Eastlakes Edition

Term 1 Week 6

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

Term 1 Update

As we settle into Term 1, I wanted to share some updates and initiatives that are taking place within our school community.

Firstly, our Breakfast Club is now running every Monday in the amphitheatre. This initiative has seen a positive turnout, with many students coming together to enjoy a nutritious start to their week. It's a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with one another and fuel their bodies for a day of learning. I encourage all families to join us!

Our Kindergarten students have also been busy participating in the Best Start Assessment. This assessment helps us understand each child's individual strengths and areas for growth, ensuring we provide the best possible support as they embark on their educational journey. We are so proud of our youngest learners for their enthusiasm and effort!

This week the South Sydney Rabbitohs led special wellbeing programs for students K-6 delivered with a proactive approach - aimed at empowering students to take charge of their health, wellbeing and their social imprint. Linked to the current Australian Curriculum the workshops focused on improving overall health outcomes and health literacy of students. 

K-2 participated in Your Health - Own It! which focused on the importance of overall physical health, inclusive of nutrition and exercise. The workshop provided realistic tips and tricks to create healthy habits in a positive way to support overall health.

3-6 students participated in Your Online Footprint which was based on the official eSafety Commissioner guidelines. It aimed to enhance students' understanding of not only how to keep themselves safe, but also how to interact responsibly online.

Additionally, our Meet the Teacher Afternoons kicked off this week and will continue into next week. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to connect with teachers, build strong partnerships for the benefit of the students, learn about school and classroom procedures and routines, academic content, PBL expectations and communication.

I would also like to highlight our P&C Association, which recently held its first meeting of the year. It was a productive gathering, and I’m excited to share that they have already begun making plans for future activities and events to enhance our school community. Their dedication and enthusiasm are invaluable, and I encourage all parents to get involved and support their initiatives!

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we are creating a nurturing environment where every student can thrive. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Anthia Tsantoulis

Principal

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 me 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.

Library News

It’s Term 1 and we have already begun borrowing, started the Premier’s Reading Challenge and had our first issue of Book Club!

Library lessons are every Monday or Tuesday, but until we settle into a regular timetable, students are advised to bring their library bags on a Monday, just in case! Loans are for one week, so it is good for them to develop a habit of packing their library bag into their school bags on Sunday. If your child cannot find their old library bag, any type will do, as long as it protects the books and has their name on it.

Book Week is in Term 3 and this year, the theme is ‘Book an Adventure’. Reading is "one of the most marvellous adventures that anyone can have," (Lloyd Alexander) and we have a whole library full of adventures.

I hope our students have a great year of reading in 2025!

Mrs Marlene Sander - Teacher Librarian

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:

    • Schools Health and Community Together Principals Meeting - Ms Tsantoulis
    • Aspiring and Middle Leaders Meeting - Miss Kutasi, Miss Cox and Miss Stanfield
    • Botany Bay Principals Setting Up for School Excellence Success - Ms Tsantoulis
    • EALD Network Meeting - Mrs Taylor
    • School Administration Reduction Program - Ms Tsantoulis
    • AECG Meeting - Miss Stanfield
    • Metro South Principals Conference - Ms Tsantoulis

    It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept and celebrate those differences.

    Audre Lorde - Poet and Equal Rights Activist

    Celebrate International Women's Day - March 8th

    What's on in the community

    A happy Ramadan to members of our school community who are observing the month of Ramadan

    Eastlakes Public School


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