Principals' Page

Welcome Back

A very warm welcome back to our school community after the Term 3 break. I trust that everyone who had some time off is feeling refreshed and re-energised for the events and activities ahead in Term 4. We have another busy and exciting term planned, particularly in the first half. We have four Foundation Transition sessions, Grandparents Day, the Foundation excursion to Healesville Sanctuary, the Level 3 camp to Ferngully Lodge in Healesville and the Level 6 camp to Don Bosco in Dromana. With so much happening across the school, Term 4 is always a special time of the year. So, buckle down, enjoy the term and make the most of everything Term 4 has to offer!

Principal Training for Marcus Leonard

Marcus Leonard will be away from HEPS for a month, beginning Monday 19 October. During this time he will be taking part in Principal Training at Templestowe Heights Primary School.  While Marcus is away, Terri McClare will be Acting Assistant Principal and Danae Maxwell will look after FTM for the duration.

We wish Marcus all the best with his training and look forward to welcoming him back.

Parent Information Session for Friendology!

HEPS school data

We have recently received our school performance report which gives a snap shot of our overall performance in relation to similar schools.  We are very pleased that our school has rated as having high performance across the two domains of Learning and Wellbeing. We are very proud of the work we undertake to support the learning of all students at HEPS.

Planning for 2027

It is hard to believe that we are already in term 4 of 2026 and are about to begin our planning process for the 2027 school year. Each year one of our major considerations is the creation of classes that best support the learning and well-being of our students; your children.  It is at this time that we ask that you let us know if your children (other than Year 6) will be leaving HEPS and attending another school in 2027.

We also provide an opportunity for you to email Anita through the school email address if you feel there is any specific information about your child’s learning or social needs that you believe the school many not be aware of. Such information should be provided in writing (letter of email) to the Principal (not teachers) by November 1st. This information will be referenced, along with other available information, during the class placement process.

Grandparents and Special Friends Morning

We warmly invite our grandparents and special friends to join us at HEPS for a special morning together! Our classrooms will be open for visitors to enjoy some fun activities with their grandchildren or special people. If you have more than one child at HEPS, you are welcome to split your time between classrooms.

Morning tea will be provided by TeamKids at 10.00 am for all our visitors.

When: Thursday 22 October

Time:

• 9.00–10.15 am: Students with surnames A–K
• 10.15–11.00 am: Students with surnames L–Z

Where: Please meet outside the Administration Building.

We look forward to welcoming you to HEPS for this special morning!

New Fence and Walkway from Gym to Admin area

The new fence along Armstrong Road and the walkway from the Gym to the Administration area are progressing well. We expect the new pathway to be open from next Monday. The project is taking shape, and we are hoping that the works closest to the gym will be completed by the end of October. This will provide a safer and more welcoming connection between the Gym and our new Administration area.

Congratulations William He

Congratulations to William He who won first prize in a category of the 2026 Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens (FANBG) annual photography competition.

The prize included a cash prize for William and the school and an Australian native plant to be planted at HEPS in recognition of his achievement.

How We Assess Your Child

In our recent Parent Opinion Survey, it was clear that some parents are not fully aware of how we assess their child/ren at HEPS. We thought it would be useful to provide some insight into the different ways teachers assess student learning throughout the year. While it is not possible to explain every assessment in a short newsletter article, analysing a range of assessment information is a critical first step in planning what students need to learn next. 

At HEPS, we use a range of assessments across Reading, Writing and Numeracy. These include Essential Assessment, Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT), Fountas & Pinnell reading levels, writing rubrics and moderated writing and mathematics tasks. This information helps teachers understand where each student is working and plan learning that is appropriately challenging – not too easy and not too difficult. It also contributes to the achievement levels reported on your child’s semester report.

Alongside formal assessments, teachers are constantly assessing students informally. Every day, teachers observe students, listen to their responses, look at their work and ask questions to understand what they know, what they need support with and what they are ready to learn next.

This information allows teachers to be responsive in their teaching. Teachers adjust their instruction in the moment based on what students are saying, doing and demonstrating. They may slow down, provide an additional explanation, change the level of challenge, provide a prompt or extend a student’s thinking. This ensures that teaching responds to students’ needs rather than simply following a predetermined lesson plan.

Teachers also meet weekly in Professional Learning Teams to analyse and moderate student data, including writing samples and assessment results, to help inform future teaching.

SunSmart Policy – Hats

 This is a reminder that our SunSmart Policy is now in effect for the remainder of 2025. All students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities as per image. At recess and lunch, students who are not wearing an approved hat will remain in the undercover area. Please make sure hats are clearly named.