Welcome to our Week 2 newsletter, the first for Term Two. I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful Easter break and enjoyed lots of easter eggs and hot cross buns. I spent my holiday break with family and we enjoyed spending quality time watching movies and going to the footy together.

At Highvale, we are looking forward to another productive and engaging term ahead, with many exciting learning opportunities and events planned for our students. As always, we appreciate the ongoing support of our families and look forward to working together to ensure a positive and successful term for all members of our school community.

Welcome to Highvale

This term we have had many new families begin their journey at HPS. Welcome to HPS to the following students: Angela N PFY, Vaishvi P 2L, Alice Y 2L, Harry N 4C, Leo W 4G, Weien D 5S, Xiuqi Z 5S, Linda N 6S, Louis H 6T and Jason C 6T. We are sure you will love being a part of the Highvale community. Please reach out if there is anything we can do to assist with your transition into our school.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout May: Cici S 3C, Austin C 1GC,Harnur L PFY, Charlie D, Gina G 3L, Faraz G, Alice Y 2L, James Z 6T, Joshua D 4C, Harry N 4C, Ethan X 4P, Shiv M PA, Senuth W 6T, Chen X 4P, Nathan W PFY, Adam J 1GC, Shanaa J 1GC, Erica J 3C, Ewen L 2M, Joshua C 6S, Adyashakti G 4G, Violet W 6D, Olivia T 4C, Owen L 4G, Ethan N 2L, Chong ze O 6T, Jackie K 4C, Mikayla L 5S, Quinn L 5M, Navya P 5M, Oliver L PFY. We hope you all have a terrific birthday.

Attendance

At Highvale Primary School we firmly believe that attending school every day plays a crucial role in shaping a child's educational journey. Regular attendance allows students to fully engage in classroom activities, discussions, and hands-on learning experiences. It provides them with the opportunity to grasp new concepts, ask questions and collaborate with their peers. Consistent attendance helps build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, enabling children to excel academically. This term, we will be reinforcing the importance of attending school every day.

Month	Number of students with 100% attendance
January	334
February	197
March	140
April	258 so far

Congratulations to the 258 students who have achieved 100% attendance in April so far. Some of these students include: Jamie B PA, Kelissa C PA, Stella G PFY, Oliver L PFY, Arjan B 1P, Aarieya N 1P, Emma S 1GC, Aiden W 1GC, Amay S 2M, Leo S 2M, Jasper S 2L, Yuri P 2L, Hannah E 3A, Roger Z 3A, Sebastian Y 3C, Flora X 3C, Bob W 3L, Aashna P 3L, Angela L 4C, Akith G 4C, Aadi V 4G, Juliet T 4G, Kayden W 4P, Elisha S 4P, Hunter Y 5E, Youli Z 5E, Krystal W 5M, Andrea W 5M, Eason Y 5S, Ryan M 5S, Keitarou S 6T, Aaron P 6T, Linda N 6S, Eelon L 6S, Michelle P 6D and Alaistair W 6D.

Remember: It is not ok to be away!

Staffing Changes

There have been two recent staffing changes at our school. Jacinta Tsantlogianis will be replaced by Amy Williams and Erin Stoddart will be replaced by Gaz Dutlow. We thank both Erin and Jacinta for their contribution to our school community and welcome Amy who is new to Highvale and Gaz who returns after their time on the stage in Sydney. Erin will return to Highvale each week for her music classes, so the staff and students will regularly get to see her. Our priority is always to maintain a stable and positive learning environment for our students and we are confident that our new staff will be able to foster this for our students.

Prep Enrolments 2027

Enrolments for Prep 2027 opened on Monday 20 April 2026 via the Student Insight online system and we have already got a number of interested families. Families are encouraged to enrol early to assist with school planning. Applications can be submitted online through the Department of Education’s secure system, VicStudents or via a paper form available on request. For any questions about enrolment, please contact Charlotte in the front office.

Cross Country

Last Wednesday 22nd April we held our HPS Cross Country Event. The event was a fantastic success, with students demonstrating enthusiasm, determination and excellent sportsmanship. It was wonderful to see all students participating with a positive attitude, whether running, jogging or walking the course and encouraging one another along the way. The event provided a great opportunity for students to challenge themselves, build resilience and enjoy being active outdoors. Congratulations to all students who completed the challenging course. Thank you to our two PE teachers, Miss Sophie Stokes and Mrs Soleda Graham for their organisation of the event and to our staff for being at various checkpoints across the course. We appreciate the families who came along to support and cheer on the students, thank you for your support of this.

