Principal's Message

Staffing Update for 2025

As we move towards the end of the year we are busily in the process of preparing for 2025. Our projected enrolments for next year look to be around 765 students. A large part of the organisational process is updating our staffing profile based on student numbers and staff movements. I'd like to let the community know of the following information we have so far, that will occur in 2025.

We will farewell Ms Martine Ziino and Ms Jacqui Sharp, as they have been successfully appointed to positions at other schools from 2025 onwards. We will also farewell Ms Tabitha Carter who will be taking extended leave. Ms Susan Haworth will also be continuing her leave into 2025 as well.

There will be alterations to the leadership profile with the following staff appointed to Learning Specialist roles:

Mr Hardev Singh - Digital Technology and High Abilities

Mr Bryce Turvey - Numeracy

Mr Craig Harrison - Literacy

As many of you would know Craig has been in the role of Assistant Principal for the last three years, however with a fourth child on the way, due very soon, he has decided to prioritise family for awhile and step into a new role.

This means that Mr Paul Hill and Mr Mark Cooper will remain as Assistant Principals, with a slight re-organisation of the structure of leadership roles across the entire leadership team. We will communicate more as the year progresses so that the community are well aware of any changes that may affect families.

STEP UP - Schoolwide Transition Program for 2025

As mentioned in previous newsletters, Term 4 is a time for preparing our school community for transition into 2025.

A large part of this process is the preparation of students to meet their new teacher, new classmates and see their new classrooms!

With School Council consultation and approval, we have designed a STEP UP program that will cater for all students in supporting them through a transition process.

This will be a four part program.

Part 1: Monday 9th December - Students meet their 2025 teacher and classmates for one hour.

Part 2: Tuesday 10th December - Statewide Transition Day - HPS Students spend two hours with their new teacher and classmates. Year 6 visit their new secondary colleges and incoming Prep students have their final transition session for the year.

Part 3: Tuesday 17th December - 2025 classes commence and continue until Thursday 19th December at 2.30pm - end of 2024 calendar year at school.

This means that 2024 classes will all be completed on Monday 16th December. This will also be the final day for Year 6 students - with their Guard of Honour to finish the day and their schooling year.

Where required in the following days, if Year 6 students attend there will be supervision available, but no classes running.

This has taken a lot of time and preparation and we look forward to seeing the enhanced version of Step Up at HPS come to life this year!

World Teachers' Day

This Friday we acknowledge the very hard work and dedication of our entire teaching staff!! We don't need days like this to be reminded of the tireless effort that teachers make in ensuring every child is supported and successful at school, however it is a wonderful day to celebrate each and every one of them! There is not a day that goes by where I don't realise how lucky we are at Hillsmeade to have such a thoughtful, kind, caring and positive group of teachers. I am so grateful to each and every one of them and what they provide our community. We will have a celebration at school on Friday, but if you see a teacher around don't forget to wish them a "Happy World Teachers' Day" on Friday!! 

Monday 4th November

Reminder: Monday 4th November - Regular classes are not running, class teachers unavailable. Canteen will be closed.

As has been the case in the previous years, regular classes will not be running on Monday 4th November - the Monday prior to the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday.

Class teachers will be unavailable. There will be some supervision provided as required.

Thank you once again for your understanding.

Curriculum Days Term 4 2024

Students do not attend school on the following days this term:

Wednesday 27th November - OSHC available

Friday 20th December - No OSHC available

A reminder that the last day of the 2024 school year, Thursday 19th December, is a 2.30pm finish.

Shout out to our Year 6 students!!

For the last three days of Term 3 I was lucky enough to accompany our Year 6 students on their final camp in primary school. We had such a fabulous time at Urban City Camp, exploring Melbourne, catching public transport and spending all of our money at the Queen Victoria Market! I do believe that the Old Melbourne Gaol was quite the highlight for most of our students, especially learning about Ned Kelly. I was so impressed with the way our students conducted themselves and showed high levels of resilience after completing so many thousands of steps each day!! A big thank you to Ms Meagan McKneil, Ms Jacqui Sharp, the Year 6 team and all staff that attended the camp. Without the organisation of Ms McKneil and Ms Sharp we would not have had so much fun and such memorable experiences.

Facebook Page

Have you recently checked out our Facebook page? This year we have made a concerted effort to share more with our community on all of the exciting things that happen at Hillsmeade. Make sure you give the page a follow and have a look through to see if you can spot your child in any of the photos!!