Assistant Principal Report

Dear Highvale families,

As we begin Term 3, I would like to warmly welcome all students and families back to Highvale Primary School. I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing break and made the most of the beautiful sunny days during these cold winter months.

We are looking forward to another engaging and productive term filled with exciting learning opportunities and special events across the school. There is certainly plenty to look forward to, including the excursions, the Years 3-6 House Athletics Carnival, ICAS and chess competitions, Science Week, Book Week and of course, our much-anticipated whole school production. We are excited for the term ahead and look forward to seeing our students continue to learn, grow and thrive throughout the weeks to come.

Pyjama Day - Tomorrow!

Don't forget that tomorrow is our whole school Pyjama Day! We encourage all students to come to school dressed in their favourite pyjamas for a fun day of learning. Please remember that regular school shoes or runners must still be worn to ensure student safety throughout the day. We can't wait to see everyone's cosy outfits!

Welcome to Highvale

At the beginning of this term we have had many new families begin their journey at Highvale PS. Welcome to HPS to the following students: Milah Burns PFY, Avah Burns 1P, Joseph Joy Thottan 1GC, Trishaan Magazine 1GC, Weier Qian 3L, Yunfu (Alex) Zhang 3A, Ezekiel George 4C, Weiyi Qian 4G, Clark Deng 4G, Wanying Yu 4C, Jonah Pauly Thottan 5S, and Esther George 6S. We are sure you will love being a part of the Highvale community. Please reach out if there is anything we can do to assist with your transition into our school.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout July: Cassie H 5E, Jamie B PA, Joy P 1GC, Roy Z 1P, Lily M 6S, Janaa J PA, Hannah L 4P, Jingen N 5E, Aaron G 3A, Nicky Z 1P, Jason L 3A, Jenil P 3A, Nimmrit L 4P, Ghalt B PA, Mikayla L 6T, Benji T 1GC, Sid J PA, Akith G 4C, Anekha D 4G, Aadi V 4G, Pritika G 5M, Masa R 3A, Sander H 3L, Juliet T 4G, Kayley C 5E, Trishaan M 1GC, Jovin D 1P, Leo S 2M, Katerina H 4P, Oliver G 5S, Akhil A 5S, Alex C PFY, Jane Z 4C, Desindu K PFY, Eli H 1GC, Dante D 4P, Jayshen L PA, Jaylian L PFY, Aaliyah M 5E.  We hope you all have a terrific birthday. 

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout August: Hailey H PFY, Heidi H 3C, Anya J 3L, Jia Yang M 4G, Nayomie S 1GC, Shawn Y 2M, Kaleb G 4C, Surveen B 3L, Ayansh M PFY, Ryan C 4G, Kaitlyn W 6S, Roger Z 3A, Hirvya N 5M, Bob W 3L, Casey L 1GC, Isaac O 4C, Raven J 1GC, Vivaan D 4G, Elijah P 2M, Jasper L 4G, Liam F 4P, Amika N 2M, Krishaan N 5M, Wanying Y 3A, Eline W 4C, Saijan T 5M. We hope you all have a terrific birthday. 

Attendance

At Highvale Primary School we firmly believe that attending school every day plays a crucial role in shaping a child's educational journey. Regular attendance allows students to fully engage in classroom activities, discussions, and hands-on learning experiences. It provides them with the opportunity to grasp new concepts, ask questions and collaborate with their peers. Consistent attendance helps build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, enabling children to excel academically. This term, we will be reinforcing the importance of attending school every day. 

Congratulations to the 316 students who have achieved 100% attendance in July so far. Some of these students include: Eliana S PA,Mason X PA, Hailey H PFY, Louie S PFY, Eli H IGC, Harriet K 1GC, Aurora C 2M, Emmy H 2M, Carter C 2L, Alice Y 2L, Wanying Y 3A, Edward Y 3A, Gabriella D 3C, Bowen L 3C, Kenneth L 3L, Xin Xin D 3L, Ella C 4C, Akith G 4C, Calvin C 4G, Owen L 4G, Katerina H 4P, Sophie M 4P, Ethan C 5E, Youli Z 5E, Shawn F 5S, Artus G 5S, Kaiyah P 5M, Hithen M 5M, Lily M 6S, Nikki N 6S, Chloe L 6T, Jonathan H 6T, Vicky L 6D, Alaistair L 6D. 

Remember: It is not ok to be away!

Celebrating Student Success

We are delighted to congratulate Markus Wan in 1P on an outstanding musical achievement. Markus successfully qualified for the Grand Finals of the Music Singapore International Competition 2026, a significant accomplishment that reflects his dedication, talent and hard work as a pianist.

As a result of this achievement, Markus travelled to Singapore compete in the Grand Finals, representing his passion for music on an international stage. Qualifying for such a prestigious competition is a remarkable honour and a testament to the many hours of practice and commitment he has invested in developing his musical skills.

We are incredibly proud of Markus. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement and on representing our school community with such excellence and determination. We look forward to hearing more about his experience and celebrating his continued success in the future.

Congratulations to Winston Zhou from 2M on an outstanding achievement in badminton during the recent school holidays.

Winston competed in the 2026 Western Suburbs Badminton Association July Junior Tournament and, alongside his mixed doubles partner, achieved an impressive second-place finish. Throughout the tournament, the pair demonstrated great skill, teamwork and determination, winning three of their five matches with scores of 21-16, 21-5 and 21-20.

