Principal's Report

Welcome Back!

I hope you have all enjoyed a fabulous break over the summer, however long it may have been, making memories and having fun. I also trust that you’ve enjoyed a positive start to the year and that routines are beginning to settle for families and students alike, albeit at what feels like a million miles an hour! It has been wonderful to see the school full of energy again, particularly our newest Foundation students who have made such a confident and happy start.

Over the break, I enjoyed time with my extended family for Christmas before heading to Lorne as a family for our regular summer stint on the beach with Nippers, cricket, sandcastle making, surfing and a pretty significant investment in the local ice-cream shop… and now, as I and I’m sure we all settle back into school, sport, my kids’ ridiculously busy social life and my consequential lack of it, I hope you are able to not just survive, but thrive and enjoy the ride!

To perhaps support this ever so slightly, below are a series of reminders and important pieces of information to be aware of to ensure you are aware of all that is necessary at this time of year. 

Recommended Parenting Podcasts

To start the year, I want to take the opportunity to share a couple of excellent podcast episodes that I enjoyed over the break, which I hope you may find valuable. Dyl and Friends features a great conversation with Dr Paul Taylor on hardiness and the importance of children experiencing challenge and failure as part of building wellbeing. There is also a thoughtful episode with Dr Billy Garvey covering a range of contemporary parenting challenges and strategies which I not only connected with but laughed along to at points. There is a language warning, as the host can be prone to using some interesting adjectives, however I do hope that some of you are able to find both practical insights and reassurance as you listen.

Communication Platforms

We work hard to ensure communication in our school is as effective as it can be. Please see below the platforms we use, why we use them, and how to engage with them.

• Compass: All calendar events, payments and permissions and whole-school, cohort and individual notifications, reminders and updates.
• Instagram/Facebook: Reminders, updates, staff profiles and celebrations of learning.
• WhatsApp: Class groups established by coordinators (soon to be established), not moderated by the school. 
• Seesaw: A private platform that gives you a window into our classrooms. Class and specialist teachers use Seesaw to share your child's schooling journey. Think of this as a social media feed, once weekly, from your child’s class teacher.
• Newsletter: fortnightly updates, news and specific content such as wellbeing, curriculum, specialist programs and more. 
• Year Level Term Newsletters: posted at the beginning of each term, these contain information about key dates, reminders and curriculum focuses for the term.
• Website: mostly static information about the school, including Parent Handbook, Enrolment processes, Policies and archived Newsletters.

Parent Contributions

Thank you to the many families who have already made their parent contribution. These contributions play a vital role in supporting our programs, resources and learning opportunities for students across the school. If you have yet to do so, payments can be made easily via Compass or by visiting the office. Our office team are always happy to help, including discussing payment plans if needed.

Building Works Update

Works are well underway as you can tell, and I'm pleased to share that despite a few minor issues, all is on track. At this stage, it is planned that the basketball court will be opened up by the beginning of Term 2, and portable classrooms will be able to begin decanting into permanent classrooms that are being constructed and/or moved. Post this, we will begin stage 3 which will entail demolition and removal of the portables and the construction of the Gymnasium, which is expected to take 12 months. I will continue to provide updates as they come to hand. 

New Families Welcome BBQ

We warmly invite our new families, including Foundation families, to attend our Welcome BBQ this Friday 6th from 3:30pm-4:15pm. This is a relaxed opportunity to meet other families, connect with parent groups and enjoy a sausage together. We look forward to welcoming you.

Prep Welcome Assembly

A reminder that we will be holding a special assembly this week to formally welcome our Foundation students. This will take place in the quad from 2:50pm, as outlined in last week’s Compass post. Families are very welcome to attend. The following week will be focused on Badge Presentations for Grade 6 Captains.

Raising Kids in a Digital World Parent Seminar

Registrations are now open for the Inform and Empower parent seminar, as shared on Compass. We hosted this session last year and found it incredibly practical and informative. I strongly encourage families to register and attend if you are able. Please click the button below to register.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Bookings for Parent Teacher Interviews open today at 1:00pm for interviews being held next Wednesday evening. Please ensure you book through Compass. As a reminder, where students have two classroom teachers, families are asked to book one appointment.

For support in booking appointments, please view the link below or visit the office for assistance.

Class Representatives

Class Representatives are essential in facilitating school and social connectedness and fun between parents and families. It is easy to take on and can be done as a partnership. We are seeking Class Representatives for a number of classes, for which you will find the opportunity to nominate in the permissions sent out via Compass. Any questions, please contact the office

Smart Phone & Watch Sign In

In line with a statewide policy, students are required to sign in all phones and smart watches to their teacher each morning so that it can be locked away in a safe for the day. Should you have any questions, please see your class teacher.

New & Important Dates

• New Families Welcome BBQ: Friday 6th February 3:30-4:15pm
• Parent Teacher Interviews: Wednesday 11th February
• School Photos: 23rd & 24th February. 
• District Swimming: Tuesday 3rd March
• Division Swimming; Tuesday 10th March
• NAPLAN Testing Window: 11th – 23rd March
• End of Term: Thursday 2nd April at 2:30pm
• Curriculum Day: Monday 20th April
• Start of Term 2: Tuesday 21st April

To subscribe to our calendar on your preferred calendar, please follow the link below

Annual Reminders

Insurance reminder

The Education Department does not have accident insurance. Items of personal property that are lost, stolen or damaged at school are not the responsibility of Hampton Primary School or the Department. Staff and students are reminded not to bring items of value to school. 

Privacy reminder

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ privacy policy and the Schools’ privacy collection notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. 

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

Ambulance Cover reminder

The Education Department does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents and guardians of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport

costs.