Good Afternoon Families,

It's been wonderful to see the excitement and enthusiasm from everyone as we begin the school year! Our students look fantastic in their Evandale school uniforms, and there's such a warm, positive energy every morning and afternoon as students and families arrive. A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and family members who have helped ensure a smooth and well-prepared start to the school year. Your support truly makes a difference.

    

The Evandale staff and students have been talking about ‘What it looks like, feels like and sounds like to be part of the Evandale School community?” as we begin a new year together. Yesterday it was great to talk with Harrison (starting Kinder today), his little brother, Freddy and dad Zac when they visited the school library to borrow a book as part of our Little Learners opportunity. Next week some of our Student Leadership Council members will support the session and are looking forward to reading stories with our Little Readers.

Open Classroom and Welcome Community BBQ - 24th February, 2025

Parents and families are warmly invited to an ‘Open Classroom’ opportunity to explore the exciting learning journeys students have embarked on during the first few weeks of the school year. It’s a great chance to see firsthand the projects, activities, and lessons students have been engaging with. Classrooms will be open from 2:30-3:00pm.

Open Classroom will be followed by a “Welcome Community BBQ” in the primary playground for a free sausage and a chance to meet together. We thank the Student Leadership Council and the School Association for organising this event. 

Lions Eye Health Program

The Lions Eye Health Program will visit Evandale Primary School on the 25^th of February and are offering free vision screening for our Years 2,4 and 6 students.  This is a service many schools are taking up. We are hoping to schedule this as an annual service at Evandale Primary School each year. Students in Years 2,4 and 6 will have brought home information about the Lions Eye Health Program yesterday and a permission form will need to be signed and returned to have access to the free vision screening service.

School Canteen

Our school canteen days will be Thursdays this year and it begins next week.  Thanks to Kristy Rohde for providing this popular lunch service to the school.  Please order online via the Spriggy for schools app.

School Association News

Yesterday afternoon we held our first School Association meeting for 2025. Our Community Champions shared a plan of students, parent and event opportunities across 2025.  To start the year, they will support the SLC with the Welcome Back BBQ on February 24^th and hold a BBQ on the EPS Athletics Carnival Day 19^th March. Please contact the office if you can help out with the BBQ’s on either of these days.

Meetings are scheduled for a 3:15 start on one Wednesday afternoon each term. Our next meeting will be the AGM and then the general School Association meeting on Wednesday the 26^th of March. All school community members are welcome to attend.  

Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) 

The Student Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance to help families cover the cost of school levies. The scheme supports low-income families with students enrolled from Kindergarten to Year 12. 

If you meet the income test criteria, full levies and student stationery will be covered by STAS. If you have already been approved for STAS, you do not need to reapply for the following year. 

Please contact the school office if you would like to discuss your eligibility.

School Levies

Parents contribute towards the cost of essential items and services that support normal educational instruction by paying an annual all-inclusive levy for their child. You will soon receive an invoice for school levies in the post.

Once parents have paid the levy, the school will not request any additional payments for essential items or services needed during the school year. Families supported through the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) do not need to pay levies. 

The levies for 2025 are: 

• Kindergarten:          $200.00 

• Prep – Grade 2:       $260.00 

• Grade 3 – 5:             $300.00 

• Grade 6:                    $280.00 

Reminders :

2025 Paperwork to be returned asap

Thanks to parents and families who have signed and returned beginning of the year paperwork. We do require the following

• Student Validation forms
• Bush Fire release form
• ICT agreements
• Lions Eye Screen permission for students in Year 2,4 and 6
• Bus Code of Conduct Contract

Looking forward to a great year working together to be our best!

 Please see the Parent Friendly calendar attached.