This is a fantastic accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of Winston's dedication and sporting success. We congratulate him on his achievement and wish him all the best for his future badminton competitions. 

National Test of Aus Alert

As you may have already heard within the media, a national test of AusAlert will happen across Australia on Monday 27 July at 2:00pm. 

AusAlert is a new, national emergency warning system. It sends warning messages to compatible mobile devices during emergencies, to keep people informed so they can act quickly. The Australian Government plans to launch AusAlert in October 2026. 

On Monday 27 July at 2:00pm, all compatible mobile devices will receive a Critical Alert. Compatible mobile devices include phones, tablets, smart watches, safety watches and some vehicle devices. These will vibrate and make a loud, siren-like warning sound for about 10 seconds. This will happen even if they are on silent or do not disturb. The message will clearly state that it is a test. No action is required from the test. 

To minimise disruption, student phones and smart devices should always be switched off and stored securely in the school office during the school day. Students who use their mobile phone as part of a documented exception can continue to do so. If appropriate, they can turn their phone off during the test. 

You may also wish to let your child know that if they see or hear the alert, school staff will support them. You can learn more at AusAlert: children and teens. Information is also available in other languages. 

Safe Phones - AusAlert may increase risk for people experiencing violence, especially if they live with someone who uses violence. Alerts may expose safety devices. If you or someone you know has a hidden device, the best way to stay safe during the test is to: 

• turn offyour mobile device or put it in aeroplane mode 
• keep your device off or in aeroplane mode for 24 hours. 

Silent mode and do not disturb will not stop the alert. For more information, please refer to the Staying safe with AusAlert page. 

Prep 2027 Welcome Morning

Last Tuesday morning, we were delighted to welcome 28 prospective Prep 2027 families to HPS for our recent Prep Welcome Morning. It was wonderful to see so many future students and their families visiting our school and beginning their journey as part of our community.

During the session, the children enjoyed listening to a story, creating craft activities and participating in a range of fun games. The morning also provided a valuable opportunity for students to socialise with one another, while parents learned more about the daily school routine and spoke with teachers about what to expect when their child starts school.

We look forward to continuing to get to know our future Prep students during our Prep Transition Sessions, which will begin later this term and continue throughout Term 4.

For further information about upcoming transition opportunities and enrolment processes, please visit the Prep 2027 page in this week's newsletter. We can't wait to welcome our newest learners to HPS next year!

Toilet Upgrade

Over the recent school holidays, significant upgrade works were completed in the student toilet facilities. These works included the replacement of all toilets and toilet cistern systems, urinal systems and associated plumbing and piping. We are pleased to report that all facilities are now in excellent working order and ready for student use.

This project was made possible through the generous support of our school community, utilising all funds raised through our fundraising efforts, along with a contribution from the school's building works budget. On behalf of the school, thank you to all families who have supported fundraising initiatives that have helped bring about these important improvements.

We ask families to please remind students to treat the toilet facilities with care and to ensure toilets are flushed properly after use so that these upgraded facilities can be maintained for all students to use.

The next stage of the renovation project will involve repainting the toilet areas and replacing the flooring. As these works would make the facilities unavailable for use, they will need to be scheduled during a future holiday period to ensure students continue to have access to toilet facilities during school hours.

Unfortunately, the soap dispensers located in the toilets continue to be misused by some students, resulting in damage and broken systems. We are currently in the process of ordering sturdier soap dispensers, which will be installed as soon as they arrive. In the meantime, bottles of soap have been placed in the toilets to ensure students continue to have access to soap for handwashing.

I would also like to respectfully remind all parents that student toilets are designated for student use only. From a child safety perspective, it is important that parents and other adults do not enter student toilet areas. As part of our duty of care and commitment to maintaining a safe environment for all students, we ask that parents refrain from entering these facilities. Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment for all members of our school community.

Driveway Turning Circle Reminder

Our driveway turning circle is designed for quick drop-off and pick-up only. To ensure the safety of all students and the smooth flow of traffic, parents are asked not to leave their vehicles while using this area. A staff member will be on duty each day from 8:45am to 9:00am and 3:30pm to 3:45pm to assist students with entering and exiting vehicles. To further support student safety, please ensure that students only enter and exit from the left-hand side of the vehicle, adjacent to the yellow safety strip that runs along the side of the turning circle.

Parents are also reminded that there is no overtaking in the turning circle at any time and that all drivers must adhere to the 5 km/h speed limit whilst on school grounds.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient drop-off and pick-up environment for all members of our school community.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS 

Kids Help - kidshelpline.com.au phone 1800 55 1800 

Parent Line - betterhealth.vic.gov.au phone 13 22 89 

Headspace - headspace.org.au phone 1800 650 890 

eSafety Commissioner - esafety.gov.au - Advice for parents and carers to help children have safe experiences online 

Thank you to all of our students, families and staff for a fantastic start to Term 3. It has been wonderful to see our students return to school refreshed, enthusiastic and ready for another term of learning. We look forward to a term filled with exciting opportunities for learning, growth and achievement, supported by the strong partnerships that exist between home and school. Thank you for your continued support, encouragement and involvement in your child's education. By working together, we can ensure the very best outcomes for every child at Highvale Primary School.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Kelly Soccio