Eastlakes Edition

Term Week

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 Term 3

I hope all families enjoyed the winter break. Our students and teachers have returned re-energised and ready for the exciting term ahead.

We are now halfway through the school year, and many wonderful events are planned. Week 1 is already packed with activities including Dance Sport, Life Education, the 3-6 and K-2 Athletics Carnivals, and PSSA competitions!

This week, all classes have participated in the Life Education program. You may have noticed Healthy Harold’s van parked in our school car park. The focus across the school was online safety and cybersafety. Please see later in the newsletter for details about what each class learned, along with useful information for parents and carers to support their children at home.

Term 3 is always a busy and dynamic term. Some highlights we are looking forward to include:

  • Public Education Week
  • Premier’s Spelling Bee Final
  • Stage 3 STEAM Challenge
  • The Quest
  • Dance Sport Final at Homebush
  • Book Week
  • Preschool Transition Program

As always, excellent teaching and learning are taking place in every classroom. This week, teachers have been collaboratively planning engaging programs across all key learning areas to ensure students continue making strong progress.

Learning Labs for Kindergarten to Year 6 will continue this term. These labs cover a wide range of skills and topics. Teachers have been working closely with our digital learning adviser to further develop the digital component of the Learning Labs, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes.

I look forward to sharing more updates with you as the term progresses.

Anthia Psarras

Principal

Fun at the athletics carnivals!

Working together for student attendance and to maximise learning

It’s always wonderful to have our students in classrooms, ready to engage and learn. Our teachers and school staff are committed to fostering growth and opportunity, and we are here to work with you to support your child to reach their full potential.

Consistently going to school has countless benefits – from learning, to creating social connections and improving wellbeing through access to support and quality education.

Students are required to attend school every day, whether it’s the first or last day of the term, Mondays, Fridays or days dedicated to sports carnivals, school excursions and incursions.

As we look ahead to the remainder of the school year, I’d like to remind our school community that we are here to work with you to support your child to thrive. We know that families experience a variety of challenging circumstances, and we are committed to working with you to address any barriers to regular attendance.

If your child is absent from school, please let us know why as soon as possible, even if it’s just a few minutes at the start or end of the school day. Of course, there will be times when your child is unable to be at school, like when they are unwell. Medical appointments should take place outside school hours where possible, and family holidays should be taken in term breaks.

If your child is feeling anxious about coming to school and you need support, please reach out to your child’s teacher or to Ms Psarras directly. There are also helpful resources for parents and carers on the NSW Department of Education website.

Thank you for being a part of our school community and for partnering with us to ensure students access the endless benefits of regular school attendance.

Communicating with our school

All communication is to be consistent with the School Community Charter | NSW Department of Education respecting that our staff are primarily engaged with teaching and caring for our students.

As a school community, we value the relationship we have with our parents and carers. Together we will be better able to support the learning journey of our students. We welcome opportunities to partner with you and to discuss your child’s learning throughout the year and encourage you to contact your child’s teacher/s if you wish to discuss their progress and learning goals.  The class teacher should always be your first port of call.

There are many ways that Eastlakes PS communicates and partners with our school community, including:

  • parent/teacher interviews, face-to-face or online

  • Audiri and Sentral Parent Portal notices and updates

  • online platforms, such as Google Classroom

  • review meetings.

    Be mindful that teachers have obligations for teaching, supervision, meetings and extra-curricular  activities from 8.30am to 3pm. It will rarely be possible for teaching staff to meet with you immediately if you attend the school site without notice therefore it is always best to make  an appointment.

      To answer questions or to discuss your child’s learning, please contact the school:

      By phoneBy emailIn person

      Urgent matters

      Urgent matters require an action or response from staff on the same day, like:

      • your child’s attendance;

      • changes to arrangements that need to be communicated to your child;

      • your child's health and well-being.

      Non urgent matters

      Including:

      • requesting a meeting with our school staff

      • requesting information about an upcoming school event

      • providing brief information to the school

      • raising a concern

      Our school email address is eastlakes-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

      You can email us about non-urgent matters that do not   require same day response, like 

      • requesting a meeting with our school staff

      • requesting information about an upcoming school event 

      • providing information to the school such as specialist reports 

      • raising a concern 

      For matters that require an action or response from stuff on the same day please find the school.

