Principals' Page

Busy Term

What a short but incredibly busy and entertaining Term 3 it has been! We kicked off with our spectacular whole school production, followed by Level 3–6 Athletics Day, the Book Week Parade, Foundation’s 100 Days of School, Hoop Time Basketball, Father’s Day celebrations, RUOK? Day, the Level 2 Royal Botanic Gardens excursion, Trivia Night, Level 3 Camp, Science Week activities, the Level 1 excursion to the Melbourne Museum and IMAX, Melbourne Zoo excursion for Level 4, a Working Bee, and finally wrapped up the term with Three-Way Conferences. Organising these events takes a huge amount of time and effort, so a big thank you to all of our teachers and Parents Association who went above and beyond to create such rich and memorable experiences for our students.

2025 Victorian Education Excellence Awards- High Ability Award Finalist

We are extremely proud to be named a finalist in the 2025 Victorian Education Excellence Awards for our outstanding provision for high-ability students.

Over the past four years, we have extended our high-ability learners through differentiation, including low-floor/high-ceiling tasks, open-ended problem-solving activities, and rich questioning. Student voice, individual learning plans, and personalised programs such as Mathspace have further stretched our students.

This work has sparked valuable conversations with teachers about how to challenge and respond to high-ability students in real time within the classroom. We’ve also had many parents asking how they can support learning at home, strengthening the partnership between school and families.

Our partnerships with universities, Mensa, and professional networks have opened doors to additional opportunities such as Victorian High Ability Program, Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series Maths Olympiads, and masterclasses with network schools. We have also shared our practice more broadly, presenting our whole-school approach to high-ability learning with the DET Student Excellence Unit and being invited to present at a statewide CHES conference in November.

All these initiatives ensure our students are both challenged and supported to achieve their best. The winner of this award, to be announced in late October, will receive a grant of up to $25,000 to support ongoing professional development.

End of Term - 2.30pm Finish!

Our term will conclude with a whole-school assembly outside the front office at 2:15 pm. Students will be dismissed for the holiday break at 2:30 pm.

Term 4 resumes on Monday, October 6. 

Just a reminder that TeamKids will not be operating on site during the holiday period.  We also ask that the community does not come onto the school grounds over the break as building works will be occurring in different areas of the site.

Consent and Payment - Compass

This is a reminder that consent and payment is required a week before for excursions/incursions and 4 weeks for camp. In adherence to our school policy, students who have not finalised payment by the required date will not be allowed to attend unless the principal determines an exceptional circumstance. If you have any issues paying for these activities or are under financial hardship, then please speak to the school prior to the due date. In recognition of the additional hours that our teaching staff put into organising these extracurricular activities available to your child/ren, we would appreciate you following these deadlines.

Supervision from 8.45am

A reminder that students should not be at school before 8.45 am. There has been an increase in the number of students arriving without parents before this time, meaning that they are unsupervised. We kindly remind families that unaccompanied students should not be at school before 8.45am and if you need care prior to this time, TeamKids is available.

Level 4 Zoo

Last week, our Level 4 students enjoyed a fantastic day at the Melbourne Zoo. The rain held off, and they explored exhibits filled with cheeky monkeys, towering giraffes, and colourful butterflies. All students had a blast, and it sure was an adventure to remember!

Foundation - Healesville Sanctuary Visit

Our Foundation students enjoyed a fantastic day at Healesville Sanctuary on Tuesday. With the rain holding off, they were fully engaged in exploring the incredible wildlife. As part of their Inquiry unit on animal life cycles and habitats, they discovered Australian animals up close and took part in a special education program—a wonderful way to bring their learning to life!

Working Bee Success!

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our Working Bee last weekend—we had a fantastic turnout! Together we completed so many jobs: moving piles of crushed rock and dirt into the veggie garden, staining the temporary flooring in the admin building, collecting rocks from around the dry creek bed, scrubbing the art room tables, and of course, plenty of weeding.  As always, the BBQ and ice creams were a big hit to finish off the morning. We were so grateful to our wonderful community for showing up in such great numbers and helping make our school look amazing.

Hats are Back!

Just a reminder that Spring has arrived, and students need to start wearing their hats. In line with the HEPS SunSmart Policy, children are required to wear their hats when playing outside. Please make sure hats are clearly named. 

Cyber Safety Presentation at HEPS: A Valuable Resource for Our Community

Recently, our school hosted an important ‘ThinkUKnow’ presentation focused on cyber safety, highlighting the increasing need for awareness and proactive measures in protecting our children online. The session provided a comprehensive overview of key online safety issues, aimed at staff, parents, and carers.

For those unable to attend or anyone interested in further information, the ThinkUKnow website offers a wealth of resources, including a specially designed SOS guide for parents and carers to help navigate the digital world safely. The website can be accessed at thinkuknow.org.au.

Understanding that an hour-long presentation can only cover so much, ThinkUKnow also provides a Parent Portal with additional materials such as:

• Parental controls guidance
• Information about online grooming
• A Family Safety Contract template
• Educational videos
• Where to seek help
• Additional links to resources, research, and support services

Parents and carers are encouraged to explore these resources to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in managing their children’s online activities.

In addition, the eSafety Commissioner’s website (esafety.gov.au) offers valuable information on reporting cyber incidents, seeking help, and understanding social media restrictions for users under 16.

Our school remains committed to promoting cyber safety and supporting families as they navigate the challenges of the digital age. If you have any questions or would like to engage in further discussions about online safety, please feel free to reach out.

We also wish our community the best of luck as we transition to the use of Chromebooks, confident that these tools will enhance learning while keeping safety a top priority.

Have a Wonderful Break

We hope everyone has a safe and relaxing break and we look forward to seeing rested, happy faces around the school for a big last Term. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!