Drink Taps

During the week we had the drink tap trough overflowing and we had to call the plumber to HPS. Unfortunately, some students have been putting sand, rocks, and tanbark into the trough, which caused it to overflow. All teachers have spoken to their classes about this issue, as if it continues it could lead to a major blockage.

Student Toilets

We are aware of concerns regarding toilet cleanliness and have been arranging emergency cleans throughout the week to address this whilst continuing to fundraise through events such as Snack Packs and our upcoming Colour Run. We are also exploring available grants for toilet upgrades, however, this involves a process of sourcing and approving multiple quotes. Additionally, we will reinforce student responsibility via education to help maintain toilet cleanliness. We thank you for your support in this matter and look forward to updating you shortly on our progress.

Colour Run

We are very excited to be having a HPS Colour Run TOMORROW! The Colour Run is a fundraising event, which is raising funds for important facility upgrades, specifically our student toilets. This whole-school event will take place on the oval, where students will enjoy running the course while being showered with non toxi holi coloured powder. If students do not wish to get coloured, they can still participate by running on the outside of the track. Students are encouraged to wear a white or black T-shirt to school tomorrow, as this will help the colours stand out and add to the fun of the event. Any comfortable shorts that are appropriate for running should be worn. Please ensure that students do not wear expensive clothing or clothing that cannot get dirty. We are told the coloured powder DOES NOT stain, however, we do not want to test this statement. When collecting your child at the end of the day, we recommend bringing a towel or protective covering for your car seats to help keep your car clean. Parents are invited to come along to the Colour Run and support our students and teachers. We are sure this will be a highlight of the school year.

A reminder that students need to have paid the $10 entry fee to participate. Many students have done an impressive job collecting donations and sponsorship from friends and family. We are grateful for every single donation and appreciate the support. Families can still donate even once the event is over as we will close the donations on Monday 4th May at 3:30pm. The prizes will be awarded to students at our whole school assembly on Friday 8th May. Remember only the top four fundraising students will be awarded the prizes.

Chess Tournaments

We are looking to build a school chess team to represent our school in local competitions, held once per term. Chess is a fantastic way for students to develop strategic thinking, problem-solving skills and concentration, while also enjoying friendly competition. To make this possible, we need more interested students to join the team. If your child enjoys chess or would like to be involved, please email me directly at carly.epskamp@education.vic.gov.au

Anzac Day Assembly

Last Friday, our Year Four students hosted our annual ANZAC Day Assembly to honour and remember the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women. This meaningful event provided students with the opportunity to reflect on the values of courage, resilience and community, while learning about the significance of ANZAC Day in our nation’s history. It was wonderful to come together as a school community to pay our respects and commemorate this important occasion. Thank you to the parents who attended the assembly, Ms Costopoulos for organising the assembly and of course to the wonderful Year Four students who led the assembly.

Mothers Day Breakfast

We warmly invite all mothers, carers and special friends to join us for our Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast on Monday 11th May. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the important role you play in our school community while enjoying a relaxed morning with your child and the HPS school community. Further details will be shared with you via Compass so stay tuned. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with all of the mothers, nannas, aunties and carers.

School Photos

A reminder to all families that School Photo Day will take place on Wednesday 6th May. Students are required to wear full school uniform, arrive on time and bring their best smile. Information regarding the ordering of school photos has already been sent home to families. If you are unsure about this process or need assistance, please call the school office on 9887 8000. We’d be happy to help!

MPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Kids Help - kidshelpline.com.au phone 1800 55 1800

Parent Line - betterhealth.vic.gov.au phone 13 22 89

Headspace - headspace.org.au phone 1800 650 890

eSafety Commissioner - esafety.gov.au - Advice for parents and carers to help children have safe experiences online

Again, I would like to thank our students, staff and families for the positive start to Term two. We look forward to another term filled with learning, growth and strong partnerships and appreciate your continued support as we work together to ensure the best outcomes for every child at Highvale Primary School.

Have a great week ahead HPS families,

Carly Epskamp

carly.epskamp@education.vic.gov.au

Mothers Day Morning Tea