Dear HPS Community,

At our school, everything we do is guided by a clear and shared sense of purpose. Using Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle as a framework, staff have been working together to articulate not just what we do, but why we do it and how we bring this to life each day for our staff, students and community.

Our WHY

Knowing that together, we collaborate to unlock potential — finding strengths, celebrating success, and creating well-rounded, confident learners who positively impact their community and the world.

This belief sits at the heart of our work. We are committed to ensuring every child is known, valued and supported to grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally. We want our learners to recognise their strengths, strive for personal excellence and feel empowered to make a positive difference.

Our HOW

We do this by knowing our learners, holding high expectations, valuing effort, building trust, challenging thinking, reflecting on impact and continuously improving together through inclusive, respectful relationships.

Our staff work intentionally to build strong connections with students so learning can be personalised and meaningful. High expectations, paired with genuine care, create the conditions for success. We foster a growth mindset where effort is celebrated, thinking is challenged and reflection is embedded in practice — for both students and staff. Through trust and inclusion, we create classrooms where every learner feels safe to contribute and thrive.

Our WHAT

Our work is grounded in strong collaboration, ensuring that staff, students, families and the wider community work in partnership. We prioritise clear communication pathways so that everyone feels informed, connected and valued. Building positive, respectful relationships is vital to our culture, underpinning a safe environment where everyone is supported to be ready to learn.

We consistently reflect on our impact, holding ourselves accountable and celebrating growth in learning and development. All members of our community are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and contributions toward our shared success.

By anchoring our work in our Why, How and What, we ensure that our decisions, practices and partnerships remain aligned to what matters most — unlocking the potential of everyone, together. We thank our families for their ongoing partnership as we continue this important work as a connected and supportive school community.

新年快乐

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important festival in China and a major event in some other East Asian countries.

Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Chinese New Year 2026 will fall on Tuesday, February 17th. The date changes every year but is always somewhere in the period from January 21st to February 20th.

It was traditionally a time to honor deities and ancestors, and it has also become a time to feast and visit family members.

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/

Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year in lunar-based calendars and is celebrated across many East and Southeast Asian communities. It’s observed in different ways and may be known as Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year) and Tết Nguyên Đán (Vietnamese New Year).

It’s a time for family reunions, honouring ancestors, sharing symbolic foods, and exchanging wishes for good fortune—welcoming spring and a fresh beginning.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/en/article/what-is-lunar-new-year/l4whvb8ho

3 Way conferences - Goal Setting

Goal Setting Conferences provide valuable opportunities for the teacher, student and parents/carers to share and learn more about the student socially, emotionally and academically. They are a good way to establish and maintain collaborative relationships between school and home, with a focus on the student’s academic achievement, learning and wellbeing.

Conferences provide opportunities for:

building positive relationships
sharing information about the student’s interests and learning behaviours
sharing information about the student’s health and wellbeing
student agency, through showcasing their work
providing specific feedback on student achievement and progress
understanding more about how to support the student in their learning
establishing goals for improved learning and achievement in the future

We will be inviting parents/carers to book a 10 minute interview with their child's classroom teacher for either Tuesday 10th March between 3.40-5.30pm or Wednesday 11th March between 3.40-7.00pm.

NB: If you have a Student Support Group (SSG) meeting this term you do not need to book a Goal Setting Conference as student goals are discussed at SSGs.

If you would like to arrange a conference time with specialist teachers, please email them directly to arrange a suitable time.

Bookings will open on Compass at 5.00pm Monday 23rd February and close 5.00pm Friday 6th March. If you will require interpreting services for your appointment, please let the classroom teacher know asap. This is arranged free of charge.

In the conference teachers and students will discuss the wellbeing and learning goals that have been determined and students, teachers and parents/carers will discuss the strategies for home and school that will support them achieve success. Teachers will ask parents/carers if there's any information or questions they wish to discuss.

Fishing Rod Kits

We have 6 x Little Angler (fishing rod) Kits available to gift to any families who would like them. These kits were distributed to students in Year 5 in 2023/24 and include a rod, reel with line, tackle box, some tackle (including hooks and lead-free sinkers) and information on how to use them all. Please email me at naomi.ivers@education.vic.gov.au if you wish to take one. More info at: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/featured/old/little-angler-kit-project

Upcoming Dates
February
Monday 23	Student Leadership Badge Presentation @ Assembly 9.10am
Monday 23	3 way Conference bookings open @ 5.00pm
Monday 23	Evolve Digital Safety - Parent/Carer Information Night Online
Tuesday 24	Year 3-6 House Athletics Carnival
March
Wednesday 4	School Photos - Foundation, Year s 1, 4 & 5
Thursday 5	School Photos - Years 2, 3 & 6 + Siblings
Friday 6	3 way Conference bookings close @ 5.00pm
Monday 9	Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 10	3 Way Conferences 3.40-5.30pm
Wednesday 11	3 Way Conferences 3.40-7.00pm
Wednesday 11- Friday 20	NAPLAN test period
June
Friday 5	Curriculum Day - No students at school
August
Wednesday 12	Curriculum Day - No students at school
October
Thursday 15	Year 6 Graduation Photo Day
November
Monday 2	Teacher Professional Practice Day - No students at school

2026 School Term Dates

Term 1: Thursday 29th Jan- Thursday 2nd April (2.30pm finish)

Term 2: Monday 20th April- Friday 26th June (2.30pm finish)

Term 3: Monday 13th July- Friday 18th September (2.30pm finish)

Term 4: Monday 5th October- Friday 18th December (1.30pm finish)

Naomi Ivers

Principal

Heidelberg Primary School

Heidelberg PS - Capers

Respect | Responsibility | Resilience | Compassion

Term 1 - Issue 2 · 13 Feb 2026

In this issue