At Parramatta East Public School, we are deeply proud of our students and the positive culture we work to create. Respect, kindness, and responsibility are at the heart of our school values, and it is important that these are reflected not only in our classrooms, but also during school events and celebrations.

We have noticed some concerning behaviours, particularly in day-to-day learning environments where students are disrupting whole class learning and taking no responsibility for their choices.  Last week at our 3-6  Book Week Parade we had inappropriate comments and booing, which are not in keeping with the respectful and inclusive culture we are striving to maintain. These actions can be hurtful to others and take away from the sense of community that our events are meant to foster.

When behavioural issues do arise, it is vital that parents and carers partner with the school to address them. Our approach is always focused on supporting students to learn from their mistakes and to grow in their understanding of appropriate behaviour. However, lasting improvement is only possible when school and home, work together to reinforce the same expectations.

We ask for your support in speaking with your child about the importance of respect—whether in the classroom, on the playground, or when celebrating as a whole school. 

Book Week is always a highlight of our school calendar. It’s a wonderful celebration of reading, creativity, and community spirit, and this year’s parade once again showcased the incredible imagination and effort of our students and families.

However, I would like to take a moment to reflect on an important aspect that emerged from this year’s event. We have noticed increasing concerns from families when their children are not awarded a prize.

As educators, one of our key goals is to support students in developing resilience, graciousness, and the understanding that not every effort will be recognised with a prize. These are valuable life lessons, and Book Week provides an opportunity to model and reinforce them.  As a school we should not have to justify why a child or children do not receive a prize over another.

Sadly, with this in mind, we will be revisiting our procedures for next year’s parade. A number of local schools have moved to celebrating Book Week with a parade only, without prizes, and this is something we will now have to consider at Parramatta East.

At Parramatta East Public School, we value strong partnerships between home and school. Open and respectful communication plays a key role in supporting every child’s learning and wellbeing.

I would like to remind families of the importance of making an appointment if you need to meet with your child’s teacher. Teachers have full teaching commitments during the day and are often preparing lessons, supervising students, or attending meetings before and after school. Arranging a mutually convenient time ensures that teachers can give you their full attention and provide the best possible support.

It is also important to remember that your child’s class teacher should always be the first point of contact for any concerns. They work with your child every day, know them best as a learner, and are in the strongest position to address classroom or wellbeing matters. If further support is required, the teacher will then liaise with executive staff to ensure your concern is followed through appropriately.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these processes. By working together in this way, we can ensure that communication remains respectful, timely, and focused on what matters most—supporting every student to thrive.

Our long-awaited school upgrade is now well and truly underway, and these are very exciting times for Parramatta East Public School. We are thrilled to share that the first refurbished classroom is already open and in use, giving us a glimpse of the wonderful learning spaces that are on the way.

The rough timeline ahead is that a number of classrooms will be demolished during September/October, with new spaces to follow soon after. As with any major project, there will be some temporary challenges, particularly around parking. With more workers onsite, parking near the school will become increasingly limited.

To help ease congestion, I highly recommend that families park a little further away and walk, or better still, make use of our kiss and drop zone wherever possible. This will help keep everyone safe and traffic moving smoothly during busy times.

If you would like further information, please email the school office and we will be happy to provide you with a number for kiss and drop. We will also continue to share updates as the project progresses.

Thank you for your patience and support as we navigate this exciting period of growth. The short-term inconvenience will be well worth it when we see our students learning in modern, purpose-built spaces designed for the future.

I am absolutely delighted to share some very exciting news about performing arts at Parramatta East Public School. This year, we launched our brand-new band program, and I could not be more proud of the enthusiasm our students have shown. Music has the power to inspire, connect, and enrich learning, and it is wonderful to see our students embracing this opportunity with such joy.

To ensure the program is accessible for as many families as possible, the school will be making a significant investment in instruments and equipment. This will help to expand the program while reducing costs for parents. Research consistently shows the strong connection between learning music and academic achievement, and we are committed to providing our students with the very best opportunities to grow in both areas.

To further spark interest and introduce students to the joy of playing an instrument, we have also partnered with School Bands Australia, who will be running their Buzz On Bands program across Years 2-4 next term. This will give every child the chance to experience the excitement of music-making firsthand.

In addition, we are looking to broaden our performing arts program even further. Following the success of our hip hop program, we have begun investigating the employment of a jazz dance teacher, with classes to commence in 2026. These classes will be fully funded by the school, ensuring all students have the opportunity to participate.

We are incredibly proud of these initiatives and the rich opportunities they provide for our students. At Parramatta East, we believe that creativity, self-expression, and a love of the arts go hand-in-hand with academic success and personal growth.