Assistant Principals' Report
Hello and welcome to our newsletter item for this week.
R U Okay Day?
This coming Thursday 10th September 2026 is R U Okay Day?
Got a feeling that someone you know or care about isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it. Learn more about the signs and when it's time to ask R U OK?
By starting a conversation and commenting on the changes you’ve noticed, you could help that family member, friend or workmate open up. If they say they are not OK, you can follow our conversation steps to show them they’re supported and help them find strategies to better manage the load. If they are OK, that person will know you’re someone who cares enough to ask. Our conversation steps are 1. Ask 2. Listen 3. Encourage Action 4. Check In
On Thursday all classes will have an age-appropriate conversation with their students and complete some activities. We will focus on how we can help out our friends when they are feeling flat or a bit low and needing someone to talk to.
Go to https://www.ruok.org.au/ for more information and free resources and information for when discussing the day at home.
Resilience Rights Respectful Relationships (RRRR) @HPS
Everyone involved in our school community deserves to be respected, valued and treated equally. We know that changes in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved when positive attitudes, behaviours and equality are lived across the school community, and when classroom learning is reinforced by what is modelled in our school community.
A whole-school approach encourages schools to review their existing procedures and culture to ensure that they model respectful relationships and gender equality practices across the entire school community.
Cultural and procedural change, means schools and their communities look at staff practices, classroom management, school events, sport programs, formals and other occasions, to ensure all aspects of a school’s operation and culture are underpinned by respect and equality.
A whole-school approach to Respectful Relationships recognises that schools are:
- a workplace where all staff should feel equally respected, safe and valued and have equal opportunities
- a safe space where young people can learn about gender equality and respectful relationships, in and out of the classroom
- part of the wider community that can model gender equality and respectful relationships .
A resource kit for schools has been developed to provide schools with strategies and tools to support the implementation of the whole-school approach. For more information, see: Teaching Respectful Relationships. (excerpt taken from Department of Education website).
Simon Lovett is our Respectful Relationships leader and expert at HPS. He collaborates with leadership and staff to complete our RRRR action plan which guides our work as a school. He delivers professional learning to staff together with other members of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Team, Nicola Colgate- Jones, Leigh Barry, Taniya Senanayake and Helen Thomas. Simon also does a great job working with the NEMA regional workforce who support schools across the Banyule area including chairing our termly cluster meetings.
Viewbank SC Jazz Ensemble
Yesterday, Viewbank SC visited HPS and performed on the COLA to our Year 5/ 6 students. Two teachers from the college attended with the students performing 5 songs including some solo performances. The teacher also introduced the various instruments to the audience. Viewbank SC enjoy visiting our school to promote music as an option or opportunity when students head into secondary school. It also give the ensemble important performance time. It was lovely to see some former HPS students also performing. Thank you to Ewen Soo, our Arts teacher for coordinating the visit.
Have a great weekend and week ahead.
Warm Regards,
Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin
Assistant Principals
Heidelberg Primary School