Principal Report

As we reach the end of Term Three, I would like to reflect on what has been a busy, productive and highly rewarding term at Highvale Primary School. Our students have embraced an incredible range of learning opportunities, events and experiences, with highlights including Book Week, our whole-school production of Porridge, the Father’s Day Breakfast, sporting events, Science Week and a range of community and enrichment programs. These experiences have provided wonderful opportunities for our students to learn, challenge themselves, develop new skills and celebrate together.

I would like to sincerely thank our students, staff and families for their energy, commitment and support throughout the term. It has been wonderful to see our school community come together so positively and to celebrate the achievements and growth of our students. As we head into the two-week school holiday break, I hope all families enjoy a well-deserved opportunity to rest, recharge and spend quality time together. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term Four on Monday 5th October for another exciting and successful term at Highvale Primary School.

Happy Birthday 

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their special day throughout September: Hana Z 4P, Arshia D 5M, Vaishvi P 2L, Jasmine G 4C, Anika N 1P, Lindsay Y 1P, Kaiyah P 5M, Rose C PA, Leo G 5M, Isabella Z 6S, Omar N 2M, Claire H 3A, Lucas W 4C, Cindy W 1P, Chenxin Z 6D, Cooper K 3L, Lilah S 5S, Vinnie L 4C, Jonah T 5S, Xiuqi Z 5S, Eason Y 5S, Joseph T 1GC, Ezekiel G 4P, Emmy H 2M, Eelon L 6S, Winston L 6S, Winston Z 2M, Swanik O 4P, Astera Z PA, Raham H 4C, Wes W PFY, Dhanni S 3C, Zara L 3C, Joshua H 6S, Jonathan H 6T. 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 219 students who have achieved 100% attendance in September so far. Some of these students include: Jeremy C PA, Rose C PA, Aarav B PFY, Hailey H PFY, Alice H 1GC, Raven J 1GC, Griva P 1P, Cindy W 1P, Max W 2L, Rihana V 2L, Ashwin S 2M, Caleb W 2M, Sebastian Y 3C, Heidi H 3C, Bella E 3A, Phoenix J 3A, Aarna K 3L, Ivun P 3L, Chen X 4P, Kayden W 4P, Shawn W 4G, Rudra N 4G,  Jane Z 4C, Vinnie L 4C, Harper K 5E, Jason L 5E, Emily L 5M, Kaiyah P 5M, Meera S 5S, Lily Y 5S, Ling X 6D, Julia T 6D, Olivia Y 6T, Aadhi S 6T, Joshua L 6S and Nikki N 6S.

Remember: It is not ok to be away!

Prep Enrolments 2027

We are currently accepting enrolment applications for Prep (foundation year) 2027 and have 43 students currently enrolled. I am continuing to conduct school tours for prospective families where I can showcase the school’s programs, facilities and values. If you are aware of families who may be interested in joining the HPS school community, they are encouraged to contact the school office for further information. 

Prep 2027 Transition Program

Our Prep 2027 Transition Program is now well underway, with our first two transition sessions successfully completed. It has been wonderful to welcome our future Preps to Highvale Primary School and see them becoming increasingly familiar with their new surroundings, teachers and classmates. The sessions provide an important opportunity for students to build confidence, develop relationships and begin establishing a strong sense of belonging before commencing school next year. We look forward to welcoming our future Preps back for the remaining transition sessions throughout Term Four:

• Friday 9th October
• Friday 16th October 
• Friday 23rd October

We will then have our final session: Meet the Teacher on Friday 30th October, where students will meet their Prep teacher and classmates for 2027.

Transition for Year One-Six Students

As part of our HPS Transition Program, students who are currently in Prep to Year 5 will have the opportunity to spend time with a range of students in their year level and meet the teachers in their year level for 2027 too. The Transition Program will consist of two sessions, providing students with the opportunity to become familiar with their new classroom, meet their classmates and begin developing positive relationships with their new teacher. The transition sessions will take place on Thursday 3rd December and Tuesday 8th December, from 9:10am–11:10am on both days. This important program is designed to support students to feel comfortable, confident and excited about the year ahead.

