Principal and Assistant Principal's Page

Principal's Report

It’s been a very busy fortnight with lots of achievements and warmer weather!

Victorian Education and Excellence Awards 

On 27 October several staff attended the awards ceremony for the Victorian Education and Excellence Awards. Our school was a finalist for in the category of ‘Dr Laurie Shears Global Learning and Teaching Award’. Unfortunately, we did not win, with the award going to Werribee Secondary College. However, it was an honour to be shortlisted and highlights the great work the students, families and teachers do in global learning at Huntingdale. 

ICAS Awards

At last week’s assembly I distributed the ICAS Award winners with their certificates. Each year we run the online competition for Science, Mathematics and English. It is quite different to other online learning- the questions can be quite challenging and there is a strict time limit to complete the competition. Congratulations to the following students:

SCIENCE

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4 

Year 5

Year 6

MATHEMATICS 

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4 

Year 5

Year 6

ENGLISH

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4 

Year 5

Year 6

Diwali

We wish all our families who celebrate Diwali the happiest of times!

Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights, an important Hindu festival. It generally lasts five days celebrated in late October/early November.  It symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". 

During the festival, families illuminate their homes and work spaces with diyas, candles and lanterns. Diwali is often marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with rangoli designs, and other parts of the house with jhalars. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts!

Thunderstorm asthma

There is an increased risk of seasonal asthma, hay fever and epidemic thunderstorm asthma during seasons with increased grass pollen levels. In Victoria, this is typically between October and December each year.

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events are triggered by a combination of higher grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.

People with a history of asthma, undiagnosed asthma or hay fever are at an increased risk under these conditions. This risk is increased further for people who have poorly treated hay fever and asthma.

The best way to reduce and prevent symptoms of asthma or hay fever and reduce unnecessary absences from school is to follow an up-to-date asthma action plan or hay fever treatment plan, provided by a general practitioner (GP) or specialist.

Hotham Christmas Card Competition

Each year our local federal member of parliament, Clare O’Neil, runs a Christmas Card Competition with local primary schools.  This competition is a wonderful way for our students to finish the school year and to get involved with local festivities by showcasing their creative skills.

The winner of the competition will have their festive design professionally printed and featured on Ms O’Neil’s 2023 Christmas Card, which is sent to all 74,000 households in Hotham.  The creator of the best artwork will receive a certificate and a $75- gift voucher.  Two runners-up will receive a certificate and a $25- gift voucher.

Entries should be on an A4 page.  Pleasure ensure your child’s name, age and our school name is clearly written on the back of your entry.  If your child/ren would like to enter, please submit your entries to Gill in the office no later than Wednesday 8th November. 

Designs will be shortlisted, with the runners-up and winner announced in the week commence 20 November 2023.

Using the crossings

Our crossing supervisors have asked that I remind families about crossing the roads safely.

Please be patient! The crossing supervisors may be on the opposite side of the road to where you are and they have to wait for a safe ‘break in the traffic’ before they can enter the road.   Therefore, you must wait as well and not enter the crossing. Other tips are:

• Always stand behind the line while waiting at the crossing
• Wait behind the line until the supervisor has clearly blown their whistle twice
• One sharp blow of the whistle means stop immediately and if on the crossing exit quickly and safely.
• Only cross between the white lines ensuring that you are visually sighted by the supervisor.
• Do not ride bikes across the crossing, bounce balls or run. Walk safely!
•  Follow the directions of the supervisor.

This will enable everyone to be safe around the crossings. 

Drivers also need to follow the road rules and wait patiently when turning into Grange Street. We thank you for your cooperation. 

Cyber Safety

Many of our older students have mobile phones and use instant messaging services to communicate with one another. What’s App, Snap Chat, Instagram, Tik Tok, Google Meets and Messenger are some examples. We have dealt with a number of instances where students have been involved in bullying-type behaviours or having inappropriate conversations while at home. I ask that parents monitor the platforms children are using and monitor the time spent on devices. 

Reminder- Planning for 2024

The school is well underway for planning the 2024 school year.

If you are planning on moving interstate, to another country or away from Huntingdale and are yet to notify the office please do so as soon as possible.  Numbers have a significant bearing on our planning, and we appreciate early notification where possible.   

If you hear of anyone wishing to attend Huntingdale in 2024, please send them to the office to enrol. If you have not enrolled any younger siblings, please do so as quickly as possible so that they can attend our kinder to school transition program.

If you have any further questions, please contact the school office.

Have a great fortnight!

Ruth Biddle 

Assistant Principal's Report

STEM F-2

On Wednesday, 1st November, 2C had fun creating their own Lego machines in STEM. The brief was to build a simple machine using 4 wheels and axles. They definitely met the brief while using the “keys to communication” to collaborate and work as a team. 

Maria Perrella

Dental Van-Smile Squad

The friendly Smile Squad dental team will be visiting our school to do free dental checks in Term 1, 2024. 

More information will be forwarded in due course.

Watashi Mo AGM

The AGM will be held on Monday 14th November. This will be a face to face meeting in the Hall and will commence at 8:50am. We anticipate the meeting will take approximately 30 minutes.   We hope to see many people as possible. Please feel free to talk to the current committee members if you have any questions about any of the roles of Watashi Mo. 

Instagram-Huntingdale Primary School

Please find the attached Huntingdale Primary School Instagram QR code.

You are welcome to join in and connect with our community.

Sun Smart

Students need to wear a school hat when they are outside. If they don’t have it, they need to stay under the shade. Please make sure your child brings their school hat to school every day. Also, please ensure your child’s name is written on their hat. 

Better Place Australia

Child and Teen Counselling and Family Mental Health Support is Available 

Children and teenagers lead busy lives filled with school, family and social commitments. For some, changes in home, family and school environments can be stressful and filled with anxiety. Children and teens may find difficult to cope with these changes and face challenges with social and educational commitments or meaningfully engage with their support and social networks as a result.

Support is available to families that are struggling during this difficult time.

Better Place Australia offers Child and Adolescent Counselling, Mental Health Counselling and Adult Counselling services to youth and their families who are struggling with a range of the following issues:

• Separation and family violence
• Stress and anxiety from changes in home, family life or friendships
• Social issues and isolation
• Significantly increased screen time
• Motivation to learn
• Mental health

Better Place Australia is a government-funded organisation with offices around Victoria offering services in Counselling, Psychological services and Mediation.

We have appointments available now and offer phone and video options to families needing support. 

If you would like to discuss further about our services can meet the needs of your students during this challenging time, please call 1800 639 523 for more information. Visit betterplaceaustralia.com.au to find out more.

Naomi Mori-Hanazono

Assistant Principal