Assistant Principal Report
Dear Highvale families,
As we reach the end of Term 1, we want to congratulate all students, staff and families on a busy, productive and very successful start to the year. It has been fantastic to see students so engaged in their learning, embracing new challenges and showing curiosity and enthusiasm in the classroom.
Across the term, students have also been developing new friendships, strengthening connections and contributing to a positive and supportive school culture. Their involvement in a wide range of extracurricular activities and community events has added so much richness to school life, and we are incredibly proud of the way they represent our school with confidence and kindness.
SRC Bottle Flip Championship – A Schoolwide Showdown!
Today the whole school gathered for one of the most anticipated events of the term — the SRC Bottle Flip Championship! The energy was electric as students cheered on their peers, with two finalists from each class stepping up to compete in a knockout challenge against others in their year level. After a series of impressive flips, near‑misses and plenty of suspense, our finalists battled it out in two grand finals: Prep–2 and Years 3–6. The crowd was cheering loudly as the final flips determined our champions.
A huge congratulations to Leo in 2M and Swanik in 4P, who are now the official Highvale PS Bottle Flip Champions! Their skill, focus and calm under pressure were truly impressive.
Well done to all participants for showing great sportsmanship and enthusiasm — and to our SRC for organising such a fun and memorable event.
Making a Splash in Term 1: HPS Swimming Program
This term, every year level across the school took part in our annual swimming program, making the most of the warm weather and the wonderful facilities available to us. It has been fantastic to see students building their confidence in the water, developing essential safety skills and having plenty of fun along the way.
Our youngest swimmers in Prep to Year 3, completed a five‑day program at Blackburn Pool, where they focused on developing water confidence and learning key swimming stroke techniques. Students also practised vital water safety and survival skills. The pool was buzzing all week with laughter, enthusiasm and proud smiles. Head over to the Year 1/2 Swimming Page to read some delightful student reflections.
5 students participated in a two‑day intensive course at Aqualink. Alongside refining their swimming strokes and techniques, they deepened their understanding of water safety through revival and rescue activities. The program also included fun fitness sessions that kept everyone active and engaged. Visit the Year 5 Swimming Page for a full reflection on their experience.
Students in Years 4 and 6 completed their program through Life Saving Victoria, with a focus on open water safety at Hampton Beach. Throughout the day, they learned how to safely engage with the ocean, including CPR, basic emergency response, survival and rescue strategies and safe bodyboarding practices. They also took part in a beach sports carnival, enjoying games and activities designed to reinforce their water safety knowledge in a fun and memorable way. Head over to the Year 4 & 6 Swimming Page to read all about the students’ experiences.
The Importance of Regularly Checking Compass
Compass continues to be our main platform for sharing important information with families, and we encourage all parents and carers to check it regularly. Throughout the term, reminders are posted about upcoming events, excursions, special activities and key dates to help you stay informed and organised.
To ensure smooth planning and participation, please provide prompt payment and consent for any upcoming events. For activities that require payment, we aim to give families 4–5 weeks’ notice, allowing plenty of time to make arrangements.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us keep communication clear and timely. Staying up to date on Compass ensures your child doesn’t miss out on the wonderful learning opportunities and experiences happening across the school.
House Cross Country Event – Wednesday 22nd April
We are excited to announce that our annual House Cross Country event will take place on Wednesday 22nd April (Week 1), straight after the holidays.
Students in Years 3–6 will begin their race at 12:00pm, running a 3km course across both our school grounds and the Highvale High School grounds. Students will compete in age groups, and their performance on the day may qualify them for the District Cross Country.
Following the Years 3–6 event, we will hold a Mini Cross Country for our Prep–Year 2 students within the Highvale Primary School grounds. This will begin at approximately 1:00pm, depending on the finishing time of the earlier races.
All students are encouraged to show their team spirit by wearing their house colours.
Parents and carers are warmly invited to come along and support the students. We would also appreciate any volunteers who can assist on the day. The event will run from 12:00pm until approximately 2:00pm and volunteers will support the running of the event by supervising key points along the course and guiding students to ensure they follow the correct route safely.All volunteers must hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) and have completed the HPS Volunteer Training. If you are interested in helping during this event, please contact Sophie Stokes or Soleda Graham via Compass or register your name at the office.
We look forward to a fantastic day of participation, encouragement, and school spirit!
Photographing, Filming & Recording at School Events
As head in to a term that includes a number of whole-school community events, we would like to remind families that in line with our Photographing, Filming & Recording Students Policy and Department of Education regulations, any photos, videos or recordings taken by parents/carers, students or invited guests are for personal use only.
Please remember:
Images or recordings that include children other than your own must not be published in any form — including on social media — without prior consent from the families of those children.
The school and the Department do not own or control images captured by parents/carers, students or their guests at school activities.
If you take photos or video today that include other students, please keep these for your private collection and do not share them online.
Thank you to our dedicated staff and our wonderful families for your ongoing support this term. We look forward to building on this momentum as we head into Term 2. Enjoy a well‑earned break — everyone has certainly earned it.