Principal's Report

Huntingdale Electronic Sign

You may have noticed on Huntingdale Road that our new electronic sign is up and working!

Partly funded by the State Government’s Suburban Rail Loop Grant, this sign will help to connect the community to our school and promote important messages about catching public transport.

We are fortunate to have public transport at our doorstep. The Huntingdale train station is across the road, which also has the major bus interchange. It is the gateway to Monash University with a bus leaving the station approximately every 10 minutes to the university. When the Suburban Rail Loop is built, the school will be only one stop away from connecting stations.

We have many families that currently use the public transport options. As a school, we often use the train for senior school excursions into the city.

We would like to thank the State Member for Oakleigh, Mr Steve Dimopoulos for alerting us to the grant and the Suburban Rail Loop Grant for approving our application.

Box Hill Japan Festival

On Sunday May 21, the Box Hill Japan Festival returned after a 3-year hiatus due to COVID- 19. The festival was jam packed with people- one of the biggest crowds I have seen! It was lovely to see so many of our current and past students and their families. It felt like a reunion! There were plenty of displays, food and culture to indulge in.

Our Taiko, Junior Choir and Senior Choir groups performed in the morning. The Taiko group opened the festival with a stirring performance. Our choirs then performed after the official opening ceremony and sang beautifully. It brought tears to my eyes!

Thank you to Hanazono sensei, Iida sensei and Smith sensei for coordinating such wonderful performances and our families for bringing their children to perform. It was such a wonderful day!

John Monash Little Scientists Program

Year 5 students Albert, Xyran, Patrick and Aiden attended the John Monash Science School during Term 1. They were taught science lessons devised by their students and were set a task of making a mechanical bird.

At home they had to make the prototype and the poster which was presented at an open night on 16 May.

Albert said he enjoyed ‘doing something hard.’

Aiden enjoyed seeing the John Monash Science School.

Xyran and Patrick said they ‘liked how the four boys worked together as a team.’

The secondary students that helped teach the boys at John Monash took the time to visit the open night to see their final work. They also met the Principal Mr Corkhill as well!

Thank you to Mrs Ooi-Chan for supporting our students on the night.

National Sorry Day – Friday 26 May

National Sorry Day is the day to remember and acknowledge the hurt and damage caused in the past by our governments when they forcibly removed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities, and cultures.

National Sorry Day marks the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing them Home report in the Australian Parliament in 1997. The report detailed the history of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, often referred to as the Stolen Generations, under laws enacted by Australian governments.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June – is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.The theme for this year's Reconciliation Week is: Be a Voice for Generations. The theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.

At Huntingdale we include indigenous perspectives in our curriculum programs each term so that our students understand the culture, history and viewpoints of first nations peoples.

Respect for School Staff

At Huntingdale we pride ourselves in working together in educating your child. I understand that current times are tough, and that people face many pressures. However, I expect our staff and parents to treat each other with respect and kindness. Recently we have had a few incidences of parents speaking rudely to our staff. Please ensure that you approach staff in a calm manner and if you need further assistance come and see me at the office. The Department of Education has a statewide ‘Respect for School Staff’ Policy, which can be found on our website:

https://huntingdaleps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/M18-Respect-of-School-Staff-2021.pdf

Car Park Reminder

Just a reminder that parents are not permitted to park in the staff car park for the whole day. We have a number of Department of Education staff, NDIS workers and other support staff that need access to car parks during the day. Parents are able to use the visitor’s car spots for short periods of time e.g. if they are a classroom helper, visiting the office and so on. If parents require a whole day park, please use Huntingdale Road or the Huntingdale Train Station car park. We thank you for your cooperation.

Foundation (or Prep) bags 2023 survey

Have your say about this year’s Prep bags in a short survey, closing Sunday 9 July.

Each year, the Department of Education gives every Prep student attending a Victorian government school a bag full of goodies to celebrate this milestone in their education journey. The information and educational resources in the bags are designed to help Prep students and their families thrive from the start of Term 1.

The department is inviting parents and carers of current Prep students to participate in a short survey about the 2023 Prep bags, by 5 pm on Sunday 9 July 2023.

Your feedback will help the department learn what families liked about the Prep bags and what can be improved in 2024.

You can have your say at 2023 Prep Bags – Evaluation Survey.

The survey takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete, and responses are anonymous.

For more information on this year’s Prep bags, refer to Prep bags.

Stay well this Winter

Symptoms of influenza (flu) can hit very quickly and may last several weeks. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended from mid-April each year and is free under the National Immunisation Program for those at higher risk of complications from the flu.

Keeping our school community well

Parents, carers and students are encouraged to practice prevention measures, including:

washing and sanitising hands regularly
avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
staying home if unwell and consulting a general practitioner (GP) or Nurse-on-call as required
staying up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccinations

Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.

Some people are more at risk of complications from flu and are eligible for free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program.

COVID-19 booster

The 2023 COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and above.

Getting your booster dose remains the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people aged over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness.

You can have your booster dose 6 months after your last dose or COVID infection.

Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a 2023 booster dose.

You can get your next dose at your local pharmacy or GP. To find one near you, refer to the vaccine clinic finder.

Find out more

For more information about preventing flu, and immunisation, refer to:

Have a great fortnight! Keep warm!

Ruth Biddle

Principal

Team Kids