Principal Report

Welcome to our newsletter for Week Six. The past fortnight at HPS has been filled with energy, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community spirit. One of the major highlights has been our much-anticipated Book Week celebrations. Students and staff alike embraced the theme with excitement, participating in a variety of engaging activities designed to foster a love of reading and creativity. From dress-up days and author visits to interactive workshops and class swaps, it was a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate the joy of books and learning. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Book Week such a memorable experience!

Birthdays 

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout September: Yilan L 3CBB, Hana Z 3J, Arshia D 4U, William T 6D, Lindsay Y Prep B, Kaiyan P 4A, Hiti S 4A, Leo G 4A, Eugene C 6D, Isabella Z 5D, Johnny Y 6S, Omar N 1S, Claire H 2J, Lucas W 3CBB, Cindy W Prep B, Cooper K 2S, Lilah S 4A, Vinnie L 3CBB, Emmy H 1D, Elon L 5D, Winston Z 1S, Ruth Y 6S, Sham N 6D, Swanik O 3CBB, Raham H 3CBB, Dhaani S 2J, Vaibhavi D 6D, Zara L 2J, Joshua H 5S and Jonathan H 5X. 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. 

Congratulations to the 181 students who have achieved 100% attendance so far in August. Some of these students include: Mirreeha A PFY, Arjan B Prep FY, Vincent G Prep B, Lydia Y Prep B, Yuchen L 1S, Omar N 1S, Leanne L 1D, Owen X 1D, Kezia C 2S, Cooper K 2S, Sia J 2M, Nathan L 2M, Andrew C 2J, Claire H 2J, Jackie K 3CBB, Hannah L 3CBB, Katerina H 3J, Serina G 3J, Isabella M 4A, Meera S 4A, Kai Yan D 4U, Talitha H 4U, Zoe L 5S, E-Dayne T 5S, Claire C 5X, Marwin H 5X, Warren C 6S, Grace L 6S, Sham N 6D and Anvita S 6D.

Here are some attendance figures for 2025 so far:

Remember: it is not ok to be away!

ICAS Assessments

We ae pleased to continue to offer our Year Three, Four, Five and Six students the opportunity to participate in the ICAS this year. We received a total of 245 enrolments across all six subject areas and students have been performing extremely well in these assessments. 

The timetable for the remaining ICAS is as follows: Maths – Friday 29th August

Wishing all students the best of luck completing this final assessment.

Book Week 

As you know, we hosted a very special Book Week this year. The theme of “Book an Adventure” was enjoyed by all. A huge thank you to Mr Salamouras for coordinating Book Week this year. It was a very successful event and everyone had a great time. We are already planning our outfits for 2026!

Grandparents Day

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the grandparents, family members, and special friends who joined us for Grandparents Day today. It was a pleasure to welcome you into our school and to see such strong support for this whole-school event. We hope you enjoyed spending time with the students, engaging in classroom activities, and gaining a glimpse into their learning environment. Your presence made the day truly special, and we are grateful for the meaningful connections shared across generations.

Fathers Day

We are pleased to invite our school community to our upcoming Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday, 5th September, from 7:30am to 9:00am in the MPC building. Fathers, grandfathers, and male role models are warmly welcomed to join us for a relaxed morning of connection and celebration. Guests will enjoy a delicious egg and bacon roll while having the opportunity to meet and socialise with other members of the Highvale community. We look forward to celebrating the important role that fathers and father figures play in the lives of our students.

Financial Contributions 

Highvale Primary School sincerely thanks all parents and carers who have supported our school this year. Your generous contributions play a vital role in helping us enhance and enrich the educational experiences we offer our students. These contributions have enabled us to provide additional resources and opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. If you are yet to make contributions and would like to, please see Compass or come and visit us at the school office. You are helping to make Highvale a very special place for our students to learn and grow. 

Long Service Leave 

I am taking a 3 week holiday to Italy and will be away from Highvale in Weeks 7,8 & 9 of this term. In my absence Kelly Soccio will be the Acting Principal. Please contact the school office if you have any questions/ concerns regarding this. I will see you all upon my return.    

IMPORTANT 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 

Have a great week ahead HPS families,

Carly Epskamp

Acting Principal

carly.epskamp@education.vic.gov.au