Acting Principal’s Report

It has been a busy term in Term 3. The memorial garden is so beautiful with flowers and cherry blossoms. Spring is here.

Book Week

What a Fantastic Book Week Celebration at Huntingdale!

Book Week at Huntingdale was truly a week to remember! Our students were immersed in a rich tapestry of stories, with classes exploring captivating tales in both English and Japanese. Lunchtime in the library was a global affair, featuring story readings in languages such as German, Hindi, Welsh, Chinese, and Cantonese. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated teachers and the volunteers who made these diverse linguistic experiences possible.

We were also thrilled to have several parents step in to read stories in their native languages, including Chinese and Spanish, directly in their child’s classroom. Your involvement and enthusiasm were greatly appreciated and added a special touch to the week.

The grand finale was our magnificent Book Parade, where children and teachers alike showcased their favorite book characters. It was wonderful to see the creativity and effort that went into the costumes, and we’re grateful to the parents who took the time to attend and support their children. Your presence made the event even more memorable and joyous for everyone involved.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Book Week such a spectacular success. We hope the love for reading continues to flourish throughout the year!

The Literacy Team.

Student Support

One of my main roles in the school is to coordinate the student support services in the school- academic, social and behaviour services. This includes programs we offer ‘in house’ as well as external services provided by the Department of Education and other external agencies.

Generally the process happens in the following way:

A teacher may have a concern with your child and will discuss it with you or you as a parent may have concerns about your child which you would like to discuss with the teacher.
These concerns are then usually discussed with me so a decision can be made on which service can be accessed and is the most appropriate for your child. Permission forms are then signed.
Contact is made to the service provider who will then discuss the referral with parents and/or the teacher.
A decision will be made on what sort of support the child will need. This could be an assessment, therapy, home program, referral to another agency or in school support.

This process is confidential with only the key stakeholders- myself, the classroom teacher/s and service providers involved.

Often parents will show concern about other children in the school. We as a school cannot discuss the educational, academic or social circumstances of other children who are not your own or detail support services they may be accessing. This is confidential. Please be rest assured that all efforts are made to support students in the school as much as possible.

Better Place Australia

Child and Teen Counselling and Family Mental Health Support is Available

Children and teenagers lead busy lives filled with school, family and social commitments. For some, changes in home, family and school environments can be stressful and filled with anxiety. Children and teens may find difficult to cope with these changes and face challenges with social and educational commitments or meaningfully engage with their support and social networks as a result.

Support is available to families that are struggling during this difficult time.

Better Place Australia offers Child and Adolescent Counselling, Mental Health Counselling and Adult Counselling services to youth and their families who are struggling with a range of the following issues:

Separation and family violence
Stress and anxiety from changes in home, family life or friendships
Social issues and isolation
Significantly increased screen time
Motivation to learn
Mental health

Better Place Australia is a government-funded organisation with offices around Victoria offering services in Counselling, Psychological services and Mediation.

We have appointments available now and offer phone and video options to families needing support.

If you would like to discuss further about how our services can meet the needs of your students during this challenging time, please call 1800 639 523 for more information. Visit betterplaceaustralia.com.au to find out more.

If you would like to have a session at school for your child, please contact Naomi at school.

Instagram-Huntingdale Primary School

Please see below Huntingdale Primary School Instagram QR code.

You are welcome to join in and connect with our community.

Lost Property

Lost property is mounting up again…Please check the lost property bin in office to see if anything belongs to your child. Please remember, that if you put your child’s name on their lunch box, jacket, hat, etc., there is a better chance of them finding their owner. At the end of each term items left are disposed of responsibly.

The cherry blossoms are beautiful on the street. Please enjoy the time with your children during the school holiday!

Naomi Mori-Hanazono

Acting Principal

Acting Assistant Principal's Report

Grade 5 and 6 Students Rise to the ACER Japanese Language Test Challenge

This week, our Grade 5 and 6 students took on an impressive challenge by participating in the ACER Japanese language test. Remarkably, the levels they tackled are typically intended for students around Year 8.

As bilingual schools in Victoria increasingly recognise these tests as an excellent opportunity to showcase our students' language proficiencies. Our students have demonstrated their advanced skills. Already excelling in listening and reading, they have now showcased their impressive abilities in this demanding assessment.

We are incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work. Best of luck to all our Grade 5 and 6 students—your efforts are truly commendable!

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee: School Round Success

On Wednesday, August 21st, 53 enthusiastic students from Grades 3 to 6 took part in the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee school round, held online at our school. This event was an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate their spelling prowess, and we are delighted to report that everyone gave their absolute best.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the various categories:

Year Level Champion Certificates:

Year 3: Ngoc Mimi T
Year 4: Kaisuke S
Year 6: Arielle K

Class Champion Certificates:

3A: Ngoc Mimi T
4B: Kaisuke S
6B: Arielle K
6A: Raiden D

School Champion Certificate:

Arielle K (6B)

In addition to these achievements, we are thrilled to share that four of our students have advanced to the State/Territories Finals, scheduled for September 4th. This is a remarkable accomplishment, and we wish them the very best as they represent our school in the next stage of the competition.

State/Territories Finalists:

Ngoc Mimi T (3-4, Green)
Kaisuke S (3-4, Green)
Arielle K (5-6, Orange)
Raiden D (5-6, Orange)

A huge congratulations to all participants for their hard work and dedication. Your talent and effort in the Spelling Bee have truly shone through!

Lastly, a big thank you to Mr. Gorney for conducting the Spelling Bee contest and making the event a success!

Keiko Harada

Acting Assistant Principal

Acknowledgement of Country