      How to contact our school

      Parents are welcome to meet with our school staff.

      • We prefer you phone or email a request briefly explaining the issues you wish to discuss,

      • or if the staff member is available at the end of the school day, have a very brief meeting. Please understand they may have other duties to attend to.

      You are welcome to bring a support person or advocate, with prior notice, to be present at any meeting.

      What you can expect

      If necessary, you will need to leave a message with our office staff who will identify the best person to respond to your call, if needed. The response will happen by the end of the next school day.

      Our school number is 9667 3659.

      You’re welcome to phone our school during school hours 

      8.30am to 3.30pm.

      What you can expect

      Emails will be:

      • Read within three school days of receipt;

      • Acknowledged if required;

      • Assessed to decide what action is needed including if a response is required;

      • Monitored between Monday to Friday 9am to three pm during school terms only;

      • Responded to by relevant staff only.

      What you can expect

      Our staff will:

      • Respond to your request within 2 school days

      • Discuss with you a mutually agreeable time to meet and agree on what will be discussed

      • Decide who is the best person to meet with you.

      Life Education - Healthy Harold

      Each class visited the Life Education van and took part in one of the modules related to their stage of learning.

      • Safety Rules - KA
      • Harold's Online World - 2-1A and 2-1I
      • cCyber Wise - 3K
      • Relate Respect Connect - 5-4S and 6-5T
      • Harold's Friend Ship - 6-2MC

      Click on the link to read about what each class learned about, some familiy activities and other resources.

      Download

      Community Calendar

      https://eastlakesps.sentral.com.au/s-gr381q/webcal/calendar/10
      Use this link for the community calendar where school events and activities are added regularly throughout the term. The link is also shared every Friday in the "What's on" notification.

      Change of address or phone number

      It is essential that you notify the school office as soon as you change address or if your mobile, home or work telephone contact number changes. The school must also have the number of an emergency contact person in case parents or carers cannot be contacted. 

      Your details can be updated via the Change of Details eForm on the Audiri App, email eastlakesp.school@det.nsw.edu.au  or contact the school on 96673659. 

      Care Navigator

       The school has a care navigator who helps families to access the wide range of supports and services for parents/carers and children.


      This can include: financial; housing; parenting; emotional; access to the early childhood health checks for preschool aged children; access to community events and resources; support navigating the health system and referrals to other services.


      If you would like to speak with the care navigator, Margot Wertheim, get a referral form at the school office or use the fillable referral form (link below)  or text/call Margot on 0429 276 211 and leave a message.

      Care Navigation Fillable Form

      Use this form if you wish to access support from Margot. It can be emailed to the school once completed. Alternatively you can print and drop it off at the office where it will be passed on to Margot, who will then contact you.
      Download

      Professional Learning

        Effective professional learning is aligned to system, school and individual performance and development goals. It supports staff to deepen their practice by focusing on sustained evidence- informed approaches resulting in greater impact on student outcomes.

        Staff have attended the following professional learning in the last two weeks:

        • Verbal Interventions Safety Interventions - all teaching and non teaching staff
        • Collaborative Planning - all teachers

        Staff Car Park

        A reminder that the school car park is for staff and delivery vehicles only. Parents must not use the school car park and/or driveway to drop off or collect students. Students and  parents must always enter and exit the school via the front gate.

        Public Education Week

        Public Education Week is an annual celebration of NSW public education and the achievements of our schools, teachers and students.

        Public Education Week is a time to come together and celebrate the strength, diversity and achievements of NSW public education — where every student is supported to learn, grow and thrive.

        Public Education Week 2026 will be held from 3–7 August (Term 3, Week 3) and the theme will be Inspiring Excellence.

        Eastlakes Public School will be welcoming parents, carers and community members to the school to showcase learning experiences happening every day.

        We encourage families to get involved by attending our Public Education Week events. More information coming soon!

        Breakfast Club

        Every Monday morning from 8.30am to 8.45am in the amphitheatre. Cereal, milk, sandwiches and fruit are available each week. Eating a healthy breakfast can help to improve alertness, concentration, mental performance and memory. Children who skip breakfast are more likely to eat less nutritious food during the day and are more likely to be overweight than children who eat breakfast.

        Quote of the week...

        Out of School Hours Care

        Eastlakes Public School


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