From the Acting Principal

That's a Wrap for Term 2

As we reach the end of Term 2, it’s hard to believe just how much we have packed into the past ten weeks! The term has been bursting with learning opportunities, special events and memorable experiences for our students.

Across the school, students have participated in an incredible 13 incursions and excursions. From meeting Max and the Wild Things to stepping back in time through virtual reality experiences exploring ancient civilisations, there has been something to spark every student's curiosity and imagination.

Our students have also thrown themselves into a variety of sporting programs, demonstrating teamwork, perseverance and school spirit. One of the highlights of the term has been our Celebration of Learning assemblies. We are incredibly proud that 99% of students presented their learning to an audience. Standing up in front of others can be daunting for adults, let alone children, so this is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their growing confidence and courage.

This term also saw our school participate in the IB Evaluation visit, celebrate Education Week, and acknowledge National Reconciliation Week through meaningful activities and discussions. Along the way, we have recognised many students for their efforts and achievements, with numerous awards presented at assemblies.

As always, none of this happens without the support of our staff, families and wider school community. Thank you for helping make Term 2 such a successful and enjoyable one. We hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break, and we look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for another exciting term.

Curriculum Day 10 September

We would like to advise families that our next Curriculum Day for the year will be held on Thursday 10 September. This will be a student-free day.

On this day, all staff will work together to unpack the findings and recommendations from our recent IB Evaluation. This is an important opportunity for us to reflect on the feedback received, celebrate our strengths, and plan for the future growth and development of our IB Primary Years Programme.

We understand that holding a Curriculum Day on a Thursday may be inconvenient for some families, and we apologise for any disruption this may cause. However, having all staff on site and available provides the best opportunity for every member of our team to be involved in the planning and decision-making process. Ensuring that all staff contribute to this work is vital as we continue to strengthen the learning experiences we provide for our students.

OSHC will be available for families who require care for their child/ren on this day. Further information regarding bookings will be provided directly by the service.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we invest in the ongoing improvement of our school.

IB Evaluation

Last week, we hosted our official International Baccalaureate (IB) Evaluation. It was a wonderful celebration of our learning community and a fantastic opportunity to showcase our vibrant, inquiry-led curriculum.

We were thrilled to welcome our global evaluation team: Elaine, who travelled all the way from Singapore to join us on-site, and Humera, who joined us virtually from India.

Throughout the visit, the evaluators were incredibly impressed by our students' confidence, critical thinking, and student agency. Seeing our young learners articulately share their inquiries and embody the IB Learner Profile attributes was a massive highlight for everyone involved.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff for their hard work and to our students for being exceptional ambassadors. We would also like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful parents who took the time to participate in the panel interviews and speak with our evaluators. Your insights and support are highly valued. We look forward to sharing the official feedback with you soon!

Some thoughts from our students about their school during the IB Evaluation

"If your school were a type of food, what would it be?"

1. Ice cream - it has a strong base - different flavours connected in a lot of ways, sprinkles representing everyone, it has to be sweet because the school is nice.
2. Pizza - different toppings - different people coming together, but yummy
3. Any food, but it has to be Yummy - the school is balanced - sports, play time,  and learning 

Learning Specialist Position

I am pleased to share that Mrs Papas has been appointed to the role of Learning Specialist, commencing next term. This is an exciting opportunity for both Mrs Papas and our school, as she will be supporting the continued development of our Literacy program.

As part of her new role, Mrs Papas will be out of the classroom on Mondays and Tuesdays. We are pleased to welcome Ms Williams, an experienced HPPS teacher, who will teach the class on those days for the remainder of the year.

Staffing  Updates

As we come to the end of Term 2, we would like to acknowledge and thank some valued members of our school community.

At the end of this term, Ms Li will commence her maternity leave. We would like to sincerely thank her for the care, dedication and commitment she has shown to her students and our school. We wish her and her family all the very best as they prepare to welcome their new baby, and we look forward to meeting the newest addition to the family in the months ahead.

We are pleased to welcome Miss Nat White to Heany Park Primary School. Miss White has already spent time meeting students and staff and will be teaching the class during Ms Li’s leave. We are excited to have her join our community and know she will be a wonderful addition to the team.

We would also like to extend a very special thank you to Michelle, our Library Technician, who is commencing some well-earned long service leave after an incredible 17 years of service to Heany Park. Michelle has played a significant role in fostering a love of reading and learning for thousands of students over the years. Her dedication, care and countless hours of work in our library have made a lasting impact on our school community, and we are enormously grateful for everything she has contributed.

While Michelle is away, we warmly welcome Melody, who will join us at the beginning of Term 3 to support the continued operation of our library. We wish Michelle a wonderful and relaxing break and look forward to welcoming her back in the future.

Celebration of Learning Assembly

Over the past few weeks, our students proudly shared what they have been learning at our Celebration of Learning assemblies.

From Foundation through to the Senior School, it was inspiring to see our young learners take the stage with such confidence. Students shared a diverse range of achievements, showcasing their recent inquiries, creative projects, and academic growth with their peers and teachers.

These assemblies are a wonderful way to promote student agency, giving our children a platform to celebrate their hard work and reflect on their progress this term.

Congratulations to all of our students for their fantastic presentations

Help our Veggie Garden Grow!

We are excited to share that our school has entered the Bank First People’s Choice Award to secure funding for a new project: building a protective gate around our beloved veggie garden!

A dedicated gate will help us keep our garden secure, thriving, and safe for our students to continue their hands-on learning about sustainability and fresh produce.

To win this funding, we need your help! The winner is decided entirely by community votes, so we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a brief moment to cast your vote for our school.

How to vote:

• Click the link here:  People's Choice Award | Bank First
• Search for our school and cast your vote.
• Share the link with family and friends!

Voting is quick, free, and makes a massive difference to our school environment. Thank you so much for your ongoing support in helping our veggie garden grow!

Garden and Biodiversity Donations Needed

Parking and Safety Reminder

The staff car park is for staff use only. Students must not walk through the staff car park when being collected, as staff exiting the area may not be able to see children moving between vehicles. Please arrange to meet your child outside the staff car park area.

Please do not park in the disabled parking spaces unless you hold a valid permit. Even brief stops for drop-off or pick-up are not permitted and may result in fines.

The two-minute parking zone at the front of the school is designated for quick drop-off and pick-up only. If you need to leave your vehicle to accompany your child to their classroom, please park in a suitable parking area instead.

We also remind families that the convenience store car park next to the school is reserved for store customers. Parents are asked not to use this car park for school drop-off or pick-up.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our students, families, and staff safe.

Remembering Jemma

The HPPS community was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former student Jemma Stapleton.

Jemma was a member of the Heany Park Primary School community from 2007 to 2013. She sadly passed away while on a family holiday in Thailand.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Jemma’s family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.

Jemma will always be remembered as part of our school community.

Wellbeing

Please make sure you are paying attention to your own well-being and getting support if need be. 

We hope your child has an amazing year at Heany Park PS. Please always let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We are only a phone call or email away.

Phone 9764 5533 

Email: kym.ryan@education.vic.gov.au

Kind regards

Kym Ryan

Acting Principal