ENewsletter

Acknowledgement to Country

Students, teachers and parents of Eastlakes Public School, pay respects and acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, past, present and future who have the first connection to this land.

We are thankful for the Gadigal and Kameygal clans for taking care of the land, sky and waterways on which we learn and play today.

Together we will rise to the challenge and be respectful and responsible to care for our country.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land

From the Principal

Welcome to the 2026 school year!

We have made a great start to the 2026 school year! Our new Kindergarten students have settled very well into class and school routines. We continue to welcome new students and their families moving to the area. We are all looking forward to the exciting year ahead!

We have had a few staffing changes, as you will see below, and all students have now been placed in their classes.

I am thrilled to see our school community coming together again, filled with a readiness to learn, grow, and achieve. This year promises to be one of discovery, challenge, and success for our school.

Our dedicated staff have been working hard to prepare engaging and inspiring programs that will support each student’s individual journey. We encourage all students to embrace the opportunities ahead with a positive attitude and a growth mindset.

2026 Staff

Anthia Psarras	Principal
Dimitra Giannacopoulos	Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction
Imogen Stanfield	Assistant Principal K-2 and 2-1I Class Teacher
Emma Cox	Assistant Principal 3-6 and 6-2MC Class Teacher
Emily Atkins	KA Class Teacher
Jasmine Alhamawnde	2-1A Class Teacher
Anthony Karan	3K Class Teacher
Thomas Spencer	5-4S Class Teacher
Mr Lucas Tiley	6-5T Class Teacher
Marina Morrison	Visual Arts Teacher and 6-2MC class teacher
Georgina Taylor	EALD Teacher
Michelle Sippel	Library Teacher
Iliana Santopietro	Learning and Support
Salina Aktar	Community Language Teacher
Elsie Carter	Learning and Support
Andy Sexton	School Psychologist
Cristina Peralta	School Administration Manager
Gina Massey	School Administration Officer
Nermin Ayan	School Learning Support Officer
Carina Hrysafis	School Learning Support Officer
George Markovski	General Assistant

School Routines

As we settle into the school year, I encourage all families to familiarise themselves with these important routines and expectations. Consistency is key to helping our students feel secure and ready to learn. Please ensure that your child:

arrives on time every day, school starts at 9am. Students can arrive at school from 8.30am when playground supervision commences in the amphitheatre;
comes prepared for the day ahead, and
follows our school’s expectations: We are respectful. We are responsible. We are learners. These are are our Positive Behaviour for Learning expectations and are underpinned by the Behaviour code for students | NSW Department of Education

School Communication

Audiri, is our primary communication tool. This platform allows for streamlined communication between the school and families, ensuring that you stay informed about important announcements, general school information and events.

The school also uses Sentral Parent Portal for excursion information and permission, attendance notifications as well as broadcasting general information and news.

P&C AGM in Week 5

EPS Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) would like to invite all families to the Annual General Meeting scheduled for Week 5 Wednesday 25 February at 5.30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how you can get involved in our school community, share your ideas, and help shape the future of our school. Your participation is invaluable, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Partnership between home and school is vital, and I look forward to working closely with families to create a supportive, safe, and inclusive environment where students can flourish. Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Let’s make this school year a memorable one!

Anthia Psarras

Principal

We look forward to welcoming families to our Meet the Teacher evening.

When: Tuesday 24 February

Where: In your child’s classroom

Kindergarten to year 2: 3.15 – 4.00 pm

Years 3 to 6: 4.15 – 5.00 pm

This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and learn about the year ahead.

What has KA been up to in the first weeks of school?

A Beautiful New Mural Celebrating Our Australian Environment

You will have noticed the stunning mural, created by talented artist Kostas Giouvantis and generously supported by our P&C. This vibrant artwork beautifully showcases the rich colours, animals, and flora of Australia’s diverse environments.

The mural not only brightens our school but also reminds us of the incredible natural world around us.

We hope it encourages all who see it to appreciate and protect our unique Australian landscapes.

Thank you to the P&C and Kostas for bringing such creativity and beauty to our school!

Professional Learning

Our staff participate in ongoing professional learning that is carefully planned to help improve teaching and support your child’s learning. This professional learning is evidence based that focuses on practices and strategies that make a real difference in the classroom and help students achieve better results.

In the past two weeks, our teachers and non teaching staff have completed the following professional learning:

Diabetes training - All Staff
Curriculum - Science and Technology Syllabus - All Teachers
Collaborative Planning for Term 1 - All Teachers
Kamay Principals Network - Ms Psarras

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Quote from:

Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher.

Road Safety - Walking to and from school

Plan your trip to school so you're using pedestrian crossings where possible.
Always hold your child's hand up until they're at least 8 years old. Young children need your help to recognise danger such as vehicles coming out of driveways. They can also be easily distracted and wander into traffic.
Up until at least 10 years old, supervise your child very closely, holding their hand when crossing the road. If you cannot be with your child, organise for another trusted adult to accompany them.
Drop off and pick up your child near the school gate and never call them from across the road. Explain to your child the Stop, Look, Listen, Think method and practise it together every time they cross the road:
- Stop one step back from the kerb
- Look both ways continuously
- Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic
- Think whether it's safe to cross and keep checking until you're safely across.

Find out the difference between pedestrian crossings and children's crossings via the pedestrian safety page at Transport NSW.

Reference: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/parents

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