Fathers Day Breakfast

A sincere thank you to all of the dads and father figures who joined us for our Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 4th September. It was wonderful to see so many special guests enjoying a delicious bacon and egg muffin while spending quality time with our students and connecting with our school community. A special thank you to TheirCare for supplying the breakfast and assisting with the cooking on the morning. We greatly appreciate their support in helping make this a successful and enjoyable event for our families.

Gardiners District Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to all 61 of our students who represented Highvale Primary School at the Gardiners District Athletics Carnival on Wednesday 16th September at the Bill Sewart Athletics Track. It was wonderful to see our Years 3–6 students compete against talented athletes from schools across the Gardiners District. We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented HPS, demonstrating determination, sportsmanship, resilience and a willingness to challenge themselves. A big congratulations to all students who participated and gave their best on the day — your efforts and commitment are to be celebrated! We look forward to celebrating the students who won their event and will represent Highvale at the Division Event next term. 

Sports Colours and Pizza Fundraiser

Our Sports Colours and Pizza Day was a huge success! It was wonderful to see our students proudly dressed in their favourite sporting gear, with netball, basketball, footy and soccer jerseys on display throughout the school. We were also delighted to order a total of 66 pizzas for our students to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who ordered a pizza and supported this fundraiser. Your support helps us continue to provide wonderful opportunities and resources for our students and school community. A HUGE thank you to Alice Tuamoheloa (Benji 1GC’s Mum) for assisting with the distribution of pizza on the day.

Lunchtime Chess Classes

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the Lunchtime Chess Classes throughout Term Three: Max W, Bob W, Shawn W, Krystal W, Mia W, Lucas L, Noah L, Austen H, Ewen L, Hannah L, Aiden W, Atharva K, Fiora J, Vrushank M, Omar N, Aadhithya S and Sidarrth G. It was fantastic to see so many students developing their strategic thinking, concentration and problem-solving skills while enjoying the challenge of chess. A special congratulations to Max W, who received the Gold Medal, Bob W, who received the Silver Medal, and Krystal W, who received the Bronze Medal in these classes. Well done to all students for their enthusiasm, commitment and sportsmanship throughout the term! 

Buddies Day

Today, all students participated in Buddies Day at HPS. Buddies Day is a wonderful opportunity for our Year Six students to step into leadership roles and plan and lead a range of engaging activities for students across the school. It was fantastic to see our Year Six students demonstrating responsibility, confidence, creativity and teamwork as they guided their groups throughout the day. These opportunities are an important part of developing our Year Six students’ leadership skills and preparing them to become positive role models within the community. Our younger students always look forward to Buddies Day, knowing that one day it will be their turn to be in Year Six and plan these activities for others. Well done Year Six students!

Breakfast Club

A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff and four School Captains Minul, Keitarou, Maya and Aradhya who have supported and served our school community at Breakfast Club every Wednesday throughout Term Three. Their commitment to preparing and serving breakfast, welcoming students and creating a positive start to the day has been greatly appreciated. Their contribution is a wonderful example of teamwork, leadership and service to our school community. 

Department of Education: Annual Parent / Carer Opinion Survey: FINAL REMINDER

We are currently conducting the annual Parent / Carer Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and are seeking your feedback. On Monday, I got a notification indicating that 52 HPS families have completed the survey so far. That’s 14% of all HPS families. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation. We will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies. The Parent / Carer Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 17 August to Friday 18 September 2026. THIS IS A DEPARTMENT SURVEY AND IS DIFFERENT TO THE SCHOOL BASED SURVEY WE DO IN TERMS TWO AND FOUR EACH YEAR. 

To contribute and have your say, please go to the following: https://research.orima.com/parent

School Name: Highvale Primary School

Campus Name: Highvale Primary School

PIN: 605404

Have a great two week break HPS families,

Carly Epskamp

carly.epskamp@education.vic.gov.au