Principal's Report

Dear HPS Community,

The first full week of the school year has been such a pleasure to be part of at HPS. A big well done to everyone for the enthusiasm, vibrancy and in which they have approached the week! I feel so proud and lucky to be able to work with a community of people who come together to show kindness and gratefulness each and every day. What a fabulous community Heidelberg Primary School has. Thank you!

Congratulations

Congratulations to our Year 1 teacher Sheri O'Connor who was married in a beautiful, loving ceremony over the summer holidays. She will now be known as Ms Sheri Booth! We wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

Lunar New Year

2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which is believed to embody power, strength, luck, and wisdom.

There are many traditions tied to this festival as some South-East Asian and East Asian countries and their communities observe this auspicious time — in ways that are unique to each culture.

While celebrations may differ between communities, Lunar New Year represents a fresh start for all.

Smile Squad

This week has seen the return of Smile Squad, who offer free oral health promotion, dental check-ups and treatment to Victorian government school students at school.

We have received a great number of consent forms from families opting in to this valuable service.

Next week, our school will be used for a channel 9 report on the Smiling Squad initiative, what they offer and the benefits of the program. Stay tuned for more information!

School Review

Thursday next week will be the first of a three day review conducted with the department of education which informs the directions of the school’s next 4 year School Strategic Plan (SSP). It is an exciting opportunity for us to look at what has worked well and why and what our next focus for improvement will be. It will be a rewarding and positive experience and I wish to thank our school council president, Emma-Jane Stabb, for the contributions and commitment she will have into the process. 

School Photos 

This year our school photos will take place over two days:

Wednesday 6th - Staff, Foundation, Year 3 and Year 5

Thursday 7th - Year 1, Year 2, Year 6, School Captains, House Captains, Siblings 

Annual privacy reminder for our school community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use technology safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using technology, please contact the school. 

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:

Amharic

Arabic

Dari

Gujarati

Mandarin

Somali

Sudanese

Turkish

Urdu

Vietnamese

Mobile Phone Policy

We understand that there are many reasons why students may be required by their parent/carer to bring a mobile phone to school. Attached is our Mobile Phone Policy that outlines the purpose, definitions and aspects of secure storage, enforcement and exceptions relating to mobile phones (which includes in the definition 'smart watches'). Please ensure you and your child/ren have a clear understanding of this policy.

At Heidelberg Primary School:

●  Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours

●  Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (see below for further information)

●  When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.

Please find a copy/link to the policy attached below.  Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or queries.

Upcoming Dates

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead!

Naomi Ivers

Principal

Heidelberg Primary School