Principals' Page

End of term 1

At HEPS we have had a great first term. It is hard to believe our new Foundation students are already a quarter of the way through their first year. 

We wish everyone a happy and safe break and look forward to children returning to school on the 22nd April.

We will conclude the term with a short short assembly starting at 2.15 PM. Students will be dismissed at 2.30pm.

Capital Works Project

We know many of you, including our students, are excited to see what the new Capital Works building will look like once completed. Below is a model designed by Atelier Wagner Architects.

This marks Stage 1 of our Masterplan, developed in 2024. Future stages, dependent on funding, aim to upgrade the entire Heathmont East school site, creating modern, innovative spaces that provide the best possible learning environment for our students.

This transformation will help redesign our school for the 21st century, ensuring an inspiring and future-focused space for all students.

This first stage building will include: 

• A modern front office area
• A dedicated first aid room
• A modern staffroom
• Learning spaces for teachers and students
• New toilet facilities for staff and visitors 

We can’t wait to see this transformation take shape.

Three Way Conferences

A reminder that Three-Way Conferences will take place today from 2:00–7:00 PM. Students are excited to share their learning, progress, and goals, while teachers look forward to these valuable conversations and strengthening partnerships with parents and celebrating student achievements.

MAD Day & Assembly

A reminder that the MAD DAY parade is on tomorrow from 9.00-9.45 AM.  MAD DAY stands for Make A Difference. Students are asked to bring a gold coin for the JSC charity and dress madly. Bright coloured clothes, socks and mad hair. TeamKids will be serving a light breakfast, and there’s free coffee from the coffee van for parents.

Easter Raffle - Thank You & Final Reminder!

A huge thank you to some of our amazing Parent Association Members for helping wrap the Easter Raffle prizes—they look incredible!

The raffle will be drawn this Friday morning at Assembly.

There’s still time to purchase tickets! Follow the link below to get yours.

https://rafflelink.com.au/25hepsraffle

Hawthorn Football Club visit HEPS

Last week, we were incredibly lucky to welcome four Hawthorn Football Club players to HEPS—Massimo D’Ambrosio, Mabior Chol, Jai Serong, and Sam Butler.

Excitement filled the air, with Mrs. Appleby and hundreds of students thrilled to meet the players. The team took part in a fun quiz and answered plenty of student questions, making it a memorable experience for all.

Assembly Highlights!

Monday's assembly was filled with energy and celebration! We kicked off with a beautiful performance from our talented choir, followed by the presentation of our AIM High awards. The excitement continued as we proudly welcomed our new Junior School Council representatives, presenting them with their official JSC badges.

A huge congratulations to all students who received awards today! We are so proud of you! 

Harmony Day

On Monday 24th of March HEPS had an amazing day celebrating Harmony Day. Students wore orange or their cultural dress, participated in activities from different cultures including food, arts and crafts and witnessed a fantastic performance by an Indigenous group, Ganga Giri.

Student Toilets

A friendly reminder that our student toilets are reserved for children only. To ensure the safety and comfort of our students and staff in their workplace, we kindly ask that if adults are needing the use of a toilet they sign in at the office located in the main building and ask the office staff. 

Mistakes Help Us Learn!

Resilience is one of our HEPS school values. Many children (and adults) find it difficult to persist with challenges when things become difficult. Neuroscientific research shows that these moments of struggle are when significant learning is occurring in our brains. If we are aware of our errors, multiple areas of the brain are activated to try and make sense of the mistake. Our brain strengthens its connections and neural pathways for improved learning in the aftermath of an error. It is therefore important, as teachers and parents, that we encourage and celebrate making mistakes and recognise them as opportunities for deeper learning.

James Nottingham is a globally recognised expert on learning, and he encourages us to embrace what he terms ‘The Learning Pit’. He describes ‘The Learning Pit’ as those moments of intense struggle when we are grappling deeply with new learning and finding it hard. When we persevere and push through a challenge, deep learning occurs and it is in this phase that we make significant learning breakthroughs. I’m sure everyone can recall a task they persevered with and felt enormous pride when they finally grasped the difficult concept or skill. The frustrating murkiness becomes clearer as we emerge from ‘The Learning Pit’ and we experience that rush of accomplishment and success.

So, what does this mean for teachers and parents? Well, its important that adults accept making mistakes and model learning from them around children. Adults should try and reframe learning struggles as times when our brains are actively learning and working extra hard. Encourage your child to display persistence and become comfortable being in ‘The Learning Pit’. Your child’s learning and overall wellbeing will benefit if they can reframe their learning struggles as a positive, rather than as a personal failure.  

World Autism Awareness Day-Tuesday April 2nd

Tuesday, April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day, a time to celebrate the strengths, talents, and unique perspectives of people with autism. At HEPS, we embrace inclusion, kindness, and understanding, ensuring that every student feels valued and supported.

Let’s take this opportunity to learn more about autism and continue building a school community where everyone belongs! 

Happy Holidays

Wishing all the HEPS families a happy Easter break. I hope everyone is able to take time to recharge and refresh with family and friends. Anita, Marcus and Lou would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and restful Easter and holiday break.