Mrs Doval.

Music Committee

Is your child interested in starting a new instrument or joining an ensemble?

We would love to hear from you! For all information about our Instrumental Music Program please visit our website:

 https://epsinstrumentalmusicprogram.weebly.com/

2025 Ensemble group and rehearsals schedule

1. Concert Band: Tuesday from 7:50 - 8:50 am
2. Mini Strings: Tuesday from 8:00 - 9:00am
3. String Orchestra: Thursday from 8:00 - 9:00 am
4. Chamber Orchestra: Thursday from 8:00 - 9:00 am
5. Junior Piano: Friday from 7:45 - 8:45 am
6. Senior Piano: Monday from 7:45 - 8:45 am

The Mini String program has now been changed to a Technical Improvement Workshop. If we receive enough applications, we will reopen Mini String.

If you're interested, please express your interest here:

Expression of interest: EPS Music Ensemble and Instrument choices

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming music event, where our talented students will showcase their hard work and passion for music. We warmly welcome all parents to join us and celebrate their wonderful performances! 

Getting Involved with us

In order to keep fees low, we need more parent volunteers to help and coordinate. If you are interested in helping us, please feel free to contact us at music.eastwoodps@gmail.com.

*All parent volunteers must have a valid Working With Children Check that can be obtained at the Service NSW website, thank you for your support in advance!

Enquiries

Please direct all your queries to the following email addresses:

music.info@eastwoodpnc.onmicrosoft.com

Note: Please add the above email addresses to your address book to prevent email communication from the committee being sent to your spam/junk folder. Music Website Homepage: https://epsinstrumentalmusicprogram.weebly.com/

Merit Awards

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