Principal's Message

End of Year organisation

As the end of 2025 fast approaches, it is important to be aware of upcoming whole school events.

Step Up/Internal Transition Program for current students

The first step of transition will be Tuesday 9th December for the two hour morning session. Then, as trialled last year, we will continue with the approach of having the last 3 school days of this year as 2026 classes.

This means that the last day of 2025 classes will be Monday 15th December. 

Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th December will be 2026 classes. Students will be in new classrooms, with their new teachers, for the last three days of term.

The last day of school is Thursday 18th, with a finish time of 2.30pm.

Friday 19th December is a Curriculum Day. OSHC/TeamKids will be available.

Don't forget we will also hold our annual End of Year Extravaganza on Monday 8th December. This will be a celebration of a terrific year at Hillsmeade and include performances from all students. The event will include Christmas song performances by classes, staff and year 6 student farewells and our annual Christmas raffle. The Extravaganza will run from 4pm until 5.15pm on the synthetic oval near the amphitheatre!

Planning for 2026

As mentioned in our last newsletter - we are in full swing with planning for next year, I encourage families to please advise us if you are planning to change schools/leave Hillsmeade. Student enrolment numbers are crucial for so many elements of our planning, so the more we know now, the better plan we can create!

End of year reports

Just a reminder that student reports for the end of 2025 will look different. Families will still receive a General Comment and progression points against the Victorian Curriculum, however there will no longer be "I Can" and "Next Steps" statements. This is due to our gradual phase in of Ongoing Reporting, that will commence rollout in 2026. Throughout next year, we will trial providing families with updates on student progress via Compass during each term. End-of-semester reports will continue to offer a summary of learning, including progression points and a general comment. In 2026, we will move to a hybrid model, with full implementation of Ongoing Reporting planned for 2027.

Curriculum Day coming - No school for students - Wednesday 26th November

A friendly reminder about Curriculum Day and to book your children into OSHC/TeamKids if required.

Save the Dates - Term 4

• Tuesday 11th November - Prep 2026 Transition session #2
• Tuesday 25th November - Prep 2026 Transition session #3 and Information Night
• Wednesday 26th November - CURRICULUM DAY
• 3rd - 5th December - Year 6 camp
• Monday 8th December - End of Year Extravaganza 4pm - 5.15pm
• Tuesday 9th December - Statewide Transition Day & final Prep 2026 transition
• Wednesday 10th December - Year 2 Day Camp
• Thursday 11th December - Year 6 Graduation and Yr 5 Little Day Out
• Friday 12th December - Year 6 Big Day Out
• Monday 15th December - Final day of 2025 classes, Yr 6 last day
• 16th - 18th December - 2026 Step Up: all students in their 2026 classes
• Thursday 18th December - last day of school 2.30pm finish
• Friday 19th December - Curriculum Day

Save The Dates - Term 1 2026

• Tuesday 27th January - Curriculum Day
• Wednesday 28th January - Year 1-6 students commence / Prep 2026 students commence 1:1 meetings with class teachers
• Friday 31st January - First assembly of the year
• Monday 2nd February - 2026 Prep students commence, finish time of 2.30pm from the gym
• Tuesday 3rd February - 2026 Prep students finish 2.30pm from gym
• Wednesday 4th February - No Preps in attendance
• Thursday 5th February - Preps now attend full days, with Wednesday 11th and 18th of February as days off for prep students.
• Starting Monday 23rd February - preps will attend full time, everyday